U.S. patent application number 10/911905 was filed with the patent office on 2005-02-10 for composition.
This patent application is currently assigned to The Procter & Gamble Company. Invention is credited to Lant, Neil Joseph, Willey, Alan David.
Application Number | 20050028294 10/911905 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34193156 |
Filed Date | 2005-02-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050028294 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lant, Neil Joseph ; et
al. |
February 10, 2005 |
Composition
Abstract
The present invention relates to a composition comprising a
photo-bleaching component and a fluorescent whitening component
having good compatibility. In particular, the present invention
relates to a composition suitable for the treatment of textiles,
comprising a photo-bleaching component and a fluorescent whitening
component, wherein the photo-bleaching component is capable of
absorbing light to form an intermediate energetically excited
photo-bleaching component, the intermediate energetically excited
photo-bleaching component is capable of activating molecular oxygen
from its triplet oxygen electronic energy state to its singlet
oxygen electronic energy state, characterised in that the
intermediate energetically excited photo-bleaching component has a
lifetime of greater than 50 microseconds, preferably greater than
100 microseconds, more preferably greater than 200 microseconds,
and most preferably greater than 300 microseconds.
Inventors: |
Lant, Neil Joseph;
(Newcastle/Tyne, GB) ; Willey, Alan David;
(Cincinnati, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DIVISION
WINTON HILL TECHNICAL CENTER - BOX 161
6110 CENTER HILL AVENUE
CINCINNATI
OH
45224
US
|
Assignee: |
The Procter & Gamble
Company
|
Family ID: |
34193156 |
Appl. No.: |
10/911905 |
Filed: |
August 5, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60492888 |
Aug 6, 2003 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
8/115.51 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C11D 3/42 20130101; D06L
4/671 20170101; C11D 3/0063 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
008/115.51 |
International
Class: |
D06M 010/00 |
Claims
1. A composition suitable for the treatment of textiles, comprising
a photo-bleaching component and a fluorescent whitening component,
wherein the photo-bleaching component is capable of absorbing light
to form an intermediate energetically excited photo-bleaching
component, the intermediate energetically excited photo-bleaching
component is capable of activating molecular oxygen from its
triplet oxygen electronic energy state to its singlet oxygen
electronic energy state, characterised in that the intermediate
energetically excited photo-bleaching component has a lifetime of
greater than 50 microseconds.
2. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate
energetically excited photo-bleaching component has a lifetime of
greater than 100 microseconds.
3. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate
energetically excited photo-bleaching component has a lifetime of
greater than 200 microseconds.
4. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate
energetically excited photo-bleaching component has a lifetime of
greater than 300 microseconds.
5. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the photo-bleaching
component is a sulphonated phthalocyanine having an average degree
of sulphonation of from greater than 3.0 to less than 4.0 that is
complexed with a metal cation, and wherein the sulphonated
phthalocyanine is not substituted with a halide group.
6. A composition according to claim 5, wherein the sulphonated
phthalocyanine has an average degree of sulphonation of from 3.8 to
less than 4.0.
7. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the photo-bleaching
agent is a sulphonated zinc phthalocyanine having an average degree
of sulphonation of from greater than 3.0 to less than 4.0.
8. A composition according to claim 7, wherein the sulphonated zinc
phthalocyanine has an average degree of sulphonation of from 3.8 to
less than 4.0.
9. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the photo-bleaching
component is a sulphonated tin phthalocyanine, a sulphonated tin
naphthalocyanine or a mixture thereof.
10. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the photo-bleaching
component is a sulphonated zinc naphthalocyanine, a sulphonated
aluminium naphthalocyanine, a sulphonated tin naphthalocyanine or
any mixture thereof.
11. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the photo-bleaching
component is a mixture of a sulphonated zinc phthalocyanine and a
sulphonated aluminium phthalocyanine, wherein the molar ratio of
the sulphonated zinc phthalocyanine to sulphonated aluminum
phthalocyanine is less than 3:1.
12. A composition according to claim 11, wherein the molar ratio of
the sulphonated zinc phthalocyanine to sulphonated aluminum
phthalocyanine is less than 2:1.
13. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the fluorescent
whitening component is a substituted stilbenesulphonic acid or a
salt thereof that is substituted by at least one triazol-2-yl
moiety.
14. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the fluorescent
whitening component is a molecule having the general formula: 6
15. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the fluorescent
whitening component is a molecule having the general formula: 7
16. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the composition is
a laundry detergent composition and additionally comprises a
detersive surfactant, a builder, optionally bleach and optionally
other adjunct detergent components.
17. A method of treating a fabric comprising the step of contacting
a composition according to claim 1 with water to form an aqueous
wash liquor, and contacting the aqueous wash liquor with a fabric.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/492888 filed Aug. 6, 2003.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to a composition suitable for
the treatment of textiles, especially a laundry detergent
composition, comprising a compatible photo-bleaching component and
a fluorescent whitening component.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
[0003] Consumers, especially those living in countries having an
ample supply of sunshine, and also those consumers living in the
UK, typically dry their recently laundered garments outside in the
sunlight. Detergent manufactures make use of this consumer habit to
give benefits to recently laundered garments by incorporating
technologies, such as photo-bleach and fluorescent whitening agents
into their laundry detergent products; for example, to provide
post-wash bleaching benefits and fabric whitening benefits.
Detergent manufactures have formulated laundry detergents
comprising both photo-bleach and fluorescent whitening agents; for
example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,311,605 relates to compositions comprising
photo-bleach and fluorescent whitening agents, which allegedly
results in a synergistic bleaching and whitening effect.
[0004] Photo-bleach is capable of absorbing light in the visible
wavelength band to form an intermediate energetically excited
photo-bleach, which is capable of activating molecular oxygen from
its triplet oxygen electronic energy state to its singlet oxygen
electronic energy state. Singlet oxygen is a potent bleach that is
capable of oxidising a vast array of substrates, including many
soils typically encountered and cleaned in laundering
processes.
[0005] Fluorescent whitening agents are capable of absorbing light
in the ultraviolet wavelength band and re-emitting light in the
visible wavelength band. Typically, light in the blue region of the
visible wavelength band is re-emitted, giving the recently
laundered garments a consumer preferred bluish hue. This bluish hue
is especially preferred when the laundered garments are white in
colour and comprise natural cotton as the bluish hue masks the
yellowness of the natural cotton fibres.
[0006] The Inventors have surprisingly identified that there is a
compatibility issue with photo-bleach and fluorescent whitening
agents when present in the same detergent formulation, and that the
combination of these two components in the laundry detergent
composition does not always give both an effective photo-bleaching
benefit and an effective whitening benefit. Indeed the Inventors
have surprisingly found that there is a tendency of the fluorescent
whitening agent to diminute the performance of the photo-bleach.
Without wishing to be bound by theory, the Inventors believe that
the fluorescent whitening agent competes with molecular oxygen for
the energy released by the excited triplet state of the
photo-bleach (which is the intermediate energetically excited
photo-bleaching component), thus diminishing formation of singlet
oxygen and its subsequent bleaching effect.
[0007] This problem of incompatibility of photo-bleach and
fluorescent whitening agents has not been identified in the prior
art. There was no reason whatsoever to suspect an incompatibility
problem between photo-bleach and fluorescent whitening agents as it
was believed that the photo-bleaching mechanism and the fluorescent
whitening mechanism were completely independent mechanisms,
absorbing light from different wavelength bands, and the wavelength
of the light re-emitted by the fluorescent whitening agent is
substantially different from the wavelength of light absorbed by
the photo-bleach.
[0008] The Inventors have surprisingly overcome this
incompatibility problem by ensuring that, when the photo-bleach is
formulated with a fluorescent whitening agent, the intermediate
energetically excited photo-bleaching component has a prolonged
lifetime. This is achieved by careful selection of the photo-bleach
and fluorescent whitening agent to be formulated together in the
same laundry detergent composition.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention provides a composition suitable for
the treatment of textiles, comprising a photo-bleaching component
and a fluorescent whitening component, wherein the photo-bleaching
component is capable of absorbing light to form an intermediate
energetically excited photo-bleaching component, the intermediate
energetically excited photo-bleaching component is capable of
activating molecular oxygen from its triplet oxygen electronic
energy state to its singlet oxygen electronic energy state,
characterised in that the intermediate energetically excited
photo-bleaching component has a lifetime of greater than 50
microseconds.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0010] Composition
[0011] The composition is suitable for the treatment of textiles.
In particular, the composition is a laundry detergent composition.
The composition can be in particulate form or in liquid form.
Typically, the composition is in particulate form, for example in
the form of an agglomerate, a spray-dried powder, an extrudate, a
flake, or any combination thereof. The composition may also be in
tablet form or other unit dose form such as a pouch. The
composition may be at least partially enclosed, or preferably
completely enclosed, by a water-soluble film such as film
comprising polyvinyl alcohol. However, typically, the composition
is a granular laundry detergent composition.
[0012] The composition comprises a photo-bleaching component, which
is described in more detail below. The composition also comprises a
fluorescent whitening component, which is described in more detail
below. The composition may also comprise additional adjunct
components, which are described in more detail below. Preferably,
the composition is a laundry detergent composition comprising a
photo-bleaching component, a fluorescent whitening component, a
detersive surfactant, a builder, optionally bleach and optionally
other adjunct detergent components.
[0013] Photo-Bleaching Component
[0014] The photo-bleaching component is capable of absorbing light
to form an intermediate energetically excited photo-bleaching
component. The intermediate energetically excited photo-bleaching
component is capable of activating molecular oxygen from its
triplet oxygen electronic state to its singlet oxygen electronic
energy state. The molecular oxygen in its singlet oxygen electronic
energy state is capable of oxidising a vast array of substrates by
a variety of mechanisms including ene reactions and cyclo-addition
reactions. An example of an ene reaction is given below: 1
[0015] An example of a cyclo-addition reaction is given below:
2
[0016] The process for the generation of molecular oxygen in its
singlet oxygen electronic energy state is given in more detail
below: 3
[0017] Light absorption by the photo-bleaching component P leads to
the formation of an intermediate photo-bleaching component P (S),
typically in its singlet excited state. As oxygen has a triplet
ground state, the intermediate photo-bleaching component P (S) must
undergo intersystem crossing (ISC) to form an intermediate
energetically excited photo-bleaching component P (T), typically in
its triplet excited state, in order to interact with ground state
oxygen. Intersystem crossing generally proceeds with good
efficiency. Once the intermediate energetically excited
photo-bleaching component P (T) is formed, collision with molecular
oxygen (in its triplet oxygen electronic energy state) can lead to
energy transfer to the molecular oxygen and the formation of
molecular oxygen in its singlet oxygen electronic energy state.
Once formed, the molecular oxygen in its singlet oxygen electronic
state is reactive with a range of substrates, as described above in
more detail.
[0018] The intermediate energetically excited photo-bleaching
component has a lifetime of greater than 50 microseconds,
preferably greater than 100 microseconds, more preferably greater
than 200 microseconds, and most preferably greater than 300
microseconds. The lifetime of the intermediate energetically
excited photo-bleaching component is described in more detail
below. The lifetime of the intermediate energetically excited
photo-bleaching component is the lifetime of the above component
when in the presence of the fluorescent whitening component.
[0019] Preferably the photo-bleaching component is a sulphonated
phthalocyanine having an average degree of sulphonation of from
greater than 3.0 to less than 4.0, preferably from 3.8 to less than
4.0, the sulphonated phthalocyanine being complexed with a metal
cation. Typically, the sulphonated phthalocyanine is not
substituted with a halide group. Preferably, the photo-bleaching
agent is a sulphonated zinc phthalocyanine having an average degree
of sulphonation of from greater than 3.0 to less than 4.0,
preferably 3.8 to less than 4.0. The photo-bleaching component may
be a sulphonated tin phthalocyanine, a sulphonated tin
naphthalocyanine or a mixture thereof. The photo-bleaching
component may be a sulphonated zinc naphthalocyanine, a sulphonated
aluminium naphthalocyanine, a sulphonated tin naphthalocyanine or
any mixture thereof. The photo-bleaching component may preferably
be a mixture of a sulphonated zinc phthalocyanine and a sulphonated
aluminium phthalocyanine, wherein the molar ratio of the
sulphonated zinc phthalocyanine to sulphonated aluminum
phthalocyanine is less than 3:1, preferably less than 2:1.
[0020] Other photo-bleaching components that may be suitable for
use in the present invention are those described in more detail by
A. D. Willey in Powdered Detergents, ed. M. Showell, Surfactant
Series Vol 71, Marcel Dekker, New York, 1998, p185-203.
[0021] Optionally, the photo-bleaching component may be
encapsulated. Suitable encapsulating materials are described in
more detail in WO03/018738 and WO03/18740. A preferred
encapsulating material is starch.
[0022] Fluorescent Whitening Component
[0023] Fluorescent whitening components are typically capable of
absorbing light in the ultraviolet wavelength band and re-emitting
light in the visible band. Typically light in the blue region of
the visible wavelength band is re-emitted, giving recently treated
fabris a consumer preferred bluish hue. Preferably, the fluorescent
whitening component is a substituted stilbenesulphonic acid or a
salt thereof that is substituted by at least one triazol-2-yl
moiety. Preferably, the fluorescent whitening component is a
molecule having the general formula: 4
[0024] Preferably, the fluorescent whitening component is a
molecule having the general formula: 5
[0025] Another brightener than may be suitable for use in the
present invention is Sodium dibenzobiphenyldisulfonate.
[0026] Other preferred fluorescent whitening components that may be
suitable for use in the present invention are described in more
detail by L. Ho Tan Tai, in Formulating Detergents and Personal
Care Products: A complete guide to Product Development, AOCS Press,
Champaign, 2000, p122-137.
[0027] Prolonged Lifetime of the Intermediate Energetically Excited
Photo-Bleaching Component
[0028] The Inventors have surprisingly found that good
compatibility between the photo-bleaching component and the
fluorescent whitening component is achievable by ensuring that the
lifetime of the intermediate energetically excited photo-bleaching
component (when in the presence of the fluorescent whitening
component) is at least 50 microseconds, preferably at least 100
microseconds, more preferably at least 200 microseconds and most
preferably at least 300 microseconds. This can be achieved, for
example, by careful selection of fluorescent whitening components
and photo-bleaching components to be used in combination with each
other.
[0029] Typically, the lifetime of the intermediate energetically
excited photo-bleaching component (when in the presence of the
fluorescent whitening component) is very short. For example, the
lifetime of the intermediate energetically excited photo-bleaching
component of a sulphonated zinc phthalocyanine photo-bleaching
component when used in combination with a disodium
4,4'-bis-(2-sulphostyryl)biphenyl fluorescent whitening component,
is 3 microseconds. The lifetime of the intermediate energetically
excited photo-bleaching component of a sulphonated zinc
phthalocyanine photo-bleaching component when used in combination
with a
disodium-4,4'-bis[(4-anilino-6-morpholino-s-triazin-2-yl)-amino]-2,2'-sti-
lbenedisulfonate, is 4 microseconds. The lifetime of the
intermediate energetically excited photo-bleaching component of a
sulphonated zinc phthalocyanine photo-bleaching component when used
in combination with a
disodium-4,4'-bis[(4,6-dianilino-s-triazin-2-yl)-amino]-2,2'-stilbenedisu-
lfonate, is 4 microseconds. All of these combinations give very
poor photo-bleaching performance, especially in laundry cleaning
applications. These combinations having a low lifetime for the
intermediate energetically excited photo-bleaching component, are
all outside of the claim-scope and are not in accordance with the
present invention.
[0030] However, the lifetime of an intermediate energetically
excited photo-bleaching component of a sulphonated zinc
phthalocyanine having an average degree of sulphonation of from
greater than 3.0 to less than 4.0, and especially from 3.8 to less
than 4.0, when used in combination with a fluorescent whitening
component that is the sodium salt of
4,4'-bis-(4-phenyl-1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)-2,2'-stilbene-disulphonic
acid, is 310 microseconds, and good photo-bleaching performance and
good whiteness performance is observed. This careful selection of
photo-bleaching component and fluorescent whitening component is
far greater than lifetime compared to the former above described
combinations that have lifetimes of only 3, 4 and 8 microseconds,
respectively.
[0031] The lifetime of the intermediate energetically excited
photo-bleaching component is typically determined using flash
photolysis, for example by using a Nd-YAG laser (Lumonics Ltd) as
the excitation source, a 250 W xenon arc lamp (Applied Photophysics
Ltd) as the analyzing source and a R928 photomultiplier (Hanamatsu
Ltd) as the detector. One suitable flash photolysis method that can
be used to determine the lifetime of the intermediate energetically
excited photo-bleaching component is described in more detail by C.
Willsher, Journal of the Society of Dyers and Colourists, 1988, Vol
104, p472-476.
[0032] The skilled person, in light of the disclosure of the
present invention, can calculate the lifetime of the intermediate
energetically excited photo-bleaching component in the presence of
a particular fluorescent whitening component with no undue burden,
and the skilled person can select combinations of a photo-bleaching
component and a fluorescent whitening component, having good
photo-bleaching performance and whitening benefits that are in
accordance with the present invention.
[0033] Adjunct Detergent Components
[0034] The composition may optionally comprise one or more adjunct
detergent components. These adjunct detergent components are
typically selected from the group consisting of detersive
surfactants, builders, polymeric co-builders, bleach, chelants,
enzymes, anti-redeposition polymers, soil-release polymers,
polymeric soil-dispersing and/or soil-suspending agents,
dye-transfer inhibitors, fabric-integrity agents, suds suppressors,
fabric-softeners, flocculants, perfumes and combinations thereof.
Suitable adjunct components are described in more detail in
WO97/11151, especially from page 15, line 31 to page 27, line 27,
and from page 28, line 5 to page 56, line 24, and from page 48,
line 2 to page 50, line 4.
EXAMPLES
[0035] The following granular laundry detergent compositions A-F
having a bulk density of from 440 g/l to 580 g/l, are in accordance
with the present invention.
1 Ingredient A B C D E F Sodium C.sub.12-C.sub.15 alkyl 0.9 0.6 0.8
0.7 sulfate condensed with an average of 3 moles of ethylene oxide
Sodium linear C.sub.11-C.sub.13 22 16 17 28 19 17 alkyl benzene
sulfonate Cationic surfactant having 0.4 0.7 0.5 0.8 0.6 0.5 the
general formula: R.sub.2.N.sup.+(CH.sub.3).sub.2(C.sub.2H.sub.4OH)-
, wherein R.sub.2 = C.sub.12-C.sub.14 Sodium carbonate 14 16 6 15 8
9 Sodium silicate 5 9 17 6 10 8 Sodium sulfate 5 10 21 14 19 25
Sodium tripolyphosphate 32 26 26 30 28 Zeolite A 30 Diethylene
triamine 0.3 0.4 0.7 0.6 0.4 0.3 pentaacetic acid Magnesium sulfate
1.1 1.6 Sodium perborate bleach 4 3 of nominal formula:
NaBO.sub.3.H.sub.2O (6-nonamidocaproyl) 1.8 oxybenzene sulfonate
Nonanoyloxybenzene 1.5 sulfonate Tetra-acetyl-ethylene- 0.55 0.7
diamine Photo-bleaching 0.0018 0.003 0.001 component that is a
sulfonated zinc phthalocyanine, with an average degree of
sulfonation of 3.95 Photo-bleaching 0.0012 0.002 0.004 0.003
component that is a sulfonated alumino phthalocyanine, with an
average degree of sulfonation of 3.95 Fluorescent whitening 0.1
0.05 0.1 0.15 0.05 component that is a disodium 4,4'-bis-(4-
phenyl-1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)- 2,2'-stilbene- disulphonate, supplied
by Bayer under the tradename Blankophor BHC. Fluorescent whitening
0.05 0.2 0.05 0.05 component that is a sodium 4-[2H-
naphtho[1,2-d]triazol-2- yl]stilbene-2-sulfonate, supplied by Ciba
under the tradename Tinopal RBS Fluorescent whitening 0.05 0.1 0.12
component that is a sulfonated, methylated dibenzofuran biphenyl
(CAS 133-057-91-7), supplied by Ciba-Geigy under the tradename
Tinopal PLC Amylase 0.2 0.1 0.3 Cellulase 0.2 0.2 0.1 Protease 0.2
0.2 0.5 0.1 Perfume 0.1 0.4 0.3 0.25 0.3 Moisture and to to to to
to to miscellaneous 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
[0036] All documents cited in the Detailed Description of the
Invention are, in relevant part, incorporated herein by reference;
the citation of any document is not to be construed as an admission
that it is prior art with respect to the present invention.
[0037] While particular embodiments of the present invention have
been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those
skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can
be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims
all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of
this invention.
* * * * *