U.S. patent application number 11/130686 was filed with the patent office on 2005-11-17 for compositions for cleaning with softened water.
This patent application is currently assigned to The Procter & Gamble Company. Invention is credited to Baeck, Andre Cesar, Convents, Andre Christian, Costello, Adam, Cruickshank, Graeme Duncan, Duncan, Michael, Gardner, Robb Richard, Glogowski, Mark William, Gray, Peter Gerard, Haught, John Christian, Smets, Johan, Van Steenwinckel, Pascale Claire Annick.
Application Number | 20050256020 11/130686 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35456658 |
Filed Date | 2005-11-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050256020 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gardner, Robb Richard ; et
al. |
November 17, 2005 |
Compositions for cleaning with softened water
Abstract
A composition for cleaning with a washing system comprising from
about 15% to about 75% of at least one surfactant; from about 0.01%
to about 10% of at least one enzyme; less than about 1% builder,
and less than about 1% chelant.
Inventors: |
Gardner, Robb Richard;
(Cincinnati, OH) ; Glogowski, Mark William;
(Cleves, OH) ; Haught, John Christian; (West
Chester, OH) ; Baeck, Andre Cesar; (Bonheiden,
BE) ; Convents, Andre Christian; (Diegem, BE)
; Smets, Johan; (Lubbeek, BE) ; Van Steenwinckel,
Pascale Claire Annick; (Weerde, BE) ; Gray, Peter
Gerard; (Brussels, BE) ; Cruickshank, Graeme
Duncan; (Newcastle upon Tyne, GB) ; Costello,
Adam; (North Tyneside, GB) ; Duncan, Michael;
(Northumberland, GB) |
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
Cincinnati
OH
45224
|
Family ID: |
35456658 |
Appl. No.: |
11/130686 |
Filed: |
May 17, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
510/392 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C02F 1/44 20130101; D06F
35/003 20130101; C02F 1/441 20130101; B82Y 30/00 20130101; D06F
39/007 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
510/392 |
International
Class: |
C12S 009/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 17, 2004 |
EP |
04252837.2 |
May 17, 2004 |
EP |
04252849.7 |
May 17, 2004 |
EP |
04252846.3 |
May 17, 2004 |
EP |
04252838.0 |
May 17, 2004 |
EP |
04252853.9 |
May 17, 2004 |
EP |
04252851.3 |
May 17, 2004 |
EP |
04252845.5 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A composition for cleaning with a washing system comprising:
from about 15% to about 75% of at least one surfactant; from about
0.01% to about 10% of at least one enzyme; less than about 1%
builder, and less than about 1% chelant.
2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the washing system
comprises: a washing zone capable of containing a substrate; a
water-softening zone fluidly connected to the washing zone, said
washing zone capable of receiving a feed water and forming an at
least partially softened water.
3. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition is combined
with an at least partially softened water having a specific
conductance of less than about 200 .mu.S/cm.
4. The composition of claim 2, wherein the water softening zone
comprises nanofiltration, electrodeionization, electrodialysis,
reverse-osmosis, distillation, capacitive deionization and
combinations thereof.
5. The composition of claim 4, wherein the capacitive deionization
zone comprises at least one electrode comprising activated carbon,
graphite, carbon aerogel, pyrolyzed polymer, carbon nanotubes,
transition metal oxides and combinations thereof.
6. The composition of claim 1, further comprising less than about
1% dispersants.
7. A composition for cleaning with a washing system comprising:
from about 15% to about 75% of at least one surfactant; from about
0.01% to about 10% of at least one enzyme; less than about 1%
chelant, and less than about 1% fabric softener.
8. The composition of claim 7 further comprising at least one
builder comprising zeolites, layer silicates, phosphates, and
mixtures thereof.
9. The composition of claim 7, wherein the washing system
comprises: a washing zone capable of containing a substrate; a
water-softening zone fluidly connected to the washing zone, said
washing zone capable of receiving a feed water and forming an at
least partially softened water.
10. The composition of claim 7, wherein the composition is combined
with an at least partially softened water having a specific
conductance of less than about 200 .mu.S/cm.
11. The composition of claim 9, wherein the water softening zone
comprises nanofiltration, electrodeionization, electrodialysis,
reverse-osmosis, distillation, capacitive deionization and
combinations thereof.
12. The composition of claim 11, wherein the capacitive
deionization zone comprises at least one electrode comprising
activated carbon, graphite, carbon aerogel, pyrolyzed polymer,
carbon nanotubes, transition metal oxides and combinations
thereof.
13. A composition for cleaning with a washing system comprising:
from about 15% to about 75% of at least one surfactant; from about
0.01% to about 10% of at least one enzyme; wherein the washing
system comprises: a washing zone capable of containing a substrate;
a water-softening zone fluidly connected to the washing zone, said
washing zone capable of receiving a feed water and forming an at
least partially softened water.
14. The composition of claim 14 further comprising at least one
builder comprising zeolites, layer silicates, phosphates, and
mixtures thereof.
15. The composition of claim 13, wherein the composition is
combined with an at least partially softened water having a
specific conductance of less than about 200 .mu.S/cm.
16. The composition of claim 13, wherein the water softening zone
comprises nanofiltration, electrodeionization, electrodialysis,
reverse-osmosis, distillation, capacitive deionization and
combinations thereof.
17. The composition of claim 16, wherein the capacitive
deionization zone comprises at least one electrode comprising
activated carbon, graphite, carbon aerogel, pyrolyzed polymer,
carbon nanotubes, transition metal oxides and combinations
thereof.
18. The composition of claim 16, further comprising at least one
dye transfer inhibiting agent.
19. The composition of claim 18 wherein the dye transfer inhibiting
agent comprises polyvinyl pyrrolidone polymers, polyamine N-oxide
polymers, copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone and N-vinylimidazole,
manganese phthalocyanine, peroxidases, and mixtures thereof.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of EP Patent Application
No. 04252837.2, filed May 17, 2004, EP Patent Application No.
04252849.7, filed May 17, 2004, EP Patent Application No.
04252846.3, filed May 17, 2004, EP Patent Application No.
04252838.0, filed May 17, 2004, EP Patent Application No.
04252853.9, filed May 17, 2004, EP Patent Application No.
04252851.3, filed May 17, 2004, EP Patent Application No.
04252845.5 and U.S. application Ser. No. 10/967,757, filed Oct. 18,
2004.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Compositions for cleaning laundry as well as other
substrates are well known in the art. There are cleaning
compositions for cleaning items ranging from dishes to laundry and
around the home use. While such cleaning compositions have nearly
become ubiquitous, cleaning compositions still suffer from
inadequacies, particularly toward stubborn stains and/or soils.
[0003] Hard water, or water containing high concentrations of
minerals such as calcium, has been a problem for consumers.
Problems associated with having hard water include decreased
cleaning efficiency, hard water staining of materials, and poor
water taste. While the problems associated with hard water are well
known, solutions to these problems have been elusive.
[0004] One process used for improving the cleaning ability for
certain compositions involves softening the water. Typically, water
has been softened with water softening devices utilizing an
ion-exchange resin. These resins typically replace ions that cause
hardness, such as calcium ions, with other ions that result in less
hardness, such as sodium ions.
[0005] An attempt at softening water includes the use of an ion
exchange device. While ion exchange devices are capable of
softening water, they do not do so without imparting their own
unique problems. Ion exchange devices require large amounts of
salts. These salts must be continually purchased by a user in order
to maintain the ion exchange device. Also these salts are delivered
to wastewater plants, where these salts can be difficult to
remove.
[0006] Although there have been attempts at providing a softened
water for use by a consumer, cleaning compositions for use in the
softened water are lacking. Indeed, the vast majority of cleaning
compositions are designed to perform cleaning in hard water. While
these compositions are useful for cleaning in hard water
environments, they prove to be inadequately designed for soft water
environments.
[0007] It is highly desirable to achieve a softened water without
the investment and time of utilizing a salt-based ion exchange
device. Further, it is highly desirable to have a water softening
device that works with a minimum of effort and time on the part of
the user. It is also desirable to have a cleaning composition that
is developed for used in soft water that provides maximized benefit
to a consumer. This invention accomplishes these goals.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] To be filled by MAC upon finalization of claims
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0009] While the specification concludes with the claims
particularly pointing and distinctly claiming the invention, it is
believed that the present invention will be better understood from
the following description.
[0010] The compositions of the present invention can include,
consist essentially of, or consist of, the components of the
present invention as well as other ingredients described herein. As
used herein, "consisting essentially of" means that the composition
or component may include additional ingredients, but only if the
additional ingredients do not materially alter the basic and novel
characteristics of the claimed compositions or methods.
[0011] All percentages and ratios used herein are by weight of the
total composition and all measurements made are at 25.degree. C.,
unless otherwise designated. An angular degree is a planar unit of
angular measure equal in magnitude to {fraction (1/360)} of a
complete revolution.
[0012] All measurements used herein are in metric units unless
otherwise specified.
[0013] "System" as used herein means a unity formed of a plurality
of parts subject to a common plan or serving a common purpose. The
parts can be materials, compositions, devices, appliances,
procedures, methods, or conditions. Diverse parts and/or diverse
types of parts can characterize different systems.
[0014] The term "divalent" as used in phrases such as "divalent
moiety" or "divalent hydrocarbyl" refers to a moiety having two
covalent vanencies available for connecting it to the structure.
For example, -(CH.sub.2).sub.6- is such a moiety.
[0015] As used herein, "effective amount" of a material or
composition is the amount needed to accomplish an intended purpose,
for example, to impart a desired level of fabric care benefit to a
fabric article/substrate.
[0016] As used herein, "feed water" includes water provided by a
municapility, well, water purification system and the like.
[0017] It has now surprisingly been discovered that the composition
of the present invention provides increased cleaning and washing
efficacy in at least partially softened water. Further, the washing
systems can be utilized for a variety of cleaning or washing
duties.
[0018] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a composition for cleaning with a washing system
comprising from about 15% to about 75% of at least one surfactant;
from about 0.01% to about 10% of at least one enzyme; less than
about 1% builder, less than about 1% chelant, and less than about
1% dispersant polymers.
[0019] The composition of the present invention, in one embodiment,
is utilized with a water-softening zone capable of receiving a feed
water and forming an at least partially softened water. The
water-softening zone is also capable of fluidly transferring at
least part of the at least partially softened water to the washing
zone.
[0020] Optionally, the washing system can also include one or more
of the following: a product dispensing zone (sometimes referred to
herein as `the dispensing zone`); means for sonically or
ultrasonically treating the soiled substrate in the washing zone or
in a washing pre-treatment zone; an electrolysis zone for
electrolysing the feed water or wash liquor; and a wash liquor
disinfection zone. The washing zone can be dual purpose and also
function as a post-wash rinsing zone; alternatively the wash system
can optionally comprise a separate post-wash rinsing zone.
[0021] In one embodiment, it is contemplated that the washing
systems of the present invention are contained substantially within
one housing. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed
that by housing the washing systems of the present invention
substantially within one housing minimizes any plumbing or fluid
connections necessary among the elements of the washing system.
Also, housing the washing systems of the present invention
substantially within one housing minimizes the volume and/or space
required by the washing systems of the present invention.
[0022] In another embodiment, it is contemplated that the washing
zone and the water softening zone are independently housed. Such an
embodiment is contemplated with washing systems that are at the
point-of-use. In one non-limiting example, it is contemplated that
the water-softening zone of the present invention is located in a
different housing than the washing zone. The water-softening zone
is fluidly connected between the inlet water stream and the inlet
of the washing zone. In such an embodiment, its is contemplated
that existing devices utilizing feed water, including washing zones
comprising washing machines and automatic dishwashing machines,
water heaters, as well as "whole-house" inlet streams may be
retrofitted and/or adapted to have such water softening zones
present to treat feed water.
[0023] Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that
the compositions of the present invention represent a major
departure from compositions known in the art. Many components, and
their amounts necessary for cleaning efficacy, are used to create
compositions known in the art that are unnecessary in some
embodiments while actually hurting cleaning efficacy in other
embodiments when present in at least partially softened water. The
compositions of the present invention synergistically function with
at least partially softened water to improve performance. In one
non-limiting example, the relatively small amounts of builder,
chelant, and/or dispersant polymers in one embodiment results in
improved cleaning in at least partially softened water. Further, a
cost savings on raw materials is also realized.
Water-Softening Zone
[0024] According to the invention, the washing systems herein
comprise a water-softening zone. In the systems and methods of the
invention, the water-softening zone comprises one or more devices
selected from nanofiltration, electrodeionization, electrodialysis,
reverse-osmosis, ion-exchange, and capacitive deionization
water-softening devices and combinations thereof. In one
embodiment, the water-softening zones can include those disclosed
in the commonly-assigned and co-filed patent application in the
name of Baeck, Convents and Smets, applicant's reference number
CM2849F, said application being incorporated by reference herein
and described in detail below.
[0025] In one embodiment, the water softening zone is effective to
soften the water to a residual Ca.sup.2+/Mg.sup.2+ hardness of less
than about 4 mmol/L, in another embodiment less than about 2
mmol/L, in yet another embodiment less than about 1 mmol/L, in
still another embodiment from about 4 mmol/L to about 0.01 mmol/L,
in yet still another embodiment from about 2 mmol/L to about 0.05
mmol/L, in even still another embodiment from about 1 mmol/L to
about 0.1 mmol/L.
[0026] It is, however, well known that technologies for increasing
water softness will remove ionic species, including, but not
limited to cationic species, anionic species, zwitterionic species,
amphoteric species and combinations thereof. Such cationic species
include, but are not limited to, calcium, iron, magnesium,
manganese, sodium and mixtures thereof. Such anionic species
include, but are not limited to, chlorine, fluorine, carbonate and
mixtures thereof.
[0027] Downstream of the water-softening zone and in fluid
communication therewith, the washing system can additionally
comprise an softened water reservoir for storing and delivering at
least partially softened water to the washing zone.
[0028] Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that
the water-softening zone forms an at least a partially softened
water. The partially softened water, when transferred to the
washing zone, increases the efficacy of any product added to the
washing zone. Further, it is believed that the at least partially
softened water lengthens the usable life of components of the
washing system, as the use of at least partially softened water
reduces and/or prevents the build up of hard water deposits,
scales, and the like resulting in cleaner washing system
components.
Capacitive Deionization
[0029] In another embodiment, the water-softening zone utilizes
capacitive deionization. Capacitive deionization units utilize
charged electrodes for softening of the water. Capacitive
deionization with electrodes is capable of removing ionic species
and other impurities from water. Without wishing to be bound by
theory, water is passed between electrodes kept at a low potential
difference and/or voltage. When the electrodes become saturated
with ionic species, the electrodes are electrostatically
regenerated, and ionic species are expelled as a waste electrolyte
stream. The electrodes are periodically purged of ionic species by
reversing electrode polarity and flushing with water. Further, the
electrodes can be regenerated of adsorbed materials by contacting
the electrodes with acid streams or base streams. In one
embodiment, acid streams and base streams are generated by an
electrolysis zone, as discussed herein.
[0030] In one embodiment, the electrodes of the capacitive
deionization units are made from carbon aerogels. Exemplary carbon
aerogel electrodes are found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,309,532 to Tran et
el. Carbon-aerogel electrodes have excellent chemical stability and
a very high surface area.
[0031] In one embodiment, carbon aerogels are made utilizing
various carbon systems. These systems are often, though not
necessarily made by pyrolisis. These carbon systems include, but
are not limited to, resorcinol/formaldehyde
resorcinol/phenol/formaldehyde,
hydroquinone/resorcinol/formaldehyde,
phloroglucinol/resorcinotlformaldeh- yde,
catecholresorcinol/formaldehyde, polyvinyl chloride,
phenol/formaldehyde, epoxidized phenol/formaldehyde, polyvinyl
chloride, phenolibenzaldehyde, oxidized polystyrene, polyfurfuryl
alcohol, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylonitrile, polyvinylidene
chloride, cellulose, polybutylene, cellulose acetate,
melamine/formaldehyde, polyvinyl acetate, ethyl cellulose, epoxy
resins, acrylonitrile/styrene, polystyrene, polyamide,
polyisobutylene, polyethylene, polymethyl-methacrylate, polyvinyl
chloride/divinylbenzene, divinylbenzene/styrene, and combinations
and mixtures thereof.
[0032] Other sources can be utilized for form electrodes for use in
capacitive deionization units. In one embodiment, electrodes
exemplified are U.S. Pat. No. 6,737,445 to Bell et al. and U.S.
Application No. 20030153636 to Dietz et al. are utilized. Further,
the electrodes may be arranged in a flow through fashion, as
described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,462,935 to Shiue et al. and U.S.
Application No. 20040095706 to Faris et al.
[0033] In one embodiment, the flow rate of feed water treated with
capacitive deionization to make an at least partially softened
water is from about 0.5 liters/min to about 20.0 liters/min, in
another embodiment from about 0.75 liters/min to about 8
liters/min, in yet another embodiment from about 1 liters/minute to
about 5 liters/min, in still another embodiment greater than about
1 liter/minute.
[0034] In one embodiment, the overall surface area of the
electrodes utilized in the capacitive deionization unit is from
about 200 to about 1500 m.sup.2/g; in another embodiment from about
400-1200 m.sup.2/g; in another embodiment from about 500-1000
m.sup.2/g.
[0035] In one embodiment the potential difference or voltage is
from about 0.5 volts to about 10 volts; in another embodiment from
about 0.75 to about 8 volts; in yet another embodiment from about 1
to about 5 volts.
[0036] In one embodiment, the capacitive deionization unit is
capable of self-cleaning. In one self-cleaning embodiment, cleaning
commences when the electrodes exhibit diminished adsorption of the
ionic species from the solution as noted by the increase in the
resistance across the electrode and a decrease in the level of
hardness reduction. In one embodiment, the decreased performance of
the electrodes is observed by a conductivity meter. One of ordinary
skill in the art would readily be able to determine means of
measuring the decrease in performance of the electrodes of the
present invention. The decreased performance, in one embodiment, is
measured by dividing the conductivity of the "dirty" electrode by
the conductivity of the "clean" electrode to determine the
conductivity fraction. When the conductivity fraction reaches a
predetermined value, a self-cleaning cycle is initiated. In one
embodiment, a self-cleaning cycle is initiated when the
conductivity fraction is less than about 0.9, in another
embodiment, the conductivity fraction is less than about 0.7, in
yet another embodiment, the conductivity fraction is less than
about 0.5.
[0037] Optionally, the capacitive deionization unit further
comprises a prefilter. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is
believed that the prefilter is capable of extending the life of the
electrodes, as well as delaying the frequency of the self-cleaning
cycle of the electrodes. It is believed that the prefilter absorbs,
blocks, or otherwise removes the neutrally charged species
contained in feed water. Such neutrally charges species are
minimally effected by the electrodes on the capacitive deionization
unit and thus are capable of contaminating the adsorption sites on
the electrodes. The prefilter of the present invention is made from
any material that substantially absorbs, blocks, and/or otherwise
removes neutrally charged species from feed water. Such materials
include, but are not limited to, activated carbon, silica, paper,
metallic mesh filters, membranes, gels, and combinations
thereof.
Form of the Compositions
[0038] To facilitate the use of the systems of the present
invention, compositions, also called fabric care compositions, have
been developed for synergistic use. The compositions of the present
invention offer surprising benefits when utilized with the washing
system as they are designed to complement the benefits produced by
the washing system.
[0039] The compositions of the present invention, may be in any
form, such as liquids (aqueous or non-aqueous), granules, pastes,
powders, sprays, foams, tablets, gels, and the like. Encapsulated
and/or unitized dose compositions are included, as are compositions
which form two or more separate but combinedly dispensable
portions. Granular compositions can be in "compact" or "low
density" form and the liquid compositions can also be in a
"concentrated" or diluted form. Fabric care compositions of the
present invention include liquids, including heavy duty liquid
fabric care compositions and liquid detergents for washing fine
fabrics including silk, wool and the like. Compositions formed by
mixing the provided compositions with water in widely ranging
proportions are included.
[0040] The fabric care compositions and/or perfume compositions of
the present invention may be in the form of spray compositions,
preferably contained within a suitable spray dispenser. In one
embodiment, the fabric care compositions have a residual hardness
(Ca.sup.2+, Mg.sup.2+, or combinations thereof) of less than about
4 mmol/L, in another embodiment less than about 2 mmol/L, in yet
another embodiment less than about 1 mmol/L, in still another
embodiment from about 4 mmol/L to about 0.01 mmol/L, in yet still
another embodiment from about 2 mmol/L to about 0.05 mmol/L, in
even still another embodiment from about 1 mmol/L to about 0.1
mmol/L.
[0041] In one embodiment, the liquor containing fabric care
compositions and at least partially softened water have an overall
residual Ca.sup.2+-Mg hardness of less than about 4 mmol/L, in
another embodiment less than about 2 mmol/L, in yet another
embodiment less than about 1 mmol/L, in still another embodiment
from about 4 mmol/L to about 0.01 mmol/L, in yet still another
embodiment from about 2 mmol/L to about 0.05 mmol/L, in even still
another embodiment from about 1 mmol/L to about 0.1 mmol/L wherein
the concentration of fabric care composition to at least partially
softened water is from about 0.01% to about 30%, in another
embodiment from about 0.1% to about 20%, in another embodiment from
about 1% to about 10%, in another embodiment greater that 0.01%, in
another embodiment greater than 0.1%, in another embodiment greater
than 1%, in another embodiment greater than 5%.
[0042] The specific conductance depends on the total concentration
of the dissolved ionized substances, i.e., the ionic strength of a
water sample. As used herein, it is an expression of the ability of
the water to conduct an electric current. For example, freshly
distilled water has a conductance of 0.5-2 .mu.S/cm, whereas that
of potable water generally is 50-1500 .mu.S/cm. The method of
determining the specific conductance in the present invention
utilizes the following test: ASTM D5391-99 (2005): Standard Test
Method for Electrical Conductivity of Flowing High Purity Water
Samples.
[0043] In one embodiment, the liquor containing fabric care
compositions and at least partially softened water has a specific
conductance of less than about 200 .mu.S/cm, in another less than
about 150 .mu.S/cm, in yet another embodiment less than about 100
.mu.S/cm, in another less than 75 .mu.S/cm, in another less than 50
.mu.S/cm, in still another embodiment from about 0.01 .mu.S/cm to
about 200 .mu.S/cm, in yet still another embodiment from about 0.1
.mu.S/cm to about 100 .mu.S/cm, in even still another embodiment
from about 1 .mu.S/cm to about 50 .mu.S/cm.
Uses of Compositions of the Invention in Relation to Form
[0044] As used herein, "fabric care compositions" include fabric
care compositions for handwash, machine wash and other purposes
including fabric care additive compositions and compositions
suitable for use in the soaking and/or pretreatment of stained
fabrics.
Composition Formulations
[0045] The compositions of the present invention may contain one or
more of the following ingredients.
Perfume Compositions
[0046] In one embodiment, the perfume compositions of the present
invention are incorporated into the fabric care compositions of the
present invention. For example, the perfume compositions of the
present invention may be premixed prior to adding to the fabric
care compositions of the present invention. In another embodiment,
the perfume compositions of the present invention are added to the
washing zone concurrently with the fabric care compositions. In yet
another embodiment, the perfume components are added after the
fabric care compositions are added to the washing zone.
[0047] In one embodiment, the level of perfume composition in the
fabric care composition is from about 0.0001% to about 2% or
higher, e.g., to about 10%; in another embodiment from about
0.0002% to about 0.8%, in another embodiment from about 0.003% to
about 0.6%, in another embodiment from about 0.005% to about 0.5%
by weight of the fabric care composition.
[0048] In one embodiment, the level of fabric substantive perfume
ingredients in the perfume compositions of the present invention is
from about 0.0001% to about 99%, in another embodiment from about
0.01% to about 50%, in another embodiment from about 0.2% to about
30%, in another embodiment from about 1% to about 20%, in another
embodiment from about 2% to about 10% by weight of the composition
of the perfume composition.
Stabilizer
[0049] In one embodiment, compositions of the present invention
include a stabilizer. Suitable levels of this component are in the
range from about 0.01% to about 20%, more preferably from about
0.1% to about 10% by weight of the composition. In another
embodiment, the stabilizers when present at less than 10%, in
another embodiment less than 5%, in another embodiment less than
2%, in another embodiment, less than 1%, in another embodiment,
less than 0.1%, in another embodiment from about 0.01% to about 2%,
in another embodiment form about 1% to 10% of the composition.
[0050] Stabilizers suitable for use herein can be selected from
thickening stabilizers. These include gums and other similar
polysaccharides, for example gellan gum, carrageenan gum, and other
known types of thickeners and rheological additives other than
highly polyanionic types; thus conventional clays are not
included.
[0051] Suitable stabilizers also include hydroxyl-containing
stabilizing agent, including a trihydroxystearin, hydrogenated oil
or a variation thereof.
[0052] The crystalline, hydroxyl-containing stabilizing agent
typically is present in the compositions of the present invention
at a level of from about 0.1% to about 10%, in another embodiment
from about 0.1% to about 3%, in another embodiment from about 0.3%
to about 2% by weight of the composition.
[0053] Crystalline, hydroxyl-containing stabilizing agents can be
fatty acid, fatty ester or fatty soap water-insoluble wax-like
substance.
[0054] The crystalline, hydroxyl-containing stabilizing agents in
accordance with the present invention in one embodiment are
derivatives of castor oil, especially hydrogenated castor oil
derivatives such as castor wax. Commercially available crystalline,
hydroxyl-containing stabilizing agents include THIXCIN.RTM. from
Rheox, Inc.
[0055] Other stabilizers useful herein include gum-type polymers
(e.g. xanthan gum), polyvinyl alcohol and derivatives thereof,
cellulose and derivatives thereof and tamarind gum (preferably
consisting of xyloglucan polymers), guar gum, locust bean gum
(preferably consisting of galactomannan polymers), and other
industrial gums and polymers, which include, but are not limnited
to, Tara, Fenugreek, Aloe, Chia, Flaxseed, Psyllium seed, quince
seed, xanthan, gellan, welan, rhamsan, dextran, curdlan, pullulan,
scleroglucan, schizophyllan, chitin, hydroxyalkyl cellulose,
arabinan (preferably from sugar beets), de-branched arabinan
(preferably from sugar beets), arabinoxylan (preferably from rye
and wheat flour), galactan (preferably from lupin and potatoes),
pectic galactan (preferably from potatoes), galactomannan
(preferably from carob, and including both low and high
viscosities), glucomannan, lichenan (preferably from icelandic
moss), mannan (preferably from ivory nuts), pachyman,
rhamnogalacturonan, acacia gum, agar, alginates, carrageenan,
chitosan, clavan, hyaluronic acid, heparin, inulin, cellodextrins,
carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), dextrans, dextrins,
ethylhydroxyethylcellulose (EHEC), guar, hydroxyethylcellulose
(HEC), hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC), hydroxybutylcellulose (HBC),
karaya, larch, methylcellulose (MC), tamarind, scleroglucan,
xanthan, carboxymethylhydroxyethylcellulose (CMHEC), methoxypropyl
methyl cellulose (MPMC), hexylcarboxymethyl cellulose,
C.sub.12-C.sub.20 alkyl carboxymethylcellulose,
methylhydroxyethylcellulose (MHEC), methylhydroxypropylcellulose
(MHPC), hydroxyethylmethylcellulose (HEMC),
hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), hydroxybutylmethylcellulose
(HBMC) and mixtures thereof.
[0056] The stabilizer is in one embodiment present at a level of
from 0.01% to 10%, most preferably from 0.1% to 3%.
Surfactant
[0057] Surfactants, as used herein, include anionic, nonionic,
cationic, zwitterionic and/or amphoteric surfactants. In one
embodiment, the surfactants are present at greater than 10%, in
another embodiment greater than 15%, in another embodiment from
about 15% to about 60%, in another embodiment, from about 17% to
about 55%, in another embodiment from about 20% to about 50% of the
composition. Useful anionic surfactants include the water-soluble
salts, particularly the alkali metal, ammonium and alkylolammonium
(e.g., monoethanolammonium or triethanolammonium) salts, of organic
sulfuric reaction products having in their molecular structure an
alkyl group containing from about 10 to about 20 carbon atoms and a
sulfonic acid or sulfuric acid ester group. (Included in the term
"alkyl" is the alkyl portion of aryl groups.) Examples of this
group of synthetic surfactants are the alkyl sulfates, especially
those obtained by sulfating the higher alcohols (C8-18 carbon
atoms) such as those produced by reducing the glycerides of tallow
or coconut oil.
[0058] Other anionic surfactants herein are the water-soluble salts
of: paraffin sulfonates containing from about 8 to about 24
(preferably about 12 to 18) carbon atoms; alkyl glyceryl ether
sulfonates, especially those ethers of C8-18 alcohols (e.g., those
derived from tallow and coconut oil); alkyl phenol ethylene oxide
ether sulfates containing from about 1 to about 4 units of ethylene
oxide per molecule and from about 8 to about 12 carbon atoms in the
alkyl group; and alkyl ethylene oxide ether sulfates containing
about 1 to about 4 units of ethylene oxide per molecule and from
about 10 to about 20 carbon atoms in the alkyl group.
[0059] Other useful anionic surfactants herein include the
water-soluble salts of esters of .alpha.-sulfonated fatty acids
containing from about 6 to 20 carbon atoms in the fatty acid group
and from about 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the ester group;
water-soluble salts of 2-acyloxy-alkane-1-sulfo- nic acids
containing from about 2 to 9 carbon atoms in the acyl group and
from about 9 to about 23 carbon atoms in the alkane moiety;
water-soluble salts of olefin sulfonates containing from about 12
to 24 carbon atoms; and .beta.-alkyloxy alkane sulfonates
containing from about 1 to 3 carbon atoms in the alkyl group and
from about 8 to 20 carbon atoms in the alkane moiety.
[0060] Particularly preferred anionic surfactants herein are the
alkyl polyethoxylate sulfates of the formula:
RO(C.sub.2H.sub.4O).sub.xSO.sub.3.sup.-M.sup.+
[0061] wherein R is an alkyl chain having from about 10 to about 22
carbon atoms, saturated or unsaturated, and the longest linear
portion of the alkyl chain is 15 carbon atoms or less on the
average, M is a cation which makes the compound water-soluble,
especially an alkali metal, ammonium or substituted ammonium
cation, and x is from 1 to about 15. The surfactant component of
the present compositions preferably comprises from about 60% to
about 100%, by weight of the surfactant component, of an alkyl
polyethoxylate sulfate, preferably at least about 70%, more
preferably at least about 80%.
[0062] Other preferred anionic surfactants are the non-ethoxylated
C12-15 primary and secondary alkyl sulfates. Under cold water
washing conditions, i.e., less than about 65.degree. F.
(18.3.degree. C.), it is preferred that there be a mixture of such
ethoxylated and non-ethoxylated alkyl sulfates.
[0063] Mixtures of the alkyl sulfates with the above-described
paraffin sulfonates, alkyl glyceryl ether sulfonates and esters of
a .alpha.-sulfonated fatty acids, are also preferred.
[0064] The anionic surfactant component herein may comprise low
levels of alkyl benzene sulfonates, but must comprise no more than
about 6%, preferably less than about 3%, more preferably less than
about 2% of alkyl benzene sulfonates. Most preferably, the
detergent compositions herein contain no alkyl benzene sulfonates.
These include alkylbenzene sulfonates in which the alkyl group
contains from about 9 to about 15 carbon atoms, in straight chain
or branched chain configuration, e.g., those of the type described
in U.S. Pat. No. 2,220,099 and U.S. Pat. No. 2,477,383. Especially
troublesome are linear straight chain alkylbenzene sulfonates in
which the average number of carbon atoms in the alkyl group is from
about 11 to about 14.
[0065] The laundry detergent compositions of the present invention
may further contain an ethoxylated nonionic surfactant. The
compositions of the present invention may contain up to about 30%,
in one embodiment from about 0.01% to about 20%, alternatively from
about 0.1% to about 10%, by weight of the detergent composition, of
an ethoxylated nonionic surfactant. These materials are described
in U.S. Pat. No. 4,285,841, Barrat et al, issued Aug. 25, 1981. In
one embodiment, the nonionic surfactant is selected from the
ethoxylated alcohols and ethoxylated alkyl phenols of the formula
R(OC.sub.2H.sub.4).sub.n OH, wherein R is selected from the group
consisting of aliphatic hydrocarbon radicals containing from about
8 to about 15 carbon atoms and alkyl phenyl radicals in which the
alkyl groups contain from about 8 to about 12 carbon atoms, and the
average value of n is from about 5 to about 15. These surfactants
are more fully described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,284,532, Leikhim et al,
issued Aug. 18, 1981. In one embodiment, the nonionic surfactant is
selected from ethoxylated alcohols having an average of from about
10 to about 15 carbon atoms in the alcohol and an average degree of
ethoxylation of from about 3 to about 12 moles of ethylene oxide
per mole of alcohol.
[0066] Suitable nonionic surfactants useful herein can comprise any
of the conventional nonionic surfactant types typically used in
liquid and/or solid detergent products. These include alkoxylated
fatty alcohols and amine oxide surfactants. Preferred for use in
the liquid detergent products herein are those nonionic surfactants
which are normally liquid.
[0067] Suitable nonionic surfactants for use herein include the
alcohol alkoxylate nonionic surfactants. Alcohol alkoxylates are
materials which correspond to the general formula:
R.sup.1(C.sub.mH.sub.2mO).sub.nOH wherein R.sup.1 is a
C.sub.8-C.sub.16 alkyl group, m is from 2 to 4, and n ranges from
about 2 to 12. Preferably R.sup.1 is an alkyl group, which may be
primary or secondary, that contains from about 9 to 15 carbon
atoms, more preferably from about 10 to 14 carbon atoms. In one
embodiment, the alkoxylated fatty alcohols will also be ethoxylated
materials that contain from about 2 to 12 ethylene oxide moieties
per molecule, alternatively from about 3 to 10 ethylene oxide
moieties per molecule.
[0068] The alkoxylated fatty alcohol materials useful in the
detergent compositions herein will frequently have a
hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) which ranges from about 3 to
17. In one embodiment, the HLB of this material will range from
about 6 to 15, alternatively from about 8 to 15. Alkoxylated fatty
alcohol nonionic surfactants have been marketed under the
tradenames Neodol and Dobanol by the Shell Chemical Company.
[0069] Another suitable type of nonionic surfactant useful herein
comprises the amine oxide surfactants. Amine oxides are materials
which are often referred to in the art as "semi-polar" nonionics.
Amine oxides have the formula:
R(EO).sub.x(PO).sub.y(BO).sub.zN(O)(CH.sub.2R').sub.2.q- H.sub.2O.
In this formula, R is a relatively long-chain hydrocarbyl moiety
which can be saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched, and can
contain from 8 to 20, in one embodiment from 10 to 16 carbon atoms,
and is alternatively a C.sub.12-C.sub.16 primary alkyl. R' is a
short-chain moiety, and may be selected from hydrogen, methyl and
--CH.sub.2OH. When x+y+z is different from 0, EO is ethyleneoxy, PO
is propyleneneoxy and BO is butyleneoxy. Amine oxide surfactants
are illustrated by C.sub.12-14 alkyldimethyl amine oxide.
[0070] Non-limiting examples of nonionic surfactants useful herein
include: a) C.sub.12-C.sub.18 alkyl ethoxylates, such as,
NEODOL.RTM. nonionic surfactants from Shell; b) C.sub.6-C.sub.12
alkyl phenol alkoxylates wherein the alkoxylate units are a mixture
of ethyleneoxy and propyleneoxy units; c) C.sub.12-C.sub.18 alcohol
and C.sub.6-C.sub.12 alkyl phenol condensates with ethylene
oxide/propylene oxide block polymers such as Pluronic.RTM. from
BASF; d) C.sub.14-C.sub.22 mid-chain branched alcohols, BA, as
discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,150,322; e) C.sub.14-C.sub.22
mid-chain branched alkyl alkoxylates, BAE.sub.x, wherein x 1-30, as
discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,153,577, U.S. Pat. No. 6,020,303 and
U.S. Pat. No. 6,093,856; f) Alkylpolysaccharides as discussed in
U.S. Pat. No. 4,565,647 to Llenado, issued Jan. 26, 1986;
specifically alkylpolyglycosides as discussed in U.S. Pat. No.
4,483,780 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,483,779; g) Polyhydroxy fatty acid
amides as discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,332,528, WO 92/06162, WO
93/19146, WO 93/19038, and WO 94/09099; and h) ether capped
poly(oxyalkylated) alcohol surfactants as discussed in U.S. Pat.
No. 6,482,994 and WO 01/42408.
[0071] In another embodiment, surfactants and surfactant
compositions, including anionic, nonionic, and zwitterionic
surfactants, that are highly hydrophobic and/or hardness intolerant
are preferred. Such preferred surfactants and surfactant
compositions can be described by a hydrophilic index (HI) value of
10 or lower, more preferably 8 or lower, and most preferably 6 or
lower.
[0072] The Hydrophilic Index for a system of mixed surfactants can
be calculated as follows: 1 HI C = y ( weight % of surfactant y in
the surfactant system ) .times. the ( HI S for surfactant y ) . ( 1
)
[0073] HI.sub.S is calculated for each of the individual
surfactants in the mixture as follows:
HI.sub.S=20.times.(the molecular weight of the head group)/(the
molecular weight the surfactant). (2)
[0074] In the case of ionic surfactants, the HIS in equation (2)
are calculated for the surfactant ions and the weight percents in
equation (1) are for the corresponding surfactant ions.
[0075] Examples of said highly hydrophobic surfactants include, but
are not limited to, C.sub.12-C.sub.20 fatty acids,
C.sub.12-C.sub.24 linear and branched alkylbenzene sulfonates,
C.sub.14-C.sub.24 linear and branched alkyl polyethoxylate
sulfates, C.sub.12-C.sub.24 linear and branched alkyl sulfates,
C.sub.12-C.sub.24 linear and branched amine oxides,
C.sub.12-C.sub.24 linear and branched alkyl ethoxylates and
propoxylates.
Nitrogen-Containing Detersive Surfactant
[0076] Suitable levels of this component, when present, are in the
range from about 0.01% to about 20%, in another embodiment from
about 0.1% to about 15%, typically from about 1% to about 10% by
weight of the composition. The nitrogen-containing detersive
surfactant herein is in one embodiment selected from cationic
nitrogen-containing detersive surfactants, amine oxide surfactants,
amine and amide-functional detersive surfactants (including fatty
amidoalkylamines) and mixtures thereof. Different surfactants of
this type can be combined in varying proportions.
[0077] i) Cationic nitrogen containing detersive
surfactants--Cationic nitrogen-containing detersive surfactants
suitable for use in the compositions of the present invention are
typically water-soluble and have at least one quaternized nitrogen
and one long-chain hydrocarbyl group. Examples of such cationic
surfactants include the water-soluble alkyltrimethylamrnonium salts
or their hydroxyalkyl substituted analogs, including compounds
having the formula R.sub.1R.sub.2R.sub.3R.sub.4N.sup.- +X.sup.-
wherein R.sub.1 is C.sub.8-C.sub.16 alkyl, each of R.sub.2, R.sub.3
and R.sub.4 is independently C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.4
hydroxy alkyl, benzyl, and -(C.sub.2H.sub.4O).sub.xH where x has a
value from 2 to 5, and X is an anion. In one embodiment, not more
than one of R.sub.2, R.sub.3 or R.sub.4 is a benzyl. In one
embodiment the alkyl chain length for R.sub.1 is C.sub.12-C.sub.15.
Groups for R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 include methyl and
hydroxyethyl and the anion X may be selected from halide,
methosulfate, acetate and phosphate.
[0078] ii) Amine Oxide Surfactants--These surfactants have the
formula:
R(EO).sub.x(PO).sub.y(BO).sub.zN(O)(CH.sub.2R').sub.2.qH.sub.2O
(I). R is a relatively long-chain hydrocarbyl moiety which can be
saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched, and can contain from
about 8 to about 20, in another embodiment from about 10 to about
16 carbon atoms, and is in another embodiment from C12-C16 primary
alkyl. R' is a short-chain moiety selected from hydrogen, methyl
and --CH.sub.2OH. When x+y+z is different from 0, EO is
ethyleneoxy, PO is propyleneneoxy and BO is butyleneoxy. Amine
oxide surfactants are illustrated by C.sub.12-14 alkyldimethyl
amine oxide.
[0079] iii) Amine and Amide Functional Detersive Surfactants--One
embodiment of these surfactants is amine surfactants, another
embodiment includes an amine surfactant having the formula
RX(CH.sub.2).sub.xNR.sup.- 2R.sup.3 wherein R is C.sub.6-C.sub.12
alkyl; X is a bridging group which is selected from NH, CONH, COO,
or O or X can be absent; x is from 2 to 4; R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are
each independently selected from H, C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkyl, or
(CH.sub.2--CH.sub.2--O(R.sub.4)) wherein R.sub.4 is H or methyl.
Yet another embodiment of surfactants of this type include those
selected from the group consisting of decyl amine, dodecyl amine,
C.sub.8-C.sub.12 bis(hydroxyethyl)amine, C.sub.8-C.sub.12
bis(hydroxypropyl)amine, C.sub.8-C.sub.12 amido propyl dimethyl
amine, and mixtures thereof.
[0080] This group of surfactants also includes fatty acid amide
surfactants having the formula RC(O)NR'.sub.2 wherein R is an alkyl
group containing from about 10 to about 20 carbon atoms and each R'
is a short-chain moiety preferably selected from the group
consisting of hydrogen and C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkyl and hydroxyalkyl.
The C.sub.10-C.sub.18 N-alkyl polyhydroxy fatty acid amides can
also be used. Typical examples include the C.sub.12-C.sub.18
N-methylglucamides. See WO 92/06154. Other sugar-derived
nitrogen-containing nonionic surfactants include the N-alkoxy
polyhydroxy fatty acid amides, such as C.sub.10-C.sub.18
N-(3-methoxypropyl) glucamide.
Coupling Agent
[0081] Coupling agents suitable for use herein include fatty amines
other than those which have marked surfactant character or are
conventional solvents (such as the lower alkanolamines). Examples
of these coupling agents include hexylamine, octylamine, nonylamine
and their C1-C3 secondary and tertiary analogs. Levels of this
component, when present, are suitably in the range of from about
0.1% to about 20%, in another embodiment from about 0.5% to about
5% by weight of the composition.
[0082] A particularly useful group of coupling agents is selected
from the group consisting of molecules which consist of two polar
groups separated from each other by at least 5, in another
embodiment 6, aliphatic carbon atoms; in another embodiment
compounds in this group are free from nitrogen and include
[0083] 1,4 Cyclo Hexane Di Methanol (CHDM), 1,6 Hexanediol, 1,7
Heptanediol and mixtures thereof.
[0084] 1,4 Cyclo Hexane Di Methanol may be present in either its
cis configuration, its trans configuration or a mixture of both
configurations.
Detergent Builder
[0085] In general any known detergent builder is useful herein,
including inorganic types such as zeolites, layer silicates, and
phosphates such as the alkali metal polyphosphates, and organic
types including especially the alkali metal salts of citrate,
2,2-oxydisuccinate, carboxymethyloxysuccinate, nitrilotriacetate
and the like. Phosphate-free, water-soluble organic builders which
have relatively low molecular weight, e.g., below about 1,000, are
highly preferred for use herein. Other suitable builders include
sodium carbonate and sodium silicates having varying ratios of
SiO.sub.2:Na.sub.2O content, e.g., 1:1 to 3:1 with 2:1 ratio being
typical.
[0086] The detergent compositions herein may also optionally
contain low levels of an organic detergent builder material which
serves to counteract the effects of calcium, or other ion, water
hardness encountered during laundering/bleaching use of the
compositions herein. Detergent builders are described in U.S. Pat.
No. 4,321,165, Smith et al, issued Mar. 23, 1982. Examples of such
materials include the alkali metal, citrates, succinates,
malonates, carboxymethyl succinates, carboxylates, polycarboxylates
and polyacetyl carboxylates. Specific examples include sodium,
potassium and lithium salts of oxydisuccinic acid, mellitic acid,
benzene polycarboxylic acids C.sub.10-C.sub.22 fatty acids and
citric acid. Other examples are organic phosphonate type
sequestering agents such as those which have been sold by Monsanto
under the Dequest tradename and alkanehydroxy phosphonates. Citrate
salts and C.sub.12-C.sub.18 fatty acid soaps are highly preferred.
Preferred builders for use in liquid detergents herein are
described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,284,532, Leikhim et al, issued Aug.
18, 1981. A particularly preferred builder is citric acid.
[0087] Other suitable organic builders include the higher molecular
weight polymers and copolymers known to have builder properties.
For example, such materials include appropriate polyacrylic acid,
polymaleic acid, and polyacrylic/polymaleic acid copolymers and
their salts, such as those sold by BASF under the Sokalan
trademark.
[0088] If utilized, the composition may comprise up to 30%, in
another embodiment from about 1% to about 20%, in another
embodiment from about 3% to about 10%, by weight of the
composition, of the builder materials. In another embodiment, the
composition should comprise less than about 5%, in another
embodiment less than about 2%, in another embodiment, less than 1%,
of the builder materials. While all manner of detergent builders
known in the art can be used in the detergent compositions of the
present invention, the type and level of builder should be selected
such that the final composition has an initial pH of from about 7.0
to about 9.0 at a concentration of from about 1% to about 10% by
weight in water at 20.degree. C.
Solvents, Hydrotropes and Phase Stabilizers
[0089] The detergent compositions herein may also optionally
contain low levels of materials which serve as phase stabilizers
and/or co-solvents for the liquid compositions herein. Materials of
this type include C.sub.1-C.sub.3 lower alkanols such as methanol,
ethanol and/or propanol. Lower C.sub.1-C.sub.3 alkanolamines such
as mono-, di- and triethanolamines can also be used, by themselves
or in combination with the lower alkanols. If utilized, phase
stabilizers/co-solvents can comprise from about 0.1% to 5.0%by
weight of the compositions herein. In one embodiment, the phase
stabilizers and/or co-solvents are present at less than 10%, in
another embodiment less than 5%, in another embodiment less than
2%, in another embodiment, less than 1%, in another embodiment,
less than 0.1%, in another embodiment from about 0.01% to about 2%,
in another embodiment form about 1% to 10% of the composition.
Scavenger Agent
[0090] The compositions of the present invention may comprise at
least about 0.001%, in another embodiment from about 0.5% to about
10%, in another embodiment to about 5% by weight, of one or more
scavenger agents. Scavenger agents suitable for use herein are
selected from scavengers selected to capture fugitive dyes and/or
anionic surfactants and/or soils.
[0091] Preferred scavenger agents are selected from the group
consisting of fixing agents for anionic dyes, complexing agents for
anionic surfactants, clay soil control agents and mixtures thereof.
These materials can be combined at any suitable ratio. Suitable
compounds are included in commonly patents to Gosselink et al and
are commercially available from BASF, Ciba and others.
[0092] i) Fixing Agents for Anionic dyes--Dye fixing agents,
"fixatives", or "fixing agents" are well-known, commercially
available materials which are designed to improve the appearance of
dyed fabrics by minimizing the loss of dye from fabrics due to
washing. Not included within this definition are components which
can in some embodiments serve as fabric softener actives.
[0093] Many fixing agents for anionic dyes are cationic, and are
based on quaternized nitrogen compounds or on nitrogen compounds
having a strong cationic charge.
[0094] Fixing agents are available under various trade names from
several suppliers. Representative examples include: CROSCOLOR PMF
(July 1981, Code No. 7894) and CROSCOLOR NOFF (January 1988, Code
No. 8544) ex Crosfield; INDOSOL E-50 (Feb. 27, 1984, Ref. No.
6008.35.84; polyethyleneimine-based) ex Sandoz; SANDOFIX TPS, ex
Sandoz. Additional non-limiting examples include SANDOFIX SWE (a
cationic resinous compound) ex Sandoz, REWIN SRF, REWIN SRF-O and
REWIN DWR ex CHT-Beitlich GMBH; Tinofix.RTM. ECO, Tinofix.RTM. FRD
and Solfin.RTM. ex Ciba-Geigy and described in WO 99/14301. Other
fixing agents for use in the compositions of the present invention
are CARTAFIX CB.RTM. ex Clariant and the cyclic amine based
polymers, oligomers or copolymers described in WO 99/14300.
[0095] Other fixing agents useful herein are described in
"Aftertreatments for Improving the Fastness of Dyes on Textile
Fibres", Christopher C. Cook, Rev. Prog. Coloration, Vol. XII,
(1982). Dye fixing agents suitable for use in the present invention
are ammonium compounds such as fatty acid-diamine condensates,
inter alia the hydrochloride, acetate, methosulphate and benzyl
hydrochloride salts of diamine esters. Non-limiting examples
include oleyldiethyl aminoethylamide, oleylmethyl diethylenediamine
methosulphate, and monostearylethylene diaminotrimethylammonium
methosulphate. In addition, N-oxides other than surfactant-active
N-oxides, more particularly polymeric N-oxides such as
polyvinylpyridine N-oxide, are useful as fixing agents herein.
Other useful fixing agents include derivatives of polymeric
alkyldiamines, polyamine-cyanuric chloride condensates, and
aminated glycerol dichlorohydrins.
[0096] Dye transfer inhibiting agents also include polyvinyl
pyrrolidone polymers, polyamine N-oxide polymers, copolymers of
N-vinylpyrrolidone and N-vinylimidazole, manganese phthalocyanine,
peroxidases, and mixtures thereof. If used, these agents typically
comprise from about 0.01% to about 10% by weight of the
composition, preferably from about 0.01% to about 5%, and more
preferably from about 0.05% to about 2%.
[0097] More specifically, the polyamine N-oxide polymers preferred
for use herein contain units having the following structural
formula: R--A.sub.x --Z; wherein Z is a polymerizable unit to which
an N--O group can be attached or the N--O group can form part of
the polymerizable unit or the N--O group can be attached to both
units; A is one of the following structures: --NC(O)--, --C(O)O--,
--S--, --O--, --N=; x is 0 or 1; and R is aliphatic, ethoxylated
aliphatics, aromatics, heterocyclic or alicyclic groups or any
combination thereof to which the nitrogen of the N--O group can be
attached or the N--O group is part of these groups. Preferred
polyamine N-oxides are those wherein R is a heterocyclic group such
as pyridine, pyrrole, imidazole, pyrrolidine, piperidine and
derivatives thereof.
[0098] The N--O group can be represented by the following general
structures: [Figure] wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 are
aliphatic, aromatic, heterocyclic or alicyclic groups or
combinations thereof; x, y and z are 0 or 1; and the nitrogen of
the N--O group can be attached or form part of any of the
aforementioned groups. The amine oxide unit of the polyamine
N-oxides has a pKa<10, preferably pKa<7, more preferred
pKa<6.
[0099] Any polymer backbone can be used as long as the amine oxide
polymer formed is water-soluble and has dye transfer inhibiting
properties. Examples of suitable polymeric backbones are
polyvinyls, polyalkylenes, polyesters, polyethers, polyamide,
polyimides, polyacrylates and mixtures thereof. These polymers
include random or block copolymers where one monomer type is an
amine N-oxide and the other monomer type is an N-oxide. The amine
N-oxide polymers typically have a ratio of amine to the amine
N-oxide of 10:1 to 1:1,000,000. However, the number of amine oxide
groups present in the polyamine oxide polymer can be varied by
appropriate copolymerization or by an appropriate degree of
N-oxidation. The polyamine oxides can be obtained in almost any
degree of polymerization. Typically, the average molecular weight
is within the range of 500 to 1,000,000; more preferred 1,000 to
500,000; most preferred 5,000 to 100,000. This preferred class of
materials can be referred to as "PVNO".
[0100] The most preferred polyamine N-oxide useful in the rinse
added compositions and processes herein is
poly(4-vinylpyridine-N-oxide) which as an average molecular weight
of about 50,000 and an amine to amine N-oxide ratio of about
1:4.
[0101] Copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone and N-vinylimidazole
polymers (referred to as a class as "PVPVI") are also preferred for
use herein. Preferably the PVPVI has an average molecular weight
range from 5,000 to 1,000,000, more preferably from 5,000 to
200,000, and most preferably from 10,000 to 20,000. (The average
molecular weight range is determined by light scattering as
described in Barth, et al., Chemical Analysis, Vol 113. "Modern
Methods of Polymer Characterization", the disclosures of which are
incorporated herein by reference.) The PVPVI copolymers typically
have a molar ratio of N-vinylimidazole to N-vinylpyrrolidone from
1:1 to 0.2: 1, more preferably from 0.8:1 to 0.3: 1, most
preferably from 0.6:1 to 0.4: 1. These copolymers can be either
linear or branched.
[0102] The present compositions also may employ a
polyvinylpyrrolidone ("PVP") having an average molecular weight of
from about 5,000 to about 400,000, preferably from about 5,000 to
about 200,000, and more preferably from about 5,000 to about
50,000. PVP's are known to persons skilled in the detergent field;
see, for example, EP-A-262,897 and EP-A-256,696, incorporated
herein by reference. Compositions containing PVP can also contain
polyethylene glycol ("PEG") having an average molecular weight from
about 500 to about 100,000, preferably from about 1,000 to about
10,000. Preferably, the ratio of PEG to PVP on a ppm basis
delivered in wash solutions is from about 2:1 to about 50: 1, and
more preferably from about 3:1 to about 10:1.
[0103] ii) Scavenger agents for anionic surfactants and/or
soils--Suitable scavenger agents for anionic surfactants and/or
soils include alkoxylated polyalkyleneimines and/or quaternized
derivatives thereof.
Fabric Softeners
[0104] Fabric softeners, when present, are suitably at levels of up
to about 30% by weight of the composition, more typically from
about 1% to about 20%, in another embodiment from about 2% to about
10% in certain embodiments. In one embodiment, the fabric softeners
are present at less than 10%, in another embodiment less than 5%,
in another embodiment less than 2%, in another embodiment, less
than 1%, in another embodiment, less than 0.1%, in another
embodiment from about 0.01% to about 2%, in another embodiment form
about 1% to 10% of the composition. Suitable fabric softeners for
use in the present invention include all the current commercial
quaternary long-chain softeners, especially at least partially
unsaturated esterquats with varying iodine value. Suitable fabric
softeners more generally include fabric softening compounds which
are cationic, water insoluble quaternary ammonium compounds
comprising a polar head group and two long hydrocarbyl moieties, in
one embodiment selected from alkyl, alkenyl and mixtures thereof,
wherein each such hydrocarbyl moiety has an average chain length
equal to or greater than C.sub.12, in another embodiment greater
than C.sub.14, in another embodiment greater than C.sub.16, In
another embodiment, at least 50% of each long chain alkyl or
alkenyl group is predominantly linear. In one embodiment, an
overall chain length is about C.sub.18, though mixtures of
chainlengths having non-zero proportions of lower, e.g., C.sub.14,
C.sub.16 and some higher, e.g., C.sub.20 chains can be quite
desirable. The cationic softener can suitably be distearyl dimethyl
ammonium chloride or unsaturated analogs thereof, in another
embodiment for the environment, the quaternary ammonium fabric
softener is selected to be biodegradable. This property is present,
for example, in the common commercial esterquat fabric softeners
such as di(tallowyloxyethyl)dimethy- l ammonium chloride.
[0105] In one embodiment, the fabric softening compound is a
quaternary ammonium esterquat compound having two C.sub.12-22 alkyl
or alkenyl groups connected to a quaternary ammonium moiety via at
least one ester moiety, in another embodiment two such ester
moieties. One esterquat ammonium fabric softener for use in the
present compositions has the formula:
[0106]
{(R.sup.1).sub.2N((CH.sub.2).sub.nER.sup.2).sub.2}.sup.+X.sup.-
wherein each R.sup.1 group is independently selected from C.sub.1-4
alkyl, hydroxyalkyl or C.sub.2-4 alkenyl; and wherein each R.sup.2
is independently selected from C.sub.8-28 alkyl or alkenyl groups;
E is an ester moiety i.e., --OC(O)- or --C(O)O--, n is an integer
from 0-5, and X.sup.- is a suitable anion, for example chloride,
methosulfate and mixtures thereof.
[0107] A second type of quaternary ammonium material can be
represented by the formula:
{(R.sup.1).sub.3N(CH.sub.2).sub.nCH(O(O)CR.sup.2)CH.sub.2O(O-
)CR.sup.2}+X.sup.- wherein each R.sup.1 group is independently
selected from C.sub.1-4 alkyl, hydroxyalkyl or C.sub.2-4 alkenyl;
each R.sup.2 is independently selected from C.sub.8-28 alkyl or
alkenyl groups; n is an integer from 0-5; and X.sup.- is a suitable
anion, for example chloride, methosulfate and mixtures thereof.
This latter class can be exemplified by 1,2 bis[hardened
tallowoyloxy]-3-trimethylammonium propane chloride.
[0108] Esterquat fabric softeners as available in commerce include
materials comprising varying proportions of monoester in addition
to diester.
[0109] Suitable fabric softeners herein include softening compounds
having a solubility less than 1.times.10.sup.-3 wt %, in another
embodiment less than 1.times.10.sup.-4 wt %, in another embodiment,
from 1.times.10.sup.-6 wt % to 1.times.10.sup.-8 wt %, in
demineralised water at 20 degrees C.
Detersive Enzyme
[0110] Enzymes can be included in the formulations herein for a
wide variety of fabric laundering purposes, including removal of
protein-based, carbohydrate-based, or triglyceride-based stains,
for example, and/or for fabric restoration. Examples of suitable
enzymes include, but are not limited to, hemicellulases,
peroxidases, proteases, cellulases, xylanases, lipases,
phospholipases, esterases, cutinases, pectinases, keratanases,
reductases, oxidases, phenoloxidases, lipoxygenases, ligninases,
pullulanases, tannases, pentosanases, malanases, .beta.-glucanases,
arabinosidases, hyaluronidase, chondroitinase, laccase, and known
amylases, or combinations thereof. Other types of enzymes may also
be included. They may be of any suitable origin, such as vegetable,
animal, bacterial, fungal and yeast origin. However, their choice
is governed by several factors such as pH-activity and/or stability
optima, thermostability, stability versus active detergents,
builders and so on. A preferred enzyme combination comprises a
cocktail of conventional detersive enzymes like protease, lipase,
cutinase and/or cellulase in conjunction with amylase. Detersive
enzymes are described in greater detail in U.S. Pat. No.
6,579,839.Particularly preferred compositions herein contain from
about 0.05% to about 2% by weight of detersive enzymes.
[0111] Enzymes, when present, comprise from about 0.001% to about
10%, in another embodiment form about 0.01% to 8%, in another
embodiment form about 0.1% to 6% in another embodiment form about
1% to 5% by weight of the composition. Protease enzymes are usually
present in such commercial preparations at levels sufficient to
provide from 0.005 to 0.1 Anson units (AU) of activity per gram of
composition.
[0112] Proteases useful herein include those like subtilisins from
Bacillus [e.g. subtilis, lentus, licheniformis, amyloliquefaciens
(BPN, BPN'), alcalophilus,] e.g. Esperase.RTM., Alcalase.RTM.,
Everlase.RTM. and Savinase.RTM. (Novozymes), BLAP and variants
[Henkel]. Further proteases are described in EP130756, WO91/06637,
WO95/10591 and WO99/20726.
[0113] Amylases (.alpha. and/or .beta.) are described in WO
94/02597 and WO 96/23873. Commercial examples are Purafect Ox
Am.RTM. [Genencor] and Termamyl.RTM., Natalase.RTM., Ban.RTM.,
Fungamyl.RTM. and Duramyl.RTM. [all ex Novozymes]. Amylases also
include, for example, .alpha.-amylases described in British Patent
Specification No. 1,296,839 (Novo), RAPIDASE, International
Bio-Synthetics, Inc.
[0114] The cellulase usable in the present invention include both
bacterial or fungal cellulase. Preferably, they will have a pH
optimum of between 5 and 9.5. Suitable cellulases are disclosed in
U.S. Pat. No. 4,435,307, Barbesgoard et al, issued Mar. 6, 1984.
Cellulases useful herein include bacterial or fungal cellulases,
e.g. produced by Humicola insolens, particularly DSM 1800, e.g. 50
Kda and .sup.-43 kD [Carezyme.RTM.]. Also suitable cellulases are
the EGIII cellulases from Trichoderma longibrachiatum.
[0115] Suitable lipases include those produced by Pseudomonas and
Chromobacter groups. The LIPOLASE enzyme derived from Humicola
lanuginosa and commercially available from Novo (see also EPO
41,947) is a preferred lipase for use herein. Also preferred are
e.g., Lipolase Ultra.RTM., Lipoprime.RTM. and Lipex.RTM. from
Novozymes. Also suitable are cutinases [EC 3.1.1.50] and esterases.
See also lipases in Japanese Patent Application 53,20487, laid open
to public inspection on Feb. 24, 1978. This lipase is available
from Areario Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Nagoya, Japan, under the
trade name Lipase P "Amano," hereinafter referred to as "Amano-P."
Other commercial lipases include Amano-CES, lipases ex Chromobacter
viscosum, e.g. Chromobacter viscosum var. lipolyticum NRRLB 3673,
commercially available from Toyo Jozo Co., Tagata, Japan; and
further Chromobacter viscosum lipases from U.S. Biochemical Corp.,
U.S.A. and Diosynth Co., The Netherlands, and lipases ex
Pseudomonas gladioli.
[0116] Carbohydrases useful herein include e.g. mannanase (for
example, those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,060,299), pectate lyase
(for example, those disclosed in PCT Application WO99/27083),
cyclomaltodextringlucanot- ransferase (for example, those disclosed
in PCT Application WO96/33267), xyloglucanase (for example, those
disclosed in PCT Application WO99/02663).
[0117] Bleaching enzymes useful herein with enhancers include e.g.
peroxidases, laccases, oxygenases, (e.g. catechol 1,2 dioxygenase,
lipoxygenase (for example, those disclosed in PCT Application WO
95/26393), (non-heme) haloperoxidases.
[0118] A wide range of enzyme materials and means for their
incorporation into synthetic detergent compositions are also
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,553,139, issued Jan. 5, 1971 to
McCarty et al. Enzymes are further disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
4,101,457, Place et al, issued Jul. 18, 1978, and in U.S. Pat. No.
4,507,219, Hughes, issued Mar. 26, 1985. Enzyme materials useful
for liquid detergent formulations, and their incorporation into
such formulations, are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,261,868, Hora
et al, issued Apr. 14, 1981. Enzymes for use in detergents can be
stabilized by various techniques. Enzyme stabilization techniques
are disclosed and exemplified in U.S. Pat. No. 3,600,319, issued
Aug. 17, 1971 to Gedge, et al, and European Patent Application
Publication No. 0 199 405, Application No. 86200586.5, published
Oct. 29, 1986, Venegas. Enzyme stabilization systems are also
described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,519,570.
[0119] In one embodiment, the liquid compositions of the present
invention are substantially free of (i.e. contain no measurable
amount of) wild-type protease enzymes.
Enzyme Stabilizer
[0120] If an enzyme or enzymes are included in the compositions of
the present invention, it is preferred that the composition also
contain an enzyme stabilizer. Enzymes can be stabilized using any
known stabilizer system like calcium and/or magnesium compounds,
boron compounds and substituted boric acids, aromatic borate
esters, peptides and peptide derivatives, polyols, low molecular
weight carboxylates, relatively hydrophobic organic compounds [e.g.
certain esters, diakyl glycol ethers, alcohols or alcohol
alkoxylates], alkyl ether carboxylate in addition to a calcium ion
source, benzamidine hypochlorite, lower aliphatic alcohols and
carboxylic acids, N,N-bis(carboxymethyl) serine salts;
(meth)acrylic acid-(meth)acrylic acid ester copolymer and PEG;
lignin compound, polyamide oligomer, glycolic acid or its salts;
poly hexa methylene bi guanide or N,N-bis-3-amino-propyl-dodecyl
amine or salt; and mixtures thereof.
[0121] Additional stability can be provided by the presence of
various other an-disclosed stabilizers, especially borate species.
See Severson, U.S. Pat. No. 4,537,706. Typical detergents,
especially liquids, will comprise from about 1 to about 30,
preferably from about 2 to about 20, more preferably from about 5
to about 15, and most preferably from about 8 to about 12,
millimoles of calcium ion per liter of finished composition. This
can vary somewhat, depending on the amount of enzyme present and
its response to the calcium or magnesium ions. Any water-soluble
calcium or magnesium salt can be used as the source of calcium or
magnesium ions, including, but not limited to, calcium chloride,
calcium sulfate, calcium malate, calcium maleate, calcium
hydroxide, calcium formate, and calcium acetate, and the
corresponding magnesium salts. A small amount of calcium ion,
generally from about 0.05 to about 0.4 millimoles per liter, is
often also present in the composition due to calcium in the enzyme
slurry and formula water. In solid detergent compositions the
formulation may include a sufficient quantity of a water-soluble
calcium ion source to provide such amounts in the laundry liquor.
In the alternative, natural water hardness may suffice.
[0122] It is to be understood that the foregoing levels of calcium
and/or magnesium ions are sufficient to provide enzyme stability.
More calcium and/or magnesium ions can be added to the compositions
to provide an additional measure of grease removal performance.
Accordingly, as a general proposition the compositions herein will
typically comprise from about 0.05% to about 2% by weight of a
water-soluble source of calcium or magnesium ions, or both. The
amount can vary, of course, with the amount and type of enzyme
employed in the composition.
[0123] In a liquid composition, the degradation by the proteolytic
enzyme of second enzymes can be avoided by protease reversible
inhibitors [e.g. peptide or protein type, in particular the
modified subtilisin inhibitor of family VI and the plasminostrepin;
leupeptin, peptide trifluoromethyl ketones, peptide aldehydes.
Chelant
[0124] Suitable chelants for use herein include
nitrogen-containing, P-free aminocarboxylates such as EDDS, EDTA
and DTPA; aminophosphonates such as diethylenetriamine
pentamethylenephosphonic acid and, ethylenediamine
tetramethylenephosphonic acid; nitrogen-free phosphonates e.g.,
HEDP; and nitrogen or oxygen containing, P-free carboxylate-free
chelants such as compounds of the general class of certain
macrocyclic N-ligands such as those known for use in bleach
catalyst systems. Levels of chelant are typically lower than about
20%, in another embodiment, chelants, when present, are at levels
of from about 1% to about 15%. In another embodiment, the chelants
are present at less than 10%, in another embodiment less than 5%,
in another embodiment less than 2%, in another embodiment, less
than 1%, in another embodiment, less than 0.1%, in another
embodiment from about 0.01% to about 2%, in another embodiment form
about 1% to 10% of the composition.
Solvent System
[0125] The solvent system in the present compositions can be
anhydrous or hydrous; and can include water alone or mixtures of
organic solvents with water. Organic solvents include
1,2-propanediol, ethanol, glycerol and mixtures thereof. Other
lower alcohols, C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkanolamines such as
monoethanolamine and triethanolamine, can also be used. Solvent
systems can be absent, for example from anhydrous solid embodiments
of the invention, but more typically are present at levels in the
range of from about 0.1% to about 98%, in another embodiment at
least about 10% to about 95%, in another embodiment from about 25%
to about 75%.
Aqueous Liquid Carrier
[0126] The liquid detergent compositions according to the present
invention also contain an aqueous, non-surface active liquid
carrier. Generally the amount of the aqueous, non-surface active
liquid carrier employed in the compositions herein will be
relatively large. Preferably, the compositions of the present
invention comprise from about 40% to about 80% of an aqueous liquid
carrier.
[0127] The most cost effective type of aqueous, non-surface active
liquid carrier is, of course, water itself. Accordingly, the
aqueous, non-surface active liquid carrier component will generally
be mostly, if not completely, comprised of water. While other types
of water-miscible liquids, such alkanols, diols, other polyols,
ethers, amines, and the like, have been conventionally been added
to liquid detergent compositions as co-solvents or stabilizers, for
purposes of the present invention, the utilization of such
water-miscible liquids should be minimized to hold down compsotion
cost. Accordingly, the aqueous liquid carrier component of the
liquid detergent products herein will generally comprise water
present in concentrations ranging from about 30% to 70%, more
preferably from about 35% to about 50%, by weight of the
composition.
Effervescent System
[0128] Effervescent systems suitable herein include those derived
by combining an acid and a bicarbonate or carbonate, or by
combining hydrogen peroxide and catalase, or any other combination
of materials which release small bubbles of gas. The components of
the effervescent system may be combinedly dispensable to form the
effervescence when they are mixed, or can be formulated together
provided that conventional coatings or protection systems are used.
Levels of effervescent system can vary very widely, for example
effervescent components together can range from about 0.1% to about
30% of the composition. Hydrogen peroxide and catalase are very
mass efficient and can be at much lower levels with excellent
results.
Coating or Encapsulating Agent
[0129] Any suitable coatings or encapsulating agents can be applied
to all or a part of the present compositions. Suitable examples
include polyvinylalcohol film or other suitable variations;
carboxymethylcellulose, cellulose derivatives, starch, modified
starch, sugars, PEG, waxes, or combinations thereof. Coatings can
have one or a plurality of layers. The amount of coating material,
for any material coated, can range from about 5% to about 50% by
weight of the material to be coated or encapsulated.
Opacifying Agent
[0130] The detergent compositions of the present invention further
may comprise an effective amount of an opacifying agent,
substantially suspended within the composition. As used herein, the
term "opacifying agent" refers to a material which, when added to a
formulation having a transmittance of from about 55% to 100% when
measured at 440 nm wavelength, is capable of producing a
formulation having a transmittance reading of about 20% or less
when measured at a 440 nm wavelength. The amount and type of
opacifier used will depend on the particular formulation and how
much is necessary to produce a formulation with a transmittance of
less than about 20%, preferably from about 15% to about 0.1%.
[0131] Preferably, the composition comprises from about 0.02% to
about 0.5%, by weight of the composition, of the opacifying agent,
more preferably from about 0.05% to about 0.4%, more preferably
from about 0.1% to about 0.25%.
[0132] Preferred opacifying agents for use herein include particles
have a mean particle size of from about 50 nanometers to about 300
microns, preferably from about 100 nanometers to about 200 microns,
more preferably from about 100 nanometers to about 500 nanometers,
more preferably from about 150 nanometers to about 300 nanometers.
Preferred opacifying agents are selected from polymer particles,
more preferably acrylic or styrene-based polymers, more preferably
polyacrylate/polystyrene copolymers.
Fatty Acid
[0133] The compositions of the present invention may optionally
contain from about 0.01% to about 10%, preferably from about 2% to
about 7%, more preferably from about 3% to about 5%, by weight the
composition, of a fatty acid containing from about 8 to about 20
carbon atoms. The fatty acid can also contain from about 1 to about
10 ethylene oxide units in the hydrocarbon chain.
[0134] Suitable fatty acids are saturated and/or unsaturated and
can be obtained from natural sources such a plant or animal esters
(e.g., palm kernel oil, palm oil, coconut oil, babassu oil,
safflower oil, tall oil, castor oil, tallow and fish oils, grease,
and mixtures thereof), or synthetically prepared (e.g., via the
oxidation of petroleum or by hydrogenation of carbon monoxide via
the Fisher Tropsch process). Examples of suitable saturated fatty
acids for use in the compositions of this invention include captic,
lauric, myristic, palmitic, stearic, arachidic and behenic acid.
Suitable unsaturated fatty acid species include: palmitoleic,
oleic, linoleic, linolenic and ricinoleic acid. Examples of
preferred fatty acids are saturated C.sub.12 fatty acid, saturated
C.sub.12-C.sub.14 fatty acids, and saturated or unsaturated
C.sub.12 to C.sub.18 fatty acids, and mixtures thereof.
[0135] In the detergent compositions herein containing a fatty acid
component, the weight ratio of quaternary ammonium softening agent
to fatty acid is preferably from about 1:3 to about 3:1, more
preferably from about 1:1.5 to about 1.5:1, most preferably about
1:1.
Dyes
[0136] The compositions of the present invention may contain a dye
to either provide a particular color to the composition itself
(non-fabric substantive dyes) or to provide a hue to the fabric
(hueing dyes). In one embodiment, the compositions of the present
invention may contain from about 0.0001 to about 0.01% of a
non-fabric substantive dye and/or a hueing dye.
Hueing Dye
[0137] Examples of hueing dyes useful herein include Basic Violet 3
(Cl 42555) and Basic Violet 4 (Cl 42600), both commercially
available from Standard Dyes. In one embodiment, the hueing dyes
are present at less than 10%, in another embodiment less than 5%,
in another embodiment less than 2%, in another embodiment, less
than 1%, in another embodiment, less than 0.1%, in another
embodiment from about 0.01% to about 2%, in another embodiment form
about 1% to 10%, of the composition.
Bleaching Agent
[0138] The compositions of the present invention may contain a
bleaching agent. In one embodiment, the compositions of the present
invention may contain from about 0.10% to about 10%, by weight of
the composition, of a bleaching agent.
[0139] Bleaching agents useful herein include hydrogen peroxide or
peroxyacids such as 6-phthalimidoperoxyhexanoic acid.
Radical Scavenger
[0140] The compositions of the present invention may contain a
radical scavenger which may be used with liquid hydrogen peroxide
to provide stability. Radical scavengers useful herein include
trimethoxybenzoic acid.
Fluorescent Whitening Agent
[0141] The compositions of the present invention may contain a
fluorescent whitening agent. Fluorescent whitening agents useful
herein include those that are compatible with an acidic environment
such as Tinopal CBS-X.
Suds-Supressors
[0142] The compositions of the present invention may contain a suds
suppressor. In one embodiment, the suds suppressor is a non-fatty
acid suds suppressor. Examples of non-fatty acid suds supressors
useful herein include silica/silicone type, silicone oil, branched
alcohols, and mixtures thereof. In one embodiment, the suds
supressors are present at less than 10%, in another embodiment less
than 5%, in another embodiment less than 2%, in another embodiment,
less than 1%, in another embodiment, less than 0.1%, in another
embodiment from about 0.01% to about 2%, in another embodiment form
about 1% to 10%, of the composition.
Soil Suspension Polymers
[0143] The compositions of the present invention may contain a soil
suspension polymer. In one embodiment, the soil suspension polymer
is selected from PEI ethoxylates, HMDA diquate ethoxylates,
sulfonated derivatives, hydrophobically modified anionic
copolymers. Particularly preferred are PEI with MW=182 and an
average degree of ethoxylation=15, PEI with MW=600 and an average
degree of ethoxylation=20, hexamethylenediamine dimethyquat with an
average degree of ethoxylation=24, and hexamethylenediamine
dimethyquat with an average degree of ethoxylation=24
(disulfonated). Examples of hydrophobically modified anionic
copolymers useful herein include Acusol 480 .RTM., commercially
available from Rohm and Haas and Alcosperse.RTM. 725 and 747,
commercially available from Alco Chemical. In one embodiment, the
soil suspension polymers are present at less than 10%, in another
embodiment less than 5%, in another embodiment less than 2%, in
another embodiment, less than 1%, in another embodiment, less than
0.1%, in another embodiment from about 0.01% to about 2%, in
another embodiment form about 1% to 10% of the composition.
Soil Release Polymers
[0144] The compositions of the present invention may contain a soil
release polymer. In one embodiment, the soil release polymer is a
PET alkoxylate short block copolymer, anionic derivative, or
mixture thereof. In one embodiment, the soil release polymers are
present at less than 10%, in another embodiment less than 5%, in
another embodiment less than 2%, in another embodiment, less than
1%, in another embodiment, less than 0.1%, in another embodiment
from about 0.01% to about 2%, in another embodiment form about 1%
to 10% of the composition.
Rheology Modifiers
[0145] The compositions of the present invention may contain a
rheology modifier. Rheology modifiers useful herein include
methylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, xanthan gum, gellan
gum, guar gum and hydroxypropyl guar gum, succinoglycan, and
trihydroxystearin. Particularly preferred are methylcellulose and
hydroxypropylmethylcellulo- se thickeners available under the
Methocel.RTM. trade name from Dow Chemical. When used herein, the
detergent compositions of the present invention contain from about
0.01 to about 1%, by weight of the composition, of a rheology
modifier. In one embodiment, the compositions herein contain from
about 0.02 to about 0.75%, alternatively from about 0.05% to about
0.5%, by weight of the composition, of the rheology modifier.
Other Adjuncts
[0146] Examples of other suitable cleaning adjunct materials
include, but are not limited to, fatty acids, alkoxylated benzoic
acids or salts thereof such as trimethoxy benzoic acid or a salt
thereof (TMBA), conventional (not fabric substantive) perfumes and
pro-perfumes, anionic surfactants, including but not limited to
linear alkylbenzene sulfonates, alkyl sulfates, alkyl
ethoxysulfates and mixtures thereof, including also linear and
branched (including mid-chain branched forms) of such surfactants,
zwitterionic and/or amphoteric surfactants, bleaches, bleach
activators, bleach catalysts, enzyme stabilizing systems, optical
brighteners or fluorescers, soil release polymers, dispersants or
polymeric organic builders including water-soluble polyacrylates,
acrylate/maleate copolymers and the like, suds suppressors, dyes,
colorants, filler salts such as sodium sulfate, hydrotropes such as
toluenesulfonates, cumenesulfonates and naphthalenesulfonates,
photoactivators, hydrolyzable surfactants, preservatives,
anti-oxidants, anti-shrinkage agents, anti-wrinkle agents,
germicides, fungicides, color speckles, colored beads, spheres or
extrudates, sunscreens, fluorinated compounds, clays, pearlescent
agents, luminescent agents or chemiluminescent agents,
anti-corrosion and/or appliance protectant agents, alkalinity
sources or other pH adjusting agents, solubilizing agents,
carriers, processing aids, pigments, free radical scavengers, and
pH control agents. Suitable materials include those described in
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,705,464, 5,710,115, 5,698,504, 5,695,679,
5,686,014 and 5,646,101. In one embodiment, the any one of these
adjuncts are present at less than 10%, in another embodiment less
than 5%, in another embodiment less than 2%, in another embodiment,
less than 1%, in another embodiment, less than 0.1%, in another
embodiment from about 0.01% to about 2%, in another embodiment form
about 1% to 10% of the composition.
Co-Branding
[0147] Due to the nature of the single liquid detergent composition
containing dual benefits (softening & cleaning), it may be
desirable to co-brand the liquid detergent compositions of the
present invention with two or more tradenames, at least one
recognizable by consumers as a detergent brand and another
recognizable by consumers as a fabric softening brand. Examples of
such co-branding include "Tide.RTM. with Downy.RTM.; "Wisk.RTM.
with Snuggle.RTM."; and the like. Co-branding may include the dual
use of standard marketing materials for each of the brands, such as
utilizing the colors associated with a laundry detergent brand in
conjunction with the colors associated with a fabric softening
brand. Similarly, both tradenames could be used or tradedress of
each of the brands.
[0148] Such co-branding is useful to provide the consumer with the
knowledge that the liquid laundry detergent composition will
provide both cleaning and fabric softening benefits, similar to
that of their previously recognizable cleaning detergent brand and
fabric softening brand.
Viscosity
[0149] The detergent compositions of the present invention have a
viscosity in the range of from about 30 to about 12,000 mPa.s
(milli Pascal seconds), alternatively in the range of from about
150 to about 5,000 mPa.s. Preferably, the detergent compositions of
the present invention have a viscosity in the range of from about
100 to about 1,500 mPa.s, alternatively from about 150 to about 400
mPa.s. The detergent compositions herein may be in the form of a
gel, pourable gels, non-pourable gels, or heavy-duty liquids.
[0150] "Gel" as used herein includes a shear thinning gel with a
pouring viscosity in the range of from 1,000 to 5,000 mPa.s, in one
embodiment less than 3,000 mPa.s, alternatively less than 1,500
mPa.s. Gels may include thick liquids. More generally, a thick
liquid may be a Newtonian fluid, which does not change its
viscosity with the change in flow condition, such as honey or
syrup. This type of thick liquid is very difficult and messy to
dispense. A different type of liquid gel is shear-thinning, i.e. it
is thick under low shear (e.g., at rest) and thin at high flow
rates. The rheology of shear-thinning gels is described in more
detail in the literature, see for example WO 04.backslash.027010A1
Unilever.
[0151] Other compositions according to the present invention are
pourable gels having a viscosity of at least 1,500 mPa.s but no
more than 6,000 mPa.s, in one embodiment no more than 4,000 mPa.s,
alternatively no more than 3,000 mPa.s, alternatively no more than
2,000 mPa.s.
[0152] Yet other compositions according to the present invention
are non-pourable gels having a viscosity of at least 6,000 mPa.s
but no more than 12,000 mPa.s, in one embodiment no more than
10,000 mPa.s, alternatively no more than 8,000 mPa.s and especially
no more than 7,000 mPa.s.
[0153] Preferred liquid or gel form laundry treatment compositions
herein include heavy-duty liquid laundry detergents for use in the
wash cycle of automatic washing-machines and liquid finewash and/or
color care detergents; these suitably have the following
rheological characteristics: viscosity of no more than 1,500 mPa.s,
in one embodiment no more than 1,000 mPa.s, alternatively, no more
than 500 mPa.s. Very suitable compositions have viscosity of from
150 to 400 mPa.s and are either Newtonian or shear-thinning.
[0154] In these definitions and unless specifically indicated to
the contrary, all stated viscosities are those measured at a shear
rate of 21 sec.sup.-1 and at a temperature of 25.degree. C.
Viscosity herein can be measured with any suitable
viscosity-measuring instrument, e.g., a Carrimed CSL2 Rheometer at
a shear rate of 21 sec.sup.-1.
[0155] All documents cited in the Detailed Description of the
Invention are, 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.
[0156] 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.
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