U.S. patent application number 12/719183 was filed with the patent office on 2010-09-16 for cleaning method.
Invention is credited to Raphael Angeline Alfons Ceulemans, FRANCESCO DE BUZZACCARINI, Matthew Thomas Heisey, Edward Robert Offshack.
Application Number | 20100229312 12/719183 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42200848 |
Filed Date | 2010-09-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100229312 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
DE BUZZACCARINI; FRANCESCO ;
et al. |
September 16, 2010 |
CLEANING METHOD
Abstract
A method of cleaning a polyester load in a professional laundry
machine the method comprises subjecting the load to main-wash,
rinse and optionally pre-wash cycles and wherein the method
comprises the step of contacting the load with an aqueous wash
liquor containing a detergent composition comprising a silicone
suds suppressor.
Inventors: |
DE BUZZACCARINI; FRANCESCO;
(Breendonk, BE) ; Ceulemans; Raphael Angeline Alfons;
(Holsbeek, BE) ; Heisey; Matthew Thomas;
(Cincinnati, OH) ; Offshack; Edward Robert;
(Cincinnati, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY;Global Legal Department - IP
Sycamore Building - 4th Floor, 299 East Sixth Street
CINCINNATI
OH
45202
US
|
Family ID: |
42200848 |
Appl. No.: |
12/719183 |
Filed: |
March 8, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61160426 |
Mar 16, 2009 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
8/137 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C11D 3/0026 20130101;
C11D 3/124 20130101; C11D 1/22 20130101; C11D 1/83 20130101; C11D
3/373 20130101; C11D 11/0017 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
8/137 |
International
Class: |
D06L 1/00 20060101
D06L001/00; D06L 1/04 20060101 D06L001/04 |
Claims
1. A method of cleaning a polyester load in a professional laundry
machine, the method comprising: subjecting the load to main-wash,
rinse and optionally pre-wash cycles wherein the method comprises
the step of contacting the load with an aqueous wash liquor
containing a detergent composition comprising a silicone suds
suppressor.
2. The method of cleaning according to claim 1 wherein the
detergent composition comprises at least 10% by weight of the
composition of anionic surfactant.
3. The method of cleaning according to claim 1 wherein the water of
the wash liquor, preferably the water of the liquor of each cycle,
has a hardness of less than about 1 mmole/litre.
4. The method of cleaning according to claim 1 wherein the method
involves the step of steam heating to heat the wash liquor.
5. The method of cleaning according to claim 1 wherein the
polyester load comprises items with a low level of soils and/or new
items.
6. The method of cleaning according to claim 1 wherein the suds
suppressor is a polydimethylsiloxane compounded with silica.
7. The method of cleaning according to claim 1 wherein the level of
suds suppressor in the wash liquor is from about 0.1 ppm to about
10 ppm.
8. The method of cleaning according to claim 1 wherein the wash
liquor has a pH of from about 7 to about 9.
9. The method of cleaning according to claim 1 wherein the
detergent composition comprises anionic surfactant whereby at least
70% of the anionic surfactant is an alkyl benzene sulfonate.
10. The method of cleaning according to claim 1 comprising the step
of contacting the load with a soil release polymer delivered into
any of the main wash or rinse cycles.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application Ser. No. 61/160,426, filed 16 Mar. 2009.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention is in the field of laundry. In
particular, it relates to a method of industrial or institutional
laundry for a polyester load using a silicone suds suppressor
during the wash process.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Even though the principles that determine the effectiveness
of detergents for household (or home) and professional (including
institutional and industrial) laundries are similar, detergents for
large-scale institutional or industrial use generally differ
insofar as they must be designed to meet the special circumstances
associated with laundry on an industrial scale and/or in an
institutional context. Contrary to home laundry, professional
laundries have to deal with large volumes of textile items and
require therefore completely automatic processing with
microprocessor-controlled machines and dosing units. The length of
the washing process differs from that of home laundry and in some
cases the washing is performed with soft water. Soil levels can be
significantly lower in certain types of loads of professional
laundry (for example towels and bed linen in a hotel which have
minimal use and soiling before being re-washed) than in household
laundry and the loads and the machines are considerably bigger. The
composition of the loads is more uniform, in terms of both, types
of fabrics and soils. For example a typical commercial laundry load
will consist of only towels, only bed linen or only table linen
(tablecloths and napkins).
[0004] Due to the size of the washing equipment, professional
laundry involves higher mechanical action than home laundry and
this promotes foaming. Foaming is also promoted in the case of
laundry loads consisting mainly of synthetic fabrics, in particular
polyester fabrics. Polyester items are hydrophobic and they are not
capable to absorb surfactants. During the washing process,
polyester items seem to be less densely packed than cotton items,
being more prone to sudsing. Suds negatively affect the laundry
cleaning performance because contributes to the suspension of items
in the wash liquor precluding the free rise and fall of the items,
leading to reduction of mechanical action which is one of the major
elements contributing to cleaning.
[0005] Low sudsing in washing polyester loads could be achieved
through the selection of inherently low sudsing surfactants,
primarily non-ionics, versus the use of anionics, for example.
However this leads to poor performance on certain varieties of
soils, because this limits the selection to potentially
compromised-in-performance surfactants. An approach to overcome
this lost of performance is the addition of high levels of
alkalinity, as alkalinity itself can help drive soil removal. But
alkalinity can drive (alkaline) hydrolysis of the polyester
molecules that comprise the fibers, and thus damage the very
fabrics intended for cleaning. The alkalinity can also drive
mineral salt encrustation and many other issues.
[0006] Some of the professional laundry systems involve the use of
soft water. Soft water also promotes sudsing. Under these
circumstances, it is difficult to perform a good cleaning.
[0007] Fatty acids or fatty soaps are commonly used as suds
suppressors in laundry. They rely on the presence of water hardness
ions to work. When water hardness ions are present they can form
salts which can disrupt the suds. If there are no water hardness
ions, as the case is with soft water, then the soap might even
cause additional suds. It has been found that if a load of
polyester is washed in soft water, using a normal amount of
detergent, the level of suds can be so high that it can overflow
the machine, this seems to be worse when the level of soil is
low.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is
provided a method of cleaning a polyester load in a professional
laundry machine. The method comprises subjecting the load to
main-wash, rinse and optionally pre-wash cycles and wherein the
method comprises the step of contacting the load with an aqueous
wash liquor containing a detergent composition comprising a
silicone suds suppressor.
[0009] By polyester load is understood a load comprising at least
about 50%, preferably at least about 60%, more preferably at least
about 80% and more preferably at least 95% by weight of the load of
polyester items.
[0010] It has been found that textile loads containing a high level
of polyester items give rise to high suds that impact negatively in
the cleaning process. The method of the invention provides improved
cleaning.
[0011] In a preferred embodiment the level of anionic surfactant is
greater than 10%, more preferably greater than 15% and especially
greater than 20% by weight of the detergent composition. This
provides an outstanding cleaning over a great range of soils. The
detergent composition preferably comprises non-ionic surfactant and
anionic surfactant. The level of anionic surfactant is higher than
the level of non-ionic surfactant, by "higher" is herein meant that
the level of anionic surfactant is at least 1% by weight more than
the level of non-ionic surfactant, preferably at least 5%, more
preferably at least 15% and especially at least 20%. Preferably the
level of non-ionic surfactant is less than 10% by weight of the
detergent composition. The method of the invention also allows for
flexibility in terms of detergent formulation.
[0012] Polyester with low level of soil and new polyester items can
be even more prone to sudsing than highly soiled items. The method
of the invention performs very well even in the case of loads with
low level of soil (typically towels or bed linen) or new items. By
the term "low soiled items" is herein understood items free from
visible stains. By the term "new items" is herein understood items
that have not been subjected to a washing process.
[0013] As mentioned above, soft water further contributes to
aggravate the suds problem. In preferred embodiments the liquor of
the method of the invention, preferably the liquor of each cycle,
has a hardness, i.e., Ca and Mg ions concentration, of less than
about 1, preferably less than about 0.5 and especially less than
about 0.2 mmoles/litre.
[0014] Another factor that further aggravates the suds problem is
heating by steam means. In another embodiment the method of the
invention involves the step of heating the cleaning water using
steam, in particular steam injection.
[0015] Excellent cleaning is obtained with the method of the
invention, even when using soft water and when the water is heated
by steam means.
[0016] Good cleaning performance is obtained when the level of
active suds suppressor in the wash liquor is from about 0.1 to
about 10, more preferably from about 0.2 to about 5 and especially
from about 0.8 to about 3 ppm. Preferred suds suppressor for use
herein is a polydimethylsiloxane compounded with silica.
[0017] In preferred embodiments the wash liquor, preferably the
wash liquor of the main wash, has a pH of from about 7 to about 10,
preferably from about 8 to about 9, as measured at room temperature
(20.degree. C.) this allows not only for good cleaning but also for
good care of the washed articles.
[0018] In preferred embodiments the detergent composition comprises
anionic surfactant, preferably in a level of at least 10%, more
preferably at least 12% by weight of the detergent composition, and
at least 50%, preferably at least 70% and more preferably at least
80% by weight of the anionic surfactant is an alkyl benzene
sulfonated (LAS). Detergents rich in LAS, used according to the
method of the invention, provide not only good cleaning but also
have a low suds profile.
[0019] In preferred embodiments the method of the invention
comprises the step of contacting the load with a soil release
polymer, in any of the wash cycles, preferably during the main-wash
or a rinse cycle. Preferably the soil release polymer is added as
part of an additive rather than as part of a detergent composition.
This not only obviates the process challenges found to make the
soil release polymer part of a base detergent but also eliminates
the interaction between some of the base detergent ingredients and
the polymer and gives flexibility in terms of dosing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] The present invention envisages a method of professional
laundry of a polyester load. The method involves contacting the
load with a detergent comprising a silicone suds suppressor. The
method provides improved cleaning. It has been found that the
problem of high suds is more acute in the case of a load with low
level of soil, ie. a load with less than 10 g of soil per kilogram
of load, preferably with less than 5 g of soil per kilogram of
load. Preferably the polyester load used in the method of the
present invention is a load with low level of soil.
[0021] Professional laundry includes institutional and industrial
(sometimes also referred to as commercial) laundry. Institutional
laundry refers to textile washing operations usually run in
business sites, normally referred to as On-Premise or In-House
Laundry Operations. Typical businesses can be for instance hotels,
restaurants, care homes, hospitals, spas, health or sport clubs,
schools, and similar institutions. Industrial laundry refers to
textile washing operations carried out in dedicated places
typically for the above businesses.
[0022] By "professional laundry machine" is herein meant a laundry
machine which a capacity higher than 8 kg, preferably higher than
15 kg and more preferably higher than 25 kg of dry laundry. There
are two main types of professional laundry machines: front load
which operate in a batch mode or tunnel washing machines that
operate in continuous mode. The professional laundry machines for
use herein, in the case of front load have a drum volume of at
least about 0.15 m.sup.3, preferably at least 0.2 m.sup.3, more
preferably at least 0.3 m.sup.3 and especially at least 0.5
m.sup.3. The professional laundry machines for use herein, in the
case of front load have a drum diameter of at least about 0.5 m,
preferably at least 0.8 m and more preferably at least 1 m. In the
case of tunnel washing machines the tunnel has a diameter of at
least about 1.5 m, preferably at least 3 m and more preferably at
least 5 m.
[0023] Silicone Suds Suppressor
[0024] Silicone suds suppressor is defined herein as any antifoam
compound including a silicone component. Such silicone suds
suppressor also typically contains a silica component. The term
"silicone" as used herein, and in general throughout the industry,
encompasses a variety of relatively high molecular weight polymers
containing siloxane units and hydrocarbyl group of various types
like the polyorganosiloxane oils, such as polydimethyl-siloxane,
dispersions or emulsions of polyorganosiloxane oils or resins, and
combinations of polyorganosiloxane with silica particles wherein
the polyorganosiloxane is chemisorbed or fused onto the silica.
Silicone suds suppressers are well known in the art and are, for
example, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,265,779, and EP 354 016.
Other silicone suds suppressers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
3,455,839 which relates to compositions and processes for defoaming
aqueous solutions by incorporating therein small amounts of
polydimethylsiloxane fluids. Mixtures of silicone and silanated
silica are described, for instance, in German Patent Application
DOS 2,124,526. Silicone defoamers and suds controlling agents in
granular detergent compositions are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
3,933,672 and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,652,392.
[0025] Examples of suitable silicone antifoam compounds are the
combinations of polyorganosiloxane with silica particles
commercially available from Dow Corning, Wacker Chemie and General
Electric.
[0026] Silicone suds suppressors are typically utilized in amounts
up to about 2% by weight of the detergent composition, although
higher amounts may be used. This upper limit is practical in
nature, due primarily to concern with keeping costs minimized and
effectiveness of lower amounts for effectively controlling sudsing.
Preferably from about 0.01% to about 1% of active silicone suds
suppressor is used, more preferably from about 0.05% to about 0.5%
by weight of the detergent composition. As used herein, the term
"active" excludes water and inactive ingredients (in terms of suds
suppression).
[0027] Detergent Composition
[0028] Detersive Surfactant
[0029] Compositions suitable for use herein comprises from 5% to
70% by weight, preferably from 10% to 60% by weight, more
preferably from 20% to 50% by weight, of a certain kind of
detersive surfactant component. Such an essential detersive
surfactant component must comprise anionic surfactants, nonionic
surfactants, or combinations of these two surfactant types.
[0030] Suitable anionic surfactants useful herein can comprise any
of the conventional anionic surfactant types typically used in
liquid detergent products. These include the alkyl benzene sulfonic
acids and their salts as well as alkoxylated or un-alkoxylated
alkyl sulfate materials.
[0031] Preferred anionic surfactants are the alkali metal salts of
C.sub.10-16 alkyl benzene sulfonic acids, preferably C.sub.11-14
alkyl benzene sulfonic acids. Preferably the alkyl group is linear
and such linear alkyl benzene sulfonates are known as "LAS". Alkyl
benzene sulfonates, and particularly LAS, are well known in the
art. Such surfactants and their preparation are described for
example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,220,099 and 2,477,383. Especially
preferred are the sodium and potassium linear straight chain
alkylbenzene sulfonates in which the average number of carbon atoms
in the alkyl group is from about 11 to 14. Sodium
C.sub.11-C.sub.14, e.g., C.sub.12, LAS is especially preferred.
Preferably the anionic surfactant comprises at least 50%, more
preferably at least 60% and especially 70% by weight of the anionic
surfactant of LAS.
[0032] Another preferred type of anionic surfactant comprises
ethoxylated alkyl sulfate surfactants. Such materials, also known
as alkyl ether sulfates or alkyl polyethoxylate sulfates, are those
which correspond to the formula:
R'--O--(C.sub.2H.sub.4O).sub.n--SO.sub.3M
wherein R' is a C.sub.8-C.sub.20 alkyl group, n is from about 1 to
20, and M is a salt-forming cation. Preferably, R' is
C.sub.10-C.sub.18 alkyl, n is from about 1 to 15, and M is sodium,
potassium, ammonium, alkylammonium, or alkanolammonium. Most
preferably, R' is a C.sub.12-C.sub.16, n is from about 1 to 6 and M
is sodium.
[0033] The alkyl ether sulfates will generally be used in the form
of mixtures comprising varying R' chain lengths and varying degrees
of ethoxylation. Frequently such mixtures will inevitably also
contain some unethoxylated alkyl sulfate materials, i.e.,
surfactants of the above ethoxylated alkyl sulfate formula wherein
n=0. Unethoxylated alkyl sulfates may also be added separately to
the compositions of this invention and used as or in any anionic
surfactant component which may be present.
[0034] Preferred unalkoxylated, e.g., unethoxylated, alkyl ether
sulfate surfactants are those produced by the sulfation of higher
C.sub.8-C.sub.20 fatty alcohols. Conventional primary alkyl sulfate
surfactants have the general formula:
ROSO.sub.3.sup.-M.sup.+
wherein R is typically a linear C.sub.8-C.sub.20 hydrocarbyl group,
which may be straight chain or branched chain, and M is a
water-solubilizing cation. Preferably R is a C.sub.10-C.sub.15
alkyl, and M is alkali metal. Most preferably R is
C.sub.12-C.sub.14 and M is sodium.
[0035] Suitable nonionic surfactants useful herein can comprise any
of the conventional nonionic surfactant types typically used in
liquid detergent products. These include alkoxylated fatty
alcohols, ethylene oxide (EO)-propylene oxide (PO) block polymers,
and amine oxide surfactants. Preferred for use in the liquid
detergent products herein are those nonionic surfactants which are
normally liquid.
[0036] Preferred 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. Preferably also the alkoxylated fatty alcohols will be
ethoxylated materials that contain from about 2 to 12 ethylene
oxide moieties per molecule, more preferably from about 3 to 10
ethylene oxide moieties per molecule.
[0037] The alkoxylated fatty alcohol materials useful in the liquid
detergent compositions herein will frequently have a
hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) which ranges from about 3 to
17. More preferably, the HLB of this material will range from about
6 to 15, most preferably from about 8 to 15. Alkoxylated fatty
alcohol nonionic surfactants have been marketed under the
tradenames Neodol and Dobanol by the Shell Chemical Company.
[0038] Another type of nonionic surfactant which is liquid and
which may be utilized in the compositions of this invention
comprises the ethylene oxide (EO)--propylene oxide (PO) block
polymers. Materials of this type are well known nonionic
surfactants which have been marketed under the tradename Pluronic.
These materials are formed by adding blocks of ethylene oxide
moieties to the ends of polypropylene glycol chains to adjust the
surface active properties of the resulting block polymers. EO-PO
block polymer nonionics of this type are described in greater
detail in Davidsohn and Milwidsky; Synthetic Detergents, 7th Ed.;
Longman Scientific and Technical (1987) at pp. 34-36 and pp.
189-191 and in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,674,619 and 2,677,700.
[0039] Yet 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.qH.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, preferably from 10 to 16 carbon atoms, and is
more preferably C.sub.12-C.sub.16 primary alkyl. R' is a
short-chain moiety preferably 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.
[0040] In the liquid detergent compositions herein, the essential
detersive surfactant component may comprise combinations of anionic
and nonionic surfactant materials. When this is the case, the
weight ratio of anionic to nonionic will typically range from 100:1
to 1:100, more typically from 20:1 to 1:20.
[0041] Laundry Washing Adjuncts
[0042] The detergent compositions herein, preferably in liquid
form, comprise from 0.1% to 30% by weight, preferably from 0.5% to
20% by weight, more preferably from 1% to 10% by weight, of one or
more of certain kinds of laundry washing adjuncts. Such laundry
washing adjuncts can be selected from detersive enzymes, builders,
chelants, soil release polymers, soil suspending polymers, optical
brighteners, dye transfer inhibition agents, bleach, whitening
agents, suds suppressors, fabric care benefit agents, solvents,
stabilizers, buffers, structurants, dyes and perfumes and
combinations of these adjunct types. All of these materials are of
the type conventionally utilized in laundry detergent products.
[0043] Soil Release Polymer
[0044] Soil release polymers enhance the laundry cleaning efficacy
by improving release of grease and oil during the laundry process.
See soil release agents' definition, p. 278-279, "Liquid
Detergents" by Kuo-Yann Lai. For use herein, preferred level of
soil release polymer per kilogram of load is from about 0.01 to
about 0.8 grams, more preferably the level of polymer is less than
0.2 grams especially from about 0.05 to about 0.15 grams. Contrary
to what one would expect higher levels of soil release polymer do
not enhance removal. In some cases removal is worse than with lower
levels.
[0045] Improved stain removal is achieved when the soil release
polymer is a copolymer having the formula:
##STR00001##
wherein: [0046] each R.sup.1 moieties is a 1,4-phenylene moiety;
[0047] the R.sup.2 moieties are each selected from the group
consisting of ethylene moieties, 1,2-propylene moieties, 1,2
butylene moieties, 1,2 hexylene moieties, 3-methoxy-1,2 propylene
moieties or mixture thereof, provided that said R.sup.2 are not
exclusively 1,2 butylene moieties, 1,2 hexylene moieties,
3-methoxy-1,2 propylene moieties or mixture thereof; preferably
R.sup.2 is a 1,2-propylene moiety. [0048] the R.sup.3 moieties are
each selected from the group consisting of substituted
1,3-phenylene moieties having the substituent
##STR00002##
[0048] at the 5 position; [0049] the R.sup.4 moieties are R.sup.1
or R.sup.3 moieties, or mixtures thereof; [0050] each X is C1-C4
alkyl; each n is from 12 to 43; [0051] when w is 0, u+v is from 3
to 10; [0052] when w is at least 1, u+v+w is from 3 to 10.
[0053] Preferably w is 0.
[0054] Preferred soil release polymer for use herein is a copolymer
comprising propylene glycol derived moieties, terephthalate
moieties and capped polyethylene glycol derived moieties.
Preferably the capped polyethylene glycol used is CH3O(CH2CH2O)nOH,
wherein n is an integer from 12 to 44, preferably from 20 to 42 and
more preferably from 25 to 41 and especially 40. Improved
performance is obtained with this kind of copolymers.
[0055] The prefer copolymer for use herein has the following
formula:
##STR00003##
[0056] Preferably the soil release polymer has a molecular weight
above about 2,000, more preferably above about 3,000 and more
preferably above about 4,000. Methods in which soil release
polymers having molecular weight above 4,000 have been used provide
outstanding results in terms of stain removal. Preferably the
molecular weight is below about 20,000. With reference to the
polymers described herein, the term "molecular weight" is the
weight-average molecular weight as determined using gel permeation
chromatography according to the protocol found in Colloids and
Surfaces A. Physico Chemical & Engineering Aspects, Vol. 162,
2000, pg. 107-121. The units are Daltons.
[0057] Preferably the soil release polymer is added as part of an
additive. The additive is in liquid form so it can be easily
delivered by means of a displacement pump, for example a
peristaltic pump. The additive is preferably an aqueous structured
liquid, usually the soil release polymer is insoluble in aqueous
solution and it is suspended by means of an external structurant.
Structured liquids can either be internally structured, whereby the
structure is formed by primary ingredients (e.g. surfactant
material) and/or externally structured by providing a three
dimensional matrix structure using secondary ingredients (e.g.
polymers, clay and/or silicate material). The additive comprises
the soil release polymer, preferably in an amount of from about 1%
to about 50%, more preferably from about 5% to about 20% by weight
of the additive. The additive can further comprise an external
structurant to keep the soil release polymer suspended. Levels of
external structurants of from about 0.05 to about 5%, more
preferably from about 0.1 to about 2% and especially from about 0.1
to about 1% by weight of the additive have been found particularly
suitable to keep the polymer suspended. Preferred external
structurant for use herein is xanthan gum. Preferably the additive
comprises a preservative, more preferred in a level of from about
0.05 to about 3% and especially from about 0.1 to about 1% by
weight of the additive. A dye is another prefer component of the
additive of the invention. Preferably the additive is free of
builders and/or surfactants.
[0058] Detersive Enzymes
[0059] 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, mannanases?, pentosanases,
malanases, .beta.-glucanases, arabinosidases, hyaluronidase,
chondroitinase, laccase, and known amylases, or combinations
thereof. 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.
[0060] If employed, enzymes will normally be incorporated into the
base detergent compositions herein at levels sufficient to provide
up to 10 mg by weight, more typically from about 0.01 mg to about 5
mg, of active enzyme per gram of the composition. Stated otherwise,
the aqueous liquid detergent compositions herein can typically
comprise from 0.001% to 5%, preferably from 0.01% to 1% by weight,
of a commercial enzyme preparation. Protease enzymes, for example,
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 detergent composition.
[0061] The detergent may also include from about 0.05 to about 0.5%
of preservatives non-limiting examples of which include didecyl
dimethyl ammonium chloride which is available under the tradeneme
UNIQUAT (from Lonza of Basel Switzerland),
1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one, which is available under the tradename
PROPEL (from Arch Chemicals of Norwalk, Conn.),
dimethylol-5,5-dimethylhydantoin which is available under the
tradeneme DANTOGUARD (from Lonza of Basel Switzerland),
5-Chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one/2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one,
which is available under the tradename KATHON (from Rohm and Haas
of Philadelphia, Pa.), and mixtures thereof.
[0062] Other Fabric Care Benefit Agents
[0063] The detergent composition for use herein may also comprise
additional fabric care or benefit agents which can be deposited
onto fabrics being laundered and which thereupon provide one or
more types of fabric care or treatment benefits. Such benefits can
include, for example, fabric softness, anti-static effects,
ease-of-ironing benefits, anti-abrasion benefits, anti-pilling
effects, color protection, wrinkle removal or improved resistance
to wrinkling, fabric substantive perfume or odor benefits, malodor
protection benefits, and the like.
[0064] A wide variety of materials which are suitable for providing
such benefits and which can be deposited onto fabrics being
laundered are known in the art. Such materials can include, for
example, clays; starches; polyamines; un-functionalized and
functionalized silicones such as aminosilicones and quaternary
nitrogen-containing cationic silicones; cellulosic polymers, and
the like. Materials of these types are described in greater detail
in one or more of the following publications: U.S. Pat. No.
6,525,013; U.S. Pat. No. 4,178,254; WO 02/40627; WO 02/18528; WO
00/71897; WO 00/71806; WO 98/39401; and WO 98/29528.
[0065] If employed, such additional fabric care benefit agents
polymers can typically be incorporated into the liquid laundry
detergent compositions herein in concentrations ranging from 0.05%
to 20%, by weight, depending upon the nature of the materials to be
deposited and the benefit(s) they are to provide. More preferably,
such fabric care benefit agents can comprise from 0.1% to 10%, by
weight of the composition.
Example
[0066] 45 pounds of a polyester load was washed in a Milnor
commercial washing machine (model #30022V6J (55-60 pound capacity))
at 60.degree. C. and using soft water (0 mmoles/liter).
[0067] The detergent used had the following composition and it was
used at a dosage of 48 grams/machine (or 9.6 ml/kg fabric). The
detergent was delivered into the main-wash cycle.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Ingredient % by weight C12-alkylbenxene
sulfonic acid 12.2 Non-ionic surfactant 8.75 C12-alkyl trimethyl
amine N-oxide 1.5 C12-14 fatty acid 8.3 Citric acid 3.4
Triethyleneimine penta phosphonic acid 0.19 Ethoxylated polymine
polymer 1.1 Enzyme 0.53 1,1 propandiol 4.9 Ethanol 2.8
Monethanolamine 0.83 Monoethanaolamine borate 2.4 Cumene sulfonic
acid 1.9 BF20 plus silicone suds suppressor Ex Dow Corning 0.13
Hydrogenated castor oil 0.10 Perfume and minors 0.5 Sodium
hydroxide to pH 8.0 water Balance
[0068] A low suds profile was obtained using the exemplified
detergent.
[0069] The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be
understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values
recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension
is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally
equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension
disclosed as "40 mm" is intended to mean "about 40 mm".
[0070] Every document cited herein, including any cross referenced
or related patent or application, is hereby incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise
limited. The citation of any document is not an admission that it
is prior art with respect to any invention disclosed or claimed
herein or that it alone, or in any combination with any other
reference or references, teaches, suggests or discloses any such
invention. Further, to the extent that any meaning or definition of
a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of
the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning
or definition assigned to that term in this document shall
govern.
[0071] 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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