Detergent Compositions

Abstract

Laundry detergent and fabric softener compositions containing various detergent-compatible disubstituted polyol softeners and, in a preferred embodiment, polyalkyleneimine anti-static agents.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to laundering compositions containing certain disubstituted polyol fabric softeners and certain polyamine anti-static agents. These materials can be used in the presence of detergents to soften fabrics concurrently with laundering.

Textile softeners and anti-static agents are used commercially to improve the handle of fabrics and to reduce the annoyance of static electrical charges on fabric surfaces. A variety of cationic materials, such as the dimethyl-di(hydrogenated tallow)ammonium halide salts, are widely used in the textile industry for this purpose. Similar cationic fabric softener and antistatic compositions are available for home use and usually consist of a solution or suspension of a cationic nitrogen compound similar to those used industrially. It has long been recognized that these cationic materials, although highly effective when properly applied, are incompatible with the anionic organic detergent compounds widely used in home laundering processes. For this reason, the user of such materials has heretofore been constrained to wait until the final rinse of the laundering process before adding the fabric softening and anti-static material to the laundering bath, or washing machines having specially designed fabric softener dispensers have had to be developed.

The aforementioned problem regarding the stepwise use of fabric softening agents in laundering operations would be obviated were fabric softening and anti-static agents which are compatible with modern built anionic detergent compositions available. Such agents could then be added to the laundering bath in conjunction with the detergent as a mixed composition to provide fabric cleansing, softening and anti-static benefits concurrently. Since this problem is widely recognized by the formulators of detergents and fabric softeners, a variety of materials have been suggested for use as detergent-compatible fabric softeners and anti-static agents. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,454,494 discloses a textile softener composition which is compatible with anionic detergents comprising an acid salt of a condensation product of a fatty acid and an aliphatic polyfunctional amine co-condensed with a polyoxyalkylene compound. South African application 69/3923 discloses fabric softeners comprising certain N-2-hydroxy higher alkyl amines said to be suitable for use as detergent-compatible fabric softeners. Polyalkyleneimine fabric softeners can be used in built anionic detergent compositions.

Nonionic fabric softeners are compatible with anionic detergents inasmuch as there are no functional groups in such compounds which are capable of interacting with the anionic portion of the detergents. For example, Canadian Patent No. 871,667 discloses the use of 1,2-alkanediols as fabric softeners in conjunction with anionic detergents. However, these nonionic fabric softeners provide only marginal fabric softening benefits and are incapable of providing the anti-static benefits which are an important consideration to the user of such products.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,409,056 relates to non-alkylated polyamines and their use in soap to prevent rancidity. U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,296,226; 2,382,185; 2,185,480; and 2,272,489 describe the preparation of various alkylated and alkanoylated polyamines and suggest their use as fabric softeners in textile processing, but do not suggest the use of these materials in conjunction with anionic detergents and detergency builders.

To date, however, no truly effective fabric softener and anti-static material which is compatible with the widely used anionic detergent compounds and detergency builders has been suggested and the prior art materials disclosed for this purpose suffer from a variety of disadvantages. For example, the use of polyalkyleneimine softeners exclusively can lead to yellowing of some white fabrics. 1,2-Diglycol based softeners do not provide substantial anti-static benefits. Many of the detergent-compatible softeners suggested in the art are excessively water-soluble, and good deposition on the fabrics is not achieved with such materials. Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide improved built laundry detergent compositions which possess significant fabric softening and anti-static properties. A further object herein is to provide a process for simultaneously washing and softening fabrics while neutralizing static charge on said fabrics. These and other objects are obtained by the present invention as will become apparent from the following disclosure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention encompasses fabric softening laundry detergent compositions comprising: (1) from about 5 to about 85 percent, preferably from about 5 to about 30 percent, by weight of a water-soluble organic detergent compound as hereinafter detailed; and (2) from about 2 to about 15 percent, preferably about 3.5 to about 10 percent, by weight of an .alpha., .omega.-disubstituted derivative of a non-cyclic, hygroscopic polyol, said derivative having the formula ##SPC1##

wherein x is an integer of at least 3, preferably 4, and each R is an alkyl or alkanoyl group containing at least 16, preferably 18 to 22, carbon atoms. In a preferred embodiment, the above-disclosed detergent composition also contains as a detergent- and builder-compatible anti-static component from about 0.5 to about 1.5 percent by weight of a polyalkyleneimine compound containing the moiety ##SPC2##

wherein y is an integer from 1 to 4, preferably 2, z is an integer greater than 1, preferably from about 20 to about 10,000, and R.sup.1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, and alkyl and alkanoyl substituents containing from about 1 to about 22 carbon atoms, preferably from about 12 to about 18 carbon atoms, said polyalkyleneimine having from 5 to about 100 percent, preferably about 10 to about 20 percent, of the nitrogen atoms substituted with said alkyl or alkanoyl substituents.

Especially preferred detergent compositions herein contain as an additional component about 85 percent, preferably 25 to 75 percent by weight, of a water-soluble detergency builder salt. Optionally, a minor amount of laundry adjuncts such as optical brighteners, enzymes, perfumes and the like can be present in the compositions herein.

In addition, this invention encompasses a method of softening fabrics in aqueous laundering baths containing built organic detergent compositions, especially those containing anionic detergent compounds, comprising adding an .alpha.,.omega.-disubstituted polyol of the type disclosed herein to said bath at a concentration of disubstituted polyol of at least about 20 ppm, preferably from about 75 ppm to about 300 ppm. Fabric softening is thereby provided concurrently with cleansing. In a preferred method, a polyalkyleneimine compound of the type disclosed above is concurrently added to the laundering bath at a concentration of polyalkyleneimine of at least about 5 ppm, preferably 10 ppm to about 20 ppm, to provide an anti-static fabric finish concurrently with the cleansing and softening.

The foregoing benefits can also be achieved by adding the herein described disubstituted polyol and polyalkyleneimine materials to a substantially detergent-free aqueous laundry rinse bath at the concentrations noted above.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The disubstituted (a term which includes dialkylated and dialkanoylated)polyol softeners of this invention are derivatives of linear, hygroscopic polyols and have the general formula ##SPC3##

wherein x is an integer of at least about 3, preferably 3 to 7, most preferably 4, and each R is an alkyl or alkanoyl group containing at least 16 carbon atoms. The above formula depicts the .alpha.,.omega.-disubstituted polyols which are preferred herein.

The disubstituted polyols herein have two aspects of criticality in addition to the limitations on x and R noted above. First, they must have a substantially linear (i.e., non-cyclic) configuration in the polyol portion of the molecule; substituted cyclic polyols (e.g., the "Sorbitans") have been found not to be useful as fabric softeners. Apparently, the linear configuration of the disubstituted polyols herein allows them to interact more strongly with fabric surfaces than the cyclic polyols and provide the more complete surface coating necessary to impart softness.

Secondly, the disubstituted polyols herein must be derivatives of unsubstituted polyol compounds which are, themselves, hygroscopic, i.e., those which absorb 20 to 100 percent by weight of water on standing at a temperature of about 70.degree.F and a relative humidity of about 20 to 99 percent.

As noted above, the .alpha.,.omega.-disubstituted polyols useful herein are limited to those which are derivatives of hygroscopic linear polyols. There are a variety of such polyols (polyhydric alcohols; also termed alditols) which can be prepared, for example, by the reduction of naturally-occurring sugars, e.g., using sodium amalgam, electrolysis and the like. The existing polyols include four unbranched pentitols of the formula HOCH.sub.2 (CHOH).sub.3 CH.sub.2 OH derived from D-arabinose, L-arabinose, ribose and xylose.

There are 10 hexitols of the formula HOCH.sub.2 (CHOH).sub.4 CH.sub.2 OH prepared, for example, from glucose, altrose, tallose, galactose, idose, talose and mannose.

There are 16 straight chain heptitols of the formula HOCH.sub.2 (CHOH).sub.5 CH.sub.2 OH, which can be prepared from the 32 naturally-occurring aldoheptoses. In addition, there are various straight chain octitols and nonitols which can be prepared by controlled cleavage of complex natural sugars, followed by reduction of aldehyic and ketonic functionalities to alcohol groups.

It is to be understood that, of the foregoing linear polyhydric alcohols, only those which are hygroscopic are suitable for use in the preparation of the .alpha.,.omega.-disubstituted polyol fabric softeners herein. Thus, the requisite hygroscopic nature of the polyol provides a basis for selection of appropriate polyols which can be converted to di-substituted polyol fabric softeners in the manner hereinafter described. Preferred hygroscopic polyols for this purpose include sorbitol (most preferred), xylitol, and iditol.

The disubstituted (which includes dialkylated and dialkanoylated) derivatives of the foregoing polyols suitable for use as fabric softeners in the present invention are prepared by standard procedures well-known in the art. For example, the dialkylated polyols herein can be prepared by reacting 20 moles of an alkyl halide with 1 mole of polyol, preferably in the presence of a metal catalyst such as magnesium or copper, in the general manner of the Williamson ether synthesis. For this purpose, alkyl chlorides, bromides, and iodides having from about 16 to about 22 carbon atoms, preferably 18 to 22 carbon atoms, in their molecular structure are suitable.

The preferred disubstituted polyols used herein are those wherein each R group is alkanoyl. These can be prepared in standard fashion by reacting 2 moles of a carboxylic acid or acid halide with 1 mole of a polyol. When acid halides are employed the reaction is preferably done in the presence of an organic base (e.g., pyridine, morpholine and the like) so that the reaction proceeds with the formation of the desired disubstituted polyol and the base hydrohalide. Acid chlorides, bromides, and iodides are suitable for this purpose; acid chlorides are preferred. Alternatively, lower alkyl esters of acids can be admixed at a mole ratio of 2:1 with the polyols and heated with the liberation of a lower alcohol and the formation of the disubstituted polyol. For this purpose, the methyl, ethyl and propyl esters of acids having an alkyl carbon chain of from about C.sub.16 to about C.sub.22, preferably about C.sub.18 to about C.sub.22, are suitable herein.

Disubstituted polyol materials prepared in the foregoing manner will have two substituent groups in the molecule; substitution can occur at any of the hydroxyl groups of the polyol. However, the major products of such reactions have been found to be disubstituted polyols wherein the .alpha. and .omega. hydroxyl groups are substituted. It is to be understood that while the .alpha.,.omega.-disubstituted polyols are the preferred fabric softeners herein, they may be contaminated with minor portions of the other disubstituted polyols. This in no way limits their use herein. However, the major proportion of the substituted polyols must be .alpha.,.omega.-disubstituted.

Exemplary acids, esters acid halides and alkyl halides suitable for preparing the disubstituted polyols herein include palmitic acid and its acid halides, ethyl palmitate, stearic acid and its acid halides, ethyl stearate, eicosanoic acid and its acid halides, methyl eicosanate, docosanoic acid and its acid halides, and ethyl docosanate. Alkyl halides suitable herein include 1-hexadecyl chloride, 1-octadecyl bromide, 1-eicosyl chloride, 1-docosyl bromide, 1-octadecyl chloride, 1-eicosyl iodide, 1-octadecyl iodide and eicosyl chloride. Stearic acid and its acid chloride are preferred herein from an economic standpoint. Eicosanoic acid and docosanoic acid are preferred from the standpoint of preparing disubstituted polyols which exhibit optimum softening performance.

From the foregoing it can be seen that a variety of alkyl halides, organic acids and acid halides and esters having from about C.sub.16 to about C.sub.22, preferably from about C.sub.18 to about C.sub.22, carbon atoms in the alkyl or alkanoyl groups can be used with linear, hygroscopic polyols of the formula HOCH.sub.2 (CHOH).sub.x CH.sub.2 OH, wherein x is an integer as defined above, to provide disubstituted polyols of the type used herein. Exemplary disubstituted polyols suitable for use in the present invention include the diesters: 1,6-distearoyl sorbitol, 1,6-bis-eicosanoyl sorbitol, 1,6-bis-docosanoyl sorbitol, 1,5-distearoyl xylitol, 1,5-bis-eicosanoyl xylitol, 1,5-bis-docosanoyl xylitol, 1,6-distearoyl iditol, 1,6-bis-eicosanoyl iditol and 1,6-bis-docosanoyl iditol. Exemplary diether-type disubstituted polyols useful herein include: 1,6-distearyl sorbitol, 1,6-bis-eicosanyl sorbitol, 1,6-bis-docosanyl sorbitol, 1,5-bis-eicosanyl xylitol, 1,5-distearyl xylitol, 1,5-bis-docosanyl xylitol, 1,6-distearyl iditol, 1,6-bis-eicosanyl iditol and 1,6-bis-docosanyl iditol. The preferred .alpha.,.omega.-disubstituted polyol softeners herein are 1,6-distearoyl sorbitol, 1,6-bis-eicosanoyl sorbitol and 1,6-bis-docosanoyl sorbitol. From a cost standpoint, the 1,6-distearoyl sorbitol is most preferred. From a performance standpoint, the 1,6-bis-eicosanoyl and 1,6-bis-docosanoyl sorbitols are preferred.

While the disubstituted polyols herein provide superior fabric softening benefits, they provide only marginal anti-static effects to the treated fabrics. Accordingly, in a preferred embodiment herein a detergent- and builder-compatible compatible anti-static agent is used concurrently with the disubstituted polyol and the desired softening and antistatic benefits are thereby provided. The polyalkyleneimines having the hereinabove disclosed formula are employed herein as the detergent-compatible fabric anti-static agents. These materials comprise a polyalkyleneimine "backbone" having pendant alkyl or alkanoyl groups on at least 5 percent of the nitrogen atoms. These polymers are difficult to describe in other than a qualitative manner. For example, one of the more useful polyalkyleneimines used herein is alkylated or alkanoylated polyethyleneimine. It is believed that the structural formula of polyethyleneimine is ##SPC4##

wherein y is an integer greater than 1, usually about 2 to 100,000, and R.sup.1 represents hydrogen and alkyl or alkanoyl groups, as noted above. Branched chains occur along the polymeric backbone, and the relative proportions of primary, secondary and tertiary amino groups present in the polymer will vary, depending on the manner of preparation. The distribution of amino groups in a typical polyethyleneimine is approximately as follows:

--CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --NH.sub.2 30%

--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --NH-- 40%

--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --N-- 30%

The polyethyleneimine can only be characterized in terms of molecular weight. Such polymers can be prepared, for example, by polymerizing ethyleneimine in the presence of a catalyst such as carbon dioxide, sodium bisulfite, sulfuric acid, hydrogen peroxide, hydrochloric acid, acetic acid, etc.

Specific methods are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,182,306; 3,033,746; 2,208,095; 2,806,836; and 2,553,696.

The alkylated and alkanoylated polyethyleneimines used herein are obtained by heating alkyl halides or organic acids or acid halides with the polyethyleneimine in the manner described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,296,226; 2,272,489; and 2,185,480, incorporated herein by reference. Other polyalkyleneimines are prepared in like fashion. In the case of the alkanoylated polyalkyleneimines, the alkanoyl groups are attached to the polymer backbone by amide linkages. Various ratios of alkylating or alkanoylating agent to polyalkyleneimine "backbone" can be employed so that varying percentages of the nitrogen atoms are thereby substituted. Polyalkyleneimines having various percentages of the nitrogen functionalities substituted with alkyl or alkanoyl groups are designated hereinafter as "20 percent stearoylated polyethyleneimine," "50 percent docosylated polybutyleneimine," etc., according to the percentage of nitrogen groups in the polymer which are substituted. The percentage nitrogen substitution can be determined, for example, by an examination of the proton magnetic resonance or the infrared spectrum of the polymer. The alkylated and alkanoylated polyalkyleneimines, having molecular weights in the range of about 200 to about 1 million, are useful herein. The lower molecular weight, less highly substituted polyalkyleneimines of this group are substantially water-soluble while the higher molecular weight members are water-dispersible; both the water-soluble and water-dispersible polyalkyleneimines are suitable for the present use. Preferred herein are alkylated and alkanoylated polyalkyleneimines, especially polyethyleneimines, having a molecular weight in the range of about 600 to 100,000, wherein from about 10 to about 60 percent of the nitrogen groups are alkylated or alkanoylated. Polyethyleneimine having a molecular weight range of about 200 to 2,000, most preferably 600 to 1,200, and which is from about 15 to about 40 percent stearoylated, most preferably 20 percent stearoylated, is especially preferred for use herein as the detergent compatible anti-static agent.

The .alpha.,.omega.-disubstituted polyol fabric softeners described above are simply admixed with the polyalkyleneimines and are employed with all manner of soap and organic detergent compounds in conjunction with all manner of detergency builder salts to provide the softening, cleansing and anti-static compositions of this invention. Surprisingly, although the disubstituted polyols and polyalkyleneimines compete for deposition on the fabric surface, a portion of both kinds of materials apparently deposits thereon to provide the desired softening and anti-static benefits concurrently. The following describes typical soaps, synthetic organic detergent compounds and builder salts suitable for use with the disubstituted polyol softeners of this inventon or with the combination of disubstituted polyols and polyalkyleneimines, but is not intended to be limiting thereof.

ORGANIC DETERGENTS

The organic detergent compounds which can be utilized with the combination of detergent- and soap-compatible .alpha.,.omega.-disubstituted polyols and polyalkyleneimines in the laundering compositions and processes encompassed by this invention include the following:

A. Anionic Soap and Non-Soap Synthetic Detergents

This class of detergents includes ordinary alkali metal soaps such as the sodium, potassium, ammonium and alkanolammonium salts of higher fatty acids containing from about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms and preferably from about 10 to about 20 carbon atoms. Suitable fatty acids can be obtained from natural sources such as, for instance, plant or animal esters (e.g., palm oil, coconut oil, babassu oil, soybean oil, castor oil, tallow, whale and fish oils, grease, lard, and mixtures thereof). The fatty acids also can be synthetically prepared (e.g., by the oxidation of petroleum, or by hydrogenation of carbon monoxide by the Fischer-Tropsch process). Resin acids are suitable such as rosin and those resin in tall oil. Naphthenic acids are also suitable. Sodium and potassium soaps can be made by direct saponification of the fats and oils or by the neutralization of the free fatty acids which are prepared in a separate manufacturing process. Particularly useful are the sodium and potassium salts of the mixtures of fatty acids derived from coconut oil and tallow, i.e., sodium or potassium tallow and coconut soap.

This class of detergents also includes water-soluble salts, particularly the alkali metal salts, of organic sulfuric reaction products having in their molecular structure an alkyl substituent containing from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms and a sulfonic acid or sulfuric acid ester moiety. (Included in the term alkyl is the alkyl portion of higher acyl substituent.) Examples of this group of synthetic detergents which form a part of the preferred built detergent compositions of the present invention are the sodium or potassium alkyl sulfates, especially those obtained by sulfating the higher alcohols (C.sub.8 -C.sub.18 carbon atoms) produced by reducing the glycerides of tallow or coconut oil; sodium or potassium alkyl benzene 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. Nos. 2,220,099 and 2,477,383 (especially valuable are linear straight chain alkyl benzene sulfonates in which the average of the alkyl groups is about 13 carbon atoms and commonly abbreviated as C.sub.13 LAS); sodium alkyl glyceryl ether sulfonates, especially those ethers of higher alcohols derived from tallow and coconut oil; sodium coconut oil fatty acid monoglyceride sulfonates and sulfates; sodium or potassium salts of sulfuric acid esters of the reaction product of 1 mole of a higher fatty alcohol (e.g. tallow or coconut oil alcohols) and about 1 to 6 moles of ethylene oxide; sodium or potassium salts of alkyl phenol ethylene oxide ether sulfate with about 1 to about 10 units of ethylene oxide per molecule and in which the alkyl radicals contain about 8 to about 12 carbon atoms.

Anionic phosphate surfactants are also useful in the present invention. These are surface active materials having substantial detergent capability in which the anionic solubilizing group connecting hydrophobic moieties in an oxy acid of phosphorus. The more common solubilizing groups, of course, are --SO.sub.4 H, --SO.sub.3 H, and --CO.sub.2 H. Alkyl phosphate esters such as (R-O).sub.2 PO.sub.2 H and ROPO.sub.3 H.sub.2 in which R represents an alkyl chain containing from about 8 to about 20 carbon atoms are useful.

These esters can be modified by including in the molecule from one to about 40 alkylene oxide units, e.g., ethylene oxide units. Formulae for these modified phosphate anionic detergents are ##SPC5##

in which R represents an alkyl group containing from about 8 to 20 carbon atoms, or an alkylphenyl group in which the alkyl group contains from about 8 to 20 carbon atoms, and M represents a water-soluble cation such as hydrogen, sodium, potassium, ammonium or substituted ammonium; and in which n is an integer from 1 to about 40.

Another class of suitable anionic organic detergents particularly useful in this invention includes salts of 2-acyloxyalkane-1-sulfonic acids. These salts have the formula ##SPC6##

where R.sub.1 is alkyl of about 9 to about 23 carbon atoms (forming with the two carbon atoms an alkane group); R.sub.2 is alkyl of 1 to about 8 carbon atoms; and M is a water-soluble cation.

The water-soluble cation, M, in the hereinbefore described structural formula can be, for example, an alkali metal cation (e.g., sodium, potassium, lithium), ammonium or substituted-ammonium cation. Specific examples of substituted ammonium cations include methyl-, dimethyl-a and trimethyl- ammonium cations and quaternary ammonium cations such as tetramethyl-ammonium and dimethyl piperidinium cations and those derived from alkylamines such as ethylamine, diethylamine, triethylamine, mixtures thereof, and the like.

Specific examples of .beta.-acyloxy-alkane-1-sulfonates, or alternatively 2-acyloxy-alkane-1-sulfonates, useful herein to provide superior cleaning levels under substantially neutral washing conditions include the sodium salt of 2-acetoxy-tridecane-1-sulfonic acid; the potassium salt of 2-propionyloxy-tetradecane-1-sulfonic acid; the lithium salt of 2-butanoyloxy-tetradecane-1-sulfonic acid; the sodium salt of 2-pentanoyloxy-pentadecane-1-sulfonic acid; the sodium salt of 2-acetoxy-hexadecane-1-sulfonic acid; the potassium salt of 2-octanoyloxy-tetradecane-1-sulfonic acid; the sodium salt of 2-acetoxy-heptadecane-1-sulfonic acid; the lithium salt of 2-acetoxy-octadecane-1-sulfonic acid; the potassium salt of 2-acetoxy-nonadecane-1-sulfonic acid; the sodium salt of 2-acetoxy-uncosane-1-sulfonic acid; the isomers thereof.

Preferred .beta.-acyloxy-alkane-1-sulfonate salts herein are the alkali metal salts of .beta.-acetoxy-alkane-1-sulfonic acids corresponding to the above formula wherein R.sub.1 is alkyl of about 12 to about 16 carbon atoms, these salts being preferred from the standpoints of their excellent cleaning properties and ready availability.

Typical examples of the above-described .beta.-acetoxy alkanesulfonates are described in the literature: Belgium Patent No. 650,323 discloses the preparation of certain 2-acyloxy alkanesulfonic acids. Similarly, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,094,451 and 2,086,215 disclose certain salts of .beta.-acetoxy alkanesulfonic acids. These patents are hereby incorporated by reference.

Another preferred class of anionic detergent compounds herein, both by virtue of superior cleaning properties and low sensitivity to water hardness (Ca++ and Mg++ ions) are the alkylated .beta.-sulfocarboxylates, containing about 10 to about 23 carbon atoms, and having the formula ##SPC7##

wherein R is C.sub.8 to C.sub.20 alkyl, M is a water-soluble cation as hereinbefore disclosed, preferably sodium ion, and R' is short-chain alkyl, e.g., methyl, ethyl, propyl, and butyl. These compounds are prepared by the esterification of .alpha.-sulfonated carboxylic acids, which are commercially available, using standard techniques. Specific examples of the alkylated .alpha.-sulfocarboxylates preferred for use herein include:

ammonium methyl-.alpha.-sulfopalmitate,

triethanolammonium ethyl-.alpha.-sulfostearate,

sodium methyl-.alpha.-sulfopalmitate,

sodium ethyl-.alpha.-sulfopalmitate,

sodium butyl-.alpha.-sulfostearate,

potassium methyl-.alpha.-sulfolaurate,

lithium methyl-.alpha.-sulfolaurate,

as well as mixtures thereof.

A preferred class of anionic organic detergents are the .beta.-alkyloxy alkane sulfonates. These compounds have the following formula: ##SPC8##

where R.sub.1 is a straight chain alkyl group having from 6 to 20 carbon atoms, R.sub.2 is a lower alkyl group having from 1 (preferred) to 3 carbon atoms, and M is a water-soluble cation as hereinbefore described.

Specific examples of .beta.-alkyloxy alkane sulfonates, or alternatively 2-alkyloxy-alkane-1-sulfonates, having low hardness (calcium ion) sensitivity useful herein to provide superior cleaning levels under household washing conditions include:

potassium-.beta.-methoxydecanesulfonate,

sodium 2-methoxytridecanesulfonate,

potassium 2-ethoxytetradecylsulfonate,

sodium 2-isopropoxyhexadecylsulfonate,

lithium 2-t-butoxytetradecylsulfonate,

sodium .beta.-methoxyoctadecylsulfonate, and

ammonium .beta.-n-propoxydodecylsulfonate.

Other synthetic anionic detergents useful herein are alkyl ether sulfates. These materials have the formula RO(C.sub.2 H.sub.4 O).sub.x SO.sub.3 M wherein R is alkyl or alkenyl of about 10 to about 20 carbon atoms, x is 1 to 30, and M is a water-soluble cation as defined hereinbefore. The alkyl ether sulfates useful in the present invention are condensation products of ethylene oxide and monohydric alcohols having about 10 to about 20 carbon atoms. Preferably, R has 14 to 18 carbon atoms. The alcohols can be derived from fats, e.g., coconut oil or tallow, or can be synthetic. Lauryl alcohol and straight chain alcohols derived from tallow are preferred herein. Such alcohols are reacted with 1 to 30, and especially 6, molar proportins of ethylene oxide and the resulting mixture of molecular species, having, for example, an average of 6 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol, is sulfated and neutralized.

Specific examples of alkyl ether sulfates of the present invention are sodium coconut alkyl ethylene glycol ether sulfate; lithium tallow alkyl triethylene glycol ether sulfate; and sodium tallow alkyl hexaoxyethylene sulfate.

Preferred herein for reasons of excellent cleaning properties and ready availability are the alkali metal coconut- and tallow-alkyl oxyethylene ether sulfates having an average of about 1 to about 10 oxyethylene moieties. The alkyl ether sulfates of the present invention are known compounds and are described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,332,876, incorporated herein by reference.

Additional examples of anionic non-soap synthetic detergents which come within the terms of the present invention are the reaction product of fatty acids esterified with isethionic acid and neutralized with sodium hydroxide where, for example, the fatty acids are derived from coconut oil; sodium or potassium salts of fatty acid amides of methyl tauride in which the fatty acids, for example, are derived from coconut oil. Other anionic synthetic detergents of this variety are set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,486,921; 2,486,922; and 2,396,278.

Additional examples of anionic, non-soap, synthetic detergents, which come within the terms of the present invention, are the compounds which contain two anionic functional groups. These are referred to as di-anionic detergents. Suitable di-anionic detergents are the disulfonates, disulfates, or mixtures thereof which may be represented by the following formulae;

R(SO.sub.3).sub.2 M.sub.2, R(SO.sub.4).sub.2 M.sub.2, R(SO.sub.3) (SO.sub.4)M.sub.2,

where R is an acyclic aliphatic hydrocarbyl group having 15 to 20 carbon atoms and M is a water-solubilizing cation, for example, the C.sub.15 to C.sub.20 disodium 1,2-alkyldisulfates, C.sub.15 to C.sub.20 dipotassium-1,2-alkyldisulfonates or disulfates, disodium 1,9-hexadecyl disulfates, C.sub.15 to C.sub.20 disodium-1,2-alkyldisulfonates, disodium 1,9-stearyldisulfates and 6,10-octadecyldisulfates.

The aliphatic portion of the disulfates or disulfonates is generally substantially linear, thereby imparting desirable biodegradable properties to the detergent compound.

The water-solubilizing cations include the customary cations known in the detergent art, i.e., the alkali metals, and the ammonium cations, as well as other metals in group IIA, IIB, IIIA, IVA and IVB of the Periodic Table except for boron. The preferred water-solubilizing cations are sodium or potassium. These dianionic detergents are more fully described in British Letters Patent No. 1,151,392.

Still other anionic synthetic detergents include the class designated as succinamates. This class includes such surface active agents as disodium N-octadecylsulfosuccinamate; tetrasodium N-(1,2-dicarboxyethyl)-N-octadecyl-sulfo-succinamate; diamyl ester of sodium sulfosuccinic acid; dihexyl ester of sodium sulfosuccinic acid; dioctyl esters of sodium sulfosuccinic acid.

Other suitable anionic detergents utilizable herein are olefin sulfonates having about 12 to about 24 carbon atoms. The term "olefin sulfonates" is used herein to mean compounds which can be produced by the sulfonate of .alpha.-olefins by means of uncomplexed sulfur trioxide, followed by neutralization of the acid reaction mixture in conditions such that any sultones which have been formed in the reaction are hydrolyzed to give the corresponding hydroxy-alkanesulfonates. The sulfur trioxide can be liquid or gaseous, and is usually, but not necessarily, diluted by inert diluents, for example by liquid SO.sub.2, chlorinated hydrocarbons, etc., when used in the liquid form, or by air, nitrogen, gaseous SO.sub.2, etc., when used in the gaseous form.

The .alpha.-olefins from which the olefin sulfonates are derived are mono-olefins having 12 to 24 carbon atoms, preferably 14 to 16 carbon atoms. Preferably, they are straight chain olefins. Examples of suitable 1-olefins include 1-dodecene; 1-tetradecene; 1-hexadecene; 1-octadecene; 1-eicosene and 1-tetracosene.

In addition to the true alkene sulfonates and a proportion of hydroxy-alkanesulfonates, the olefin sulfonates can contain minor amounts of other materials, such as alkene disulfonates depending upon the reaction conditions, proportion of reactants, the nature of the starting olefins and impurities in the olefin stock and side reactions during the sulfonate process.

A specific anionic detergent which has also been found excellent for use in the present invention is described more fully in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,332,880, incorporated herein by reference.

B. Nonionic Synthetic Detergents

Nonionic synthetic detergents may be broadly defined as compounds produced by the condensation of alkylene oxide groups (hydrophilic in nature) with an organic hydrophobic compound, which may be aliphatic or alkyl aromatic in nature. The length of the hydrophilic or polyoxyalkylene radical which is condensed with any particular hydrophobic group can be readily adjusted to yield a water-soluble compound having the desired degree of balance between hydrophilic and hydrophobic elements.

For example, a well known class of nonionic synthetic detergents is made available on the market under the trade name of "Pluronic." These compounds are formed by condensing ethylene oxide with a hydrophobic base formed by the condensation of propylene oxide with propylene glycol. The hydrophobic portion of the molecule which, of course, exhibits water insolubility, has a molecular weight of from about 1500 to 1800. The addition of polyoxyethylene radicals to this hydrophobic portion tends to increase the water solubility of the molecule as a whole and the liquid character of the product is retained up to the point where polyoxyethylene content is about 50 percent of the total weight of the condensation product.

Other suitable nonionic synthetic detergents include:

1. The polyethylene oxide condensates of alkyl phenols, e.g., the condensation products of alkyl phenols having an alkyl group containing from about 6 to 12 carbon atoms in either a straight chain or branched chain configuration, with ethylene oxide, the said ethylene oxide being present in amounts equal to 5 to 25 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alkyl phenol. The alkyl substituent in such compounds may be derived from polymerized propylene, diisobutylene, octene, or nonene, for example.

2. Compounds derived from the condensation of ethylene oxide with the product resulting from the reaction of propylene oxide and ethylene diamine. For example, compounds containing from about 40 to about 80 percent polyoxyethylene by weight and having a molecular weight of from about 5,000 to about 11,000 resulting from the reaction of ethylene oxide groups with a hydrophobic base constituted of the reaction product of ethylene diamine and excess propylene oxide, said base having a molecular weight of the order of 2,500 to 3,000, are satisfactory.

3. The condensation product of aliphatic alcohols having from 8 to 22 carbon atoms, in either straight chain or branched chain configuration with ethylene oxide, e.g., a coconut alcohol-ethylene oxide condensate having from 5 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of coconut alcohol, the coconut alcohol fraction having from 10 to 14 carbon atoms.

4. Nonionic detergents include nonyl phenol condensed with about 10 to about 30 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of phenol; the condensation products of coconut alcohol with an average of either about 5.5 or about 15 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol, and, the condensation product of about 15 moles of ethylene oxide with one mole of tridecanol.

Other examples include dodecylphenol condensed with 12 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of phenol; dinonylphenol condensed with 15 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of phenol; dodecyl mercaptan condensed with 10 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of mercaptan; bis-(N-2-hydroxyethyl)lauramide; nonyl phenol condensed with 20 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of nonyl phenol; myristyl alcohol condensed with 10 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of myristyl alcohol; lauramide condensed with 15 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of lauramide; and di-isooctylphenol condensed with 15 moles of ethylene oxide.

5. A detergent having the formula R.sup.1 R.sup.2 R.sup.3 N.fwdarw. O (amine oxide detergent) wherein R.sup.1 is an alkyl group containing from about 10 to about 28 carbon atoms, from 0 to about 2 hydroxy groups and from 0 to about 5 ether linkages, there being at least one moiety of R.sup.1 which is an alkyl group containing from about 10 to about 18 carbon atoms and 0 ether linkages, and each R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are selected from the group consisting of alkyl radicals and hydroxyalkyl radicals containing from 1 to about 3 carbon atoms.

Specific examples of amine oxide detergents include: dimethyldodecylamine oxide, dimethyltetradecylamine oxide, ethylmethyltetradecylamine oxide, cetyldimethylamine oxide, dimethylstearylamine oxide, cetylethylpropylamine oxide, diethyldodecylamine oxide, diethyltetradecylamine oxide, di-propyldodecylamine oxide, bis-(2-hydroxyethyl)dodecylamine oxide, bis-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-dodecoxy-1-hydroxypropylamine oxide, (2-hydroxypropyl)methyltetradecylamine oxide, dimethyloleyamine oxide, dimethyl-(2-hydroxydodecyl)amine oxide, and the corresponding decyl, hexadecyl and octadecyl homologs of the above compounds.

6. A detergent having the formula R.sup.1 R.sup.2 R.sup.3 P.fwdarw. O (phosphine oxide detergent) wherein R.sup.1 is an alkyl group containing from about 10 to about 28 carbon atoms, from 0 to about 2 hydroxy groups and from 0 to about 5 ether linkages, there being at least one moiety of R.sup.1 which is an alkyl group containing from about 10 to about 18 carbon atoms and 0 ether linkages, and each of R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are selected from the group consisting of alkyl radicals and hydroxyalkyl radicals containing from 1 to about 3 carbon atoms.

Specific examples of the phosphine oxide detergents include: dimethyldodecylphosphine oxide, dimethyltetradecylphosphine oxide, ethylmethyltetradecylphosphine oxide, catyldimethylphosphine oxide, dimethylstearylphosphine oxide, cetylethylpropylphosphine oxide, diethyldodecylphosphine oxide, diethyltetradecylphosphine oxide, dipropyldodecylphosphine oxide, bis(hydroxymethyl)dodecylphosphine oxide, bis-(2-hydroxyethyl)dodecylphosphine oxide, (2-hydroxypropyl)methyltetradecylphosphine oxide, dimethyloleylphosphine oxide, and dimethyl-(2-hydroxydodecyl)phosphine oxide and the corresponding decyl, hexadecyl, and octadecyl homologs of the above compounds.

7. A detergent having the formula ##SPC9##

(sulfoxide detergent) wherein R.sup.1 is an alkyl radical containing from about 10 to about 28 carbon atoms, from 0 to about 5 ether linkages and from 0 to about 2 hydroxyl substituents at least 1 moiety of R.sup.1 being an alkyl radical containing 0 ether linkages and containing from about 10 to about 18 carbon atoms, and wherein R.sup.2 is an alkyl radical containing from 1 to 3 carbon atoms and from 1 to 2 hydroxyl groups: e.g., octadecyl methyl sulfoxide, dodecyl methyl sulfoxide, tetradecyl methyl sulfoxide, 3-hydroxytridecyl methyl sulfoxide, 3-methoxytridecyl methyl sulfoxide, 3-hydroxy-4-dodecoxybutyl methyl sulfoxide, octadecyl 2-hydroxyethyl sulfoxide, and dodecylethyl sulfoxide.

C. Ampholytic Synthetic Detergents

Ampholytic synthetic detergents can be broadly described as derivatives of aliphatic or aliphatic derivatives of heterocyclic secondary and tertiary amines in which the aliphatic radical may be straight chain or branched and wherein one of the aliphatic substituents contains from about 8 to 18 carbon atoms and at least one contains an anionic water-solubilizing group, e.g., carboxy, sulfonate, sulfato. Examples of compounds falling within this definition are sodium 3-(dodecylamino)propionate, sodium 3-(dodecylamino)propane-1sulfonate, sodium 2-(dodecylamino)ethyl sulfate, sodium 2-(dimethylamino)octadecanoate, disodium 3-(N-carboxymethyldodecylamino)propane-1-sulfonate, disodium octadecyl-iminodiazetate, sodium 1-carboxymethyl-2-undecylimidazole, and sodium N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-sulfato-3-dodecoxypropylamine.

D. Zwitterionic Synthetic Detergents

Zwitterionic synthetic detergents can be broadly described as derivatives of aliphatic quaternary ammonium and phosphonium or tertiary sulfonium compounds, in which the cationic atom may be part of a heterocyclic ring, and in which the aliphatic radical may be straight chain or branched, and wherein one of the aliphatic substituents contains from about 3 to 18 carbon atoms, and at least one aliphatic substituent contains an anionic water-solubilizing group, e.g., carboxy, sulfonate, sulfato, phosphato, or phosphono. Examples of compounds falling within this definition are 3-(N,N-dimethyl-N-hexadecylammonio)-2-hydroxypropane-1-sulfonate, 3-(N,N-dimethyl-N-hexadecylammonio)propane-1-sulfonate, 2-(N,N-dimethyl-N-dodecylammonio)acetate, 3-(N,N-dimethyl N-dodecylammonio)-propionate, 2-(N,N-dimethyl-N-octadecylammonio)ethyl sulfate, 2-(trimethylammonio)ethyl dodecylphosphonate, ethyl 3-(N,N-dimethyl-N-dodecylammonio)propylphosphonate, 3-(P,P-dimethyl-P-dodecylphosphonio)propane-1-sulfonate, 2-(S-methyl-S-tert-hexadecyl-sulfonio)ethane-1-sulfonate, 3-(S-methyl-S-dodecylsulfonio)propionate, sodium 2-(N,N-dimethyl-N-dodecylammonio)ethyl phosphonate, 4-(S-methyl-S-tetradecylsulfonio)butyrate, 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-undecylimidazolium-1-acetate, 2-(trimethylammonio)octadecanoate, and 3-N,N-bis-(2-hydroxyethyl-N-octodecylammonio)-2-hydroxypropane-1-sulfonate . Some of these detergents are described in the following U.S. Nos. 2,129,264; 2,178,353; 2,774,786; 2,813,898; and 2,828,332. The ammoniopropane sulfonates containing about 8 to about 21 carbon atoms are one class of detergent compounds preferred herein by virtue of their relatively low calcium ion (hardness) sensitivity.

Builder Salts

The detergent compositions herein can contain water-soluble detergency builder salts, either of the organic or inorganic types, and these are wholly compatible with the .alpha.,.omega.-disubstituted polyol softeners and the polyalkyleneimine antistatic agents, and with the hereinabove disclosed organic detergent compounds to provide the combined built detergent-fabric softener-anti-static compositions of this invention.

Non-limiting examples of suitable water-soluble inorganic alkaline detergency builder salts are the alkali metal carbonates, borates, phosphates, polyphosphates, bicarbonates, silicates and sulfates. Specific examples of such salts are sodium and potassium tetraborates, perborates, bicarbonates, carbonates, tripolyphosphates, pyrophosphates, orthophosphates and hexametaphosphates.

Examples of suitable organic alkaline detergency builder salts are: (1) water-soluble aminopolyacetates, e.g., sodium and potassium ethylenediaminetetraacetates, nitrilotriacetates and N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-nitrilodiacetates; (2) water-soluble salts of phytic acid, e.g., sodium and potassium phytates - see U.S. Pat. No. 2,739,942; (3) water-soluble polyphosphonates, including specifically, sodium potassium and lithium salts of ethane-1hydroxy-1,1-diphosphonic acid, sodium potassium and lithium salts of methylene diphosphonic acid, sodium, potassium and lithium salts of ethylene diphosphonic acid, and sodium potassium and lithium salts of ethane-1,1,2-triphosphonic acid. Other examples include these alkali metal salts of ethane-2-carboxy-1,1-diphosphonic acid, hydroxymethanediphosphonic acid, carbonyldiphosphonic acid, ethane-1-hydroxy-1,1,2-triphosphonic acid, ethane-2-hydroxy-1,1,2-triphosphonic acid, propane-1,1,3,3-tetraphosphonic acid, and propane-1,1,2,3-tetraphosphonic acid, and propane-1,2,2,3-tetraphosphonic acid; water-soluble salts of polycarboxylate polymers and copolymers as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,308,067.

The polycarboxylate materials described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,264,103, are also suitably employed herein. For example, aconitic acid, mellitic acid and the tetra- and penta-carboxylic acids prepared by the malonic acid synthesis are also suitable for use herein as builders, as are the phloroglucinoltrisulfonates, (ethylenedioxy) diacetates, and oxydisuccinates. Especially preferred are the water-soluble alkali metal salts of these compounds.

Mixtures of organic and/or inorganic builders can be used and are generally desirable. One such mixture of builders is disclosed in Canadian Patent No. 755,038, e.g., ternary mixtures of sodium tripolyphosphate, trisodium nitrilotriacetate and trisodium ethane-1-hydroxy-1,1diphosphonate. The above-described builders can also be utilized singly in this invention. Preferred builders herein include sodium tripolyphosphate, sodium citrate, sodium nitrilotriacetate and sodium mellitate. (The term "sodium" encompasses di-sodium, tri-sodium, etc., depending on the number of anionic counterion groups in the anionic portion of the builder molecular.)

The ratio of water-soluble organic detergent compound: builder in the built detergent compositions herein can be in the range of from about 1:100 to 1:1 (wt.), preferably about 1:10 to 1:20 (wt.).

As noted above, it is a method aspect of this invention to add a composition comprising a .alpha.,.omega.-disubstituted polyol of the type disclosed above, preferably containing a polyalkyleneimine as herein described, to aqueous, detergent-containing laundering baths in concentrations of disubstituted polyol of about 20 ppm, and greater, and concentrations of polyalkyleneimines of about 10 ppm, and greater, to achieve simultaneous fabric cleansing, softening and anti-static benefits. In this method aspect, the combination of disubstituted polyol and polyalkyleneimine is preferably added as a component of a detergent composition, as herein detailed. However, fabric softener compositions comprising from about 10 to about 50 percent by weight of the .alpha.,.omega.-disubstituted polyol, from about 50 to about 90 percent of a solid or liquid carrier, and preferably from about 0.5 to about 2 percent by weight of the polyalkyleneimine, can also be added to laundry baths containing built or unbuilt detergent compositions to provide the desired softening and anti-static benefits. Such compositions are also encompassed by this invention. Useful carriers in such compositions include liquids in which the disubstituted polyols and polyalkyleneimines are stable as solutions or suspensions. Inert solid carriers (preferably water-soluble) can also be employed. Such carriers must be compatible with laundry detergents, builders, bleaches and like materials employed in common laundering operations. Exemplary liquid carriers suitable in such compositions include water (preferred), the lower alcohols, e.g., methanol, ethanol, propanol, iso-propanol and the like, the lower ketones, e.g., acetone, and mixtures thereof. Solid carriers include sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium silicate, sodium phosphate, sodium tripolyphosphate, as well as any of the other water-soluble solid materials disclosed hereinabove as builders. Such softener-anti-static compositions are stable and effective when added to laundering baths containing any of the hereinbefore detailed detergents and builders.

The detergent compositions of this invention can be in any of the usual physical forms for such compositions, such as powders, beads, flakes, bars, tablets, pastes and the like. The instant compositions can contain other materials commonly used in laundry detergents in minor amounts. For example, various soil suspending agents, corrosion inhibitors, dyes, proteins, fillers, optical brighteners, suds boosters, suds depressants, germicides, anti-tarnishing agents, cationic materials, enzymes and the like, well-known in the art for use in detergent compositions can be used herein; water can also be present. The compositions are prepared and utilized in the conventional manner.

Built detergents and soaps are used in the basic pH range, usually from about pH 8 to 11.5. Some detergent materials can be employed in the acid pH range. The pH of the washing system is immaterial for the purposes of this invention in that the softener and anti-static compositions of this invention function well over the entire range of acidity and basicity. Most generally, the pH of the aqueous laundry baths in which the compositions herein are used is in the range from about pH 5 to pH 12.

Laundering bath temperatures are likewise immaterial in that the compositions of this invention can be used at all common laundry temperatures from about 50.degree.F to 212.degree.F, most preferably 80.degree.F to 125.degree.F, with good results.

The following illustrates the preparation of a typical disubstituted polyol fabric softener of the type used in this invention.

Preparation of 1,6-distearoyl Sorbitol

182.17 g. (1.0 mole) of sorbitol (commercial grade) and 599.02 g. (2.0 moles) of methyl stearate are admixed in the presence of about 1 liter of methanol. 0.1 Mole of sodium methoxide is added and the mixture is stirred and refluxed for 48 hours. The methanol is evaporated and the resulting pasty mass, which comprises > 90 percent 1,6-distearoyl sorbitol, is suitable for use as a fabric softener herein.

In the above procedure, the methyl stearate is replaced by an equivalent molar amount of the methyl esters of eicosanoic acid and docosanoic acid, respectively, and 1,6-bis-eicosanoyl sorbitol and 1,6-bis-docosanoyl sorbitol are secured.

1,6-Distearyl sorbitol is prepared by admixing 2 moles of octadecyl bromide with one mole of sorbitol in the presence of copper filing and heating the mixture until HCl evolution ceases. The resulting mass is water-washed and the water evaporated to yield 1,6-distearyl sorbitol.

In the above procedure the the sorbitol is replaced by an equivalent amount of xylitol and 1,6-distearyl xylitol is secured.

The following examples are typical combined built detergent-softener and detergent-softener-antistatic formulations containing the .alpha.,.omega.-disubstituted polyols and the substituted polyalkyleneimines described hereinabove. The formulations are for the purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting to the types of formulations encompassed by this invention.

Composition A ______________________________________ Weight Percent 7.8 sodium linear dodecylbenzenesulfonate 9.5 sodium tallowalkylsulfate 49.4 sodium tripolyphosphate 5.9 sodium silicate 13.7 Na.sub.2 SO.sub.4 0.2 sodium carboxymethylcellulose 2.2 nonionic suds controlling agents 7.0 1,6-distearoyl sorbitol bal. moisture ______________________________________

The above composition is used in an aqueous laundry bath at a rate of 1.5 cups (.apprxeq.77 g.) per 10 gallons of water and concurrently cleanses and softens nylon, polyester and cotton fabrics.

Composition B ______________________________________ Weight Percent 5.0 dimethyldodecylphosphine oxide 10 condensation product of 11 moles of ethylene oxide with 1 mole of coconut fatty alcohol 10 tetrasodium methylenediphosphate 60 sodium tripolyphosphate 0.5 sodium carboxymethylcellulose 4.0 sodium silicate 9.0 1,6-bis-eicosanoyl sorbitol bal. moisture ______________________________________

The above composition is used as a rate of 1 cup/10 gallons of water and cleanses and softens white cotton men's shirts without yellowing.

The following examples illustrate the detergent-softener compositions herein containing the polyalkyleneimine anti-static agents.

Composition C ______________________________________ Weight Percent ______________________________________ 16.5 sodium linear dodecylbenzenesulfonate 38 sodium tripolyphosphate 13 sodium sulfate 11 sodium nitrilotriacetate 7.0 sodium silicate 2.0 sodium toluenesulfonate 6.0 1,6-distearoyl sorbitol 3.0 20% stearoylated polyethyleneimine (Mol. wt. of polyethyleneimine 600-1200) 1.0 additives* (optional) (approx.) bal. moisture ______________________________________ * Including perfumes, enzymes and optical brighteners.

The above composition is used at a rate of 1 cup/10 gallons of water and concurrently cleanses, softens and neutralizes static charge on cotton, linen, nylon and polyester fabrics.

Composition D ______________________________________ Weight Percent ______________________________________ 30 sodium salt of 20:80 coconut:tallow fatty acids 10 sodium silicate (builder) 40 tetrasodium pyrophosphate (builder) -6.0 sodium chloride 4.0 1,6-distearoyl sorbitol 1.0 20% stearoylated - 10% methylated poly- butyleneimine (avg. mol. wt. 20,000) 0.05 additives* (optional) bal. moisture ______________________________________ * Including perfumes and optical brighteners.

The above composition is used at a concentration of 1.5 cups/10 gallons of water and cleanses and provides antistatic and softening benefits to cotton, nylon, polyester and cotton/polyester blend fabrics.

In the above composition the builders are deleted and replaced by an equivalent amount of the sodium salt of coconut: tallow fatty acids. The unbuilt composition is used at a concentration of 1.5 cups/10 gallons of water and cleanses, softens and provides anti-static benefits to nylon, and polyester fabrics.

The following compositions are used at a rate of about 70 g./10 gallons of water to provide cleansing and softening of cotton, nylon and polyester fabrics while concurrently providing an anti-static effect:

Composition E ______________________________________ Weight Percent ______________________________________ 7.0 sodium tallow alkyl sulfate 7.0 sodium linear dodecylbenzenesulfonate 50 sodium tripolyphosphate 10 sodium carbonate 10 sodium sulfate 5.0 potassium dichlorocyanurate (bleach) 5.5 1,6-bis-eicosanoyl sorbitol 1.5 20% stearoylated polyethyleneimine (avg. - mol. wt. 25,000) 0.05 perfume bal. moisture ______________________________________

Composition F (liquid) ______________________________________ Weight Percent ______________________________________ 6.0 sodium-3-dodecylaminopropionate 6.0 sodium linear dodecylbenzenesulfonate 20 potassium pyrophosphate 8.0 potassium toluenesulfonate 3.8 sodium silicate 0.3 carboxymethylhydroxethylcellulose 15 1,6-distearyl sorbitol 5.0 60% stearoylated polyethyleneimine (avg. mol. wt. 15,000) 0.05 additives* (optional) bal. water ______________________________________ * Including perfumes and optical brighteners.

In the above composition the distearyl sorbitol is replaced by an equivalent amount of dipalmityl sorbitol, biseicosyl sorbitol and bis-docosyl xylitol, respectively, with equivalent results.

Composition G (liquid) ______________________________________ Weight Percent ______________________________________ 6.0 sodium linear dodecylbenzenesulfonate 6.0 dimethyldodecylamine oxide 10 trisodium ethane-1-hydroxy-1,1- diphosphonate 10 tripotassium toluenesulfonate 3.8 sodium silicate (ratio SiO.sub.2 :Na.sub.2 O of 2:1) 5.0 potassium dichlorocyanurate (bleach) 0.3 sodium carboxymethylcellulose 0.20 3-morpholino-2,5-diphenylfuran (optical brightener) 7.5 1,6-bis-docosanoyl sorbitol 1.5 50% docosanoylated polypropyleneimine (avg. mol. wt. 10,000) 0.10 perfume bal. water ______________________________________

Composition H ______________________________________ Weight Percent ______________________________________ 10 sodium salt of SO.sub.3 -sulfonated tetradecene 10 dimethyl coconutalkylammonio acetate 60 trisodium ethane-hydroxy triphosphonate 10 sodium carbonate 6.0 1,6-distearyl sorbitol:1,5-distearyl iditol (90:10 wt. mixture) 1.0 50% hexanoylated polybutyleneimine (avg. mol. wt. 200,000) bal. moisture ______________________________________

Composition I ______________________________________ Weight Percent ______________________________________ 7.5 sodium linear octadecylbenzenesulfonate 2.0 sodium tallowalkylsulfate 2.2 hydrogenated marine oil fatty acid suds depressant 30 sodium tripolyphosphate 20 trisodium nitrilotriacetate 10 sodium silicate (ratio SiO.sub.2 Na.sub.2 O of 2:1) 13 sodium sulfate 10 1,6-bis-docosanoyl xylitol 3.0 20% docosylated polymethyleneimine (avg. mol. wt. 3,000) 0.20 perfume bal. moisture ______________________________________

Composition J ______________________________________ Weight Percent ______________________________________ 10 sodium linear dodecylbenzenesulfonate 10 condensation product of 1 mole of nonyl phenol with 12 moles of ethylene oxide 10 sodium tripolyphosphate 30 trisodium ethane-1-hydroxy-1,1- diphosphonate 10 trisodium nitrilotriacetate 6.0 sodium silicate (ratio of SiO.sub.2 :Na.sub.2 O of 2:1) 10 trisodium phosphate 0.5 sodium carboxymethylcellulose 4.0 1,6-bis-docosanoyl sorbitol 1.0 40% stearoylated polyethyleneimine (avg. mol. wt. 25,000) 0.1 3-phenyl-2,5-diphenylthiophene (optical brightener) 0.2 3-diethanolamino-2,5-di-p-methoxyphenylfuran (optical brightener) bal. moisture ______________________________________

______________________________________ Composition K (For Cool Water Use) ______________________________________ Weight Percent ______________________________________ 5.0 sodium tallowalkylsulfate 12 3(N,N-dimethyl-N-dodecylammonio)- 2-hydroxy-propane-1-sulfonate 5.0 sodium salt of SO.sub.3 -sulfonated .alpha.-tridecene 25 sodium tripolyphosphate 15 trisodium nitrilotriacetate 10 sodium silicate (SIO.sub.2 :Na.sub.2 O = 1.6:1) 10 sodium sulfate 0.3 sodium carboxymethylhydroxyethylcellulose 10.0 10:1 mixture of 1,6-distearoyl sorbitol and 1,5-distearoyl sorbitol 2.0 5% stearoylated polyethyleneimine (avg. mol. wt. 20,000) 0.1 3-deca(oxyethylene)-2,5-diphenylfuran 0.05 perfume bal. moisture ______________________________________ Composition L (For Cool Water Use) ______________________________________ Weight Percent ______________________________________ 5.0 sodium octyl sulfate 5.0 3(N,N-dimethyl-N-hexadecylammonio)- propane-1-sulfonate 10 dimethyldodecylphosphine oxide 5.0 trisodium ethane-1-hydroxy-1,1- diphosphonate 10 trisodium nitrilotriacetate 10 sodium tripolyphosphate 10 sodium silicate (Na.sub.2 O:SiO.sub.2 = 1:2.5) 0.3 sodium carboxymethylcellulose 10 sodium sulfate 20 1,6-dipalmitoyl sorbitol 5.0 25% stearoylated polyethyleneimine (avg. mol. wt. 1,000,000) bal. moisture ______________________________________

The following example illustrates a typical fabric softener composition of this invention.

Composition M ______________________________________ Weight Percent ______________________________________ 50 1,6-distearoyl sorbitol 50 sodium tripolyphosphate (carrier) ______________________________________

The above composition is added to laundry baths containing a commercial anionic laundry detergent at a rate of 0.5 oz./10 gallons of water and cotton, nylon and polyester fabrics are softened concurrently with washing.

In the above composition the 1,6-distearoyl sorbitol is replaced by an equivalent amount of 1,6-bis-eicosanoyl sorbitol and 1,6-bis-docosanoyl sorbitol, respectively, and equivalent results are secured.

The following examples illustrate the preferred combined fabric softening and anti-static compositions of the instant invention which can be added to laundry baths containing detergent compositions.

Composition N ______________________________________ Weight Percent ______________________________________ 2 20% stearoylated polyethyleneimine (mol. wt. of polyethyleneimine 600-1200) 50 1,6-distearoyl sorbitol bal. sodium carbonate (carrier) ______________________________________

The above composition is added to a laundry bath containing compositions A through L, above, respectively at a rate of about 1 oz./16 gallons of water and nylon, polyester and cotton fabrics are softened and provided with an anti-static finish concurrently with washing.

In the above composition, the sodium carbonate is replaced by an equivalent amount of sodium sulfate, sodium tripolyphosphate and sodium nitrilotriacetate, respectively, and equivalent results are secured.

In the above composition, the 20 percent stearoylated polyethyleneimine is replaced by an equivalent amount of 60% stearoylated polyethyleneimine, 100 percent stearoylated polyethyleneimine and 50 percent hexanoylated polybutyleneimine, respectively, and equivalent results are secured.

Composition O ______________________________________ Weight Percent ______________________________________ 25 1,6-distearoyl sorbitol 1.0 polyethyleneimine (PEI) 1.0 20% stearoylated polyethyleneimine (mol. wt. of polyethyleneimine 600-1200) (20% SPEI) bal. water (carrier) ______________________________________

The 1,6-distearoyl sorbitol, PEI, and 20% SPEI are suspended in the water. The composition is shaken and admixed with a laundering bath containing a commercial laundry detergent at a rate of about 1 oz. of the said composition to about 10 gallons of water. Cotton, polyester, nylon and polyester-cotton blended fabrics in the laundering bath are concurrently cleansed and softened. The static electric charge on the fabrics is neutralized.

In the above composition the 1,6-distearoyl sorbitol is replaced by an equivalent amount of 1,6-bis-docosanoyl xylitol, 1,6-bis-docosanoyl iditol, 1,6-bis-palmitoyl sorbitol, 1,5-bis-palmitoyl iditol, 1,6-bis-palmityl sorbitol, 1,5-bis-palmityl iditol and 1,6-bis-eicosanoyl xylitol, respectively, and equivalent results are secured.

Claims

1. A detergent composition consisting essentially of: (1) from about 5 to about 30 percent by weight of a water-soluble organic detergent compound; (2) from about 25 to about 75 percent by weight of a water-soluble detergency builder; (3) from about 2 to about 15 percent by weight of an .alpha.,.omega.-disubstituted derivative of a non-cyclic, hygroscopic polyol, said derivative having the formula ##SPC10##

wherein x is an integer of from 3 to 7 and each R is an alkyl or alkanoyl group containing at least 16 carbon atoms; and (4) from about 0.5 to about 1.5 percent by weight of a polyalkyleneimine compound containing the moiety ##SPC11##

wherein y is an integer from 1 to 4, z is an integer greater than 1, and R.sup.1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkyl and alkanoyl substituents containing from about 1 to about 22 carbon atoms, said polyalkyleneimine having from about 5 to about 100 percent of the nitrogen atoms substituted with said alkyl or alkanoyl substituents, the polyalkyleneimine having a molecular weight of from about 200 to 1

2. A composition according to claim 1 wherein the organic detergent compound is a water-soluble salt of an organic sulfuric acid reaction product having in the molecular structure an alkyl substituent containing about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms and a substituent selected from the group consisting of sulfonic and sulfuric acid ester moieties; and the polyalkyleneimine has from about 10 to about 60 percent of the nitrogen atoms substituted with the alkyl or alkanoyl substituents and has a

3. A composition according to claim 1 wherein the organic detergent compound is an alkali metal salt of a fatty acid containing from 8 to 24 carbon atoms; and the polyalkyleneimine has from about 10 to about 60 percent of the nitrogen atoms substituted with the alkyl or alkanoyl

4. A composition according to claim 1 wherein the organic detergent compound is sodium linear dodecylbenzene sulfonate; and the

5. A composition according to claim 4 wherein the disubstituted polyol is a member selected from the group consisting of 1,6-distearoyl sorbitol,

6. A composition according to claim 5 wherein the polyalkyleneimine has the

7. A composition according to claim 1 wherein the polyalkyleneimine compound is polyethyleneimine having a molecular weight in the range from

8. A composition according to claim 1 wherein the water-soluble detergency builder is selected from the group consisting of sodium nitrilotriacetate,

9. A fabric softening composition consisting essentially of: (1) from about 10% to about 50 percent by weight of an .alpha.,.omega.-disubstituted derivative of a non-cyclic, hygroscopic polyol, said derivative having the formula ##SPC12##

wherein x is an integer of from 3 to 7 and each R is an alkyl or alkanoyl group containing at least 16 carbon atoms; and (2) from about 50 to about 90 percent by weight of a water-soluble carrier selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium silicate,

10. A composition according to claim 9 wherein the disubstituted polyol is a member selected from the group consisting of 1,6-distearoyl sorbitol,

11. A composition according to claim 9 containing as an additional component from about 0.5 to about 2 percent by weight of a polyalkyleneimine compound containing the moiety ##SPC13##

wherein y is an integer from 1 to 4, z is an integer greater than 1, and R.sup.1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkyl and alkanoyl substituents containing from about 1 to about 22 carbon atoms, said polyalkyleneimine having from about 5 to about 100 percent of the nitrogen atoms substituted with said alkyl or alkanoyl substituents, the polyalkyleneimine having a molecular weight of from about 200 to 1

12. A composition according to claim 11 wherein the polyalkyleneimine has a molecular weight of from about 200 to 2000 and from about 15 to 40 percent

13. A process for softening fabrics consisting essentially of adding an .alpha.,.omega.-disubstituted derivative of a non-cyclic, hygroscopic polyol, said derivative having the formula ##SPC14##

wherein x is an integer of from 3 to 7 and each R is an alkyl or alkanoyl group containing at least 16 carbon atoms to an aqueous laundry bath containing fabrics at a concentration of at least about 20 ppm, and

14. A process according to claim 13 wherein the disubstituted polyol is

15. A process according to claim 13 wherein the disubstituted polyol is a member selected from the group consisting of 1,6-distearoyl sorbitol,

16. A process according to claim 13 wherein a polyalkyleneimine compound containing the moiety ##SPC15##

wherein y is an integer from 1 to 4, z is an integer greater than 1, and R.sup.1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkyl and alkanoyl substituents containing from about 1 to about 22 carbon atoms, said polyalkyleneimine having from about 5 to about 100 percent of the nitrogen atoms substituted with said alkyl or alkanoyl substituents, the polyalkyleneimine having a molecular weight of from about 200 to 1 million, and being water-soluble or water-dispersible is added to the laundry bath concurrently with the disubstituted polyol at a concentration

17. A process according to claim 16 wherein the polyalkyleneimine has a molecular weight of from about 200 to 2000 and from about 15 to 40 percent of the nitrogen atoms are substituted with stearoyl substituents.