MXPA99010799A - Quaternary fatty acid triethanolamine ester salts and their use as fabric softeners - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to biodegradable softener compounds of the formula (1):[(R)4-m-N(+)-[(CH2)n-Y-R1]m]X(-) with an acid value of no more than 6.5. A process for making said compound is also provided. The softener can be incorporated into softener compositions to form solid and liquid compositions, including liquid dispersions and clear compositions.

Description

QUATERNARY SALES OF ESTER OF FATTY ACID TRIETHANOLAMINE AND ITS USE AS FABRIC SOFTENERS FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to fabric softening compounds and compositions thereof useful for fabric softening. Especially refers to fabric softening compounds and / or suitable compositions for formulating fabric softening compositions for use in the rinse cycle of a fabric washing operation to provide excellent fabric softener / static control benefits, the compositions are characterized by, eg, stain reduction in the fabric, excellent water dispersibility, rewettability, and / or storage stability and viscosity at temperatures below normal, e.g., temperatures below the Normal room temperature, for example 25 ° C. The compositions of the invention are preferably liquid softening compositions and most preferably, liquid, translucent or transparent softening compositions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Transparent softening compositions are known in the art. For example, EP-A-0,404,471 describes transparent softening compositions with at least 20% softener by weight and at least 5% by weight of a short chain organic acid. However, the formulation of softening compositions that are transparent is not the only condition that is required in the softening compositions. In fact, it is expected that said compositions provide an effective softening performance in the treated fabric. In this regard, EP-A-0,550,361 describes softening compounds with specific molar ratios of the fatty acid to the tertiary amine fraction that provide an effective softening performance without being detrimental to the fluidity and stability of the composition containing said compound. One goal is to provide a softening compound that offers effective softening performance. Another object of the invention is to provide a composition containing said compound which is transparent but which is not detrimental to the fluidity and stability of the composition. These objectives have surprisingly been met by producing the softening compound from the condensation of fatty acids with triethanolamine, where the condensation occurs for a period such that the condensation product has an acid value (AV) less than 6.5, the product of condensation that is later quatemized. The AV of the compound is measured in the condensation product before the quaternization step by the test method defined hereinafter.

For the benefit of optimum smoothness, it is preferred that the reactants are present in a molar ratio of the fatty acid fraction to triethanolamine of 1: 1 to 2.5: 1. The discovery that a lower acid value of the compound of the invention leads to a higher smoothness yield when the compound of the invention is used is very surprising and unexpected. In fact, as known from GB 2,039,556, the addition of the fatty acid provides an increase in the softening performance of the softening composition. The applicant, in this regard, has discovered that the addition of the fatty acid, instead of reducing the acid value, increased the acid value. Accordingly, it is generally believed that the yield of softness relative to the acid value followed a curve showing a maximum at an AV above 10. On the contrary, it has been found that the yield of softness followed a line by which a higher acid value, lower softening performance is obtained. By effective softener performance it is meant that the compound of the present invention provides a better performance of softener to fabrics compared to fabrics that have been treated with a similar compound but with an AV greater than 6.5. In a preferred embodiment, the compound of the invention provides improved softness performance in the fabrics treated therewith, compared to the compounds having the molar ratios described hereinafter but which do not have the specific AV.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a biodegradable fabric softening compound consisting of a quaternary ammonium salt, the quaternized ammonium salt which is a quaternized condensation product between: a) a fraction of branched or linear fatty acids, saturated or nsaturated, or derivatives of said acids, said fatty acids or derivatives each possess a hydrocarbon chain in which the number of atoms is between 5 and 21, and b) triethanolamine, characterized in that said condensation product has an acid value, which has been measured by the titration of the condensation product with a standard KOH solution against a phenolphthalein indicator, less than 6.5. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the fatty acid fraction and triethanolamine are present in a molar ratio of 1: 1 to 2.5: 1. The present also relates to a process for making a softening compound, and in particular said compound. In addition, a softening composition containing said softening compound is also provided herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION I. Softening Compound The essential component of the invention is a biodegradable fabric softening compound consisting of a quaternary ammonium salt, the quaternized ammonium salt which is a quaternized condensation product between: a) a fraction of linear fatty acids or branched, saturated or unsaturated, or derivatives of said acids, said fatty acids or derivatives each possess a hydrocarbon chain in which the number of atoms is between 5 and 21, and b) triethanolamine, characterized in that said condensation product has a value of acid, which has been measured by titration of the condensation product with a standard KOH solution against a phenolphthalein indicator, less than 6.5. The acid value is preferably less than or equal to 5, most preferably less than 3. In fact, the lower the VA, the better the yield of softness to be obtained. The acid value is determined by the titration of the condensation product with a standard KOH solution against a phenolphthalein indicator in accordance with ISO # 53402. AV is expressed as mg KOH / g.

For an optimum benefit of softness, it is preferred that the reactants are present in a molar ratio of fatty acid fraction to triethanolamine of about 1: 1 to 2.5: 1. It has been found that the optimum smoothness performance is also affected by the washing conditions serving as a vehicle for the detergents and very specifically by the presence of the anionic surfactant in the solution in which the softening composition is used. In fact, the presence of an anionic surfactant that is usually transported from the wash cycle will interact with the softening compound, therefore, reducing its performance. Accordingly, depending on the conditions of use, the molar ratio of fatty acid / triethanolamine can be critical. In accordance with the foregoing, where no rinsing occurs between the wash cycle and the rinse cycle containing the softening compound, a large amount of anionic surfactant will be carried in the rinse cycle containing the softening compound. In this case, it has been found that a molar ratio of fatty acid / triethanolamine fraction from 1.4: 1 to 1.8: 1 is preferred. By saying a high amount of anionic surfactant, it means that the presence of the anionic surfactant in the rinse cycle at a level such that the molar ratio of anionic surfactant / cationic softening compound of the invention is at least 1: 10. . Therefore, according to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method for treating fabrics consisting of the step of making contact with the fabrics in an aqueous medium containing the softening compound of the invention or the softening composition thereof., wherein the molar ratio of fatty acid / triethanolamine in the softening compound is from 1.4: 1 to 1.8: 1, preferably 1.5: 1 and the aqueous medium comprises a molar ratio of anionic surfactant to said softening compound of the invention of at least 1:10. On the other hand, when an intermediate rinse cycle occurs between the wash cycle and the last rinse cycle, a lower amount of anionic surfactant will be carried, ie less than 1:10 of a molar ratio of anionic surfactant to compound cationic of the invention. In accordance with the foregoing, it has been found that a fatty acid / triethanolamine molar ratio of 1.8: 1 to 2.2: 1 is preferred. Accordingly, in another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for treating fabrics consisting of the step of contacting the fabrics in an aqueous medium containing the softening compound of the invention or the softening composition thereof, wherein the molar ratio of fatty acid / triethanolamine in the softening compound is from 1.8: 1 to 2: 1, preferably 2.0: 1 and the aqueous medium comprises a molar ratio of anionic surfactant to said softening compound of the invention less than 1: 10. Preferred compounds of the invention include compounds having the formula: (-) (R) 4-m-N (+) - [(CH2) n-Y-RI] m X '(1) wherein each R substituent is hydrogen or a short chain of C 1 -C 6 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group; preferably C 1 -C 3 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group, for example, methyl (more preferred), ethyl, propyl, hydroxyethyl and the like, benzyl or mixtures thereof; Each m is on the scale of 1 to 2.5; Each n is from 1 to 4; preferably 2; Each Y is -O- (O) C -, - (R) N- (O) C, -C (O) -N (R) -, or -C (O) -O-; preferably -O- (O) C-; the sum of carbons in each R1, plus one when Y is -O- (O) Co- (R) N- (O) C- ("sum of YR1"), is C6-C22 preferably C12-C22, most preferably C14-C20, (hereinafter R1 and YR1 are used interchangeably to represent the hydrophobic chain, the chain lengths of R1 in general have been numbered for fatty alcohols and odd for fatty acids), but not more than one sum of R1, or YR1, which is less than 12 and subsequently the other sum of R1, or YR1, is at least 16, with each R1 consisting of a long chain of C5-C21 (or C6-C22), branched alkyl or unsaturated alkyl, preferably branched alkyl or C10-C20 unsaturated alkyl (or C9-C19) most preferably branched alkyl of C-12-C18 (or CMC-IT, O unsaturated alkyl, optionally substituted.

For the unsaturated alkyl group, the iodo value of the parent fatty acid of this group R1 is from 0 to 140, most preferably when the parent iodine value of this group R1 is used in the transparent softener composition of 50 130; whereas when used in dispersion, the iodine value of the parent fatty acid of this group R1 is preferably from 0 to 70 (as used herein, "branched alkyl" groups include those containing a substituent which is hydrophobic, although they are attached to the main chain by means of bonds that are not carbon to carbon, for example, by oxygen, as in the alkoxy substituents, and the iodine value of an "original" fatty acid, or corresponding fatty acid " "was used to define a level of unsaturation for a group R1 which is the same as the level of unsaturation that would occur in a fatty acid containing the same group R. When an individual group R1 is both branched and unsaturated, treated as if it were branched) and where the counterion, X-, can be any anion compatible with the softener; preferably, chloride, bromide, methylisulfate, ethylsulfate, sulfate, and / or nitrate, most preferably methylisulfate. Furthermore, suitable softening compounds according to the invention are those which are prepared as a simple compound from combinations of all the different branched and unsaturated fatty acids which are represented (total fatty acid combination), instead of from blends of the finished and separated softening compound that were prepared from different portions of the total fatty acid combination. It is preferred that at least a substantial percentage of the fatty acyl groups be unsaturated, for example 25 to 70%, preferably 50% to 65%. Polyunsaturated fatty acid groups can be used. The total level of the active ingredient containing polyunsaturated fatty acyl groups (TPU) can be from 3 to 30%, preferably from 5% to 25%, most preferably from 10% to 18%. Both cis and trans isomers can be used, preferably at a cis / trans ratio of 1: 1 to 50: 1, the minimum being 1: 1, preferably at least 3: 1, and most preferably 4: 1 to 20. :1. (as used herein, the percentage of softening active ingredient containing a given R1 group is the same as the percentage of the same group R1 to the total of R1 groups used to form all softening active ingredients). Mixed branched chain and unsaturated materials are easier to manufacture than conventional fabric saturating branched chain softener compounds. They can be used advantageously to form transparent or translucent compositions.

II.- Process for preparing said compound Another essential characteristic of the invention is a process for preparing a softening compound, in particular the softening compounds of the invention. This process includes the following steps: (a) Reacting the fatty acid fraction consisting of fatty acids of the formula R 1 COOH wherein R 1 is a branched alkyl of C 5 -C 21 long chain or unsaturated alkyl, optionally substituted, with a minus triethanolamine, for a period such that the compound obtained from the condensation product has an acid value, which has been measured by titration of the condensation product with a standard KOH solution against a phenolphthalein indicator in accordance with ISO # 53402, less than 6.5, and b) Reacting the condensation product obtained in this manner with an alkylating agent, in the presence or absence of a solvent. By mentioning a fatty acid fraction, it means a mixture having fatty acids, fatty acid esters or mixtures thereof. This mixture may be commercially available or supplied by reacting a source of triglycerides. When "reacting" is mentioned, it means the process of: (a) Hydrogenating a triglyceride product consisting of a mixture of compounds of the formula (1) R 1 -OCH 2 -CHO (-R 2) -CH 2 O -R 3 (1) Where R1, R2 and R3 are acyl groups of which at least 1% contains 16 carbon atoms, and at least 70% contains 18 carbon atoms, because said acyl groups containing 18 carbon atoms include acyl groups predominantly monounsaturated and amounts less than saturated acyl groups, diunsaturated and triunsaturated, under hydrogenation conditions where the diunsaturated and triunsaturated acyl groups containing 18 carbon atoms are hydrogenated once the formation of saturated acyl groups containing 18 carbon atoms is minimized; b) Hydrolyze the hydrogenated product from step a) to form glycerin and a mixture of fatty acids based on said acyl groups. The source of the triglyceride is preferably derived from vegetable oils and / or partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, such as canola oil, safflower oil, peanut oil, sunflower oil, corn oil, soybean oil, wood pulp oil, rice bran oil, etc. and mixtures of these oils. A highly preferred triglyceride source that can be used herein is canola oil. Canola oil is a mixture of triglycerides that has an adequate distribution of long chain and a degree of unsaturation of the respective groups, acyl. Canola oil is a desirable starting product, particularly in accordance with the process of the present invention, for various reasons. In particular, its natural distribution of the chain lengths of the respective acyl groups has a remarkably high proportion of acyl groups containing 18 carbon atoms, therefore the additional expense incurred when using other commercial sources is avoided. of C-is fatty acids as starting materials. The starting material of the triglyceride can be hydrogenated, if desired, to convert the di-unsaturated and tri-unsaturated acyl groups particularly those containing 18 carbon atoms to their monounsaturated counterparts. It is usually desirable that the hydrogenation of the monounsaturated acyl groups be minimized and still be completely avoided. The saturated acyl groups can be obtained from sources normally saturated and mixed with unsaturated acyl groups. In some useful mixtures of acyl groups, not more than 10% of the C 8 unsaturated acyl group is hydrogenated to its saturated counterparts. For some products, the hydrogenation of di-unsaturated and tri-unsaturated acyl d8 groups is preferably maximized, consisting of the minimum formation of saturated C-? 8 groups. For example, the tri-unsaturated acyl groups can be completely hydrogenated without achieving complete hydrogenation of di-unsaturated acyl groups. The hydrogenation of the triglyceride starting material that maximizes the monounsaturated acyl groups can easily be achieved by maintaining an appropriate balance of the hydrogenation reaction conditions. The variables of the procedure in the triglyceride hydrogenation and the effects of altering these variables, are generally familiar to those skilled in the art. In general, the hydrogenation of the starting material of the triglyceride can be carried out at a temperature that varies (widely established) between 170 ° C and 205 ° C and most preferably within a slightly narrower range of 185 ° C to 195 ° C. ° C The other significant variable of the procedure is the pressure of the hydrogen inside the hydrogenation reactor. In general, this pressure should be maintained within a scale (widely established) of 0.1406 kg / cm2 gauge at 1,406 kg / cm2 gauge, and most preferably between 0.35 kg / cm2 gauge and 1.0545 kg / cm2 gauge. Within these parameter scales, hydrogenation can be carried out with a particular view to the effects of those parameters. The lower hydrogen pressures in the reactor allow a higher degree of control of the reaction, particularly as regards its selectivity. By "selectivity" is meant the hydrogenation of triunsaturated diunsaturated acyl groups without excessive hydrogenation of monounsaturated acyl groups. On the other hand, higher hydrogen pressures support less selectivity. Selectivity may be desirable in certain cases. Higher hydrogenation temperatures are associated with faster hydrogenation scales and with greater selectivity of hydrogenation. In contrast, lower hydrogenation temperatures are associated with lower selectivity (for example increased hydrogenation of the monounsaturated groups) and particularly with lower hydrogenation scales in general. These considerations are also balanced with considerations of stereochemistry. Very specifically, the presence of unsaturation in the acyl groups can lead to the formation of different stereoisomers in the acyl groups upon hydrogenation. The two possible stereoisomeric configurations for unsaturated fatty acyl groups are known as the "cis" and "trans" forms. The presence of the cis form is preferred, and is associated with a lower melting point of the eventual product and, therefore with a higher fluidity, and better phase stability at low temperature of transparent compositions. Accordingly, another reason that canola oil is a particularly preferred triglyceride starting product is that, as a naturally occurring material, the acyl groups present in this triglyceride exhibit only the cis form. In hydrogenation, higher hydrogen pressures are also associated with a reduced tendency of the acyl group to undergo a change in the configuration of the cis form to the trans form. In addition, the higher hydrogenation temperatures, although favorable for some reasons, are also associated with a greater conversion of the cis unsaturation to the trans form. The products exhibiting satisfactory properties can be obtained by means of an adequate control of the hydrogenation conditions so that both the selectivity and the control of the stereochemical configurations of the product can be achieved. The hydrogenation is carried out in the presence of a suitable hydrogenation catalyst. Said catalysts are known and commercially available. These generally consist of nickel, palladium, ruthenium or platinum, typically on a suitable catalyst support. A suitable catalyst is a nickel-based catalyst such as that sold by Engelhard under the trade designation "N-545" ®. In one variation, the hydrogenation is carried out to a final point at which the hydrogenation of the diunsaturation and triunsaturation in the triglyceride product is maximized, while the formation of the saturated acyl groups is minimized. The progress of the hydrogenation reaction towards the end point can be easily monitored by periodic measurements of the iodine value of the reaction mass. As the hydrogenation proceeds, decreases the iodine value. For example, the hydrogenation reaction can be discontinued when the iodine value reaches 95. Other requirements are known for hydrogenation reactions, such as reactor types, cooling means to maintain the desired temperature, means for providing effective agitation. to provide adequate contact between triglyceride and hydrogen and catalyst, etc. The triglyceride containing the desired acyl groups is reacted, typically by hydrolyzing or transesterifying to obtain the desired fatty acyl groups, such as, for example, the corresponding fatty acids and / or fatty acid esters. That is, the three ester bonds in the triglyceride are broken so that the hydrogenated combination of acyl groups becomes mixtures of fatty acids and / or esters having the same long chain distribution as in the acyl groups, and having the saturation and saturation distribution provided by the hydrogenation reaction. The hydrolysis can be carried out under any of the suitable conditions known in this art for hydrolysis of triglycerides in their fatty acid constituents. In general, the triglyceride is reacted with high temperature steam in a reactor, where the fatty acids are separated from the glycerin, after which the steam condenses to form an aqueous solution of glycerin and this solution is removed. The transesterification of triglycerides can be carried out under any of the suitable conditions known in this art for the transesterification of triglycerides in their fatty acid ester constituents. Once the fatty acid fraction is obtained, according to step a) of the process of the invention, it is reacted (also called esterify) with triethanolamine for a period such that the compound obtained from the condensation product has a value of acid (AV), measured by titration of the condensation product with a standard KOH solution against a phenolphthalein indicator in accordance with ISO # 53402, less than 6.5. For a benefit of optimum smoothness, it is preferred that the reactants are present in a molar ratio of fatty acid to triethanolamine of 1: 1 to 2.5: 1. Most preferably, the reagents are present in a molar ratio of fatty acid to triethanolamine fraction of 1.4: 1 to less than 1.8: 1, preferably 1.5: 1 when the aqueous medium in which they are to be used consists of a molar ratio of anionic surfactant to said softening compound of the invention of at least 1: 10. On the other hand, when the aqueous medium in which they are to be used comprises a molar ratio of anionic surfactant to said softening compound of the invention less than 1: 10, the reagents are preferably present in a molar ratio of the acid fraction. fatty acid to triethanolamine from 1.8: 1 to 2.2: 1, preferably 2.0: 1. The esterification is carried out under conventional esterification conditions, which provide an acid catalyst and provide removal of the secondary condensation water. Preferably a small amount generally up to 1.0% by weight of the reagent (eg, acids and amines) of hypophosphoric acid (HPPA) is added to the esterification reaction mixture. It is believed that HPPA catalyses the reaction and likewise, preserves or even further improves the color of the product obtained in this reaction. In fact, color control is critical to the appearance of transparent softening compositions. Preferably, the esterification is allowed to proceed completely in such a way that all the amines present are esterified with the fatty acid fraction. The AV is measured at different time intervals in the esterified reaction production and the condensation reaction (also called the esterification reaction) does not stop until the required AV is reached. This determination of AV is made in accordance with the ISO standard defined above. After the acid value required for the condensation product has been obtained, that is, according to step b) of the process of the invention, reacted with an alkylating agent in the presence or absence of a solvent. Alkylation (also called quaternization step) is carried out under conditions and with reagents generally familiar to those experienced in this field. The quaternizing agent has the formula QA, where Q is preferably methyl, benzyl, or ethyl, and A is a monovalent inert anion. Preferably, the alkylating agent is selected from alkyl halides, sulfates, phosphates and carbonates, most preferably alkyl halides and sulfates. Suitable alkyl halide compounds for use as alkylating agents in the present invention are selected from methyl chloride, benzyl chloride. Alkyl sulfate compounds suitable for use as alkylating agents in the present invention are polyalkylsulfates selected from dimethisulfate and diethylsulfate. One of the most preferred alkylating agents is dimethisulfate. This alkylation step produces the quaternary ammonium ester of the invention. When the softening compound of the invention is formulated in transparent or translucent compositions, it is very preferred to bring the quaternization reaction as far as possible to completion, for the best clarity of the finished composition. This is very particularly desirable when a high level of perfume is present in the composition, e.g., of more than 1.5% by weight of the perfume composition and typically 2.5% by weight. Said completion reaction can typically be carried out even though the reaction times are longer, controlling the temperatures and pressures, and using an excess of alkylating agent in the reaction. It is still more preferred that the unreacted alkylating agent be removed at the completion of the reaction to avoid odor and also for potential safety considerations (for example, methyl chloride can be removed by vacuum evaporation).

O Fabric Softening Composition The compound of the invention is preferably incorporated in a fabric softening composition. Typical levels of incorporation are from 1% to 80% by weight, preferably from 5% to 75%, most preferably from 15% to 70% and most preferably still from 19% to 65%, by weight of the composition. Of course, mixtures of the compound defined above can be used herein. The softening composition according to the present invention can be differently such as in liquid or solid form as will be defined below. When formulated as a liquid fabric softener composition, the composition may be in the form of a dispersion, for example, aqueous dispersion, or else in the form of a clear composition. Accordingly, when in liquid form, the composition in addition to the softening compound of the invention will preferably comprise optional ingredients. When in such liquid forms, it has been found as very preferred, in order to improve the stability of the softening composition according to the invention, that the softening compositions have a pH of 3 to 4.

III.- Optional ingredients (a) Main solvent A principal solvent is one of the preferred optional ingredients for use in the present invention of the composition. The compositions of the present invention may comprise a solvent main system. This is particularly the case when formulating liquid, clear, fabric softening compositions. When used, the main solvent is typically used at a level of less than 40% by weight, preferably from 6% to 35%, most preferably from 8% to 25%, and most preferably still from 10% to 20%, by weight of the composition. The main solvent is selected to minimize the impact of the solvent odor on the composition and to provide a low viscosity to the final composition. For example, isopropyl alcohol is not very effective and has a very strong odor. N-propyl alcohol is more effective, but it also has a distinctive odor. Various butyl alcohols also have odors but can be used to achieve effective clarity / stability, especially when used as part of a solvent main system to minimize odor. Alcohols are also selected for optimum low temperature stability, that is, they are capable of forming compositions that are liquid with acceptable low viscosities and translucent, preferably transparent, up to about 4.4 ° C and are capable of recovering after storage to approximately 6.7 ° C The adaptability of any major solvent for the formulation of the concentrated, preferably transparent, liquid fabric softening compositions of the present invention with the required stability is surprisingly selective. Suitable solvents can be selected based on the octanol / water partition coefficient (P). The octanol / water partition coefficient of a principal solvent is the ratio between its equilibrium concentration in octanol and in water. The division coefficients of the main ingredients of the solvent of this invention are conveniently given in the form of their logarithm to the base 10, logP. The logP of many ingredients has been reported for example in the Pomona 92 database, available from Daylight Chemical Information Systems, Inc. (Daylight CIS), Irvine, California, which contains many, along with citations from the original literature. However, the logP values are more conveniently calculated through the "CLOGP" program also available in Daylight CIS. This program also lists experimental logP values when available in the Pomona 92 database. The "calculated logP" (ClogP) is determined by the scope of the Hansch and Leo fragment (cf., A. Leo, in Comprehensive Medicinal Chemistry)., Vol. 4, C Hansch, P. G. Sammens, J. B. Taylor and C A. Ramsden, Eds., Pp. 295, Pergamon Press, 1990, incorporated herein by reference). The scope of the fragment is based on the chemical structure of each ingredient, and takes into account the numbers and types of atoms, the connectivity of the atom, and the chemical bond. These ClogP values which are the most reliable and are widely used for this physico-chemical property, are those which are preferably used instead of the experimental values of logP in the selection of the ingredients of the main solvent which are useful in the present invention. Other methods that can be used to calculate ClogP include, for example, the Crippen's fragmentation method as described in J. Chem. Inf. Comput. Sci., 27, 21 (1987); the Viswanadhan's fragmentation method as described in J. Chem. Inf. Comput. Sci., 29, 163 (1989); and the Broto method as described in Eur. J. Med. Chem. - Chim. Theor., 19, 71 (1984). The main solvents of the present are selected from those having a ClogP of from about 0.15 to about 0.64, preferably from about 0.25 to about 0.62, and most preferably from about 0.40 to about 0.60, said main solvent preferably being at least somewhat Asymmetric, and preferably has a melting or solidification point, which allows it to be liquid at or near room temperature. Solvents that have a low molecular weight and are biodegradable are also desirable for such purposes. The more asymmetric the solvents appear to be the more desirable, while highly symmetrical solvents such as 1,7-heptanediol, or 1,4-bis (hydroxymethyl) cyclohexane, which have a center of symmetry, appear to be unable to provide the compositions are essentially transparent when used alone, even when their ClogP values fall in the preferred range.

The main preferred solvents can be identified by the appearance of softening vesicles, as observed by means of a cryogenic electron microscope of the compositions that have been diluted to the concentration used in the rinse. These dilution compositions appear to have fabric softener dispersions that exhibit a more unilamellar appearance than conventional softener compositions. The closer the unilaminar appearance is, the better the compositions will be in terms of performance. These compositions surprisingly provide a good fabric softener compared to similar compositions prepared in a conventional manner with the same fabric softening active. The main functional solvents are described and listed below that have ClogP values that fall within the requirement scale. This includes mono-oles, diols of C6, diols of C7, isomers of octanediol, derivatives of butanediol, isomers of trimethylpentanediol, isomers of ethylmethylpentanediol, isomers of propylpentanediol, isomers of dimethylhexanediol, isomers of ethylhexanediol, isomers. of methylheptanediol, octane diol isomers, nonanodiol isomers, alkyl glyceryl ethers, alkyl dihydroxy ethers, and aryl glyceryl ethers, aromatic glyceryl ethers, alicyclic diols and derivatives, alkoxylated derivatives of C3C7 diol, aromatic diols, and unsaturated diols. These principal solvents are described in WO 97/03169 which are entitled "CONCENTRATED, STABLE, PREFERABLY CLEAR, FABRIC SOFTENING COMPOSITION".

Particularly preferred major solvents include such hexanediols with 1,2-hexanediol; and diols of C8 such as 2-ethyl-1,3-hexanediol and 2,2-4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol, 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol ethoxylates and 2-ethoxylates. ethyl-1,3-hexanediol; and 1,2 cyclohexanedimethanoi. Mixtures of the main solvent can also be used for the purpose of the present invention. The major solvents are desirably maintained at the lowest levels that are feasible in the present compositions to obtain translucency or clarity. The presence of water exerts an important effect on the need for the main solvents to achieve the clarity of these compositions. The higher the water content, the higher the level of the main solvent (relative to the level of softener) that is required to achieve product clarity. Conversely, the lower the water content, the lower the need for the main solvent (in terms of softener). Therefore, at low water levels of 5% to 15%, the weight ratio of the softening active to the main solvent is preferably from 55:45 to 85:15, most preferably from 60:40 to 80:20. At water levels of 15% to 70%, the weight ratio of the softening active to the main solvent is preferably from 45:55 to 70:30, most preferably from 55:45 to 70:30. But at higher water levels of 70% to 80%, the weight ratio of the softening active to the main solvent is preferably from 30:70 to 55:45, most preferably from 35:65 to 45:55. At still higher water levels, the softener to solvent ratio should be even higher. The compositions may also inherently provide an improved perfume build-up of certain perfume components especially for those having poor perfume durability in the fabric compared to conventional fabric softening compositions, especially when perfume is added to the compositions a, or near ambient temperatures. Most preferred for use herein is a combination of major solvents. Very preferred combinations are 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol (TMPD) in combination with 1,2-hexanediol. With the above preferred combinations, the lowest total levels of solvents can be achieved thereby reducing the overall cost of the formulation. As for the present main solvent combinations, it has been found that the resulting products have a surprising phase stability and are fully recovered from the freezing point to -18 ° C. It has also been surprisingly discovered that the resulting products have excellent water dispersibility. Even more, another advantage with the use of said combination is its high availability. B) Water-soluble solvents of low molecular weight can also be used at levels of 0% to 12%, preferably 1% to 10%, most preferably 2% to 8% by weight. The water-soluble solvents can not provide a transparent product at the same low levels of principal solvents as described hereinabove, but can provide a clear product when the principal solvent is not sufficient to provide a completely transparent product. The presence of these water-soluble solvents is therefore highly desirable. These solvents include: ethanol; isopropanol; 1,2-propanediol; 1,3-propanediol; propylene carbonate; 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol; etc. but it does not include any of the main solvents. A) These water-soluble solvents have a higher water affinity in the presence of hydrophobic materials such as the softening compound than the main solvents. Among the co-solvent described above for use in combination with the main solvent, a preferred co-solvent is 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol.

C) Polishes The compositions herein may also optionally contain from 0.005% to 5% by weight of certain types of hydrophilic optical brighteners that also provide a dye transfer inhibiting action. If used, the compositions herein will preferably comprise from 0.001% to 1% by weight of said optical brighteners.

The hydrophilic optical brighteners useful in the present invention are those having the structural formula: wherein R1 is selected from anilino, N-2-bis-hydroxyethyl and NH-2-hydroxyethyl; R2 is selected from N-2-bis-hydroxyethyl, N-2-hydroxyethyl-N-methylamino, morphino, chloro and amino, and M is a salt-forming cation such as sodium or potassium. Considering the above formula, Ri is anilino, R2 is N-2-bis-hydroxyethyl and M is a cation such as sodium, the brightener is 4,4'-bis [(4-anilino-6- (N- 2-bis-hydroxyethyl) -s-triazin-2-yl) amino] -2,2'-stilbenedisulfonic acid and disodium salt. This particular kind of brightener is marketed under the trade name Tinopal-UNPA-GX® of Ciba-Geigy Corporation. Tinopal-UNPA-GX is the preferred hydrophilic optical brightener useful in the compositions that are added to the rinse process of the present invention. When in the above formula, R1 is anilino, R is N-2-hydroxyethyl-N-2-methylamino and M is a cation such as sodium, the brightener is disodium salt of 4,4'-bis-. [(4 -anilino-6- (N-2-hydroxyethyl-N-methalamine) -s-triazin-2-yl) amino] 2,2'-isolbenylsulfonyl. This particular kind of brightener is marketed under the trade name Tinopal 5BM-GX® by Ciba-Geigy Corporation. When in the above formula, Ri is anilino, R2 is morphino and M is a cation such as sodium, the brightener is 4,4'-bis [(4-anilino-6-morphino-s-triazin-2-acid] il) amino] 2,2'-stilbenesulfonic acid, sodium salt. This particular kind of brightener is marketed under the name Tinopal AMS-GX® by Ciba Geigy Corporation.

D) Scattering Aids Relatively concentrated compositions containing both saturated and unsaturated diester quaternary ammonium compounds can be prepared and are stable without the addition of concentration aids. However, the compositions of the present invention may require organic and / or inorganic concentrating aids to still rise to higher concentrations and / or meet higher stability standards depending on the other ingredients. These concentration aids may be required which typically may be viscosity modifiers, or as more preferred to ensure stability under extreme conditions when particular active levels of softener are used. The surfactant concentration aids are typically selected from the group consisting of 1) simple long chain alkyl cationic surfactants; (2) nonionic surfactants; 3) amine oxides; 4) fatty acids; and 5) mixtures thereof.

These auxiliaries are described in pending application P & G series No. 08/461, 207, filed June 5, 1995, to Wahl et al., Specifically on page 14, line 12 to page 20, line 12, which is incorporated herein by reference. When said dispersion-capable auxiliaries are present, the total level is from 2% to 25%, preferably from 3% to 17%, most preferably from 4% to 15% and most preferably still from 5% to 13% by weight of the composition. These materials may be either added as part of the softening agent active ingredient, (I) for example the mono-long chain alkyl cationic surfactant and / or the fatty acid, which are reactants which are used to form the biodegradable active fabric softener as described herein above, or to be added as a separate component. The total dispersion capacity auxiliary level includes any quantity that may be present as part of the component (I). 1) Monoalkyl cationic quaternary ammonium compound When the monoalkyl catronic quaternary ammonium compound is present, it typically does so at a level of 2% to 25%, preferably 3% to 17%, most preferably 4% to 15% , and most preferably still from 5% to 13% by weight of the composition, the total monoalkyl cationic quaternary ammonium compound can be at least at an effective level. Said monoalkyl cationic quaternary ammonium compounds useful in the present invention are preferably quaternary ammonium salts of the following general formula: [R4N + (R °) 3] X- where R4 is C8-C22 alkyl or alkenyl group, preferably C-IO-C-IS alkyl or alkenyl group; most preferably, do-Cu alkyl or C-i6-C18 alkyl or alkenyl group; each R5 is a Ci-Cß alkyl or substituted alkyl group (e.g., hydroxyalkyl), preferably C 1 -C 3 alkyl group, e.g., methyl (most preferred), ethyl, propyl and the like, a benzyl group, hydrogen, a polyethoxylated chain with 2 to 20 oxyethylene units, preferably 2.5 to 13 oxyethylene units, and most preferably 3 to 10 oxyethylene units, and mixtures thereof; and X "is defined hereinbefore for (formula (I).) Preferred dispersion aids are monolauryl trimethyl ammonium chloride and monosebo trimethyl ammonium chloride available from Witco under the trade names Adogen® 412 and Adogen®. ® 471, monooleyl or monocalene trimethyl ammonium chloride available from Witco under the trade name Adogen® 471, or monococcal trimethyl ammonium chloride available from Witco under the trade name Adogen® 461, and monosome trimethyl ammonium chloride available from Witco under the commercial name of Adogen® 415.

The group R4 can be attached to the cationic nitrogen atom through a group containing one or more groups of ester, amide, ether, amine, etc., the linking groups which may be desirable for the increased concentration capacity of the component for (I), etc. Said linking groups are preferably within the scale of one to three carbon atoms of the nitrogen atom. The mono-alkyl cationic quaternary ammonium compounds also include C8-C22 alkyl choline esters. Preferred dispersing aids of this type have the formula: R C (O) -O-CH2CH2N + (R) 3X ~ Where R1, R and X "were previously defined.

Preferred dispersing ability aids include C-12-C14 coconut coliform ester and C-iß-C-iß bait coliform ester Single-chain long-chain biodegradable dispersing aids contain an ester linkage in the long chains described in US Pat. No. 4,840,738, Hardy and Walley, issued June 20, 1989, said patent has been incorporated herein by reference.

When the dispersion capability aid comprises alkyl colin esters, preferably the compositions also contain a small amount, preferably from 2% to 5% by weight of the composition, of organic acid. Organic acids are described in European Patent Application No. 404,471, Machin et al., Published December 27, 1990, supra, which is incorporated herein by reference. The organic acid is preferably selected from the group consisting of glycolic acid, acetic acid, citric acid, and mixtures thereof.

The ethoxylated quaternary ammonium compounds which can serve as a dispersion aid include ethylbis (polyethoxy ethane!) Alkylammonium ethyl sulfate with 17 moles of ethylene oxide, available under the tradename Variquat® 66 by Witco Corporation; polyethylene glycol (15) oleammonium chloride, available under the tradename of Ethoquad® 0/25 by Akzom and polyethylene glycol (15) cocomonium chloride, available under the tradename Ethoquad® C / 25 by Akzo.

Quaternary compounds having only a single long alkyl chain can protect the cationic softener from interaction with anionic surfactants and / or builders which are brought to the rinse from the wash solution. 2) Non-ionic surfactant (alkoxylated materials) Suitable nonionic surfactants to be useful as the viscosity modifier / dispersion ability include addition products of ethylene oxide and, optionally, propylene oxide, with fatty alcohols, fatty acids, fatty amines, etc. They are referred to herein as ethoxylated fatty alcohols, alcohol or ethoxylated fatty acids and ethoxylated fatty amines.

Any of the alkoxylated materials of the particular type described herein in the preceding paragraph can be used as the nonionic surfactant. Generally speaking, the non-ionic agents herein, when used as sole, in liquid compositions are from the level of 0% to 5%, preferably from 0.1% to 5%, most preferably from 0.2% to 3%. Suitable compounds are water-soluble surfactants substantially of the general formula: R2 -Y- (C2H4O) z - C2H4OH Wherein R2 for both solid and liquid compositions is selected from the group consisting of primary, secondary and branched chain alkyl, and / or acyl hydrocarbyl groups; alkenyl hydrocarbyl groups of branched secondary primary chain, and secondary primary and branched alkyl groups and substituted alkenyl hydrocarbyl phenolic groups; said hydrocarbyl groups have a hydrocarbyl chain length of 8 to 20, preferably 10 to 18 carbon atoms. Most preferably the hydrocarbyl chain length for the liquid compositions is 16 to 18 carbon atoms and for the solid compositions of 10 to 14 carbon atoms. In the general formula for the ethoxylated nonionic surfactants herein, Y is typically -O-, -C (O) O-, -C (O) N (R) -, or -C (O) N ( R) R-, preferably -O-, and wherein R 2 and R, when present, have the meanings given hereinbefore, and / or R may be hydrogen and z is at least 8, preferably at least 10, 11 . The performance and normally the stability of the softening composition decreases when fewer ethoxylated groups are present.

The nonionic surfactants herein are characterized by a HLB (hydrophilic-lipophilic balance) of from 7 to 20, preferably from 8 to 15. Of course, by defining R2 and the number of ethoxylated groups, the HLB of the surfactant is , in general, determined. However, it should be noted that the nonionic ethoxylated surfactants useful herein, for the concentrated liquid compositions, contain relatively long chain R2 groups and are relatively high ethoxylation. The shorter the alkyl chains of surfactants having short ethoxylated groups may possess the required HLB, they are not as effective herein.

Nonionic surfactants as viscosity modifiers / dispersion ability are preferred over modifiers described herein for compositions with higher perfume levels. The examples of nonionic surfactants are mentioned below. The nonionic surfactants of this invention are not limited to these examples. In the examples, the integer defines the number of ethoxy groups (EO) in the molecule. 3) Amine Oxides Suitable amine oxides include those with an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl portion of 8 to 22 carbon atoms, preferably 10 to 18 carbon atoms, most preferably 8 to 14 carbon atoms, and two alkyl portions selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups and hydroxyalkyl groups with 1 to 3 carbon atoms. Examples include dimethyloctylamine oxide, diethyldecylamine oxide, bis- (2-hydroxyethyl) dodecylamine oxide, dimethyldodecylamine oxide, dipropyl tetradecylamine oxide, methylethylhexadecylamine oxide, dimethyl-2-hydroxyoactadecylamine oxide, and coconut oxide. fatty acid alkyl dimethylamine.

(E) Stabilizers Stabilizers may be present in the compositions of the present invention. The term "stabilizer" as used herein, includes antioxidants and reducing agents. These agents are present at a level of from 0% to about 2%, preferably from about 0.01% to about 0.2%, most preferably from about 0.035% to about 0.1% for antioxidants and still most preferably from about 0.01% to about 0.2% for reducing agents. These ensure adequate odor stability under long-term storage conditions. The use of antioxidants and stabilizers of the reducing agent is especially critical for products with low aroma or without aroma (low content of perfume or without perfume). Examples of antioxidants that can be added to the compositions of this invention include a mixture of ascorbic acid, ascorbic palmitate and propylgalate, available from Eastman Chemical Products, Inc., under the trade names Tenox® PG and Tenox S-1; a mixture of BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene), BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole), propylgalate and citric acid available from Eastman Chemical Products, Inc., under the trade name Tenox®-6; butylated hydroxytoluene, available from UOP Process Division under the trade name Sustane® BHT; tertiary butylhydroquinone, Eastman Chemical Products, Inc., as Tenox® TBHQ; natural tocopherols, Eastman Chemical Products, Inc, as Tenox® GT-1 / GT-2; and butylated hydroxyanisole, Eastman Chemical Products, Inc., as BHA; long chain esters (C8-C22) of gallic acid, e.g., dodecyl gallate; Irganox® 1010; Irganox® 1035; lrganox® B1171; Irganox® 1425; Irganox® 3114; Irganox ® 3125; and mixtures thereof; preferably Irganox® 3125, Irganox® 1425, Irganox® 3114, and mixtures thereof; most preferably Irganox ® 3125 alone or mixed with citric acid and / or other chelating agents such as isopropyl citrate. Dequest ® 2010 available from Monsanto with a chemical name of 1-hydroxyethylden-1, 1-d-phosphonic acid (etidronic acid), and Tiro ® available from Kodak with a chemical name of 4,5-dihydroxy-m- acid benzenesulfonic / sodium salt, EDDS and DTPA ®, available from Aldrich with a chemical name of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid.

F) Soil releasing agent In the present invention, an optional soil release agent can be added. The addition of the soil release agent may be presented in combination with the premix, in combination with an acid-water pellet, before or after the addition of electrolytes, or after the final composition has been completed. The softening composition prepared by the process of the present invention herein may contain from 0% to 10%, preferably from 0.2% to 5%, of a soil release agent. Preferably, said soil release agent is a polymer. The polymeric soil release agents useful in the present invention include copolymer blocks of terephthalate and polyethylene oxide or polypropylene oxide, and the like. A preferred soil release agent is a copolymer having blocks of terephthalate and polyethylene oxide. More specifically, these polymers are composed of repeating units of ethylene terephthalate and polyethylene terephthalate at a molar ratio of ethylene terephthalate units to polyethylene terephthalate units from 25:75 to 35:65, said terephthalate oxide Polyethylene contains polyethylene oxide blocks having molecular weights of 300 to 2000. The molecular weight of this polymeric soil release agent is in the range of 5,000 to 55,000. Another preferred polymeric soil release agent is a crystallizable polyester with repeating units of ethylene terephthalate units containing from 10% to 15% by weight of ethylene terephthalate units together with 10% to 50% by weight of terephthalate units of polyoxyethylene, derived from polyoxyethylene glycol of average molecular weight of 300 to 6,000, and the molar ratio of ethylene terephthalate units to polyoxyethylene terephthalate units in the crystallizable polymer compound is between 2: 1 to 6: 1. Examples of this polymer include commercially available materials Zelcon 4780® (de_Dontont) and Milease T® (from lCI).

Highly preferred soil release agents are polymers of the generic formula: O O O O II X - (OCH2CH2) p (0-C-R14-C-OR15) U (OC-R1 -OC-O) (CH2CH2? -) n-X where each X can be a suitable blocking group, with each X typically selected from the group consisting of H, and alkyl or acyl groups containing from 1 to 4 carbon atom, p is selected for water solubility and is generally from 6 to 113, preferably from 20 to 50. u is critical to the formulation in a liquid composition having a relatively high ionic strength. There must be very little material where u is greater than 10. Even more, it must be at least 20%, preferably at least 40% of the material where u varies from 3 to 5. The portions R14 are essentially 1,4-phenylene portions. As used herein, the term "R14 portions are essentially 1,4-phenylene portions" refers to compounds where the R14 portions consist entirely of 1, 4-phenylene portions, or are partially substituted with other arylene or alkarylene, alkylene portions, alkenylene portions, or mixtures thereof. The arylene and alkarylene portions which may be partially substituted by 1,4-phenylene include 1,3-phenylene, 1,2-phenylene, 1,8-naphthylene, 1,4-naphthylene, 2,2-phenylene, 4,4-biphenylene, and mixtures thereof. The alkylene and alkenylene portions which may be partially substituted include 1,2-propylene, and 1,4-butylene, 1,5-pentylene, 1,6-hexamethylene, 1,7-heptamethylene, 1,8-octamethylene, and the like. , 4-cyclohexylene and mixtures thereof. For the portions R14 the degree of partial substitution with different portions of 1,4-phenylene should be such that the dirt release properties of the compound are not adversely affected to any degree. Generally the degree of partial substitution that can be tolerated will depend on the length of the base structure of the compound, v. gr., the longer base structures may have a greater partial substitution for the 1, 4-phenylene portions. Typically, the compounds wherein R14 comprises from 50% to 100% of 1,4-phenylene portions, (from 0% to 50% of different portions of 1,4-phenylene) have a suitable dirt release activity. For example, polyesters made in accordance with the present invention with a molar ratio of 40:60 of isophthalic acid (1,3-phenylene) to terephthalic acid (1,4-phenylene) have a suitable dirt release activity. However, since most of the polyesters used in the manufacture of fabrics contain units of ethylene terephthalate, it is usually desirable to minimize the degree of partial substitution with different portions of 1,4-phenylene for a better release activity of. dirt. Preferably, the R14 portions consist entirely of (eg, they comprise 100%) of 1,4-phenylene portions, eg, each R14 portion is 1,4-phenylene. For portions R15, suitable substituted ethylene or ethylene portions include ethylene, 1,2-propylene, 1,2-butylene, 1,2-hexylene, 3-methoxy-1,2-propylene, and mixtures thereof. . Preferably, the R15 portions are essentially ethylene, 1,2-propylene, or mixtures thereof. Including a higher percentage of ethylene portions tends to improve the dirt release activity of the compounds. Surprisingly, including a higher percentage of 1, 2-propylene portions tends to improve the water solubility of the compounds. Therefore, the use of 1,2-propylene portions or a similar branched equivalent is desirable for the incorporation of any substantial part of the soil release component in the liquid fabric softener compositions. Preferably, from 75% to 100% are 1,2-propylene portions. The value for each p is at least 6, and preferably it is at least 10. The value for each n normally varies from 12 to 113. Typically, the value for each p is on the scale of 12 to 43. A description can be found Most Complete of Dirt Releasing Agents in US Patents Nos. 4,661, 267; 4.71 1, 730; 4,749,596, 4,818,569; 4,877,896; 4,956,447; and 4,976,879, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. These soil release agents can also act as impurity dispersants.

G) Dispersing impurities In the present invention the premix can be combined with an optional impurity dispersant, different from the soil release agent, and can be heated to a temperature at or above the melting point (s) of the components. The preferred impurity dispersants herein are formed by highly ethoxylated hydrophobic materials. The hydrophobic material may be a fatty alcohol, fatty acid, fatty amine, fatty acid amide, amine oxide, quaternary ammonium compound, or the hydrophobic portions used to form soil release polymers.

Preferred impurity dispersants are highly ethoxylated, for example, with more than 17, preferably more than 25, most preferably more than 40, moles of ethylene oxide per molecule on average, with the polyethylene oxide portion of 76% to 97%. %, preferably from 81% to 94%, of the total molecular weight. The level of the impurity dispersant is sufficient to keep the impurities at an acceptable level, preferably that the consumer can not notice, level under the conditions of use, but not sufficiently to adversely affect the softening effect. For some purposes it is desirable that the impurities do not exist. Depending on the amount of non-ionic or anionic detergent, the efficiency of the rinsing steps prior to the intction of the compositions herein, and the hardness of the water were used in the wash cycle of a typical laundry procedure. , the amount of nonionic or anionic detergent surfactant and builder (especially phosphates and zeolites) trapped in the fabric (laundry) will vary. Normally, the minimum amount of impurity dispersant should be used to avoid the softening properties that adversely affect. Typically, the impurity dispersion requires at least 2%, preferably at least 4% (at least 6% and preferably at least 10% to avoid at most the impurity) which is based on the level of the softening active agent. However, at levels of 10% (relative to the softening material) or more, there is a loss of efficacy risks of the softener of the pct especially when the fabrics contain high proportions of nonionic surfactant that has been absorbed during the washing operation. . Preferred impurity dispersants are Brij 700®; Varonic U-250®; Genapol T-500®, Genapol T-800®; Plurafac A-79®; and Neodol 25-50®.

H) Bactericides Examples of bactericides used in the compositions of this invention include glutaraldehyde, formaldehyde, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane 1,3-diol sold by Inolex Chemicals, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, under the trade name of Bronopol®, and a mixture of 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one and 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one sold by Rohm and Haas Company under the trade name of Kathon 1 at 1,000 ppm in agent's weight.

I) Perfume The present invention may contain any perfume compatible with the softener. Suitable perfumes are described in US Pat. 5,500,138 said patent is incorporated herein by reference. As used herein, the perfume includes a fragrant substance or mixture of substances that include natural fragrances (ie, obtained by extraction of flowers, herbs, leaves, roots, bark, wood, flower buds or plants), artificial (e.g. say, a mixture of different natural oils or oil ingredients) and synthetic (that is, pced synthetically). Often, such materials are accompanied with auxiliary materials, such as fixatives, thinners, stabilizers and solvents. These auxiliaries are also included within the meaning of "perfume", as used herein. Almost always, perfumes are complex mixtures of a plurality of organic compounds. Examples of perfume ingredients useful in the perfumes of the compositions of the present invention include, but are not limited to, hexylcinnamic aldehyde.; amilcinic aldehyde; Amylsalicylate; Hexylsalicylate; terpineol; 3,7-dimethyl-c / s-2,6-octadien-1-ol; 2,6-dimethyl-2-octanol; 2,6-dimethyl-7-octen-2-ol; 3,7-dimethyl-3-octanol; 3,7-dimethyl-fraps-2,6-octadien-1-ol; 3,7-dimethyl-6-octen-1 -ol; 3,7-dimethyl-1-octanol; 2-methyI-3- (para-tert-butylphenyl) -propionaldehyde; 4- (4-hydroxy-4-methylpentyl) -3-cyclohexen-1-carboxaldehyde; tricyclodecenllpropionate; tricyclodecenylacetate; anilsaldehyde; 2-methyI-2- (para-iso-propylphenyl) -propionaldehyde; etiI-3-methyl-3-phenylglycidate; 4- (para-hydroxyphenyl) -butan-2-one; 1- (2,6,6-trimethyl-2-cyclohexene-1-yl) -2-buten-1 -one; para-methoxyacetophenone; para-methoxy-alpha-phenylpropene; methyl-2-n-hexyl-3-oxo-cyclopentanecarboxylate; gamma-undecalactone. Other examples of fragrance materials include, but are not limited to, orange oil; lemon oil; grapefruit oil; bergamot oil; clove oil; gamma dodecalactone; methyl-2- (2-pentyl-3-oxo-cyclopentylacetate); methyl ether of beta-naphthol; methyl-beta-naphthyl ketone; coumarin; decyl aldehyde; benzaldehyde; 4-tert-butylcyclohexylacetate; alpha, alpha-dimethyl-phenethylacetate, methylphenylcarbinyl acetoate; Schiff base of 4- (4-hydroxy-4-methylpentyl) -3-cyclohexen-1-carboxaldehyde and methylanthranilate; cyclic ethylene glycol diester of tridecandioic acid; 3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadien-1-nitrile; methyl gamma-ionone; alpha-ionone; beta-ionone; citrus oil; methylredrilone; 7-acetyl-1, 2,3,4,5,6,7,8-octahydro-1,1,6,7-tetramethyl-naphthalene; methyl ionone; methyl-1, 6, 10-trimethyl-2,5,9-cyclodextrin-1-yl ketone; 7-acetyl-1, 1, 3,4,4,6-hexamethyltetraline, 4-acetyl-6-tert-butyl-1,1-dimethyl indane; benzophenone; 6-acetyl-1,1, 2,3,3,5-hexamethylindane; 5-acetyl-3-isopropyl-1,1,6-tetramethylindane; 1-dodecanal; 7-hydroxy-3,7-dimethyloctanal; 10-undecen-1-al; iso-hexenylcyclohexylcarboxaldehyde; formyltriciclodecane; cyclopentadecanolide; 16-hydroxy-9-hexadecenoic acid lactone; 1, 3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethylcyclopenta-gamma-2-benzopyran; ambroxane; dodecahydro-3a, 6,6,9a, tetramethylnaphtho- [2,1 bjfuran; cedrol; 5- (2,2,3-trimethy1-chlorop-3-en1) -3-methylpentan-2-ol; 2-ethyl-4- (2,2,3, trimethyl-3-cyclopenten-1-yl) -2-buten-1-ol; cariophilene alcohol; Cryrilacetate; para-tert-butylcyclohexylacetate; patchouli; olibanum resinoid; labadand; vetivert; balsam of copaiba; fir balsam; and condensation products of: hydroxy citronellal and methylanthranilate; hydroxy citronellal; eodol; phenylacetaldehyde e ndol; 4- (4-hydroxy-4-methylpentyl) -3-cyclohexen-1-carboxaldehyde and methylanthranilate. More examples of perfume components are geraniol; geranylacetate; linalool; linalylacetate; tetrahydrolinalool; citronellol; citronellyl acetate; dihydromyrcenol; dihydromircenylacetate; tetrahydromyrcenol; terpinyl acetate; nopol; nopylacetate; 2-phenylethanol; 2-phenylethylacetate; benzyl alcohol; benzylacetate; benzylsalicylate; benzylbenzoate; styralylacetate; dimethylbenzylcarbinol; trichloromethylphenylcarbinylmethylphenylcarbinyl acetate; isononylacetate; vetiverylacetate; vetiverol; 2-methyl-3- (p-tert-butylphenyl) -propanal; 2-methyl-3- (p-isopropylphenyl) -propanal; 3- (p-tert-butylphenyl) propanal; 4- (4-methyl-3-pentenyl) -3-cyclohexencarbaldehyde; 4-acetoxy-3-pentyl tetrahydropyran; methyldihydrojasmonate; 2-n-heptylcyclopentanone; 3-methyl-2-pentyl-cyclopentanone; n-decanal; n-dodecanal; 9-decenol-1; phenoxyethyl isobutyrate; phenylacetaldehyde dimethylacetal; phenylacetaldehyde diethylacetal; geranonitrile; citronelonitrile; cedrylacetal, 3-isocamfilcyclohexanol; cedrylmethyl ether; isolongifolanone; aubepinitrile; aubepino; heliotropin; eugenol; vanillin; diphenyl oxide; hydroxycitro-ionalionones; methylionones; isomethylionones; irons; cis-3-hexenol and esters thereof, indanealmizle fragrances; fragrances of tetralinalmizcle; Isochroman fragrances; macrocyclic ketones; musk fragrances of macrolactone; ethylenebrassilate. The perfumes useful in the compositions of the present invention substantially do not have halogenated materials or nitro-alkyls. Suitable solvents, diluents or vehicles for the perfume ingredients mentioned above are for example ethanol, sodium propane, diethylene glycol, monoethyl ether, dipropylene glycol, diethyl phthalate, triethyl citrate, etc. The amount of said solvents, diluents or vehicles incorporated in perfumes preferably kept to the minimum necessary to provide a homogeneous perfume solution. The perfume may be present at a level from 0% to 10%, preferably from 0.1% to 5%, and most preferably from 0.2% to 3%, by weight of the finished composition. The fabric softening compositions of the present invention provide an accumulation of perfume in the improved fabric.

J) Chelating Agents The compositions and methods herein may optionally employ one or more copper and / or nickel chelating agents ("chelators"). Said chelating agents can be selected from the group consisting of aminocarboxylates, aminophosphonates, polyfunctionally substituted aromatic chelating agents and mixtures thereof, all as defined below. The whiteness and / or gloss of the fabrics are substantially improved or restored by said chelating agents and the stability of the materials in the compositions is improved. Aminocarboxylates useful as chelating agents herein include ethylenediaminetetraacetates (EDTA), N-hydroxyethylenediaminetriacetates, nitrilotriacetates (NTA), ethylenediaminetetraproprionates, ethylenediamine-N'-diglutamates, 2-hydroxypropylenediamine-N'-disuccinates, triethylenetetraaminehexacetates, diethylenetriaminepentaacetates (DETPA), and ethanoldiglicins, which include their water-soluble salts, such as the alkali metal, ammonium and substituted ammonium salts thereof and mixtures thereof. Aminophosphonates are also suitable for use as chelating agents in the compositions of the invention, when at least low levels of total phosphors are allowed in the detergent compositions, and include ethylenediaminetetrakis (methylenephosphonates), diethylenetriamine-N, N, N ', N ", N" -pentaquis (methanphosphonate) (DETMP) and 1-hydroxyethane-1,1-diphosphonate (HEDP). Preferably, these aminophosphonates do not contain alkyl or alkenyl groups with more than 6 carbon atoms. Chelating agents are almost always used in the present rinsing process at levels of 2 ppm to 25 ppm, for periods of 1 minute to several hours of soaking. The preferred EDDS chelator used herein (also known as ethylene diamine-N'-disuccinate) is the material described in the US patent. 4,704,233, cited here before, and has the formula (illustrated in free acid form): As described in the patent, EDDS can be prepared using maleic anhydride and ethylenediamine. The preferred biodegradable [S, S] isomer of EDDS can be prepared by the reaction of L-aspartic acid with 1,2-dibromoethane. EDDS has advantages over other chelators in that it is effective for chelating copper and nickel cations, is available in a biodegradable form, and does not contain phosphorus. The EDDS used herein as a chelator is almost always found in its salt form, ie, wherein one or more of the four acidic hydrogens is replaced by a water-soluble M cation, such as sodium, potassium, ammonium, triethanolammonium and Similar. As mentioned above, the EDDS chelator is also commonly employed in the present rinse procedure at levels of 2 ppm to 25 ppm for periods of 1 minute to several hours of soaking. At certain pHs, EDDS is preferably used in combination with zinc cations. As can be seen from the foregoing, a wide variety of chelators can be employed herein. In fact, simple polycarboxylates, such as citrate, oxidisuccinate, and the like, can also be employed, although such chelators are not as effective as aminocarboxylates and phosphonates, on a weight basis. Therefore, the levels of use can be adjusted to take into account different degrees of chelation effectiveness. Preferably, the chelators herein will have a constant stability (of the fully chelated chelator) for copper ions of at least 5, preferably at least 7. Commonly, the chelators will comprise from 0.5% to 10%, most preferably 0.75. % to 5% by weight of the compositions herein. Preferred chelators include DETMP, DETPA, NTA, EDDS and mixtures thereof.

K) Enzyme The compositions and methods in the present invention can optionally employ one or more enzymes, such as lipases, proteases, cellulase, amylases and peroxidases. A preferred enzyme for use herein is a cellulase enzyme. Actually, this type of enzymes will also provide a benefit of color care to the treated fabric. The cellulases usable in the present invention include the bacterial and fungal types, preferably having an optimum pH between 5 and 9.5. The patent of E.U.A. 4,435,307 describes mycotic cellulases from Humicola insolens or Humicola strain DSM 1800 or a cellulase-producing fungus 212 belonging to the genus Aeromonas, and cellulase extracted from the hepatopancreas of a marine mollusk Dolabella Auricular Solander. Suitable cellulases are also described in GB-A-2,075,028; GB-A-2,095,275 and DE-OS-2,247,832. CAREZYME® and CELLUZYME® (Novo) are especially useful. Other suitable cellulases are also described in WO 91/17243 of Novo, WO 96/34092, WO 96/34945 and EP-A-0,739,982. In practical terms for current commercial preparations, typical amounts are up to 5 mg by weight, more typically 0.01 mg to 3 mg, of active enzyme per gram of the detergent composition. Put another way, compositions herein will always typically include from 0.001% to 5%, preferably 0.01% - 1% by weight of a commercial enzyme preparation. In particular cases where the activity of the enzyme preparation can be defined differently, such as with cellulases, the corresponding activity units are preferred (eg, CEVU or units of cellulase equivalent viscosity). For example, the compositions of the present invention may contain cellulase enzymes at a level equivalent to an activity of 0.5 to 1000 CEVU / gram of composition. The cellulase enzyme preparations used for the purpose of formulating the compositions of this invention almost always have an activity included between 1, 000 and 10,000 CEVU / g in liquid form, about 1, 000 CEVU / g in solid form.

L) Other Optional Ingredients The present invention may include optional components conventionally used in textile treatment compositions, for example: colorants; - conservatives; surfactants; anti-wrinkle agents; fabric softening agents; stain removal agents; germicides; fungicides; antioxidants, such as butylated hydroxytoluene, anticorrosion agents and the like. The present invention may also include other compatible ingredients, including those described in co-pending serial number applications: 08 / 372,068, filed January 12, 1995, Rusche, et. to the.; 08 / 372,490 filed January 12, 1995, Shaw, et. to the.; and 08 / 277,558 filed July 19, 1994, Hartman, et. al., incorporated herein by reference.

Process for preparing fabric softener Also within the scope of the present invention is a process for preparing a premix composition and a fabric softening composition from the premix. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the premix composition includes a fabric softening compound of the invention and an effective amount of a component selected from the group consisting of major solvents, water-soluble low molecular weight solvents, water-soluble calcium, water-soluble magnesium salt, perfume and mixtures thereof. The use of a main solvent allows the preparation of premixes comprising the softening active ingredient (from 55% to 85%, preferably from 60% to 80%, most preferably from 65% to 75%, by weight of the premix); the main solvent (from 10% to 30%, preferably from 13% to 25%, most preferably from 15% to 20%, by weight of the premix); and optionally, the water-soluble solvent (from 5% to 20%, preferably from 5% to 17%, most preferably from 5% to 15%, by weight of the premix). These premixes contain the desired amount of fabric softening active ingredient and sufficient major solvent and, optionally, solvent to give the premix the desired viscosity for the desired temperature scale. Typical viscosities suitable for the process are less than 1000 cps, preferably less than 500 cps, most preferably less than 300 cps. The use of low temperatures improves safety, by reducing maximum vaporization of the solvent, reduces the degradation and / or loss of materials, such as the active ingredient softener of biodegradable fabrics, perfumes, etc., and reduces the need to heat, saving in this way in the processing costs. The result is improved safety and environmental impact from the manufacturing operation. Examples of premixes and methods that use them include premixes that almost always contain 55% to 85%, preferably 60% to 80%, most preferably 65% to 75%, of fabric softening active ingredient, as shown in examples, mixed with 10% to 30%, preferably 13% to 25%, most preferably 15% to 20%, of principal solvent, such as 1,2-hexanediol and 5% to 20%, preferably 5% % to 15%, of water-soluble solvent, such as ethanol and / or isopropanol and / or hexylene glycol. These premixes can be used to formulate fabric softener compositions in processes comprising the steps of: 1. Making the premix of the fabric softening active, 11% ethanol and 17% principal solvent, and allowing it to cool to room temperature. 2. Mix the perfume in the premix. 3. Form a water seat formed by water and HCl at room temperature; optionally add a chelator and / or antioxidant. 4. Add the premix to the water under good agitation. 5. Adjust with CaCl2 solution to the desired viscosity. 6. Add the coloring solution to obtain the desired color.

Almost always, the pH of the premix in water is adjusted from 1.5 to . The softening active ingredients of quaternary diester fabrics (DEQAs); the major solvents and, optionally, the water-soluble solvents, can be formulated as premixes that can be used to prepare fabric softening compositions.

SOLID COMPOSITIONS 1. - Compositions in solid particles As explained above, the invention also comprises solid particulate compositions which include: (A) from 50% to 95%, preferably from 60% to 90%, of said biodegradable fabric softening active ingredient; (B) optionally, from 0% to 30%, preferably from 3% to 15%, of dispersion capacity modifier; and (D) from 0% to 10% of a pH modifier.

Optional pH modifier Since the softening active ingredients of biodegradable ester fabrics are exposed in some form to hydrolysis, it is preferable to include optional pH modifiers in the solid particle composition to which water will be added to form concentrated liquid softener or water softener compositions. stable dilution. Said stable liquid compositions should have a (pure) pH of 2 to 5, preferably 2 to 4.5, most preferably 2 to 4, and most preferably still 3 to 4. The pH can be adjusted by incorporating a Bronsted acid. water soluble Examples of suitable Bronsted acids include inorganic mineral acids, such as boric acid, sodium bisulfate, potassium bisulfate, sodium monobasic phosphate, potassium monobasic phosphate and mixtures thereof; organic acids such as citric acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, malic acid, tannic acid, gluconic acid, glutamic acid, tartaric acid, glycolic acid, chloroacetic acid, phenoxyacetic acid, 1, 2,3,4-butanedicarboxylic acid, benzenesulfonic acid, benzenephosphonic acid, ortho-toluenesulfonic acid, para-toluenesulfonic acid, phenolsulfonic acid, naphthalenesulfonic acid, oxalic acid, 1, 2,4,5-pyromellitic acid, 1, 2,4-trimellitic acid, adipic acid, benzoic acid, phenylacetic acid , salicylic acid, succinic acid, and mixtures thereof; and mixtures of inorganic mineral acids and organic acids. Preferred pH modifiers are citric acid, gluconic acid, tartaric acid, 1, 2,3,4-butantetracarboxylic acid, malic acid and mixtures thereof. Optionally, materials that can form solid claterates, such as cyclodextrins and / or zeolites, etc., can be used as adjuvants in the solid particulate composition as host vehicles for anhydrides and / or concentrated liquid acids, such as acetic acid, HCl, acid sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, nitric acid, carbonic acid, etc. An example of said solid clathrates is a carbon dioxide adsorbed on zeolite A, as described in the patent of E.U.A. 3,888,998 and the patent of E.U.A. 4,007,134, both patents are incorporated herein by reference. Examples of inclusion complexes of phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid and nitric acid, and the process for their preparation are described in the patent of E.U.A. No. 4,365,061, said patent which is incorporated herein by reference. When used, the pH modifier is almost always used at a level of 0.01% to 10%, preferably from 0.1% to 5% by weight of the composition.

PREPARATION OF GRANULATED FABRIC SOFTENER SOLID PARTICLES The granules can be formed by preparing a molten substance, solidifying it by cooling, and then grinding and sieving it to the desired size. In a three component mixture, for example, nonionic surfactant, simple long chain cationic and DEQA, it is more preferred, when forming the granules, to premix the nonionic surfactant and the simple long chain alkyl cationic compound more soluble before mixing in a molten substance of the diester quaternary ammonium cationic compound.

It is highly preferred that the primary particles of the granules have a diameter of 50 to 1,000, preferably 50 to 400., very preferably from 50 to 200 microns. The granules may include smaller or larger particles, but preferably from 85% to 95%, most preferably from 95% to 100%, are within the indicated ranges. Smaller and larger particles do not provide optimal emulsions / dispersions when added to water. Other methods of preparing primary particles can be employed including the spray cooling of the molten substance. The primary particles can agglomerate to form a free-flowing non-sticky powder without producing very fine dust. The agglomeration can occur in a conventional agglomeration unit (ie, Zig-Zag grinder, Lodige) by a water-soluble binder. Examples of water-soluble binders useful in the above agglomeration process include glycerol, polyethylene glycols, polymers, such as PVA, polyacrylates and natural polymers, such as sugars. The flowability of the granules can be improved by treating the surface of the granules with flow improvers, such as clay, zeolite or silica particles, water-soluble inorganic salts, starch, etc.

METHOD OF USE Water can be added to particulate solid granular compositions to form concentrated liquid softener compositions or diluted for the subsequent addition to the rinse cycle of the washing process with a concentration of said biodegradable cationic softening compound from 0.5% to 50%, preferably from 1% to 35%, most preferably from 4% to 32% by weight. The solid particulate composition added in the rinse (1) can also be used directly in the rinse bath to provide a suitable use concentration (eg, from 10 to 1,000 ppm, preferably 50 to 500 ppm, of the total softening active ingredient). The liquid compositions can be added to the rinse to provide the same concentrations of use. The water temperature for the preparation must be 20 ° C to 90 ° C, preferably 25 ° C to 80 ° C. The simple long chain alkyl cationic surfactants, as well as the viscosity modifier / dispersion capacity at a level of 0% to 15%, preferably from 3% to 15%, most preferably from 5% to 15%, in weight of the composition are preferred for the solid composition. The nonionic surfactants at the level of 5% to 20%, preferably from 8% to 15%, as well as the mixtures of these agents can also serve effectively as the viscosity modifier / dispersion capacity. The emulsified / dispersed particles, formed when said granules are added to water to form aqueous concentrates, almost always have an average particle size of less than 10 microns, preferably less than 2 microns, and most preferably 0.2 to 2 microns, with the purpose of to achieve effective accumulation in fabrics. The term "average particle size", in the context of this specification, means an average particle size in number, that is, more than 50% of the particles have a diameter smaller than the specific size. The particle size for the emulsified / dispersed particles is determined using, for example, a Malvern particle size analyzer. Depending on the particular selection of the nonionic and cationic surfactant, it may be desirable in certain cases, when using the solids to prepare the liquid, to employ an efficient means for dispersing and emulsifying the particles (eg, grinder). The solid particle compositions employed to produce liquid compositions may, optionally, contain electrolytes, perfume, antifoam agents, flow aids (eg, silica), colorant, preservatives, and / or other optional ingredients described hereinbefore. The benefits of adding water to the particulate solid composition to form aqueous compositions that will be subsequently added to the rinse bath include the ability to carry less weight, thus making shipping more economical, and the ability to form similar liquid compositions which are normally sold to consumers, for example, those described herein, with lower energy input (ie, less shear stress and / or lower temperature). In addition, the softening compositions of solid granular particulate fabrics, when sold directly to consumers, have fewer packaging requirements and more disposable and smaller containers. The consumers will then add the compositions to more permanent packages available, and add water to pre-dilute the compositions, which are then ready to be used in the rinse bath, just like the liquid compositions herein. The liquid form is easier to handle, since it simplifies measurement and distribution. 2. - Drier-activated compositions The present invention also relates to dryer-enhanced, improved solid fabric softening compositions that are either A) incorporated into articles of manufacture, eg, on a substrate, or have B) the form of particles similar to those described above. (Including, where appropriate, agglomerates, tablets and tablets of said particles). Said compositions almost always contain from 10% to 95% of the fabric softening agent.

A) Substrate articles In preferred embodiments, the present invention encompasses articles of manufacture. Representative articles are those that are adapted to be used to provide unique perfume benefits and soften fabrics in an automatic dryer, of the types described in U.S. Patents. Nos. 3,989,631; 4,055,248; 4,073,996; 4,022,938; 4,764,289; 4,808,086; 4,103,047; 3,736,668; 3,701, 202; 3,634,947; 3,633,538; and 3,435,537; and 4,000,340, all of these patents are incorporated herein by reference. Typical articles of manufacture of this type include articles that consist of: I. a fabric conditioning composition comprising from 30% to 95% fabric softening agent with the ability to soften in the dryer, usually solid, comprising said ingredient active fabric softener biodegradable; and II. a dispensing means that provides the possibility of releasing an effective amount of said composition that includes an effective amount of i, sufficient to give odor control to fabrics in an automatic dryer at operating temperatures of automatic dryers, e.g. ° C to 115 ° C. When the distribution medium is a flexible substrate, for example, in sheet configuration, the fabric conditioning composition is freely fixed in the substrate to provide a weight ratio of conditioning composition to dry substrate, which varies from 10: 1. at 5: 1, preferably from 5: 1 to 1: 1. The solid fabric softening compositions herein may include cationic and nonionic fabric softening active ingredients used in combination with one another.

D) Examples The synthesis of the fabric softening compound of the present invention is illustrated in greater detail in the following synthesis examples. These examples of synthesis are presented only for the purpose of illustration.

EXAMPLE A OF SYNTHESIS OF THE COMPOUND OF FATTY ACID 1, 300 grams of canola oil (refined, bleached, degummed) of food grade and about 6.5 grams of a commercial nickel hydrogenation catalyst (Engelhard, "N-545" ®) corresponding to approximately 0.13% by weight of Ni, they are placed in a hydrogenation reactor that is equipped with an agitator. The reactor is sealed and evacuated; The contents are heated to 170 ° C and hydrogen is introduced into the reactor. Stirring at 450 rpm is maintained throughout the reaction. After 10 minutes, the reactor temperature is 191 ° C and the hydrogen pressure is 0.773 kg / cm2 gauge. The temperature is maintained at 190 ° C. After 127 minutes from the start of the introduction of hydrogen, the hydrogen pressure is 0.703 kg / cm2. A sample of the reaction mass is extracted, and it is found to have an iodine value of 78.0 and a cis: trans ratio of 1.098. After another 20 minutes at 190 ° C, the hydrogen pressure is 0.688 kg / cm2 gauge. The introduction of hydrogen is discontinued and the content of the reactor is cooled with stirring. The final reaction product has an iodine value of 74.5 and a cis: trans ratio of 1.35.

The product that is formed in the reactor is removed and filtered. It has a cloud point of 22.2 ° C. It was determined that the chain length distributions of the acyl substituents in the sample taken at 127 minutes and the final product are as shown in Table 1, where "sat." means saturated, and "mono" and "di" mean monounsaturated and diunsaturated, respectively.

TABLE 1 Approximate Percentage (mol.) Chain length Displays in 127 min. Product C14-sat 0.1 0.1 C16-sat 4.7 4.6 C16-monkey. 0.4 0.4 C18-sat 8.9 13.25 C18-monkey. 77.0 73.8 C18-d¡. 4.5 3.1 C20-sat 0.7 0.75 C-20-monkey. 2.1 2.0 Other 1 .6 2.0 EXAMPLE B OF THE SYNTHESIS OF THE FATTY ACID COMPOUND 1, 300 grams of food-grade canola oil and 5.2 grams of Engelhard nickel hydrogenation catalyst "N-545" ® are placed in a hydrogenation reactor that is equipped with a stirrer. The reactor is sealed and evacuated. The content is heated to 175 ° C and hydrogen is introduced into the reactor. Stirring is maintained at 450 rpm during the course of the reaction. After 5 minutes, the temperature in the reactor is 190 ° C and the hydrogen pressure is 0.492 kg / cm2 gauge. The temperature 'is maintained at 190 ° C. After 125 minutes from the start of the introduction of hydrogen, the hydrogen pressure is 0.492 kg / cm2 gauge. A sample of the reaction mass is removed, and it is found to have an iodine value of 85.4. After another 20 minutes at 190 ° C, the hydrogen pressure is 0.421 kg / cm2 gauge. The introduction of hydrogen is discontinued and the contents of the reactor are cooled with stirring. The final reaction product has an iodine value of 80.0. The product that is formed in the reactor is removed and filtered. It has a cloud point of 18.6 ° C.

EXAMPLE C OF THE SYNTHESIS OF THE FATTY ACID COMPOUND 1, 300 grams of food-grade canola oil and 2.9 grams of Engelhard nickel hydrogenation catalyst "N-545" ® are placed in a hydrogenation reactor that is equipped with a stirrer. The reactor is sealed and evacuated. The contents are heated to 180 ° C and hydrogen is introduced into the reactor. Stirring is maintained at 450 rpm during the course of the reaction. After 5 minutes, the temperature in the reactor is 192 ° C and the hydrogen pressure is 0.703 kg / cm2 gauge. The temperature is maintained at 190 + 3 ° C. After 105 minutes from the start of the introduction of hydrogen, the hydrogen pressure is 0.703 kg / cm2. A sample of the reaction mass is removed, and it is found to have an iodine value of 85.5. After another 20 minutes at 190 ° C, the hydrogen pressure is 0.703 kg / cm2 gauge. The introduction of hydrogen is discontinued and the contents of the reactor are cooled with stirring. The final reaction product has an iodine value of 82.4. The product that is formed in the reactor is removed and filtered. It has a cloud point of 17.2 ° C.

EXAMPLE D OF THE SYNTHESIS OF THE COMPOUND OF FATTY ACID 1, 300 grams of food-grade canola oil and 1.4 grams of Engelhard nickel hydrogenation catalyst "N-545" ® are placed in a hydrogenation reactor that is equipped with a stirrer. The reactor is sealed and evacuated. The content is heated to 191 ° C and hydrogen is introduced into the reactor. Stirring is maintained at 450 rpm during the course of the reaction. After 100 minutes, the temperature in the reactor is 192 ° C and the hydrogen pressure is 0.703 kg / cm2 gauge. The temperature is maintained at 190 + 3 ° C. After 105 minutes from the start of the introduction of hydrogen, the hydrogen pressure is 0.703 kg / cm2 gauge. A sample of the reaction mass is removed, and it is found to have an iodine value of 95.4. After another 20 minutes at 190 ° C, the hydrogen pressure is 0.703 kg / cm2 gauge. The introduction of hydrogen is discontinued and the contents of the reactor are cooled with stirring. The final reaction product has an iodine value of 2.3. The product that is formed in the reactor is removed and filtered. It has a turbidity point of 34 ° C.

EXAMPLE E OF THE SYNTHESIS OF THE FATTY ACID COMPOUND 1, 300 grams of food-grade canola oil and 1.3 grams of Engelhard nickel hydrogenation catalyst "N-545" ® are placed in a hydrogenation reactor that is equipped with a stirrer. The reactor is sealed and evacuated. The content is heated to 190 ° C and hydrogen is introduced into the reactor at a hydrogen pressure of 0.351 kg / cm2 gauge. After three hours from the start of the introduction of hydrogen, a sample of the reaction mass is removed, and it is found to have an iodine value of 98. The hydrogenation is interrupted, another 0.7 grams of the same catalyst is added, and the reaction conditions are restored at 190 ° C for one more hour. The introduction of hydrogen is then discontinued and the contents of the reactor are cooled with stirring. The final reaction product has an iodine value of 89.9. The product that is formed in the reactor is removed and filtered. It has a cloud point of 16.0 ° C.

EXAMPLE F OF THE SYNTHESIS OF THE FATTY ACID COMPOUND 1, 300 grams of food-grade canola oil and 1.3 grams of Engelhard nickel hydrogenation catalyst "N-545" ® are placed in a hydrogenation reactor that is equipped with a stirrer. The reactor is sealed and evacuated. The content is heated to 190 ° C and hydrogen is introduced into the reactor at a hydrogen pressure of 0.351 kg / cm2 gauge. Stirring is maintained at 420 rpm during the course of the introduction of hydrogen. After 130 minutes from the start of the introduction of hydrogen, the introduction of hydrogen is discontinued and the contents of the reactor are cooled with stirring. The final reaction product has an iodine value of 96.4. The product that is formed in the reactor is removed and filtered. It has a cloud point of 11.2 ° C.

EXAMPLE G OF THE SYNTHESIS OF THE FATTY ACID COMPOUND A mixture of 1.200 grams of the hydrogenated oil from example F of the synthesis and 200 grams of the hydrogenated oil from example A of synthesis, is hydrolyzed three times with steam at 250 ° C at 42.18 kg / cm2 gauge during 2.5 hours in a vapopaceite ratio of 1.2 (by weight). An aqueous solution containing the glycerin that had been separated is removed. The resulting mixture of fatty acids is vacuum distilled for a total of 150 minutes, where the crucible temperature is gradually raised from 200 ° C to 238 ° C and the temperature of the distillation head is gradually raised from 175 ° C to 197 ° C. The vacuum of 0.3-0.6 mm is maintained. The fatty acid product of vacuum distillation has an iodine value of 99.1, an amine value (AV) of 197.6 and a saponification value (SAP) of 198.6. The following are examples of synthesis of the softening compounds according to the present invention: EXAMPLE OF SYNTHESIS OF SOFTENING COMPOUND 1 1) Esterification 489 grams of partially hydrogenated bait fatty acid with an IV of 45 and an acid value of 206, commercially available under the trademark Distal 51 sold by Witco Corporation, are added to the reactor, cleaned with jets of N2 and 149 grams of triethanolamine are added under stirring. The molar ratio of the fatty acid to triethanolamine is 1.8: 1. The mixture is heated above 150 ° C and the pressure is reduced to remove the condensation water. The reaction is extended to an acid value of 5. The aforementioned partially hydrogenated bait fatty acid is also available commercially under the trademark Edenor HtiCT from Henkel, or commercially available under the trademark Prifac 5905 from Unichema . 2) Quaternization To 627 grams of the condensation product, 122 grams of dimethisulfate are added under continuous stirring. The reaction mixture is kept above 50 ° C and the reaction is followed by verification of the residual amine value. 749 grams of the softening compound of the invention are obtained. The quaternized material is optionally diluted with, for example 15% isopropanol, which reduces the melting point of the material, thus providing greater ease in handling the material.

EXAMPLE OF THE SYNTHESIS OF SOFTENING COMPOUND 2 1) Esterification 504 grams of oleic fatty acid with an IV of 90 and an acid value of 198, commercially available under the trademark Emersol 233 sold by Henkel Corporation, are added to the reactor; the reactor is cleaned with N2 jets and 149 grams of triethanolamine are added under stirring. The molar ratio of the fatty acid to triethanolamine is 1.8: 1. The mixture is heated above 150 ° C and the pressure is reduced to remove the condensation water. The reaction is extended to an acid value of 2. The aforementioned oleic fatty acid is also commercially available under the trademark Edenor TiO5 from Henkel. 2) Quaternization To 629 grams of the condensation product, 122 grams of dimethisulfate are added under continuous stirring. The reaction mixture is maintained above 50 ° C and the reaction is followed by verification of the residual amine value. 751 grams of softening compound of the invention are obtained. The quaternized material is optionally diluted with, for example, 8% ethanol, which reduces the melting point of the material, which makes it easier to handle the material.

EXAMPLE OF THE SYNTHESIS OF THE SMOOTHING COMPOUND 3 1) Esterification 571 grams of canola fatty acid with an IV of about 100 and an acid value of about 196, as was done according to Example G of the synthesis of the fatty acid compound, are added to the reactor; the reactor is cleaned with N2 jets and 149 grams of triethanolamine are added under stirring. The molar ratio of the fatty acid to triethanolamine is 2.0: 1. The mixture is heated above 150 ° C and the pressure is reduced to remove the condensation water. The reaction is prolonged until reaching an acid value of 3. 2) Quaternization To the 698 grams of the condensation product, 122 grams of dimethisulfate were added under continuous stirring. The reaction mixture is kept above 50 ° C and the reaction is followed by verification of the residual amine value. 820 grams of the softening compound of the invention are obtained. The quaternized material is optionally diluted with, for example, 15% of an ethanol / hexylene glycol 50:50 mixture which reduces the melting point of the material, thereby providing greater ease of material handling.

EXAMPLE OF THE SYNTHESIS OF SOFTENING COMPOUND 4 1) Esterification 457 grams of canola fatty acid with an IV of about 100 and an acid value of about 196, as was done according to Example G of the synthesis of the fatty acid compound, are added to the reactor; the reactor is cleaned with N2 jets and 149 grams of triethanolamine are added under stirring. The molar ratio of the fatty acid to triethanolamine is 4.6: 1. The mixture is heated above 150 ° C and the pressure is reduced to remove the condensation water. The reaction is prolonged until reaching an acid value of 1. 2) Quaternization At 582 grams of the condensation product, 122 grams of dimethisulfate were added under continuous stirring. The reaction mixture is kept above 50 ° C and the reaction is followed by verification of the residual amine value. 704 grams of the softening compound of the Nvention The quaternized material is optionally diluted with, for example, 8% ethanol, which reduces the melting point of the material, which makes it easier to handle the material.

The softening compounds synthesized above are also exemplified below in the non-limiting examples of the fabric softening composition.

Abbreviations used in the examples In the softening compositions, the abbreviated identification of the component has the following meanings: Softening Compound 1 The softening compound as carried out according to the example of the softening compound synthesis 1. Softening compound 2 The softening compound as is done according to the example of the softening compound synthesis 2. Softening compound 3 The softening compound as is carried out according to the example of the synthesis of the softening compound 3. Softening compound 4 The softening compound as it is carried out according to the example of the softening compound synthesis 4. IPA Isorpopilalcohol TMPD 2,2,4-trimethyl-1 , 3-pentanediol CHDM 1, 4 cyclohexanedimethanol

Claims (10)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - A biodegradable fabric softening compound consisting of a quaternary ammonium salt, the quaternized ammonium salt which is a quaternized condensation product between: a) a fraction of branched or linear, saturated or unsaturated fatty acids, or derivatives of said acids, said fatty acids or derivatives each having a hydrocarbon chain in which the number of atoms is between 5 and 21, and, b) triethanolamine, characterized in that said condensation product has an acid value, measured by titration of the condensation product with a standard KOH solution against a phenolphthalein indicator of less than 6.5.

2. The biodegradable fabric softening compound according to claim 1, further characterized in that the fatty acid fraction contains cis and trans isomers with a cis / trans ratio of 1: 1 to 50: 1, preferably 3: 1 to 50: 1, and most preferably from 4: 1 to 20: 1.

3. The biodegradable fabric softening compound according to claim 1, further characterized in that the molar ratio of fatty acid / triethanolamine is from 1: 1 to 2.5: 1.

4. The biodegradable fabric softening compound according to any of claims 1-3, further characterized in that the fatty acid / triethanolamine molar ratio is from 1.4: 1 to 1.8: 1, preferably 1.5: 1.

5. The biodegradable fabric softening compound according to any of claims 1-3, further characterized in that the fatty acid / triethanolamine molar ratio is 1.8: 1 to 2.2: 1, preferably 2.0: 1.

6. The biodegradable fabric softening compound according to any of claims 1-5, further characterized in that said compound has an acid value less than 5, preferably less than 3. 7.- The fabric softening compound biodegradable in accordance with any of claims 1-6, further characterized in that said compound has the formula: (R) 4-m-N (+) - [(CH2) n-Y-RI] m X (-) (1) wherein each R substituent is hydrogen or a short chain of Ci-Cß alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group; each m is 2 or 3; each n is from 1 to 4; each Y is O- (O) C-, - (R) N- (O) C-, -C (O) -N (R) -, or -C (O) -O-; the sum of carbons in each R1, plus one when Y is -O- (O) C- or - (R) N- (O) C-, is C6-C22, but not greater than a sum of R1, or YR1 , which is less than 12 and then the other sum of R1, OR YR1, is at least 16, with each R1 comprising a long chain of branched alkyl of C5-C2? or unsaturated alkyl, optionally substituted, the ratio of branched alkyl to unsaturated alkyl which is from 5:95 to 95: 5, and for the unsaturated alkyl group, the iodine value of the parent fatty acid of this group R 1 is 20 to 140, and where the counter ion, X is a softening compatible anion. 8. The biodegradable fabric softening compound according to claim 7, further characterized in that the softening compound contains up to 20% long-mono chain softener, wherein a group YR1 is -OH, -N (R) H, or -C (O) OH. 9. A fabric softening composition consisting of a biodegradable fabric softening compound according to any of claims 1-8, further characterized in that said biodegradable fabric softening active ingredient is present in an amount of 1% to 80% by weight of the composition. 10. A fabric softening composition according to claim 9, further characterized in that said composition includes less than 40% by weight of the composition of a main solvent having a ClogP of 0.15 to 0.64. 1 - A fabric softening composition according to claim 10, further characterized in that the main solvent is selected from mono-oles, C6 diols, C7 diols, octanediol isomers, butanediol derivatives, trimethylpentanediol isomers , ethylmethylpentanediol isomers; isomers of propylpentanediol, isomers of dimethylhexanediol, isomers of ethylhexanediol, isomers of methylheptanediol, isomers of octanediol, isomers of nonanodiol, alkyl glyceryl ethers, di (hydroxyalkyl) ethers, and arylglyceryl ethers, aromatic glyceryl ethers, alicyclic diols and derivatives, alkoxylated diol derivatives of CsC, aromatic diols, and unsaturated diols, and mixtures thereof. 12. A fabric softening composition according to any of claims 10 or 11, further characterized in that the main solvent is selected from 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol, 2,2-ethoxylated ethoxylates. , 4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, ethoxylates of 2-ethyl-1,3-hexanediol, 1,2-cyclohexanedimethanol, and mixtures thereof. 13. A fabric softening composition according to claim 12, further characterized in that said main solvent is present in a combination form of 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol and 1,2-hexanediol. 14. A fabric softening composition according to any of claims 10-13, further characterized in that said composition comprises the effective amount, sufficient to improve the clarity, of water-soluble solvents of low molecular weight, selected from the group consisting of of ethanol, isopropanol, propylene glycol, 1,3-propanediol, propylene carbonate, 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol and mixtures thereof, said water-soluble solvents which are at a level that will not form transparent compositions by themselves. 15. A fabric softening composition according to any of claims 9-14, further characterized in that said composition is in liquid form, preferably an aqueous dispersion. 16. A fabric softening composition according to claim 15, further characterized in that said composition is a transparent aqueous composition. 1

7. A fabric softening composition according to any of claims 14 or 15, further characterized in that said composition has a pH of 3 to 4. 1

8. A method for treating fabrics comprising the step of making contact with the fabrics in an aqueous medium containing the softening compound according to any of claims 1-8, or the softening composition according to any of the claims 9-17. 1

9. A method according to claim 18, further characterized in that the molar ratio of the fatty acid / tertiary amine fraction in the softening compound is from 1.5: 1 to less than 1.8: 1, preferably 1.5: 1 and the medium aqueous comprises a molar ratio of surfactant to said softening compound of the invention of at least 1:

10. 20. A method according to claim 18, further characterized in that the molar ratio of the fatty acid / tertiary amine fraction in the softening compound is from 1.8: 1 to 2: 1, preferably 2: 1 and the aqueous medium comprises a molar ratio of anionic surfactant to said softener compound of the invention less than 1: 10. 21. A premix composition comprising the fabric softening compound of any of claims 1-8 and an effective amount of a component selected from the group consisting of major solvents, low molecular weight water soluble solvents, calcium salts water-soluble, water-soluble magnesium salt, perfume and mixtures thereof. 22. A fabric softening composition comprising an effective amount of the fabric softening active ingredient of any of claims 1-8. 23. The process for preparing a fabric softening composition comprising adding the premix according to claim 21 to water, adjusting the pH from 1.5 to 5, and adding an effective amount to improve the viscosity and / or clarity of the composition of the water-soluble magnesium and / or calcium salt. 24. A process for preparing a softening compound comprising the steps of: a) reacting the fatty acid fraction comprising fatty acids of the formula R 1 COOH, wherein R 1 is unsaturated alkyl or branched alkyl of C 5 -C 21 long chain, optionally substituted with triethanolamine, in a molar ratio of fatty acid to triethanolamine fraction from 1: 1 to 2.5: 1 for a period such that the compound obtained from the condensation product has an acid value, measured by titration of the condensation product with a standard KOH solution against a phenolphthalein indicator less than 6.5; and b) reacting the condensation product by what is obtained with an alkylating agent, in the presence or absence of a solvent. 25. A process according to claim 24, further characterized in that the alkylating agent is selected from alkyl halides, sulfates, phosphates and carbonates, preferably alkyl halides, most preferably is dimethisulfate.