MXPA06009555A - A granular laundry detergent composition comprising a ternary detersive surfactant system and low levels of, or no, zeolite builders and phosphate builders - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a granular laundry detergent composition comprising:(i) from 5wt%to 55wt%anionic detersive surfactant;and (ii) from 0.5wt%to 10wt%non-ionic detersive surfactant;and (iii) from 0.5wt%to 5wt%cationic detersive surfactant;and (iv) from 0wt%to 4wt%zeolite builder;and (v) from 0wt%to 4wt%phosphate builder.

Description

A COMPOSITION GRANULATED DETERGENT FOR LAUNDRY COMPRISING A DETERGENT SURFACTANT SYSTEM TERNARIO WITH LOW LEVELS OR TOTAL ABSENCE OF ADDITIVES OF ZEOLITE AND PHOSPHATE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a granular laundry detergent composition comprising a ternary detergent surfactant system with low levels or total absence of zeolite and phosphate additives.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The laundry detergent granular compositions should satisfy the only thing of having a very good performance in the cleaning of fabrics in relation to a wide variety of types of dirt, and should also have an excellent dissolution and dispatch profile. However, there may be a dichotomy in that some reformulations of the laundry detergent granular composition aimed at improving the cleaning performance of fabrics can have a negative impact on the dispatch and dissolution profiles and vice versa. It is very difficult to improve the cleaning performance, the dispatch profile and the dissolution profile at the same time.

Anionic detergent surfactants are incorporated in granular laundry detergent compositions in order to provide a good fabric cleaning performance. However, the anionic detergent surfactant is capable of forming complexes with free cations, including divalent cations, such as calcium and / or magnesium cations, which are present in the wash liquor so as to cause the anionic detergent surfactant is precipitated out of the solution, which leads to a reduction in the activity of the anionic detergent surfactant. In extreme cases, these water-insoluble complexes can be deposited on a cloth, which will result in poor maintenance of whiteness and a poor performance of tissue integrity. This is especially problematic when the laundry detergent composition is used under washing conditions in hard water, when there is a high concentration of calcium cations. The tendency of the anionic detergent surfactant to complex with these free cations in the wash liquor is such that its precipitation is mitigated out of the solution by the presence of additives such as, for example, zeolite additives and phosphate additives, which have a high constant binding with free cations such as, for example, calcium and magnesium cations. These additives sequester the calcium and magnesium free cations and reduce the formation of these undesirable complexes. However, the zeolite additives are insoluble in water and their incorporation in laundry detergent compositions leads to poor dissolution of the laundry detergent composition and can also lead to undesirable residues being deposited on the fabrics. In addition, detergent compositions comprising high levels of zeolite additives form turbid and undesirable wash liquors upon contact with water. While phosphate additives allegedly do not have favorable environmental profiles, their use in laundry detergent compositions has become less common, for example, due to phosphate legislation in many countries. There remains a need for a granular laundry detergent composition comprising an anionic detergent surfactant with good fabric cleaning performance, especially a good grease stain cleaning performance, good whiteness maintenance and very good dispensing and dissolution profiles. .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention overcomes the above problems by providing a granular laundry detergent composition comprising: (i) from 5% to 55% by weight of an anionic detergent surfactant; (ii) from 0.5% to 10% by weight of a nonionic detergent surfactant; (iii) from 0.5% to 5% by weight of a cationic detergent surfactant; (iv) from 0% to 4% by weight of a zeolite additive; and (v) from 0% to 4% of a phosphate additive.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The granulated laundry detergent composition comprises from 5% to 55% by weight, preferably from 5% to 25% by weight of anionic detergent surfactant. Preferably, the composition comprises from 6% by weight to 18% by weight, or from 7% by weight to 15% by weight weight, or from 8% by weight to 12% by weight, or from 8% by weight to 11% by weight or even 9% by weight to 10% by weight of an anionic detergent surfactant. The anionic detergent surfactant may be an alkyl sulfate, an alkyl sulfonate, an alkyl phosphate, an alkyl phosphonate, an alkylcarboxylate or any mixture thereof. The anionic surfactant may be selected from the group comprising C 10 -C 18 alkylbenzene sulphonates (LAS), preferably C 10 -C 13 alkylbenzenesulfonates; branched chain, straight chain and C10-C20- (AS) primary chain alkyl sulphates, which normally have the following formula: CH3 (CH2) xCH2-OSO3-M + wherein, M is hydrogen or a cation that provides a neutrality of charge, the preferred cations are the sodium and ammonium cations, wherein x is an integer of at least 7, preferably at least 9; sulfates C10-C18 alkyl which normally have the following formulas: OSO3"M + OSO3- M + CH3 (CH2) X (H) CH3 or CH3 (CH2) and (CH) CH2CH3 wherein, M is hydrogen or a cation that provides a charge neutrality, the preferred cations include sodium cations and ammonium, wherein x is an integer with a value of at least 7, preferably at least 9, and is an integer with a value of at least 8, preferably at least 9, C 10 -C 1 alkylalkylcarboxylates, branched middle chain alkyl sulfates as they are described in detail in U.S. Patent Nos. 6,020,303 and 6,060,443; modified alkylbenzene sulfonate (MLAS) as described in greater detail in WO 99/05243, WO 99/05242, WO 99/05244. , WO 99/05082, WO 99/05084, WO 99/05241, WO 99/07656, WO 00/23549 and WO 00/23548, Methyl ester sulfonate (MES), Alpha-olefin sulfonate (AOS) and their mixtures. Preferred anionic detergent surfactants are selected from the group comprising linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl sulfates of C12.18, alkyl benzene linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted sulfonates of C10.13, preferably linear alkylbenzenesulfonates of C10.13 and mixtures thereof. Linear alkylbenzenesulfonates of C10.13 are even more preferred. Linear alkylbenzene sulfonates of C10.13 which are obtained by the sulfonation of commercially available linear alkylbenzenes (LABs) are most preferred; suitable LABs include LAB with low 2-phenyl content, such as those marketed by Sasol under the name Isochem®, or those marketed by Petresa under the name Petrelab®, other suitable LABs include LAB with high 2-phenyl content, such as marketed by Sasol under the name Hyblene®.

It may be preferred that the anionic detergent surfactant be structurally modified in such a manner as to cause the anionic detergent surfactant to be more calcium tolerant and less likely to precipitate out of the wash liquor in the presence of calcium free forms. This structural modification could be the introduction of a methyl or ethyl entity near the head group of the anionic detergent surfactant, since this can lead to an anionic detergent surfactant more tolerant to calcium due to the spherical impediment of the head group, which can reduce the affinity of the anionic detergent surfactant to form complexes with the calcium free cations in such a way that precipitation is caused outside the solution. Other structural modifications include the introduction of functional entities, such as an amine entity, into the alkyl chain of the anionic detergent surfactant; this can lead to a more tolerant anionic detergent surfactant to calcium because the presence of a functional group in the alkyl chain of an anionic detergent surfactant can minimize the undesirable physicochemical property of the anionic detergent surfactant to form a smooth crystalline structure in the presence of free calcium ions in the wash liquor. This may reduce the tendency of the anionic detergent surfactant to precipitate out of the solution. The anionic detergent surfactant is normally found in particulate form, as an agglomerate, a spray-dried powder, an extruded product, a globule, in an elongated form or as a needle or scale.

Preferably, the anionic detergent surfactant or at least a part thereof, can be in the form of a mixture with a nonionic detergent surfactant. Preferably, the anionic detergent surfactant, or at least part thereof, is in the form of agglomerate; the agglomerate preferably comprises at least 20% by weight of the agglomerate, of an anionic detergent surfactant, more preferably from 25% to 65% by weight of the agglomerate, of an anionic detergent surfactant. It may be preferable that part of the anionic detergent surfactant is in the form of a spray-dried powder (for example a blown powder) and that part of the anionic detergent surfactant is in the form of a powder which has not been spray dried (for example an agglomerate). or an extruded product or a flake such as a linear alkyl benzene sulphonate flake, the suitable linear alkylbenzene sulphonate flakes are sold by Pilot Chemical under the name F90®, or by Stepan under the name Nacconol 90G®). The composition may comprise from 0.5% to 10% by weight of a nonionic detergent surfactant. Preferably, the composition may comprise from 1% to 7% or from 2% to 4% by weight of nonionic detergent surfactant. The nonionic detergent surfactant can be selected from the group comprising: C12-C18 alkyl ethoxylates, such as Shell's NEODOL® nonionic surfactants; C6-C12 alkylphenol alkoxylates, wherein the alkoxylate units are ethyleneoxy units, propyleneoxy units or a mixture thereof; C12-C18 alcohol and condensates of C6-C12 alkylphenol with alkyl polyamine ethoxylates of ethylene oxide / propylene oxide blocks such as Pluronic® from BASF; medium chain branched C14-C22 alcohols, BA as described in more detail in U.S. Pat. no. 6,150,322; C14-C22 branched chain alkyl alkoxylates, BAEX wherein x is = 1 to 30, as described in more detail in U.S. Pat. num. 6,153,577, 6,020,303 and 6,093,856; alkylpolysaccharides as described in more detail in U.S. Pat. no. 4,565,647, specifically the alkyl polyglycosides as described in more detail in U.S. Pat. num. 4,483,780 and 4,483,779; fatty acid polyhydroxyamides as described in more detail in U.S. Pat. no. 5,332,528 and WO 92/06162, WO 93/19146, WO 93/19038 and WO 94/09099; and ether poxy (oxyalkylated) alcohol surfactants as described in more detail in U.S. Pat. no. 6,482,994 and WO 01/42408, and mixtures thereof. The nonionic detergent surfactant could be an alkyl polyglucoside and / or an alkyl alkoxylated alcohol. Preferably, the nonionic detergent surfactant is a linear or branched C8-18 ethoxylated alkyl alcohol, substituted or unsubstituted, having an average degree of ethoxylation of 1 to 10. The non-ionic detergent surfactant not only provides a higher cleaning performance of the oily dirt, but can also increase the activity of the anionic detergent surfactant by causing the anionic detergent surfactant to precipitate less out of the solution in the presence of calcium free cations. Preferably, the weight ratio of non-alkoxylated anionic detergent surfactant relative to the nonionic detergent surfactant is in the range of less than 8: 1 or less than 7: 1 or less than 6: 1 or less than 5: 1, preferably from 1: 1 to 5: 1 or from 2: 1 to 5: 1 or even from 3: 1 to 4: 1. The nonionic detergent surfactant, or at least a portion thereof, may be incorporated into the composition in the form of a liquid spray, wherein the nonionic detergent surfactant, or at least a portion thereof, is sprayed in a liquid (for example, in the form of hot melt) over the rest of the composition. The non-ionic detergent surfactant, or at least part of it, it can be in the particulate form, and the nonionic detergent surfactant, or at least part thereof, can be added dry to the rest of the composition. The nonionic surfactant, or at least part thereof, may be in the form of a mixture of coparticulate with a solid carrier material such as carbonate salt, sulfate salt, burkeite, silica or any mixture thereof. The nonionic detergent surfactant, or at least part thereof, can be found in a coparticulate mixture with an anionic detergent surfactant or a cationic detergent surfactant. However, the nonionic detergent surfactant, or at least part of it, is preferably not in a coparticulate mixture with an anionic detergent surfactant and a cationic detergent surfactant. The nonionic detergent surfactant, or at least part thereof, may be agglomerated or extruded with an anionic detergent surfactant or a cationic detergent surfactant. The composition may comprise from 0.5% to 5% by weight of a cationic detergent surfactant. The composition preferably comprises from 0.5% to 4%, or from 1% to 3%, or even from 1% to 2% by weight of cationic detergent surfactant. Suitable cationic detergent surfactants are alkyl pyridinium compounds, alkyl quaternary ammonium compounds, alkyl phosphonium quaternary compounds and alkyl sulfonium ternary compounds. The cationic detergent surfactant can be selected from the group comprising: alkoxylated quaternary ammonium surfactants (AQA) as described in more detail in U.S. Pat. no. 6,136,769; dimethyl hydroxyethyl quaternary ammonium surfactants as described in more detail in U.S. Pat. UU no. 6,004,922; cationic polyamine surfactants as described in WO 98/35002, WO 98/35003, WO 98/35004, WO 98/35005 and WO 98/35006; cationic ester surfactants as described in more detail in U.S. Pat. num. 4,228,042, 4,239,660, 4,260,529 and 6,022,844 and the amino surfactants as described in more detail in U.S. Pat. no. No. 6,221,825 and in WO 00/47708, especially amido-propyldimethyl amine and mixtures thereof. Preferred cationic detergent surfactants are quaternary ammonium compounds having the following general formula: (R) (R1) (R2) (R3) N + X- wherein, R is a straight or branched C6.18 alkyl or alkenyl entity, substituted or unsubstituted, R1 and R2 are independently selected from methyl or ethyl entities, R3 is a hydroxyl, hydroxymethyl or hydroxyethyl entity, X is an anion that provides a charge neutrality, preferred anions include halides (such as, for example, ), sulfate or sulfonate.

Preferred cationic detergent surfactants are mono-C6.18 mono-hydroxyethyl alkyl ammonium dimethyl quaternary chloride. The most preferred cationic detergent surfactants are monoalkyl monohydroxyethyldimethylammonium quaternary chloride of C8.10, monoalkyl monohydroxyethyldimethylammonium chloride of C10.12 and monoalkyl monohydroxyethyldimethylammonium chloride of C10. The cationic detergent surfactant provides a higher grease dirt cleaning performance. However, the cationic detergent surfactant may increase the tendency of the anionic detergent surfactant to precipitate out of the solution. Preferably, the cationic detergent surfactant and the anionic detergent surfactant are present in the composition in the form of separate particles. This minimizes any effect that the cationic detergent surfactant may have on an unwanted precipitation of the anionic detergent surfactant and furthermore ensures that the resulting wash liquor is not cloudy when it comes into contact with the water. Preferably, the weight ratio of the anionic detergent surfactant to the cationic detergent surfactant is in the range of 5: 1 to 25: 1, more preferably 5: 1 to 20: 1, or 6: 1 to 15: 1 , or from 7: 1 to 10: 1, or even from 8: 1 to 9: 1. The cationic detergent surfactant is preferably in the particulate form, such as a spray-dried powder, an agglomerate, an extruded product, a flake, an elongated or needle shape or any combination thereof. Preferably, the cationic detergent surfactant or at least a part thereof is in the form of a spray-dried powder or an agglomerate. The cationic detergent surfactant may be in the form of a coparticulate mixture with a nonionic detergent surfactant. Preferably, the composition comprises a first surfactant component in particulate form. The first surfactant component is preferably in the form of a spray-dried powder, an agglomerate, an extruded product or a flake. The first surfactant component comprises an anionic detergent surfactant. Preferably, the first surfactant component comprises less than 10%, by weight of the first component, of a cationic detergent surfactant. Preferably, the first surfactant component is free of cationic detergent surfactant. The first surfactant component is in the form of an agglomerate or an extruded product; then the first surfactant component preferably comprises from 20% to 65% by weight of the first surfactant component of an anionic detergent surfactant. If the first surfactant component is in the spray-dried form, then, preferably, the first surfactant component comprises from 10% to 30% by weight of the first surfactant component, of anionic detergent surfactant. The first surfactant component can be in the form of a mixture of coparticulate with a solid carrier material. The solid carrier material may be a sulfate salt and / or carbonate salt, preferably, sodium sulfate and / or sodium carbonate.

Preferably, the composition comprises a second surfactant component in particulate form. The second surfactant component is preferably in the form of a spray-dried powder, an evaporated-off powder, an agglomerate or an extruded product. The second surfactant component comprises a cationic detergent surfactant. Preferably, the second surfactant component comprises less than 10%, by weight of the second surfactant component, of an anionic detergent surfactant. Preferably, the second surfactant component is free of anionic detergent surfactant. If the second surfactant component is in the form of an agglomerate, then the second surfactant component preferably comprises from 5% to 50% by weight of the second surfactant component., of cationic detergent surfactant, or from 5% to 25% by weight of a cationic detergent surfactant. The second surfactant component can be in the form of a mixture of coparticulate with a solid carrier material. The solid carrier material may be a sulfate salt and / or carbonate salt, preferably, sodium sulfate and / or sodium carbonate. The composition may comprise a third surfactant component. The third surfactant component can be in liquid form (for example spraying and / or hot melt) or in particulate form as an agglomerate, spray-dried powder or an extruded product. The third surfactant component comprises a nonionic detergent surfactant. The third surfactant component may also comprise an anionic detergent surfactant or a cationic detergent surfactant; however, the third surfactant component will preferably not comprise an anionic detergent surfactant and a cationic detergent surfactant together. The third surfactant component is preferably in the form of a coparticulate mixture with a solid carrier, usually selected from carbonate salt, sulfonate salt, burkeite, silica and mixtures thereof. Preferably, the solid carrier material is sodium carbonate and / or sodium sulfate. The third surfactant component can be in the form of a coparticulate mixture with silicate salt, or even an ultra-fine zeolite having a primary submicron particle size. The carbonate salt, sulfate salt and / or burkeite may be in the micronized particulate form. Alternatively, the third surfactant component may be in the form of a coparticulate mixture with a structuring material, usually selected from the group comprising fatty acids; compounds having the formula: bis ((C2H5O) (C2H4O) n) (CH3) -N + -CxH2x-N + - (CH3) -bis ((C2H5O) (C2H40) n) where, n = from 20 to 30, yx = from 3 to 8; compounds having the formula: bis ((C2H5O) (C2H40) n) (CH3) -N + -CxH2x-N + - (CH3) -bis ((C2H50) (C2H40) n) sulfonated or sulfated wherein, n = 20 to 30, and x = from 3 to 8; and mixtures of these. The composition comprises from 0% to 4% by weight of a zeolite additive. The composition preferably comprises from 0% to 3%, or from 0% to 2%, or from 0% to 1% by weight of zeolite additive. It can even be considered preferable that the composition is practically free of a zeolite additive. This is especially preferred if it is desired that the composition be highly soluble to minimize the amount of water-insoluble residues (for example those that deposit on the surfaces of the fabrics), and also when it is very desirable to have a wash liquor. transparent. Zeolite additives include zeolite A, zeolite X, zeolite P and zeolite MAP. The composition comprises from 0% to 4% by weight of a phosphate additive. The composition preferably comprises from 0% to 3%, or from 0% to 2%, or from 0% to 1% by weight of phosphate additive. It can even be considered preferable that the composition be practically free of a phosphate additive. This is especially preferred when the composition is desired to have a very good environmental profile. Phosphate additives include sodium tripolyphosphate. The composition may comprise adjuvant additives to part of the zeolite additive and the phosphate additive, water soluble adjuvant additives are especially preferred. The adjuvant additives are preferably selected from the group comprising sodium carbonate, sulfamic acid and / or water soluble salts thereof, citric acid and / or water soluble salts thereof, such as, for example, sodium citrate; polymeric polycarboxylates, such as, for example, copolymers of acrylic acid and maleic acid, or polyacrylate. It can be considered preferable that the composition comprises very low levels of water insoluble additives, such as, for example, zeolite A, zeolite X, zeolite P and zeolite MAP at the same time that it also comprises relatively high levels of water soluble adjuvant additives such as, example, sodium carbonate, sulfamic acid and citric acid. It can be considered preferable that the weight ratio of the sodium carbonate to the zeolite additive be at least 5: 1, preferably at least 10: 1, or at least 15: 1, or at least 20: 1 or even at least 25: 1. The detergent composition may comprise less than 10% by weight, or from 0% by weight to 5% by weight, or less than 4% by weight, or less than 2% by weight of a silicate salt. It can even be considered preferable that the detergent composition be free of a silicate salt. The silicate salts include water-insoluble silicates. The silicate salts include amorphous silicates and crystalline layered silicates (e.g., SKS-6). A preferred silicate salt is sodium silicate. The composition may contain sulfamic acid and / or salts thereof soluble in water. The water-soluble salts of the sulfamic acid can be alkali metal salts or sulfamate alkaline earth metal salts. Other examples of water-soluble salts of sulfamic acid include ammonium sulphamate, zinc sulfamate and lead sulfamate. A preferred water-soluble salt of sulfamic acid is sodium sulfamate. Preferably, the detergent composition comprises sulfamic acid. The detergent composition preferably comprises (in a sulphamic acid base) from 0.1% to 20% by weight of sulphamic acid and / or water soluble salts these; however, it may be preferred that the detergent composition comprises from 0.1% to 15% by weight, or from 1% to 12% by weight, or even from 3% to 10% by weight of sulfamic acid and / or water-soluble salts. of the same. Sulfamic acid usually has the formula: H2NS03H Sulfamic acid may be in zwitterionic form when it is in the detergent composition; the sulfamic acid in zwitterionic form has the formula: H3N + SO3 - Possibly at least part, or possibly all, sulfamic acid is in the zwitterionic form when it is contained in the composition, for example, as a separate particulate component. Sulfamic acid can improve the despatch and disintegration of the detergent composition. It is capable of reacting with a carbonate source, if present, in an aqueous environment, such as, for example, the washing liquor in the drum of an automatic washing machine or in the dispensing container of an automatic washing machine or in some other dispensing device, such as a ball (granules) or a lattice, to produce carbon oxide gas. The combination of sulfamic acid and a carbonate source is a effervescence system that can improve the performance of the detergent composition. In addition, further agitation in the wash liquor provided by this effervescence system can also improve the cleaning performance of the detergent composition.

Sulfamic acid has a very low hygroscopicity, significantly lower than that of other acids, such as, for example, citric acid, malic acid or succinic acid; Sulfamic acid does not easily collect water. The sulfamic acid remains stable during storage of the detergent composition and does not readily degrade other components of the detergent composition under certain storage conditions, such as, for example, high humidity. Surprisingly, sulfamic acid remains stable in the presence of mobile liquid phases, for example, non-ionic detergent surfactants. Even with greater surprise, sulfamic acid does not easily break down perfumes during storage under high humidity. Preferably, the sulfamic acid and / or the water-soluble salts thereof are in particulate form. When the detergent composition is in particulate form, especially a particulate form that flows, the sulfamic acid and / or the water soluble salts thereof are preferably in particulate form and preferably incorporated into the detergent composition in the form of dry aggregated particles, preferably in the form of separate dry aggregate particles. Alternatively, the sulfamic acid may be in the form of a coparticulate mixture with a carbonate source; this coparticulate mixture can be produced by methods such as, for example, agglomeration (including pressure agglomeration) roll compaction, extrusion, micro-pelletization or any combination thereof. Preferably, the sulfamic acid and / or the water-soluble salts thereof, in particulate form have an average particle size weighted in the range of 210 micrometers to 1.200 micrometers or, preferably, 250 micrometers to 800 micrometers. Preferably, the sulfamic acid and / or the water-soluble salts thereof, in particulate form have such a particle size distribution that is not more than 35% by weight of the sulfamic acid and / or the water-soluble salts thereof.; a particle size of less than 250 microns, preferably not more than 30% by weight of the sulfamic acid and / or the water-soluble salts thereof; a particle size of less than 250 microns and, preferably, no greater than 35% by weight of the sulfamic acid and / or the water soluble salts thereof; a particle size greater than 1,000 micrometers, preferably not more than 25% by weight of the sulfamic acid and / or the water soluble salts thereof, and a particle size greater than 1,000 micrometers. The sulfamic acid and / or the water-soluble salts thereof have a higher synthesis capacity than other acids such as, for example, citric acid, malic acid, succinic acid and salts thereof. Sulfamate, which is incorporated in the composition or which is formed in situ in the wash liquor by in situ neutralization of sulfamic acid, has a high efficiency of synthesis with free cations (such as, for example, calcium cations and / or magnesium to form a calcium sulfamate and / or magnesium sulphamate, respectively). This superior synthesis performance due to the presence of the sulfamic acid and / or the water-soluble salts thereof in the detergent composition is especially beneficial when the detergent composition comprises very low levels or total absence of zeolite additives and phosphate additives, when it is much more likely that negative cleaning effects associated with a high concentration of calcium and / or free magnesium will appear in the wash liquor. A negative cleaning effect of this type associated with high concentrations of free calcium and / or magnesium cations in the wash liquor is a poor maintenance of whiteness. This is especially true when the detergent composition comprises high levels of carbonate. It may be preferred that the detergent composition comprises a carbonate salt, usually from 1% by weight to 50% by weight, or from 5% by weight to 25% by weight or from 10% by weight to 20% by weight of a carbonate salt. A preferred carbonate salt is sodium carbonate and / or sodium bicarbonate. A very preferred carbonate salt is sodium carbonate. The carbonate salt, or at least part of it, is usually in particulate form, generally with a weighted average particle size in the range of 200 to 500 microns. However, it may be preferred that the carbonate salt, or at least part thereof, be in micronized particulate form, usually having a weighted average particle size in the range of 4 to 40 microns.; this is preferred especially when the carbonate salt, or at least part thereof, is in the form of a coparticulate mixture with a nonionic detergent surfactant. High carbonate levels improve the cleaning performance of the detergent composition by increasing the pH of the wash liquor. This increase in alkalinity improves the performance of the bleach, if present, increases the tendency of the dirt to be hydrolyzed, which facilitates its removal from the tissues, and also increases the proportion and degree of ionization of the dirt that leaves. to clean, ionized soils are more soluble and easier to remove from the fabrics during the washing stage of the laundry process. In addition, high carbonate levels improve the fluidity of the detergent composition when the latter is in freely flowing particulate form. However, carbonate anions readily form complexes with calcium cations in the wash liquor to form calcium carbonate. Calcium carbonate is insoluble in water and can be precipitated out of the solution in the wash liquor and deposited on the fabrics, which results in poor maintenance of whiteness. Therefore, it may be preferred that the composition contain low levels or total absence of carbonate salt. The composition may comprise from 0 wt% to 10 wt% of a carbonate salt to minimize the negative effects associated with the presence of the carbonate salt. However, as described above in more detail, it may be desirable to incorporate higher levels of carbonate salt in the composition. If the composition comprises high levels of carbonate salt, such as at least 10% by weight carbonate salt, then the composition also preferably comprises an acid source which is capable of undergoing an acid / base reaction with a carbonate anion, such as sulfamic acid, citric acid, malic acid, succinic acid or any mixture thereof. A particularly preferred source of acid is sulfamic acid. Preferably, the weight ratio of the carbonate salt to the total amount of the acid source in the composition which is capable of undergoing an acid / base reaction with a carbonate anion, is preferably less than 50: 1, with greater preference less than 25: 1, or less than 15: 1, or less than 10: 1 or even less than 5: 1. In order to minimize the detrimental effects of having too high a concentration of carbonate anions in the wash liquor, the total amount of the carbonate anion source in the composition is preferably limited. The preferred carbonate anion sources are carbonate salts and / or percarbonate salts. Preferably, the total amount of the carbonate anion source (based on the carbonate anion) in the composition is between 7% to 14% by weight greater than the theoretical amount of the carbonate anion source that is required to completely neutralize the total amount of the acid source present in the composition that is capable of undergoing an acid / base reaction with a carbonate anion. By controlling the total amount of the carbonate anion source in the composition with respect to the amount of the acid source in the composition, in the manner described above, all the benefits of having a carbonate anion source in the composition are minimized despite of minimizing all the undesirable negative effects of having too high a concentration of carbonate anions in the wash liquor.

The detergent composition preferably comprises at least 10% by weight of a sulfate salt. High levels of sulfate salt can improve the cleaning ability of the composition to remove greasy stains. A preferred sulfate salt is sodium sulfate. Sodium sulfate and sulfamic acid are capable of combining as a complex in the presence of water to form a complex having the formula: These complexes are suitable for use in the present invention. The detergent composition can preferably comprise very high levels of sulfate salt; the detergent composition usually comprises at least 15% by weight of a sulfate salt, or even 20% by weight of a sulfate salt, or even 25% by weight of a sulfate salt and sometimes even at least 30% by weight of a sulfate salt. The sulfate salt, or at least part of it, is usually in particulate form, generally with a weighted average particle size in the range of 60 to 200 microns. However, it may be preferred that the sulfate salt, or at least part of it, be in the micronized particulate form, generally with a weighted average particle size in the range of 5 to less than 60 microns, and preferably from 5 to 40 microns. It may even be preferred that the sulfate salt be in unrefined particulate form, generally, with a weighted average particle size greater than 200 to 800 microns.

The composition may preferably comprise less than 60% by weight of the combined total amount of carbonate and sulfate. The composition may comprise less than 55% by weight, or less than 50% by weight, or less than 45% by weight, or less than 40% by weight of the combined total amount of carbonate and sulfate. It may be preferred that the composition comprises at least 1% by weight, or at least 2% by weight, or at least 3% by weight, or at least 4% by weight, or even at least 5% by weight of polymeric polycarboxylates. The high levels of polymeric polycarboxylates can act in the wash liquor as additives and free calcium ion sequestrants; they can also act as stain dispersants and provide an improved cleaning performance of removal of particulate stains. Preferred polymeric polycarboxylates include: polyacrylates, preferably those having a weight average molecular weight of 0.0016 g (1000 Da) at 0.033 g (20,000 Da); copolymers of maleic acid and acrylic acid, preferably those having a molar ratio of maleic acid monomers to acrylic acid monomers of 1: 1 to 1: 10 and a weighted average molecular weight of 0.016 g (10,000 Da) at 0.332 g (200,000 Da), or preferably those having a molar ratio of maleic acid monomers to the acrylic acid monomers of 0.3: 1 to 3: 1 and a weighted average molecular weight of 0.0016 g (1000 Da) ) at 0.083 g (50,000 Da). It may also be considered preferable that the composition comprises a soil dispersant having the formula: bs ((C2H50) (C2H40) n) (CH3) -N + -CxH2x-N + - (CH3) -bis ((C2H50) ( C2H40) n) where, n = from 20 to 30, and x = from 3 to 8. Other suitable soil dispersants are sulfonated or sulfated soil dispersants having the formula: bis ((C2H5O) (C2H4O) n) (CH3 ) -N + -CxH2x-N + - (CH3) -bis ((C2H50) (C2H4O) n) sulfonated or sulfated wherein n has a value of 20 to 30, and x has a value of 3 to 8. Preferably, the composition it comprises at least 1% by weight, or at least 2% by weight, or at least 3% by weight of soil dispersants. The composition as a rule comprises additional components. These adjuvant components include: a bleach, such as, for example, percarbonate and / or perborate, preferably in combination with a bleach activator such as tetraacetylethylenediamine, oxybenzene sulfonate bleach activators such as nonanoyloxybenzene sulfonate, caprolactam bleach activators, bleach activators Measure such as N-nonanoyl-N-methyl imide, preformed percents such as N, N-naphthoylamino peroxycaproic acid, nonilamidoperoxyadipic acid or dibenzoyl peroxide; chelating agents such as diethylenetriamine pentaacetate, diethylene triamine pentamethyl phosphonic acid, ethylenediamine-N'N'-disuccinic acid, ethylenediamine tetraacetate, ethylenediamine tetra-methylene phosphonic acid and hydroxyethane di-methylene phosphonic acid; enzymes such as amylases, carbohydrases, celluloses, laccases, lipases, oxidases, peroxidases and proteases; foam suppressor systems such as silicone-based foam suppressors; brighteners; photo-bleach; cargo salts; fabric softening agents such as clay, silicone compounds and / or quaternary ammonium; flocculants such as polyethylene oxide; dye transfer inhibitors such as polyvinylpyrrolidone, poly 4-vinylpyridine N-oxide and / or vinylpyrrolidone and vinylimidazole copolymer; integrity components of fabrics such as hydrophobically modified cellulose and oligomers produced by the condensation of imidazole and epichlorohydrin; dirt dispersants and antiredepositing auxiliaries such as polycarboxylates, polymers of alkoxylated polyamides and ethoxylated ethylenimines; and antiredeposit components such as carboxymethyl cellulose and polyesters. Preferably, the composition comprises less than 1% by weight of a chlorine bleach and less than 1% by weight of a bromine bleach. Preferably, the detergent composition is free of chlorine bleach and deliberately added bromine bleach. The composition can be in any granular form, such as that of an agglomerate, a spray-dried powder, an extruded product, a flake, an elongated shape, a needle shape, a globule or any combination thereof. Preferably, the detergent composition is in the form of free-flowing particles. The free flowing particulate detergent composition generally has a bulk density of 450 g / l to 1,000 g / l, the preferred low bulk density detergent compositions have a bulk density of 550 g / l to 650 g / l and the Preferred high bulk density detergent compositions have a bulk density of 750 g / l to 900 g / l. During the laundry process, the composition is usually contacted with water to provide a wash liquor having a pH of above 7 to 11, preferably 8 to 10.5. The composition may be prepared by any suitable method, including agglomeration, spray drying, extrusion, mixing, dry mixing, liquid spraying, roller compaction, micro-pelletizing or any mixture thereof. . In a second embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a laundry detergent granular composition, comprising a detergent surfactant, wherein the composition, when in contact with water at a concentration of 9.2 g / l and a temperature of ° C, forms a clear wash liquor having (i) a turbidity less than 500 nephelometric turbidity units; and (ii) a pH in the range of 8 to 12. Preferably, the resulting wash liquor has a turbidity of less than 400, or less than 300, or 10 to 300 nephelometric turbidity units. The turbidity of the wash liquor is generally measured using a turbidity measuring microprocessor H1 93703. A typical method for measuring the turbidity of the wash liquor is as follows: 9.2 g of the composition is added to 1 liter of water in a beaker. form a solution The solution is stirred for 5 minutes at 63 rad / s (600 rpm) at 20 ° C. The turbidity of the solution is then measured using a microprocessor measuring turbidity H1 93703 following the manufacturer's instructions.

Examples Example 1 Aqueous pulp composition.

Preparation of a spray-dried powder. An aqueous pulp is prepared having the composition described above with a moisture content of 25.89%. The aqueous pulp is heated to 72 ° C and pumped at high pressure (from 5.5x106Nm "2 to 6.0x106Nm" 2), in a spray-drying tower with an air inlet temperature of 270 ° C to 300 ° C . The aqueous pulp is atomized, and the atomized pulp is dried to produce a solid mixture, which is then cooled and sieved to remove too large material (> 1.8 nm) to form a spray-dried powder, which flows. The fine material (<0.15 mm) was sedimented with the exhaust air in the spray-drying tower and collected in a later containment system in the tower. The spray-dried powder has a moisture content of 1.0% by weight, an apparent density of 427 g / l and a particle size distribution such that 95.2% by weight of the spray-dried powder has a particle size of 150 to 710. micrometers The composition of the spray-dried powder is given below. Composition of spray-dried powder.

Preparation of a cationic detergent surfactant particle. The cationic surfactant particle was obtained on a batch basis of 14.6 kg on a Morton FM-50 Loedige equipment. 4.5 kg of micronized sodium sulfate and 4.5 kg of micronized sodium carbonate were previously mixed in the mixer. 4.6 kg of an aqueous solution of monoalkyl monohydroxyethyldimethylammonium quaternary chloride of C12.14 (cationic surfactant) 40% active was added to the micronized sodium sulfate and to the micronized sodium carbonate in the mixer at the same time as the main traction unit was operated and the mechanical selector. After about two minutes of mixing, a mixture of 1.0 kg with a weight ratio of 1: 1 of micronized sodium sulfate and micronized sodium carbonate was added to the mixer as a powdering agent. The resulting agglomerate is collected and dried using a fluidized bed dryer on a 2500 l / min air base at 100-140 ° C for 30 minutes. The resulting powder is screened and the fraction is collected through 1400 μm as the cationic surfactant particle. The composition of the cationic surfactant particle is as follows: 15% w / w monoalkyl monohydroxyethyl dimethyl quaternary ammonium chloride C12.14 40.76% w / w sodium carbonate 40.76% w / w sodium sulfate 3.48 % p / p of humidity and miscellanea Preparation of a particle of the nonionic detergent surfactant. The non-ionic detergent surfactant particle was obtained on a 25 kg batch base using a cement mixer of 1 m diameter at 2.5 rad / s (24 rpm). 18.9 kg of low density sodium sulphate distributed by Hamm Chemie under the tradename Rombach Leichtsulfat® were added to the mixer and then 6.1 kg of ethoxylated alkyl alcohol of C 14.15 were sprayed with an average degree of ethoxylation of 7 (AE7 ) in liquid form on sodium sulfate at 40 ° C; and the mixture was mixed for 3 minutes to produce the nonionic detergent surfactant particle, which is free flowing. The composition of the particle of nonionic detergent surfactant is as follows: 24.4% w / w of ethoxylated alkyl alcohol of C14.15 which has an average degree of ethoxylation of 7 (AE7) 75.6% w / w sodium sulfate Preparation of a granular laundry detergent composition in accordance with the present invention. 10.15 kg of the spray dried powder of Example 1, 1.80 kg of the particle of the cationic detergent surfactant of Example 1, 2.92 kg of the particle of the nonionic detergent surfactant of Example 1 and 10.13 kg (total amount) of another material individually added in dry were added to the concrete batch mixer 1 m in diameter operating at 2.5 rad / s (24 rpm). Once all the materials were dosed in the blender, the mixture was blended for 5 minutes to form a granular laundry detergent composition in accordance with the present invention. The formulation of the granular laundry detergent composition according to the present invention is as follows. A granular laundry detergent composition according to the present invention.

Example 2 Aqueous pulp composition.

Preparation of a spray-dried powder. An aqueous pulp was prepared having the composition described above and having a moisture content of 29.81%. The aqueous pulp was heated to a temperature of 65 to 80 ° C and pumped at high pressure (from 5.5x106Nm "2 to 6.0x106Nnt2)), in a countercurrent spray drying tower with an air inlet temperature of 270 ° C at 300 ° C. The aqueous pulp is atomized, and the atomized pulp is dried to produce a solid mixture, which is then cooled and sieved to remove too large material (> 1.8 mm) to form a dried powder. spray, which flows The fine material (<0.15 mm) was sedimented with the exhaust air in the spray-drying tower and collected in a subsequent containment system in the tower The composition of the resulting spray-dried powder outlined below.

Composition of spray-dried powder.

Preparation of a particle of the nonionic detergent surfactant. The non-ionic detergent surfactant particle was obtained on a 25 kg batch base using a cement mixer of 1 m diameter at 2.5 rad / s (24 rpm). 18.9 kg of low density sodium sulphate distributed by Hamm Chemie under the tradename Rombach Leichtsulfat® were added to the mixer and then 6.1 kg of ethoxylated alkyl alcohol of C 14.15 were sprayed with an average degree of ethoxylation of 7 (AE7 ) in liquid form on sodium sulfate at 40 ° C; and the mixture was mixed for 3 minutes to produce the nonionic detergent surfactant particle, which is free flowing. The composition of the particle of nonionic detergent surfactant is as follows: 24.4% w / w of ethoxylated alkyl alcohol of C14.15 which has an average degree of ethoxylation of 7 (AE7) 75.6% w / w sodium sulfate Preparation of a cationic detergent surfactant particle. The linear alkyl benzene sulphonate particle was obtained in a batch base of 14 kg in a Morton FM-50 Loedige equipment. First, 7.84 kg of micronized sodium sulfate and 2.70 kg of micronized sodium carbonate were added to the mixer at the same time that the main traction unit and the mechanical selector were operated. Then 3.46 kg of the linear alkyl benzene sulphonate paste (78% by active weight) was added to the mixer and mixed for 2 minutes to produce a mixture. The resulting mixture was collected and dried using a fluid bed dryer on a 2500 L / min air base at 100-140 ° C for 30 minutes to produce the anionic detergent surfactant particle. The composition of the anionic detergent surfactant is as follows: 20% w / w of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate 20% w / w sodium carbonate 58% w / w sodium sulfate 2% w / w miscellaneous and water Preparation a granular laundry detergent composition according to the present invention. 10.15 kg of the spray-dried powder of Example 2, 2.26 kg of the particle of the non-ionic detergent surfactant of Example 2, 8.5 kg of the particle of the anionic detergent surfactant of Example 2 and 4.09 kg (total) of another dry aggregate material were added. They were dosed in the 1 m diameter batch concrete mixer operating at 2.5 rad / s (24 rpm). Once all the materials were dosed in the blender, the mixture was blended for 5 minutes to form a granular laundry detergent composition in accordance with the present invention. The formulation of the granular laundry detergent composition according to the present invention is as follows. A granular laundry detergent composition according to the present invention.

Example 3 Example 1 was repeated except that the C10 quaternary monohydroxyethyldimethylammonium chloride replaces the monoalkyl monohydroxyethyldimethylammonium chloride of C12-1 in the cationic detergent surfactant particle.

Example 4 Example 1 was repeated except that 2.5% by weight of the citric acid composition was added dry instead of 7.5% by weight of sulfamic acid, and the amount of dry added sodium percarbonate was increased from 13.78% by weight. 18.78% by weight of the composition.

Example 5 Example 1 was repeated except that 3.75% by weight of the citric acid composition was added dry, and the amount of the dry added sulfamic acid was reduced from 7.5% to 3.75% by weight of the composition.

Example 6 Example 1 was repeated except that the following cationic detergent surfactant particle was used in place of the agglomerate of the cationic detergent surfactant of Example 1: Cationic detergent surfactant particle of Example 6 9.9% w / w C8 quaternary monohydroxyethyldimethylammonium chloride .10 44.55% w / w micronized sodium carbonate having a weighted average particle size of 8 microns. 44.55% w / w micronized sodium sulfate having a weighted average particle size of 11 microns. 1% w / w of water.

Example 7 Aqueous pulp.

Preparation of a spray-dried powder. An aqueous pulp having the composition described above and having a moisture content of 25.89% was prepared. The aqueous pulp was heated to a temperature of 65 to 80 ° C and pumped at high pressure (from 5.5x106Nm "2 to 6.0x106Nrrf2), in a countercurrent spray drying tower with an air inlet temperature of 270 ° C at 300 ° C. The aqueous pulp is atomized, and the atomized pulp is dried to produce a solid mixture, which is then cooled and sifted to remove too large material (> 1.8 mm) to form a spray-dried powder The sulfamic acid was neutralized during this process to the sodium salt form by sodium carbonate.The fine material (<0.15 mm) is filtered with the exhaust air in the spray-drying tower and collects in a subsequent tower containment system The composition of the resulting spray dried powder is described below: Spray dried powder.

Preparation of a granular laundry detergent composition in accordance with the present invention. 10.15 kg of the spray-dried powder of Example 7, 2.86 kg of the particle of the non-ionic detergent surfactant of Example 1, 1.5 kg of the cationic detergent surfactant particle of Example 1 and 10.49 kg (total amount) of another material individually added in dry were added to the concrete batch mixer 1 m in diameter operating at 2.5 rad / s (24 rpm). Once all the materials were dosed in the blender, the mixture was blended for 5 minutes to form a granular laundry detergent composition in accordance with the present invention. The formulation of the granular laundry detergent composition according to the present invention is as follows. A granular laundry detergent composition according to the present invention.

The relevant parts of all the cited documents are incorporated herein by reference; The mention of any document should not be construed as an admission that it constitutes a prior industry with respect to the present invention. While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It has been intended, therefore, to include in the appended claims all changes and modifications within the scope of the invention.

Claims (26)

1. NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS 1 . A granular laundry detergent composition comprising: (i) from 5% by weight to 55% by weight of anionic detergent surfactant; (ii) from 0.5% by weight to 10% by weight of non-ionic detergent surfactant; (iii) from 0.5% by weight to 5% by weight of cationic detergent surfactant; (V) from 0% by weight to 4% by weight of a zeolite additive; and (v) from 0 wt% to 4 wt% of a phosphate additive.
2. 2. The composition according to claim 1, further characterized in that the weight ratio of the anionic detergent surfactant to the nonionic detergent surfactant is less than 8: 1.
3. The composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the composition comprises: (i) A first surfactant component in particulate form comprising an anionic detergent surfactant; and (ii) a second surfactant component in particulate form comprising a cationic detergent surfactant.
4. 4. The composition according to claim 3, further characterized in that the first surfactant component comprises less than 10%, by weight of the first surfactant component, of a cationic detergent surfactant.
5. 5. The composition according to claim 3, further characterized in that the second surfactant component comprises less than 10% by weight of the second surfactant component of an anionic detergent surfactant.
6. The composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that at least part of the nonionic detergent surfactant is in the form of a coparticulate mixture with a solid carrier material.
7. The composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that part of the anionic detergent surfactant is in the form of spray-dried powder, and wherein part of the anionic detergent surfactant is in the powder form which has not been spray-dried.
8. The composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the composition comprises sodium carbonate, and wherein the weight ratio of sodium carbonate to the zeolite additive is at least 15: 1.
9. 9. The composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the composition comprises less than 4% by weight of silicate salt.
10. 10. The composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the composition is free of zeolite additive.
11. 11. The composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the composition is free of phosphate additive.
12. 12. The composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the composition comprises sulfamic acid and / or salts thereof soluble in water.
13. The composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the composition comprises from 10% to 25% by weight of carbonate salt.
14. The composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the composition comprises carbonate salt and sulfamic acid, and wherein if the composition comprises more than 10% by weight of the carbonate salt, then the weight ratio of the carbonate salt with respect to sulfamic acid is less than 5: 1.
15. 15. The composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the composition comprises: (i) A source of carbonate anion; and (ii) an acid source which is capable of undergoing an acid / base reaction with a carbonate anion, wherein the total amount of carbonate anion source, on a carbonate anion base, in the composition is between 7% by weight and 14% by weight greater than the theoretical amount of carbonate anion source that is required to completely neutralize the total amount of acid source present in the composition that is capable of undergoing an acid / base reaction with a carbonate anion.
16. 16. The composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the composition comprises carbonate salt in the micronized particulate form.
17. 17. The composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the composition comprises at least 3% by weight of polymeric polycarboxylate.
18. 18. The composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the composition comprises from 8% to 12% by weight of anionic detergent surfactant.
19. 19. The composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the composition comprises from 2 to 4% by weight of nonionic detergent surfactant.
20. The composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the composition comprises from 1% to 2% by weight of cationic detergent surfactant.
21. The composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the anionic detergent surfactant is selected from the group comprising linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) of C10-13; C12.18 linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkylsulfonate, and mixtures thereof.
22. 22. The composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the nonionic detergent surfactant is a linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted C 12-18 alkyl ethoxylated alcohol having an average degree of ethoxylation of 1 to 10.
23. 23. The composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the cationic detergent surfactant is a monoalkyl monohydroxyethyldimethylammonium quaternary chloride.
24. 24. The composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the composition comprises a soil dispersant having the following formula: bis ((C2H50) (C2H4O) n) (CH3) -N + -CxH2x-N + - ( CH3) -bis ((C2H5O) (C2H40) n) where n = from 20 to 30, and x = from 3 to 8.
25. The composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the composition comprises a dispersant of dirt having the following formula: bis ((C2H50) (C2H40) n) (CH3) -N + -CxH2x-N + - (CH3) -bis ((C2H5O) (C2H4O) n) sulfonated or sulfated wherein n = of 20 to 30, and x = 3 to 8.
26. 26. A granular detergent composition comprising a detergent surfactant, wherein the composition forms a clear wash liquor upon contact with water, at a concentration of 9.2 g / l and a temperature of 20 ° C; the clear wash liquor has: (i) A turbidity of less than 500 nephelometric turbidity units; and (ii) a pH in the range of 8 to 12.