Patent ID: 6566317
Filing Date: 2003-05-20
Classification: C11D

Abstract:
A process for inhibiting tablet-form laundry detergents from gelling upon hydration comprising:(a) providing a detergent formulation containing a surfactant component selected from the group consisting of an anionic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant, and mixtures thereof, and wherein the surfactant component is present in an amount of from about 31 to 80% by weight, based on the weight of the detergent formulation: (b) providing an anti-gelling agent selected from the group consisting of an alkyl polyglycoside corresponding to formula I: R1O(Z)aâ€ƒâ€ƒ(I) â€ƒwherein R1 is a monovalent organic radical having from about 6 to about 30 carbon atoms; Z is a glucose residue; a is a number having a value from about 1 to about 6; a polymeric surfactant comprising at least one product of the reaction between: (i) at least one linking agent of formula II: R1(Y)3â€ƒâ€ƒ(II) â€ƒwherein each Y group is a halogen atom or one Y group is a halogen atom and two Y groups with two adjacent carbon atoms in the R2 group and an oxygen atom form an epoxy group, and R2 is an alkanetriyl group containing from 3 to 10 carbon atoms; and (ii) at least one compound of formula (III) R3(EO)n(PO)m(BO)pXâ€ƒâ€ƒ(III) â€ƒwherein R3 is a substituted or unsubstituted saturated or unsaturated, aliphatic oxy or thio group having from 1 to about 36 carbon atoms or a secondary amino group having from 2 to about 36 carbon atoms; n, m, and p are independently numbers of from 0 to about 50; X is hydrogen, or a mercapto group or an amino group in place of a terminal â€”OH group, provided that when X is mercapto or amino, the sum of n, m, and p must be at least 1; and wherein the mole ratio of component (i) to component (ii) is from about 0.2/1 to about 5/1; and mixtures thereof; (c) combining the detergent formulation and the anti-yelling agent to form a finished formulation and; (d) processing the finished formulation into a tablet-form laundry detergent product.