Patent ID: 6258771
Filing Date: 2001-07-10
Classification: C11D

Abstract:
A process for making a stable shear-thinning, transparent or translucent liquid detergent composition, the composition comprising:(a) about 0.01 to 5% by wt. of a polymer gum capable of forming stable, non-continuous networks which gum is k-carrageenan, wherein said stable, non-continuous network can suspend particles having a size of 300 to 5000 microns;(b) 15 to 85% by wt. of a surfactant;wherein by shear thinning is meant being able to support particles 300 to 5000 microns in size while having a pour viscosity of about 50 to about 3000 cps measured at 21S.sup.-1 at about room temperature;wherein by stable is meant particles do not phase separate for at least 2 weeks when measured at room temperature;wherein said process comprises:(i) mixing about 0.01 to 5% by wt. of a gum premix of said gum polymer with balance water at a temperature of about room temperature to about 200.degree. F. for at least 30 minutes or until gum is swollen to form a polymer gum premix having concentration about 0.001 to 5% by wt. composition;(ii) promoting formation of gum bits from said premix by agitating the premix and additionally selecting a method selected from the group consisting of addition of counterion, use of temperature differential and mixtures thereof; and(iii) separately preparing a liquid detergent base comprising the surfactant which is subsequently combined with the gum bits formed in step (ii) to form a final detergent composition comprising suspending gum bits.