Detergent compositions

Certain polymers, notably hydroxyethyl and hydroxypropyl celluloses, hydroxypropyl guars, xanthan gums, and certain acrylic polymers, enhance the foam stability of liquid detergents based on dialkyl sulphosuccinates while simultaneously providing increased viscosity.

The present invention relates to aqueous liquid detergent compositions 
containing one or more dialkyl sulphosuccinates. The compositions of the 
invention are especially, but not exclusively, useful for manual 
dishwashing in both hard and soft water. 
The term "dishes" as used herein means any utensils involved in food 
preparation or consumption which may be required to be washed to free them 
from food particles and other food residues, greases, proteins, starches, 
gums, dyes and burnt organic residues. 
The use of dialkyl sulphosuccinates as active ingredients in liquid 
detergent compositions suitable inter alia for manual dishwashing is 
disclosed in GB No. 1 429 639, GB No. 2 108 520, GB No. 2 104 913, GB No. 
2 105 325, EP No. 71413 and EP No. 71414 (Unilever). 
It has now been discovered that the viscosity of these liquid products can 
be increased by the inclusion of relatively low levels of certain 
water-soluble polymers, and that, surprisingly, the presence of these 
polymers gives enhanced foaming and detergency. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,503,895 (Whelan, American Cyanamid Co) discloses readily 
dispersible, water-soluble gum compositions in finely divided form 
containing from 0.001 to 1.0% by weight of sodium dioctyl sulphosuccinate. 
The gum is a naturally-occurring vegetable gum such as guar or karaya gum, 
or a synthetic cellulosic polymer such as hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose 
or hydroxyethyl cellulose. 
GB No. 1 071 660 (The Pyrene Co. Ltd) discloses foam compositions for 
extinguishing fires. These compositions contain a quaternary ammonium salt 
containing a C.sub.12 -C.sub.18 aliphatic radical, a further 
surface-active agent, and a polymer which can be a cellulosic material 
(for example, hydroxyethyl cellulose), a carboxy vinyl polymer or a 
polyacrylamide. The additional surfactant is preferably cationic or 
nonionic but anionic surfactants, for example, sodium dialkyl 
sulphosuccinate, may also be used. 
GB No. 2 103 236A (Colgate-Palmolive Co.) discloses light-duty liquid 
detergents containing hydroxypropyl guar gum which improves the grease 
soil foam stability as well as increasing the viscosity of the 
compositions. The active detergent system is a combination of alkyl ether 
sulphate, alkyl sulphate and betaine; the hydroxypropyl guar gum is said 
to have no foam stabilising effect on other active detergent systems, such 
as alkylbenzene sulphonate/alkyl ether sulphate or alkylbenzene 
sulphonate/alkyl ether sulphate/lauric-myristic monoethanolamide. 
GB No. 2,126,243A (Colgate-Palmolive Co.), published on Mar. 21, 1984, 
discloses a method for incorporating hydroxypropyl methyl celluloses into 
liquid detergent products. 
The present invention provides a foaming aqueous liquid detergent 
composition having a viscosity of at least 60 cp at 25.degree. C. as 
measured at a shear rate of 26.5 s.sup.-1 and comprising 
(a) at least 2% by weight of an active detergent system comprising a 
water-soluble salt of a dialkyl ester of sulphosuccinic acid in which the 
alkyl groups may be the same or different, said salt constituting at least 
2% by weight of the whole composition, and 
(b) from 0.05 to 5% by weight of a water-soluble polymer selected from 
(i) polysaccharides having hydrophilic substituents, 
(ii) xanthan gums, and 
(iii) synthetic polymers carrying carboxyl substituents in salt or amide 
form, 
said composition being free of quaternary ammonium salts containing 
C.sub.12 -C.sub.18 aliphatic radicals. 
The total active detergent level is at least 2% by weight and generally in 
the 2 to 60% by weight range. The invention is of especial interest for 
compositions in which the active detergent level is 30% or below, and more 
particularly from 2 to 20% by weight. At these lower concentrations the 
benefit of higher viscosity conferred by the inclusion of a polymer is 
especially important. 
The compositions of the invention contain as a first essential ingredient a 
detergent active salt of a dialkyl ester of sulphosuccinic acid, 
hereinafter referred to as a dialkyl sulphosuccinate. This component 
constitutes at least 2% by weight of the whole composition, and preferably 
the active detergent system consists either wholly or predominantly of 
dialkyl sulphosuccinate. The dialkyl sulphosuccinate may if desired be 
constituted by a mixture of materials of different chain lengths, of which 
the individual dialkyl sulphosuccinates themselves may be either 
symmetrical (both alkyl groups the same) or unsymmetrical (with two 
different alkyl groups). 
The detergent-active dialkyl sulphosuccinates are compounds of the formula 
I: 
##STR1## 
wherein each of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, which may be the same or different, 
represents a straight-chain or branched-chain alkyl group having from 3 to 
12 carbon atoms, preferably from 4 to 10 carbon atoms and especially from 
6 to 8 carbon atoms, and X.sub.1 represents a solubilising cation, that is 
to say, any cation yielding a salt of the formula I sufficiently soluble 
to be detergent-active. The solubilising cation X.sub.1 will generally be 
monovalent, for example, alkali metal, especially sodium; ammonium; or 
substituted ammonium, for example, ethanolamine. Certain divalent cations, 
notably magnesium, are however also suitable. 
The alkyl groups R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are preferably straight-chain or (in 
mixtures) predominantly straight-chain. 
Among dialkyl sulphosuccinates that may advantageously be used in the 
composition of the invention are the C.sub.6 /C.sub.8 unsymmetrical 
materials described and claimed in GB No. 2 105 325 (Unilever); the 
dioctyl sulphosuccinate/dihexyl sulphosuccinate mixtures described and 
claimed in GB No. 2 104 913 (Unilever); and the mixtures of symmetrical 
and unsymmetrical dialkyl sulphosuccinates described and claimed in GB No. 
2 108 520 (Unilever). 
Other detergent-active materials may if desired be present in addition to 
the dialkyl sulphosuccinate, but preferably in lesser amounts. This will 
be discussed in more detail below. 
The second essential ingredient of the compositions of the invention is a 
water-soluble polymer selected from one of the three classes defined 
previously. The polymer is preferably nonionic in character, although some 
anionic polymers are effective; the polymer must not be cationic. 
The compositions of the invention are non-Newtonian liquids the viscosities 
of which vary with applied shear. As an arbitrary reference point for the 
purposes of the present invention an applied shear of 26.5 s.sup.-1 has 
been chosen. At this shear rate the compositions of the invention have 
viscosities at 25.degree. C. of at least 60 cp, preferably from 70 to 2000 
cp, more preferably from 100 to 1500 cp. The lower end of this range is 
determined by consumer acceptability, while the upper end is limited only 
by processing considerations. For hand dishwashing compositions the 
viscosity range of from 200 to 500 cp is of especial interest, while for 
other products such as shampoos the preferred viscosity region may be 
higher. 
The level of polymer present in the compositions of the invention should be 
chosen so as to be sufficient to give both a foam stability enhancement 
effect and a viscosity of at least 60 cp. For the first requirement a 
level of at least 2% by weight of the active detergent present appears to 
be necessary, that is to say, at least 0.04% by weight of the whole 
composition, and there appears to be no inherent upper limit. For the 
second requirement, from 0.05 to 5% by weight of polymer appears to be 
appropriate. Too high a level of polymer will give too viscous a product, 
and at high levels the polymer may be incompatible with other ingredients 
of the composition. The optimum level of any particular polymer in any 
particular composition may very easily be determined by routine 
experiment. 
The preferred level, taking into account these various criteria, appears to 
be from 0.1 to 1.5% by weight, based on the whole composition. 
At the levels appropriate for foam stability enhancement and viscosity, the 
polymer must be compatible with the other ingredients of the formulation 
and must itself be soluble enough not to precipitate out in the presence 
of those other ingredients. Preferably the polymer dissolves to give a 
clear solution and does not cloud or opacify the composition, although 
this is not essential if the product is to be packed in an opaque bottle. 
The compositions are preferably substantially free of other insoluble 
ingredients, and the preferred form of the composition of the invention is 
a clear homogeneous aqueous solution containing at least 40% by weight of 
water, preferably at least 50% by weight of water. 
The first class of polymers, the hydrophilically substituted 
polysaccharides, is preferred, and two subclasses of these materials are 
of special interest: 
(i) (a) celluloses having hydrophilic substituents, and 
(ii) (b) guars (galactomannans) having hydrophilic substituents. 
The preferred hydrophilic substituents are hydroxyethyl and hydroxypropyl 
groups, the latter being especially effective. 
Examples of suitable commercially available hydroxyethyl and hydroxypropyl 
celluloses are the Methocel (Trade Mark) Series ex Dow, the Natrosol 
(Trade Mark) Series ex Hercules, the Klucel (Trade Mark) series ex 
Hercules and the Bermocoll (Trade Mark) Series ex Berol Kemi. 
The Methocels, which are methyl hydroxypropyl celluloses, are available at 
a number of different levels of hydroxypropyl substitution and it has been 
found that the higher this level, the greater the foam stability 
enhancement effect. Preferably the level of hydroxypropyl molar 
substitution is greater than 0.15, more preferably at least 0.18. The 
preferred grade of Methocel is Methocel J (level of hydroxypropyl molar 
substitution 0.75-1.00), and Methocel E (0.22-0.25) and K (0.18-0.23) are 
also effective. Levels of methyl and hydroxypropyl substitution may be 
determined by the method of ASTM D 2363-72. 
Another preferred group of cellulose derivatives of interest for use in the 
present invention are the Natrosols, mentioned above, which are 
hydroxyethyl celluloses. The grades available include Natrosol 180, 250 
and 300, which differ as to level of substitution (180 &lt;250 &lt;300; about 
2.5 for the 250 types). The Bermocolls, also mentioned above, are ethyl 
hydroxyethyl celluloses available at different levels of substitution. 
Celluloses carrying only alkyl substituents, such as methyl and ethyl 
celluloses, do not exhibit the foam stability enhancement effect 
characteristic of the invention. Hydroxybutyl celluloses also appear to be 
ineffective. 
As indicated previously, a second group of polysaccharides that may 
advantageously be used in the invention is constituted by the guars 
(galactomannans) having hydrophilic substituents, in particular 
hydroxypropyl groups. The Jaguar (Trade Mark) range of hydroxypropyl 
guars, ex Meyhall, which have molar levels of hydroxypropyl substitution 
of about 0.35-0.60, exemplify this class of polymers and give good results 
in the context of the present invention. 
The second type of polymer of interest in the context of the present 
invention is xanthan gum. An example of a suitable material is Kelzan 
(Trade Mark) S ex Kelco. 
The third general class (iii) of polymers that may be used in the invention 
is constituted by synthetic polymers in which the polymer backbone carries 
carboxyl substituents in salt or amide form. These polymers, which may be 
linear or crosslinked, fall into two preferred subgroups: 
(iii) (a) acrylic polymers, namely, salts of polyacrylic acid, salts of 
polymethacrylic acid, polyacrylamides, and copolymers of acrylic and/or 
methacrylic acid salts with acrylamide; and 
(iii) (b) ethylene - maleic anhydride copolymers. 
Some examples of acrylic polymers suitable for use in the invention are as 
follows: 
linear salts of polyacrylic acid, for example, the Versicol (Trade Mark) S 
series ex Allied Colloids; 
linear polyacrylamides, for example, the Versicol (Trade Mark) W series ex 
Allied Colloids; 
linear acrylic acid salt/acrylamide copolymers, for example, the Crosfloc 
(Trade Mark) series ex Joseph Crosfield & Sons Ltd; and 
salts of crosslinked polyacrylic acid, for example, the Carbopol (Trade 
Mark) series ex B F Goodrich (crosslinked with polyalkenyl polyethers). 
An example of an ethylene-maleic anhydride copolymer for use in the 
invention is EMA (Trade Mark) 91 ex Monsanto. 
In order to optimise formulation and compatibility of ingredients, the 
compositions of the invention advantageously contain urea. The level of 
urea chosen depends primarily on the total level of active detergent 
present, and the proportion of that constituted by dialkyl 
sulphosuccinate. The urea level is suitably from 1 to 30% by weight, 
preferably from 2 to 20% by weight. The use of urea as a hydrotrope or 
solubiliser is well-known in the liquid detergent art; its presence 
enables single-phase compositions to be prepared that contain higher 
levels of active ingredients than would otherwise be possible. 
Some other materials well-known as hydrotropes, notably the lower aliphatic 
alcohols, tend to reduce viscosity, and when the total active detergent 
level is 20% or less the compositions of the invention are preferably 
substantially free of these materials. Dialkyl sulphosuccinates may, 
however, contain a certain amount of ethanol as a result of their method 
of manufacture, and in these circumstances a higher level of polymer may 
be required for viscosity control than if alcohol-free material were used. 
As previously indicated, it may be advantageous to include in the 
compositions of the invention one or more other detergent-active materials 
in addition to dialkyl sulphosuccinate, provided that the level of this 
material is at least 2% by weight, and provided that no quaternary 
ammonium salts containing C.sub.12 -C.sub.18 aliphatic radicals are 
present. These cationic materials are highly detrimental to foaming. 
If desired the composition of the invention may additionally include one or 
more of the sulphonate-type detergents conventionally used as the main 
detergent-active agent in liquid compositions, for example, alkylbenzene 
sulphonates (especially C.sub.9 -C.sub.15 linear alkylbenzene 
sulphonates), secondary alkane sulphonates, alpha-olefin sulphonates, 
alkyl glyceryl ether sulphonates, and fatty acid ester sulphonates. Of 
course dialkyl sulphosuccinates are themselves sulphonate-type detergents. 
If such additional sulphonate-type materials are present, the total 
sulphonate preferably predominates in the active detergent mixture of the 
composition of the invention. If no such additional sulphonate-type 
materials are present, the sulphosuccinate alone preferably predominates. 
Of these materials, alkylbenzene sulphonates are of especial interest. 
Mixtures of dialkyl sulphosuccinate and alkylbenzene sulphonate in ratios 
of 0.5:1 to 2:1 have been found to give stable products according to the 
invention exhibiting excellent foaming and detergency. 
If desired there may also be present one or more primary or secondary alkyl 
sulphates. If present, these, together with any sulphonate material as 
mentioned above, including the dialkyl sulphosuccinate, preferably 
predominate in the active detergent mixture of the composition of the 
invention. 
The composition of the invention advantageously contains one or more 
further detergent-active materials in addition to the dialkyl 
sulphosuccinate, optional additional sulphonate and/or alkyl sulphate 
already mentioned. Of especial interest in this connexion are alkyl 
polyethoxy sulphates (ether sulphates). It has been found that the foam 
stability enhancement characteristic of the invention is especially marked 
if the alkyl ether sulphates are present. The ratio of the total main 
detergent-active material (dialkyl sulphosuccinate, plus optional 
sulphonate-type detergent and/or alkyl sulphate) to the ether sulphate is 
advantageously at least 1:1, a range of 1.5:1 to 10:1 being especially 
preferred. 
Preferred alkyl ether sulphates are materials of the general formula: 
EQU R.sub.3 --O--(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.n --SO.sub.3 X.sub.2 
wherein R.sub.3 is a C.sub.10 to C.sub.18 alkyl group, X.sub.2 is a 
solubilising cation, and n, the average degree of ethoxylation, is from 1 
to 12, preferably 1 to 8. R.sub.3 is preferably a C.sub.11 to C.sub.15 
alkyl group. In any given alkyl ether sulphate, a range of differently 
ethoxylated materials, and some unethoxylated material, will be present 
and the value of n represents an average. The unethoxylated material is, 
of course, alkyl sulphate. If desired, additional alkyl sulphate may be 
admixed with the alkyl ether sulphate, to give a mixture in which the 
ethoxylated distribution is more weighted towards lower values. 
It is especially preferred, according to the present invention, to use 
alkyl ether sulphates containing less than 20% by weight of C.sub.14 and 
above material, as described and claimed in GB No. 2 130 238A (Unilever). 
Examples of preferred ether sulphates for use in the present invention are 
Dobanol (Trade Mark) 23-3 and Dobanol 23-2 ex Shell, both based on 
C.sub.12 -C.sub.13 (50% of each) primary alcohol (about 75% straight 
chain, 25% 2-methyl branched), and having average degrees of ethoxylation 
n of 3 and 2 respectively. 
Nonionic detergents are also of interest for use in the compositions of the 
present invention, although less so than the alkyl ether sulphates. 
These may advantageously be short-chain high-foaming nonionic detergents of 
the general formula: 
EQU R.sub.4 --O--(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.m --H 
wherein R.sub.4 is an alkyl group, preferably straight-chain, having from 8 
to 12 carbon atoms, and the average degree of ethoxylation m is from 5 to 
12. An especially preferred nonionic detergent is Dobanol 91-8 ex Shell, 
in which R.sub.4 is C.sub.9 -C.sub.11 (predominantly straight-chain) and m 
is 8. 
The compositions of the invention may also, if desired, contain fatty acid 
dialkanolamides, as described and claimed in GB No. 2 130 236A (Unilever). 
Other detergent-active materials of lesser interest that may nevertheless 
be included in minor amounts in the compositions of the invention include 
alcohol propoxylates, alkylphenol ethoxylates and propoxylates, 
ethoxylated and propoxylated fatty acid amides, amine oxides, betaines and 
sulphobetaines. 
The compositions of the invention may also contain the usual minor 
ingredients such as perfume, colour, preservatives and germicides.

The following Examples illustrate the invention. 
In the Examples, the dialkyl sulphosuccinate used was a statistical C.sub.6 
/C.sub.8 mixture as described in Example 1 of GB No. 2 108 520A 
(Unilever). This consisted approximately of 25 mole % of di-n-hexyl 
sulphosuccinate, 25 mole % of di-n-octyl sulphosuccinate and 50 mole % of 
n-hexyl n-octyl sulphosuccinates (all sodium salts). 
The alkyl ether sulphate used in some Examples was Dobanol (Trade Mark) 
23-3A ex Shell, a sulphated C.sub.12 -C.sub.13 primary alcohol 3EO 
ethoxylate (ammonium salt), or Dobanol 23-2S, the corresponding 2EO 
ethoxylate (sodium salt). 
The nonionic surfactant used in Examples 4 and 13 was Dobanol (Trade Mark) 
91-8 ex Shell, a C.sub.9 -C.sub.11 primary alcohol 8EO ethoxylate. 
The alkylbenzene sulphonate used in Examples 1 and 36-38 was Dobane (Trade 
Mark) 102 ex Shell, a linear C.sub.10 -C.sub.12 alkylbenzene sulphonate 
(sodium salt). 
Foaming and dishwashing performances were compared using a modified 
Schlachter-Dierkes test based on the principle described in Fette und 
Seifen 1951, 53, 207. A 100 ml aqueous solution of each test system, 
generally having a concentration of about 0.2 g/litre of total detergent 
active matter, in 24.degree. H water at 45.degree. C., was rapidly 
agitated using a vertically oscillating perforated disc within a graduated 
cylinder. After the initial generation of foam, increments (0.2 g) of soil 
(9.5 parts commercial cooking fat, 0.25 parts oleic acid, 0.25 parts 
stearic acid, 10 parts wheat starch and 120 parts water) were added at 
15-second intervals (10 seconds' mild agitation and 5 seconds' rest) until 
the foam collapsed. The result was recorded as the number of soil 
increments (NSI score). Each result was typically the average of three or 
four runs. 
EXAMPLES 1 & 2 
In this Example the effect of two polymers on the foaming of dialkyl 
sulphosuccinate was compared with the effect of the same polymers, at the 
same level, on alkylbenzene sulphonate. Compositions 1 and 2 according to 
the invention each contained 0.24 g/litre of the dialkyl sulphosuccinate 
mix, and Comparative Compositions A and B each contained 0.24 g/litre of 
alkylbenzene sulphonate. 
The polymers used were Natrosol 250 HBR, a hydroxyethyl cellulose 
identified previously, and Methocel J75 MS, a methyl hydroxypropyl 
cellulose having, as previously indicated, degrees of substitution of 
0.93-1.15 (methyl, degree of substitution) and 0.75-1.00 (hydroxypropyl, 
molar substitution). The polymers, where present, were used at a level of 
0.1 g/litre. 
The results, expressed as the difference in NSI score between compositions 
containing the polymers and corresponding controls containing no polymer, 
were as follows: 
______________________________________ 
Polymer NSI score difference 
______________________________________ 
1 Natrosol 250 HBR 
+3.6 
A Natrosol 250 HBR 
+2.0 
2 Methocel J75 MS 
+5.6 
B Methocel J75 MS 
+3.0 
______________________________________ 
It will be seen that both polymers enhanced the foam stability of both 
compositions, but the effect on the dialkyl sulphosuccinate was nearly 
twice the absolute magnitude of the effect on the alkylbenzene sulphonate. 
Of the two polymers, Methocel J75 MS had the larger effect. 
EXAMPLE 2 
This example shows the detrimental effect on foaming of the presence of a 
C.sub.12 -C.sub.18 quaternary ammonium salt, cetyl trimethyl ammonium 
bromide (CTAB) as used in Example XV of GB 1 071 660 (The Pyrene Co.). 
EXAMPLE 2 
______________________________________ 
Composition (g/litre) 
Dialkyl NSI score difference 
sulpho- 
Ether No +Methocel 
+Natrosol 
succinate 
Sulphate CTAB polymer 
J75-MS 250 HBR 
______________________________________ 
0.36 -- -- (control) 
+4.75 +6.00 
0.36 0.06 -- +4.50 +8.50 +8.50 
0.36 -- 0.06 -31.25 -31.00 -30.75 
______________________________________ 
The results, shown relative to dialkyl sulphosuccinate alone as control, 
show that the foaming performance of that material fell dramatically in 
the presence of CTAB, and the presence of the polymers did not 
significantly improve matters. When alkyl ether sulphate (3EO, ammonium 
salt) was present instead of CTAB, foam stability was improved by the 
polymers. 
EXAMPLE 3 
In this Example, the foam stability enhancement of a mixed detergent 
system, dialkyl sulphosuccinate/alkyl ether sulphate, was investigated 
using a number of cellulosic polymers having different levels of 
substitution by hydrophilic (hydroxyethyl or hydroxypropyl) groups was 
investigated. 
The active detergent level was 0.24 g/litre (0.16 g/litre dialkyl 
sulphosuccinate; 0.08 g/litre alkyl ether sulphate, 3EO, ammonium salt), 
and the polymer level in each case was 0.1 g/litre. The Table shows the 
difference in NSI score in each case as compared with a control 
composition containing no polymer. 
The results for the different Methocels show clearly the correlation 
between level of hydroxypropyl substitution and foam stability enhancement 
of dialkyl sulphosuccinate. The negative result obtained with Methocel A4M 
shows that the level of methyl substitution is unimportant. A similar 
correlation with hydroxyethyl substitution is shown by the Bermocolls and 
Natrosol 250HBR, and it is evident that hydroxyethyl substitution is less 
potent than hydroxypropyl substitution. 
A hydroxybutyl cellulose, Methocel HB, and a sodium carboxymethyl 
cellulose, Blanose (Trade Mark) 9HFD ex Hercules, were found to give no 
foam stability enhancement. 
EXAMPLE 3 
______________________________________ 
Degree of Molar substitution 
Cellulosic 
substitution 
hydroxy- hydroxy- 
NSI Score 
polymer methyl ethyl ethyl propyl difference 
______________________________________ 
Methocel 0.93-1.15 
0 0 0.75-1.00 
+8.0 
J75 MS 
Methocel 1.86-1.90 
0 0 0.22-0.25 
+4.5 
E4M 
Klucel 0 0 0 .ltoreq.4.6 
+3.5 
HF 
Methocel 1.71-1.81 
0 0 0.12-0.15 
+0.5 
F4M 
Methocel 1.79-1.83 
0 0 0 -0.5 
A4M 
Bermocoll 
0 0.8 2.0 0 +5.0 
E481 FQ 
Bermocoll 
0 0.8 0.8 0 +4.5 
E320 G 
Natrosol 250 
0 0 2.5 0 +3.0 
HBR 
______________________________________ 
EXAMPLE 4 
The NSI score of a composition containing dialkyl sulphosuccinate (0.15 
g/litre) and nonionic surfactant (Dobanol 91-8, 0.08 g/litre) was measured 
in the presence and absence of the polymer Methocel J75 MS (0.1 g/litre). 
The polymer gave an improvement of 2.0 units of NSI score. 
EXAMPLE 5 
In this Example the foam enhancement properties of three hydroxypropyl 
guars, Jaguar HP8, HP11 and HP60 ex Meyhall, was compared with that of an 
unsubstituted guar, Meyproguar (Trade Mark) also ex Meyhall. As in Example 
3, the active detergent level was 0.24 g/litre (0.16 g/litre dialkyl 
sylphosuccinate; 0.08 g/litre alkyl ether sulphonate, 3EO, ammonium salt, 
and the polymer level was 0.1 g/litre. 
______________________________________ 
Hydroxypropyl 
NSI score 
Polymer Substitution 
difference 
______________________________________ 
Meyproguar 0 +1.0 
Jaguar HP8 0.35-0.60 +4.5 
HP11 0.35-0.60 +4.5 
HP60 0.35-0.60 +9.0 
______________________________________ 
It will be seen that the hydroxypropyl guars all gave a substantial 
improvement, while the unsubstituted guar had little effect. Jaguar HP60 
was the most effective polymer, possibly owing to a higher level of 
hydroxypropyl substitution. 
A cationically substituted guar, Jaguar C13S, was found to have a negative 
effect on foaming performance. 
EXAMPLE 6 
The effect of using different polymer levels was investigated using two 
different hydroxypropyl celluloses and a hydroxypropyl guar. The active 
detergents and their levels were as in Example 3. 
______________________________________ 
Polymer level 
Hydroxypropyl 
(g/litre) 
Polymer substitution 
0.01 0.25 0.50 
______________________________________ 
Methocel 
K15MS 0.18-0.23 +7.0 +9.5 +13.5 
J75MS 0.75-1.00 +6.5 +18.0 +26.0 
Jaguar HP60 
0.35-6.00 +5.0 +16.0 +22.0 
______________________________________ 
It will be seen that all three polymers gave significant benefits even at 
0.01 g/litre. 
EXAMPLE 7 
In this Example the foam enhancement benefits of various acrylic polymers 
were investigated. The polymer level was 0.1 g/litre in each case, and the 
active detergents and their levels were as in Example 3. The results were 
as follows: 
______________________________________ 
NSI score 
Polymer Chemical type difference 
______________________________________ 
Versicol S25 Linear sodium +8.75 
polyacrylate 
Versicol W25 Linear polyacrylamide 
+5.0 
Crosfloc CFA-80 
Linear sodium acrylate/ 
+4.0 
acrylamide copolymer 
Carbopol 941 Sodium polyacrylate 
+4.0 
(crosslinked) 
______________________________________ 
EXAMPLE 8 
The procedure of Example 7 was repeated using an ethylene-maleic anhydride 
copolymer, EMA 91 ex Monsanto; the NSI score difference was +5.0. 
EXAMPLE 9 
The procedure of Example 7 was repeated using xanthan gum, Kelzan S. The 
NSI score difference was +4.0. 
EXAMPLE 10 
In this Example the viscosity-increasing effect of the cellulosic polymer 
Natrosol 250 HBR on liquid detergent composition containing dialkyl 
sulphosuccinate was investigated. 
A base solution was prepared containing 5.5% dialkyl sulphosuccinate, 11.5% 
urea, 0.15% perfume and 0.2% formalin. The polymer was added to the base 
solution at levels of 0.3, 0.5 and 0.75% by weight, and the viscosity at 
each level, at 25.degree. C. and 26.5 s.sup.-1 applied shear, was measured 
using a Haake viscometer. The results were as follows: 
______________________________________ 
Polymer level Viscosity 
(weight %) (cp) 
______________________________________ 
0 (about 2) 
0.30 56.0 
0.50 244.0 
0.75 688.0 
______________________________________ 
It will be seen that for this polymer a level of 0.5% gave excellent 
results while a level of 0.3% was inadequate. For a hand dishwashing 
product the level of 0.75% would be high, although this might be 
appropriate for other types of product. The viscosity in the absence of 
polymer was too low for accurate measurement. 
EXAMPLE 11 
The procedure of Example 10 was repeated using the polymers Kelzan S 
(xanthan gum) and Carbopol 941 (crosslinked sodium polyacrylate) 
identified previously. 
The results were as follows: 
______________________________________ 
Polymer 
level Viscosity 
Polymer (weight %) 
(cp) 
______________________________________ 
Kelzan S 0.30 120.0 
0.50 264.0 
0.75 488.0 
Carbopol 941 0.30 40.0 
0.50 144.0 
0.75 368.0 
______________________________________ 
For Carbopol 941 the 0.3% level was too low, but for Kelzan S this level 
gave a good result. 
EXAMPLE 12 
The procedure of Example 10 was repeated using a more concentrated base 
solution containing 10% by weight of the dialkyl sulphosuccinate mixture, 
5% by weight of alkyl ether sulphate (2EO, sodium salt) and 8% by weight 
of urea. The polymer, Natrosol 250 HBR, was used at levels of 0.4 and 0.8% 
by weight. The results were as follows: 
______________________________________ 
Polymer level Viscosity 
(weight %) (cp) 
______________________________________ 
0 12 
0.4 232 
0.8 896 
______________________________________ 
A polymer level of 0.4% gave an excellent viscosity value of 232 cp, while 
the value of 896 cp obtained using 0.8% polymer was higher than optimum 
for a dishwashing liquid although possibly appropriate for other types of 
product. The low temperature stability of the composition was not 
adversely affected by polymer at either level. 
EXAMPLE 13 
The procedure of Example 12 was repeated using a slightly different base 
solution. This contained 7.5% by weight of dialkyl sulphosuccinate, 3.75% 
by weight of alkyl ether sulphate (2EO, sodium salt), 3.75% by weight of 
coconut diethanolamide (Empilan (Trade Mark) CDE ex Albright & Wilson), 
4.6% by weight of urea and 0.15% by weight of perfume. The polymer was 
again Natrosol 250 HBR. The results were as follows: 
______________________________________ 
Polymer level Viscosity 
(weight %) (cp) 
______________________________________ 
0 48 
0.2 192 
0.4 456 
0.6 848 
______________________________________ 
With this inherently more viscous base solution, a level of 0.2% by weight 
of polymer was sufficient to bring the viscosity at 26.5 s.sup.-1 up to 
the preferred level of 200 cp. 
EXAMPLE 14 
A number of different base solutions was prepared as shown in the Table 
below, in which "SS" indicates dialkyl sulphosuccinate, "AES" indicates 
alkyl ether sulphate (2EO, sodium salt), "ABS" indicates alkylbenzene 
sulphonate and "NI" indicates nonionic surfactant. 
Each solution contained 2% formalin and 0.15% perfume. 
______________________________________ 
Active Detergent 
Example SS ABS AES NI TOTAL 
______________________________________ 
35 2.5 -- -- 1.0 3.5 
36 3.5 -- -- 2.0 5.5 
37 5.5 -- -- 2.0 7.5 
38 2.5 1.0 -- -- 3.5 
39 3.5 2.0 -- -- 5.5 
40 4.0 3.5 -- -- 7.5 
41 2.5 -- 1.0 -- 3.5 
42 3.5 -- 2.0 -- 5.5 
43 5.5 -- 2.0 -- 7.5 
______________________________________ 
All of these compositions were in the form of clear, homogeneous solutions 
of low viscosity, and all could be satisfactorily thickened using 
0.2-0.45% by weight of the polymer Natrosol 250 HBR.