Detergent compositions

Abstract: The detergent composition comprises ethoxylated glycerine, compound represented by the formula (I) and fatty acid alkaline metal salt, represented by the formula (II); the weight ratio of the former to the latter [(I)/(II)], being essentially 10/90 - 90/10, preferably 1/5 to 5/1, and most preferably 1/3 to 3/1. wherein: R' represents H or CH₃, and each of n, m and l independently represents an integer from 0 to 20; being m+n+l=2-60 preferably 10-45. R-COOM (II) wherein R represents alkyl or alkenyl group having C₇₋₂₁, and M represents an alkaline metal. The combination of compounds (I) and (II) permits a saving in the amount of antifoaming agents, as well as shows a better performance in skin irritation, oral toxicity and biodegradation, without deteriorating its detergency.

Description: Field of the invention. The present invention relates to novel detergent compositions which are biodegradable, non-toxic and non-irritant while maintaining and even improving its detergency. Description of Prior Background Art. One of the current problems, not only in the sphere of various detergents, but also in the whole field of chemicals, is the questions of ecotoxicity. The nonionics employed in the detergent compositions were conventionally ethoxylated nonylphenols, C₁₄₋₁₈ alcohols ethoxylated with approximately 12 moles of ethylene oxides, and lately C₁₂₋₁₅ alcohols ethoxylated with 7 to 9 moles of ethylene oxides. For instance, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 55-86894, discloses the use of secondary C₆₋₁₄ alcohols ethoxylated with 4-15 moles of ethylene oxides on average. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 52-22009 and Japanese patent Publication N. 83-37356, discloses the use of middle alcohol ethoxylated of formula R₁O(C₂H₄O)nH, wherein R₁ stands for straight chain or branched alkyl radicals and n is 1-12 on average in detergent compositions. European Patent No. 80749, discloses the use of ethoxylated alkyl phenols in detergent compositions. These conventional nonionics were, however, unsatisfactory with respect to the rinsing properties, that is, antifoaming effect. US Patent 4908150, discloses the use of polyethylene glycol ether of a glycerol ester composition. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 55-133495, discloses the use of a polyoxyethylene hardened castor oil or fatty acid ester thereof, polyethylene glyceryl ether fatty acid ester, polyoxyethylene trimethylol propane fatty acid ester and polyoxyethylene alkylether diester of N-lauroylglutamic acid, in detergent compositions. However, use of such nonionics deteriorates detergency ability of detergent formulation. Disclosure of the invention. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a detergent composition possesing satisfactory antifoaming properties while mantaining and even improving its detergency. The basis of the present invention is the finding that the replacement of conventional nonionics by a combination of ethoxylated glycerine (I) and fatty acid alkaline metal salt (II) (weight ratio, (I)/(11) = 10/90 to 90/10) surprisingly results in the improvement of antifoaming properties and biodegradability of the detergent formulations without degrading its detergency. wherein "n", "m" and "l" are number from 0 to 20, and (n+m+l) = 2 - 60 . R represents H or CH₃. and R-COOM (II) wherein R represents alkyl or alkenyl group having C₇₋₂₁, and M represents an alkaline metal. Detailed Description of the Invention and Referred Embodiments. The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to its examples. The inventors have directed their efforts upon the improved fabric detergent composition having satisfactory antifoaming properties while maintaining its detergency to find that replacement of the conventional nonionics by a combination of ethoxylated glycerine (I) and fatty acid alkaline metal salt (II) (weight ratio, (I)/(II) = 10/90 to 90/10, preferably 1/5 to 5/1, most preferably 1/3 to 3/1) satisfies such requirements, and to bring about the completion of the invention. wherein "n", "m","l" are numbers from 0 to 20, (n+m+l) = 2 - 60 , preferably 10 - 45. R represents H or CH₃. and R-COOM (II) wherein R represents alkyl or alkenyl group having C₇₋₂₁ and M represents an alkaline metal. Ethoxylated glycerine (I) can be prepared according to conventional methods, for example, by the reaction of glycerine and ethylene oxide in the presence of alkaline catalyst such as KOH or NaOH. Fatty acid alkaline salt (II) of the present invention includes sodium or potasium salt of caproic acid,lauric acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, fatty acid derived from coconut oil or tallow oil or the mixed acids thereof. The combination of ethoxylated glycerine and fatty acid alkaline salt can also be obtained by hydrolysing ethoxylated triglyceride. In the present invention, the weight ratio (I)/(II) is critical, and is 10/90 to 90/10, preferably from 1/5 to 5/1, most preferably from 1/3 to 3/1. Thus the use of the combination of ethoxylated glycerine (I) and fatty acid alkaline salt (II) outside the range described above fails to bring about the desired results. The detergent composition of the present invention can be prepared, for example, by means of the following processes: A. Process which comprises adding fatty acid sodium salt and ethoxylated glycerine compounds represented by formulae (I) and (II) to the detergent slurry and spraying the slurry mixture into dryer to make powder detergent. B. Process which comprises adding mixture of fatty acid alkaline salt and ethoxylated glycerine compounds represented by formulae (I) and (II) to the powder detergent mixture and mixing the mixture obtained. In the present invention, the compound of formulae (I) and (II) can be incorporated in an amount of from 0.5 to 40 %, preferably from 3 to 20 %, by weight based on the whole of the detergent composition. The reason why the present invention exhibits the outstanding biodegradable, non-toxic and non-irritanty performance without deteriorating its detergency is not certain, but it seems to applicant that good performance of the present composition comes partially from the fact that existence of fatty acid groups and glycerine structure facilitates its high biodegradability and its very low skin irritation and oral toxicity compared with conventional nonionics. Furthermore, the incorporation of compound (I) and (II) described herein, considerably improves its antifoaming properties compared with conventional formulations, which permits a saving in the amount of antifoaming agents (foam controllers) of up to 75% depending on the formulations. In preparing the present invention, various components other than the compound of formulae (I) and (II) can be incorporated unless the component impedes the performance of the invention. Components which can be incorporated are illustrated below: i) Surface active agents: anionics such as: alkyl C₁₀₋₂₄ benzene sulfonates, alkane C₁₀₋₂₄ sulfonates and alkyl C₁₀₋₂₄ ether sulfates with 1 - 30 moles of ethylene and/or propylene oxide. Detergent compositions may comprise from 0 to 30% of anionic. conventional nonionics such as nonionics produced by the reaction of aliphatic alcohols, fatty acids, fatty amides or alkyl phenols, with alkylene oxides, especially ethylene oxide, which may be used alone or together with propylene oxide. Nonionics can be used in an amount of 0 - 25 % by weight of detergent composition. Examples of normal nonionics may be: ethoxylated nonylphenol, ethoxylated (un)branched alcohol. amine compounds such as: imidazolines having fatty acid ester group and/or tertiary amine having at least one C₈₋₂₂ alkyl or alkenyl group. ii) Antifoaming agents (foam controllers): silicone (polysiloxane) iii) Chelating agent Zeolite, citric acid salt, ethylenediamine tetraacetate, nitrilotriacetate, layered silicate and tripolyphosphate. iv) Alkali agent Sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, sodium silicate and alkanol amine. v) Filler Sodium sulfate. vi) Enzyme Amilase, protease, cellulose and lipase. vii) Dispersing Agent Acrylic acid polymer, maleic acid polymer, polyethylene glycol and carboxymethyl cellulose. viii) Bleaching Agent Sodium percarbonate and sodium perborate. ix) Other Fluorescent dye, perfume, colorant and preservative. (preferred) Compound (I) 2-40 wt% (3-20) Anionic surfactant 0-30 wt% (3-20) Antifoaming agent 0-10 wt% (0.05-0.5) Chelating agent 10-50 wt% (15-40) Alkali agent 0-50 wt% (3-25) Filler + other additives 0-50 wt% (13-35) Enzyme 0-2 wt% (0.1-1) Dispersing agent 0-5 wt% (1-4) Bleaching agent 0-25 wt% (5-20) Example The present invention is described in detail by way of the following examples. The present invention, however is not limited to this examples. [EXAMPLES] Ethoxylated glycerine is obtained, for instance by means of one of the following process: REFERENTIAL EXAMPLE 1. Preparation of ethoxylated glycerine (I-1) wherein: l+m+n = 12 . 200 g (2.17 moles) of glycerine 99% and 4.2 g of KOH 85% as catalyst are placed in a 2 kg flask properly equipped. System is purged several times with N₂, vacuum stripping till 110°C, and continued heating to 140 °C. When temperature reaches 140 °C the reactor is pressurized to 2-3 kg/cm² and ethylene oxide is added until a total of 1147,82 gr (12 moles). After the final charge of ethylene oxide, the reaction mixture is allowed to react for about 1/2 hour. Finally the product is cooled and discharged from reactor. REFERENTIAL EXAMPLE 2. Preparation of ethoxylated glycerine (I-2). wherein: l+m+n = 19 . 200.0 g (2.17 moles) of glycerine 99% and 4.2 g of KOH 85% as catalyst are placed in a 3 kg flask properly equipped. System is purged several times with N₂, vacuum stripping till 110°C, and continued heating to 140 °C. When temperature reaches 140 °C the reactor is pressurized to 2-3 kg/cm² and ethylene oxide is added until a total of 1814.12 gr (19 moles). After the final charge of ethylene oxide, the reaction mixture is allowed to react for about 1/2 hour. Finally the product is cooled and discharged from reactor. REFERENTIAL EXAMPLE 3. Preparation of ethoxylated glycerine (I-3). wherein: l+m+n = 25 . 200.0 g (2.17 moles) of glycerine 99% and 4.2 g of KOH 85% as catalyst are placed in a 4 kg flask properly equipped. System is purged several times with N₂, vacuum stripping till 110°C, and continued heating to 140 °C. When temperature reaches 140 °C the reactor is pressurized to 2-3 kg/cm² and ethylene oxide is added until a total of 2387 gr (25 moles). After the final charge of ethylene oxide, the reaction mixture is allowed to react for about 1/2 hour. Finally the product is cooled and discharged from reactor. Detergency test conditions: Apparatus: Launder-o-meter. Water hardness: 20°HF and 40°HF. Steel balls: 30. Detergent concentration: 5 g/l. Number of EMPA: 5. Washing cycle, Temperature: 60°C/30°C. Time: 30 min. RINSE Temperature: Room temperature. Time: 10 min. No. of times: 3 H₂O hardness: 20 and 40 °HF. Volume: 100 ml. EMPA TYPE It is indicated in each case. Reflective (light) coefficients of an original cloth before being artificially soiled, a soiled cloth before washing and a soiled cloth after washing were measured by self-recording colorimeter. Detergency was evaluated by means of detergency coefficient calculated by the following formula. EXAMPLE 1. Detergent compositions containing a fatty acid sodium salt, and ethoxylated glycerine and its properties are illustrated in the following examples: Component wt% Sodium dodecylbenzene sulphonate 8.50 Soap 5.00 Ethoxylated glycerine (obtained in referential example 1.) 2.50 STPP 46.00 Sodium silicate 23.00 Sodium sulfate balance CMC 1.00 Enzyme 0.45 Fluorescent agent 0.15 The results of detergency on EMPAS 101, 102, 103 and 104 shows in all cases a similar performance to a current non-ionic. On different types of natural dirt, such as coal/blood, blood, vegetable fat, blood/coal/milk, coal and wine shows a good performance. (see figure 1) EXAMPLE 2. Component wt% Sodium dodecylbenzene sulphonate 10.00 Soap 4.00 Ethoxylated glycerine (obtained in referential example 3.) 4.00 STPP 40.00 Sodium silicate 5.00 Sodium sulfate balance CMC 1.00 Enzyme 0.45 Fluorescent agent 0.15 As regards detergency the results on EMPAS 101 and 104 do not exhibit statistically significant differences between the nonionics and the combination presented in this invention, at usual detergent conditions. However using water hardness of 40-60 °HF, detergent performance of combination of (I) and (II) shows an increase of 10 % in detergency ability. EXAMPLE 3. Component wt% Sodium dodecylbenzene sulphonate 9.00 Soap 2.00 Ethoxylated glycerine (obtained in referential example 2.) 3.00 Zeolite 35.00 Acrylic-maleic copolymer 3.00 Sodium silicate 3.00 Sodium sulfate balance Sodium carbonate 9.00 Enzyme 0.45 Fluorescent agent 0.15 Detergency on EMPAS 101 and 104 at low water hardnesses (20 ° HF) does not exhibit statistically significant differences. However using water hardness of 40-60 °HF, and low temperatures (20-30 °C), detergent performance of combination presented in this invention shows an increasing of 7-10% in detergent ability. EXAMPLE 4. Component wt% Sodium dodecylbenzene sulphonate 6.00 Soap 4.00 Ethoxylated glycerine (obtained in referential example 2) 3.00 STPP 30.00 Sodium silicate 7.00 Sodium sulfate balance Fluorescent agent 0.15 Enzyme 0.45 As regards detergent performance the results on EMPAS 101 and 104, the combination presented in this invention exhibit a better performance, that is an increasing of 6% (average) in detergent ability.

Claims: A detergent composition comprising ethoxylated glycerine, compound represented by the formula (I) and fatty acid alkaline metal salt, represented by the formula (II); the weight ratio of the former to the latter [(I)/(II)], being 10/90 - 90/10, preferably 1/5 to 5/1, and most preferably 1/3 to 3/1. wherein: R' represents H or CH₃, and each of n, m and l independently represents an integer from 0 to 20; being m+n+l=2-60 preferably 10-45. R-COOM (II) wherein R represents alkyl or alkenyl group having C₇₋₂₁, and M represents an alkaline metal. A method for producing a detergent composition of claim 1, characterized by following step (a) or (b): Step (a). Adding the compounds represented by the formulae (I) and (II) to the detergent slurry, mixing the slurry, and spray-drying the slurry thereof. Step (b). Adding the mixture comprising the compounds represented by the formulae (I) and (II) to a powder detergent mixture. Detergent composition according to claim 1, characterized in that compound (I) has 25-35 EO moles.

Inventors: OKABE KAZUHIKO, PRAT ANTONIO, PUJADAS FRANCISCO, PUJOL ENRIQUE, OKABE, KAZUHIKO, PRAT, ANTONIO, PUJADAS, FRANCISCO, PUJOL, ENRIQUE
Applicants: KAO CORP SA, KAO CORPORATION, S.A.
Application year: 1992
Main classification: C11D10
IPC codes: C11D1, C11D10