LIQUID DISHWASHING-DETERGENT COMPOSITION

Abstract: A liquid dishwashing-detergent composition contains an anionic surfactant, at least two types of amphoteric compounds, and a non-ionic surface-active compound. The two types of amphoteric compounds are characterised by general formulae (I) and (III) or (IV). The non-ionic surface-active compounds consist of ethoxylated and/or propoxylated fatty alcohols.

Description: LIQUID DISHWASHING-DETERGENT COMPOSITION The present invention is directed to liquid dishwash¬ ing-detergent compositions, more particularly compositions containing an anionic surfactant and a combination of amphoteric surface-active compounds and a non-ionic sur¬ factant. The liquid dishwashing detergents most common on the market today are primarily intended for washing by hand and as a rule consist of aqueous solutions containing anionic surfactants, such as alkyl sulphonates, alkylben- zene sulphonates, alkyl sulphates and alkyl ether sul¬ phates, as an essential ingredient. Amine oxides or alkyl diethanolamides are generally used as foam stabilisers. Both compounds give a high and lasting foam, but are dis¬ advantageous in terms of toxicity, involving the risk of nitroseamine formation at an unacceptable level. Thus, there is a need for a dishwashing detergent having a good cleaning capacity and good foam formation without involv- ing any risk of nitroseamine formation. According to the present invention, it has been found that dishwashing detergents of good cleaning capacity and excellent foam formation can be obtained by using a combi¬ nation of different types of amphoteric surface-active compounds and certain non-ionic surface-active compounds in dishwashing detergents based on anionic surfactants. The inventive dishwashing-detergent compositions are espe¬ cially suitable, by their mildness, for washing by hand e.g. glass, china, and kitchen utensils. The inventive dishwashing-detergent compositions not only have the advantage of showing good foaming properties, i.e. high and lasting foam, but also are advantageous in that they can be produced in high-concentration form and are very kind to the skin. Thus, the present invention relates to a dishwash¬ ing-detergent composition as defined in the appended claims. In the dishwashing-detergent compositions according to the invention, use is made of a combination of at leas two, preferably three, types of amphoteric compounds, hereinafter referred to as type a), type b) and type c). The amphoteric surface-active compounds of type a) are characterised by the general formula (I) R _ (A)n _ [NI - (CHRl-)x1y - NI - Q (I) B 10 wherein R is a hydrocarbon group having 7-22 carbon atoms, n is 0 or 1, A is a carbonyl group [C(0)], a group (0CH 2 CH 2 ) or a group (0CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 ) in which z is an integer from 1 to 5, R 1 is hydrogen or a lower alkyl 15 group, x is 2 or 3, y is an integer from 0 to 4, Q is the group -R ^ COOM in which R 2 is an alkylene group having 1-6 carbon atoms and M is hydrogen or an ion from the groups alkali metals, alkaline-earth metals, ammonium and substituted ammonium, and B is hydrogen or a group Q as 20 defined above. Amphoteric compounds of this type are previously known and are used in cleaning and shampoo compositions. Such compounds are described e.g. in EP Patent Applica¬ tions 160 507, 162 600 and 214 868. y .- In the amphoteric surface-active compounds of type a) utilised in the inventive dishwashing-detergent composi¬ tions, R is a hydrocarbon group having 7-22 carbon atoms, suitably 11-22 carbon atoms. The hydrocarbon group R can be straight or branched, saturated or unsaturated and may 0 optionally contains substituents, such as hydroxyl groups. The group R may also be a cycloalkyl-alkyl group, an aralalkyl group or an aralkenyl group in which the alkyl or alkenyl group contains at least 6 carbon atoms. Prefer¬ ably, R is an alkyl or alkenyl group, and it is especially 5 preferred for R to be a hydrocarbon group originating from coco fatty acid, tallow fatty acid or oleinic acid. As indicated above, the amphoteric compounds may contain a group A consisting of a carbonyl group or one or more ethoxy or propoxy groups. When A consists of ethoxy or propoxy groups, ethoxy groups are preferred, and A then preferably is such a group. Compounds that do not contain a group A, i.e. in which n is 0, or contain a group A con sisting of a carbonyl group, are preferred, and compound containing a carbonyl group are especially preferred. In the given formula, R 1 is hydrogen or a lower alkyl group, suitably having 1-6 carbon atoms, and preferably is hydro gen or a methyl group. Further, x is 2 or 3, and y suit¬ ably is 2, 3 or 4, preferably 2 or 3. Conveniently, the group R, is a methylene or ethylene group, preferably a methylene group. M is hydrogen or an ion from the groups alkali metals, alkaline-earth metals, ammonium and substi tuted ammonium, such as mono-, di- and trihydroxyethyl ammonium. Preferably, M is a sodium ion. Preferred compounds of formula (I) have formula (II): wherein n is 0 or 1, and, when n is 1, A is a carbonyl group, Q is CH 2 ~C00M or CH 2 CH 2 -C00M, y is 1, 2 or 3, and wherein M, R, x and B are as indicated above. Suitably, x is 3 and all the groups B are Q groups. Mixtures of amphoteric compounds having different y values are especially preferred. In these compounds, R conveniently originates from tallow fatty acid, coco fatty acid, or oleinic acid. Amphoteric compounds of type b) consist of betaines or amido betaines, which can be characterised by the general formulae (III) and (IV): - (CHz)nCOOM (HI) R' 0 R' II R - C - NH - (CH )« - .NU - (CH ) COOM (IV) R' wherein R is a longer hydrophobic hydrocarbon group, whic suitably consists of a saturated or unsaturated, straight or branched aliphatic hydrocarbon group having at least 7 carbon atoms. Conveniently, R has 7-21 carbon atoms and preferably is an alkyl or alkenyl group having 11-17 car¬ bon atoms. R' is an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group having 1-4 carbon atoms. It is the most convenient that the two R' groups are methyl groups, n being 1 or 2. Preferably, M is hydrogen or a sodium ion. Amphoteric compounds of type c) can be characterised by the general formula (V) 0 II wherein R, y, Q and B are as indicated for compounds of formula (I). However, one group B is the group -CH ^ CHR'OH, in which R' is H or CJ . Suitable and preferred defini¬ tions of R and M in the group Q are as indicated for com¬ pounds of formula (I) . It is the most convenient to use compounds of formula (V) in which y is 1 and Q is the group -CH_C00M. Typical examples are compounds of formula (Va) and/or formula (Vb) 0 II R - C - N ■ - CHZCHZ - Nι - CH- ΔCOOM (Va) CH 2 CH 2 OH CH 2 COOM and/or 0 II R - C - N ■ - CHZCHZ - NI - CH o ZC00M (Vb) H CH 2 CH 2 OH Amphoteric compounds of formulae (Va) and (Vb) are commercially available in the form of mixtures, usually having a weight ratio of compounds of formula (Va) to com pounds of formula (Vb) in the range of 1:10-10:1. The inventive dishwashing detergent contains amphote ric compounds of at least type a) and type b). Preferably, the combination of amphoteric compounds used includes amphoteric compounds of type a), type b) as well as type c). Preferably, the amphoteric compounds of type b) in th dishwashing detergent consist of betaines, i.e. compounds of formula (III). In the dishwashing detergent, the ampho¬ teric compounds of type a) primarily have a favourable effect on the foam height, while the amphoteric compounds of type b) have a favourable effect on the durability of the foam. The amphoteric compounds of type c) act as solu- tisers, promote the mixing process and contribute to giv¬ ing the detergents the right viscosity, also at high con¬ centrations. The inventive dishwashing detergent also contains certain non-ionic compounds as an essential ingredient. These compounds consist of ethoxylated and/or propoxylated adducts of fatty alcohols, preferably having 9-16 carbon atoms. Conveniently, the alcohols contain 4-20 ethylene oxide groups and/or propylene oxide groups, preferably 4-14 such groups. These non-ionic surface-active compounds primarily serve as foam stabilisers. According to the invention, it has been found that amphoteric compounds combined as above and non-ionic ethoxylated and/or propoxylated fatty alcohols give uncom monly satisfactory foaming properties as well as a good cleaning capacity in dishwashing detergents based on anionic surfactants. The inventive dishwashing detergents containing the above ingredients can be produced with hig contents of active substance, up to 50% by weight, and still result in clear low-viscosity solutions, even at such high concentrations. The dishwashing detergents are very advantageous in terms of toxicity, since all the amphoteric compounds included have been found to give as low contents as 2-4 ppb in nitroseamine tests. Even though inventive dishwashing detergents contain- ing a combination of amphoteric compounds of type a) and type b) have good foaming properties and a good cleaning effect, it is preferred that the detergents contain ampho¬ teric compounds of type a), type b) as well as type c), which facilitates their preparation. Especially, it becomes easier to achieve the right viscosity, in parti¬ cular at high contents of active substance. In the inventive dishwashing-detergent compositions, the weight ratio of the non-ionic compounds to the total amount of amphoteric compounds suitably is at least 1:1. Conveniently, this ratio is in the range of 1:1-2:1, pre¬ ferably in the range of 1:1-1.5:1. The combination of amphoteric surface-active compounds conveniently has an excess of at least 15% by weight of compounds of type a) in relation to, respectively, amphoteric compounds of type b) and compounds of each of type b) and type c), when both are present. Conveniently, the excess is in the range of 15-90% by weight. The total amount of surface-active amphoteric compounds and non-ionic compounds in the dish¬ washing detergents suitably is at least 20% by weight of the anionic surfactants, preferably 30-70% by weight thereof. The total content of amphoteric compounds and non-ionic compounds as well as the anionic surfactants in the dishwashing detergents may be 10-50% by weight and, in the case of high-concentration dishwashing detergents, usually is 35-50% by weight. As is conventional, the anionic surfactants in the dishwashing detergents consist of water-soluble sulphates or sulphonates, especially alkyl sulphates, alkyl ether sulphates, alkyl sulphonates and alkyl aryl sulphonates, in which the alkyl group usually contains 8-22 carbon atoms. For the anionic surfactants containing ether groups, these usually are ethylene oxide groups, and the compounds normally contain 1-10 such groups per molecule. Usually, the cations are of alkali metals, alkaline-earth metals, ammonium or amines, such as mono-, di- and tri- ethanolamine cations. Specific examples of anionic surfac- tants are sodium lauryl sulphonate, sodium lauryl ether sulphate having two or three ethylene oxide groups, cor¬ responding ammonium or ethanolamine salts, sodium or other salts of dodecylbenzene sulphonic acid and alkylbenzene sulphonic acid, in which the alkyl group contains 11-13 carbon atoms on average. Often, at least two different anionic surfactants are used in dishwashing detergents. The inventive dishwashing-detergent compositions are liquid. Naturally, the main ingredient preferably is water. Often, liquid dishwashing-detergent compositions contain deionised water, but other types of water may also be used. Also other liquid solvents can be included, such as lower alcohols, glycols and lower alkyl ethers of gly- cols. These types of solvents are normally included in minor amounts, if at all present. Specific examples are ethanol, ethylene glycol and monopropylene glycol. Some¬ times, solvents are mainly included as a preservative con¬ stituent. The inventive compositions, however, have the advantage of not requiring any preservative. The inventive dishwashing-detergent compositions can be prepared in conventional manner by simply mixing the ingredients, and they may of course be used in conven¬ tional fashion. Normal dosage of a dishwashing-detergent composition having a total dry solids content of about 10-50% by weight is about 0.2 g/1 of dishwater. The main ingredients of the inventive dishwashing- detergent compositions have been accounted for in the foregoing. Naturally, also other conventional substances may be included in order to improve various properties, such as thickeners, colouring agents, pigments and per¬ fumes. Other amphoteric compounds and non-ionic compounds may also be included, provided that they do not have any adverse effect on the essential cleaning and foaming pro¬ perties. The invention will now be illustrated by a non- restricting Example. The figures in parts and per cent are all by weight, unless otherwise stated. Example The dishwashing-detergent compositions below all con tained the following amounts of anionic surfactants and other additives: Lauryl alcohol sulphate (28%): 35.7% by weight Ammonium lauryl ether sulphate having 3 ethylene oxide groups (75%): 13.3% by weight Cumene sulphonate (40%): 5.0% by weight Urea: 2.0% by weight Citric acid: 0.3% by weight All figures given in per cent by weight are based on the total composition, containing water to 100% by weight. Composition 1, according to the invention. Amphoteric compounds: Type a) - Ampholak ® 7CX (available from Berol Nobel AB, Sweden) - according to formula (II) containing a carbonyl group, R being a residue of coco fatty acid. The compound (40%) was present in an amount of 12.5% by weight. Type b) alkyl dimethyl betaine in which the alkyl chain mainly consisted of C12-C14 groups. The compound (30%) was present in an amount of 10.5% by weight. Non-ionic compounds: Ethoxylated C9-C11 alcohol having 8 ethylene oxide groups and being present in an amount of 8.0% by weight. Composition 2, according to the invention. Amphoteric compounds: Type a) - Ampholak ® 7CX (available from Berol Nobel AB, Sweden) - according to formula (II) containing a carbonyl group, R being a residue of coco fatty acid. The compound (40%) was present in an amount of 10.0% by weight. Type b) alkyl dimethyl betaine in which the alkyl chain mainly consisted of C12-C14 groups. The compound (30%) was present in an amount of 8.0% by weight. Type c) - Ampholak ® XCO-30 (available from Berol Nobel AB, Sweden) - a mixture of compounds according to formulae (Va) and (Vb), R being a residue of coco fatty acid. The ompounds (40%) were present in an amount of 5% by weight. Non-ionic compounds: Ethoxylated C9-C11 alcohol having 8 ethylene oxide groups and being present in an amount of 4.0% by weight, as well as ethoxylated and propoxy¬ lated C10-C12 alcohol having 7 ethylene oxide groups and 1 propylene oxide group and being present in an amount of 4% by weight. Composition 3, according to the invention. Amphoteric compounds: the same as in composition 1 and present in the same amounts. Non-ionic compounds: Ethoxylated C9-C11 alcohol having 8 ethylene oxide groups and being present in an amount of 8% by weight. Composition 4, included for comparative purposes. Amphoteric compounds: only amphoteric compound of type a), which was the same as in composition 1 and was present in an amount of 23.0% by weight. Non-ionic compounds: Ethoxylated C9-C11 alcohol having 8 ethylene oxide groups and being present in an amount of 8% by weight. Composition 5, included for comparative purposes. Amphoteric compounds: only amphoteric compound of type b), which was the same as in composition 2 and was present in an amount of 23.0% by weight. Non-ionic compounds: Ethoxylated C9-C11 alcohol having 8 ethylene oxide groups and being present in an amount of 8% by weight. Composition 6, included for comparative purposes. Amphoteric compounds: only amphoteric compound of type c), which was the same as in composition 2 and was present in an amount of 23.0% by weight. The cleaning effect of the compositions was tested as follows. Standard plates having a diameter of 16.5 cm were coated with 1 cm of tallow fat. The fat was spread on the plates with a brush, and the plates were left to dry over¬ night. Then, 0.2 g of the above dishwashing-detergent com¬ positions was added to 8 1 of water having a hardness of 20°dH, and the water was heated to 45°C +2°C. When this temperature had been attained, the water was agitated at a speed of 400 rpm for 1 min so as to produce foam. There¬ after, the plates were washed by hand one by one until all the foam was gone, and the washed plates were counted. The foaming properties of the above compositions were determined by rotating 40 times cylinders filled with water and the above compositions in a concentration of 4 g/1 of water, whereupon the foam height was read. This operation was repeated, and 2.5 ml of Bechamel sauce was added to the mixture of water and dishwashing detergent before each operation of rotation. The foam height was measured after each such operation, and these were con¬ tinued until the foam had substantially disappeared, i.e. the foam was then on a level of about 55 ml. The results of the cleaning and foaming tests are given in the Tables below. Table 1 Composition No. Number of cleaned plate 1, according to the invention 23 2, according to the invention 25 3, according to the invention 25 4, included for comparative purposes 9 5, included for comparative purposes 25 6, included for comparative purposes 22 Table 2 Composition No. Foam picture ml 1, according to the invention 350 250 180 120 80 70 65 60 2, according to the invention 300 115 100 80 65 60 55 , according to the invention 350 285 215 145 90 75 65 60 55 , included for comparative purposes 330 120 80 60 55 , included for comparative purposes 245 185 145 125 85 70 65 60 55 6, included for comparative purposes 270 150 115 85 70 60 55 Thus, the inventive compositions had a good cleaning effect as well as excellent foaming properties, i.e. a hi initial foam level and a lasting foam.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A liquid dishwashing-detergent composition, 5 c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that it contains a) at least one amphoteric surface-active compound of type a) having the general formula (I) R - (A)n - [NI - (CHRl)x]y - NI - Q (I) 10 B B wherein R is a hydrocarbon group having 7-22 carbon atoms, n is 0 or 1, A is a carbonyl group [C(0)], a group (0CH 2 CH 2 ) or a group (0CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 ) in which z is an inte- m ,_ ger from 1 to 5, R.. is hydrogen or a lower alkyl group, x is 2 or 3, y is an integer from 0 to 4, Q is the group -R ^ COOM in which R^ is an alkylene group having 1-6 carbon atoms and M is hydrogen or an ion from the groups alkali metals, alkaline-earth metals, ammonium and substituted 20 ammonium, and B is hydrogen or a group Q as defined above, b) at least one amphoteric surface-active compound of type b) having the general formula (III) or (IV) R' 25 R - N ι + ■ - (CHz)nCOOM (III) R' - (CHz)nCOOM (IV) 30 wherein R is a longer hydrophobic hydrocarbon group having at least 7 carbon atoms, R' is an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group having 1-4 carbon atoms, n is 1 or 2, and M is hydro -._- gen or a sodium ion, c) at least one non-ionic surface-active compound co sisting of an ethoxylated and/or propoxylated adduct of a fatty alcohol, and d) at least one anionic surfactant. 2. A composition as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that it further contains at least one amphoteric surface-active compound of type c) having the general formula (V) 0 II R - C - [ - Q (V) wherein R, y, Q and B are as indicated for compounds of formula (I), one group B being however the group -CH 2 CHR'0 in which R' is H or CH 3 . 3. A composition as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the amphoteric compound of type a) has the general formula (II) R _ ( A )n _ [NI - (CHz)x]y - NI - Q (II) B B wherein n is 0 or 1, and, when n is 1, A is a carbonyl group, Q is CH 2 ~C00M or CH 2 CH 2 ~C00M, y is 1, 2 or 3, and wherein M, R, x and B are as indicated in claim 1. 4. A composition as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the amphoteric compound of type b) has the general formula wherein R, R', n and M are as indicated in claim 1. 5. A composition as claimed in claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the amphoteric compound of type c) has formula (Va) and/or formula (Vb) 0 II R - C - N ■ - CHZCHZ - NI - CHZC00M (Va) CH 2 CH 2 OH CH 2 COOM 0 II R - C - N ■ - CHZCHZ - NI - CHZC00M (Vb) H CH 2 CH 2 0H wherein R and M are as indicated in claim 2. 6. A composition as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the non-ionic surface-active compound consists of an ethoxylated and/or propoxylated adduct of a fatty alcohol having 9-16 carbon atoms and containing 4-14 ethylene oxide groups and/or propylene oxide groups. 7. A composition as claimed in any one of the pre¬ ceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the weight ratio of ethoxylated and/or propoxylated fatty alcohol to the total amount of amphoteric surface-active compounds is at least 1:1. 8. A composition as claimed in any one of the pre¬ ceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that ampho¬ teric compounds of type a) are present in an excess of at least 15% by weight in relation to, respectively, ampho¬ teric compounds of type b) and amphoteric compounds of each of type b) and type c). 9. A composition as claimed in any one of the pre¬ ceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the total amount of amphoteric compounds of type a), type b) and type c) and ethoxylated and/or propoxylated fatty alcohol is at least 20% by weight, based on the anionic surfactants.

Inventors: PALICKA JADWIGA, PALICKA, JADWIGA
Applicants: BEROL NOBEL AB, PALICKA JADWIGA, PALICKA, JADWIGA
Application year: 1993
Main classification: C11D1
IPC codes: C11D1, C11D17