USE OF ALKYL POLYGLYCOSIDES TO IMPROVE FOAM STABILIZATION OF AMPHOACETATES

Abstract: A surfactant composition containing (a) from about 1 to about 40 % by weight of a sugar surfactant selected from the group consisting of a polyhydroxy fatty acid amide, an alkyl polyglycoside, and mixtures thereof; (b) from about 1 to about 40 % by weight of an anionic surfactant; (c) from about 0.1 to about 10 % by weight of an amphoacetate; and (d) remainder, water, all weights being based on the weight of the composition. The anionic surfactants are preferably selected from the group consisting of alkyl sulfate, alkyl ether sulfate, alkyl benzene sulfonate and mixtures thereof. The surfactant compositions are taught to be foaming and have foam stability.

Description: USE OF ALKYL POLYGLYCOSIDES TO IMPROVE FOAM STABILIZATION OF AMPHOACETATES Field of the Invention; The present invention generally relates to improving the foam stability of liquid detergent compositions containing amphoacetates. Background of the Invention; It is known that various surfactants have been found to be useful in cleaning compositions, such as shower gels, shampoos, and light-duty detergents such as dishwashing detergents. In these types of compositions, high levels of foam production is a prerequisite. The most widely used surfactants in these types of compositions are anionic surfactants such as alkyl sulfates, alkyl ether sulfates, sulfonates, sulfosuccinates and sarcosinates. It is sometimes advantageous to use mixtures of surfactants in compositions wherein the surfactants can serve either the same or different functions, e.g., both acting to boost foam production or one serving to improve foamability and the other serving to adjust viscosity. However, known surfactant mixtures typically provide a compromise in performance when compared to the performance provided by the individual surfactants if used alone. For example, a mixture of more costly surfactants such as amine oxides, betaines and alkanolamides which provide good foamability by themselves, with less expensive surfactants which provide poorer foamability, will result in the formulation of a surfactant composition having an intermediate degree of foamability and poor foam stability. Although the use of these types of surfactants, either alone or in admixture with others, results in the formation of acceptable levels of foam, this result is attended by two significant disadvantages. First, these surfactants are costly to use, thereby resulting in the products in which they are employed to also be more expensive. Second, and more importantly, due to an increase in environmental awareness, the use of chemicals having low environmental impact is being advocated. Summary of the Invention; The present invention is directed to a surfactant composition having improved foam stability containing: (a) from about 1 to about 40% by weight of a sugar surfactant; (b) from about 1 to about 40% by weight, of an anionic surfactant; (c) from about 0.1 to about 10% by weight, of an amphoacetate; and (d) remainder, water, all weights being based on the weight of the composition. The present invention is also directed to a process for making a surfactant composition having enhanced foam stability involving: (a) providing from about 1 to about 40% by weight of an anionic surfactant; (b) providing from about 1 to about 40% by weight of a sugar surfactant; (c) providing from about 0.1 to about 10% by weight of an amphoacetate; (d) providing remainder, water, all weights being based on the weight of the composition and (e) combining components (a) -(d). Description of the Invention; Other than in the operating examples, or where otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities of ingredients or reaction conditions are understood as being modified in all instances by the term "about". The sugar surfactants which may be employed in the present invention may be selected from the group consisting of alkyl polyglycosides and polyhydroxy fatty acid amides ("gluca ides") . The polyhydroxy fatty acid amides which can be used in the compositions and processes according to the invention correspond to formula I: o * ι II I R 2 - c N - Y ( I ) wherein R 1 is H, C 1 -C 4 hydrocarbyl, 2-hydroxy ethyl, 2-hydroxy propyl, or a mixture thereof, preferably C^C^ alkyl, more preferably C 1 or C 2 alkyl, most preferably C, alkyl (i.e., methyl); and R 2 is a C 5 -C J1 hydrocarbyl moiety, preferably straight chain C 7 -C 19 alkyl or alkenyl, more preferably straight chain C 8 -C 17 alkyl or alkenyl, most preferably straight chain C -C 19 alkyl or alkenyl, or mixture thereof; and Y is a polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl moiety having a linear hydrocarbyl chain with at least 3 hydroxyls directly connected to the chain, or an alkoxylated derivative (preferably ethoxylated or propoxylated) thereof. Y preferably will be derived from a reducing sugar in a reductive amination reaction; more preferably Y is a glycityl moiety. Suitable reducing sugars include glucose, fructose, maltose, lactose, galactose, mannose, and xylose. As raw materials, high dextrose corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, and high maltose corn syrup can be utilized as well as the individual sugars listed above. These corn syrups may yield a mix of sugar components for Y. It should be understood that it is by no means intended to exclude other suitable raw materials. Y preferably will be selected from the group consisting of -CH 2 -(CHOH) n -CH 2 OH, -CH(CH 2 OH)-(CHOH) n . 1 -CH 2 OH, -CH 2 - (CHOH) 2 (CHOR' ) (CHOH) -CH 2 OH, where n is an integer from 3 to 5, inclusive, and R' is H or a cyclic mono- or poly- saccharide, and alkoxylated derivatives thereof. Most preferred are glycityls wherein n is 4, particularly -CH 2 - (CHOH) 4 -CH 2 OH. Compounds of the formula I are also known as glucamides. Therefore, when, for example, R 1 is methyl, R 2 dodecyl; and Y is -CH 2 -(CHOH) 4 -CH 2 OH, the compound in question is referred to as dodecyl N-methylglucamide. Methods for making polyhydroxy fatty acid amides are known in the art. In general, polyhydroxy fatty acid amides can be made by reductively aminating a reducing sugar reacting with an alkyl amine to form a corresponding N- alkyl polyhydroxyamine and then reacting the N-alkyl polyhydroxyamine with a fatty aliphatic ester or triglyceride to form the N-alkyl, polyhydroxy fatty acid amide. Processes for making polyhydroxy fatty acid amides are disclosed in U.S. patent numbers 1,985,424; 2,965,576; 5,194,639; and 5,334,764, the entire contents of each of which is incorporated herein by reference. The alkyl polyglycosides which can be used in the invention correspond to formula II: R 3 0(R 4 0) b (Z) a (II) wherein R 3 is a monovalent organic radical having from about 6 to about 30 carbon atoms; R ή is a divalent alkylene radical having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms; Z is a saccharide residue having 5 or 6 carbon atoms ; b is a number having a value from 0 to about 12; a is a number having a value from 1 to about 6. Preferred alkyl polyglycosides which can be used in the compositions according to the invention have the formula II wherein Z is a glucose residue and b is zero. Such alkyl polyglycosides are commercially available, for example, as APG®, GLUCOPON®, PLANTAREN® or AGRIMUL® surfactants from Henkel Corporation, Ambler, PA, 19002. Examples of such surfactants include but are not limited to: 1. GLUCOPON® 220 Surfactant - an alkyl polyglycoside in which the alkyl group contains 8 to 10 carbon atoms and having an average degree of polymerization of 1.5. 2. GLUCOPON® 225 Surfactant - an alkyl polyglycoside in which the alkyl group contains 8 to 10 carbon atoms and having an average degree of polymerization of 1.7. 3. GLUCOPON® 600 Surfactant - an alkyl polyglycoside in which the alkyl group contains 12 to 16 carbon atoms and having an average degree of polymerization of 1.4. 4. GLUCOPON® 625 Surfactant - an alkyl polyglycoside in which the alkyl group contains 12 to 16 carbon atoms and having an average degree of polymerization of 1.4. 5. APG® 325 Surfactant - an alkyl polyglycoside in which the alkyl group contains 9 to 11 carbon atoms and having an average degree of polymerization of 1.6. 6. PLANTAREN® 2000 Surfactant - an alkyl polyglycoside in which the alkyl group contains 8 to 16 carbon atoms and having an average degree of polymerization of 1.4. 7. PLANTAREN® 1300 Surfactant - an alkyl polyglycoside in which the alkyl group contains 12 to 16 carbon atoms and having an average degree of polymerization of 1.6. 8. AGRIMUL® PG 2067 Surfactant - an alkyl polyglycoside in which the alkyl group contains 8 to 10 carbon atoms and having an average degree of polymerization of 1.7. Other examples include alkyl polyglycoside surfactant compositions which are comprised of mixtures of compounds of formula I as described in U.S. patents 5,266,690 and 5,449,763, the entire contents of both of which are incorporated herein by reference. A particularly preferred alkyl polyglycoside for use in the present invention is one of formula II wherein R, is a monovalent organic radical having from about 12 to about 16 carbon atoms, b is zero, and a is a number having a value of from 1 to about 6, and preferably about 1.6. The anionic surfactants which may be employed in the present invention may, for example, be selected from the group consisting of alkyl sulfates, alkyl ether sulfates and alkyl benzene sulfonates. The alkyl sulfates which may be employed in the present invention correspond to formula III: R ς O-SO j X (HI) wherein R j is a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl radical having from about 10 to about 14 carbon atoms and X is an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal. A particularly preferred alkyl sulfate for use in the present invention is sodium lauryl sulfate. The alkyl ether sulfates which may be employed in the present invention correspond to formula IV: R 6 0-(CH 2 CH 2 0) n -S0 3 X (IV) wherein R 6 is a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl radical having from about 10 to about 14 carbon atoms, n is a number from 1 to about 4, and X is an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal. A particularly preferred alkyl ether sulfate for use in the present invention is sodium laureth sulfate having from 1 to 3 moles of ethylene oxide. The a phoacetates which may be employed in the present invention include, but are not limited to, cocoamphocarboxypropionates , cocoamphoglycinates , cocoa phopropionates , lauroamphocarboxypropionates , lauroamphocarboxyglycinates , lauroamphocarboxypropionic acid, and lauroamphoglycinates. According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a surfactant composition having improved foam stability containing: (a) from about 1 to about 40% by weight, and preferably from about 4 to about 25% by weight, of a sugar surfactant, preferably an alkyl polyglycoside; (b) from about 1 to about 40% by weight, and preferably from about 10 to about 30% by weight, of an anionic surfactant; (c) from about 0.1 to about 10% by weight, and preferably from about 0.2 to about 5% by weight, of an amphoacetate; and (d) remainder, water, all weights being based on the weight of the composition. It should be noted that additional surfactants, other than those described above, may also be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention. In a particularly preferred embodiment, however, the above- described surfactant composition is free of any amide surfactants. According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a process for making a surfactant composition having enhanced foam stability involving: (a) providing from about 1 to about 40% by weight, and preferably from about 4 to about 25% by weight, of a sugar surfactant, preferably an alkyl polyglycoside; (b) providing from about 1 to about 40% by weight, and preferably from about 10 to about 30% by weight, of an anionic surfactant; (c) providing from about 0.1 to about 10% by weight, and preferably from about 0.2 to about 5% by weight, of an amphoacetate; (d) providing remainder, water, all weights being based on the weight of the composition; and (e) combining components (a) -(d) to form a surfactant composition having enhanced foam stability. Light-duty liquid detergents formulated with the surfactant composition of the present invention are distinguished by excellent cleaning performance associated with their enhanced foam stability properties. Moreover, due to the low levels of amphoacetate used to formulate the compositions, as compared to the higher amounts of amides that typically need to be used in order to obtain similar foam stability, the costs associated with the formulation of light-duty liquid detergents containing a surfactant composition in accordance with the present invention are significantly less. According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a light-duty liquid detergent composition containing from about 1 to about 50% by weight, and preferably from about 10 to about 30% by weight, based on the total weight of the detergent composition, of the above-disclosed surfactant composition. Auxiliary ingredients may also be employed in the above-disclosed light-duty liquid detergent composition. Examples thereof include, but are not limited to, builders, foam boosters, emulsifiers, fragrances, and the like. The present invention will be better understood from the examples which follow, all of which are intended for illustrative purposes only, and are not meant to unduly limit the scope of the invention in any way. EXAMPLES The foam stability of surfactant compositions in accordance with the present invention was determined using soil pellets made up of Crisco oil, flour, olive oil, and milk. Testing was performed preparing a solution of .12 grams of test formulation and 400 ml of 150 ppm hard water, wherein the solution was heated to a temperature of 110 °F. The solution was contained in a tergotometer which was agitated at 125 rpm until foam was generated. At the end of the foam generation period, the rate of agitation was reduced to, and maintained at, 50 rpm. To this solution there were then added 0.5 gram pellets of the soil, at 30 second intervals, until there was no foam left on the surface. The formulations of the test surfactant compositions and foam stability results are found in Tables 1, 2 and 3 below. TABLE 1 TABLE 2 TABLE 3 As can be seen from the above-disclosed data, by substituting an amphoacetate for an amide, significantly less amphoacetate is needed to obtain comparable foam stability/cleaning results. Consequently, light-duty liquid detergents formulated with the surfactant composition of the present invention will be both cheaper to manufacture and more environmentally friendly.

Claims: What is claimed is: 1. A composition comprising: (a) from about 1 to about 40% by weight of a sugar surfactant selected from the group consisting of a polyhydroxy fatty acid amide, an alkyl polyglycoside, and mixtures thereof; (b) from about 1 to about 40% by weight of an anionic surfactant; (c) from about 0.1 to about 10% by weight of an amphoacetate; and (d) remainder, water, all weights being based on the weight of the composition. 2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the sugar surfactant is a polyhydroxy fatty acid amide corresponding to formula I: II - c ( i ) wherein R 1 is H, c y c c hydrocarbyl, 2-hydroxy ethyl, 2-hydroxy propyl, or a mixture thereof, and R 2 is a C--C 31 hydrocarbyl moiety; and Y is a polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl moiety having a linear hydrocarbyl chain with at least 3 hydroxyls directly connected to the chain, or an alkoxylated derivative thereof. 3. The composition of claim 1 wherein the sugar surfactant is an alkyl polyglycoside corresponding to formula II: R 3 0(R 4 0) b (Z) a (II) wherein R 3 is a monovalent organic radical having from about 6 to about 30 carbon atoms; R 4 is a divalent alkylene radical having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms; Z is a saccharide residue having 5 or 6 carbon atoms; b is a number having a value from 0 to about 12; a is a number having a value from 1 to about 6. 4. The composition of claim 3 wherein in formula II, R 3 is a monovalent organic radical having from about 12 to about 16 carbon atoms, b is zero, and a is a number having a value of from 1 to about 6. 5. The composition of claim 1 wherein the sugar surfactant is present in the composition in an amount of from about 4 to about 25% by weight, based on the weight of the composition. 6. The composition of claim 1 wherein the anionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of an alkyl sulfate, an alkyl ether sulfate, an alkyl benzene sulfonate and mixtures thereof. 7. The composition of claim 6 wherein the alkyl sulfate is sodium lauryl sulfate. 8. The composition of claim 6 wherein the alkyl ether sulfate is sodium laureth sulfate. 9. The composition of claim 1 wherein the anionic surfactant is present in the composition in an amount of from about 10 to about 30% by weight, based on the weight of the composition. 10. The composition of claim 1 wherein the amphoacetate is disodium cocoamphodiacetate. 11. The composition of claim 1 wherein the amphoacetate is present in the composition in an amount of from about 0.2 to about 5% by weight, based on the weight of the composition. 12. The composition of claim 1 further comprising an auxiliary component selected from the group consisting of other anionic co-surfactants, other nonionic co- surfactants, zwitterionic co-surfactants, foam boosters, fragrances, and mixtures thereof. 13. A composition comprising: (a) from about 4 to about 25% by weight of an alkyl polyglycoside corresponding to formula I: R 3 0(R 4 0) b (Z) a (II) wherein R j is a monovalent organic radical having from about 12 to about 16 carbon atoms; R 4 is a divalent alkylene radical having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms; Z is a saccharide residue having 5 or 6 carbon atoms; b is 0; a is a number having a value of about 1.6; (b) from about 10 to about 30% by weight of an anionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, alkyl benzene sulfonate, and mixtures thereof; (c) from about 0.2 to about 5% by weight of a disodium cocoamphodiacetate; and (d) remainder, water, all weights being based on the weight of the composition. 14. A process for making a surfactant composition having enhanced foam stability comprising: (a) providing from about 1 to about 40% by weight of a sugar surfactant selected from the group consisting of a polyhydroxy fatty acid amide, an alkyl polyglycoside, and mixtures thereof; (b) providing from about 1 to about 40% by weight of an anionic surfactant; (c) providing from about 0.1 to about 10% by weight of an amphoacetate; (d) providing remainder, water, all weights being based on the weight of the composition; and (e) combining (a) -(d). 15. The process of claim 14 wherein the sugar surfactant is a polyhydroxy fatty acid amide corresponding to formula I: O II ( I ) wherein R, is H, C_,-C 4 hydrocarbyl, 2-hydroxy ethyl, 2-hydroxy propyl, or a mixture thereof, and R 2 is a C 5 -C 31 hydrocarbyl moiety; and Y is a polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl moiety having a linear hydrocarbyl chain with at least 3 hydroxyls directly connected to the chain, or an alkoxylated derivative thereof. 16. The process of claim 14 wherein the sugar surfactant is an alkyl polyglycoside corresponding to formula II: R 3 0(R 4 0) b (Z) a (II) wherein R 3 is a monovalent organic radical having from about 6 to about 30 carbon atoms; R 4 is a divalent alkylene radical having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms; Z is a saccharide residue having 5 or 6 carbon atoms; b is a number having a value from 0 to about 12; a is a number having a value from 1 to about 6. 17. The process of claim 16 wherein in formula II, R 3 is a monovalent organic radical having from about 12 to about 16 carbon atoms, b is zero, and a is a number having a value of from 1 to about 6. 18. The process of claim 14 wherein the sugar surfactant is present in the composition in an amount of from about 4 to about 25% by weight, based on the weight of the composition. 19. The process of claim 14 wherein the anionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of an alkyl sulfate, an alkyl ether sulfate, an alkyl benzene sulfonate and mixtures thereof. 20. The process of claim 19 wherein the alkyl sulfate is sodium lauryl sulfate. 21. The process of claim 19 wherein the alkyl ether sulfate is sodium laureth sulfate. 22. The process of claim 14 wherein the anionic surfactant is present in the composition in an amount of from about 10 to about 30% by weight, based on the weight of the composition. 23. The process of claim 14 wherein the amphoacetate is disodium cocoamphodiacetate. 24. The process of claim 14 wherein the amphoacetate is present in the composition in an amount of from about 0.2 to about 5% by weight, based on the weight of the composition. 25. The process of claim 14 further comprising an auxiliary component selected from the group consisting of other anionic co-surfactants, other nonionic co- surfactants, zwitterionic co-surfactants, foam boosters, fragrances, and mixtures thereof. 26. A process for making a surfactant composition having enhanced foam stability comprising: (a) providing from about 4 to about 25% by weight of an alkyl polyglycoside corresponding to formula I: R 1 0(R 2 0) b (Z) a (I) wherein R., is a monovalent organic radical having from about 12 to about 16 carbon atoms; R 2 is a divalent alkylene radical having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms; Z is a saccharide residue having 5 or 6 carbon atoms; b is 0; a is a number having a value of about 1.6; (b) providing from about 10 to about 30% by weight of an anionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, alkyl benzene sulfonate, and mixtures thereof; (c) providing from about 0.2 to about 5% by weight of an disodium cocoamphodiacetate; (d) providing remainder, all weights being based on the weight of the composition; and (e) combining (a) -(d). 27. A light-duty liquid detergent comprising from about 1 to about 50% by weight, based on the weight of the detergent, of the surfactant composition of claim 1.

Inventors: FRAZER MARY FRANCES, LAZAROWITZ VIRGINIA, FRAZER, MARY, FRANCES, LAZAROWITZ, VIRGINIA
Applicants: HENKEL CORP, HENKEL CORPORATION
Application year: 1998
Main classification: B01F17
IPC codes: B01F17, C11D1