WO1996019555A1

WO1996019555A1 - Liquid detergent composition

Info

Publication number: WO1996019555A1
Application number: PCT/JP1995/002555
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kazunari Maruta; Kuniyoshi Shigematsu; Yoshihiro Iwamoto; Masaki Tsumadori
Original assignee: Kao Corporation
Priority date: 1994-12-21
Filing date: 1995-12-13
Publication date: 1996-06-27
Also published as: CN1175275A; CN1079823C

Abstract

It provides a liquid detergent composition which has an excellent srength to remove sebaceous stains and is good at stock stability. The liquid detergent composition described above comprising: (a) polyoxyethylene alkyl ether having an alkyl group originating in primary alcohol, (b) polyoxyethylene alky ether having an alkyl group originating in secondary alcohol, and c) a solvent, wherein a (a)/(b) weight ratio is 10/1 to 1/10.

Description

LIQUID DETERGENT COMPOSITION

[Field of the Invention]

The present invention relates to a liquid detergent composition for clothing, more specifically to a liquid detergent composition suited to clothing, which shows an excellent cleaning strength regardless of a hardness of wash water and has a high stain-removing effect when it is applied directly to particularly stained parts of clothing and which has a low viscosity and an excellent facility.

[Description of Related Art]

Weakly alkaline detergents are used for washing clothing at usual homes to repeat washing, and liquid detergent and soap are applied directly to stained parts to wash persistent stains on necks and sleeves of shirts. However, the phenomenon that clothing, particularly white underwears are gradually

discolored to yellow even with such the cleaning method as described above is frequently experienced every day. This is because a sebaceous component of a human body penetrates into cotton fibers and are gradually accumulated and oxidized without being sufficiently removed by normal washing, which finally causes yellow discoloration. These denatured sebaceous stains may be removed by applying a liquid detergent or soap to them and washing, or by using a professional laundere. But no good result is

obtained also in respect to labor and cost.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid detergent composition for clothing which has an excellent strength to remove sebaceous stains.

[Summary of the Invention]

Various investigations made by the present inventors has surprisingly resulted in finding that the above object can be achieved and a liquid

detergent composition having an excellent facility in use can be obtained by blending polyoxyethylene alkyl ether produced through ethylene oxide-addition to primary alcohol, with polyoxyethylene alkyl ether produced through ethylene oxide-addition to secondary alcohol, in a specific mixing ratio and further blending a solvent, and coming to complete the present invention.

That is, the present invention provides a liquid detergent composition comprising:

(a) polyoxyethylene alkyl ether obtained by adding average 5 to 15 moles of ethylene oxide to primary alcohol having 8 to 16 carbon atoms, (b) polyoxyethylene alkyl ether obtained by adding average 5 to 15 moles of ethylene oxide to secondary alcohol having 8 to 16 carbon atoms, and

(c) a solvent,

wherein the total amount of the component (a) and the component (b) accounts for 20 to 60 weight % in the compostion and a (a)/(b) weight ratio is 10/1 to

1/10.

[Detailed description of the Invention]

The liquid detergent composition for clothing of the present invention will be explained below in detail.

The nonionic surfactant of the component (a) of the present invention originates in primary alcohol and is a substance obtained by adding average 5 to 15 moles of ethylene oxide (hereinafter abbreviated as EO) to primary alcohol having 8 to 16 carbon atoms, preferably polyoxyethylene alkyl ether obtained by adding average 7 to 12 moles of EO to primary alcohol having 10 to 14 carbon atoms. The carbon atoms exceeding 16 in the alkyl group causes a reduction in the detergency, and that of less than 8 causes a reduction in the detergency as well. An average addition mole number of EO exceeding 15 not only deteriorates a stability of the composition at low temperatures but also reduces the detergency. An average addition mole number of EO of less than 5 does not provide the sufficient cleaning performance.

The nonionic surfactant of the component (b) of the present invention originates in secondary alcohol and is a substance obtained by adding average 5 to 15 moles of EO to secondary alcohol having 8 to 16 carbon atoms, more preferably polyoxyethylene alkyl ether obtained by adding average 7 to 12 moles of EO to secondary alcohol having 10 to 14 carbon atoms. Deviation from these ranges causes the same problems as those described above.

In the present invention, the weight ratio of the two nonionic surfactants of the components (a) and (b) is 10/1 to 1/10, preferably 3/1 to 1/5 in terms of (a)/(b). The weight ratio exceeding 10/1 increases the viscosity and deteriorates facility in use. Meanwhile, that of less than 1/10 reduces the detergency.

The component (a) and the component (b) are blended into the composition in a proportion of 20 to 60 weight % , preferably 30 to 60 weight % in total.

Even if the concentration of the nonionic surfactants of the component (a) and the component (b) contained in the composition is as high as 20 to 60 weight %, the liquid detergent composition of the present invention can be blended stably without causing gelatinization or an increase in the

viscosity. In addition, the invention is provided with an excellent deterging power.

Further, a solvent is blended as the component (c) into the liquid detergent composition of the present invention. The solvent includes ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, butanol, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol and polypropylene glycol. A compound represented by the following Formula (I) can also be used as the solvent:

[wherein R¹ represents a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an allyl group, a benzyl group or a phenyl group; R² represents

hydrogen or a methyl group; and x represents a number of 1 to 10.]

The compound represented by Formula (I)

described above is preferred as the solvent used in the present invention. Among them, the product in which R¹ is the phenyl group and R² is hydrogen in Formula (I) is particularly preferred in terms of the performance for cleaning sebaceous stains. A production method for the compound represented by Formula (I) described above is not specifically restricted and includes a method in which the

solvents are optionally selected from those in which x is 1 to 3 and those in which x is 4 to 10,

preferably 4 to 6 in Formula (I), respectively and they are mixed in such a proportion that the numeral condition described above is satisfied, or a method in which an oxyalkylene compound such as ethylene oxide and propylene oxide is reacted with lower alcohol having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, benzyl alcohol or phenol in the presence of an alkaline catalyst such as sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide. It is preferable that the component (c) having the formula (I) is a mixture of compounds having the formula (I) and being different from one another in view of the value of X. It is preferable that the component (c) comprises compounds having zero for X and 10 or more for X in an amount of not more than 5 weight % , more preferably not more than 1 weight % .

The component (c) is blended into the

composition in a proportion of 0.1 to 30 weight % , preferably 1 to 30 weight % , more preferably 10 to 20 % . Blending of the component (c) can provide a liquid detergent having more excellent cleaning strength and a good facility in use.

The liquid detergent composition of the present invention contains the components (a) to (c)

described above as essential components with the balance being water and optional components.

In the present invention, surfactants other than the components (a) and (b) can be blended as well. The nonionic surfactants include polyoxyethylene alkylphenyl ethers, polyoxypropylene alkyl ethers, polyoxypropylene alkenyl ethers, polyoxybutylene alkyl ethers, polyoxybutylene alkenyl ethers, sucrose fatty acid esters, fatty acid glycerine monoesters, higher fatty acid alkanolamides, polyoxyethyelne higher fatty acid alkanolamides, amine oxides, and alkylglucosides, preferably alkylglucosides

represented by the following Formula (II):

R³(OR⁴)_χG_y (II)

[wherein R³ represents a linear or branched alkyl group having 8 to 18 carbon atoms on average, an alkenyl group, or an alkylphenyl group; R⁴ represents an alkylene group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms on average; G represents a residue originating in reducing sugar having 5 or 6 carbon atoms; x is a number of 0 to 6 on average; and y is a number of 1 to 10 on average. Anionic surfactants include alkylbenzene-sulfonates, alkylene oxide-added alkyl or alkenyl ethersulfates, fatty acid salts, olefinsulfonates, and alkanesulfonates. Particularly preferred are alkylbenzenesulfonates in which the alkyl group has 8 to 20 carbon atoms on average, alkyl ethersulfates in which the alkyl group has 8 to 20 carbon atoms on average, polyoxyethylene alkyl ethersulfates in which the alkyl group has 8 to 20 carbon atoms on average and the average ethylene oxide addition mole number is 1 to 6, and fatty acids salts having 10 to 18 carbon atoms on average. Counter ions constituting the salts of these anionic surfactants include alkaline metal ions such as sodium and potassium, ammonium, and alkanolamines such as monoethanolamine, diethanolamine and triethanolamine. The anionic surfactants described above can be used singly or in combination of two or more kinds.

Further, blending of cationic surfactants make it possible to provide softness or a good feeling in touch. The cationic surfactants may be blended in any proportion as long as the effects of the present invention are not prevented. Usually, they are blended in a proportion of 0.1 to 5 weight %.

Amphoteric surfactants such as, for example, alkylcarbobetaine, alkylsulfobetaine, alkylhydroxysulfobetaine,

alkylamidehydroxysulfobetaine, aklylamideamine type betaine, and alkylimidazoline type betaine can be blended as other surfactants as long as the effects of the present invention are not prevented.

An alkaline agent is blended into the liquid detergent composition of the present invention. The alkaline agent to be blended is not specifically restricted and includes alkanolamines such as mono-, di- or triethanolamine, ammonia, N-alkylalkanols. N-aminoalkylalkanolamines, and dialkylenetriamines. Among them, alkanolamines and ammonia are preferred, and monoethanolamine, diethanolamine and

triethanolamine are particularly preferred in terms of the detergency. These alkaline agents can be used singly or in combination of two or more kinds. Theso alkaline agents blended in a proportion of 1 to 20 weight % so that a pH of the composition is

controlled to 6 to 12, particularly preferably 7 to 11.

Other optional components include aminopolyacetates such as nitrilotriacetates, ethylenediaminetetraacetates, iminodiacetates, diethylenetriaminepentaacetates, glycol ether diaminetetraacetates, hydroxyethyliminodiacetates, and triethylenetetraminehexaacetates, and the salts of polyacrylic acid, polymaleic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, diglycolic acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, and citric acid as organic polyvalent carboxylic acids having an divalent metal-supplementing ability. More preferred is sodium citrate or monoethanolamine salt. In addition thereto, there can be blended polymers such as the salts of high molecular compounds

including polyvinylpyrrolidone having a resoilpreventing ability, polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of 5000 or more, a maleic anhydride-diisobutylene copolymer, a maleic

anhydride-methyl vinyl ether copolymer, a maleic anhydride-isobutylene copolymer, a maleic anhydridevinyl acetate copolymer, and a naphthalensulfonateformalin condensation product, as long as the

performances of the composition of the present invention are not prevented. Further, there may be blended enzymes such as protease, lipase and

cellulase, enzyme stabilizers such as calcium

chloride and magnesium sulfate, fluorescent dyes such as Chinopearl CBS (manufactured by Chiba Geigy Co., Ltd.), and conventional perfumes which are usually stable in liquid detergents. The liquid detergent composition for clothing of the present invention is characterized in that it shows an excellent effect for removing sebaceous stains in washing by coating as well as a cleaning strength obtained by a conventional washing method and that facility in use is excellent as well.

[EXAMPLES ]

The present invention will be explained below with reference to examples but the present invention will not be restricted to these examples.

Example 1

The liquid detergent compositions shown in Table 1 were prepared, and the viscosities of the

respective compositions were measured.

A B type viscometer (PVM-B type digital

viscometer manufactured by Tokyo Keiki Co., Ltd.) was used to measure the viscoisties at 20ºC in the conditions of No. 2 rotar, 60 rpm and 60 seconds. The results thereof are shown in Table 1.

The following substances were used as the component (a) and the component (b).

●Nonion a₁ : prepared by adding average 10 moles of EO to linear primary alcohol having 12 carbon atoms.

●Nonion a₂ : prepared by adding average 12 moles of EO to linear primary alcohol having a carbon number of 12 carbon atoms.

●Nonion b₁: prepared by adding average 7 moles of EO to linear secondary alcohol having 12 to 14 carbon atoms.

●Nonion b₂: prepared by adding average 12 moles of EO to linear secondary alcohol having 12 to 14 carbon atoms.

Example 2

The nonion a₂ and the nonion b₁ used in Example 1 were used to prepare the liquid detergent

compositions shown in Table 2, and the following tests were carried out.

(1) Preparation of artificially stained cloths for evaluating a degreasing strength

Trioleine 200 g was dissolve in 80 liter of Perclene, and a #2003 cloth was dipped therein to be staned with trioleine. Then, Perclene was removed by drying to prepare an artificially stained cloth.

(2) Method for evaluating a degreasing strength

The artificially stained cloth described above was cut to 5 cm × 5 cm, and 0.2 g of the detergent composition per sheet of the artificially stained cloth was coated on an area of 2 cm × 2 cm. Then, one set of five sheets was washed in Turgotometer at 100 rpm in the following conditions.

Washing renditions:

Washing time: 10 minutes

Hardness of water: 4°

Rinsing: 5 minutes with city water

After washing, the part of the stained cloth on which the detergent composition had been coated was accurately cut off to 2 cm × 2 cm, and one set of five sheets was subjected to Soxhlet extraction with chloroform used as a solvent for 12 hours. Non-washed artificially stained cloths were cut off as well to 2 cm × 2 cm, and the extraction was carried out in the same manner.

Chloroform was removed from the extracts with an evaporator to determine the extracted amounts of trioleine. A degreasing rate was determined from the following equation:

Degreasing rate (%) = [(the extracted amount in the non-washed stained cloth - the extracted amount in the washed stained cloth) /the extracted amount in the non-washed stained cloth] × 100

(3) Storage stability test

The respective compositions in the Table 2 were stored for 20 days at 40°C and -5°C respectively, to observe the presence of separation, cloud and

precipitates. Criteria for evaluation are as follows: o: No separation, cloud and precipitates generated at both 40° C and -5°C.

x: Separation, cloud and precipitates generated at 40ºC or -5°C.

Claims

1. A liquid detergent composition characterized by comprising:

(a) polyoxyethylene alkyl ether obtained by adding average 5 to 15 moles of ethylene oxide to primary alcohol having 8 to 16 carbon atoms,

(b) polyoxyethylene alkyl ether obtained by adding average 5 to 15 moles of ethylene oxide to secondary alcohol having 8 to 16 carbon atoms, and

(c) a solvent,

wherein the total amount of the component (a) and the component (b) accounts for 20 to 60 weight % in the compostion and a (a)/(b) weight ratio is 10/1 to 1/10.

2. The composition as described in claim 1, wherein the solvent (c) is a compound represented by the following Formula (I):

[wherein R¹ represents a linear or branched alky] group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an allyl group, a benzyl group, or a phenyl group; R² represents hydrogen or a methyl group; and x represents a number of 1 to 10.]

3. The composition as described in claim 1 or 2, containing the component (c) in a proportion of 0.1 to 30 weight %.

4. The composition as described in claim 2, wherein R¹ represents a benzyl group or a phenyl group.