CA1208519A

CA1208519A - Fatty acid containing detergent compositions

Info

Publication number: CA1208519A
Application number: CA000428642A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Jean-Luc H.M. Wertz; Pierre C.E. Goffinet
Original assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
Current assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
Priority date: 1982-05-24
Filing date: 1983-05-20
Publication date: 1986-07-29
Also published as: FI73727C; DE3366958D1; ATE22920T1; EP0095205A1; MX162610A; IE55427B1; EP0095205B1; FI73727B; JPH0477038B2; FI831832L; AU559791B2; JPS5925894A; IE831206L; AU1488883A; FI831832A0; GR78820B

Abstract

FATTY ACID CONTAINING DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS
Abstract of the Disclosure Detergent compositions, preferably heavy-duty liquids, containing an anionic surfactant, a selected cosurfactant and a fatty acid are disclosed. The compositions are formulated to provide an initial pH of from about 6.0 to about 8.5 at a concen-tration of from about 0.1% to about 2% by weight in water at 20°C. The compositions preferably also contain ethoxylated nonionic surfactants, a detergent builder and enzymes.

Description

r ~ 9 _____ _ , FATTY ACID CONTAINING DETERGENT COA~IPOSITIONS
Jean-Luc H. M. Wertz Pierre C. E. Goffinet Technical Field The present invention relatas to detergent compositions, preferably liquid detergents, containing an anionic synthetic surfactant, a cosurfactant selected from the group consisting of certain c-juaternary ammonium, diquaternary ammonium, amine, diamine, amine oxide and di~amine oxide) surfactants, and a fatty 10 acid. The compositions herein have a molar ratio of the anionic synthetic surfactant to the cosurfactant of at least 1 and ar~
formulated to prov7de an init~al p~l of from about 6.0 to about 8.5 at a concentration of from~about 0.190 to about 2% by weight in water at 20C. The compositions provid~ both superior greasy/
oily soil removal and good builderlpH sensitive soil removal at the near-neutral wash pH.
Background Art U.S. Patent 4,285,841, Barrat et al, issued August 25, 1981, discloses liquid detergents containing anionic surfactants, nonionic 20 surfactants and from about 8% to about 20% by weight of a fatty acid. The compositions have a pH of from about 6.0 to 7.S.
U.S. Patent 4,287,082, Tolfo et al, issued September 1, 1981, discloses liquld detergents containlng saturated fatty acids , enzymes, enzyme-accessible calcium and selected short-chain 25 carboxylic acids~
U.S. Patent 4,321,165, Smith et al, issued March 23, 1982, discloses built detergents containing anionic, nonionic and cationic surfactants. The compositions provide a solution pH of at leas~
about 6, and preferably greater than about 8.
Summary of the Invention The present invention encompasses detergent compositions comprising:
(a) from about 2g6 to about 60% by weight of an anionic synthetic surfactant;
(b) from about 0.259~i to about 12~ by weight of a cosur-factant selected from the sroup consisting of:

` ~

~2~1~S~

(i) quaternary ammonium surfactants having the formula:
~R2[oR3)yl~R4(0R3)yl2R5N X
wherein R is an alkyl or alkyl benzyl group having from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain; each R3 is selected from the group ~onsisting of -CH2CH2-, -CH2CH(CH3)-, -C:H2CH(CH2OH)-, -CH2CH2CH2-, and mixtures thereof; each R
is selected from the group consisting of C1 4 alkyl, C1 4 hydroxy-alkyl, benzyl, ring structures formed by joining the two R
groups, -CH2C:HOHCHOHCOR6CHOHCH20H wherein R6 is any hexose or hexose polymer having a molecular weight up to about 1000, and hydrogen when y is not 0; R5 is the same as R4 or is an alkyl chain wherein the tGtal number of carbon atoms of R2 plus R5 is not more than about 18; each y is from 0 to about 10 and the sum of the y values is from 0 to about 15; and X is any compatible anion tii) diquaternary ammonium surfactants having the formula:
lR2(OR3)~][R4(OR3)y]~N R3N R lR (OR )y]2 (X )2 wherein R, R3, R4, R, y and X are as defined above;
(iii) amine surfactants having the formula:
lR ~oR3)y ][R4~oR3)y]R5N
wherein R2, R3, R4, R5 and y are as defined above;
(iv) dlamine surfactants having the formula:
[R2(oR3))~3lR4(R3)Y]iiR3NR5lR4(oR3)y]
wherein R, R, R, R and y are as defined above;
(v) amine oxide surfactants having the formula:
1 R2(QR3) ] [ R4(oR3)y] R N ~0 wherein R2, R3, R4, R5 and y are as defined above; and (vi) di(amine oxide) surfactants having the formula:
lR lOR )y][R (OR )y]NR3NR5[R4(OR3)y]

wherein Pc, R, R, R and y are as defined above; and (c) from about 5% to about 409~ by weight of a fatty acid containing from about 10 to about 22 carbon atoms;

~2~3519 said composition having a molar ratio of the anionic synthetic surfactant to the cosurfactant of at least 1 and formulated to provid~ an initial pH of from about 6.0 to about 8.5 at a concen-tration of from about 0.1% to about 2% by weight in water at 20~.
Detailed Descrip ion of the !nvention The detergent compositions herein contain an anionic syn-thetic surfactant, a cosurfactant sslected from certain quaternary ammonium, diquaternary ammonium, amine, diamine, amine oxide and di lamine oxide) surfactants, and a fatty acid material . The C01pO8itiollS can be in any form, Tnclud~ng granules, liquids, tablets or p~stos. However, liquid compos~t~ons are highly pr~-ferred since the compositions herein are especially effectivo when applied directly to solls and stains in a pretreatment step. The compositions herein must have a molar ratio of the anionic syn-thetic surfactant to the cosur~actant of at least one, preferably from about 2 :1 to about 20 :1, and are formulated to provide an initial pH of from about 6.0 to about 8.5 at a concentration of from about 0,1~; to about 2% by weight in water at 20C. It has been found that the addition of the cosurfactant to the fatty acid containing detergents herein provides important greasy/oily soil removal benefits only at the near-neutral wash pi-i. The wash pH
i5 preferably from abo-ot 7.0 to about 8.5, more preferably from about 7.5 to about 8Ø
Whlle not Tntending to be limited by ~heory, it is believed that the cosurfactant and anlonlc surfactant herein form complexes which enhance packing of the surfactants at the oillwater inter-face, thereby lowering interfacial tension and improving deter-gency. tThe amine, diamine, amine oxide and di(amine oxide) surfactants would be at least partially protonated at the near-neutral pH and thus can ~orm charges species capable of complex-ing with the anionTc surfactant. ) At the defined pH range recited herein, the fatty acid component exists in a chemical form which is optimal for effective detergency. At too low a pH, the non-dissociated form of the acid is ineffective. It is also believed that the higher pH s (i.e., above about 8.5) affect the interaction .. . .... .. .. . ..... ... . ..

~2¢~519 of the fatty acid with the cosurfactant and water hardness and result in the formation of undesirable species at the oillwater interface which reduce de~ergency performance~
Anionic S nthetic Surfactant _ Y
The detergent compositions herein contain from about 2% to about 60% by weight of an anionic synthetic surfactant, or mix-tures thereof. The anionic surfactant preferabiy represents from about 596 to about 4n%, and more preferably from about 10% to about 20%, by weight of the detorgent composition. Anionic sur-factants useful herein are disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,285,841, Barrat et al , issued August 25 , 1 981~ and in U . S. Patent 3,919,678, Laughlin et al, issued December 30, 1975, Useful anionic surfactants include the water-soluble salts, particularly the alkali metal, ammonium and alkylolammonium ( e . g ., monoethanolar~monium or triethanolammonium) salts , of organic sulfuric reaction products having in their molecular structure an alkyl group containing from about 10 to about 20 carbon atoms and a sulfonic acid or sulfuric acid ester group.
llncluded in the term "alkyl" is the alkyl portion of aryl groups.) Examples of this group of synthetic surfactants are the alkyl sulfates, especially those obtained by sulfating the higher alcohols ( C8-CI8 carbon atoms) such as those produced by reducing the glycerides of tallow or coconut oil; and the alkylbenzene sul-fonates Tn which the alkyl group contains from about 9 to about 15 carbon atoms, In straight chain or branched chain configuratlon, e.g., thosc of the type described in United States Pat~nts

2 ,220 ,099 and 2 ,477 ,383. Especially valuable are llnear stralght chain alkylbenzene sulfonates in which the average number of carbon atoms ;n the alkyl group is from about ll to 14.
Other anionic surfactants herein are the water-soluble salts of: paraffin sulfonates containing from about 8 to about 24 (pre-ferably about 12 to 181 carbon atoms; alkyl glyceryl ether sul-fonates, especially those ethers of C8_18 alcohols (e.g., those derived from tallow and coconut oil); alkyl phenol ethylene oxide . . . ... ... . .. ... . .. .. . . ... . . . . .. . .

31.;2~3519 ether sulfates sontaining from about I to about 4 units of ethylene oxide per molecule and from about 8 to about 12 carbon atoms in the alkyl group; and alkyl ethylene oxide ether sulfates con-taining about I to about 4 units of ethylene oxide per molecule and from about 10 to about 20 carbon atoms in the alkyl group.
Other useful anionic surfactants herein include the water-soluble salts of esters of a-sulfonated fatty acids containing from about 6 to 20 carbon atoms in the fatty acid group and from about I to 10 carbon atoms in the ester group; water-soluble salts of 2-acyloxy-alkane-l-sulfonic acids containing from about 2 to 9 carbon atoms in the acyl group and from about 9 to about 23 carbon atoms in the alkane moiety; water-soluble salts of olefin sulfonates containing from at,out 12 to 24 carbon atoms; and

3-alkyloxy alkane sulfonates containing from about I to 3 carbon atoms in the alkyl group and from about 8 to 20 carbon atoms in the alkane moiety.
Particularly preferred anionic surfactants herein are the alkyl sulfates of the ~ormula Ro(c2H4o)xso3M
wherein R is an alkyl chain having from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms, saturated or unsaturated, and the longest linear portion of the alkyl chain. is 15 carbon atoms or less on the average, M i5 a cation which makes the compound water~soluble, especially an alkall rnetal, ammonium or substituted ammonium cation, and x is from 0 to about 4. Most preferred are the non ethoxylated C12_15 prlmary and secondary alkyl sulfates, Under cold water washing conditlons, i~e., less than about 65f (18.3Cl, ~t is preferred that there be a mixture of such alkyl sulfates .
Mixtures of the alkyl sulfates with the above-described alkylbenzene sulfonates, paraffin sulfonates, alkyl glyceryl ether sulfonates and esters of a -sulfonated fatty acids, particularly with the C~ 3 linear alkylbenzene sulfonates, are also preferred .
Cosurfactant :
- -l Z~B~9 The compositions herein also contain from about 0.25% to about 12%, preferably from about 0.5~ to about 8%, more preferably from about 1~6 to about 4%, by weight of a cosurfactant selected from the group of certain quaternary ammonium, diquaternary ammonium, amine, diamine, amine oxide and dilamine oxide~ surfactants. The quaternary ammonium surfactants are particularly preferred.
The quaternary ammonium surfactants herein are of the formula:
[R2(oR3)y][R4(0R3)y]2RSN X
wherein R is an alkyl or alkyl benzyl group having from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain; each R3 is selected from the group consisting of -CH2CH2-, -C~i2CH(CH3)-, -CH2CH(CH20H)-, -CH~CH2CH2-, and mixtures thereof; each R
.5 is selected from the group consisting of C1 4 alkyl, C1 4 hydroxyalkyl, benzyl, ring structures formed by joining the two R4 groups, -CH2CHOHCHOHCOR6CHOHCH20H wherein R6 is any hexose or hexose polymer having a molecular weight less than about tO00, and hydrogen when y is not 0; RS is the same as R4 or is an alkyl chain wherein the total number of carbon atoms of R plus RS is not more than about 18; each y is from 0 to about 10 and the sum of the y values is from 0 to about 15; and X is any compatible anion.
Preferred of the above are the alkyl quaternary ammonium surfactants, especially the mono-long chain alkyl surfactants described in the above formula when R5 is selected from the same groups as R4. The most preferred quaternary ammonium surfactants are the chloride, bromide and methylsulfate C8 16 alkyl trimethylammonium salts, C8_16 alkyl di(hydroxyethyl)methylammonium satts, the C8_16 alkyl hydroxyethyldimethylammonium salts, and C8 16 alkyloxypropyl trimethylammonium salts. Of the above, decyl trimethylammonium methylsulfate, lauryl trimethylammonium chloride, myristyl trimethylammonium bromide and coconut trimethylammonium chloride and methylsulfate are particularly preferred.

_. _ . . . . .

. .

51~

Under cold water washing conditions, ~Oe., less than about 65F. ~1B.3~C), the C8 10 alkyltrimethyl ~mmonium surfact~nts are particularly preferred since they have a lower Kraft boundary and, therefore, a lower crystallization temperature than the S longer alkyl chain quaternary ammonium surfactants herein.
Diquaternary ammonium surfactants herein are of the formula:
IR (9R )yltR (OR3)y]~,N+R3N+R51R4(0~3) 1 (X~l wherein the R, R, R, R, y and X substituents are as defined above for the quaternary ammonium surfactants. These substituents are also preferably selected to provide diquaternary ammonium surfactants c~rresponding to the preferred quaternary ammonium surfactants~ Particularly pr~ferred are the C8 16 alkyl pentamethylethylenediammonium chloride, bromide and methylsulfate salts.
Amine surfactants useful ^nerein are of the formula:
1 R (oR3~ ] [ R4(oR3) 1 RSN
wherein the R2, R3, R~, R5 and y substituents are as defined above for the quaternary ammonium surfactants. Particularly preferred are th~ C12~16 alkyi dimethyl aminesO
Diamine surfact~ants herein are of the formula 1 R2(~)R3]y1 I R4(~ 3)y] NR3NR51 ~4(oR )yl wherein the R~, R3, R4, R5 and y substituents are as defined above. Preferred are the C1 2-16 alkyl trimethylethylene diamines.
Amine oxide surfactants useful herein are of the formulla:
I R~[oR3)y] ~ R4(0R3)yl RSN ~0 wherein the R2; R3, K4, R5 and y substituents are also as defined above for the quaternary ammonium surfactants.
Particulariy preferred are ~he C12 16 alkyl dimethyl amine oxides.
Di(amine oxide) surfactants herein are of the formula:
I R2 ( oR3 l ] ~ R4 (oR3 ) 1 NR3 NR5 I R4 (0~ ) y l wherein the R2, R3, R4, R5 and y substituents are as defined above. Preferred is C12 16 alkyl trimethylethylene di(amine oxide~ .

... .. -- ~

lZ~19 Fatty Acid The compositions of the present invention contain from about 5~ to about 409~, preferably from about 7% to about 30~6, most preferably from about 109~ to about 20%, by weight of a fatty acid 5containing from about 10 to about 22 carbon atoms. The fatty acid can also contain from abou~ 1 to about 10 ethylene oxide units in the hydrocarbon chain.
Suitable fatty acids are saturated and~or unsaturated and can be obtained from naturai sources such as plant or animal 10esters le.g., palm kernel oil, palm oil, coconut oil, babassu oil, safflower oil, tall oil, castor oil, tallow and fish 0il5, grease, and mixtures thereof) or synthetically prepar~d (e.g., via the oxidatlon of petroleum or by hydrogenation of carbon monooxide via the Fischer-lTropsch process). Examples of suitable saturated 15fatty aclds for use in the compositions of this invention include capric, lauric, myristic, palmitic, stearic, arachidic and behenic acid. Suitable unsaturated fatty acid species include:
palmitoleic, oleic, linoleic, linolenic and ricinoleic acid. Example~
of preferred fatty acids are saturated C1 0-C1 4 (coconut) fatty 20acids, from about 5:1 to 1:1 ~preferably about 3:1) weight ratio mixtures of lauric and myristic acid, and mixtures of the above lauric/myrlstlc blends with oleic acid at a weight ratio of about

4:1 to 1:4 mixed lauric/myristic: oleic.
Op_ional Components 25The compositions of the present invention also preferably contain up to about 30%, preferably from about 19~1 to about 2096, more preferably from about 5% to about 15%, by weight of an ethoxylated nonionic surfactant. These materials are described in U.S. Patent 4,285,841, Barrat et al, issued August 25, 1981, 30Preferred are the ethoxylated alcohols and ethoxylated alkyl phenols of the formula R(OC2H4)nl)H, wherein R is selected from the group consisting of aliphatic hydrocarbon radicals containing from about 8 to about 15 earbon atoms and alkyl phenyi radicals in which the alkyl groups 35contain from about 8 to about 12 carbon atoms, n is from about 3 ,. .

-~Z~3519 _ 9 _ to about 9, and said nonionic surfactant has an HLI3 lhydrophile-lipophile balance) value of from about 10 to about 13~
These surfactants are more fully described in U.S. Patent 1~,284,532, Leikhim et al, issued August 18, 1981, Particularly preferred are ethoxylated alcohols haviny an average of from about 10 to about 15 carbon atoms in the alcohol and an average degree of ethoxylation of from about 3 to about 8 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol .
The compositions herein also preferably contain up to about 40%, more preferably from about 1% to about 309~, by weight of a detergent builder material. While all manner of detergent builders known in the art can be used in the present compositions, the type and level of bui Ider must be selected such that the final composition has an initial pH of frorn about 6.0 to about 8.5 at a concentration of from about 0.19~ to about 19~ by weight in water at 20~C . Detergent builders are described in U . S . Patent 4,321,165, Smith e~ al, issued March 23, 1982, In the preferred liquid detergent compositions herein, the builder preferably represents from about 1% to about 209~, more preferably from about 3% to about 10%, by welght of the composition. Preferred builders for use in liquid detergents herein are described in U,S. Patent 4,284,532, Leikhim et al, issued August 18, 1981, A pa'rticularly preferred builder Is citric acid.
Other preferred components ~or use In liquid detergents herein are the neutralizing agents, buffering agents, phase regulants, hydrotropes, enzymes, enzyme stabilizing agents, polyacids, suds regulants, opacifiers, antioxidants, bactericides, dyes, perfumes, and brighteners described in the U . S . Patent 4,285,841, Barrat et al, issued August 25, 1981,~
- Preferred neutralizing agents for use herein are organic bases, especially triethanolamine and monoethanolamine, which result in better detergency performance ' than inorganic bases such as sodium and potassium hydroxides.

.. . .. _ . .. .

..

~Z~Sl~ -Particularly preferred compositions herein contain from about 0.196 to about 296 by weight of detersive enzymes, especially the amylases, proteases, and mixtures thereof, of the type well known to detergent formulators.
The following non-limiting examples illustrate the compositions of the present invention. All percentages, parts and ratios used herein are by weight unless otherwise specified.
EXAMPLE I
Four sets of 7.6 cm square polycotton (P/C) or cotton (C) swatches stained with standard soils were washed in an automatic mini-washer using 2000 ppm of either Composition A, a commercially available heavy-duty liquid detergent; Composition IB
containing, by weight, 6.2% sodium C13 linear alkylhenzene sul~onate, 9.4% sodium C14 15 alkyl sulfate, 10.0P~ C12_13 alcohol polyethoxylate (6.5), 10.0% coconut fatty acid, 5.0% oleic fatty acid, 15 . 09~ citric acid, O . 39~ diethylenetriame pentamethylene phosphonic acid, 0.239~ brightener, 1.0% protease enzyme, enough monoethanolamine to achieve the desired pH and the balance, to 100% water; Composition C, which was B plus 2.7% by weight of ~ C12 alkyl trimethylammonium chloride; or Composition D, which was B plus 2.796 by weight of C12 16 alkyl dimethyl amine oxide.
The wash pH was about 7 . 3 for Composition A and about 7 . 4 for E~, C and D. The wash water temperature was 95~F (35C) and the water hardness was 5 grains/gallon (3:1 Ca+ :I\Ilg~ ). The swatches were then dried and each set was round robin comparison graded against its counterparts to determine relativQ
soil removal provided by the detergent compositlons. A grading scale of -4 to 4 was used, with -4 indicating much less soil removal, 0 indicating no difference and 4 indicating much more soil removal. The results for each composition were then averaged and Composition A was assigned a relative value of 0.
A similar comparision was made except that the wash pH for Compositions B, C and D was about 9.5.
The results were as follows.

12~ .9 Klash pH 7 . 4 . Wash_pH 9 . s Comp B C D B C D_ _ _ _ _ Soil Fabric Bacon grease P/C0.1 1.6 0.9 0.6 0.7 0.5 Synthetic dir- P/C 0.1 1.9 2.6 -0.7 1.0 0.6 ty motor oil Makeup ( oi I Pl C -0 . 5 1.5 1.6 -2.0 -1. 7 -2 . 6 base) Spaghetti PIC-1.3 -1.7 -1.8 -0.5 -0.7 -0.1 sauce Chocolate C 1 . 5 1 . 0 -0 . 2 -0 . 4 -2 . o -2 . o Grass PIC-1.6 1.8 2.3 3.5 3.6 l~.2 Gravy C 0~9 0.5 1.6 4.0 3.6 3.7 Clay P/C2.2 3.7 3,3 -1,0 0.9 -0.
Clay C 3.2 2.9 3.5 4.1 3.6 3.2 Body Soil P/C0.6 0.4 0.5 0.8 1.3 0.8 The above results dernonstrate that Compositions C and D of the present invention containing quaternary ammonium and amine oxide cosurfactants, respectively, provide important advantages 20 on greasy/oil soils and also on grass and clay (on PC) relative to Composition B at wash pH's of 7.4. However, these advantages are substantially eliminated at wash pH's of 9.5.
As demonstrated above, the present Tnvention also encompasses a method for laundering fabrics comprising contacting 25 said fabrics with an aqueous solution having a pH of from about 6 . 0 to about 8 . 5 at 20C . and containing at least about 0 .1% by welght of the compositions h~rein.
EXAhlPLF H
Liquld detergent compositions of the pressnt invention are as follows.
Component Wt. %

C13 linear alkylbenzene sulfonic acid 5.8 5.5 Coconutalkyl sulfuric acid 8.8 8.3 C12 alkyl trimethylammonium chloride 1.2 ... . ..... . .. ..... .. .. . . .. ..

~Z~S~9 C14 alkyl trimethylammonium bromide - 1.7 C12 13 alcohol polyethoxylate (6.5) 10.0 C1 3 15 alcohol polyethoxylate (7 ) - ~ . 4 Lauric acid 7.5 7.1 Myristic acid 2.5 2.3 Oleic acid 5.0 4.7 Citric acid monohydrate 7.s 5.7 Diethylenetriamine pentamethylene-phosphonic acid 0.3 0.3 Diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid 0.3 0.3 Protease enzyme 1.0 1.0 Amylase enzyma 0.3 0.3 Monoethanolamine 12.0 Triethanolamine 6 .7 7 . 5 Sodium hydroxide - 3 . 2 Potzssium hydroxlde - 4.0 1 ,2-Propanediol 5.0 8.5 Ethanol 1 . 0 4 . 7 Sodium formate 1.0 1.0 Sodium toluene sulfonate 5.0 Minors and water Balance to 100 4596 branched Composition A was prepared by adding the components, with continuous mixing, In the following order: aicohol polyethoxylate;
25 monoethanolamine; premix of coconutalkyl sulfuric acid paste (containing propanediol, triethanolamine, coconutalkyl sulfuric acid, water and minors~ and monoethanolamine-neutralized alkylbenzene sulfonic acid; premix of toluene sulfonate and water;
citric acid alkyl trimethylammonium chloride; premix of fatty 30 acids; phosphonic acid; acetic acid; premlx of dye, brigh~ener, formate, ethanol and water; adjust pH to about 8,1 with monoethanolamine or water; protease enzyme; amylase enzyme; and perfume. The product obtained was a clear liquid. It exhibited better detergency performance than a similar product obtained by 35 adding the fatty acids prior to adding the alkyltrimethylammonium chloride. The product also exhibited better detergency ~Z6~35~9 performance, phase stability and a less objectionable base odor than a similar product obtained by adding the monoethanolamine after the premix of the coconut alkyl sulfuric acid paste and the neutralized alkylbenzene sulfonic acid.
Composition B was obtained by mixing the components.
Other compositions of the present invention are obtained when the alkyl trimethyiammonium halides in the above compositions are replaced with coconutalkyl trimethylammonium chloride, decyl trimethylammonium methylsulfa~e, Iauryl di(hydroxyethyl) methylammonium chloride, decyloxypropyl trimethylammonium chloride, lauryl pentamethylethylenediammonium chloride, lauryl diethanolamine, coconutalkyl trimethylethylene diamine, C12 16 alkyl dimethyl amine oxide, or with coconutalkyl trimethylethylene ditamine oxide).
Other compositions herein are obtained when, in the above compositions~ the C13 linear alkylbenzene sulfonic acid is replaced with coconutalkyl sulfurTc acid or C1 4-15 allcyl sulfuric aci when the coconutalkyl sulfuric acid is replaced with C14 15 alkyl ethoxy (l avg.) sulfuric acid.
Compositions of the present invention are also obtained when the lauric/myristic/oleic fatty acid mixture in the above compositions is replaced with coconut fatty acid or a 3 :1 weight ~ ratio mixture of lauric and myristic acid.
Granular detergents of the present invention can be obtained by spray-drying the above compositions and admixing heat-sensitlve materials such as the enzymes.

Claims

- 14 -

1. A detergent composition comprising:
(a) from about 2% to about 60% by weight of an anionic synthetic surfactant;
(b) from about 0.25% to about 12% by weight of a cosurfactant selected from the group consisting of:
(i) quaternary ammonium surfactants having the formula:
[R2(OR3)y][R4(OR3)y]2R5N+X-wherein R2 is an alkyl or alkyl benzyl group having from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain; each R3 is selected from the group consisting of -CH2CH2-, -CH2CH(CH3)-, -CH2CH(CH2OH)-, -CH2CH2CH2-, and mixtures thereof; each R4 is selected from the group consisting of C1-4 alkyl, C1-4 hydroxyalkyl, benzyl, ring structures formed by joining the two R4 groups, -CH2CHOHCHOHCOR6CHOHCH2OH wherein R6 is any hexose or hexose polymer having a molecular weight up to about 1,000, and hydrogen when y is not 0; R5 is the same as R4 or is an alkyl chain wherein the total number of carbon atoms of R2 plus R5 is not more than about 18; each y is from 0 to about 10 and the sum of the y values is from 0 to about 15; and X is any compatible anion;
(ii) diquaternary ammonium surfactants having the formula:
[R2(OR3)y][R4(OR3)y]2N+R3N+R5[R4(OR3)y]2 (X-)2 wherein R2 R3 R4, R5, y and X are as defined above;
(iii) amine surfactants having the formula:
[R2(OR3)y][R4(OR3)y]R5N
wherein R2, R3, R4, R5 and y are as defined above;
(iv) diamine surfactants having the formula:
[R2(OR3)y][R4(OR3)y]NR3NR5[R4(OR3)y]
wherein R2, R3, R4, R5 and y are as defined above;
(v) amine oxide surfactants having the formula:
[R2(OR3)y][R4(OR3)y]R5N ? 0 wherein R2, R3, R4, R5 and y are as defined above; and (vi) di(amine oxide) surfactants having the formula:
wherein R2, R3, R4, R5 and y are as defined above; and (c) from about 5% to about 40% by weight of a fatty acid containing from about 10 to about 22 carbon atoms;
said composition having a molar ratio of the anionic synthetic surfactant to the cosurfactant of at least 1 and formulated to provide an initial pH of from about 6.0 to about 8.5 at a concentration of from about 0.1% to about 2% by weight in water at 20°C.

2. The composition of Claim 1 wherein the anionic surfactant comprises an alkyl sulfate of the formula RO(C2H4O)xSO?M+
wherein R is an alkyl chain having from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms, saturated or unsaturated, and the longest linear portion of the alkyl chain is 15 carbon atoms or less on the average, M is a cation which makes the compound water-soluble, and x is from 0 to about 4.

3. The composition of Claim 2 wherein in the alkyl sulfate surfactant, R is an alkyl group containing from about 12 to about 15 carbon atoms, x is 0 and M is an alkali metal, ammonium or substituted ammonium cation.

4. The composition ot Claim 3 wherein the anionic surfactant additionally comprises a water-soluble salt of an alkylbenzene sulfonate, paraffin sulfonate, alkyl glyceryl ether sulfonate or an ester of an a-sulfonated fatty acid.

5. The composition of Claim 3 wherein the anionic surfactant additionally comprises an alkali metal, ammonium or substituted ammonium salt of a linear alkylbenzene sulfonate containing from about 11 to about 14 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain.

6. The composition of Claim 1 wherein the cosurfactant is selected from the group consisting of the chloride, bromide and methylsulfate C8-16 alkyl trimethylammonium salts, C8-16 alkyl di(hydroxyethyl) methylammonium salts, C8-16 alkyl hydroxyethyldimethylammonium salts, and C8-16 alkyloxypropyl trimethylammonium salts, and C12-16 alkyl dimethylamine oxide.

7. The compositions of Claim 6 wherein the cosurfactant is decyl trimethylammonium methylsulfate, lauryl trimethylammonium chloride, myristyl trimethylammonium bromide and coconut alkyl trimethylammonium chloride and methylsulfate.

8. The compositions of Claim 1 wherein the fatty acid comprises a material containing from about 10 to about 14 carbon atoms, or mixtures thereof.

9. The compositions of Claim 3 wherein the cosurfactant is selected from the group consisting of the chloride, bromide and methylsulfate C8-16 alkyl trimethylammoniurn salts, C8-16 alkyl di(hydroxyethyl) methylammonium salts. C8-16 alkylozypropyl hydroxyethyldimethylammonium salts, and C8-16 alkyloxypropyl trimethylammonium salts, and C12-16 alkyl dimethylamine oxide and the fatty acid comprises a material containing from about 10 to about 14 carbon atoms, or mixtures thereof.

10. A liquid detergent composition according to Claim 9 comprising from about 10% to about 20% by weight of the anionic synthetic surfactant, from about 1% to about 4% by weight of the cosurfactant, and from about 10% to about 20% by weight of the fatty acid.

11. The composition of Claim 10 additionally comprising from about 0.1 to about 2% by weight of an enzyme suitable for use in detergent compositions selected from the group consisting of amylases, proteases, and mixtures thereof.

12. The composition of Claim 11 additionally comprising from about 3% to about 10% by weight of citric acid.

13. A method for laundering fabrics comprising contacting said fabrics with an aqueous solution having a pH of from about. 6.0 to about 8.5 at 20°C and containing at least about 0.1% by weight of the composition of Claim 1.