CA2007169A1 - Softergent with sugar ethers as detergency boosters - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract Of The Disclosure A laundry detergent comprises: a detersively effective amount of a mixture of non-sugar, nonionic surfactant and amphoteric surfactant; a fabric softening effective amount of a water-insoluble quaternary ammonium compound; a detergent building effective amount of at least one builder salt; and a detergency boosting effective amount of a sugar ether containing at least two long chain alkyl groups. The laundry detergent has a high level of detergency on greasy and particulate soils and a high level of redeposition prevention despite the presence of high levels of cationic softener.

Description

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l B~CKG~OUND OF Tll~ INVENTION
I
¦Eield Of The Invention:
I __ _ ¦ This invention relates to an improved laundry detergent ¦composition. More particularly, this invention is directed to a ¦ laundry detergent composition containing a water-insoluble quaternary ammonium compound fabric softener (a softergent) having incorporated therein a sugar ether which provides detergency boosting properties to the laundry detergent l composition without loss of softening perEormance. A preferrecl ¦ embodiment of the invention is directed to a soEtergent with improved cleaning and whitening performance, especially at 60C
or above.
Description Of The Prior Art-I
l Compositions useful for treating fabrics to improve ¦ the softness and feel characteristics thereof are known in theart.
When used in domestic laundering, the fabric softeners are typically added to the rinse water during the rinse cyc]e having a duration of only from about 2 to 5 minutes.
Consequently, the consumer is required to monitor the launrlt?ril-g operation or take other precautions so that the fabric softener is added at the proper time. This requires the consumer to return to the washing machine either just prior to or at the beginning of the rinse cycle of the washing operation which is obviously burdensome to the consumer. In addition, special precaution has to be taken to use a proper amount of the fabric soEtener so as to avoid over-dosage which may render the clothes water-repellant by depositing a greasy film on the fabric surface, as well as imparting a certain degree oE yellowness to the fabrics.

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~5 a solution to t11e above-noted problems, it has been known to use fabric softeners whieh are compatible with common J.aundry detergents so that the softeners can be combined with the l detergents in a single package for use during the wash eycle o~
tl~e laundering operation. Examples of sucl- wash cycle aclc7ecl fabric softening compositions are shown in U.S. Patents 3,351,433, 3,660,286 and 3,703,480. In genera], these wasl~ cycl.e fabric softening compositions contain a catioric quaternary ammonium fabric softener and additional ingredients which rendec the softening compounds compatible with the eommon laundry detergents.
It i5 also known, however, that the cationic softeling compounds added to the wash eyele, either as an ingredient ln a detergent-soEtener (softergent) eomposition or as a wash cycle softener, interfere with the brightening activ;ty, as well a.s tl~e eleaning efficiency of the detergent. As a result, it l-as beel sought to offset to some degree this interference in softergent compositions by using nonionic surfaetants, higher levels oE
brightener compounds, carboxymethyleellulose, anti-yellowing eompounds, bluing agents, and so forth. ~lowever, little improvement has been made in wash eyele softening eompositions l~sing a variety of detergents, most of wh;.eh are aniotlies.
: T11ere have also, however, been many disel.osures ;n theart relating to detergent eompositions eontaining cationic softering agents, including the quaternary ammonium compound softening agents, and nonionic surface-acti.ve compouncls. ~s representative of the art, mention can be macle o~ U.S. Patents 4,264,457, 4,239,659, 4,259,217, 4,222,905, 3,951,879, 3,360,~70, 3,351,483 and 3,644,203. In addition, U.S. Patents 3,537,993, 3,583,912, 3,983,079, 4,203,872 and 4,264,479 specicically - -disclose eombinations of nonionie surfaetant, cationie fabric softener and another ionic surfaetant or modifier, sueh as zwitterionic surfaetants, amphoteric surfactants, and the like.
While many of these prior art formulations provicle satisfactory cleaning and/or softening under many difEerent conditions they still suffer from the defects of not providing adequate softening - e.g. eomparable to rinse cycle-added softeners - especially under hot water washing conditions, i.e.
at temperatures of 60C and higher; requiring form~tion oE
eomplexes of the eationie eompound; using lower softening performanee water-soluble, e.g., monohigher a]kyl quaternary ammonium, cationic eompounds; being limited to liquid eompositions; ete.
Although it is not uneommon for present day laundry detergent compositions and for eonventional home automatic washing maehines, espeeially in the United States, to be able to effect washing/cleaning of soiled fabries using eold or warm wash water, espeeially for sensitive Eabries, wash-wear fabries, permanent-press fabrics, and the like, it is nevertheless appreeiated that more effeetive cleaning (soil removal) requires higher washing temperatures. Furthermore, in Europe and in other countries, the home washing machines operate at hot temperatures of 60C or more, up to the boiling temperature of the wash water.
While these high temperatures are beneficial for soil removal there is not an equal beneEit for softening performance.
It is known that softening perEormance oE a detergent system based on a mixture of a nonionic surfactant eompound ancl a eationie quaternary ammonium eompound fabrie softening agent is signiEieantly enhaneed by using a limited elass of nonionies eharacterized by eloud points above the washing temperature.

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Furthermore, this enhance,nent of the softening performance ;s achieved without any, or at least without any significant, deterioration in washing (i.e. cleaning) performance. The utilization of this limited class of nonionics characterized by cloud points above the washing temperature is disclosed in copending, commonly assigned application Serial No. 646,59q, filed September 4, 1984, entitled Wash Cycle Detergent-Softener Compositions, the disclosure of which is incorporated hereirl by reference.
It is also known that the cloud point of nonionic surfactants having cloud point temperatures oE less than GnC can be raised to above 60C by incorporating in the detergent composition an amphoteric suractant. It is furtller knowll tllat l the mixed nonionic/amphoteric surfactant mixtures are compatible with water-insoluble cationic ~uaternary ammonium compound Cabric softeners, such as dimethyl distearyl ammonium chloride (~MDS~C) and enhance the softening performance of the cationic Eabr;c soEteners to the same extent as do the high cloud point nonionics which by themselves have cloud points above the washing temperature. It is also known that the mixed nonionic/amplloteric surfactant system, even in the presence of the cationic fabric softener, acts synergistically to provide better cleaning performance than the same or greater amounts oE each of the two surfactants used in the absence of the other. This utilizat;on of tl-e mixed nonionic/amphoteric surfactant system in combination with cationic fabric softener is disclosed in copending, commonly assigned application Serial No. 646,60~ filed ~ugust 31, ]9~, entitled ~ot Water Wash Cycle Detergent-Softener Compositions, the disclosure oE which is incorporated herein by reference.

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llowever, the fact remains that the high level of cationics, necessary for softening performance, does not permit as higll a level oE detergeney on greasy and particulate soils as would be desirable, nor does it permit as high a level oE
redeposition prevention as would be desirable.
~ he use of various sugar derivatives in laundry detergent compositions is known.
It is well known in the art that certain alkyl glyeosides, partieularly long ehain alkyl glycosides, are surEace active and are useful as nonionic surfactants in detergent compositions, Lower alkyl glycosides are not as surface active as their long chain counterparts. ~lkyl glycosides exhibiting the greatest surEaee aetivity have relatively long-ehain alkyl groups. These alkyl groups generally eontain about ~3 to 25 carbon atoms and preferably about 10 to 14 carbon atoms~
Long chain alkyl glyeosides are commonly prepared Erom saecharides and long ehain alcohols. Ilowever, unsubstituted saccharides such as glucose are insoluble in higher alcohols and thus do not react together easily. ThereEore, it is common to first convert the saecharide to an intermediate, lower alkyl glycoside which is then reacted with the long chain alcohol.
Lower alkyl glycosides are commercially available and are commonly prepared by reacting a saccharide with a lower alcohol in the presence of an acid catalyst. Butyl glycoside is often employed as the intermediary.
The use of long chain alkyl glycosides as a surEactant in detergent compositions and various methods of preparing a]ky]
glycosides is disclosed, for example, in V.S. Patents 2,97~,134;
3,5~7,82B: 3,598,B65 and 3,721,633. The use oE lower alkyl ~ 0~7~ ~9 glycosides as a viscosity reducing agent in aqueous liquid and ¦powdered detergents is disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,48~,981.
¦ Acetylated sugar esters, such as, for example, glucose ¦penta acetate, glucose tetra acetate and sucrose octa acetate, ¦ have been known or years as oxygen bleach activators. l'he u.se of acetylated sugar derivatives as bleach activators is disclosed in ~.S. Patents 2,955,905 3,901,819 and 4,016,090.
SUMM~RY OF TI~E INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invent;on to improve the detergency oE detergent compositions containiny cationic fabric softening agents.
It is a further object o the present invention to improve the whitening of detergent compositions containing cationic fabric softening agents.
It is a still further object of the invention to provide a heavy duty detergent composition including cationic fabric softening agent with improved cleaning and whitening performance, especially at 60C or higher.
These and other objects of the invention which wil].
become apparent hereinafter may be achieved by the provision oE a laundry detergent comprising a detersively eEfective amount of a mixture oE non-sugar, noni.onic surfactant and amphoteric surfactant; a fabric softening eEfective amourlt oE a water-insoluble quaternary ammonium compound; a detergent building effective amount of at least one builder salt and a detergency boosting effective amount of a sugar ether contain;.ng at least two long chain alkyl groups.
DET~ILED DESCRIPTION OF TIIE INvENlrIoN
Suitable non-sugar, nonionic surface active agents are commercially available and are derived from the condensation of ~ 7~

an alkylene oxide or equivalent reactant and a reactive-hydrogen hydrophobe. The hydrophobic organic compounds may be aliphatic, aromatic or heterocyclic, although the first two c]asses are preferred. The pre~erred types of hydrophobes are higher aliphatic alcohols and alkyl phenols, although others may be used such as carboxylic acids, carboxamides, mercaptans, sulphonamides, etc. The ethylene oxide condensates with l)igher-alkyl phenols or higher fatty alcohols represent preEerred classes of nonionic compounds. Usually, the hydrophobic moiety should contain at least about 6 carbon atoms, and preferably at least about 8 carbon atoms, and may contain as many as about 50 carbon atoms or more, a preferred range being from about 8 t:o 22 carbon atoms, especially from l0 to l~ carbons Eor the aliphatic alcohols, and 12 to 20 carbons for the higller alkyl phenols. 'I'lle amount of alkylene oxide will vary considerably depending upon the hydrophobe, but as a general guide and rule, at least about 3 moles of alkylene oxide per mole of hydrophobe up to about 14 moles of alkylene oxide per mole of hydrophobe will provide the reguired water solubility, cleaning performance and cloud point temperatures of less than about 60C.
Accordingly, the preEerred nonionic surfactants can he represented by the formula RO(CH2cH2O)nr~ (I) wherein ~ is a primary or secondary alkyl chain of ~rom about 8 to 22 carbon atoms and n is an average o~ ~rom 3 to 14, preferab]y 4 to 12 especia]ly 6 to 11;
or R~ ~ O-(CH2CH20)mll (II) ~ '7~

¦ wherein R' i8 a primary oe secondary alkyl chain of ¦ from 4 to 12 carbon atoms, and m is an average of 3 to ¦ 14, preEerably 4 to 12, especially 6 to 11.
¦ The preferred alcohols from which the compounds of ¦ formula I are prepared include lauryl, myristyl, cetyl, stearyl ¦and oleyl and mixtures thereof. Especially preferred values of R
are C10 to Clg with the C12 to C15 alkyls and mixtures thereof being especia]ly preferred.
l The preferred values of R' are Erom C6 to C12, with C8 ¦ to Cg, including octyl, isooctyl and nonyl being especially preferred.
Typica] examples of a nonionic compound of formula (I) are lauryl alcohol condensed with 5 or 7 or 11 moles ethylene l oxide. Typical example of a nonionic compound of formula tII) is ¦ isooctyl phenol or nonyl phenol condensed with 3 to 8 moles ethylene oxide.
Other non-sugar, nonionic compounds which may be used include the polyoxyalkylene esters of the organic acids such as tlle higher fatty acids, the rosin acids, tall oil acids, acids from petroleum oxidation products, etc. These esters will usually contaln from about 10 to about 22 carbon atoms in the acid moiety and from about 3 to about 12 moles of ethylene oxide or its equivalent.
Still other non-sugar, nonionic surfactants are the alkylene oxide condensates with the higher fatty acid amides.
The fatty acid group will generally contain from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms and this will be condensed with about 3 to about 12 moles of ethylene oxide as the preEerred illustration. The corresponding carboxamides and sulphonamides may also be used as substantial equivalents.

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The amount o~ the non-sugar, nonionic will generally be the minimum amount which when added to the wash water with the amphoteric surfactant will provide adequate cleaning performance.
Generally~ amounts ranging from about O.S to about 20~, S preferably from about 1 to about 15%, and especially preferably from about 1 to 10% by weight of the composition, can be used.
The compositions of the present invention are utilizable in connection with those home and commercial laundry washing machines which operate at elevated washing temperatures, especially at water temperatures in excess of about 60C
(140F), preerably in excess oE 80C (176F), and especially preferably at-the-boil, i.e. at 100C t212F) or more.
When the compositions are formulated for use at wash temperatures over a broad range of say, for example, 20C to 60C, as well as higher temperatures in order to be most useful for a broad range of fabrics including delicate natural and synthetic fibers, as well as more temperature insensitive Eabrics such as cottons, etc., the nonionic-amphoteric combination and ratio can be selected to provide a cloud point temperature which exceeds the wash water temperature by at least about 20C, for example, a cloud point temperature o the composition in the range o 30 to 90C. Where, however~ the formulation is designed for use at elevated washing temperatures of 60C or more, such as is generally the case in Europe, as well as when using industrial washing machines, then the composition will have a substantially higher cloud point, for example, up to about 50C above the washing temperature. Thus, for a washing temperature of 60C, the nonionic/amphoteric should have a cloud point of at least about 65C, preferably at least about 70C and up to about 90C, preferably in the range of from about 70C to ~ 7~

35C. For wash water temperatures of 100C, the composition cloud point is chosen in the range of from about 105C to about 150C, preferably 105C to 120C.
As used herein, the term "cloud point" means the temperature at which a graph which plots the light scatter;ng intensity oE the composition versus wash solution temperature begins to sharply increase to its maximum value, under the following experimental conditions:
The light scattering intensity is measured using a Model VM 12397 Photogoniodiffusometer, manufactured by Societe Francaise d'Instruments de Controle et d'Analyses, France (the instrument being hereinafter referred to as SOFIC~). The SOFIC~
sample cell and its lid are washing with hot acetone and allowed to dry. The surfactant mixture is made and put into solution with distilled water at a concentration of 1000 ppm.
~pproximately a 15 ml. sample of the solution is placed into the sample cell using a syringe with a 0.2 ~ nucleopore filter. The syringe needle passes through the sample cell lid so that the cell interior is not exposed to atmospheric dust. The sample is left in a variable temperature bath, and both the bath and the sample are subject to constant stirring. The bath temperature is heated using the SOFIC~'s heater and cooled by the addition oE
ice (heating rate = 1C/minute) the temperature of the sample is determined by the temperature of the bath. The light scattering (g0 an~le) intensity of the sample is then determined at various temperatures, using a green filter and no polarizer in the SOFICA.
In the present invention, cloud point measurements are made for both solutions of the nonionic/amphoteric (at 13 by weight) in distilled water and in water containing 10% NaCl, ~ '7~

although the latter generally far exceeds the amount of salts and electrolytes actually experienced in normal usage. Therefore, if the nonionic/amphoteric cloud point measured in 10~ NaCl solution satisfies the cloud point requirement of this invention, then there will be no problem in formulating compositions containing very high concentrations of builder salts and other electrolytes, for example, up to about 8S~ of the composition.
In this regard, it is known that the cloud point temperature for a given composition in the wash solution depends upon the physical and chemical properties ~such as critical micelle concentration (CMC) and solubility) o~ the cationic, nonionic/amphoteric and additional components included in that composition, and will be lowered by increasing the alkyl chain lengths of the nonionic surface-active compound, by decreasing the degree of ethoxylation of the nonionic component, or by adding electrolytes, such as phosphates, polyphosphates, perborates, carbonates, sulfates, etc., particularly in relatively low amounts (such as from ahout 1 to about 15g of the given composition).
~ecause water-insoluble cationic softening compounds are used in this invention the cationics will have substantially no effect whatsoever on the cloud point of the total composition.
Actually, because the softening cationic compounds used in this invention are water-insoluble the cloud point temperature oE tl)e total formulation is very difficult to measure s~nce the mixtures are naturally somewhat cloudy. Therefore, the cloud point of the nonionic, and nonionic/amphoteric mixture, with or without addition of electrolytes, is determined in the absence of the cationic compound, and this provides a suficiently accurate ~ - 2~3~'7~.9 measure of the cloud point of the total composition including the cationic.
For washing temperatures oE feom about 60 to 70C, all of the nonionic surfactants described above, but which are ethoxylated with at least 15 moles ethylene oxide, generally 15 to 30 moles ethylene oxide, will provide cloud points in excess of the waslling temperature.
Elowever, for higher washing temperatures o 71C to 100C, especially ~O~C to 100C, only the more highly ethoxylated surfactants, Eor example 25 to 30 moles ethylene oxide per mole of hydrophobe, for example, the c8-Cg alkyl phenols ethoxylated with from 25 to 30 moles, especially from 28 to 30 moles, and especially preferably about 30 moles, ethylene oxide, have sufficiently high cloud points.
While detergent compositions based on the high cloud point nonionic sur~actants can be utilized, as disclosed in the aorementioned copending Serial No. 646,594, filed September 4, 1984, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, these compositions often suffer from a mild deterioration of cleaning performance. In addition, the highly ethoxylated nonionics are more expensive and less readily commercially available than the low cloud point temperature nonionics used in the present invention.
These drawbacks are avoided, as taught in copending application Serial No. 646,609, filed ~ugust 31, 19~4, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reEerence, in the present invention since the addition oE the amphoteric surfactant permits the use of the less expensive and readily commercially available nonionics characterized by cloud points oE below 60C, and by hydrophilic-lipophilic balances (HLB) of from about 5 to ~ 2~

about 17; requires substantially lower amounts oE total surfactants to achieve equivalent or superior cleaning performance; and raises the cloud point of the composition to above the selected washing temperature.
For any of the nonionics the cloud point can be raised by as much as about 40C, generally about 5 to 20C by adding to the composition an amphoteric surface-active compound, for example, a carboxyethylated higher fatty alkyl (e.g. coco) imidazoline amphoteric compound, generally in an amount of from about 1 to 20~, preferably 1 to 15%, especially preferably from about 1 to 10~, by weight of the composition.
Therefore, in a preferred embodiment of the invention which is especially useful for washing soiled fabrics in an aqueous wash water at an elevated temperature in the range of from about 80C to lOO~C, the detergent composition includes, in addition to the nonionic surfactant of formula (I) or formula (II) and a water-insoluble cationic quaternary ammonium compound fabric softener, an ampl~oteric surfactant in an amount sufficient to raise the cloud point of the composition to above the elevated temperature oE 80~C to 100C, especially preferably above about 105~C.
While not wishing to be bound by any particular theory of operationt it is hypothesized that the amphoteric and nonionic surfactants form mixed micelles which are more soluble than micelles formed from the nonionics alone. These mixed micel1es provide greater resistance to orming sufficiently large aggregates to come out of solution, thereby increasing the cloud point temperature.
Substantially any of the known amphoteric surfactants . I

¦can be used to raise the cloud point of the nonionic surfactant-¦cationic Eabric softener composition.
¦ Examples of suitable amphoteric detergents are those ¦containing both the anionic and cationic group having a ¦hydrophobic organic group, which is advantageously a higher ¦aliphatic radical, e.g. about 10-20 carbon atoms. ~mong tllese are the N-long cllain alkyl amino carboxylic acids [e.g. of the formula RR2NR'COOM]; N-long chain alkyl imino di-carboxylic acicls l (e.g. of the formula RM~R'COOM)2) and the N-long chain alkyl ¦ betaines (e.g. of the formula RR3~4N+ - R'COO-) where R is a long chain alkyl group, e.g. of about 10-20 carbons, ~' is a divalent radical joining the amino and carboxylic portions o an amino acid (e.g. an alkylene radical of 1-4 carbon atoms), M is l hydrogen or a salt forming metal, R2 is a hydrogen or another ¦ monovalent substituent (e.g. methyl or other lower alkyl), and R3 and R4 are monovalent substituents joined to the nitrogen by carbon-to-nitrogen bonds (e.g. methyl or other lower alkyl substituents). Examples of specific amphoteric detergents are N--l alkyl-beta amino propionic acids, N-alkyl-beta-imino dipropionic ¦ acids and N-alkyl, N,N-dimethyl glycine; and allcyl group may he ¦ for example that derived from coco fatty alcohol, ]auryl alcohol, myristyl alcohol (or a lauryl-myristyl mixture), llydrogellated tallow alcohol, cetyl, stearyl or blends oE such alcollols. ~he l substituted amino propionic and imino dipropionic aids are often ¦ supplied in the sodium or other salt forms wllicll may ]ikewise be used in the practice oE this invention. Examples of other amphoteric detergents are the fatty imida~olines such as those made by reacting a long chain fatty acid (e.g. of ]0-20 carbon atoms) with di-ethylene triamine and monohalo carboxylic acids having 2-6 carbon atoms, e.g. 1-coco-5-hydroxyethyl-5-.. . .

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carboxyethyl imidazoline; betaines containing a sulfonic group instead o~ a carboxylic group; betaines in which the long chain substituent is joined to the carboxylic group without an illtervening nitrogen atom, e.g. inner salts of 2-trimethy:lamino fatty acids such as 2~trimethylaminolauric acid, an-3 compoun(ls of any of the previously mentioned types in wllicll the nitrogen atc~m is replaced by phosphorous.
One speci~ic class of amphoteric surfactants are the comp]ex fatty amido surfactants of the general forrnula (V) ~.0 C'~2 7 / \c~l R-C ~ N~_ Rl_ OM (V) OIJ- R2 _ COOM
wherein ~ is a straight or branched, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic group having 10~18 carbon atoms (such as lauryl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, palmityl, heptadecyl, stearyl, tallow, coco, soya, oleyl, linoleyl), Rl anfl R2 are each, independently, a divalent aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1-5 carbon atoms, (e.g. methylene, ethylene, propylene, butylene, 2-methylbutylene, pentylene, etc.), and M is hydrogen or an a]ka1imetal (e.g. sodium, potassium, cesium and lithium). ~xamples .,r compounds of formula V which are commercia]ly available include /C~l2 N \lcll2 C11ll23-C ~ N+-~cll2c~l2~oNa O~l~ C112COONa available as Mlranol CM (liquid) and Miranol DM (paste) ~rom Miranol Chemical Co.; Soromine AL and Soromine ~T Erom GAr Corporation and the Deriphat compounds from General Mills.

- - 2~ 7~9 The amphoteric compounds disclosed in columns 3 and 4 of U.S. Patent 4,203,87~, to Flanagan, can also be used. These include the following seven groups of compounds:
(1) Betaine detergents having the Eormula Rl-N~-R4-C-03 ~ suitable example is cll~3 o (C10-C14)n-alkYl - N~CH2COe ~2) Alkyl bridged betaine detergents having the 20~l-c~l2-c-N-cH2cll2cH2-NfflLR4 ~ suitable example is (Clo-C14 ) n-alkyl-CII;~-C-N-CH2CH2CI{2-N~-CH2C-03 cl~3 (3~ Imidazoline detergents having the Eormula Rl-C --- N~3~R4-o-CH2C-o~
N\ CH2 C~2 ~ suitable example is , C112COOIl o (Clo-C14)n-alkyl-lf _ NOELCH2CH2OC1l2C-O~

~ ~;00'7169 (4) Alky.liminopropionate detergents having the formula l El 5 I ~l-N-CH2CH2COOM
(5) Alkyliminodipropionate detergents having the formula / CH2C~2COOII
\C1~2C1~2COOII
~ 6~ Ether bridged alkyliminodipropionate detergents having the formula Cfl2C~12COO~I
Rl-ocH2c}l2cH2-N
\ Cfl2cH2cooH
~ 7) Cocoimidazoline-based detergents having the formula H O
Rl-lC~ N~-CH2OCH2CH2C-Oe Mixtures o any of the amphoteric detergents with one another may also be used.
In the above formulae ~ 7), Rl is a straight or branched, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic radical containing from about 7 to about 20, preerably from about 8 to 18, especially preferably from about 10 to 19 carbon atoms, R2 and R3 are each lower alkyl of C1 to C4, preferab].y methyl or ethyl, especially preferably ethyl, Rg is a divalent Cl-C4 alkyl, preferably methylene, ethylene or propylene, especially preferably ethylene.
A further suitable group of amphoteric co~npounds are ~ l6~i the carboxyethoxylated highee fatty alkylimidazoli~e compounds of the formula (8) C~l~
~21 HN+-CH2CH2COO-S I~R4~N- C-Rl wherein Rl is straight or branched, saturated or unsaturated alipl7atic group of from 7 to 20 carbon atoms, preEerably ~ to 1~
carbon atoms, especially preferably 10 to 14 carbon atoms, and R4 iS A divalent lower alkyl group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, preferably 1 or 2 carbon atoms. Preferred groups Rl include coco, tallow, heptadecyl, oleyl, decyl and dodecyl, especially coco (i.e. derived from coco Eatty acid). The preferred gl-ouF) R4 is ethylene ~-CI~2CEI2-). The compound carboxyethylated cocoimidazoline is available as Rexoteric CSF, a trademarked product of Rexolin, on a 100~ active ingredient basis, or on a 45~ active ingredient solution.
The open chain carboxyethylated higiler fatty alkyl amine derivatives are another preferred class oE amphoteric compound. These include the above groups (4), (5), and (6), i.e.
the alkyliminopropionate and ether bridged alkyliminopropionate detergents. Carboxyethylated octyl amine which is available as Rexoteric O~SF from Rexolin is a preEerred member oE this ~3rou~.
Other classes oE amphoteric surEactants such as the sarcosines, taurines, isothionates and the like can also be used.
~lthough tllere are no Eirm guidelines for selecting combinations of nonionic surfactants and amphoteric surEactants or the appropriate amounts of each to give the necessary cloucl point temperature in excess oE the washing tempera~ure, it is usually sufficient to use the amphoteric - with the amount of non-sugar, nonionic surfactant specified above - in an amount of ¦from about 1 to 20~, preferably from about 1 to about 15~, ¦especially from about 1 to about 10~, based on the total weight ¦of the composition. Suitable ratios oE nonionic:amphoteric ¦within the above-mentioned amounts are in the range of from about 5 ¦1:5 to 10:1, preferably 1:3 to 6:1, especia]ly 1:2 to 4:1.
Suitable water-insoluble quaternary ammonium compound fabric softeners which are commercially known may be represented by the followlng formulae:, ~1 R3 ~
10 R2 = - R4 xe ~III) N 1 ~
R5 ssSSS Xe (IV) ~6 R
wherein Rl and R2 and R5 and R6 are each, independently, a straight or branched, saturated or unsaturated, long-chain aliphatic radical having from 16 to 22 carbon atoms: R3, R4 and R7 are, independently, Cl-Cg alkyl radicals and hydroxy substituted Cl-C4 alkyl; or R6 may be the group -RgN~CR8 wherein R8 is a straight or branched, saturated or unsaturated long-chain aliphatic radical having from 16 to 22 carbon atoms, and ~9 is a divalent alkyl (alkylene) group of 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and X~ is a water-solub]e salt forming anion such as a halide, i.e.
chloride, bromide, iodide; a sulfate, acetate, hydroxide, methosulfate, ethosulfate; or similar inorganic or organic solubilizing mono- or di-basic radical. Preferably, the carbon chains are obtained from long-chain fatty acids such as those derived Erom tallow and soybean oil. The terms "disoya," and "di-tallow", etc., as used herein refer to the source from which ~the lo g ~ain Eattl alkyl ~I-ai"~ are derived. Mixtures o' the ~- -above, as well as other water-inso]uble quaternary ammonium surface active agents may also be used if desired. The preferred ammonium salt is a dialkyl dimethyl ammonium chloride wherein the alkyl group is derived from hydrogenated tallow or stearic acid, or a dihigheralkyl irnidazolinium chloride. Specific examples of quaternary ammonium softening agents of the formula (III) suitable for use in the composition of the present invention include the following: hydrogenated ditallow dimethyl ammol~ nl chloride, dimethyl disteaeyl ammonium chloride, dimethyl stearyl ¦ cetyl ammonium bromide, dimethyl dicetyl ammonium chloride, di-soya dimethyl ammonium chloride, the corresponding sulEate, methosulfate, ethosulfate, bromide and hydroxide salts tllereoE, etc.
l Examples of quaternary ammonium softening agents of ¦ formula 5IV) include l-methyl-1,2-diheptadecyl imida%olinium chloride (bromide, methosulfate~, 1,2-dieicosylalky]am;doetl-yl-1-methyl imidazolinium chloride (bromide, methosulfate, etc.), 2-hexadecyl-l-methyl-1[(2-dodecoyl amido)ethyl~ imida%olinium methylsulfate, 2-heptadecyl-1-methyl-152-stearoyl amido)etllyl ¦ imidazolinium methylsulfate, 2-nonadecyl/heneicosyl-1-1(2-eicosoyl/docosoyl imido)ethylJ imidazolinium methyl chloride.
Dimethyldistearyl ammonium chloride is especially preferred in view of its superior softening perEormance, biodegradability, low water solubility, availability and cost.
The amount of the cationic fabric softener can generally range rom about 1 to about 20~, pre~erably from aboul:
4 to about 16~, and especially preferably from about 6 to 9~, by weight of the composition.
The weight ratio o~ the non-sugar, nonionic surfactant 2~0t7~69 to the cationic fabric softener can be within the range of Erom about 1:10 to 5:1, preferably from about 1:8 to ~.5:1.
The present detergent COmpOSitiOtl may include water-soluble builder salts. Water-soluble inorganic alkaline builder salts which can be used alone or in admixture with other builders are alkali metal carbonates, borates, phosphates, polyphosphates, bicarbonates, silicates. (Ammonium or substituted ammonium salts can also be used.) Specific examples of such salts are sodium tripolyphosphate, sodium carbonate, sodlum tetraborate, sodium pyrophosphate, potassium pyrophosphate, sodium bicarbonate, potassium tripolyphosphate, sodium hexamethaphospllate, sodium sesquicarbonate, sodium mono and diorthophosphate, and pot:ass;ulrl bicarbonate. The alkali metal silicates are useEul builder salt~s which also function to make the composition anti-corrosive to washing machine parts. Sodium silicates of Na2O/sio2 rati~s o~
from 1.6/1 to 1/3.2 especially about 1/2 to 1/2.8 are preferred.
Potassium silicates of the same ratios can also be used.
Another class oE builders useful herein are the water-insoluble aluminosilicates, both of the crystalline and amorphous type. Various crystalline zeolites (i.e. a]umino--silicates) are descL-ibed in British Patent 1,504,168, U.S. Patent 4,409,136 and Canadian Patents 1,072,835 and 1,087,477, all oE which are hereby incorporated by reEerence Eor such descriptions. ~n example oE
amorphous zeolites useful herein can be found in Belgium Patent 835,351 and thls patent too is incorporated here;ll by reEerer)ce.
The æeolites generally have the formula:
(M20)X- (~1203)y- (siO2)Z-~ 20 wherein x is 1, y is from 0.8 to 1.2 and preferably 1, z is fro 1.5 to 3.5 or higher and preferably 2 to 3 and w is from 0 to g, preferably 2.5 to 6 and M is preferably sodium. A typical ~ 6~

zeolite is type A or similar structure, with type 4A particular]y preferred. The preferred aluminosilicates have calcium ion exchange capacities o~ about 200 mllliequivalents per gram or greater, e.g. 400.
Other materials such as clays, particu]arly oE the water-insoluble types, may be useful adjuncts in compositions ot this invention. Particularly useful is bentonite. This material is primarily montmorillonite which is a hydrated aluminum silicate in which about 1/6th of the aluminum atoms may be replaced by magnesium atoms and with which varying amounts of hydrogen sodium, potassium, calcium, etc., may be loosely combined. Tlle bentonite in its more puriEied form (i.e. ~ree ~rom any grit, sand, etc.) suitable ~or detergents invariab]y contains at least SO~ montmorillonite and thus its cation exchange capacity is at least about 50 to 75 meq. per lOO g. o~
bentonite. Particularly preferred bentonite are the Wyoming or Western U.S. bentonites whlch have been sold as Thixo-jels 1, 2, 3 and 4 by Georgia Kaolin Co. These bentonites are known to soften textiles as described in British Patent 401,413 to Marriott and British Patent 461,221 to Marriott and ~ugan.
Examples of organic alkaline sequestrant builder sa]ts which can be used alone or in admixture with other organic an-]
inorganic builders are alkali metal, ammonium or substituted ammonium, aminopolycarboxylates, e.g. sodium and potassium ethylene diaminetetraacetate, sodium and potassium nitrilotriacetates and triethano]ammonium N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-nitrilodiacetates. Mixed salts of these polycarboxylates are also suitable.
Other suitable builders oE the organic type include carboxymethylsuccinates, tartronates and glycollates. Of special ~ i9 value are the polyaeetal earboxylates. The polyaeetal carbo~ylates and their use in detergent eompositions are described in 4,144,226; 4,315,092 and 4,146,49~. Other patents on similar builders include 4,141,676; 4,169,934; 4,201,858;
S 4,204,852; 4,224,420; 4,225,685 4,226,960; 4,233,422; 4,233,~23, 4,302,564 and 4,303,777. Also relevant are European Patent ~pplication Nos. 0015024; 0021491 and 0063399.
The amount of the builder salt can generally range from about 5 to about 60~, preferably from about 10 to about 55~, and espeeially preferably from about 20 to about 50% by weight of the eomposition.
Any sugar, etherified with at least two long chain alkyl groups, may be used as a detergency booster in the present composition. Alkyl groups having 8 to 22 carbon atoms are preferred; most preferable are alkyl groups having 10 to 18 carbon atoms. It is to be understood that the hydrophilic head group can be any sugar derivative, e.g., polysaecharides, disaeeharides, monosaeeharides, ete., with monosaecharides such as glucose and fructose being especially preferred. In an especially preferred embodiment, the sugar ether comprises a compound of the formula H
IIO -( C<H2OR2 ~s ~ o-l= 10~1 wherein Rl and R2 are each, independently an a]kyl group of from about 8 to 22 carbon atoms, preferably 10 to 18 carbon atoms, the alkyl group being branched or unbranched. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the dialkylglueoside may be used in adm xt~e th ~ mLnor amou~ o' mon~alkylglueoside.

- ~ L6~

¦ The amount of the sugar ether can generally range from about 1 to about 15~, preferably from about 1 to about 10~, and especially preferably from about 1 to about 5~ by weight oE tlle composition. In a preferred embodiment, the sugar etl-er is used as a "replacement" for a portion of the non-sugar, nonionic surfactant, so as to maintain the total nonionic surfactant content (sugar plus nOn-SUyAr) at the same level as would be appropriate for a conventional (sugar-ether-free) softergent composition. Typically, the sugar ether will "replace" about ]0 to about 75~ by weight of the non-sugar, nonionic surfactant, preferably 20 to 65~, and most preEerably 25 to 55~.
The compositions of the present invention, in a preferred embodiment, may urther include antistatic agent compounds, such as diammonium compounds which are characterized by their water-solubility, i.e. ability to ~orm stable, c]ear solutions, or dispersions in water at 25C containing at least 5%, preferably at least 10% by weight of the diammonium compound.
The diammonium compounds useful herein for reducing static charge buildup are the water-soluble compounds of the ollowing general formula (I) (~l-a+-R7-W+~R5 ) 2X- ............... (V) R~ R6 wherein ~1 is an aliphatic hydrocarhon having from about 12 to about 30 carbon atoms;

each of R2~ ~3~ R4, Rs and R6 are independently selected from the group consisting of (1) aliphatic hydrocarbon groups having from 1 to 22 carbon atoms with the proviso that the ¦total number of carbon atoms in all the alipl-atic hydrocarbon ¦groups, including Rl, is no more than about 75 and with the ~ '7~

further proviso that no more than three of the R2-~6 groups having more than 12 carbon atoms; and (2) alkanol groups of the formula (CH2CH20)m(C~lc~l20)nl~
wherein m and n are independently 0 or positive numbers with the sum of m and n from all of the groups R2-~6 being at least 2 but no more than 30; with the still further proviso that at least one of R2-R6 is said alkanol group;
R7 is an alkylene of 2 to 4 carbon atoms, such as ethylene (-CH2C1l2-), propylene (-CH2CH2CH2-), isopropylene ~-Cl~2cl~(cll3)cH2-)r butylene (-cll2cl~2cll2cll2-)~ etc-~ or SUCIl alkylene having one or more, such as one or two substituents, such as hydroxyl, Cl-C4 lower alkyl, hydroxylower (Cl-C4) alkyl, etc., preferably -Cll2Cll2- or -C~2CIl2CI12-r alld X is a water-soluble salt forming anion.
The preferred compounds of formula (V) are those containing only 1 or 2, preferably only a single long carbon chain group, i.e. 12 or more carbon atoms. ~ccordingly, in formula I() the preferred deEinitions for Rl-R6 are:
Rl is an aliphatic hydrocarbon group, WiliC11 may be straight chain or branched chain, and saturated or unsaturated (i.e. linear or branched alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl), having ~rom 16 to 22 carbon atoms;
R2-R6, independently, are selected from the group consisting of alkyl or alkenyl having Erom 1 to 16, preferahly 1 to 12, especially preferably 1 to 6 carbon atoms, with the proviso that the total number of carbon atoms in all the aliphatic hydrocarbon groups ~1-R6 is no more than about 50, preferably no more than about ~5, and wit the further proviso ~ '7~
-- ..

that no more than 2, pre~erably no more than 1, and most ¦preferably none of R2-R6 have more than 12 carbon atoms; ancl ¦alkanol groups of the formula (cH2cH2o)m(cu(cH3)cH2cH2o)nl~
wherein m and n may be 0 or a positive number such that the sum of m plus n in all of the alkanol groups R2-R6 is at least 3 but no more than 25, preEerably no more than 15, with the still further proviso that at least one, preferably at least two of R2-R6 is said alkanol group;
R7 is an alkylene of 2 to 4 carbon atoms, such as ethylene (-C~i2C}I2-), propylene (-C1l2CH2CH2-), isopropylene (-C~2C~I(C1l3)C1~2-), butylene (-C~2C~12C~I2CI12-), etc., or such alkylene having one or more, such as one or two substituents, such as hydroxyl, Cl-C4 lower alkyl, hydroxylower (Cl-C~) alkyl, etc., preferably -CH2CH2- or -CH2CH2C112-, most preferably -CH2CH2C~2-; and X is a water-soluble salt-forminy anion, such as, for example, halide, e.g. bromide, chloride or iodide; a sulfate, methosulfate, etl-osulfate, hydroxide, acetate, propionate; or other similar inorganic or organic solubili~ing monovalent anion.
Examples of preferred Rl groups include stearyl, tallow, hydrogenated tallow, eicosyl, soya, and the like.
Examples of preEerred alkyl and alkenyl groups for R2 to ~6 include, ~ethyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, n-butenyl, octyl, l-octenyl, etc. Methyl, ethyl, propyl and isopropyl are especially preferred. Methyl and ethyl are most preferred.
Examples of preferred alkanol groups for R2 to R6 include ethanol (n=0, m=l); propanol (m=0, n=l); and ethoxy-- 2~(~'7~

propoxy-, and mixed ~ethoxy)(propoxy) ethanol and/or propanol, such as (CH2C1~2O)mr~1, where ml is from 2 to 4;
~CHCE12O ~ H where nl is 2 to 4, and (cH2cH2o)ml(cH(cH3)cH2o) ~H3 Jnl where ml and nl are each numbers of from l to 4 and ml + n] = 2 to 6. In the mixed ethoxy-propoxy alkanol groups, the order of addition of the ethoxy and propoxy groups is not cr.itical and it is understood that either blocks oE the ethoxy groups or blocks of the propoxy groups can be bonded to the N-atom of the diammonium compound or that the ethoxy and propoxy groups may be randomly distributed. Thus, as is well known in the art, the distribution of the ethoxy and propoxy groups wi].l be deterrnined by the order in which the ethylene diamine or propylene diarn;ne compound is condensed with ethylene oxide (or its precursor) and propylene oxide (or its precursor).
Specific examples of compounds of formula (V) which are either commercially available or readily manufactured by customary techniques include r 3 CH2CH2OH
~l) tallow-~CH2C~12CH2~~C~13 2C1~3S04-(2) tallow-~C112C~!2CH2~N~~CH3 2CH3SO4-c~3 C112C112011 .(C112C}120)p (Cll2cll2O)q~l (3) stearyl-~C112C112C112-~C113 2C1-13SO4-. C113 C~3 p+q=2 to lO

. , :

-(C1~2C1~20) p~l (C112C~120) qll (4) C16~137-~CH2c~l2 C112C112011 2C~I3SO4~

Cl33 C16H37 p~q=2 to ].0 (Cll(C113)C}~20)pH (C~l(C113)CH20)ql~
(5) C26H37-~CH2cH2c132 , -C1~3 2CH3SO4-C3H8 (CH(cH3)Ql2O)rl~ p~q+r=3 to 15 etc. and the corresponding ethosulfate, halide, acetate, etc., water-soluble salts.
The above compound (2) (N-methyl-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-N-tallowalkyl-Nl-methyl-N~-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-propylene-diammonium ethosulfate is especially preferred. Tl)is compound is commercially available as Rewoquat DQ35 from Rewo Chemicals Co.
oE Germany and is a clear liquid solution with 35~ solids dissolved therein. ~ewoquat DQ35 has a free amine content oE
l less than 2~ by weight and has a p~ solution in water) in the ¦ range of from 3.5 to 5. This compound can be prepared in customary manner, for example, by reacting 1 mole of N-methyl-N-tallowalkyl-~'-methyl propylene diamine with 3 moles ethylene oxide and then quaternizing the-resulting compound with l methylsulfate. By ethoxylating with more than 3 moles ethylene ¦ oxide, the corresponding higher ethoxylated compounds can be prepared.
¦ The amount of the antistatic agent is such that the ¦ composition contain from about 0.4 to 15~, preEerably from 1 to ¦ 12~, especially preferably from about 2 to 12%, by weight of the ¦ antistatic agent compound.
¦ The use of bleaching agents as aids in laundering is ¦ well known and such agents may be advantageously incorporated into the present compositions. Of the many bleacl-ing agents used 2~

for household applications, the chlorine-containing bleaches are most widely used at the present time. ~lowever, chlorine bleach has the serious disadvantage oE being such a powerful bleacl)lng agent that it causes measurable degradation oE the Eabric ant3 can cause localized over-bleaching when used to spot-treat a fabric undesirably stained in some manner. Other active chlorine bleaches, such as chlorinated cyanuric acid, although somewhat saEer than sodium hypochlorite, also suffer from the tendency to damage fabric and cause localized over-bleaching. For these reasons, chlorine bleaches can seldom be used or- amide-containing fibers such as nylon, silk, wool and mohair. Furthermore, chlorine bleaches are particularly damaging to many Elame retardant agents which they render ineffective after as li~tle a~
Eive launderings.
Of the two major types of bleaches, oxygen-releasing and chlorine-releasing, the oxygen bleaches, sometimes referre-1 to as non-chlorine bleaches or "all-fabric" bleaches, are more advantageous to use in that oxygen bleaching agents are not only more effective in whitening fabrics and removing stains, hut they are also safer to use on colors. They do not attack fluorescent dyes commonly used as fabric brighteners or the fabrics to any serious degree and they do not, to any appreciable extent, cause yellowing of resin fabric finishes as chlorine bleaches are apt to do. Both chlorine and non-clllorine bleaches use an oxidizing agent, such as sodium hypoch]orite in the case of clllorille bleaches and sodium perborate in the case oE non-chlorine bleaches, that reacts with and, with the help of a detergent, lifts out a stain.
Among the various substances which may be used as oxygen bleaches, there may be mentioned hydrogen peroxide and 9, ~)'7~69 other per compounds which g;ve rise to hydrogen peroxide in aqueous solution, such as alkall metal persulfates, perborates, percar~onates, perphosphates, persilicates, perpyrophosphates, peroxides and mixtures thereoE.
~lthough oxygen bleaches are not, as deleterious to fabrics, one major drawback to the use of an oxygen bleach is the high temperature and high alkality necessary to efficiently activate the bleach. Because many home laundering facilities, particularly in the United States, employ quite moderate washlng temperatures (20C, to 60~C), low alkalinity and short soaking times, oxygen bleaches when used in such systems are capable oE
only mild bleaching action. There is thus a great need for substances which may be used to activate oxygen bleacll a~ ]ower temperatures.
Various activating agents for improving bleaching at lower temperatures are known. These activating agents are roughly divided into three groups, namely (1) M-acyl compouncls such as tetracetylethylene diamine (TA~D), tetraacetylglycoluril and the like; (2) acetic acid esters of polyhydric a]cohols such as glucose penta acetate, sorbitol hexacetate, sucrose octa acetate and the like; and (3) organic acid anhydrides, such as phtl)alic anhydride and succinic anhydride. The preferred bleacl activator being T~ED. Oxygen bleach activators, such as ~rA~n function non-catalytically by co-reaction with the per compound to form peracids, such as peracetic acid from TAED, or sa]ts thereof which react more rapidly with oxidizable compounds than the per compound itself.
Various other detergent additives or adjuvants may be present in the detergent product to give it additional desired properties, either oE functional or aesthetic nature. Thus, ~ 2q~ 7~

there may be included in the formulation, minor amounts oE soil suspending or anti-redeposition agents, e.g. polyvinyl alcohol, fatty amides, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxy-propyl methyl cellulose; optical brighteners, e.g. cotton, amine and polyester brighteners, for example, stilbene, triazole and benzidine sulEone compositions, especially, sulEonated substituted tria~inyl stilbene, sulfonated naphthotria~ole stilbene, benzidine sulfone, etc., most preferred are stilhelle and triazole combinations.
Bluing agents such as ultramarine blue; enzymes, preferably proteolytic enzymes, such as subtilisin, bromelin, papain, trypsin and pepsin, as well as amylase type enzymes, bactericides, e.g. tetrachlorosalicylanilide, hexachlorophene5 fungicides; dyes; pigments (water dispersible); preservatives;
ultraviolet absorbers; anti-yellowing agents, such as sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, complex of cl2 to C22 alkyl alcohol with C12 to Cl~ alkylsulfate; p}~ modifiers and pll bufers; perEume, and anti-foam agents or suds-suppressors, e.g. silicon compounds can also be used.
The proportions of these components whicll may he present in the preferred total care compositions, in percent by weight (of actives) based on the total weight oE the final product are as follows: en~ymes - 0 to 2~, especially 0.7 to 1.3%; corrosion inhibitors - about 0 to 40~, and preferably 5 to 30%; anti-foam agents and suds-suppressors - 0 to 15~, preEerably o to 5~, for example 0.1 to 3~; soil suspending or anti-redeposition agents and anti-yellowing agents - 0 to 10~, preferably 0.5 to 5~; colorants, perEumes, briyhteners and bluing agents total weight 0% to about 2% and preferably 0~ to about 1~;
p~l modifiers and pl~ buffers - 0 to 5%, preferably 0 to 2~;

~ 2n()7lfis bleachiny agent - 0~ to about 40& and preferably 0~ to about 25~, Eor example 2 to 20~; bleach stabilizers and bleach activators 0 to about 15&, preferably 0 to lO~,.for example, 0.]. to ~. Tn the selections of the adjuvants, they will be chosen to be compatible with the main constituents of the detergent composition.
While the nonionics and amphoterics are preferably tlle sole surface-active detergent compounds used in the compositi.ons of this invention, small amounts oE other surface-active compounds, including other nonionics, anionics, and zwitterionics can also be used, preferably in amounts up to 20% by weight, especially up to 10% by weight, and especially preferably up to 5~ by weight.
The Eollowing example is presented Eor the purpo~se oE
illustrating the present invention and is not intended to be limitative. All percentages are by weight unless otherwise specified.
Example The compositions set -forth in Table I were prepare(l by mixing the various ingredients in water.

3~

Z~0'7~L69 Table I
.. __ . _ I
~ Composition ~ B
Ingredient ~~~~~---__ (~) l~) . ___ _ ~ . _ .
Neodol~ 45~ Shell) ~1) 3 6 BA0 86/8141-5 (BASF) (2) 3 Rewoteric AMDML (R~O) (3) 1.5 1.5 Silicate (4) 3.0 3.0 TPP (5) 42 42 10 Optical srightener (6) 0.3 0.3 Perborate Tetrahydrate (7) 20 20 TAED (3) 4.1 4.1 ~rosurf TA 100 (9) 5.5 5.5 l~ewoquat DQ35 (~WO) (10) 3.0 3.0 15 ~lcalase 2T(11) 1.0 1.0 CMC ~12) 2.0 2.0 Perfume 0.5 0.5 EDTA (13) 0.5 0.5 Water Q.S. _ Q.S.
(1) - nonionic surfactant - ethylene oxide condensation product comprising 1 mole of higher fatty a1cohol of 14 to 15 carbon atoms and 11 moles oE ethylene oxide (Shel]. Chemical Company) (2) - sugar ether - a mixture oE monoalkylglucoside and dialkyl-glucoside having 12-14 carbon atoms in the alkyl grou~
whicll is richer in the dialkylglucoside (3) - amphoteric surfactant - a betaine of the Eormula C121125-N~-C112-C-09 c~l3 (4) - builder - sodium silicate (5) - builder - sodium tripolyphosphate (6) - optical brightener - an anioni.c optical brighteller Tinopal ~TS-X (Ciba-Geigy) ¦ ~B,E CON'INUED ON NEX'I' PAGU

~ 6~

TABLE I (CON'T) ~7) - bleach - sodium perborate tetrahydrate ~8) - bleach activator - tetracetylethylenediamine ~9) ~ softening agent - distearyl dimethyl ammon.ium chloride ~10) - softening booster and processing aid - N-methyl-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-N-tallowalkyl-N'-methyl-N'-bis~2-hydroxyethyl) propylene diammonium methyl sulfate ~11) - enzyme (12) - sodium carboxymethylcellulose ~13) - ethylene di,amine tetra-acetic acid Compositions A and B were subjected to identical miniwascator tests ~40C: maximum of 6 wash cycles; 200 ppm water hardness; dosage 6 g/l; load: desized terry clothes) to evaluate whitening ~Gardener XL B00). The results are shown in Table Il.
Table II

Improvement In -~ Whiteninq I ~RD ~ 1 ) ~ Wash Cycles 1 3 h Material ~ .
Cotton +6.70 -~8.15 +12.a4 Cotton/Polyester Blend +4.64 +5.42 +10.2].

RD = RDA - RDB (RD~ = average RD va].ue Eor Eormulation A; RDB ~ average RD value for formulati.on B) Similar results were obtained with other glucosides oE
the BA series (B~SF) and also with Triton ~G 10 (Rohm h llaas), which varied in the chain length of the alkyl groups.
In all cases, the softening perEormance level was preserved.

Claims (29)

1. A laundry detergent comprising a detersively effective amount of a mixture of non-sugar, nonionic surfactant and amphoteric surfactants;
a fabric softening effective amount of a water-insoluble quaternary ammonium compound a detergent building effective amount of at least one builder salt; and a detergency boosting effective amount of a sugar ether containing at least two long chain alkyl groups.

2. The laundry detergent according to Claim 1, wherein said non-sugar, nonionic surfactant comprises a compound of the formula RO(CH2CH2O)nH
wherein R is a primary or secondary alkyl chain of from about 8 to 22 carbon atoms and n is an integer of from 3 to 14.

3. The laundry detergent according to Claim 2, wherein R is a primary or secondary alkyl chain of from 10 to 18 carbon atoms.

4. The laundry detergent according to Claim 3, wherein n is an integer of from 6 to 11.

5. The laundry detergent according to Claim 1, wherein said non-sugar, nonionic surfactant comprises a compound of the formula wherein R' is a primary or secondary alkyl chain of from 4 to 12 carbon atoms and m is an integer of from 3 to 14.

6. The laundry detergent according to Claim 5, wherein R' is a primary or secondary alkyl chain of 8 or 9 carbon atoms.

7. The laundry detergent according to Claim 6, wherein m is an integer of from 6 to 11.

8. The laundry detergent according to Claim 1, wherein said amphoteric surfactant comprises a compound of the formula wherein R is a straight or branched, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic group having 10-18 carbon atoms; R1 and R2 are each, independently, a divalent aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1-5 carbon atoms; and M is hydrogen or an alkali metal.

9, The laundry detergent according to Claim 1, wherein said amphoteric surfactant is selected from the group consisting of (1) betaine detergents of the formula (2) alkyl bridged betaine detergents of the formula (3) imidazoline detergents having the formula (4) alkyliminopropionate detergents having the formula (5) alkyliminodipropionate detergents having the formula (6) ether bridged alkyliminodipropionate detergents having the formula (7) cocoimidazoline based detergents having the formula (8) mixtures thereof wherein R1 is a straight or branched, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic radical containing from about 7 to about 20 carbon atoms, R2 and R3 are each lower alkyl of 1-4 carbon atoms; and R4 is an alkylene of 1-4 carbon atoms.

10. The laundry detergent according to Claim 9, wherein R1 is an alkyl of from about 10 to 14 carbon atoms; R2 and R3 are each selected from the group consisting of methyl and ethyl; and R4 is selected from the group consisting of methylene, ethylene and propylene.

11. The laundry detergent according to Claim 1, wherein the weight ratio of non-sugar, nonionic surfactant to amphoteric surfactant is from about 1:5 to 10:1.

12. The laundry detergent according to Claim 11, wherein the weight ratio of non-sugar, nonionic surfactant to amphoteric surfactant is from about 1:3 to 6:1.

13. The laundry detergent according to Claim 12, wherein the weight ratio of non-sugar, nonionic surfactant to amphoteric surfactant is from about 1:2 to 4:1.

14. The laundry detergent according to Claim 1, wherein said water-insoluble quaternary ammonium compound comprises a compound represented by the formula or by the formula wherein R1, R2, R5 and R6 are each, independently, a straight or branched, saturated or unsaturated, long chain aliphatic radical having from 16 to 22 carbon atoms;
R3, R4 and R7 are each, independently, an alkyl of from 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a hydroxy substituted alkyl of from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; or R6 may be the group -R9NH-?-R8 wherein R8 is a straight or branched, saturated or unsaturated, long chain aliphatic radical having from 16 to 22 carbon atoms and R9 is an alkylene of 1 to 3 carbon atoms; and X? is a water-soluble salt-forming anion.

15. The laundry detergent according to Claim 1, wherein the weight ratio of non-sugar, nonionic surfactant to water-insoluble quaternary ammonium compound is from about 1:10 to 5:1.

16. The laundry detergent according to Claim 15, wherein the weight ratio of non-sugar, nonionic surfactant to water-insoluble quaternary ammonium compound is from about 1:8 to 4.5:1.

17. The laundry detergent according to Claim 1, wherein said builder salt is an inorganic salt.

18. The laundry detergent according to Claim 17, wherein said builder salt is water-soluble.

19. The laundry detergent according to Claim 1, wherein said builder salt is an organic salt.

20. The laundry detergent according to Claim 1, wherein said sugar ether comprises a monosaccharide.

21. The laundry detergent according to Claim 20, wherein said monosaccharide is a glucoside.

22. The laundry detergent according to Claim 1, wherein said sugar ether comprises a compound of the formula wherein R1 and R2 are each, independently, an alkyl group of from about 8 to 22 carbon atoms.

23. The laundry detergent according to Claim 22, wherein said alkyl group is of from 10 to 18 carbon atoms.

24. The laundry detergent according to Claim 1, further comprising an anti-static effective amount of a water-soluble diquaternary ammonium compound.

25. The laundry detergent according to Claim 24, wherein said diquaternary ammonium compound has the formula 2X?

wherein R1 is an aliphatic hydrocarbon group of from about 12 to 30 carbon atoms;
R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 are each, independently, selected from the group consisting of (1) aliphatic hydrocarbon group of from 1 to 22 carbon atoms with the proviso that the total number of carbon atoms in all the aliphatic hydrocarbon groups, including R1, is no more than about 75 and with the further proviso that no more than three of the R2-R6 groups have more than 12 carbon atoms and (2) an alkanol group of the formula wherein m and n are independently 0 or positive numbers with the sum of m and n from all of the groups R2-R6 being at least 2 but no more than 30, with the still further proviso that at least one of R2-R6 is said alkanol group;
R7 is an alkylene group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and X is a water-soluble salt-forming anion.

26. The laundry detergent according to Claim ], further comprising a bleaching effective amount of a bleaching agent.

27. The laundry detergent according to Claim 26, wherein said bleaching agent is an oxygen bleach.

28. The laundry detergent according to Claim 27, further comprising a bleach activating effective amount of a bleach activator.

29. The laundry detergent according to Claim 28, wherein said bleach activator is an N-acyl compound.