GB775588A - Detergent compositions - Google Patents

Abstract

A synthetic detergent composition comprises (a), an anionic synthetic detergent, preferably either an alkali metal salt of an alkylsulphuric acid in which the alkyl group contains 10-22 carbon atoms or an alkali metal salt of an alkylbenzene sulphonic acid in which the alkyl group contains 9-15 carbon atoms, or a mixture of such salts, and (b) an ether material (which may be either a single compound or a mixture) conforming to the general formula RO(CxH2xO)nCxH2xOH, where R is an alkyl group containing 10-22 carbon atoms, x is 2 or 3, and n is 0-40, said ether material containing at least 40 per cent by weight of material in which n is 5-40, and the proportion of such ether material lying between 1-15 per cent, preferably 3-10 per cent, of the weight of the active synthetic detergent in the composition and being at least 0.25 per cent by weight of the total composition. Suitable ether materials are obtained by the condensation of 1 mol of the fatty alcohols derived from tallow, coconut or palm kernel oil with 6-41, preferably 10, mols of ethylene oxide. Desirably the composition also contains at least one water-soluble polyphosphate, such as an alkali metal or ammonium tripolyphosphate, but the ratio of polyphosphate to anionic synthetic detergent should not exceed 5:1 by weight. Sodium sulphate and silicate and sodium carboxymethylcellulose may also be present as optional ingredients. Specifications 596,560, 645,129 and 704,576 are referred to.