MXPA06005374A - Liquid detergent composition comprising a solubilizing nonionic surfactant - Google Patents

Abstract

A liquid detergent composition comprising a limited amount of a non-ionic surfactant solubilizer in order to achieve a higher speed for cleaning the cooked fat and methods for using

Description

COMPOSITION LIQUID DETERGENT COMPRISING A NON-IONIC SOLUBILIZING SURFACTANT FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a liquid detergent composition comprising a limited amount of a nonionic surfactant solubilizer in order to achieve a higher speed for cleaning the cooked fat. The present invention also relates to liquid dishwashing detergent compositions and methods for using them.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Cleaning more grease with liquid detergents poses a continuing problem to consumers. The cleaning of fat can be classified in two ways: first, the total amount of grease cleaning or the capacity to suspend the grease; second, the speed of cleaning the fat or the speed with which the fat is solubilized and eliminated from the desired surface. One approach to cleaning grease has been to improve the first way to clean and soak surfaces or allow them to remain there for a period before cleaning them. However, the second form of grease cleaning is also a desired feature for consumers for liquid detergents. The cleaning speed of fat is a desired feature by consumers of liquid detergents, as well as other visual indications of cleaning such as foam profiles (high or low), sensation and aroma. Achieving a balance of the desired characteristics in a liquid detergent remains an unresolved problem. The second form of grease cleaning (the speed of grease cleaning) requires the solubilization and removal of grease deposits from a surface. Fat deposits, particularly in cooked fat deposits, are difficult to solubilize and eliminate according to the second form of grease cleaning. A cooked fat deposit, in comparison with a fat deposit that is not, comprises a grease reservoir of higher viscosity that shows resistance to removal with liquid detergents. The oxidative degradation of the fat, when exposed to the cooking heat, forms polymerized triglycerides that lead to more viscous cooked fat deposits, which are comparatively more difficult to eliminate than the fat deposits that were not subjected to cooking. Surprisingly, it has been proven that surfactants are required that allow a greater solubility of the fat in order to solubilize and eliminate the deposits of cooked fat. The identification of such surfactants should be achieved by employing a hydrophilic-lipophilic equilibrium value, also known as HLB (for its acronym in English). Liquid dishwashing liquid detergent compositions require a high foam profile, while providing not only the first fat cleansing way but also the second way of cleansing grease. In addition, it has also surprisingly been found that the present invention provides an improved cooked fat cleaning speed, while maintaining an acceptable level of the total amount of fat and foam cleaning profile in a liquid dishwashing detergent composition. .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a liquid detergent composition comprising a surfactant system comprising from about 1.5% by weight to about 3.5% by weight of the liquid detergent composition of one or more nonionic solubilizing surfactants, comprising a hydrophilic equilibrium value -lipophilic less than about 12.5. The present invention also relates to a liquid detergent composition comprising a surfactant system comprising from about 1.5 weight% to about 3.5 weight% of the liquid detergent composition of one or more nonionic solubilizing surfactants, which comprises an equilibrium value hydrophilic-lipophilic less than 12.5, optionally an anionic surfactant, an amine oxide surfactant and a non-ionic surfactant other than the nonionic solubilizing surfactant; it also comprises from 30% to 95% by weight of the liquid detergent composition, of an aqueous liquid carrier.

The present invention also relates to a method for washing dishes with the liquid detergent composition comprising the nonionic surfactant solubilizer. The relevant parts of all the cited documents are incorporated herein by reference; the mention of any document should not be construed as an admission that it constitutes a prior industry with respect to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The liquid detergent compositions of the present invention surprisingly provide an improved rate for eliminating cooked fat deposits. It has also been found that the inclusion of reduced amounts of nonionic solubilizing surfactants having an optimal hydrophilic-lipophilic equilibrium value, when employed in a surfactant system, provides the benefit of improved speed for cleaning cooked fat. In addition, the reduced amounts of non-ionic surfactant solubilizers afford the multiple benefits of increasing the rate of cleaning of improved cooked fat, while maintaining or exceeding an acceptable level of the total amount of the fat and foam cleaning profile in a composition. liquid detergent for washing dishes. As used herein, "fat" means materials that comprise at least in part (at least 0.5 weight% by weight of the fat) unsaturated fats and oils, preferably oils and fats comprising linoleic and linolenic acids, more preferably oils and fats derived from plant sources comprising linoleic and linolenic acids. As used herein, "cooked fat" means grease exposed to high temperatures in a common oven, convection oven, toaster oven, microwave oven, warming at the top of the pan stove, wok, hot plate, grill electrical or other household appliances known to cook, used to heat food during cooking. As used herein, "foam profile" means high foam and the persistence of the foam throughout the washing process, resulting from the use of the liquid detergent composition of the present invention. This is particularly important because the consumer takes the high foam as an indicator of the performance of the liquid detergent composition. Moreover, the consumer also uses the foam profile as an indicator that the wash solution still contains active detergent ingredients, and replenishes the wash solution when the foam decreases. Therefore, the consumer will tend to replace a low foam formulation more frequently than is necessary because of its low foam level. As used herein, "reservoirs" means cooked fat adhered to a surface, without being limited to the surface or volume of cooked fat adhered to such surface such as dishes, glassware, pans, frying pans, baking dishes, tableware or fabrics As used herein, "low-yield liquid dishwashing detergent composition" refers to those compositions that are employed for hand-washing (ie, hand-washing) the ware. Generally, by their nature, such compositions form or produce high foam. All number ranges, when expressed in a format "between X and Y" or "from approximately X to approximately Y" are considered incorporated and included herein as if they were expressly written. It should be understood that all limits provided throughout this specification will include all lower or upper limits, as the case may be, as if that lower or upper limit was expressly written herein. The intervals provided throughout this specification will include any narrower range that falls within this wider range, as if these narrower intervals were expressly consigned in the present. The percentage by weight refers to the weight percentage of the liquid detergent composition, unless specified otherwise. All temperatures are expressed in degrees Celsius (° C) unless otherwise indicated. Nonionic Solubulant Surfactants Surprisingly, it has been found that the reduced amounts, ranging from about 1.5% to 3.5% by weight of the liquid detergent composition, of one or more non-ionic surfactants solubilizers, are suitable for the present invention. Surprisingly, it has been found that the inclusion of less than 1.5% and more than 3.5%, by weight of the liquid detergent composition, of a non-ionic surfactant solubilizer does not demonstrate the speed necessary to clean the cooked fat as does an amount of surfactant non-ionic solubilizer within the specified weight percentages. The non-ionic solubilizing surfactants suitable for use in the present invention are hydrophobic, as determined in accordance with the hydrophilic-lipophilic equilibrium value (HLB value) of the solubilizing nonionic surfactant. The value of HLB can be found in standard references such as the Encyclopedia of Emulsion Technology, Vol. 1, 1985, editor, P. Becher; McCutcheon's Emulsifiers and Detergents, or calculated as follows: Mt HLB = 20x- MH + ML where H is the formula weight of the hydrophilic portion of the molecule and M_. is the formula weight of the lipophilic portion of the molecule. See M. Rosen, Surfactants and Interfacial Phenomena (Surfactants and Interfacial Phenomena), second edition, page 328, New York, Wiley, 1989. Suitable HLB values are preferably less than about 12.5, more preferably from about 4.3 to about 11.5. , more preferably from about 7 to about 9.5. Preferred non-ionic surfactants solubilizers are selected from the group consisting of alkoxylated alcohols, half chain branched alkoxylates, sorbitan monopalmitate, sorbitan monooleate, sorbitan monostearate, polyoxyethylene (4) sorbitan monostearate, polyoxyethylene tristearate (20) sorbitan, polyoxyethylene (5) sorbitan monooleate, polyoxyethylene trioleate (20) sorbitan, and mixtures thereof. Table I illustrates and lists non-limiting examples of non-ionic solubilizing surfactants suitable for use in the present invention.

Table I 1 Values of "McCutcheon's Emulsiflers and Detergents" (McCutcheon Emulsifiers and Detergents) 2 Values calculated using the method described in Surfactants and Interfacial Phenomena (Surfactants and interface phenomena) The nonionic surfactants solubilizers that have values of HLB include a variety of branched medium chain surfactants, indicated in Table I above as "HSE". As used herein, "branched half-chain" refers to surfactants, which generally comprise a hydrophobic portion and a hydrophilic portion, which have a hydrophobic portion in which a C1-C4 alkyl branch is located in the hydrophobic as illustrated in Formula (I) a continuation. The medium chain non-ionic branched solubilizing surfactant may comprise one or more branched primary chain alkyl polyoxyalkylene surfactants corresponding to Formula (I): R R 2 CH 3 CH 2 (CH 2) w Cp (C 2) C 2 (CH 2) and C 2 (CH 2) z CH 2 O (EO PO BO) m H Formula (I) The medium-chain branched non-ionic solubilising surfactant of the present invention comprises molecules having as their main chain a primary linear polyoxyalkylene chain (i.e., the longest linear carbon chain including the alkoxylated carbon atom). These main chains with an alkyl chain comprise from 9 to 30 carbon atoms. carbon; also the molecules further comprise one or more branched primary alkyl entities having at least about 1, but not more than 4, carbon atoms. For example, a primary total carbon polyoxyalkylene alkyl C surfactant having 11 carbon atoms in the main chain must have 1, 2 or 3 branching units (ie R, R1 and R2 of Formula (I)) wherein the total amount of carbon atoms in the molecule is 14. In this example, the total carbon requirement C can be satisfied in the same way if it has, for example, a propyl branching unit or three methyl branching units. R, R1 and R2 of Formula (I) are each independently selected from hydrogen and C1-C3 alkyl (preferably hydrogen or CrC2 alkyl, more preferably hydrogen or methyl and, most preferably, methyl), as long as R, R1 and R2 of Formula (I) are not all hydrogen. Further, when z of Formula (I) is 0, at least R or R1 of Formula (I) is not hydrogen. Also with respect to Formula (I) above, w of Formula (I) is an integer from 0 to 10; x of Formula (I) is an integer from 0 to 10; and of Formula (I) is an integer from 0 to 10; z of Formula (I) is an integer from 0 to 10, and w + x + y + z is a sum of 2 to 11. The EO / PO / BO of Formula (I) are alkoxy entities, preferably selected from ethoxy , propoxy, butoxy and mixtures thereof, preferably ethoxy, wherein m of Formula (I) is at least about 0.01, preferably within the range of about 0.01 to about 10, more preferably about 1 to about 7 and most preferably about 3 to about 7. The entity m (EO / PO / BO) of the Formula (I ) may be a distribution with an average degree of alkoxylation (eg, ethoxylation, propoxylation and / or butoxylation) corresponding to m, or may be a single specific chain with alkoxylation (eg ethoxylation, propoxylation and / or butoxylation) of the exact number of units corresponding to m.

EXAMPLE I Preparation of ethoxylated sodium 7-methyltridecyl (EO = 2) 1.A. Synthesis of (6-hydroxyhexyl) triphenylphosphonium bromide In a rounded bottom flask with three 5 L necks, conditioned with nitrogen inlet, condenser, thermometer, mechanical stirring and nitrogen outlet, 6-bromo-1-hexanol ( 500 g, 2.76 mol), triphenylphosphine (768 g, 2.9 mol) and acetonitrile (1800 mL) under nitrogen. The reaction mixture is heated to reflux for 72 hours. The reaction mixture is cooled to room temperature (20 ° C) and transferred to a 5 L beaker. The anhydrous ethyl ether product (1.5 L) is recrystallized at 10 ° C. The product is recovered by vacuum filtration, and then washed with ethyl ether and dried in a vacuum oven at 50 ° C for 2 hours. The process should yield 1140 g of the desired product as white crystals. 1. B. Synthesis of 7- methyltridecene-1-ol In a round-bottomed flask with three 5 L necks, conditioned with mechanical stirring, nitrogen inlet, addition funnel, thermometer and nitrogen outlet, 70.2 g of 60% are added of sodium hydride (1.76 mol) in mineral oil. The mineral oil is removed by washing with hexanes. Anhydrous dimethyl sulfoxide (500 mL) is added to the flask, and the mixture is heated at 70 ° C until the hydrogen evolution stops. The reaction mixture is cooled to room temperature (20 ° C), and 1 l of anhydrous tetrahydrofuran is added. A slurry of (6-hydroxyhexyl) triphenylphosphonium bromide (443.4 g, 1 mol) is prepared with hot anhydrous dimethyl sulfoxide (50 ° C, 500 mL), and the reaction mixture is added through the addition funnel while stirring. maintains the reaction at 25-30 ° C. The mixture is stirred for 30 minutes at room temperature (20 ° C); then 2-octanone (140.8 g, 1.1 mol) is slowly added through the addition funnel. The reaction is slightly exothermic, and it is necessary to maintain the temperature of the reaction mixture at 25-30 ° C. The mixture is stirred for 18 hours and then poured into a 5 L beaker, which contains 1 l of purified water, while stirring. The oil phase (upper) is allowed to separate in a separating funnel, and the aqueous phase is removed. The aqueous phase is washed with hexanes (500 mL), and the organic phase is separated and combined with the oil phase of the washing with water. The organic mixture is extracted with water 3 times (500 mL each), and vacuum distillation is used to collect the oily and crystalline product (110 g) at 140 ° C and 133 Pa (1 mm Hg). 1. C. Hydrogenation of 7-methyltridecen-1-ol In the 3 L inner vessel of a tilting autoclave, 7-methyltridecen-1-ol (108 g, 0.508 mol), methanol (300 mL) and carbon platinum (10 g) are added. % by weight, 35 g). The mixture is hydrogenated at 180 ° C at 8.39 MPa (1200 psig) of hydrogen for 13 hours. The mixture is cooled and vacuum-filtered with CELITE® 545, and CELITE® 545 is washed suitably with methylene chloride. If necessary, the filtrate can be repeated to remove traces of the platinum catalyst, and magnesium sulfate can be used to dry the product. The product solution is concentrated in a rotary evaporator to obtain a crystalline oil (104 g). 1.D. Alkoxylation of 7-methyltridecanol In a round-bottomed flask with three 1-L necks, conditioned with nitrogen inlet, mechanical agitation, Y-tube with thermometer and gas outlet, the alcohol from the previous step is added. In order to eliminate traces of moisture, alcohol is sprayed with nitrogen for approximately 30 minutes at 80-100 ° C. After the treatment with nitrogen, sodium metal is added as a catalyst, and it is allowed to melt with stirring at 120-140 ° C. Ethylene oxide gas is added over 140 minutes with vigorous stirring while maintaining the reaction temperature at 120-140 ° C. The correct weight is added (equal to two equivalents of ethylene oxide), the apparatus is swept with nitrogen for 20-30 minutes as the sample cools. The product of 7-methyltridecyl ethoxylate (average of 2 ethoxylates per molecule) should be prepared.

Aqueous liquid carrier The mild dishwashing detergent compositions herein may further comprise from about 30% to 95% of an aqueous liquid carrier in which the other essential or optional components of the compositions are dissolved, dispersed or suspended. More preferably, said aqueous liquid carrier will comprise about 50% and 90% by weight of the liquid detergent composition herein. One component of the aqueous liquid carrier is water. However, the aqueous liquid carrier can comprise other materials that are liquid or that dissolve in the liquid carrier at room temperature (20 ° C) and that can also fulfill some other function in addition to being inert charge. Such materials may include, for example, hydrotropes and solvents, which are discussed in more detail below. Depending on the geographical characteristics of the place of use of the liquid detergent composition of the present invention, the water of the aqueous liquid carrier may have a hardness level of about 0.5-7.9 grains / L (2-30 gpg) ("gpg" it is a measure of water hardness that is familiar to those with industry knowledge, and acronyms mean "grains per gallon"). Surfactants The liquid detergent composition of the present invention may further comprise a surfactant that is not the nonionic solubilizing surfactant, selected from nonionic, anionic, cationic, ampholytic, zwitterionic, semi-polar nonionic surfactants such as amine oxide surfactants, and mixtures thereof. these. When they are present, optional surfactants may comprise from about 0.01% to about 50% by weight of the liquid detergent compositions of the present invention, and preferably from about 1% to about 50% by weight of the liquid detergent composition. Non-limiting examples of optional surfactants are discussed below: Anionic Surfactants: Non-limiting examples of anionic surfactants useful herein include Cp-Ciß alkyl benzene sulfonates (LAS). alkyl sulfates (AS) primary C-10-C20 branched and random chain; (2,3) secondary alkyl sulfates of C 10 -C 8? C10-C18 alkyl alkoxy sulfates (AEXS), wherein x is preferably 1 to 30; C10-C18 alkyl alkoxy carboxylates preferably comprising 1 to 5 ethoxy units; branched chain half alkyl sulphates as described in U.S. Pat. num. 6,020,303 and 6,060,443; branched chain half alkyl alkoxy sulfates as described in U.S. Pat. num. 6,008,181 and 6,020,303; Modified alkylbenzene sulfonate (MLAS) as described in patents nos. WO 99/05243, WO 99/05242, WO 99/05244, WO 99/05082, WO 99/05084, WO 99/05241, WO 99/07656, WO 00/23549 and WO 00/23548; methyl ester sulfonate (MES) and alpha-olefin sulfonate (AOS). Generally, when present, the anionic surfactants may comprise from about 5% to about 50%, preferably from about 10% to 40% by weight of the liquid detergent composition.

Amine Oxide Surfactants Other surfactants that can be used in the liquid detergent composition of the present invention are the amine oxide surfactants. The amine oxides for optionally used herein are semi-polar nonionic surfactants and include water-soluble amine oxides containing an alkyl entity having from about 10 to about 18 carbon atoms and 2 entities selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups and hydroxyalkyl groups containing from about 1 to about 3 carbon atoms; water-soluble phosphine oxides containing an alkyl entity having from about 10 to about 18 carbon atoms and 2 entities selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups and hydroxyalkyl groups containing from about 1 to about 3 carbon atoms, and soluble sulfoxides in water containing an alkyl entity having from about 10 to about 18 carbon atoms, as well as an entity selected from the group consisting of alkyl and hydroxyalkyl entities having from about 1 to about 3 carbon atoms. Preferred amine oxide surfactants having Formula (II): O f R3 (ORl) xN R5) 2 gave) wherein R3 of Formula (II) is an alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, alkylphenyl group and mixtures thereof containing from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms; R4 of Formula (II) is an alkylene or hydroxyalkylene group containing from about 2 to about 3 carbon atoms or mixtures thereof; x is from 0 to about 3, and each R 5 of Formula (II) is an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group containing from about 1 to about 3 carbon atoms or a polyethylene oxide group containing from about 1 to about 3 groups of ethylene oxide. The R5 groups of the Formula (I) can be linked together, for example, by an oxygen or nitrogen atom to form a ring structure. These amine oxide surfactants include, in particular, the C10-C18 alkyldimethylamine oxides and the C8-C2 alkoxy ethyl dihydroxy ethylamine oxides. When present, an amine oxide surfactant should be in the liquid detergent composition between at least about 0.1% to about 20%, more preferably at least about 0.2% to about 15%, even more preferably, at least about 0.5% to about 10% by weight of the liquid detergent composition of the amine oxide surfactant. Other examples of suitable amine oxide surfactants are described in "Surface Active Agents and Detergents" (Vol. I and II of Schwartz, Perry and Berch).

Nonionic Surfactants Non-limiting examples of optional nonionic surfactants that may be used in addition to the nonionic solubilizing surfactants of the present invention include C-12-C18 alkyl ethoxylates, such as derivatives of Shell's NEODOL® nonionic surfactants; C6-C12 alkylphenol alkoxylates wherein the alkoxylate units are a mixture of ethyleneoxy and propyleneoxy units; C12-Ci8 alcohol and C6-C12 alkylphenol condensates with ethylene oxide / propylene oxide block polymers such as PLURONIC® from BASF; medium chain C14-C22 branched alcohols, such as those described in U.S. Pat. no. 6,150,322; C14-C22 half chain branched alkyl alkoxylate, BAEX, wherein x is 1-30, as described in U.S. Pat. num. 6,153,577, 6,020,303 and 6,093,856; alkylpolysaccharides such as those described in U.S. Pat. no. 4,565,647 granted to Llenado on January 26, 1986; specifically alkyl polyglycosides such as those described in U.S. Pat. num. 4,483,780 and 4,483,779; polyhydroxy fatty acid amides (GS base) such as those described in U.S. Pat. no. 5,332,528 and patents nos. WO 92/06162, WO 93/19146, WO 93/19038 and WO 94/09099, and poly (oxyalkylated) alcohol surfactants capped with ether, as described in U.S. Pat. no. 6,482,994 and the patent no. WO 01/42408. Generally, when present, the nonionic surfactants that may be used in addition to the nonionic solubilizing surfactants comprise from about 0.01% to about 20%, preferably from about 0.5% to about 10% by weight of the liquid detergent composition. Zwitterionic Surfactants Non-limiting examples of optional zwitterionic surfactants include derivatives of secondary and tertiary amines, derivatives of heterocyclic secondary and tertiary amines, or derivatives of quaternary ammonium, quaternary phosphonium or tertiary sulfonium compounds. See U.S. Pat. no. 3,929,678 issued to Laughlin et al. on December 30, 1975, from column 19, line 38, to column 22, line 48, to obtain examples of zwitterionic surfactants; betaine, including alkyl dimethyl betaine and cocodimethyl amidopropyl betaine, amine and sulfo oxides and hydroxy betaines from Cs to C? 8 (preferably C-? 2 to C-.8), such as N-alkyl-N, N-dimethylamino-1-propanesulfonate, wherein the alkyl group may be from Cs to Ci8, preferably from C-io to C. Generally, when present, the zwitterionic surfactants comprise from about 0.01% to about 20%, preferably from about 0.5% to about 10% by weight of the liquid detergent composition. Calcium and / or magnesium ions The presence of calcium and / or magnesium (divalent) ions is used to improve the general cleansing characteristics of the oily dirt by the mild liquid detergent compositions. This is particularly true when the mild liquid detergent compositions are employed in softened water containing few divalent ions.

It is believed that calcium and / or magnesium ions increase the compaction of surfactants at the oil / water interface, thereby reducing interfacial tension and improving the general characteristics of fat cleaning. Preferably, the magnesium or calcium ions are added to the liquid detergent compositions of the present invention as a hydroxide, chloride, acetate, formate, oxide or nitrate salt. Calcium ions can also be added as hydrotrope salts. Calcium and / or magnesium ions may also be formulated into the mild liquid detergent compositions as a salt of a surfactant, such as is described in U.S. Pat. no. 6,506,719, issued to Arvanitidou et al. The liquid detergent compositions of the invention may contain magnesium and / or calcium ions and be present in the liquid detergent compositions herein at an active level ranging from about 0% to about 2%, preferably from about 0.1% to about 2%, more preferably from about 0.2% to about 2%, by weight of the liquid detergent composition. Solvent: The liquid detergent compositions of the invention may comprise a solvent in an amount effective to achieve the desired viscosity greater than 0.7 Pas (700 cps), when measured at 20 ° C. More preferably, the viscosity of the composition is between 0.7 and 1.1 Pas (700 and 1100 cps). The solvents suitable for use in the present include low molecular weight alcohols such as C1- C10 mono- and dihydric alcohols, preferably C1-C4 alcohols, preferably ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, propylene glycol and hexylene glycol. The compositions herein generally comprise from 0.1% to 20%, preferably 1% to 15%, most preferably 2% to 10%, by weight of the liquid detergent composition, of a solvent. Viscosity test method The viscosity of the composition of the present invention is measured in a Brookfield viscometer, model no. LVDVII +, at 20 ° C. The spindle used for these measurements is a spindle S31 with the appropriate speed to measure products of different viscosities; for example 1.25 rad / s (12 rpm) to measure products with a viscosity greater than 1 Pas; 3.14 rad / s (30 rpm) to measure products with viscosities between 0.5 Pas (500 cps) -1 Pas (1000 cps); -6.28 rad / s (60 rpm) to measure products with viscosities lower than 0.5 Pas (500 cps). Hydrotrope The liquid detergent compositions of the invention may comprise a hydrotrope in an effective amount such that the liquid detergent compositions are suitably soluble in water. By "suitably soluble in water" it is understood that the product dissolves in water as rapidly as determined by washing habits and conditions of use. Hydrothopes suitable for use herein include anionic type hydrothopes, particularly sodium, potassium and xylene sulfonate of ammonium, sodium, potassium and toluene sulfonate ammonium, sodium, potassium and ammonium cumenesulfonate and mixtures thereof, as well as related compounds such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. no. 3,915,903. Generally, the liquid detergent compositions of the present invention comprise from 0% to 15% by weight of the liquid detergent composition of a hydrotrope or mixtures thereof, preferably from 1% to 10%, and more preferably from 3% to 6% . Thickening Agent The liquid detergent compositions herein can also comprise from about 0.2% to 5%, by weight of the liquid detergent composition, of a thickening agent. More preferably, said thickening agent will comprise from about 0.5% to 2.5% of the liquid detergent compositions herein. Thickening agents are generally selected from the class of cellulose derivatives. Suitable thickeners include hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxyethyl methylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, QUATRISOFT® LM200 and the like. A preferred thickening agent is hydroxypropylmethylcellulose. Foam reinforcers The liquid detergent compositions herein may also comprise from about 0.05% to 5% by weight of the liquid detergent composition, of a foam booster. Foam reinforcers are used to achieve a greater volume of foam and greater foam retention during dishwashing, especially by hand. These polymeric foam stabilizers can be selected from the homopolymers of (N, N-dialkylamino) alkyl esters and (N, N-dialkylamino) alkyl acrylate esters. The weight average molecular weight of the polymeric foam stabilizers, determined by conventional gel permeation chromatography, ranges from 1000 to 2,000,000, preferably from 5,000 to 1,000,000, more preferably from 10,000 to 750,000, more preferably from 20,000 to 500,000 , and even more preferably from 35,000 to 200,000. The polymeric foam stabilizer may optionally be present in the form of a salt, either an inorganic or organic salt, for example a (N, N-dimethylamino) alkylacrylate ester citrate, sulfate or nitrate salt. A preferred polymeric foam stabilizer is (N, N-dimethylamino) alkyl acrylate ester, namely the represented acrylate ester corresponding to Formula (III): (III) When present in the compositions, the polymeric foam enhancer may be present in the composition of 0.01% a 15%, preferably from 0.05% to 10%, more preferably from 0.1% to 5%, by weight. U.S. Pat. num. 6,207,631, 6,369,012, 6,372,708, 6,528,477 and 6,645,925 B1 and European patent no. 1 223 212 describe other examples of suitable foam boosters. Other Optional Components The liquid detergent compositions herein may further comprise an amount of other optional ingredients suitable for use in such liquid detergent compositions, such as perfume, diamines, colorants, opacifiers, enzymes, additives, chelating agents and pH buffering media. Such that the liquid detergent compositions herein generally have a pH ranging from 5 to 11, preferably from 6 to 11, most preferably from 7 to 11. US Pat. no. 5,798,505 contains a more detailed description of suitable optional ingredients that are acceptable for use in liquid detergent compositions, specifically a mild liquid detergent composition. Preferably, the liquid detergent compositions herein are formulated as crystalline liquid compositions. By "crystalline" is meant stable and transparent. To obtain crystalline compositions, the use of solvents and hydrothopes is well known to those who are familiar with the industry of liquid liquid compositions for washing dishes. Preferred liquid detergent compositions according to the invention are single-phase crystalline liquids, but the invention also contemplates crystalline and opaque products containing dispersed phases, such as beads or beads, according to what is disclosed in US Pat.

US patents num. 5,866,529, by Erilli et al., And 6,380,150, by Toussaint et al., Provided that said products are physically stable (ie, not separated) during storage. The liquid detergent compositions of the present invention may be packaged in any suitable container for delivering the liquid detergent composition during use. Preferably, the package must be a transparent glass or plastic container. Method of use In the method of this invention, dirty dishes are contacted with an effective amount, usually from about 0.5 mL to about 20 mL (for every 25 treated dishes), preferably from about 3 mL to about 10 mL , of the liquid detergent composition of the present invention diluted in water. The actual amount of liquid detergent composition used will be based on the user's criteria and, in general, will depend on factors such as the particular formulation of the product of the composition, including the concentration of active ingredients in the composition, the amount of dirty dishes to clean, the degree of dirt of the dishes and the like. The particular formulation of the product in turn will depend on many factors such as the proposed market (ie USA, Europe, Japan, etc.) for the product of the composition. Suitable examples can be seen later in Table II. Generally, it is combined from about 0.01 mL to about 150 mL, preferably about 3 mL to about 40 mL of a liquid detergent composition of the invention with an amount from about 2000 mL to about 20000 mL, more generally from about 5000 mL to about 15000 mL of water in a pan having a volumetric capacity ranging from about 1000 mL to approximately 20000 mL, more generally from approximately 5000 mL to approximately 15000 mL. The dirty dishes are immersed in the sink containing the diluted compositions obtained to clean them by contacting the dirty surface of the dish with a cloth, sponge, or similar article. The cloth, sponge or similar implement can be immersed in a mixture of water with the detergent composition before being brought into contact with the surface of the dish and is usually brought into contact with the surface of the dish for a period varying from about 1. to approximately 10 seconds, although the actual time will vary according to each application and with each user. The contact of the cloth, sponge, or similar article with the surface of the plate is preferably accompanied by the concurrent scrubbing of the surface of the plate. Another method of use will include immersing dirty dishes in a water bath without using any liquid dishwashing detergent. An implement that is used to absorb liquid dishwashing detergent, such as a sponge, is placed directly into a separate amount of undiluted liquid composition for washing the dishes for a period of time ranging generally from about 1 to about 5 seconds. The absorbent implement and, therefore, the liquid and undiluted dishwashing composition is then individually contacted with the surface of each of the soiled dishes in order to remove said dirt. The absorbent implement is generally brought into contact with the surface of each dish for a period of time ranging from about 1 to about 10 seconds, although the actual time of application will depend on factors such as the degree of dirt on the dish. The contact of the absorbent implement with the surface of the plate is preferably accompanied by the simultaneous scrubbing of that surface. Test methods Method for examining cooked fat A steel slide is pre-weighed and the weight recorded. A dirt sample of 100 g of CRISCO® shortening from J.M. Smuckers Company, in a glass jar of 237 L (8 fluid ounces (USA)) for 2 minutes in a microwave oven (high regulation ~ 1350 W). 0.7 g of about 0.8 g of the melted dirt are placed on a metal slide with a pipette, and then the metal slide is cooked with the dirt for 30 minutes at 194 ° C (381 ° F) in a standard oven, such as Thelco Laboratory Oven, Precision Model 31619. Allow the metal plate to cool to room temperature (20 ° C). The metal slide is weighed to determine the weight of the cooked dirt. A solution of 2100 mL of deionized water regulated at 4 grains / L (15 gpg) of hardness and 100 ppm (parts per million) of bicarbonate is prepared. The solution is heated at 48.9 ° C (120 ° F). The detergent formulation shown in Table II below is added to prepare a 2600 ppm detergent solution. In a TEFLON® jar of 473 mL (16 fluid ounces (US)), 200 mL of the prepared detergent solution is added, and the detergent solution is allowed to cool to a temperature of 46.1 ° C (115 ° F). . The metal plate is added to the detergent solution at 46.1 ° C (115 ° F) and soaked for 2 minutes. The metal plate is removed from the detergent solution to let it dry for 12 to 14 hours at room temperature (25 ° C) and weighed to determine the amount of cooked fat removed.

Formulations Table II Water and other minor components csp csp csp csp csp (ie dye, perfume, diamine, 100% 100% 100% 100% etc.) 1 Such as Span® (20, 40, 60 or 80) 2 Available as SAFOL® 23-3, NEODOL® 23-3, LUTENSOL® 23-3 3 As described above As described in Formula (III) or in U.S. Pat. no. 6,645,925 B1 5 Such as P2000E (PPG-26), distributed by Dow Chemical, or PLURACOL® P 2000, distributed by BASF.

Although the particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will be clear to those skilled in the industry that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It has been intended, therefore, to include in the appended claims all changes and modifications within the scope of the invention.

Claims (9)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. A liquid detergent composition comprising a surfactant system; characterized in that it comprises 1.5% by weight and 3.5% by weight of the liquid detergent composition of one or more non-ionic solubilizing surfactants comprising a hydrophilic-lipophilic equilibrium value ranging from 12.5 to 4.

2. The liquid detergent composition in accordance with any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the non-ionic solubilizing surfactant is selected from the group consisting of alkoxylated alcohols, half chain branched alkoxylates, sorbitan monopalmitate, sorbitan monooleate, sorbitan monostearate, polyoxyethylane monostearate (4) sorbitan, polyoxyethylene tristearate (20) sorbitan, polyoxyethylene (5) sorbitan monooleate, polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan trioleate, and mixtures thereof.

3. The liquid detergent composition according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises from 30% to 95% by weight of the liquid detergent composition, of an aqueous liquid carrier and in that the surfactant system further comprises from 5% to 50%. % by weight of the liquid detergent composition, of an anionic surfactant.

4. The liquid detergent composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the surfactant system further comprises a nonionic surfactant, other than the nonionic solubilizing surfactant, selected from the group of alkoxylated alcohols having from 12 to 13 carbon atoms and a average degree of alkoxylation of 1 to 5, secondary alkoxylated surfactants, linear alcohol surfactants, medium chain branched alcohol surfactants, secondary alcohol surfactants, and mixtures thereof. 5. The liquid detergent composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the surfactant system further comprises an amine oxide corresponding to the formula:

(SAW) wherein R3 of Formula (VI) is an alkyl, hydroxyalkyl or alkylphenyl group or mixtures thereof containing from 8 to 22 carbon atoms; R4 of Formula (VI) is an alkylene or hydroxyalkylene group containing from 2 to 3 carbon atoms or mixtures thereof; x is from 0 to 3, and each R 5 of Formula (VI) is an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group containing from 1 to 3 carbon atoms or a polyethylene oxide group containing from 1 to 3 ethylene oxide groups.

6. The liquid detergent composition according to any of claims 4 to 5, further characterized in that the anionic surfactant is selected from the group of Cu-Cie alkylbenzenesulfonates. C10-C2o primary, branched chain random alkylsulfates, C? 0-C18 alkyl alkoxy sulfates, medium chain branched alkyl sulphates, medium chain branched alkyl alkoxy sulphates, and mixtures thereof.

7. The liquid detergent composition according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises from 0.1% to 2% by weight of the liquid detergent composition, of magnesium ions, calcium ions, and any mixture thereof.

8. The liquid detergent composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the liquid detergent composition is a crystalline liquid.

9. The use of the liquid detergent composition according to any of the preceding claims, for cleaning the surface of a dish.