MXPA96005097A - Composition detergent aqueous stable paralavanderia which has smoothing propertiesimple - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an aqueous, substantially clear, isotropic, heavy duty laundry detergent composition comprising, by weight of the composition: a) from about 10% to about 40% of an anionic surfactant component comprising, weight of the composition: i) from about 5% to about 40% polyethoxylated alkyl sulphates, wherein the alkyl group contains from 10 to 22 carbon atoms and the polyethoxylate chain contains from 1 to 15 ethylene oxide entities, and ii) no more than about 5% alkylbenzene sulphonates, and b) from about 1% to about 10% of a quaternary ammonium fabric softening agent having the formula: c) from about 1% to about 10% of a fatty acid containing about 8 to about 20 carbon atoms, with the proviso that the anionic surfactant and the quaternary ammonium fabric softening agent are present in a a weight ratio of at least about 3: 1, wherein said composition is free of suspended crystals, precipitates or more than one liquid or liquid crystalline phase.

Description

. MPOSICION WATER DETERGENT STANDARD PORO LRVPNDERIfl WHICH HAS PROPRIETOR IS SURVIZODORFÍS rIEJORñDFíS TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to stable aqueous liquid detergent compositions for heavy duty laundry, which provide exceptional cleaning as well as mildness of .ela and antistatic benefits. The detergent compositions herein are substantially clear and isotropic and comprise an anionic surfactant component, a quaternary ammonium fabric softening agent and a fatty acid. The anionic surfactant component comprises polyethoxylated alkyl ethers and a limited amount of alkoxybenzenesulfonates.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Numerous attempts have been made to formulate laundry detergent compositions having good cleaning properties together with anti-scaling softening properties in order to avoid the need to use a textile softener product added to the laundry in addition to the usual laundry detergent. Since cleaning by definition includes the removal of material from the textile surface and textile softness typically includes the accumulation of material on the same surface, these attempts have typically required a compromise in the formulation between cleaning performance and softness. Cationic surfactants, including quaternary ammonium surfactants, have been known as useful additives in laundry detergent compositions for the purpose of providing washed fabrics with a static control benefit (see for example patent * North American No. 3,951,879, Uixon, issued on April 20, 1976, and United States Patent No. 3,959,157, Inarnorate, issued May 25, 1976, both of which are incorporated herein by reference), a benefit of cloth softness (see for example U.S. Patent No. 3,607,763, Salment. et al., issued September 21, 1971, U.S. Patent No. 3,644,203, Larnberti et al., issued February 22, 1972, and U.S. Patent No. 3,537,993, Coward et al., Issued November 3, 1970, all of which are incorporated in the present reference), or a sanitation benefit (see, for example, U.S. Patent No. 2,742,434, Kopp, issued on October 17, Flbril, 1956, U.S. Patent No. 3,539,520, Cantor et al., Issued November 10, 1970, and U.S. Patent No. 3,965,026, Lancz, issued June 22, 1976, all of which are incorporated herein by reference) . Attempts to formulate aqueous heavy duty laundry detergent compositions containing anionic surfactants and a quaternary ammonium fabric softening agent such as lauryltri ethylammonium chloride and which provide softness through static control and washing benefits have resulted in Poor product physical characteristics including separate phases or have resulted in poor performance of fabric cleaning. It has now been found that heavy duty aqueous liquid detergent compositions containing certain anionic surfactants, a quaternary ammonium fabric softening agent and a fatty acid provide mildness through washing and antistatic benefits, excellent cleaning performance, and characteristics of attractive products, that is, they are substantially clear, isotropic and stable phase. It has been found that by limiting the level of alkylbenzene sulfonate in aqueous detergent compositions containing polyethoxylated alkyl sulphates, unpleasant precipitates of the formation in the detergent product are avoided or inhibited and superior performance is promoted (face-to-face cleaning, smoothness through the benefits washing and antistatic). The fatty acid component provides fabric softness benefits to the detergent compositions herein and increases fabric cleanliness. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an aqueous isotropic and substantially clear heavy duty aqueous laundry detergent composition that provides excellent cleaning and mildness through washing and antistatic benefits.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention encompasses heavy-duty, aqueous, substantially clear, laundry detergent compositions comprising, by weight of the composition: (a) from about 10 to 40% of an anionic surfactant component comprising, by weight of the composition: (i) from about 5 to 40% of polyethoxylated alkyl sulfates wherein the alkyl group contains from 10 to 22 carbon atoms and the polyoxyethylate chain contains from 1 to 15 ethylene oxide entities; and (ii) not more than 5% by weight of alkylbenzene sulphonates; (b) from about 1 to 10% of a quaternary ammonium fabric softening agent having the formula (-) RA RI \ / NX C-) / \ where Ri and R2 are individually selected from the group consisting of CI-CA, C1-C4 hydroxyalkyl, benzyl, and - (C2H? O)? H wherein x has a value of 2 to 5; X is an anion; and (1) R3 and R * are each a Cβ-Ci- alkyl; or (2) R3 is a C8-C22 alkyl and R4 is selected from the group consisting of C1-C10 alkyl, C1-C10 hydroxyalkyl, benzyl, and - (C2H «0)? H wherein x has a value from 2 to 5; and (c) from about 1 to 10% of a fatty acid which "" has from about 8 to about 20 carbon atoms. Preferred compositions herein comprise the quaternary ammonium softening agent and the fatty acid in a weight ratio of 1: 3 to 3: 1.

DESCRIPTION DETRLLRDfi OF Lfi INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, it has now been found that a stable, heavy-duty aqueous liquid detergent composition is formed surprisingly when certain anionic surfactants, a quaternary ammonium softening agent and a fatty acid are combined in relative proportions specified hereinafter. The composition is substantially clear and isotropic and provides remarkable cleanliness and smoothness through the washing benefits. As used herein, the term "isotropic" indicates a single continuous phase, for example a liquid. A suspension or liquid having suspended crystals, precipitates or more than one liquid or liquid crystalline phase would not fall within the scope thereof. As used herein, the term "substantially clear" means statically clear, transparent or translucent. The heavy-duty laundry liquid laundry detergent compositions herein contain an anionic surfactant component, a quaternary ammonium fabric softening agent and a fatty acid as essential ingredients.

Anionic Surfactant Component The detergent compositions herein comprise from about 10 to 40%, preferably from about 15 to 25% by weight of the detergent composition, of an anionic surfactant component. The anionic surfactant component contains polyethoxylated alkyl sulphates, and may contain other anionic surfactants without soap, or mixtures thereof. The anionic surfactant component should not contain more than about 5% of alkylbenzene sulfonates. Generally speaking, the anionic surfactants useful herein are described in U.S. Patent No. 4,285,841, Barrat et al., Issued on April 25, 1981, and in U.S. Patent No. 3, 919, 678, Laughlin, et al. , issued on December 30, .1975, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Useful anionic surfactants include water soluble salts, particularly alkali metal salts, ammonium and alkylammonium salts (eg, monoethanolammonium or triethanolammonium), of organic sulfur reaction products having in their molecular structure an alkyl group containing from about 10 to about 20 carbon atoms and an ester group of sulfonic acid or sulfuric acid. (Included in the term "alkyl" is the alkyl portion of the aryl groups). Examples of this group of synthetic surfactants are the alkyl sulfates, especially those obtained by sulfation of the higher alcohols (Cß-Ciß carbon atoms) such as those produced by reduction of tallow glycerides or coconut oil. Other anionic surfactants herein are the water soluble salts of paraffin sulfonates containing from about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms (preferably from 12 to 18); alkylglyceryl ethers, especially those ethers of Cß-Ciß alcohols (for example tallow and coconut oil derivatives), ethylene oxide ether alkylphenol sulphates containing from about 1 to about 4 approximately units of ethylene oxide per molecule and from about 8 to about 12 carbon atoms in the alkyl group. And ether of ethylene oxide alkyl sulfates containing from about 1 to about 4 units of ethylene oxide per molecule and from about 10 to about 20 carbon atoms in the alkyl group. Other anionic surfactants useful herein include the water soluble salts in the esters of ct sulfonated fatty acids containing from about 6 to about 20 carbon atoms in the fatty acid group and from about 1 to about 10 atoms of carbon approximately in the ester group; Water-soluble salts of 2-acyloxy-alkane-1-sulphonic acids containing from about 2 to about 9 carbon atoms in the acyl group and from about 9 to about 23 carbon atoms in the alkane group; water-soluble salts olefinsulfonates containing from about 12 to about 24 carbon atoms; and β-alkyloxyalkanesulfonates, which contain from about 1 to about 3 carbon atoms in the alkyl group and from about 8 to about 20 carbon atoms in the alkane entity. Particularly preferred anionic surfactants herein are the alkylpolyethoxylates sulfates of the formula wherein R is an alkyl chain having from about * 10 to about 22 carbon atoms, saturated or unsaturated, and the most linear portion of the alkyl chain is of about 15 carbon atoms or less in the average, M is a cation which makes the compound soluble in water, especially an alkali metal, an ammonium or substituted ammonium cation, and x is about about 15 about. The anionic surfactant component of the present compositions comprises from about 5 to about 40, preferably from about 7 to about 36%, most preferably from about 10 to about 25% "roughly in weight of the detergent composition, of alkyl polyethoxylates sulphates as described above.Another preferred anionic surfactants are the C12-C1S non-ethoxylated primary alkylsulphates and secondarys.With under washing conditions with cold water, ie less than about 18.3 ° C, it is preferred that there be a mixture of these ethoxylated alkyl sulphates and mixtures of the alkyl sulfates with the paraffin sulphonates described above, alkylglyceryl ethersulfonates and α-sulfonated fatty acid esters are also preferred.The anionic surfactant component herein should comprise no more than about 5%, preferably less than about 3 %, most preferably less than about 1% alkylbenzene sulfonates. Most preferably, the detergent compositions herein do not contain alkylbenzene sulfonates. These include alkylbenzene sulfonates in which the alkyl group contains > * > 9 to 15 carbon atoms, in straight or branched chain configuration, for example those of the type described in US Patent Nos. 2,220,099 and 2,477,383. Especially problematic are linear straight-chain alkylbenzenesulfonates in which the average number of carbon atoms in the alkyl group is about 11 to about 14. Although it is not intended to be limited by theory, it is believed that the quaternary ammonium agent (? n surfactant) * "> ationic) and anionic surfactants typically form ion pair complexes in aqueous solutions.The ion pairs formed between the cationic surfactants described and the alkylbenzene sulfonate saltse have low solubility and precipitate as a separate solid salt. Only negative effect on the performance of the piece, but also avoids its use in isotropic liquid detergents On the other hand, the ion pairs formed by the cationic surfactants described and the polyethoxylated alkyl sulfates are much more soluble in the liquid detergent composition present. This allows the formulation of isotropic liquid detergents wherein the cationic agent provides softness, antistatic and cleaning performance, and the cleaning performance of the alkylpoloethoxylate is not deteriorated.

Quaternary ammonium fabric softening agent Lae compositions herein also contain from about 1 to about 10%, preferably from about 2 to about 7%, preferably from about 3 to about 5% by weight of a softener agent. quaternary ammonium fabric of the formula: (+) R «Rl \ / NX (-) / \ R3 R2 wherein Ri and R2 are individually selected from the group consisting of C1-C4 alkyl, C1-C4 hydroxyalkyl, benzyl, and - (C2H "0) XH wherein x has a value of 2 to 5; X is an anion; and (1) R3 and R * are each a Cß-Ci * alkyl or (2) RA is a Cß-C22 alkyl and R 3 is selected from the group consisting of Ci-CiO hydroxy alkyl of C 1 -C 10, benzyl, and - (C2H "0) XH wherein x has a value of 2 to 5. Of the above, the alkyl quaternary ammonium surfactants of a long chain are preferred wherein the above formula Ri, R2 and R3 are each one methyl and R "is an alkyl of Cß-Ciß- The preferred quaternary ammonium surfactants rnuy are the chloride, bromide and alkyltrimethylammonium salts of Cß-Ciß of ethyl sulfate, and the alkyld (hydroxyethyl) methylammonium salts of Ce-Cie . Of the above, lauryltrimethylammonium chloride, iristyltrimethylammonium chloride, and di-ethylammonium coconut chloride and ruthenium sulfate are particularly preferred. PDOGEN 412 ™, a commercially available Itrirnetilarylonium lauryl chloride < 1, it is a preferred softening agent herein. Another class of preferred quaternary ammonium surfactants are di-Cβ-C? «Alkyldimethylammonium chlorides or methylsulfates; particularly preferred is the alkyldimethylammonium chloride of di-Ci2-Cn. This class of materials is particularly suitable for providing antistatic benefits to fabrics. Materials that have two alkyl chain lengths longer than C? < j as chloride The di-Ciß-Ciß alkyldimethylammonium, which are commonly used in fabric softeners added to the rinse, are not included in the invention, since they do not produce isotropic liquid detergents when combined with the above-described anionic surfactants. A preferred embodiment of the invention herein comprises the detergent composition wherein the weight ratio of the anionic surfactant component to the quaternary ammonium softening agent is from about 3: 1 to 20: 1.

Fatty acid Lae compositions of the present invention comprise from about 1 to 10%, preferably from about 2 to about 7%, most preferably from about 3 to about 5% by weight of a fatty acid containing from about 8 to about 20 carbon atoms. The fatty acid may also contain from about 1 to about 10 units of ethylene oxide in the hydrocarbon chain. Suitable fatty acids are those saturated and / or unsaturated and can be obtained from natural sources such as animal or vegetable esters (eg palm seed oil, palm oil, coconut oil, Ibabassu oil, safflower oil, wood pulp oil, castor oil, tallow and fish oils, fat and mixtures of the \ srnos), or prepared synthetically (for example through the oxidation of petroleum or by hydrogenation of carbon monoxide by the Fisher procedure) Tropsch). Examples of suitable saturated fatty acids for use in the compositions of this invention include capric, lauric, myristic, palitic, stearic, arachidic and behenic acid. Suitable unsaturated fatty acid species include: palmitoleic, oleic, linoleic, linolenic and risinoleic acid. Examples of preferred fatty acids are C12 fatty acids, saturated C12-C14 fatty acids, and saturated or unsaturated fatty acids of C12 to Cie, and mixtures thereof. In the detergent compositions present, the weight ratio of the quaternary ammonium softening agent to fatty acid is preferably from about 1: 3 to about 3: 1, preferably from about 1: 1.5 to about 1.5: 1, preferably preferably 1. :1. optional components The compositions of the present invention may also preferably contain up to about 30%, preferably from about 1 to about 20%, most preferably from about 2 to about 10% by weight of an ethoxylated nonionic surfactant. These materials are described in U.S. Patent No. 4,285,841, Barrat et al., Issued August 25, 1981, incorporated herein by reference. Ethoxylated alcohols and ethoxylated alkylphenols of formula (0C2H.i) n0H are preferred, wherein R is selected from the group consisting of aliphatic hydrocarbon radicals containing from about 8 to about 15 carbon atoms and alkyl phenyl radicals in which alkyl groups contain from about 8 to about 12 carbon atoms, and the average value of n is about 5 to about 15. These surfactants are more fully described in U.S. Patent No. 4,284,532, Lei lim et al., Issued August 18, 1981, incorporated herein by reference. Particularly preferred are ethoxylated alcohols having an average of about 10 to about 15 carbon atoms in the alcohol and an average degree of ethoxylation of about 6 to about 12 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol. The addition of the ethoxylated nonionic surfactant to the compositions of the invention herein is helpful in providing physical stability to the detergent product, i.e., eliminating phase separation and precipitation. This is particularly true for chemical compositions that contain high levels of quaternary ammonium agent and / or low levels of anionic surfactant. Therefore, a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises at least about 2% of the nonionic surfactant in the detergent composition. Compositions herein also contain preferably up to about 30%, preferably from about 1 to about 20%, most preferably from about 1 to about 10% by weight of a builder material. Although all types of detergency builders known in the art can be used in the present composition, the type and level of builder should be selected such that the final composition will have an initial pH of from about 7.0 to about 9.0 at a concentration of about 1. to about 10% by weight of water at 20 ° C. Detergency builders are described in U.S. Patent No. 4,321,165, Smith et al., Issued March 23, 1982, incorporated herein by reference. In the preferred liquid detergent compositions present, the writer preferably represents from about 1 to about 20%, most preferably about 3 about 10% by weight of the composition. Preferred improvers for use in the present liquid improvers are described in U.S. Patent No. 4,284,532, Leikhi et al., Issued August 18, 1981, incorporated herein by reference. A particularly preferred rnejorador is the citric acid. Enzymes may be included in the formulations present for a wide variety of laundry purposes of fabrics, including the removal of protein-based stains, carbohydrate or triglyceride-based baeadae, for example and for fabric renewal. The enzymes to be incorporated include proteases, lipaeous amylases and cellulases, as well as mixtures thereof. Other types of enzymes can also be included. They can be of any suitable origin, such as plant, animal, bacterial, fungal and yeast origin, however, their choice is determined by several factors such as optimal pH-activity and / or stability, thermoeasibility, ability to act against detergents, improvers etc. In this regard, the enzymes of oacteria or fungi are preferred, such as bacterial amylases and proteases and fungal cellulases. Particularly preferred positions in the preend contain from 0.05% to 2% by weight approximately of enzymes detersivae, especially the amilasae, proteaeae and rnezclae of the eemes, of the well-known type for the formulators of detergents. Enzymes are normally incorporated at levels sufficient to provide up to about 5 g in weight, more typically from 0.01 rn to about 3 rng, of active enzyme per gram of the composition. Stated otherwise, the present compositions typically comprise from 0.001% to about 5%, preferably 0.01% -1% by weight of a commercial enzyme preparation. Protease enzymes are usually present in such commercial preparations at levels sufficient to provide 0.005 to 0.1 Anson units (AU) of activity per gram of composition. Suitable examples of proteases are the bistilysins that are obtained from particular strains of B. substilis and B.

¿Icheniforms. Another suitable protease is obtained from a strain of Bacill? S, which has maximum activity across the entire pH range of 8 to 12, developed and sold by Novo Industries A /? Under the trademark ESPERASE. The preparation of this enzyme and analogous enzymes is described in British Patent Specification No. 1,243,784 of Novo. Suitable proteolytic enzymes for removing stains based on protein that are commercially available include those sold under the brands ALCALASE and SAVINASE by Novo Industries A / S (Denmark) and MAXATASE by International Bio-Synthetice, Inc. (The Netherlands). Other proteases include Protease A (see European Patent Application 130,756, published January 9, 1985) and Protease B (See European Patent Application No. 87303761.8, filed April 28, 1987, and European Patent Application No. 130,756 et al., Published January 9, 1985). Amylases include, for example, α-amylases described in British Patent Specification No. 1,296,839, "Novo, RAPIDASE, International Bio-Synthetics, Inc., and TERMflMYL, Novo Industries." Cellulase useful in the present invention includes both bacterial and cellulase. Preferably, they have an optimum pH of between 5 and 9.5 Suitable cellulases are described in US Patent No. 4,435,307 Barbesgoard et al. issued March 6, 1984, which describes fungal cellulase produced from Humicola insolens and Hunicola apa. DSM1800, or a cellulase of production 212 of fungus belonging to the aeromonae genus, and cellulase extracted from the hepatopancreas of a marine mollusk (Dolabella Ruricula Solander). Suitable cellulases are also described in GB-A-2,075,028; GB-A-2.095.275 and DE-OS-2.24 .832 CAREZYME (Novo), is especially useful. Suitable lipase enzymes for detergent include those produced by microorganisms of the Pseudornonas group such as Pseudomonas stutzeri ATCC 19,154, as described in British Patent 1,372,034. See also lipasae in Japanese Patent Application 53,20487, open to public inspection on February 24, 1978. This lipase is available from Amano Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. Nagoya, Japan, under the trademark Lipase P "Amano", from here in further referred to as "Arnano-P". Other commercial lipaeas include A ano-CES, lipases ex Chro obacter viscosum, p. ex. Chro obacter viscosum var. lipolyticum NRRLB 3673, commercially available from Toyo Jozo Co., Tagata, Dapan; and also lipases from Chromohacter, 'i.scosurn from U.S. Biochemical Corp. E.U.A. and Diosynth Co., Holland. The recombinant and commercially available Hurn tail enzyme from Novo (See also EPO 341,947) is a preferred lipase for use herein. A broad scale of enzyme materials and means for their incorporation into synthetic detergent compositions are also described in US Patent No. 3,553,139 issued January 5, 1971 to McCarty et al. Enzymes are also described in US Patent No. 4,101,457 Place and others, issued July 18, 1978 and in US Patent No. 4,507,219 Hughes, issued March 26, 1985 both. Useful enzyme materials for liquid detergent formulations, and their incorporation into such formulations are described in U.S. Patent 4,261,868, Hora et al., Issued April 14, 1981. Enzyme stabilization techniques are described and exemplified in US Patent 3,600,319, issued on st 17, 1971 for Gegde, and others and in the publication of European Patent Application No. 0 199 405 Application No. 86200586.5 published on October 29, 1986, Venegas. Enzyme stabilization systems are also described, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 3,519,570. The enzymes employed herein can be stabilized with the preemption of water-soluble calcium and / or magnesium ion sources in the finished compositions which provide such ions to the enzymes. (Calcium ions are generally somewhat more effective than magnesium ions and are preferred here if only one type of cation is used). Additional stability can be provided with the presence of other different stabilizers described in the art, especially, borate species. See Severson, North American Patent No. 4,537,706. Typical detergents, especially liquids, comprise from 1 to 30 approximately, preferably from 2 to approximately 20, preferably from approximately 15, and most preferably from 8 to 12, approximately mmol of calcium ion per nitro of finished composition. This may vary a bit, depending on the amount of enzyme present and its response to calcium or magnesium lotions. The level of calcium or magnesium ions should be selected so that there is always a minimum level available for the enzyme, after allowing complex formation with enhancers, fatty acids, etc., in the composition. Any water soluble calcium or magnesium salt can be used as the source of calcium or magnesium ions, including, but not limited to, calcium chloride, calcium sulfate, calcium rnalate, calcium maleate, calcium hydroxide, calcium formate and calcium acetate and the corresponding magnesium salts. A small amount of calcium ion, generally 0.05 to 0.4 mmol / 1, is also frequently present in the composition due to calcium in the enzyme suspension and the water formula. In solid detergent compositions the formulation may include a sufficient amount of a water soluble calcium ion source to provide such amounts in the wash liquor. Alternatively, the natural hardness of the water may be sufficient. It is understood that the above levels of calcium and / or magnesium ions are sufficient to provide enzymatic stability. More calcium and / or magnesium ion can be added to the compositions to provide an additional provision of fat removal performance. Therefore, as a general proposition, the present compositions will typically comprise from about 0.05% to about 2% by weight of a source of water soluble calcium or magnesium ions, or both. The amount may, of course, vary with the amount and type of enzyme used in the composition. The compositions herein may also optionally contain, but preferably different, additional stabilizers, especially borate-type stabilizers. Typically, such stabilizers will be used at levels in the compositions of from about 0.25 to about 10%, preferably from about 0.5 to about 5%, most preferably from about 0.75 to about 4% by weight of boric acid or other compound of borate capable of forming boric acid in the composition (calculated on the basis of boric acid). Boric acid is preferred, although other compounds are suitable such as boric oxide, borax and other alkali metal borates (for example ortho-, meta- and sodium piboborate 7). sodium pentaborate). Substituted boric acids (eg, phenylboronic acid, butanoboric acid, and p-bromo phenylboronic acid) may also be used in place of boric acid. Other preferred components for use in the liquid detergents herein are the neutralizing agents, regulating agents, phase regulators, hydrotropes, polyacids, suds regulators, opacifiers, antioxidants, bactericides, colorants, perfumes and brighteners, described in US Pat. 4,285,841, Barrat et al., Issued August 25, 1981, incorporated herein by reference. Preferred neutralization agents to be used herein are organic bases, especially triethanolamine and onoethanolamine, which result in better detergency performance than inorganic bases such as sodium and potassium hydroxide. The following non-limiting ploe axes illustrate the compositions of the present invention. All percentages, parts, and proportions used here are limited to what is specified otherwise.

EXAMPLE I Composition of heavy-duty liquid laundry detergents is prepared by mixing the ingredients listed in the established proportions: Jomponent Weight% A B C D Alkylsulfati (Ci2-C? S) of polyethoxylated sodium (2.5) 18.0 18.0 18.0 18.0 Lauryltrirnetium ammonium chloride - - (C12-C13) alkyl polyethoxylated (9) 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 Alkyl (C12) glucosamide 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 Citric acid 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 Fatty acid alkyl. C12-C14) 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 Ethanol 3.7 3.7 3.7 3.7 Propanodiol 8.0 8.0 8.0 8.0 Monoethanolamine 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 Boric acid 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 Ethoxylated tetraethylenepentamine (15-18) 1 1..22 1.2 1.2 1.2 Sodium Cumensulfate 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 Protease Enzyme 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9 Einzyme Lipase 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 Enzyme Cellulase 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.08 Sodium hydroxide for pH 8.0 Water, perfume and minor ingredients Adjust to 100 Four cotton towel samples (mixture of 86% cotton and 14% polyester) were washed in normal laundry loads in automatic clothes washers. Each charge uses 0.48 cups (123 g) of one of the above detergent compositions providing approximately 1900 ppm of the detergent composition to the water wash solution. The water was washed at 95 ° F (35 ° C) and the water hardness was 6 graine / gallon (3: 1 Ca + *: Mg + +). After a normal washing cycle (washing, rinsing and squeezing), the loads are dried in a normal electric clothes dryer. For each load, four cotton towel samples were used. Mix 86% cotton 14% polyester. For smoothness graduations; 4 loads were washed for each of the compositions, and the softness gradations were averaged. 1 Samples were manually graduated with 3 expert degrees. A graduation scale of -4 to +4 panel score units (psu) is used with +4 psu indicating much more smoothness advantage, 0 indicating no difference, and -4 psu indicating much less softness advantage. The results for each of the compositions were averaged and composition A was assigned a relative value of 0. The results are as follows: SMOOTHNESS B vs A C ve A D ve A A around 0 peu +0.8 psu +1.3 psu These differences in softness are statistically significant at a confidence interval of 90%. The compositions C and D of the present invention provide an improvement in the softness benefits of the fabric over the composition A. The composition D also provides improved antistatic benefit over the composition A. The composition B contains fatty acid but does not contain softening agent cationic, does not essentially provide an increase in the softness benefits over composition A.

EXAMPLE II Liquid laundry detergent compositions were prepared by mixing the ingredients listed in the established proportions: Component Weight% Alkyl (C12-C15) ethoxylated eodium sulfate (2.5) 8.0 18.0 18.0 Lauryltrimethylammonium Chloride - 5.0 5.0 Alkyl (C12-C13) polietoxilaoo (9) 2.0 2.0 2.0 Alkyl (C12) glucoeamide 5.0 5.0 5.0 Citric acid 3.0 3.0 3.0 Graco alkyl acid (CI2-CIA) 2.0 2.0 2.0 Eltanol 3.7 3.7 3.7 Propanodiol 8.0 8.0 8.0 Monoethanolamine 1.1 1.1 1.1 Boric acid 3.5 3.5 3.5 Ethoxylated peptide tetramine (15-18) 1 1..22 1.2 1.2. Sodium cumene-sulfate 3.0 3.0 3.0 enzyme Protease 0.9 0.9 0.9 Enzyme Lipase 0.1 0.1 0.1 Enzyme Cellulase 0.08 0.08 Sodium hydroxide for pH 8.0 Water, perfume and minor ingredients Adjust to 100 Using the three detergent compositions above, the softness was tested on cotton towel samples in the same way as in Example I. The results are as follows: Softness F vs EG ve E +0.8 psu +0.9 psu These differences in softness are statistically significant in a confidence interval of 90%. The test shows that compositions F and G of the invention provide enhanced fabric softness benefits against the prior art composition E that does not contain cationic softening agents. In addition, the benefit in softness is not related to the presence of the cellulase enzyme. Compositions F and G are clear isotropic compositions, exhibit no precipitation of components after an extended period of time, and provide good antistatic benefits. In a comparison test of the manchae removal performance of composition E against compositions similar to composition F (compositions of the present invention), it is considered that the compositions are on average equal for the removal of different types of spots. In some oil / grease stains (such as stains of makeup and dirty engine oil) the compositions of the invention are considered to be better than the reference composition E.

EXAMPLE III Co-positioners for heavy-duty laundry detergents were prepared by mixing the ingredients listed in the established proportions: Component Weight% H 1 2 Lauryltrirnetilamonium Chloride 5.0 5.0 5.0 C12 - 7.2 alkylbenzene sulphonic acid 18.0 Poly (C12-C15) alkyl (2.5) 18 8..00 10.8 - (C12-C13) alkyl polyethoxylated (9) 20 0 .. 2.0 2.0 Citric acid 3.0 3.0 3.0 Fatty acid of alkyl (C12-C1A) 2.0 2.0 2.0 Ethanol 3.7 3.7 3.7 Propañodio.I 8.0 8.0 8.0 Monoethanolamine 1.1 1.1.1.1 Boric acid 3.5 3.5 3.5 Ethoxylated tetraethylenepentamine (15-18) 1 1..22 1.2 1.2 Sodium Curnenosulphate 3.0 3.0 3.0 Protein 0.9 0.9 0.9 Enzyme Lipase 0.1 0.1 0.1 Enzyme Cellulase 0.08 0.08 Sodium hydroxide for pH 8.0 Water, perfume and minor ingredients the rest Appearance of the Clear Composition White Separation after a day at tempera- thin of phases viscoea ture environment Composition H of the present invention, which contains lauryl alkyltrimethylammonium chloride and does not contain alkylbenzene-1-phonic acid, is clear and stable for several months in storage at room temperature. The reference compositions 1 and 2, which contain alkylbenzenesulfonic acid, have physical and undesirable properties (phase separation or high viscosity) after only one day. EXAMPLE IV A heavy-duty liquid detergent composition similar to the above composition H containing 5% C12-C1 fatty acid; 4% non-ionic (C12-C13) alkyl polyethoxylated surfactant (9) thereof was prepared way as in example III. The composition is clear, isotropic and stable for several months in storage at room temperature, and provides good cleaning and gentleness benefits.

Claims (30)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - An aqueous, substantially clear, isotropic, heavy duty laundry detergent composition comprising, by weight of the composition: (a) from about 10 to 40% of an anionic surfactant component comprising, by weight of the composition : (i) from about 5 to 40% of polyethoxylated alkyl sulphates in which the alkyl group contains from 10 to 22 carbon atoms and the polyoxyethylate chain contains from 1 to 15 ethylene oxide entities; and (ii) not more than about 5% alkylbenzene sulfonates; (b) from about 1 to 10% of a quaternary ammonium fabric softening agent having the formula (+) R RI \ / N X (-> / \ R3 R2 wherein Ri and R2 are individually selected from the group consisting of Ci-alkyl, hydroxyalkyl of Ci -CA, benzyl, and - (C2HAO) KH wherein x has a value of 2 to 5; X is an anion; and (1) R3 and RA are each an alkyl of Ce-Cu or (2) R3 is a C8-C22 alkyl and A is selected from the group consisting of C1-C10 alkyl, C1-C10 hydroxyalkyl, benzyl , and - £ 2H O) H where x has a value of 2 to 5; and (c) from about 1 to 10% of a fatty acid containing from about 8 to about 20 carbon atoms.

2. The composition according to claim 1 comprising about 15 to 25% of the anionic surfactant component.

3. The composition according to claim 1 further characterized in that the component "anionic surfactant comprises from about 7 to 36% of alkylethoxy ether sulphates.

4. The composition according to claim 2 further characterized in that the anionic surfactant component comprises from about 10 to 25% of alkyl ethoxy sulfates.

5. The composition according to claim 1 further characterized in that the anionic surfactant component comprises less than about 1% alkylbenzene sulfonates.

6. The composition according to claim 1 further characterized in that the anionic surfactant component does not comprise alkylbenzene sulfonates.

7. The composition according to claim 4 further characterized in that the ammonium surfactant component does not comprise alkylbenzene sulfonates.

8. The composition according to claim 1 further characterized in that it comprises from 3% to%, approximately of the quaternary ammonium fabric softening agent.

9. The composition according to claim 3 comprising about 3% to 5% of the quaternary ammonium fabric softening agent.

10. The composition according to claim 6 comprising about 3% to 5% of the quaternary ammonium fabric builder agent.

11. The composition according to claim 7 comprising about 3% to 5% of the quaternary ammonium fabric builder agent.

12. The composition according to claim 1 further characterized in that the quaternary ammonium fabric softening agent is selected from the group consisting of lauryltri ethylammonium chloride, trimethyltrimethyrylonium chloride, coconut trirnethylammonium chloride, trimethylammonium coconut methyl sulfate, di-Ci2-CiA alkyldirnethylammonium chloride, and mixtures thereof.

13. The composition according to claim 7, further characterized in that the quaternary ammonium fabric softening agent is selected from the group consisting of lauryltrimethylammonium chloride, trimethyltrimethylammonium chloride, trimethylammonium coconut chloride, trimethylammonium coconut ringletulfate, di-Ci2-Ci4 alkyldirnethylammonium, and mixtures thereof.

14. The composition according to claim 1 comprising about 3% to 5% of lauryltrimethylaronium chloride.

15. The composition according to claim 7 comprising about 3% to 5% chloride of lauryltrimethylammonium.

16. The composition according to claim 1, further characterized in that the weight ratio of the anionic teneuron component to the quaternary ammonium frother agent is from 3: 1 to 20: 1.

17. The composition according to claim 15 further characterized in that the weight ratio of the anionic surfactant component to the quaternary ammonium fabric softening agent is 3: 1 to 20: 1.

18. The composition according to claim 1 comprising about 3% to 5% of fatty acid.

19. The composition according to claim 7 comprising about 3% to 5% of fatty acid.

20. The composition according to claim 15 comprising about 3% to 5% of fatty acid.

21. The composition according to claim 1 further characterized in that the fatty acid is selected from the group consisting of saturated fatty acid of C12, to saturated fatty acids of O12-C14, and fatty acids .. unsaturated or unsaturated from C12 to Cie, and mixtures thereof.

22. The composition according to claim 15, further characterized in that the fatty acid is selected from the group consisting of saturated fatty acid of C12, saturated fatty acids of C12-C1, and saturated or unsaturated fatty acids of C12 to Cie, and mixtures thereof.

23. The composition according to claim 20 further characterized in that the fatty acid is It teaches from the group consisting of saturated fatty acid of C12, saturated fatty acids of C12-C1A, and saturated or unsaturated fatty acids of C12 to Cie, and mixtures thereof.

24. The composition according to claim 23 further characterized in that the weight ratio of quaternary ammonium softening agent to fatty acid is preferably from 1: 1.5 to about 1.5: 1.

25. The composition according to claim 1 further characterized in that it comprises from 1% to 20% approximately of an ethoxylated nonionic surfactant.

26. The composition according to claim 25 comprising about 2% to 10% of ethoxylated alcohol surfactant.

27. The composition according to claim 1 further characterized in that it comprises 1% a Approximately 20% of a detergency builder material.

28. The composition according to claim 26 further characterized in that it comprises 1% a Approximately 3% citric acid.

29. The composition according to claim 1, further characterized in that it comprises an enzyme selected from the group consisting of protease, arnilaeae, protease, cellulase and lae rnisrnae mixture at a level euficiente to provide approximately 0.01 mg to 3 rng of active enzyme per gram of the composition.

30. The composition according to claim 28 further characterized in that it comprises an enzyme selected from the group consisting of protease, amylae, protease, cellulae and mix thereof at a level sufficient to provide approximately 0.01 mg to 3 rng of active enzyme per gram of the composition.