NL271294A - - Google Patents

Abstract

A detergent composition comprises, by weight, (a) a major proportion of a mono- or di-alkyl aryl sulphonate in which the (or one) alkyl group has at least 8, preferably 8-16, carbon atoms, and the other alkyl group (if present is methyl, and (b) a minor proportion of (i) an alkyl aryl sulphonate in which the (or each)) alkyl group contains 0-7 carbon atoms, the sum of the carbon atoms in all the alkyl groups present being preferably less than 8, (ii) a condensate of not more than 11, and preferably 7-10, molar proportions (average) of alkylene oxide with an alcohol, a phenol or a mercaptan, and (iii) a condensate of more then 11, preferably 11-18, molar proportions (average) of alkylene oxide with an alcohol, a phenol or a mercaptan; (a) normally comprises 55-80%, preferably 60-70%, (b) (i) usually amounts to 1-17.5%, preferably 5-12.5%, (b) (ii) to 10-30%, preferably 15-25%, and (b) (iii) to 1-17.5%, preferably 5-12.5%; (a) is most suitably a mixture of C8-13-straight chain monoalkyl benzene sulphonates, and (b) (i) is suitably a toluene, xylene, benzene or naphthalene sulphonate; in (a) and (b) (i) the cation present is generally alkali metal, ammonium or alkanolamine, sodium and potassium being preferred. The alkylene oxide condensates (b) (ii) and (iii) are normally derived from C2-4-alkylene oxides, and especially from ethylene oxide, and from C6-20-aliphatic alcohols, C4-10-alkyl phenols, especially octyl phenol, and C6-20-tertiary aliphatic mercaptans. The composition may in addition contain up to 10% urea, and also alkali metal phosphates and polyphosphates, sodium silicate and carboxymethylcellulose, and may be produced as an aqueous solution comprising 20-60% of the composition. Specification 870,457 is referred to.