Biosurfactant-containing surfactant mixtures

Abstract

A surfactant system comprising an anion surfactant, a fatty alcohol ethoxylate and a mannosyl erythritol lipid can be used in detergents, cleaning or textile care products and has improved detergent power.

Description

[0001] Biosurfactant-containing surfactant mixtures

[0002] The present application is directed to a surfactant system containing mannosylerythritol lipids, as well as washing, cleaning and textile care agents containing this surfactant system and a method for cleaning and / or caring for textiles.

[0003] The use of various surfactants in detergents, cleaning products, and fabric care products is well established. So-called biosurfactants are gaining increasing importance, as they are derived from renewable raw materials and thus have a reduced carbon footprint. This also meets consumer demand for more sustainable detergents and cleaning products.

[0004] These biosurfactants include mannosylerythritol lipids (MELs), which are obtained from various microorganisms through fermentation and are currently being investigated primarily for their use in cosmetic products. There is a desire to use this class of biosurfactants in detergents and cleaning agents, replacing other, less environmentally friendly surfactants. Initially, however, the resulting detergents exhibited very poor washing performance. Therefore, there was a desire to improve the washing performance of detergents containing MELs.

[0005] Surprisingly, it has now been found that washing performance, especially against greasy soils, is increased when MEL is used in a surfactant system that has an HLD value (Hydrophilic Lipophilic Deviation) of -4 to 0.5.

[0006] The present application therefore relates to a surfactant system comprising a) an anionic surfactant, b) a fatty alcohol alkoxylate and c) a mannosyl erythritol lipid (MEL).

[0007] Another subject of the invention is a method for cleaning and / or caring for textiles, in which an agent containing this surfactant system is used.

[0008] Yet another object of this invention is the use of a surfactant system according to the invention for increasing the cleaning performance of a washing, cleaning or textile care agent.

[0009] These and other aspects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a study of the following detailed description and claims. Any feature of one aspect of the invention may be employed in any other aspect of the invention. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the examples contained herein are intended to describe and illustrate the invention, but not to limit it, and in particular, the invention is not limited to these examples. Unless otherwise stated, all percentages are by weight based on the total weight of the agent / composition. Numerical ranges given in the format "from x to y" include the stated values. Where multiple preferred numerical ranges are given in this format, it is to be understood that all ranges resulting from the combination of the various endpoints are also encompassed.

[0010] "At least one," as used herein, refers to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or more. In the context of components of the compositions described herein, this statement does not refer to the absolute amount of molecules but to the type of component.

[0011] "At least one anionic surfactant" therefore means, for example, one or more different anionic surfactants, i.e. one or more different types of anionic surfactants.

[0012] Together with quantities, the quantities refer to the total quantity of the correspondingly designated type of ingredient.

[0013] The surfactant system according to the invention contains at least one anionic surfactant. Suitable anionic surfactants include alkyl ether sulfates of the formula

[0014] R 1 -O-(AO)n-SO3' X +

[0015] In this formula, R 1represents a linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl radical, preferably a fatty alcohol radical. Preferred radicals R 1 selected from decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, nonadecyl, eicosyl radicals and mixtures thereof, with the representatives having an even number of carbon atoms being preferred. Particularly preferred radicals R 1are derived from C8-C18 fatty alcohols, for example from coconut fatty alcohol, tallow fatty alcohol, lauryl, myristyl, cetyl or stearyl alcohol, particularly preferred are C12-C14 fatty alcohols. AO stands for an ethylene oxide (EO) or propylene oxide (PO) group, preferably an ethylene oxide group. The index n stands for an integer from 1 to 50, preferably from 1 to 20 and in particular from 2 to 10. Most preferably, n stands for the numbers 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8. X stands for a monovalent cation or the nth part of an n-valent cation, preferred are the alkali metal ions, and among these, Na + or K + , where Na + is highly preferred. Particular preference is given to using a C12-14 alkyl ether sulfate with 2 EO.

[0016] Other anionic surfactants that can be used in the context of this application include, for example, fatty alcohol sulfates, linear or branched alkylbenzenesulfonates, ether carboxylates, secondary alkanesulfonates, sulfosuccinates, taurides, or soaps. However, alkyl ether sulfates are particularly preferably used in the surfactant system according to the invention.

[0017] The anionic surfactant is preferably present in the surfactant system in an amount of 1 to 50 wt.%, preferably 1 to 20 wt.%, in particular 10 to 20 wt.%.

[0018] The surfactant system according to the invention also contains a fatty alcohol alkoxylate. These have the formula

[0019] R 2 -O-(AO) m -H, in the

[0020] R 2 represents a linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl radical,

[0021] AO stands for an ethylene oxide (EO) or propylene oxide (PO) group, m stands for integers from 1 to 50.

[0022] In the above formula, R 2 represents a linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl radical, preferably a linear, unsubstituted alkyl radical, particularly preferably a fatty alcohol radical. Preferred radicals R 2 are selected from decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, nonadecyl, eicosyl radicals and mixtures thereof, with the representatives having an even number of carbon atoms being preferred. Particularly preferred radicals R 2are derived from C12-C18 fatty alcohols, for example from coconut fatty alcohol, tallow fatty alcohol, lauryl, myristyl, cetyl, or stearyl alcohol. AO stands for an ethylene oxide (EO) or propylene oxide (PO) group, preferably an ethylene oxide group. The index m stands for an integer from 1 to 50, preferably from 1 to 20, more preferably from 1 to 15, and especially from 2 to 10. Most preferably, m stands for the numbers 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8. A C2-C18 fatty alcohol ethoxylate with 7 EO is most preferably used.

[0023] The fatty alcohol alkoxylate is preferably contained in the surfactant system in an amount of 1 to 90 wt.%, preferably 30 to 80 wt.%, in particular 40 to 75 wt.%.

[0024] The third component of the surfactant system is a mannosyl erythritol lipid. Mannosyl erythritol lipids (MELs) are surface-active substances consisting of a hydrophilic moiety, 4-ObD-mannopyranosyl-meso-erythritol, and a hydrophobic moiety, which is a fatty acid or an acetyl group. They are obtained by fermentation from various microorganisms, primarily Pseudozyma sp., but also Ustilago sp. and Schizonella melanogramma. Due to their origin, they are classified as biosurfactants. The MELs used according to this invention conform to the following formula (I): in the R 1 and R 2 can each independently represent H or an acetyl group and n is an integer from 6 to 10.

[0025] A distinction is made between

[0026] MEL-A: R 1 — R 2 — Ac

[0027] MEL-B: R T = Ac, R 2= H

[0028] MEL-C: R T = H, R 2 = Ac

[0029] MEL-D: R! = R 2 = H.

[0030] In a preferred embodiment, a mixture of MEL-A and MEL-B is used in the surfactant system according to the invention.

[0031] The mannosylerythritol lipid is preferably contained in the surfactant system in an amount of 1 to 80 wt.%, preferably 2 to 60 wt.%, in particular 5 to 40 wt.%.

[0032] The surfactant system preferably has an HLD value (hydrophilic-lipophilic deviation) of -4 to 0.5, preferably from -3.5 to 0, particularly preferably -2 to 0. The concept of hydrophilic-lipophilic deviation represents an extension of the HLB concept, which takes into account not only the hydrophilicity / hydrophobicity of the surfactant system, but also the type of surfactant, the temperature, the salt content, and the hydrophobicity of the oil. These parameters are converted into numbers from which the HLD value is determined. Negative HLD values ​​result in an O / W microemulsion; positive HLD values ​​result in a W / O microemulsion, and close to HLD = 0, a bicontinuous or lamellar phase. Formulas for calculating the HLD value can be found in the literature, for example Acosta, Bhakta, J. Surfact. Deterg. (2009) 12:7-19 or Chen et al., Colloids Surf. A: Physicochem. Eng. Asp. 634 (2022) 127599. This surfactant system can be advantageously incorporated into washing, cleaning, and textile care products.A further subject matter of this application is therefore a washing, cleaning or textile care product containing a surfactant system as described above.

[0033] The surfactant system is preferably contained in an amount of 1 to 30 wt.%, preferably in an amount of 10 to 25 wt.%, in each case based on the total agent.

[0034] In addition to the surfactant system, the washing, cleaning or textile care product preferably contains at least one further active ingredient, preferably selected from the group comprising one or more further surfactants, builders, bleaching agents, bleach activators, enzymes, electrolytes, pH adjusters, perfumes, perfume carriers, fluorescent agents, dyes, hydrotopes, foam inhibitors, anti-redeposition agents, graying inhibitors, soil release polymers, shrinkage inhibitors, crease inhibitors, color transfer inhibitors, antimicrobial agents, solvents, germicides, fungicides, antioxidants, preservatives, corrosion inhibitors, antistatic agents, bittering agents, ironing aids, repellents and impregnating agents, skin care active ingredients, swelling and slip-resistant agents, softening components and UV absorbers.

[0035] In addition to the surfactants already mentioned above, other nonionic surfactants can also be used. These include, for example, alkoxylated fatty acid alkyl esters, fatty acid amides, alkoxylated fatty acid amides, polyhydroxy fatty acid amides, alkylphenol polyglycol ethers, amine oxides, alkyl polyglycosides, and mixtures thereof.

[0036] Zwitterionic or amphoteric surfactants can also be used, for example betaines, sulfobetaines or amphoacetates.

[0037] Cationic surfactants can also be used, such as quaternary ammonium compounds, especially esterquats.

[0038] In a preferred embodiment, however, the washing, cleaning or textile care agent is free of cationic or amphoteric surfactants.

[0039] A washing, cleaning or textile care agent according to the invention preferably contains at least one water-soluble and / or water-insoluble, organic and / or inorganic builder. The water-soluble organic builder substances include polycarboxylic acids, in particular citric acid and sugar acids, monomeric and polymeric aminopolycarboxylic acids and their salts, in particular glutamic acid-N,N-diacetic acid (GLDA), methylglycinediacetic acid (MGDA), nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), iminodisuccinates such as ethylenediamineN,N'-disuccinic acid (EDDS) and hydroxyiminodisuccinates (HIDS), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and polyaspartic acid, polyphosphonic acids, in particular aminotris(methylenephosphonic acid), ethylenediaminetetrakis(methylenephosphonic acid), lysinetetra(methylenephosphonic acid) and 1-hydroxyethanel,l-diphosphonic acid, polymeric hydroxy compounds such as dextrin and polymeric (poly)carboxylic acids, in particular polycarboxylates accessible by oxidation of polysaccharides,polymeric acrylic acids, methacrylic acids, maleic acids and copolymers thereof, which may also contain small proportions of polymerizable substances without carboxylic acid functionality. The relative average molecular mass of the homopolymers of unsaturated carboxylic acids is generally between 5,000 g / mol and 200,000 g / mol, that of the copolymers between 2,000 g / mol and 200,000 g / mol, preferably 50,000 g / mol to 120,000 g / mol, in each case based on the free acid. A particularly preferred acrylic acid-maleic acid copolymer has a relative average molecular mass of 50,000 to 100,000. Suitable, although less preferred, compounds of this class are copolymers of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid with vinyl ethers, such as vinyl methyl ethers, vinyl esters, ethylene, propylene and styrene, in which the proportion of acid is at least 50% by weight. Terpolymers can also be used as water-soluble organic builder substances,which contain as monomers two unsaturated acids and / or their salts and as a third monomer vinyl alcohol and / or a vinyl alcohol derivative or a carbohydrate.

[0040] Suitable water-soluble inorganic builder materials include polyphosphates, preferably sodium triphosphate, as well as water-soluble crystalline and / or amorphous alkali silicate builders. However, in a preferred embodiment, the washing, cleaning, or textile care agents according to the invention are phosphate-free.

[0041] Crystalline or amorphous, water-dispersible alkali aluminosilicates are particularly used as water-insoluble inorganic builder materials. Among these, crystalline sodium aluminosilicates of detergent quality, especially zeolite A, zeolite P, zeolite MAP, and optionally zeolite X, are preferred.

[0042] Any substance that destroys or absorbs dyes through oxidation, reduction, or adsorption, thereby decolorizing materials, can serve as bleaching agents. These include, among others, hypohalite-containing bleaching agents, hydrogen peroxide, perborate, percarbonate, peroxoacetic acid, diperoxoazelaic acid, diperoxododecanedioic acid, and oxidative enzyme systems.

[0043] The washing, cleaning, or fabric care product may further contain one or more enzymes. In principle, all enzymes established in the prior art for these purposes can be used. Preferably, these enzymes are one or more enzymes capable of catalytic activity in a washing agent, in particular a protease, amylase, lipase, cellulase, hemicellulase, mannanase, pectin-cleaving enzyme, tannase, xylanase, xanthanase, ß-glucosidase, carrageenase, perhydrolase, oxidase, oxidoreductase, and mixtures thereof. Preferred hydrolytic enzymes include, in particular, proteases, amylases, in particular α-amylases, cellulases, lipases, hemicellulases, in particular pectinases, mannanases, β-glucanases, and mixtures thereof. Particularly preferred are proteases, amylases and / or lipases and mixtures thereof, and most particularly preferred are proteases.These enzymes are essentially of natural origin; improved versions of the natural molecules are available for use in detergents and are therefore preferred. The enzymes can be adsorbed onto carriers and / or embedded in coating substances to protect them against premature inactivation. The enzymes can also be formulated with accompanying substances, such as those from fermentation, or with stabilizers.

[0044] In order to set a desired pH value which does not arise automatically from the mixing of the other components, the agents according to the invention can contain system- and environmentally compatible acids, in particular citric acid, acetic acid, tartaric acid, malic acid, lactic acid, amino acids such as glycine, glutamic acid, arginine and / or aspartic acid, glycolic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, salicylic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid and / or adipic acid, but optionally also mineral acids, in particular sulfuric acid, or bases, in particular ammonium or alkali hydroxides.

[0045] Graying inhibitors are designed to keep soil detached from textile fibers suspended in the liquor. Suitable for this purpose are water-soluble colloids, usually of an organic nature, such as starch, glue, gelatin, salts of ether carboxylic acids or ether sulfonic acids of starch or cellulose, or salts of acidic sulfuric acid esters of cellulose or starch. Water-soluble polyamides containing acidic groups are also suitable for this purpose. Starch derivatives other than those mentioned above can also be used, for example, aldehyde starches. Cellulose ethers, such as carboxymethylcellulose (sodium salt), methylcellulose, hydroxyalkylcellulose, and mixed ethers, such as methylhydroxyethylcellulose, methylhydroxypropylcellulose, methylcarboxymethylcellulose, and mixtures thereof, are preferred.

[0046] Furthermore, soil release polymers, or soil release polymers (SRPs), can be included. Particularly suitable SRPs are oligoesters, preferably obtained from terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, sulfoisophthalic acid, and / or their methyl esters; aliphatic dicarboxylic acids (saturated and / or unsaturated), for example adipic acid, and / or their anhydrides; aliphatic substituted dicarboxylic acids, for example nonylsuccinic acid; alkylene glycols (ethylene, 1,2-propylene, 1,2-butylene glycol); polyethylene glycols, alkylpolyethylene glycols, polyethylene glycol benzoic acid esters, polyethylene glycol sulfobenzoic acid esters, and optionally alkanolamines. Terephthalate-PEG-based polymers, such as those commercially available under the trade name Texcare®, are preferred. Alternatively, (co)polymers based on polyethyleneimine, polyvinyl acetate and polyethylene glycol can also be used.

[0047] Suitable soil-removing polymers are generally already known to a sufficient extent from the prior art. Therefore, all polymers known in the prior art for this purpose can be used.

[0048] In order to effectively suppress dye detachment and / or dye transfer to other textiles during washing and / or cleaning of dyed textiles, the composition according to the invention can contain a dye transfer inhibitor (DTI). It is preferred that the dye transfer inhibitor is a polymer or copolymer of cyclic amines such as vinylpyrrolidone and / or vinylimidazole. Suitable polymers include polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), polyvinylimidazole (PVI), copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone and vinylimidazole (PVP / PVI), polyvinylpyridine N-oxide, poly-N-carboxymethyl-4-vinylpyridium chloride, and mixtures thereof. Particular preference is given to using polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), polyvinylimidazole (PVI), or copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone and vinylimidazole (PVP / PVI) as dye transfer inhibitors.

[0049] Polycarboxylates are particularly suitable as anti-redeposition agents. Suitable materials can be prepared by polymerizing or copolymerizing unsaturated carboxylic acid monomers, such as acrylic acid, maleic acid (or anhydride), fumaric acid, itaconic acid, aconitic acid, mesaconic acid, citraconic acid, and methylmalonic acid. Acrylate polymers and acrylic / maleic acid copolymers are particularly preferred.

[0050] As optical brighteners, washing, cleaning, or fabric care products can contain, for example, derivatives of diaminostilbenedisulfonic acid or its alkali metal salts. However, color detergents are preferably free of optical brighteners. Suitable examples include salts of 4,4'-bis(2-anilino-4-morpholino-1,3,5-triazinyl-6-amino)stilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid or similarly structured compounds that carry a diethanolamino group, a methylamino group, an anilino group, or a 2-methoxyethylamino group instead of the morpholino group. Furthermore, brighteners of the substituted diphenylstyryl type may be present, for example, the alkali metal salts of 4,4'-bis(2-sulfostyryl)diphenyl, 4,4'-bis(4-chloro-3-sulfostyryl)diphenyl, or 4-(4-chlorostyryl)-4'-(2-sulfostyryl)diphenyl. Mixtures of the aforementioned optical brighteners can also be used.

[0051] Particularly when used in mechanical processes, it can be advantageous to add conventional foam inhibitors to washing, cleaning, or textile care products. Suitable foam inhibitors include, for example, soaps of natural or synthetic origin that have a high proportion of C18-C24 fatty acids. Suitable non-surfactant foam inhibitors include, for example, organopolysiloxanes and mixtures thereof with microfine, optionally silanized silica, as well as paraffins, waxes, microcrystalline waxes, and mixtures thereof with silanized silica or bisfatty acid alkylenediamides. Mixtures of different foam inhibitors, for example those made of silicones, paraffins, or waxes, are also advantageously used. The foam inhibitors, in particular silicone- and / or paraffin-containing foam inhibitors, are preferably bound to a granular, water-soluble or water-dispersible carrier substance.In particular, mixtures of paraffins and bistearylethylenediamide are preferred.

[0052] The washing, cleaning or textile care product can be in any known packaging form, for example solid, liquid, gel, paste, powder, granules or tablets.

[0053] Liquid agents contain solvents. In a preferred embodiment, the main solvent is water. Non-aqueous solvents can also be added to the agent. Suitable non-aqueous solvents include mono- or polyhydric alcohols, alkanolamines, or glycol ethers, provided they are miscible with water within the specified concentration range.The solvents are preferably selected from ethanol, n-propanol, i-propanol, butanols, glycol, propanediol, butanediol, methylpropanediol, glycerin, diglycol, propyl diglycol, butyl diglycol, hexylene glycol, ethylene glycol methyl ether, ethylene glycol ethyl ether, ethylene glycol propyl ether, ethylene glycol mono-n-butyl ether, diethylene glycol methyl ether, diethylene glycol ethyl ether, propylene glycol methyl ether, propylene glycol ethyl ether, propylene glycol propyl ether, dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether, dipropylene glycol monoethyl ether, methoxytriglycol, ethoxytriglycol, butoxytriglycol, l-butoxyethoxy-2-propanol, 3-methyl-3-methoxybutanol, propylene glycol t-butyl ether, di-n-octyl ether and mixtures of these solvents. Particular preference is given to using an alcohol, in particular ethanol and / or glycerin.

[0054] To further improve the stability of the agents, hydrotropes can be used in addition to the surfactant systems described herein. The term "hydrotrope," as used in connection with the present invention, refers to additives or solvents that increase the water solubility of sparingly soluble (hydrophobic) organic compounds. A second component (i.e., the hydrotrope), which is not itself a solvent, is added to the sparingly soluble substance. Such hydrotropes have hydrophilic and hydrophobic structural units (like surfactants) but without the tendency to form aggregates in water (unlike surfactants). In various embodiments, these hydrotropes have no micelle-forming activity, or the critical micelle concentration (CMC) is greater than 10 -4 mol / L, preferably greater than IO -3 mol / L and even more preferably IO -2mol / L. The "critical micelle formation concentration," in accordance with the general understanding in the prior art, is the concentration of the respective substance above which it begins to form micelles and each additional molecule added to the system transforms into micelles. The hydrotropes used typically have a molecular weight < 10,000 g / mol, preferably < 2500 g / mol, more preferably < 1000 g / mol, and most preferably < 500 g / mol. They can be selected, for example, from short-chain mono-, di-, tri-, tetra- or penta-alkylbenzenesulfonates, in particular C 1-6 alkylbenzenesulfonates, where the alkyl groups can be linear or branched, including but not limited to cumenesulfonate, toluenesulfonate and / or xylenesulfonate as well as butylglycol, propylene glycol, 3-methoxy-3-methyl-l-butanol, 2,2-dimethyl-4-hydroxymethyl-l,2-dioxolane, propylene carbonate, butyl lactate, 2-isobutyl-2-methyl-l,3-dioxolane-4-methanol or mixtures thereof.The hydrotropic compounds are preferably used in a range of 0.1 to 5 wt.%, more preferably 1 to 2 wt.%, based on the total weight of the detergents.

[0055] In one embodiment, the washing, cleaning, or fabric care agent is presented as a single-dose, pre-portioned in a water-soluble wrapper. The water-soluble wrapper is preferably formed from a water-soluble film material. Such single-dose devices can be produced by either vertical form-fill-seal (VFFS) or thermoforming processes. The thermoforming process generally involves forming a first layer of a water-soluble film material to form recesses for receiving a composition therein, filling the agent into the recesses, covering the agent-filled recesses with a second layer of a water-soluble film material, and sealing the first and second layers together at least around the recesses.

[0056] The water-soluble wrapping is preferably formed from a water-soluble film material selected from the group consisting of polymers or polymer blends. The wrapping can be formed from one or two or more layers of the water-soluble film material. The water-soluble film material of the first layer and the additional layers, if present, can be the same or different. The single-dose unit comprising the washing, cleaning, or fabric care agent and the water-soluble wrapping can also have one or more chambers. The agent can be contained in one or more chambers, if present, of the water-soluble wrapping. The amount of washing agent preferably corresponds to the full or half dose required for one wash cycle.

[0057] It is preferred that the water-soluble coating contains polyvinyl alcohol or a polyvinyl alcohol copolymer. In addition, polymers selected from the group comprising acrylic acid-containing polymers, polyacrylamides, oxazoline polymers, polystyrenesulfonates, polyurethanes, polyesters, polyethers, polylactic acid, and / or mixtures of the above polymers can be added to the film material.

[0058] Preferred polyvinyl alcohol copolymers comprise, in addition to vinyl alcohol, dicarboxylic acids as further monomers. Suitable dicarboxylic acids are itaconic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, and mixtures thereof, with itaconic acid being preferred.

[0059] The single dose may have a substantially dimensionally stable spherical, rotationally ellipsoidal, cube-shaped, cuboid-shaped or cushion-shaped configuration with a circular, elliptical, square or rectangular basic shape.

[0060] Furthermore, it can have one or more compartments for storing one or more agents. If the water-soluble packaging has two or more compartments, each compartment can contain a solid component or a liquid component, or one or more compartments can contain solid components and one or more further compartments can contain liquid components.

[0061] A further subject matter of the invention is a method for cleaning and / or caring for textiles, comprising the method steps: a) providing a washing solution comprising a washing, cleaning or textile care agent according to the invention and b) bringing a textile into contact with the washing solution according to a).

[0062] This includes both manual and mechanical processes, with mechanical processes being preferred.

[0063] Yet another object of this invention is the use of a surfactant system according to the invention for increasing the cleaning performance of a washing, cleaning or

[0064] textile care product.

[0065] Examples of implementation

[0066] Increase washing performance

[0067] The washing performance of various surfactant systems composed of MEL and co-surfactants was tested in a high-throughput washing machine at 40°C and pH 8. The total surfactant concentration in the wash liquor was 52g / 17l in all tests. Twelve different standardized soils (3x lipstick, pigment / oil, pigment / tallow, olive oil, 2x tallow, mayonnaise, frying fat, lard, beef fat) were applied to cotton or polyester-cotton blends. After drying, the reflectance values ​​of the washed textiles were determined and added together. The results are presented in the table below as averages of quadruple determinations of the twelve different soils; for comparison, the positive sample was washed with the surfactant system of a currently commercially available detergent, and the negative sample was washed with water.

[0068] A Ci2.i4 fatty alcohol ether sulfate with 2 EO was used as anionic surfactant, and a Ci2.i8 fatty alcohol with 7 EO was used as fatty alcohol alkoxylate.

[0069] It is shown that the use of the surfactant system according to the invention has increased the washing performance and that it remains the same over a wide range.

[0070] Initial washing tests show not only this increase in washing performance against greasy soils but also an improvement against enzyme-sensitive soils.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Surfactant system comprising a) an anionic surfactant, b) a fatty alcohol alkoxylate and c) a mannosyl erythritol lipid (MEL).

2. Surfactant system according to claim 1, characterized in that it has an HLD value (Hydrophilic Lipophilic Deviation) of -4 to 0.5, preferably from -3.5 to 0, particularly preferably -2 to 0 3. Surfactant system according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the anionic surfactant is preferably an alkyl ether sulfate, particularly preferably a linear or branched C8-18 alkyl ether sulfate with 1 to 8 EO, especially preferably a C12-14 alkyl ether sulfate with 2 EO.

4. Surfactant system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fatty alcohol alkoxylate is preferably a fatty alcohol ethoxylate, particularly preferably an ethoxylated C8-20 alcohol with 1 to 15 EO, in particular C12-18 alcohol with 7 EO.

5. Surfactant system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the anionic surfactant a) is present in an amount of 1 to 50 wt.%, preferably 1 to 20 wt.%, in particular 10-20 wt.%, in each case based on the total surfactant system.

6. Surfactant system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fatty alcohol alkoxylate b) is present in an amount of 1 to 90 wt.%, preferably 30 to 80 wt.%, in particular 40 to 75 wt.%, in each case based on the total surfactant system.

7. Surfactant system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the MEL c) is present in an amount of 1 to 80 wt.%, preferably 2 to 60 wt.%, in particular 5 to 40 wt.%, in each case based on the total surfactant system.

8. Washing, cleaning or textile care agent, characterized in that it comprises a surfactant system according to one of the preceding claims.

9. Washing, cleaning or textile care agent according to claim 8, characterized in that the surfactant system is present in an amount of 1 to 30 wt.%, preferably in an amount of 10 to 25 wt.%, in each case based on the total agent.

10. Washing, cleaning or textile care product according to one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that it contains at least one further active ingredient, preferably selected from the group comprising one or more further surfactants, builders, bleaching agents, bleach activators, enzymes, electrolytes, pH adjusters, perfumes, perfume carriers, fluorescent agents, dyes, hydrotopes, foam inhibitors, anti-redeposition agents, graying inhibitors, soil release polymers, shrinkage inhibitors, crease inhibitors, color transfer inhibitors, antimicrobial active ingredients, solvents, germicides, fungicides, antioxidants, preservatives, corrosion inhibitors, antistatic agents, bittering agents, ironing aids, repellents and impregnating agents, skin-care active ingredients, swelling and slip-resistant agents, softening components and UV absorbers.

11. A single dose comprising a washing, cleaning or fabric care agent according to any one of claims 8 to 10 in a water-soluble casing, in particular a water-soluble casing made of a water-soluble film material, wherein the water-soluble film material preferably contains polyvinyl alcohol or a polyvinyl alcohol copolymer.

12. A method for cleaning and / or caring for textiles, comprising the method steps: a) providing a washing solution comprising a washing, cleaning or textile care agent according to one of claims 8 to 11, b) bringing a textile into contact with the washing solution according to a).

13. Use of a surfactant system according to one of claims 1 to 7 for increasing the cleaning performance of a washing, cleaning or textile care agent.

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