Laundry composition

Abstract

Disclosed is a laundry composition comprising a plurality of particles wherein the particles comprise from 20% to 95% by weight of a water-soluble carrier selected from the group consisting of carbohydrates, inorganic alkali metal salts, organic alkali metal salts, inorganic alkaline earth metal salts, organic alkaline earth metal salts, urea, and mixtures thereof; from 5% to 15% by weight of an anionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of alkyl sulfates, alkyl ether sulfates, soaps, and mixtures thereof; and 0.1% to 30% by weight of a benefit agent; wherein the water-soluble carrier comprises a carbohydrate selected from the group consisting of sugars, sugar alcohols, and mixtures thereof; and wherein the composition comprises less than 1.5% by weight of an alkylbenzene sulfonate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to laundry compositions comprising a plurality of particles. Background Art

[0002] A wide variety of laundry products are available on the market, including detergents, fabric conditioners, stain removers and bleaches. Laundry products are used for a variety of reasons, traditionally detergents for cleaning and fabric conditioners for softening and perfume the fabrics. There is a continuing need for laundry products that provide fabric care benefits to fabrics.

[0003] Various benefit agents are commonly incorporated into laundry products to provide fabric care benefits. However, adding benefit agents to laundry products has the disadvantages of increased formulation complexity, increased cost, and benefit agents that may not meet the environmental credentials that consumers expect.

[0004] Today, laundry products that provide additional benefits to their fabrics, in addition to conventional laundry detergents and fabric conditioners, are also popular among consumers. Consumers enjoy products that allow them to use customized amounts of benefit agents based on their personal preferences for how much benefit agent is needed to provide the desired benefit. There is an increased demand for laundry products that allow consumers to customize their laundry process to suit their needs and preferences.

[0005] Products that provide benefits to fabrics during laundry have been developed independently of other laundry products, to achieve desired benefits based on the personal preferences of consumers. Among these products, those in particle form are particularly popular. Conventional carrier materials for particles are synthetic polymers such as polyethylene glycol (PEG). In a typical preparation method of particles, a melt comprising a carrier material and other components is first prepared, and then the resulting melt is directly mixed with a benefit agent. Then the final melt dispersion is shaped into particles.

[0006] WO2011 / 056938A1 relates to a laundry fragrance additive having polyethylene glycol and a perfume. The laundry fragrance additive enables consumers to control the amount of fragrance imparted to their laundry.

[0007] WO2016099852A1 relates to a composition of a plurality of uniformly structured particles. The particles include polyethylene glycol, flavors and starch microparticles, and each has a mass between about 0.95 mg and about 5 grams.

[0008] However, the production of such products has certain limitations: the production methods involving heating and cooling are time-consuming and complex, which require special equipment; some benefit agents such as fragrances tend to evaporate quickly at higher temperatures, so the fragrance content of the composition decreases rapidly during production. In addition, carrier materials such as PEG are expensive and unsustainable. Many consumers prefer compounds with good environmental characteristics, so there is a need for alternatives to petroleum-based raw materials for environmental sustainability purposes.

[0009] Another problem that may occur with laundry products in particle form is that the stability of the product may be poor. For example, the particles may stick together and lose their fluidity during production, transportation and / or storage, which will cause processing problems and dosing problems for consumers. Due to the stickiness of the particles, such particles may even leave more residue in the washing machine (e.g., on the washing machine door glass or rubber ring) after washing, resulting in a poor user experience for consumers. In addition, the particles may be fragile and tend to break into small pieces or deform irreversibly during production, transportation and / or storage, which may indicate poor quality of the product and have a negative impact on consumer acceptance of the product.

[0010] Furthermore, the dissolution behavior of laundry products in granular form is also important to consumers.

[0011] Therefore, there still exists a need for improved laundry products of this type. Summary of the invention

[0012] In a first aspect, the present invention relates to a laundry composition comprising a plurality of particles, wherein the particles comprise:

[0013] a) 20-95% by weight of a water-soluble carrier selected from carbohydrates, inorganic alkali metal salts, organic alkali metal salts, inorganic alkaline earth metal salts, organic alkaline earth metal salts, urea and mixtures thereof;

[0014] b) 5-15 wt.% of anionic surfactant selected from alkyl sulfates, alkyl ether sulfates, soaps and mixtures thereof; and

[0015] c) 0.1-30 wt % of a beneficial agent;

[0016] wherein the water-soluble carrier comprises a carbohydrate selected from sugars, sugar alcohols and mixtures thereof; and

[0017] wherein the composition comprises less than 1.5 wt % alkylbenzene sulfonate.

[0018] In a second aspect, the invention relates to a method of forming a laundry composition according to any embodiment of the first aspect, comprising the steps of:

[0019] (i) combining the components of the composition to form a mixture;

[0020] (ii) feeding the mixture into an extruder and extruding it to form an extrudate;

[0021] (iii) cutting the extrudate to form particles;

[0022] (iv) drying the particles; and

[0023] (v) optionally dedusting the granules with an anti-caking agent.

[0024] In a third aspect, the present invention relates to a method for treating laundry, comprising the steps of:

[0025] (i) providing fabric in a washing machine;

[0026] (ii) dispensing a laundry composition of any embodiment of the first aspect into a washing machine; and

[0027] (iii) contacting said fabrics with said laundry composition during a wash sub-cycle of said washing machine.

[0028] In a fourth aspect, the present invention relates to the use of a laundry composition of any embodiment of the first aspect to provide fabric care benefits to laundered fabrics, preferably to impart perfume to laundered fabrics during a laundry washing process. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] Except in the examples, or where otherwise explicitly indicated, all numbers in this description indicating amounts of material or reaction conditions, physical properties of materials and / or use may optionally be understood as being modified by the word "about".

[0031] Unless otherwise indicated, all amounts are by weight of the composition.

[0032] It should be noted that in specifying any numerical range, any particular upper numerical value can be associated with any particular lower numerical value.

[0033] For the avoidance of doubt, the word "comprising" is intended to mean "including" but not necessarily "consisting of" or "composed of." In other words, the listed steps or options need not be exhaustive.

[0034] The disclosure of the invention as found herein is deemed to cover all embodiments as found in the claims, as they are multiple referenced to each other, regardless of the fact that the claims may be found without multiple reference or redundancy.

[0035] Where features are disclosed with respect to a particular aspect of the invention (eg, the composition of the invention), such disclosure is also considered applicable to any other aspect of the invention (eg, the method of the invention), mutatis mutandis.

[0036] Laundry compositions in the context of the present invention are laundry compositions intended to be used in addition to conventional detergents or fabric conditioners. The laundry compositions provide additional benefits over and above those delivered by detergents or fabric conditioners and provide consumers with the ability to customize the level of benefit agents delivered in the wash.

[0037] Water soluble carrier

[0038] As used herein, the term "water-soluble" refers to a material that is soluble or otherwise dispersible in water at a level of at least 90% by weight, preferably at least 95% by weight, and more preferably at least 98% by weight at 25°C under ambient conditions. The particles of the present invention contain not less than 20% by weight of a water-soluble carrier, preferably not less than 30% by weight, more preferably not less than 35% by weight, and most preferably not less than 40% by weight of a water-soluble carrier. The particles of the present invention contain no more than 95% by weight of a water-soluble carrier, preferably no more than 85% by weight, more preferably no more than 75% by weight, and most preferably no more than 70% by weight of a water-soluble carrier. The particles of the present invention contain from 20 to 95% by weight of a water-soluble carrier, preferably from 30 to 85% by weight, more preferably from 35 to 75% by weight, and most preferably from 40 to 70% by weight of a water-soluble carrier.

[0039] The water-soluble carrier is selected from carbohydrates, inorganic alkali metal salts, organic alkali metal salts, inorganic alkaline earth metal salts, organic alkaline earth metal salts, urea and mixtures thereof.

[0040] Suitable alkali metal salts include alkali metal ions selected from lithium, sodium, potassium and mixtures thereof, and anions selected from fluoride, chloride, bromide, iodide, sulfate, bisulfate, phosphate, carbonate, acetate, citrate, lactate, pyruvate, ascorbate, sorbate and mixtures thereof. Examples of suitable inorganic alkali metal salts include, but are not limited to, sodium fluoride, sodium chloride, sodium bromide, sodium iodide, sodium sulfate, sodium bisulfate, sodium phosphate, sodium monohydrogen phosphate, sodium dihydrogen phosphate, sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, potassium fluoride, potassium chloride, potassium bromide, potassium iodide, potassium sulfate, potassium bisulfate, potassium phosphate, potassium monohydrogen phosphate, potassium dihydrogen phosphate, potassium carbonate, potassium monohydrogen carbonate or mixtures thereof. Examples of suitable organic alkali metal salts include sodium acetate, sodium citrate, sodium lactate, sodium tartrate, sodium ascorbate, sodium sorbate, potassium acetate, potassium citrate, potassium lactate, potassium tartrate, potassium ascorbate, potassium sorbate or mixtures thereof.

[0041] Suitable alkaline earth metal salts include alkaline earth metal ions selected from magnesium, calcium and mixtures thereof, and anions selected from fluoride, chloride, bromide, iodide, sulfate, bisulfate, phosphate, carbonate, acetate, citrate, lactate, pyruvate, ascorbate, sorbate and mixtures thereof. Examples of suitable inorganic alkaline earth metal salts include, but are not limited to, magnesium fluoride, magnesium chloride, magnesium bromide, magnesium iodide, magnesium sulfate, magnesium phosphate, magnesium monohydrogen phosphate, magnesium dihydrogen phosphate, magnesium carbonate, magnesium monohydrogen carbonate, calcium fluoride, calcium chloride, calcium bromide, calcium iodide, calcium sulfate, calcium phosphate, calcium monohydrogen phosphate, calcium dihydrogen phosphate, calcium carbonate, calcium monohydrogen carbonate or mixtures thereof. Examples of suitable organic alkaline earth metal salts include magnesium acetate, magnesium citrate, magnesium lactate, magnesium tartrate, magnesium ascorbate, magnesium sorbate, calcium acetate, calcium citrate, calcium lactate, calcium tartrate, calcium ascorbate, calcium sorbate or mixtures thereof.

[0042] The water-soluble carrier comprises a carbohydrate selected from sugar, sugar alcohol and their mixture, which can reduce the corrosion of the internal parts of the washing machine compared with using salt as a carrier. More preferably, the water-soluble carrier comprises sugar. Suitable sugar can be selected from dextrose, sucrose, fructose, glucose, isoglucose, rhamnose, fucose, deoxyribose, ribose, trehalose, xylose, mannose, arabinose, galactose, cellobiose, lactose, maltose, isomaltose, melibiose, gentiobiose, maltotriose, raffinose, panose and their mixture. Preferably, the sugar is selected from dextrose, sucrose, fructose, glucose, isoglucose, galactose, raffinose and their mixture. More preferably, sugar comprises sucrose or is sucrose.

[0043] Sugar alcohol is an organic compound with more than two hydroxyl groups.Sugar alcohol can have 4 to 12 carbon atoms.Suitable sugar alcohol can be selected from sorbitol, mannitol, isomalt, maltitol, lactitol, xylitol, erythritol and their mixture.Preferably, the sugar alcohol is selected from mannitol, sorbitol and their mixture.

[0044] If the water soluble carrier contains a sugar, it may preferably include a bittering agent. Preferred bittering agents are selected from denatonium benzoate, denatonium sugar, quinine or a salt of quinine. The chemical name of denatonium is phenylmethyl-[2-[(2,6-dimethylphenyl)amino]-2-oxoethyl]-diethylammonium. Denatonium benzoate is particularly preferred. An example is Denatonium from Johnson Matthey Fine Chemicals. Preferably, the bittering agent is present in an amount of 0.001 to 0.01% by weight of the granule.

[0045] The particles of the present invention may contain additional carriers (in addition to the water-soluble carrier). The additional carrier materials may provide various benefits, such as stability benefits. The additional carrier materials may be selected from polymers (e.g., polyethylene glycol, ethylene oxide / propylene oxide block copolymers, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate and derivatives thereof), proteins (e.g., gelatin, albumin, casein), polysaccharides (e.g., starch, xanthan gum, cellulose or derivatives thereof), water-dispersible fillers (e.g., zeolites, silica, clays), vegetable soaps (e.g., coconut soap beads or palm soaps), ethoxylated nonionic surfactants (having the formula R1O(R2O)xH, wherein R1 preferably contains 12 to 20 carbon atoms, R2 is C2H4 or a mixture of C2H4 and C3H6 units, and x=8 to 120) and mixtures thereof.

[0046] Preferably, other carrier comprises polysaccharide.Polysaccharide is the sugar polymer comprising more than 10 monosaccharide units, preferably 15 to 1000 monosaccharide units, more preferably 25 to 500 monosaccharide units.Suitable polysaccharide can be selected from starch, glycogen, chitin, gum arabic, xanthan gum, cellulose, guaiac, dextran, tunicin, inulin, alginic acid, gellan gum, guar gum, carob powder, carrageenan and derivatives of these compounds and their mixtures.Preferably, polysaccharide comprises starch and / or its derivatives.Most preferably, polysaccharide comprises or is starch.Suitable starch can be selected from wheat starch, rice starch, potato starch, corn starch, tapioca starch and mixtures thereof.

[0047] Preferably, the granules of the invention comprise from 0.1% to 50% by weight of additional carriers, more preferably from 1% to 35% by weight, even more preferably from 2% to 25% and most preferably from 5% to 20% by weight of additional carriers.

[0048] Anionic surfactants

[0049] The granules of the present invention contain not less than 5 wt% anionic surfactant, preferably not less than 6 wt% anionic surfactant, more preferably not less than 7 wt% anionic surfactant. The granules of the present invention contain not more than 15 wt% anionic surfactant, preferably not more than 12 wt% anionic surfactant, more preferably not more than 10 wt% anionic surfactant. The granules of the present invention contain from 5 to 15 wt% anionic surfactant, preferably from 6 to 12 wt% anionic surfactant, more preferably from 7 to 10 wt% anionic surfactant.

[0050] Anionic surfactants can be used as adhesives to bind the carrier material and other components of the composition together, thereby helping to provide a processable composition in production. Surprisingly, it was found that the use of 5 to 15% by weight of anionic surfactants provides improved processability of the composition. Anionic surfactants can also improve the appearance of the particles and make the surface of the particles look smoother. When using laundry detergent products, consumers are sensitive to visual cues. Laundry detergent products containing particles with rough surfaces are generally considered to have quality issues and are not liked by consumers.

[0051] The anionic surfactant is selected from alkyl sulfates, alkyl ether sulfates, soaps and mixtures thereof. Preferably, the anionic surfactant is selected from alkyl sulfates, alkyl ether sulfates and mixtures thereof. More preferably, the anionic surfactant comprises or is alkyl sulfate.

[0052] Alkyl sulfates are anionic surfactants which are water-soluble salts containing a hydrocarbon hydrophobic group and a hydrophilic sulfate group. Preferably, the alkyl sulfate has an alkyl group containing 8 to 18 carbon atoms, more preferably 10 to 18 carbon atoms, even more preferably 10 to 16 carbon atoms. It should be understood that both branched and straight chain alkyl groups are included. The alkyl group is preferably straight chain, i.e., normal alkyl, however, branched chain alkyl sulfates may also be used, although they are less preferred from a biodegradability perspective.

[0053] Preferably, the alkyl sulfate comprises a salt of alkyl sulfate. In this way, the alkyl sulfate contains a positively charged ion and a negative alkyl sulfate moiety. The positively charged ion can be a metal ion, such as sodium, potassium or magnesium; or an ammonia ion, such as ammonium, monoethanolamine, diethanolamine or triethanolamine. Mixtures of these ions can also be used. Sodium and potassium are preferred.

[0054] Preferred alkyl sulfates include sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, ammonium or ethanolamine salts of alkyl sulfates having 8 to 18 carbon atoms, more preferably 10 to 18 carbon atoms, and even more preferably 10 to 16 carbon atoms. Illustrative but non-limiting examples of alkyl sulfates include sodium lauryl sulfate (also known as sodium dodecyl sulfate), ammonium lauryl sulfate, diethanolamine (DEA) lauryl sulfate. Suitable examples also include alkyl sulfates commercially available from natural sources under the trade names Galaxy 689, Galaxy 780, Galaxy 789, Galaxy 799SP and UFarol TCL 92N, and alkyl sulfates commercially available from synthetic sources under the trade names Safol 23, Dobanol 23A or 23S, Lial 123S, Alfol 1412S, Empireol LC3, Empireol 075SR.

[0055] Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), also known as sodium dodecyl sulfate, is particularly preferred as the alkyl sulfate. Examples of sodium lauryl sulfate are commercially available from Dongming Jujin Chemical Co., Ltd.

[0056] Alkyl ether sulfates are compounds having the formula RO(CH2CH2O) n SO3M anionic surfactant, wherein R is a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group having 8 to 18 carbon atoms, preferably 10 to 18 carbon atoms, more preferably 12 to 14 carbon atoms; M is a positively charged ion, including sodium ion, potassium ion, calcium ion, magnesium ion, ammonium ion, monoethanolamine ion, diethanolamine ion, triethanolamine ion or a mixture thereof, preferably sodium, potassium or a mixture thereof; n is a degree of ethoxylation of 0.5 to 3, preferably 1 to 3. A preferred example is sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES), wherein the main C 12 The lauryl alkyl groups are ethoxylated to have an average of 2 EO units per molecule.

[0057] As used herein, the term "soap" refers to an alkali metal or alkanolammonium salt of an aliphatic, alkane or alkene monocarboxylic acid. Preferred monocarboxylic acids are fatty acids having 6-22 carbon atoms, more preferably 12-18 carbon atoms. Examples of suitable soaps include, but are not limited to, sodium salts, potassium salts, calcium salts, magnesium salts, ammonium salts, monoethanolamine salts, diethanolamine salts, triethanolamine salts of the following acids: lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, (hydrogenated) erucic acid, behenic acid, coconut oil fatty acid, palm oil fatty acid, palm kernel oil fatty acid, olive oil fatty acid, tallow fatty acid or a mixture thereof. Fatty acids may be saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched. Particularly preferably, the soap comprises a sodium salt or potassium salt of coconut fatty acid, palm kernel oil fatty acid or a mixture thereof.

[0058] In addition to the above-mentioned anionic surfactants, the particles of the present invention may also include other anionic surfactants. Examples of suitable anionic surfactants include, but are not limited to, alkyl sulfonates, alkylaryl sulfonates, alpha-olefin sulfonates, alkylhydroxyethyl sulfonates, alkanoylhydroxyethyl sulfonates, alkyl succinates, alkyl sulfosuccinates, alkyl ether sulfosuccinates, N-alkyl sarcosinates, alkyl phosphates, alkyl ether phosphates, alkyl ether carboxylic acids and salts thereof, especially their sodium salts, potassium salts, calcium salts, magnesium salts, ammonium salts and mono-, di- and triethanolamine salts. The alkyl group preferably contains 10-18 carbon atoms and may be unsaturated. Alkyl ether sulfosuccinates, alkyl ether phosphates and alkyl ether carboxylic acids and salts thereof may contain 1 to 20 ethylene oxide or propylene oxide units per molecule.

[0059] The particles of the present invention may include alkylbenzene sulfonates, particularly linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS) with an alkyl chain length of 10 to 18 carbon atoms. Commercial LAS is a mixture of closely related isomers and homologues of alkyl chain homologues, each containing an aromatic ring sulfonated in the "para" position and connected to a linear alkyl chain at any position except the terminal carbon. The linear alkyl chain usually has a chain length of 11 to 15 carbon atoms, and the main material has a chain length of about C12. Each alkyl chain homologue is composed of a mixture of all possible sulfophenyl isomers except the 1-phenyl isomer. LAS is usually formulated into a composition in the form of an acid (i.e., HLAS), and then at least partially neutralized in situ. The example of alkylbenzene sulfonate includes the following sodium salts: linear alkylbenzene sulfonate, alkyltoluene sulfonate, alkylxylene sulfonate, alkylphenol sulfonate, alkylnaphthalene sulfonate, diamyl ammonium naphthalene sulfonate and sodium dinonyl naphthalene sulfonate and a mixture with olefin sulfonate. The particles of the present invention are substantially free of alkylbenzene sulfonate. As used herein, "substantially free" means less than 1.5 wt%, preferably less than 1.0 wt%, more preferably less than 0.75 wt%, more preferably still less than 0.5 wt%, and even more preferably less than 0.1 wt%, and most preferably from 0 to 0.01 wt%, including all ranges subsumed therein, based on the total weight of the composition. It is preferred that the particles of the present invention do not contain any alkylbenzene sulfonate.

[0060] Beneficial Agents

[0061] As used herein, benefit agents refer to actives that are typically delivered to washed fabrics to enhance or improve the properties of those fabrics. Preferably, the benefit agents are dispersed in a carrier material. The benefit agents may be free in the carrier material, or they may be encapsulated. The particles of the present invention contain 0.1% to 30% by weight, preferably 1% to 30% by weight, more preferably 2% to 30%, even more preferably 5% to 30%, even more preferably 5% to 20%, and most preferably 5% to 15% of benefit agents.

[0062] Examples of suitable benefit agents include, but are not limited to, fragrances; anti-malodor agents (e.g., uncomplexed cyclodextrins, odor blockers, reactive aldehydes, flavonoids, zeolites, activated carbon, or mixtures thereof); fabric softener actives; cationic polymers; dye transfer inhibitors; hueing dyes; insect repellents; organic sunscreen actives (e.g., octyl methoxycinnamate); antimicrobial agents (e.g., 2-hydroxy-4,2,4-trichlorodiphenyl ether); ester solvents (e.g., isopropyl myristate); lipids and lipid-like substances (e.g., , cholesterol); hydrocarbons (e.g., paraffin, petrolatum and mineral oil); fish oil and vegetable oil; hydrophobic plant extracts; wax; pigments (e.g., inorganic compounds having a hydrophobically modified surface and / or dispersed in an oil or hydrophobic liquid); sugar esters (e.g., sucrose polyesters); silicone oils, resins and their modifications (e.g., linear and cyclic polydimethylsiloxanes, amino-modified silicone oils, alkyl silicone oils, aryl silicone oils and alkylaryl silicone oils, which preferably have a viscosity greater than 50,000 cst); or mixtures thereof.

[0063] Preferably, the benefit agent is a fragrance. The particles preferably contain 0.1 to 30% by weight of fragrance material, i.e. free fragrance and / or fragrance microcapsules. As known in the art, free fragrance and fragrance microcapsules provide consumers with fragrance hits at different points during the wash cycle. It is particularly preferred that the particles of the present invention contain a combination of both free fragrance and fragrance microcapsules.

[0064] Preferably, the granules of the present invention comprise from 0.5% to 20% flavour material, more preferably from 1% to 15% flavour material, most preferably from 2% to 10% flavour material.

[0065] Useful flavor components may include materials of natural and synthetic origin. They include single compounds and mixtures. Specific examples of such components can be found in the current literature, for example, Fenaroli's Handbook of Flavor Ingredients, 1975, CRC Press; Synthetic Food Adjuncts, 1947, edited by MB Jacobs, Van Nostrand; or Perfume and Flavor Chemicals, S. Arctander 1969, Montclair, NJ (USA). These substances are well known to those skilled in the art of flavoring, seasoning and / or aromatizing consumer products.

[0066] Free Fragrance:

[0067] The granules of the present invention preferably comprise from 0.1% to 15% free perfume, more preferably from 0.5% to 8% free perfume by weight of the granule.

[0068] Particularly preferred perfume components are bloom perfume components and persistent perfume components. Bloom perfume components are defined by a boiling point of less than 250°C and a LogP of greater than 2.5. Persistent perfume components are defined by a boiling point of greater than 250°C and a LogP of greater than 2.5. The boiling point is measured at standard pressure (760 mm Hg). Preferably, the perfume composition may contain a mixture of bloom and persistent perfume components. The perfume composition may contain other perfume components.

[0069] Typically a variety of fragrance components may be present in the free oil fragrance composition. In the composition used in the present invention, it is envisaged that three or more, preferably four or more, more preferably five or more, most preferably six or more different fragrance components may be present. An upper limit of 300 fragrance components may be applied.

[0070] Microcapsules of spices:

[0071] The granules of the present invention preferably comprise from 0.1% to 15% perfume microcapsules, more preferably from 0.5% to 8% perfume microcapsules by weight of the granule.The weight of microcapsules is the weight of the material as provided.

[0072] When encapsulating perfume components, suitable encapsulating materials may include, but are not limited to, aminoplasts, proteins, polyurethanes, polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polysaccharides, polyamides, polyolefins, gums, silicones, lipids, modified celluloses, polyphosphates, polystyrenes, polyesters or mixtures thereof. Particularly preferred materials are aminoplast microcapsules, such as melamine formaldehyde or urea formaldehyde microcapsules.

[0073] The perfume microcapsules of the present invention can be breakable microcapsules and / or moisture-activated microcapsules. Breakable means that the perfume microcapsules will break when force is applied. Moisture-activated means that the perfume is released in the presence of water. The particles of the present invention preferably contain breakable microcapsules. Moisture-activated microcapsules may be present in addition. Examples of breakable microcapsules include aminoplast microcapsules.

[0074] The fragrance components contained in the microcapsules may include fragrance materials and / or pro-fragrance materials.

[0075] Particularly preferred perfume components contained in the microcapsules are bloom perfume components and persistent perfume components. Bloom perfume components are defined by a boiling point of less than 250°C and a LogP of greater than 2.5. Persistent perfume components are defined by a boiling point of greater than 250°C and a LogP of greater than 2.5. The boiling point is measured at standard pressure (760 mm Hg). Preferably, the perfume composition may contain a mixture of bloom and persistent perfume components. The perfume composition may contain other perfume components.

[0076] It is common for multiple perfume components to be present in the microcapsules. In the compositions used in the present invention, it is envisaged that three or more, preferably four or more, more preferably five or more, most preferably six or more different perfume components may be present. An upper limit of 300 perfume components may be applied.

[0077] The microcapsules may contain perfume components and a carrier for the perfume ingredient, such as zeolite or cyclodextrin.

[0078] Another preferred benefit agent may be a fabric softener active. The fabric softening active may be any material known to soften fabric. These may be polymeric materials or compounds of known softening materials. Examples of suitable fabric softening actives include quaternary ammonium compounds, silicone polymers, polysaccharides, clays, amines, fatty esters, dispersible polyolefins, polymer latexes, or mixtures thereof.

[0079] The fabric softening active may preferably be a cationic or nonionic material.Preferably, the fabric softening active of the present invention is a cationic material. Suitable cationic fabric softening actives are described herein.

[0080] Preferred softening actives for use in the granules of the present invention are quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs).

[0081] QAC preferably comprises at least one chain derived from fatty acid, more preferably at least two chains derived from fatty acid. Generally, fatty acid is defined as an aliphatic monocarboxylic acid with a chain of 4 to 28 carbons. Fatty acid can be derived from various sources, such as tallow or plant sources. Preferably, the fatty acid chain is derived from plants. Preferably, the fatty acid chain of QAC comprises 10 to 50 wt % of saturated C18 chains and 5 to 40 wt % of monounsaturated C18 chains by weight of total fatty acid chain. In another preferred embodiment, the fatty acid chain of QAC comprises 20 to 40 wt %, preferably 25 to 35 wt % of saturated C18 chains and 10 to 35 wt %, preferably 15 to 30 wt % of monounsaturated C18 chains by weight of total fatty acid chain.

[0082] One class of preferred quaternary ammonium compounds is known as "esterquats." Particularly preferred materials are ester-linked triethanolamine (TEA) quaternary ammonium compounds, which contain a mixture of monoester-, diester-, and triester-linked components.

[0083] Typically, TEA-based fabric softening compounds comprise a mixture of monoester, diester and triester forms of the compound, wherein the diester linked component comprises no more than 70 wt % of the fabric softening compound, preferably no more than 60 wt %, for example no more than 55 %, or even no more than 45 % of the fabric softening compound, and at least 10 wt % of the monoester linked component.

[0084] The first group of quaternary ammonium compounds (QAC) suitable for use in the present invention is represented by formula (I):

[0085]

[0086] wherein each R is independently selected from a C5 to C35 alkyl or alkenyl group; 1 represents a C1 to C4 alkyl group, a C2 to C4 alkenyl group or a C1 to C4 hydroxyalkyl group; T may be O-CO (i.e., an ester group bonded to R via its carbon atom), or alternatively CO-O (i.e., an ester group bonded to R via its oxygen atom); n is a number selected from 1 to 4; m is a number selected from 1, 2 or 3; and X - is an anionic counterion such as a halide or alkyl sulfate, for example chloride or methyl sulfate. The diester variant of formula I (ie m=2) is preferred and generally has monoester- and triester-analogs associated therewith. These materials are particularly suitable for use in the present invention.

[0087] Suitable actives include soft quaternary ammonium actives such as Stepantex VT90, Rewoquat WE18 (ex Evonik) and Tetranyl L1 / 90N, Tetranyl L190 SP and Tetranyl L190S (all ex Kao).

[0088] Also suitable are actives rich in the diester of triethanolammonium methylsulfate, also known as "TEA esterquats".

[0089] Commercial examples include Preapagen TM TQL (from Clariant) and Tetranyl TM AHT-1 (from Kao) (both di-[hardened tallow ester] of triethanolammonium methylsulfate), AT-1 (di-[tallow ester] of triethanolammonium methylsulfate) and L5 / 90 (di-[palmityl ester] of triethanolammonium methylsulfate) (both from Kao), and Rewoquat TM WE15 (diester of triethanolammonium methylsulfate having fatty acyl residues derived from C10-C20 and C16-C18 unsaturated fatty acids) (from Evonik).

[0090] A second group of QACs suitable for use in the present invention is represented by formula (II):

[0091]

[0092] Each R 1 The groups are independently selected from C1 to C4 alkyl, hydroxyalkyl or C2 to C4 alkenyl; wherein each R 2The groups are independently selected from C8 to C28 alkyl or alkenyl groups; and wherein n, T and X - As defined above.

[0093] Preferred materials of this second group include 1,2-bis[tallowoyloxy]-3-trimethylpropane chloride, 1,2-bis[hardened tallowoyloxy]-3-trimethylpropane chloride, 1,2-bis[oleoyloxy]-3-trimethylpropane chloride and 1,2-bis[stearoyloxy]-3-trimethylpropane chloride. Such materials are described in US 4,137,180 (Lever Brothers). Preferably, these materials also contain an amount of the corresponding monoester.

[0094] A third group of QACs suitable for use in the present invention is represented by formula (III):

[0095] (III)

[0096] Each R 1 The groups are independently selected from C1 to C4 alkyl or C2 to C4 alkenyl; and wherein each R 2 The groups are independently selected from C8 to C28 alkyl or alkenyl groups; and n, T and X - As defined above. Preferred materials of this third group include bis(2-tallowoyloxyethyl)dimethylammonium chloride, in partially hardened and hardened forms thereof.

[0097] A fourth group of QACs suitable for use in the present invention is represented by formula (IV):

[0098]

[0099] R1 and R2 are independently selected from C10 to C22 alkyl or alkenyl, preferably C14 to C20 alkyl or alkenyl. - As defined above.

[0100] The iodine value of the quaternary ammonium fabric conditioning material is preferably from 0 to 80, more preferably from 0 to 60, and most preferably from 0 to 45. The iodine value can be selected appropriately. Substantially saturated materials having an iodine value of from 0 to 5, preferably from 0 to 1, can be used in the compositions of the present invention. Such materials are referred to as "hardened" quaternary ammonium compounds.

[0101] Another preferred range of iodine values ​​is 20 to 60, preferably 25 to 50, more preferably 30 to 45. This type of material is a "soft" triethanolamine quaternary ammonium compound, preferably triethanolamine dialkyl ester methyl sulfate. Such ester-linked triethanolamine quaternary ammonium compounds contain unsaturated fatty chains.

[0102] If a mixture of quaternary ammonium materials is present in the composition, the above iodine value represents the average iodine value of the parent fatty acyl compounds or fatty acids of all quaternary ammonium materials present. Similarly, if any saturated quaternary ammonium materials are present in the composition, the iodine value represents the average iodine value of the parent fatty acyl compounds of the fatty acids of all quaternary ammonium materials present.

[0103] Iodine value as used in the context of the present invention refers to the degree of unsaturation present in the material used to produce the fatty acids of the QAC as measured by the method of NMR spectroscopy as described by Johnson and Shoolery, Anal. Chem., 34, 1136 (1962).

[0104] Another type of softening compound may be a non-ester quaternary ammonium material represented by formula (V):

[0105]

[0106] Each R 1 The groups are independently selected from C1 to C4 alkyl, hydroxyalkyl or C2 to C4 alkenyl; each R 2 The groups are independently selected from C8 to C28 alkyl or alkenyl groups, and X - As defined above.

[0107] The particles of the present invention preferably comprise from 0.1 to 50 wt% fabric softening active, more preferably from 1 to 40 wt%, even more preferably from 5 to 35 wt%, most preferably from 10 to 30 wt% fabric softening active.

[0108] Silicate

[0109] The particles of the present invention may comprise silicates. Silicates may act as processing aids to improve the processability of the composition during production by imparting hardness to the composition.

[0110] Examples of suitable silicates include, but are not limited to, sodium silicate, potassium silicate, magnesium silicate, calcium silicate or mixtures thereof. Particularly preferred is sodium silicate. An example is sodium silicate commercially available from Tianjin Sailicheng Technology Co., Ltd.

[0111] Preferably, the granules of the present invention comprise 0.01-10 wt. %, more preferably 0.05-5 %, even more preferably 0.1-3 %, most preferably 0.4-0.9 wt. % silicate. It is not preferred to use high levels of silicate in the granules. More silicate may cause the granules to be brittle and tend to break into undesirable small pieces. In addition, when high levels of silicate are present in the granules, the dissolution time of the granules in the laundry process may also increase.

[0112] Disintegrants

[0113] Preferably, the granules of the present invention comprise a disintegrant. As used herein, a disintegrant refers to a material added to the granules to cause them to disintegrate and thus release the beneficial agent when in contact with water. The granules of the present invention preferably comprise 0.1-20 wt% disintegrant, more preferably 0.5-15 wt%, even more preferably 1-10 wt%, more preferably 1-5 wt%, most preferably 1.5-3 wt% disintegrant.

[0114] Preferably, the disintegrant is a non-effervescent disintegrant. Examples of suitable non-effervescent disintegrants include, but are not limited to, polyvinylpyrrolidone, crospovidone (cross-linked polyvinylpyrrolidone), starch derivatives, cellulose, cellulose derivatives, clays (e.g., bentonite, alginates), gums (e.g., agar, gum arabic, xanthan gum, guar gum, locust bean gum, karaya gum, pectin, tragacanth gum), non-carbonate salts (e.g., sodium chloride, potassium chloride, magnesium sulfate, calcium silicate, magnesium aluminum silicate), or mixtures thereof.

[0115] Preferably, the disintegrant is cellulose or a cellulose derivative. Examples of suitable cellulose derivatives include, but are not limited to, methylcellulose, ethylcellulose, propylcellulose, methylethylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, ethylcarboxymethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, carboxymethylhydroxyethylcellulose, methylhydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, ethylhydroxyethylcellulose, methylethylhydroxyethylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose calcium, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, crosslinked sodium carboxymethylcellulose (crosslinked sodium carboxymethylcellulose), or mixtures thereof. Preferably, the disintegrant is selected from calcium carboxymethylcellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, crosslinked sodium carboxymethylcellulose, and mixtures thereof.

[0116] It is also preferred that the disintegrant is a starch derivative, which is also referred to as modified starch. Examples of suitable starch derivatives include, but are not limited to, sodium starch glycolate, carboxymethyl starch, sodium carboxymethyl starch, hydroxypropyl starch, pregelatinized starch or mixtures thereof.

[0117] Preferably, the disintegrant is selected from cross-linked sodium carboxymethylcellulose (cross-linked sodium carboxymethylcellulose), sodium carboxymethyl starch, sodium starch glycolate and mixtures thereof. Cross-linked sodium carboxymethylcellulose is particularly preferred. Cross-linked sodium carboxymethylcellulose is particularly preferred. An example is cross-linked sodium carboxymethylcellulose commercially available from Anhuisunhere Pharmaceutical Excipients Co., Ltd.

[0118] Preferably, the granules of the present invention comprise 0.1% to 20% by weight, more preferably 0.5% to 15% by weight, even more preferably 1% to 10% by weight, still more preferably 1% to 5% by weight, and most preferably 1.5% to 3% by weight of croscarmellose sodium.

[0119] Disintegrants can be effervescent disintegrants. Suitable effervescent disintegrants include carbonates and acids. Preferably, the acid is selected from organic acids, salts of organic acids, salts of inorganic acids and mixtures thereof. More preferably, the acid is an organic acid. The organic acid suitable for the composition of the present invention can be any organic acid. The organic acid used is a polyacid (i.e., an acid having more than one carboxylic acid group), and more particularly di- or tricarboxylic acids have achieved particularly good results. The weight average molecular weight of the organic acid used in the present invention is at most 500 daltons, more preferably at most 400 daltons, most preferably at most 300 daltons, and the molecular weight is based on the free acid equivalent. In any case, it is preferred that the organic acid is not an acid based on a polymer. The organic acid used according to the present invention preferably comprises 3 to 25 carbon atoms, more preferably 4 to 15 carbon atoms.

[0120] In view of consumer acceptance and reducing environmental impact, organic acids are preferably those also found naturally occurring, such as in plants. Suitable examples of organic acids include acetic acid, citric acid, aspartic acid, lactic acid, adipic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, gluconic acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, sugar acid, their salts or their mixtures. Of particular interest are citric acid, aspartic acid, acetic acid, lactic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, gluconic acid, their salts or their mixtures. Most preferably, the organic acid is citric acid, succinic acid, their salts or their mixtures.

[0121] Preferably, the carbonate comprises sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium glycine carbonate, potassium carbonate, potassium bicarbonate, potassium glycine carbonate, calcium carbonate, calcium bicarbonate, magnesium carbonate or a mixture thereof. More preferably, the carbonate comprises sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, potassium carbonate, potassium bicarbonate or a mixture thereof. Most preferably, the carbonate comprises sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate or a mixture thereof.

[0122] It is particularly preferred that the effervescent disintegrant is a combination of sodium bicarbonate, citric acid and succinic acid.

[0123] Preferably, the amount of carbonate is related to the amount of acid. More specifically, it is desirable that the weight ratio of carbonate to acid is from 1:10 to 10:1, more preferably from 1:5 to 5:1, even more preferably from 1:3 to 3:1.

[0124] Colorants

[0125] The particles of the present invention may contain a colorant. The colorant may be a dye or a pigment or a mixture thereof. The colorant has the purpose of imparting color to the particles and is not intended to be a shading dye or to impart color to washed fabrics. A single colorant or a mixture of colorants may be used.

[0126] Preferably, the colorant is a dye, more preferably a polymeric dye.Non-limiting examples of suitable dyes include the LIQUITINET range of dyes from Milliken Chemical.

[0127] Preferably the granules of the present invention comprise from 0.001 to 2%, more preferably from 0.005 to 1%, most preferably from 0.005 to 0.6% by weight of colourant.

[0128] water

[0129] Water may be included to enhance processability of the composition during production.Preferably, the granules comprise 0.1-10 wt% water, more preferably 0.5-8 wt% water, even more preferably 1-6 wt% water, most preferably 2-5 wt% water.

[0130] Granular form

[0131] The particles of the present invention may be in any solid form, such as: powder, granules, tablets, pellets, pastilles or extrudates. Preferably, the particles are in the form of extruded particles.

[0132] The particles may be of any shape or size suitable for dissolution in the laundry process. Preferably, the mass of each individual particle is from 0.95 mg to 5 g, more preferably from 0.005 to 1 g, even more preferably from 0.005 to 0.5 g, most preferably from 0.01 to 0.1 g. Preferably, the maximum linear dimension of each individual particle in any direction is less than 10 mm, more preferably from 1 to 8 mm, most preferably from 4 to 6 mm.

[0133] Preferably, the particles have a substantially flat base and a height perpendicular to the base. Preferably, the maximum base dimension of each particle is less than 10 mm, more preferably 1 to 8 mm, most preferably 4 to 6 mm. Preferably, the height of each particle is 0.05-5 mm, more preferably 0.1-3 mm, most preferably 0.2-2.5 mm. Preferably, each individual particle has a maximum base dimension of less than 10 mm, and a height of 0.05 mm to 5 mm.

[0134] The shape of the particles can be selected from hemispherical, compressed hemispherical, flat, elliptical, cubic, rectangular, circular, cylindrical, disc-shaped, flower-shaped, star-shaped, petal-shaped, heart-shaped and mixtures thereof. Preferably, the shape of the particles is selected from disc-shaped, flower-shaped, star-shaped, petal-shaped, heart-shaped and mixtures thereof, which is more visually attractive to consumers.

[0135] Preferably, the particles of the present invention are formed using an extrusion device. The extrusion device can be a single screw extruder or a twin screw extruder, preferably a twin screw extruder with co-rotating or counter-rotating screws. The present invention also relates to a method for forming particles, which comprises the following steps:

[0136] (i) combining the components of the composition to form a mixture;

[0137] (ii) feeding the mixture into an extruder and extruding it to form an extrudate;

[0138] (iii) cutting the extrudate to form particles;

[0139] (iv) drying the particles; and

[0140] (v) optionally dedusting the granules with an anti-caking agent.

[0141] Preferably, the process is carried out at a temperature of 10-50° C., more preferably 15-40° C., even more preferably 20-30° C. Preferably, the process is carried out at room temperature (25° C.) and one atmosphere of pressure.

[0142] Preferably, the mixture of step (i) is homogeneous. By homogeneous, it is meant that the mixture before extrusion has a uniform texture, so that the extrudate obtained from the mixture has a uniform quality. When the composition includes perfume microcapsules, the perfume microcapsules are preferably added to the mixture as the last ingredient for mixing, which can reduce the breakage of the perfume microcapsules during mixing.

[0143] In the extrusion process of steps (ii) and (iii), the mixture of step (i) is extruded from an extruder through a die having an orifice of a predetermined diameter. The extruder is equipped with a cutter-cutter that allows the extrudate to be cut at the die exit to form particles. The desired height of the particles can be achieved by changing the speed at which the extrudate is fed into the cutter and the rate at which the extrudate is cut.

[0144] The drying step (iv) may be performed before, during or after step (iii). Preferably, the drying is performed at room temperature (25°C), relative humidity (RH) <50% and one atmosphere, which can reduce evaporative losses of benefit agents such as fragrances.

[0145] After step (iv), the method may include the step (v) of dedusting the particles with an anti-caking agent. The anti-caking agent may be applied to the outer surface of the particles to reduce the possibility of the particles sticking together. Examples of suitable anti-caking agents include, but are not limited to, silicon dioxide, zeolite, unmodified starch, cellulose, rock powder, clay, calcium and magnesium stearates, silica, silicates, talc, flour, starch, tricalcium phosphate, powdered cellulose, sodium bicarbonate, sodium ferrocyanide, potassium ferrocyanide, calcium ferrocyanide, calcium phosphate, sodium silicate, calcium silicate, magnesium trisilicate, talc, sodium aluminosilicate, potassium aluminosilicate, calcium aluminosilicate, bentonite, aluminum silicate, stearic acid, polydimethylsiloxane or a mixture thereof.

[0146] This method does not require heating the mixture above the melting temperature to shape it into the desired form and cooling it again, which greatly simplifies the production process and reduces the loss of benefit agents such as fragrances during production.

[0147] The granules of the present invention can also be made using roller compaction. The components of the composition are introduced between two rollers and rolled under pressure between the two rollers to form a dense sheet. The dense sheet is broken into small pieces by cutting. The small pieces can be further formed into granules.

[0148] The particles of the present invention are preferably homogeneously structured. By homogeneously structured is meant that there is a continuous phase throughout the particle. There is no core and shell type structure. The constituents of the particles, such as the benefit agent, may be distributed or dispersed within the continuous phase. When the benefit agent is a fragrance, it may improve the stability of the fragrance to oxidation and evaporation losses during storage. The continuous phase is primarily provided by the carrier material.

[0149] The particles of the present invention need to dissolve within a typical washing cycle time, preferably no more than 20 minutes, more preferably no more than 15 minutes, and even more preferably no more than 10 minutes. If the dissolution rate of the particles is too slow, then when washing is complete, there may be undissolved residues formed by the constituents of the particles remaining on the washed fabric, which is undesirable for consumers. The dissolution rate of the particles is preferably not less than 1 minute, more preferably not less than 2 minutes, and even more preferably not less than 3 minutes. If the dissolution rate of the particles is too fast, most of the benefit agents may be released early and washed away before they can be delivered to the washed fabric to provide various benefits. Preferably, the particles have a dissolution rate of 1 minute to 20 minutes, more preferably 2 minutes to 15 minutes, and even more preferably 3 minutes to 10 minutes.

[0150] How to use

[0151] The particles of the present invention are used in the laundry process. They can be added in the wash sub-cycle or the rinse sub-cycle of the laundry cycle using a washing machine. Alternatively, the particles can be used in the manual washing of fabrics. The particles can also be used in addition to other laundry products, or they can be used as a stand-alone product.

[0152] The particles of the invention are preferably dosed in an amount of 1 g to 50 g, more preferably 10 g to 45 g, most preferably 15 g to 40 g.The consumer may dose the particles directly from the packaging into the washing machine, or into a dosing compartment on the washing machine.

[0153] The present invention also relates to a method for treating clothes, comprising the following steps:

[0154] (i) providing fabric in a washing machine;

[0155] (ii) dispensing the laundry composition into the washing machine; and

[0156] (iii) contacting said fabrics with a laundry composition during a wash sub-cycle of said washing machine.

[0157] Uses of granules

[0158] Typically, the primary use of the particles of the present invention is to provide fabric care benefits to laundered fabrics in a laundry process. Preferably, the particles are used to impart fragrance to laundered fabrics in a laundry process.

[0159] The following examples are provided to facilitate the understanding of the present invention. These examples are not intended to limit the scope of the claims. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0160] Example

[0161] Granules were prepared as shown in Table 1. All ingredients are expressed as weight percent of the total formulation.

[0162] Table 1

[0163]

[0164] a. Refined cane sugar from Guangxi Fengtang Biochemical Co., Ltd.

[0165] b. Sodium lauryl sulfate from Dongming Jujin Chemical Co., Ltd.

[0166] c. Sodium silicate solution (34% active matter) from Tianjin Sailicheng Technology Co., Ltd.

[0167] Method of making pellets

[0168] The sample was prepared as follows: the ingredients except the fragrance microcapsules were added to a dough mixer and uniformly mixed by a three-roll mill. Afterwards, the fragrance microcapsules were added to the dough mixer and the resulting mixture was uniformly mixed. The mixture was fed into a twin-screw co-rotating extruder equipped with a die having an orifice with a predetermined diameter and a cutting blade. The mixture was extruded to form an extrudate having a diameter of about 5 mm. The extrudate was cut into granules having a thickness of about 2 mm. The granules were dried at room temperature (25° C.) and one atmosphere.

[0169] It has been found that samples containing less than 5 wt% of anionic surfactants are difficult to extrude through the die of the extruder, and the extrudates formed are brittle and tend to break into undesirable small pieces. When the sample contains more than 15 wt% of anionic surfactants, the extrudates become too soft and too sticky, which causes the extrudates to stick together, bend or swell.

[0170] It was also observed that the particles of Sample A were more likely to stick together.

[0171] Method for testing dissolution time

[0172] 2.5 grams of each sample was dosed into 500 mL of water at 25° C. under stirring at 620 rpm. The dissolution time was measured from T0 (when the sample was dosed into 500 mL of water) to T1 (when the sample was completely dissolved and no visible solids were observed).

[0173] As can be seen in Table 1, the dissolution time of Sample 1 is 9 minutes, while the dissolution time of Comparative Example A is longer, 14 minutes.

[0174] Evaluation of residues

[0175] The 0.3 kg loading load consisted of 1 cotton T-shirt and 2 Terry towel squares (30 x 30 cm size). The towel squares were mixed with the cotton T-shirts in a random order in the washing machine so that they were not together.

[0176] 20g of sample was added to the drum of a front loading washing machine, followed by the mixed fabrics, and finally 20g of liquid detergent (commercial OMO detergent) was added to the pull-out basket of the washing machine, the washing machine door was closed, and the washing machine was set to a standard wash. The washing time was 15 minutes, including one wash and two rinses. Once the wash was completed, photos were taken to record the residue on the clothes, washing machine door glass, and rubber ring.

[0177] The entire washing process was repeated three times, and the residue was observed and recorded. After washing with Sample 1 containing sodium lauryl sulfate, no residue was seen on the clothes, washing machine door glass and rubber ring. When Sample A containing LAS was used, obvious residue was observed.

Claims

1. A laundry composition comprising a plurality of particles, wherein the particles comprise: a) 20-95% by weight of a water-soluble carrier, the water-soluble carrier being selected from carbohydrates, inorganic alkali metal salts, organic alkali metal salts, inorganic alkaline earth metal salts, organic alkaline earth metal salts, urea and mixtures thereof; b) 5-15 wt.% of anionic surfactant selected from alkyl sulfates, alkyl ether sulfates, soaps and mixtures thereof; and c) 0.1-30 wt % of a beneficial agent; wherein the water-soluble carrier comprises a carbohydrate selected from sugars, sugar alcohols and mixtures thereof; and wherein the composition comprises less than 1.5 wt % alkylbenzene sulfonate.

2. A laundry composition according to claim 1, wherein the benefit agent is dispersed within the carrier.

3. The laundry composition according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the water-soluble carrier comprises a sugar selected from the group consisting of dextrose, sucrose, fructose, glucose, isoglucose, rhamnose, fucose, deoxyribose, ribose, trehalose, xylose, mannose, arabinose, galactose, cellobiose, lactose, maltose, isomaltose, melibiose, gentiobiose, maltotriose, raffinose, panose and mixtures thereof, preferably the water-soluble carrier comprises a sugar selected from the group consisting of dextrose, sucrose, fructose, glucose, isoglucose, galactose, raffinose and mixtures thereof.

4. A laundry composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the anionic surfactant is selected from alkyl sulfates, alkyl ether sulfates and mixtures thereof, preferably the anionic surfactant is an alkyl sulfate.

5. A laundry composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the alkyl sulfate comprises a sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, ammonium or ethanolamine salt of an alkyl sulfate having from 8 to 18 carbon atoms.

6. A laundry composition according to any preceding claim, wherein the anionic surfactant is present in an amount of from 6% to 12%, preferably from 7% to 10% by weight of the composition.

7. A laundry composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the benefit agent is selected from perfumes, anti-malodor agents, fabric softener actives, cationic polymers, dye transfer inhibitors, hueing dyes, insect repellents, organic sunscreen actives, antimicrobial agents, ester solvents, lipids and lipid-like materials, hydrocarbons, fish and vegetable oils, hydrophobic plant extracts, waxes, pigments, sugar esters, silicone oils, resins and modifications thereof, and mixtures thereof.

8. A laundry composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the benefit agent is a perfume, preferably a combination of free perfume and perfume microcapsules.

9. A laundry composition according to claim 8, wherein the particle comprises from 0.1% to 30%, preferably from 0.5% to 20% by weight of perfume.

10. A laundry composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the granule comprises a disintegrant selected from polyvinylpyrrolidone, crospovidone, starch, starch derivatives, cellulose, cellulose derivatives, clays, gums, non-carbonate salts and mixtures thereof.

11. A laundry composition according to any preceding claim, wherein each particle has a maximum linear dimension in any direction of less than 10 mm, preferably from 1 mm to 8 mm.

12. A method of forming a laundry composition according to any one of claims 1 to 11, the method comprising the steps of: (i) combining the components of the composition to form a mixture; (ii) feeding the mixture into an extruder and extruding it to form an extrudate; (iii) cutting the extrudate to form particles; (iv) drying the particles; and (v) optionally dedusting the granules with an anti-caking agent.

13. A method for treating clothing, comprising the steps of: (i) providing fabric in a washing machine; (ii) dispensing a laundry composition according to any one of claims 1 to 11 into the washing machine; as well as (iii) contacting said fabrics with said laundry composition during a wash sub-cycle of said washing machine.

14. Use of a laundry composition according to any one of claims 1 to 11 to provide fabric care benefits to laundered fabrics in a laundry process, preferably to impart fragrance to laundered fabrics.

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