Concentrated liquid laundry detergent compositions

Abstract

The present invention relates to a concentrated liquid laundry detergent comprising at least one C10-18 alkyl ether sulfate and at least one further surfactant selected from the group consisting of betaines, amine oxides and mixtures thereof, and its use for preparing an aqueous laundry detergent composition for use in a manual or machine washing process.

Description

The present invention relates to concentrated liquid laundry detergent compositions comprising at least one C 10-18- alkyl ether sulfate and at least one other surfactant selected from the group consisting of betaines, amine oxides and mixtures thereof. It also relates to the preparation of a diluted aqueous laundry detergent from the concentrated liquid laundry detergent.Sustainability has gained importance in recent years for both companies and consumers because awareness of environmental problems has increased. This leads to the desire to reduce the amount of packaging material, in particular plastic, as well as the transport costs and the CO2 fuß caused by the shipping of the product.In addition, consumers with low revenues, in particular, find the urgency of reducing their expenses for consumer goods such as detergents and searching for cost-effective products with a better price-performance ratio. This is particularly true for developer scale.There is therefore a need for detergent formulations which address these problems and result in lower cost and environmental impact for both manufacturers and consumers.It has been found that a concentrated liquid laundry detergent composition which can be diluted by the consumer at home meets all these criteria. A concentrated composition requires less packaging material, which reduces the cost and also the amount of plastic waste per unit and also causes less transport costs and emissions. However, it is important that such a concentrate, after dilution, remains a pourable liquid and maintains a stable viscosity. A combination of surfactants was identified which results in a composition which self-thickens upon dilution.In a first aspect, the present invention therefore relates to a concentrated liquid laundry detergent composition comprising at least one C 10-18- alkyl ether sulphate, characterised in that it comprises at least one other surfactant selected from the group consisting of betaines, amine oxides and mixtures thereof.The present invention further relates to the preparation of a diluted aqueous laundry detergent, wherein the concentrated liquid laundry detergent is diluted with 0.5 to 10 parts, preferably 1 to 8 parts and more preferably 1.5 to 5 parts, based on the volume of the concentrated liquid laundry detergent.These and other aspects, embodiments, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description and claims. Any feature of one aspect of the invention may be used in any other aspect of the invention. Furthermore, the examples contained herein are intended to describe and illustrate the invention, but not to limit it. In particular, the invention is not limited to these examples."At least one / one" as used herein refers to one or more, i.e. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or more, of said species. Similarly, "one / more" as used herein refers to at least one / one and includes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or more. In the context of a stated species, the term does not refer to the total number of molecules, but rather to the type of species. "At least one betaine" thus means, for example, that one type of betaine or two or more different types of betaines may be present. In the context of amounts, the term refers to the total amount of said species. For betaines, this means, for example, that the amount indicated is the total amount of all betaines in the composition.Here, numerical values specified without a decimal point refer to the full value specified with a decimal point, i.e., 99% means, for example, 99.0% unless otherwise defined.The terms "about", "about" or "about" in connection with a numerical value refer to a deviation of ±10%, preferably ±5%, in relation to the numerical value indicated.The term "substantially free of" in the context of this invention is to be understood such that the respective compound is contained in the composition in an amount of less than 5 wt %, 4 wt %, 3 wt %, 2 wt %, 1.5 wt %, 1 wt %, 0.75 wt %, 0.5 wt %, 0.25 wt %, 0.1 wt %, 0.01 wt % or 0.001 wt %, based on the total weight of the composition, wherein the amounts in descending order are each more preferred. For example, 4 wt% is more preferred than 5 wt% and 3 wt% is more preferred than 4 wt%.All percentages given herein with respect to the compositions or formulations are by weight (wt %) based on the total weight of the respective composition or formula, unless expressly stated otherwise. Numerical ranges specified in the format "from x to y" include the specified values. When a plurality of preferred numerical ranges are specified in this format, it is understood that all ranges generated by the combination of the different end points are also included."Detergent compositions" according to the invention include any conceivable fabric washing and / or care products used in the washing machine or in hand washing. This includes, for example, laundry compositions and compositions for cleaning, care and / or conditioning, pre- and / or post-treatment of textiles of all types, such as garments, carpets and textile furniture surfaces.The present invention is a concentrated liquid laundry detergent composition. The term "liquid" as used herein refers to compositions that are flowable and pourable under standard conditions (20°C and 1013 mbar). Liquid compositions may also comprise gel and paste compositions. In particular, non-Newton liquids are also included.The concentrated liquid laundry detergent composition comprises at least one C 10-18- alkyl ether sulfate. Alkyl ether sulfates are ethoxylated sulfuric monoesters of straight-chain or branched alcohols. In the compositions of this invention, the C 10-18- alkyl ether sulfate is ethoxylated with from 1 to 10 moles of ethylene oxide (EO), preferably from 1 to 4 EO. Preferably, the alkyl ether sulfate is a C12-14ether sulfate, more preferably sodium laureth sulfate. Also suitable are 2-methyl-branched C9-11alcohols with an average of 3.5 mol ethylene oxide (EO) or C12-18fatty alcohols with 1 to 4 EO.In a preferred embodiment, the at least one C 10-18- alkyl ether sulfate is present in an amount of 0.1 to 30 wt %, preferably 0.5 to 15 wt %, particularly preferably 1 to 10 wt %, based on the total weight of the composition.Further, the concentrated liquid laundry detergent according to the invention comprises at least one further surfactant selected from the group consisting of betaines, amine oxides and mixtures thereof.Betaines are a class of amphoteric or zwitterionic surfactants. Suitable betaines are described by the formula (R iii)( R iv)( R v) N + CH 2 COO - wherein R iii is an alkyl group having 8 to 25, preferably 10 to 21, carbon atoms, which may additionally contain one or more heteroatoms or groups of heteroatoms such as O, S, NH, C(O), C(O)NH or C(O)O, and R iv and R v independently of one another are identical or different C1-3alkyl groups.Among the betaines, C 10- C 18- alkyl dimethyl carboxymethyl betaine and C 11- C 17- alkyl amidopropyl dimethyl carboxymethyl betaine are preferred. A particularly preferred betaine is cocamidopropylbetaine.In various embodiments, the concentrated liquid laundry detergent according to the invention comprises from 0.1 to 30 wt.% of at least one betaine, preferably from 0.5 to 15 wt.%, more preferably from 1 to 10 wt.%, based on the total weight of the composition.Amine oxides are nonionic surfactants described by the formula R 1 R 2 R 3 NO wherein each R 1, R 2 and R 3 is independently an unsubstituted or substituted (i.e., hydroxy substituted) C 1- C 30- hydrocarbon chain. In preferred amine oxides, R 1 is C 12- C 18- alkyl and R 2 and R 3 are independently of one another C 1- C 4- alkyl, in particular C 12- C 18- alkyl dimethylamine oxide. Suitable amine oxides include N-cocoalkyl-N,N-dimethylamine oxide and N-tallowalkyl-N,N-dihydroxyethylamine oxide.In various embodiments, the concentrated liquid laundry detergent concentrate according to the invention comprises from 0.1 to 30 wt.% of at least one amine oxide, preferably from 0.5 to 15 wt.%, more preferably from 1 to 10 wt.%, based on the total weight of the composition.In various preferred embodiments, the at least one C 10-18- alkyl ether sulfate and the at least one betaine are present in a weight ratio in the range from 50:50 to 70:30, preferably in the range from 55:45 to 65:35, particularly preferably 60:40.In various preferred embodiments, the at least one C 10-18- alkyl ether sulfate and the at least one amine oxide are present in a weight ratio in the range from 50:50 to 70:30, preferably in the range from 55:45 to 65:35, particularly preferably 60:40.The concentrated liquid laundry detergent composition may further comprise at least one additive selected from the group consisting of additional surfactants, builders, bleaches, bleach activators, bleach catalysts, acids, bases, perfumes, solvents, dyes, opacifiers, viscosity regulators, enzymes, electrolytes, chelating agents, tint dyes, optical brighteners, hydrotropes, soil release polymers, dye transfer inhibitors, anti-graying agents, anti-redeposition agents, antistats, anti-crease agents, corrosion inhibitors, pH regulators, preservatives, rheology modifiers, rheology stabilizers, ironing aids, bittering agents, anti-swell and anti-slip agents, UV absorbers, antimicrobials, skin care substances, Plasticizers or mixtures thereof.In various embodiments, the concentrated liquid laundry detergent composition according to the invention may comprise one or more additional surfactants, for example anionic, nonionic, zwitterionic, amphoteric and / or cationic surfactants.The anionic surfactants which can additionally be used include those of the sulfonate and sulfate type. Surfactants of the sulfonate type which can be used are preferably C 9-13- alkylbenzenesulfonates, olefinsulfonates, i.e. mixtures of alkene- and hydroxyalkanesulfonates and disulfonates, as are obtained, for example, from C 12-18- monoolefins having a terminal or internal double bond by sulfonation with gaseous sulfur trioxide and subsequent alkaline or acidic hydrolysis of the sulfonation products. Also suitable are alkanesulfonates which are obtained from C 12-18- alkanes, for example by sulfochlorination or sulfoxidation with subsequent hydrolysis or neutralization. Also suitable are the esters of α-sulfo fatty acids (ester sulfonates), for example the α-sulfonated methyl esters of hydrogenated coconut fatty acids, palm kernel fatty acids or tallow fatty acids.Preferred alk(en)yl sulfates are the alkali salts and in particular the sodium salts of the sulfuric monoesters of C 12- to C 18- fatty alcohols, for example from coconut fatty alcohol, tallow fatty alcohol, lauryl alcohol, myristyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol or stearyl alcohol or of C 10- to C 20- oxo alcohols and the monoesters of secondary alcohols of these chain lengths. Alk(en)yl sulfates of the chain length mentioned with synthetic straight-chain alkyl groups from petrochemical sources can also be used.Other suitable anionic surfactants include sulfated fatty acid glycerol esters as well as the salts of alkylsulfosuccinic acid, also referred to as sulfosuccinates or as sulfosuccinic esters. Soaps, in particular saturated fatty acid soaps, such as the salts of lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, hydrogenated erucic acid and behenic acid, and soap mixtures derived in particular from natural fatty acids, such as coconut fatty acids, palm kernel fatty acids or tallow fatty acids, are likewise suitable.The anionic surfactants, including soaps, may be present in the form of the sodium, potassium or ammonium salts thereof or as soluble salts of organic bases such as monoethanolamine, diethanolamine or triethanolamine. The anionic surfactants are preferably present in the form of their sodium, potassium or magnesium salts, in particular in the form of the sodium salts.Nonionic surfactants which may additionally be used include alkoxylated, advantageously ethoxylated, especially primary alcohols preferably having 8 to 18 carbon atoms and an average of 1 to 12 moles of ethylene oxide (EO) per mole of alcohol, in which the alcohol group may be linear or preferably methyl branched in the 2-position, or may contain linear and methyl branched groups in admixture, such as are usually present in oxo alcohol groups. In particular, however, alcohol ethoxylates having linear groups of alcohols of native origin having 12 to 18 carbon atoms, for example of coconut alcohol, palm alcohol, tallow fatty alcohol or oleyl alcohol, and on average 2 to 8 EO per mole of alcohol are particularly preferred. Examples of preferred ethoxylated alcohols include C12-14alcohols with 3 EO or 4 EO, C9-11alcohol with 7 EO, C13-15alcohols with 3 EO, 5 EO, 7 EO or 8 EO, C12-18alcohols with 3 EO, 5 EO or 7 EO and mixtures thereof, such as mixtures of C12-14alcohol with 3 EO and C12-18alcohol with 5 EO. The degrees of ethoxylation reported represent statistical averages corresponding to an integer or fractional number for a specific product. Preferred alcohol ethoxylates have a narrowed homolog distribution (narrow range ethoxylates, NRE). In addition to these nonionic surfactants, fatty alcohols having more than 12 EO may also be used. Examples thereof are tallow fatty alcohol having 14 EO, 25 EO, 30 EO or 40 EO.Another class of nonionic surfactants which can be advantageously used are the alkyl polyglycosides (APG). Alkyl polyglycosides which can be used satisfy the general formula RO(G)z, in which R is a linear or branched, in particular 2-methyl-branched, saturated or unsaturated, aliphatic group having 8 to 22, preferably 12 to 18, carbon atoms and G is the symbol which represents a glycose unit having 5 or 6 carbon atoms, preferably glucose. The degree of glycosidation z is between 1.0 and 4.0, preferably between 1.0 and 2.0 and in particular between 1.1 and 1.4. linear alkyl polyglycosides are preferably used, i.e. alkyl polyglycosides in which the polyglycosyl group is a glucose group and the alkyl group is an n-alkyl group.Other nonionic surfactants which may be used include alkoxylated, preferably ethoxylated or ethoxylated and propoxylated, fatty acid alkyl esters, preferably having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain, particularly fatty acid methyl esters, as well as fatty acid alkanolamides and polyhydroxy fatty acid amides.However, in preferred embodiments, the concentrated liquid laundry detergent composition is free or substantially free of other surfactants.In various embodiments, the detergent composition may have a pH in the range of about 6 to about 11, preferably about 6.5 to about 10.5, more preferably about 7 to about 10, in particular about 8 to about 9, such as about 8.6, 8.4 or 8.2, e.g. in a 1 wt % solution with deionized water at 20° C.The pH can be adjusted by addition of acids, for example citric acid or mineral acids, and / or bases, such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide or alkanolamine.The concentrated liquid laundry detergent composition may also comprise one or more enzymes, especially enzymes selected from the group consisting of proteases, amylases, mannanases, lipases, cellulases, hemicellulases and mixtures thereof. In preferred embodiments, the concentrated liquid laundry detergent composition comprises from 0 to 5% by weight of enzymes, more preferably from 0 to 1% by weight, based on the weight of the concentrated composition.A further optional constituent is solvents. In addition to water, the concentrated liquid laundry detergent composition may comprise water-miscible organic solvents, in particular alcohols, alkanolamines or glycol ethers, preferably selected from ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, butanols, glycol, propanediol, butanediol, methylpropanediol, glycerol, 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, 1-butoxytriglycoltriglycoltriethoxy-2-propanol, 3-methyl-3-methoxybutanol, propylene glycol t-butyl ether, di-n-octyl ether and mixtures thereof. Alcohols are particularly preferred, in particular 1,2-propanediol, ethanol and / or glycerol. Preferred embodiments, however, are free or substantially free of organic solvents.The concentrated liquid laundry detergent composition may also comprise at least one water-soluble or water-insoluble organic or inorganic builder. Water-soluble organic builders include polycarboxylic acids, especially citric acid and saccharic acids, monomeric and polymeric aminopolycarboxylic acids and their salts, especially glutamic acid-N,N-diacetic acid (GLDA), methyl glycine diacetic acid (MGDA), nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), iminodisuccinates such as ethylenediamine-N,N'-disuccinic acid (EDDS) and hydroxyiminodisuccinates (HIDS), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), as well as polyaspartic acid, polyphosphonic acids, especially aminotris(methylenephosphonic acid), ethylenediaminetetrakis(methylenephosphonic acid), lysinetetra(methylenephosphonic acid) and 1-hydroxyethane-1,1-diphosphonic acid, polymeric hydroxy compounds such as dextrin and polymeric (poly)carboxylic acids. Water soluble inorganic builders include polyphosphates, preferably sodium triphosphate, as well as water soluble crystalline or amorphous alkali silicates. However, in a preferred embodiment, the concentrated liquid laundry detergent composition is phosphate free.Crystalline or amorphous, water-dispersible alkali metal aluminosilicates can be used as water-insoluble inorganic builders, especially crystalline sodium aluminosilicates such as zeolite A, zeolite P, zeolite MAP or zeolite X.In preferred embodiments, the concentrated liquid laundry detergent composition comprises from 0 to 1% by weight of builders, preferably from 0 to 0.5% by weight, based on the weight of the concentrated composition.In various embodiments, the concentrated liquid laundry detergent composition may also contain one or more thickeners to regulate and modify its viscosity and rheological properties. These may be selected from all organic or inorganic thickeners, polymeric or monomeric, known to the skilled person, such as natural organic thickeners and derivatives thereof, synthetic organic thickeners, inorganic thickeners such as clays or silica. Electrolytes for regulating viscosity may also be used.The stability of the concentrated liquid laundry detergent composition can also be improved by the addition of hydrotropes. These are additives or solvents which can improve the solubility of hydrophobic organic compounds in water. Such hydrotropes, such as surfactants, have hydrophilic and hydrophobic moieties but, unlike surfactants, do not form aggregates in water. These hydrotropes form either no micelles or their critical micellar concentration (CMC) is greater than 10 -4 mol / L, preferably greater than 10 -3 mol / L and more preferably 10 -2 mol / L. Suitable hydrotropes may preferably be selected from short chain mono-, di-, tri-, tetra- or pentaalkyl benzene sulfonates, especially linear or branched C 1-6- alkyl benzene sulfonates including cumene sulfonate, toluene sulfonate and / or xylene sulfonate, as well as butyl glycol, propylene glycol, 3-methoxy-3-methyl-1-butanol, 2,2-dimethyl-4-hydroxymethyl-1,2-dioxolane, propylene carbonate, butyl lactate, 2-isobutyl-2-methyl-1,3-dioxolane-4-methanol or mixtures thereof.Salts such as sodium chloride may also be present, preferably in amounts up to 10% by weight, more preferably 0 to 5% by weight, based on the weight of the concentrated composition.The concentrated liquid laundry detergent composition may also be in a unit dosage form, for example in pouches formed from a water soluble film comprising a volume of the concentrate sufficient to dilute it prior to use in a single wash cycle. However, in preferred embodiments, the concentrated composition is packaged in larger bottles or packages so that the consumer can produce a larger volume of laundry detergent at a time to be used in multiple laundering operations. For example, 250 ml of the concentrate according to the invention can be placed in a 1-liter bottle and diluted with water to produce 1000 ml of product.In preferred embodiments, the washing process is a machine washing process or a hand washing process. In preferred embodiments, the washing process comprises at least one step in which the temperature is between 20° C. and 60° C., preferably 20° C. and 50° C., more preferably 20° C. and 40° C., more preferably 25° C. and 40° C., most preferably around 30° C., preferably the washing process is carried out at a temperature between 20° C. and 60° C., preferably 20° C. and 50° C., more preferably 20° C. and 40° C., more preferably 25° C. and 40° C., most preferably around 30° C.The concentrated liquid laundry detergent retains or increases its viscosity upon dilution with water. In preferred embodiments, the concentrated laundry detergent composition has a viscosity at 20°C of 500 to 10,000 mPa·s, preferably 800 to 5,000 mPa·s, more preferably about 1,000 mPa·s (spindle 31, 3 U / min, DTV2). After dilution, the viscosity at 20° C. is preferably 500 to 15,000 mPa·s, preferably 800 to 6,000 mPa·s, more preferably about 1,000 to 2,000 mPa·s (spindle 31, 3 U / min, DTV2).The concentrated liquid laundry detergent is used to prepare an aqueous laundry detergent composition for use in a manual or machine wash operation.In a process for preparing an aqueous laundry detergent composition, the concentrated liquid laundry detergent composition is diluted with 0.5 to 10 parts water, preferably 1 to 8 parts, more preferably 1.5 to 5 parts, based on the volume of the concentrated liquid laundry detergent.ExamplesThe following concentrated liquid detergent compositions were prepared:SLES66Amine oxide4- -Cocoamidopropylbetaine- -4Sodium chloride11DTPMP-Na (builder)0,20,2Perfume0,050,05Dye0,050,05Enzymes0,80,8Viscosity [mPa·s]*10001000*2° C., 3 U / min, spindle 31, DTV2Prior to use in a laundry wash, compositions A and B were diluted using one part by volume of the respective composition and 3 parts water based on the volume of concentrated liquid detergent. The resulting aqueous laundry detergent compositions had somewhat higher viscosities and exhibited very satisfactory properties in both castability and general handling and cleaning performance.

Claims

A concentrated liquid laundry detergent composition comprising at least one C10-18 alkyl ether sulfate, characterised in that it comprises at least one further surfactant selected from the group consisting of betaines, amine oxides and mixtures thereof.Concentrated liquid laundry detergent composition according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises from 0.1 to 30 wt.% of C10-18 alkyl ether sulphate, preferably from 0.5 to 15 wt.%, more preferably from 1 to 10 wt.%, based on the total weight of the composition.Concentrated liquid laundry detergent composition according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the C10-18 alkyl ether sulphate is preferably a C12-14 ether sulphate, more preferably sodium laureth sulphate, and preferably has a degree of ethoxylation of 1 to 10 EO, preferably 1 to 4 EO.Concentrated liquid laundry detergent composition according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises from 0.1 to 30% by weight of at least one betaine, preferably from 0.5 to 15% by weight, more preferably from 1 to 10% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.Concentrated liquid laundry detergent composition according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises from 0.1 to 30 wt.% of at least one amine oxide, preferably from 0.5 to 15 wt.%, more preferably from 1 to 10 wt.%, based on the total weight of the composition.A concentrated liquid laundry detergent composition according to any preceding claim characterised in that it retains or increases its viscosity on dilution with water.Concentrated liquid laundry detergent composition according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one C10-18 alkyl ether sulfate and the at least one betaine in a weight ratio in the range of 50 : 50 to 70 : 30, preferably in the range of 55 : 45 to 65 : 35, more preferably 60 : 40, or at least one C10-18 alkyl ether sulfate and the at least one amine oxide in a weight ratio of 50 : 50 to 70 : 30, preferably in the range of 55 : 45 to 65 : 35, more preferably 60 : 40.Concentrated liquid laundry detergent composition according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises at least one additive selected from the group consisting of additional surfactants, builders, bleaches, bleach activators, bleach catalysts, acids, bases, perfumes, solvents, dyes, opacifiers, viscosity regulators, enzymes, electrolytes, chelating agents, tint dyes, optical brighteners, hydrotropes, soil release polymers, dye transfer inhibitors, anti-redeposition agents, antistats, anti-crease agents, corrosion inhibitors, pH regulators, preservatives, rheology modifiers, rheology stabilizers, ironing aids, bittering agents, anti-swell and anti-slip agents, UV absorbers, Antimicrobial active ingredients, skin care substances, plasticizers or mixtures thereof.Use of a concentrated liquid laundry detergent composition according to any preceding claim for the preparation of an aqueous laundry detergent composition for use in a manual or machine wash operation.A process for the preparation of an aqueous laundry detergent, characterized in that a concentrated liquid laundry detergent according to any one of claims 1 to 9 is diluted with 0.5 to 10 parts, preferably 1 to 8 parts, more preferably 1.5 to 5 parts water, based on the volume of the concentrated liquid laundry detergent.