Optical brightener compositions and laundry care compositions containing same

Abstract

The optical brightener composition includes a diaminostilbene optical brightener and a solvent system. The solvent system includes an ester of an organic acid and a polyol. The optical brightener composition facilitates handling and dosing of the diaminostilbene optical brightener, for example, in the preparation of laundry care compositions.

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention is directed to compositions comprising an optical brightener and a solvent system. The optical brightener composition is a liquid that does not exhibit crystallization of the optical brightener after extended storage. The present invention is also directed to laundry care compositions comprising such optical brightener compositions. Background

[0002]

[0002] The use of whitening agents (whether optical brighteners or hueing agents) in textile and laundry applications is well known in the art. As textile substrates age, their color tends to fade or yellow due to exposure to light, air, soiling, and natural aging of the fibers that comprise the substrate. Whitening agents visually brighten these textile substrates, countering the fading and yellowing of the substrate. For example, optical brighteners typically absorb ultraviolet light and emit blue light, which helps counter the yellow light reflected from the surface of aged textile substrates. Whitening agents may be found in laundry detergents, fabric softeners, or rinse aids and are therefore applied to textile substrates during the laundering process.

[0003]

[0003] Many optical brighteners are solid powders under standard conditions. Accurately incorporating powdered optical brighteners into laundry detergents, fabric softeners, and / or rinse aids during the manufacturing process can be difficult. Therefore, manufacturers frequently create highly active liquid premixes containing the optical brightener for ease of handling and dosing during the manufacturing process. However, these liquid premixes are not stable for long, and the optical brightener begins to crystallize shortly after the premix is ​​made. Therefore, manufacturers are forced to create relatively small batches of liquid premixes that can be quickly consumed before this crystallization renders the premix unusable. The frequent preparation of these liquid premixes consumes valuable production time and equipment, adding cost and time to the manufacturing process. Furthermore, the preparation of these liquid premixes still requires manufacturers to address the difficulties and industrial hygiene challenges presented by handling powdered optical brighteners, such as dust formation and troublesome dust accumulation / contamination.

[0004]

[0004] Thus, there remains a need for optical brightener compositions that address the difficulties faced by manufacturers outlined above. In particular, there remains a need for high activity optical brightener compositions (i.e., compositions containing a high percentage of optical brightener) that are homogeneous, flowable liquids under standard conditions or that can be made into homogeneous, flowable liquids upon mild heating. Furthermore, there remains a need for high activity optical brightener compositions that do not exhibit significant crystallization of the optical brightener when stored for extended periods of time. The optical brightener compositions described herein attempt to meet these unmet needs. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In a first aspect, the present invention provides an optical brightener composition comprising a diaminostilbene optical brightener and a solvent system. The solvent system comprises an ester of an organic acid and a polyol. In a preferred aspect, the present invention provides an optical brightener composition comprising: (a) about 20% to about 60% by weight of a diaminostilbene optical brightener; and (b) about 40% by weight to about 80% by weight of a solvent system 1. An optical brightener composition comprising: (i) an alkyl ester of an organic acid containing at least one carboxyl group and at least one hydroxy group; and (ii) a polyol selected from the group consisting of alkanediols, alkanediol oligomers, alkanetriols, and mixtures thereof; The present invention provides an optical brightener composition comprising:

[0006] In a second aspect, the present invention provides a laundry care composition comprising a laundry care ingredient and an optical brightener composition as described herein.

[0007] In a first aspect, the present invention provides an optical brightener composition comprising a diaminostilbene optical brightener and a solvent system.

[0008]

[0008] The optical brightener in the composition can be any suitable diaminostilbene optical brightener. Suitable diaminostilbene brighteners include, but are not limited to, compounds of formula (I):

[0009] [ka]

[0010] In formula (I), M and A are independently selected from the group consisting of cations of Group 1 elements (i.e., alkali metals). 1 is selected from the group consisting of -OCH, -NH(CH), -NH(C2H5), -N(C2H5)2, -NH(CH2CH2OH), -N(CH3)(CH2CH2OH), -N(CH2CH2OH)2, morpholin-4-yl, -NH(C6H5), -N(CH2CH2OH)(CH2CH2CONH2), and -N(CH2CH(OH)CH3)2. R2 and R3 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and -SO3Na. R 2is -SO3Na, and R 3 When R is hydrogen, -SO3Na can be at either the 3 or 4 position on the phenyl ring. 2 and R 3 When both are -SO3Na, they are at the 2- and 5-positions on the phenyl ring. In a preferred embodiment, the diaminostilbene optical brightener is a compound of formula (X):

[0011] [ka]

[0012] In formula (X), M and A are independently selected from the group consisting of cations of Group 1 elements (i.e., alkali metals). In preferred embodiments, M and A are independently selected from the group consisting of potassium cations and sodium cations. In one such preferred embodiment, both M and A are each potassium cations. In another such preferred embodiment, M is a potassium cation and A is a sodium cation. In yet another such preferred embodiment, both M and A are sodium cations, which corresponds to fluorescent brightener 28 (CAS number 4193-55-9), a diaminostilbene optical brightener. Fluorescent brightener 28 has the structure of formula (XX):

[0013] [ka]

[0014] The optical brightener composition can contain any suitable amount of diaminostilbene optical brightener. Preferably, the optical brightener composition contains about 20 wt. % or more, about 25 wt. % or more, about 30 wt. % or more, or about 35 wt. % or more of diaminostilbene optical brightener, based on the total weight of the composition. In another preferred embodiment, the optical brightener composition contains about 60 wt. % or less, about 55 wt. % or less, about 50 wt. % or less, about 45 wt. % or less, or about 40 wt. % or less of diaminostilbene optical brightener, based on the total weight of the composition. Thus, in a series of preferred embodiments, the optical brightener composition is present in an amount of from about 20 wt. % to about 60 wt. % (e.g., from about 20 wt. % to about 55 wt. %, from about 20 wt. % to about 50 wt. %, from about 20 wt. % to about 45 wt. %, or from about 20 wt. % to about 40 wt. %), from about 25 wt. % to about 60 wt. % (e.g., from about 25 wt. % to about 55 wt. %, from about 25 wt. % to about 50 wt. %, from about 25 wt. % to about 45 wt. %, or from about 25 wt. %), based on the total weight of the composition. % to about 40% by weight, about 30% to about 60% by weight (e.g., about 30% to about 55% by weight, about 30% to about 50% by weight, about 30% to about 45% by weight, or about 30% to about 40% by weight), or about 35% to about 60% by weight (e.g., about 35% to about 55% by weight, about 35% to about 50% by weight, about 35% to about 45% by weight, or about 35% to about 40% by weight) of a diaminostilbene optical brightener.

[0015] In addition to the diaminostilbene optical brightener, the optical brightener also includes a solvent system for solubilizing the diaminostilbene optical brightener. The solvent system includes an ester of an organic acid and a polyol, as described below.

[0016] The solvent system can include any suitable ester of an organic acid. Preferably, the organic acid from which the ester is derived contains at least one carboxyl group and at least one hydroxyl group. More preferably, the organic acid from which the ester is derived is an alpha hydroxy acid (i.e., a hydroxyl group is attached to the carbon atom directly adjacent to the carbonyl carbon atom of the carboxyl group). Suitable alpha hydroxy acids include, but are not limited to, glycolic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, citric acid, and mixtures thereof. In another preferred embodiment, the ester of the organic acid is an alkyl ester, with C1-C4 alkyl esters being particularly preferred. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the ester of the organic acid is selected from the group consisting of methyl glycolate, ethyl glycolate, n-propyl glycolate, isopropyl glycolate, methyl lactate, ethyl lactate, propyl lactate, isopropyl lactate, diethyl maleate, triethyl citrate, and mixtures thereof.

[0017] The solvent system can include any suitable polyol. Preferably, the polyol is selected from the group consisting of alkanediols, alkanediol oligomers, alkanetriols, and mixtures thereof. The term "alkanediol oligomer" is used herein to refer to oligomeric polyols formally composed of alkanediol monomers, such as diethylene glycol (i.e., 2,2'-oxydi(ethan-1-ol) or 2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethanol), triethylene glycol (i.e., 2,2'-[ethane-1,2-diylbis(oxy)]di(ethan-1-ol) or 2-[2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethoxy]ethanol), tetraethylene glycol (i.e., 2-[2-[2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethoxy]ethoxy]ethanol), and similar compounds. Preferably, the polyol has a structure in which adjacent hydroxy and / or ether groups of the polyol are separated by four (4) or fewer carbon atoms. In other words, the polyol preferably has a structure in which (i) the longest stretch of aliphatic carbon-carbon bonds separating adjacent hydroxy groups in the polyol is four or fewer carbon atoms in length, or (ii) the longest stretch of aliphatic carbon-carbon bonds separating an ether group and adjacent hydroxy groups in the polyol is four or fewer carbon atoms in length. Thus, 1,6-hexanediol (i.e., hexane-1,6-diol) is not such a preferred alkanediol because its two hydroxy groups are separated by a stretch of aliphatic carbon-carbon bonds six carbon atoms in length. However, 1,3-hexanediol (i.e., hexane-1,3-diol) and 1,4-hexanediol (i.e., hexane-1,4-diol) are examples of such preferred alkanediols because their two hydroxy groups are separated by a stretch of aliphatic carbon atoms only three and four carbon atoms in length, respectively.Similarly, hexylene glycol (i.e., 2-methylpentane-2,4-diol) is another example of such a preferred alkanediol because the two hydroxy groups are separated by a series of aliphatic carbon atoms that is only three carbon atoms in length.

[0018] Alkanediols suitable for use in the solvent system include, but are not limited to, ethylene glycol (i.e., ethane-1,2-diol), 1,2-propanediol (i.e., propane-1,2-diol), 1,3-propanediol (i.e., propane-1,3-diol), 1,2-butanediol (i.e., butane-1,2-diol), 1,3-butanediol (i.e., butane-1,3-diol), 1,4-butanediol (i.e., butane-1,4-diol), hexylene glycol (i.e., 2-methylpentane-2,4-diol), and mixtures thereof. Alkanediols suitable for use in the solvent system include, but are not limited to, diethylene glycol (i.e., 2,2'-oxydi(ethan-1-ol) or 2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethanol). Alkanetriols suitable for use in the solvent system include, but are not limited to, glycerol (i.e., propane-1,2,3-triol). In preferred embodiments, the polyol is selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, 1,2-propanediol, 1,3-propanediol, 1,3-butanediol, 1,4-butanediol, hexylene glycol, glycerol, diethylene glycol, and mixtures thereof. In preferred embodiments, the polyol is selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, 1,2-propanediol, 1,3-propanediol, 1,3-butanediol, glycerol, diethylene glycol, and mixtures thereof.

[0019] In certain preferred embodiments, the polyol has a molar mass of about 100 g / mol or less. For example, in one such preferred embodiment, the polyol has a molar mass of about 100 g / mol or less when the concentration of diaminostilbene optical brightener in the composition is 30% by weight or greater. It is believed that utilizing lower molar mass polyols in such higher activity compositions will allow the composition to remain a flowable liquid when stored in ambient indoor environments. If the intended use environment does not require a flowable liquid in ambient indoor environments, higher molar mass polyols may be suitable for use in these higher activity compositions.

[0020] The optical brightener composition can include any suitable amount of solvent system. Preferably, the solvent system accounts for the remainder of the weight / mass of the optical brightener composition (i.e., the weight / mass of the diaminostilbene optical brightener and the weight / mass of the solvent system equals the total weight / mass of the optical brightener composition). Thus, the solvent system preferably comprises at least about 40 wt.%, at least about 45 wt.%, at least about 50 wt.%, or at least about 55 wt.%, based on the total weight of the optical brightener composition. In another preferred embodiment, the solvent system preferably comprises no more than about 80 wt.%, no more than about 75 wt.%, no more than about 70 wt.%, or no more than about 65 wt.%, based on the total weight of the optical brightener composition. Thus, in a series of preferred embodiments, the solvent system comprises about 40% to about 80% by weight of the composition (e.g., about 40% to about 75% by weight, about 40% to about 70% by weight, or about 40% to about 65% by weight), about 45% to about 80% by weight (e.g., about 45% to about 75% by weight, about 45% to about 70% by weight, or about 45% to about 65% by weight), about 50% to about 80% by weight (e.g., about 50% to about 75% by weight, about 50% to about 70% by weight, or about 50% to about 65% by weight), or about 55% to about 80% by weight (e.g., about 55% to about 75% by weight, about 55% to about 70% by weight, or about 55% to about 65% by weight), based on the total weight of the optical brightener composition.

[0021] The alkyl ester of an organic acid and the polyol can be present in the solvent system in any suitable relative amounts. In a preferred embodiment, the alkyl ester of an organic acid comprises from about 5% to about 99% by weight (e.g., from about 10% to about 99% by weight) of the total weight of the solvent system. For example, when the alkyl ester of an organic acid is diethyl maleate, the diethyl maleate can preferably comprise from about 45% to about 70% by weight (e.g., from about 49% to about 68% by weight) of the total weight of the solvent system. In another preferred embodiment, the alkyl ester of an organic acid is ethyl glycolate, and the ethyl glycolate can comprise from about 75% to about 95% by weight (e.g., from about 80% to about 92% by weight) of the total weight of the solvent system. When the alkyl ester of an organic acid is ethyl lactate, the ethyl lactate preferably constitutes about 5% to about 80% by weight (e.g., about 5% to about 77% by weight, about 5% to about 15.5% by weight, about 7.5% to about 15.5% by weight, or about 7.5% to about 11.5% by weight) of the total weight of the solvent system. In another preferred embodiment, the alkyl ester of an organic acid is methyl lactate, and the methyl lactate may constitute about 45% to about 70% by weight (e.g., about 49% to about 68% by weight) of the total weight of the solvent system. When the alkyl ester of an organic acid is propyl lactate, the propyl lactate preferably constitutes about 50% to about 70% by weight (e.g., about 51% to about 68% by weight) of the total weight of the solvent system. In yet another preferred embodiment, the alkyl ester of an organic acid is triethyl citrate, which can comprise about 40% to about 65% by weight (e.g., about 42% to about 60% by weight) of the total weight of the solvent system.

[0022] The polyol preferably comprises from about 1 wt % to about 95 wt % (e.g., from about 1 wt % to about 60 wt %) of the total weight of the solvent system. For example, when the polyol is ethylene glycol, the ethylene glycol preferably comprises from about 8 wt % to about 40 wt % of the total weight of the solvent system. In another preferred embodiment, the polyol is 1,3-propanediol, and the 1,3-propanediol may comprise from about 15 wt % to about 50 wt % (e.g., from about 16 wt % to about 48 wt %) of the total weight of the solvent system. When the polyol is 1,2-propanediol (also known as propylene glycol), the 1,2-propanediol preferably comprises about 15% to about 95% by weight of the total weight of the solvent system (e.g., about 15% to about 90% by weight, about 15% to about 60% by weight, about 16% to about 57% by weight, about 84.5% to about 92.5% by weight, or about 84.5% to about 88.5% by weight). In another preferred embodiment, the polyol is 1,3-butanediol, and the 1,3-butanediol may comprise about 5% to about 60% by weight of the total weight of the solvent system (e.g., about 9% to about 58% by weight). When the polyol is 1,4-butanediol, the 1,4-butanediol may preferably comprise about 15% to about 55% by weight of the total weight of the solvent system (e.g., about 20% to about 51% by weight). In another preferred embodiment, the polyol is hexylene glycol, and the hexylene glycol can comprise about 1 wt % to about 10 wt % of the total weight of the solvent system. When the polyol is diethylene glycol, the diethylene glycol can preferably comprise about 10 wt % to about 45 wt % (e.g., about 14 wt % to about 43 wt %) of the total weight of the solvent system.

[0023] The following list identifies certain preferred solvent system components that may be used in the optical brightener compositions disclosed herein. 1. The polyol is 1,3-butanediol and the alkyl ester of an organic acid is selected from the group consisting of methyl lactate, diethyl maleate, triethyl citrate, and mixtures thereof. 2. The alkyl ester of an organic acid is triethyl citrate, and the polyol is 1,3-butanediol. 3. The alkyl ester of an organic acid is diethyl maleate, and the polyol is 1,3-butanediol. 4. The alkyl ester of an organic acid is methyl lactate, and the polyol is 1,3-butanediol. 5. The alkyl ester of an organic acid is methyl lactate, and the polyol is hexylene glycol. 6. The alkyl ester of an organic acid is triethyl citrate, and the polyol is 1,2-propanediol. 7. The alkyl ester of an organic acid is diethyl maleate and the polyol is 1,2-propanediol. 8. The alkyl ester of an organic acid is ethyl lactate and the polyol is 1,2-propanediol. The foregoing list is not intended to be comprehensive or limiting, but merely identifies certain solvent systems that the inventors believe to be particularly useful and wish to identify with particularity. Additional preferred embodiments of solvents are described elsewhere herein.

[0024] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the optical brightener composition comprises a diaminostilbene optical brightener, an alkyl ester of lactic acid (preferably ethyl lactate), and 1,2-propanediol. In a more specific embodiment, the optical brightener composition preferably comprises about 35% by weight of the diaminostilbene optical brightener, about 5% to about 10% by weight of the alkyl ester of lactic acid (preferably ethyl lactate), and about 55% to about 60% by weight of 1,2-propanediol. In yet another preferred embodiment, the optical brightener composition comprises about 35% by weight of the diaminostilbene optical brightener, about 5% to about 7.5% by weight of the alkyl ester of lactic acid (preferably ethyl lactate), and about 57.5% to about 60% by weight of 1,2-propanediol.

[0025] The optical brightener compositions disclosed herein are preferably homogeneous, flowable liquids in ambient indoor environments (e.g., 20-25°C). Preferably, the optical brightener compositions have a melting point below 0°C. The optical brightener compositions preferably remain homogeneous, flowable liquids and exhibit no appreciable crystallization of the diaminostilbene optical brightener when stored in ambient indoor environments for extended periods of time (e.g., 90 days or more). However, in certain embodiments, the optical brightener compositions can be homogeneous, viscous liquids or semi-solids in ambient indoor environments, provided that such viscous liquids or semi-solids can readily become flowable liquids upon heating, e.g., to temperatures up to about 60°C. As noted above, the flowable liquid form facilitates handling and dispensing of the compositions and the diaminostilbene optical brighteners contained therein.

[0026] The optical brightener composition can be used in the manufacture of laundry care products, such as laundry detergents, fabric softeners, and / or rinse aids. Thus, in an additional aspect, the present invention provides a laundry care composition comprising at least one laundry care ingredient and an optical brightener composition as described above. The laundry care composition can comprise any embodiment of the optical brightener composition described above.

[0027] The optical brightener composition can be present in the laundry care composition in any suitable amount. Typically, the amount of the optical brightener composition is determined by (1) the concentration of the diaminostilbene optical brightener in the optical brightener composition and (2) the desired final concentration of the diaminostilbene optical brightener in the laundry care composition. In other words, the diaminostilbene optical brightener composition is added to the laundry care composition in an amount required to achieve the desired final concentration of the optical brightener in the laundry care composition. The diaminostilbene optical brightener is preferably present in the laundry care composition in an amount of from about 0.0001 wt. % to about 1 wt. % (e.g., from about 0.001 wt. % to about 1 wt. %, from about 0.005 wt. % to about 1 wt. %, or from about 0.01 wt. % to about 1 wt. %), or from about 0.05 wt. % to about 0.75 wt. % (e.g., from about 0.05 wt. % to about 0.5 wt. % or from about 0.05 wt. % to about 0.3 wt. %), based on the total weight of the laundry care composition. Thus, if the optical brightener composition contains 35 wt. % of a diaminostilbene optical brightener, the optical brightener will preferably be present in or added to the laundry care composition in an amount of from about 0.00028 wt. % to about 2.9 wt. % (e.g., from about 0.0028 wt. % to about 2.9 wt. %, 0.014 wt. % to about 2.9 wt. %, from about 0.028 wt. % to about 2.9 wt. %, from 0.14 wt. % to about 2.15 wt. %, from about 0.14 wt. % to about 1.4 wt. %, from about 0.14 wt. % to about 0.86 wt. %), based on the total weight of the laundry care composition. Alternatively, if the optical brightener composition contains 45 wt. % diaminostilbene optical brightener, the optical brightener would preferably be present in or added to the laundry care composition in an amount of from 0.00022 wt. % to about 2.3 wt. % (e.g., from about 0.0022 wt. % to about 2.3 wt. %, from about 0.01 wt. % to about 1.7 wt. %, from about 0.01 wt. % to about 1.2 wt. %, from about 0.01 wt. % to about 0.7 wt. %), based on the total weight of the laundry care composition.

[0028]

[0023] The laundry care composition can contain any suitable laundry care ingredients. Suitable laundry care ingredients are described and discussed in the following sections.

[0029] Laundry care ingredients surfactant system Laundry care compositions of the present invention can include from about 0.001% by weight (e.g., from about 0.01% by weight), more typically from about 0.10 to 80% by weight, of a surfactant. In one aspect, such compositions may include from about 5 to 50% by weight of a surfactant. The surfactants utilized can be of the anionic, nonionic, amphoteric, ampholytic, zwitterionic, or cationic type, or can include compatible mixtures of these types. Anionic and nonionic surfactants are typically used when the fabric care product is a laundry detergent. Cationic surfactants, on the other hand, are typically used when the fabric care product is a fabric softener.

[0030] Anionic surfactants Useful anionic surfactants can themselves be of several different types. For example, water-soluble salts of higher fatty acids, i.e., "soaps," are useful anionic surfactants in the compositions herein. This includes alkali metal soaps, e.g., sodium, potassium, ammonium, and alkylolammonium salts of higher fatty acids containing from about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms, or even from about 12 to about 18 carbon atoms. Soaps can be made by direct saponification of fats and oils or by neutralization of free fatty acids. Particularly useful are the sodium and potassium salts of mixtures of fatty acids derived from coconut oil and tallow, i.e., sodium or potassium tallow and coconut soap.

[0031] Preferred alkyl sulfates are C8-18 alkyl alkoxylated sulfates, preferably C12-15 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl alkoxylated sulfates. Preferably, the alkoxylated group is an ethoxylated group. Typically, the alkyl alkoxylated sulfates have an average degree of alkoxylation of 0.5 to 30 or 20, or 0.5 to 10. The alkyl group may be branched or linear. The alkoxylated alkyl sulfate surfactant may be a mixture of alkoxylated alkyl sulfates having an average (arithmetic mean) carbon chain length in the range of about 12 to about 30 carbon atoms, or an average carbon chain length of about 12 to about 15 carbon atoms, and an average (arithmetic mean) degree of alkoxylation of about 1 mole to about 4 moles of ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, or mixtures thereof, or an average (arithmetic mean) degree of alkoxylation of about 1.8 moles of ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, or mixtures thereof. The alkoxylated alkyl sulfate surfactants may have a carbon chain length of about 10 carbon atoms to about 18 carbon atoms and a degree of alkoxylation of about 0.1 to about 6 moles of ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, or mixtures thereof. The alkoxylated alkyl sulfates may be alkoxylated with ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, or mixtures thereof. The alkyl ether sulfate surfactants may contain a peaked ethoxylate distribution. Specific examples include C12-C15 EO 2.5 sulfate, C14-C15 EO 2.5 sulfate, and C12-C15 EO 1.5 sulfate, derived from NEODOL® alcohols from Shell, and C12-C14 EO 3 sulfate, C12-C16 EO 3 sulfate, C12-C14 EO 2 sulfate, and C12-C14 EO 1 sulfate, derived from natural alcohols from Huntsman. The AES may be linear, branched, or a combination thereof.The alkyl group may be derived from synthetic or natural alcohols, such as those supplied by Shell under the trade names Neodol®, Sasol under the trade names Safol®, Lial®, and Isalchem®, or mid-cut alcohols derived from vegetable oils, such as coconut and palm kernel. Another suitable anionic detersive surfactant is an alkyl ether carboxylate, containing C10-C26 linear or branched, preferably C10-C20 linear, and most preferably C16-C18 linear alkyl alcohols and 2-20, preferably 7-13, more preferably 8-12, and most preferably 9.5-10.5 ethoxylates. The acid or salt form, e.g., sodium or ammonium salts, may be used, and the alkyl chain may contain one cis or trans double bond. Alkyl ether carboxylic acids are available from Kao Corporation (Akypo®), Huntsman (Empicol®), and Clariant (Emulsogen®).

[0032] Other useful anionic surfactants can include alkali metal salts of alkylbenzene sulfonates, where the alkyl group contains from about 9 to about 15 carbon atoms in a linear (straight-chain) or branched-chain configuration. In some instances, the alkyl group is linear. Such linear alkylbenzene sulfonates are known as "LAS." In other instances, the linear alkylbenzene sulfonate may have an average number of carbon atoms in the alkyl group of from about 11 to 14. In specific examples, the linear alkylbenzene sulfonate may have an average number of carbon atoms in the alkyl group of about 11.8 carbon atoms, which may be abbreviated as C11.8 LAS. Preferred sulfonates are C10-13 alkylbenzene sulfonates. Suitable alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS) may be obtained by sulfonating commercially available linear alkylbenzenes (LABs); suitable LABs include low 2-phenyl LABs, such as those supplied by Sasol under the trade name Isochem® or Petrelab® by Petresa; other suitable LABs include high 2-phenyl LABs, such as those supplied by Sasol under the trade name Hyblene®. Suitable anionic detersive surfactants are alkylbenzene sulfonates obtained by the DETAL catalyzed process, although other synthetic routes, such as HF, may also be suitable. In one aspect, magnesium salts of LAS are used. Suitable anionic sulfonate surfactants for use herein include water-soluble salts of C8-C18 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl sulfonates; C11-C18 alkyl benzene sulfonates (LAS), modified alkyl benzene sulfonates (MLAS), as discussed in WO 99 / 05243, WO 99 / 05242, WO 99 / 05244, WO 99 / 05082, WO 99 / 05084, WO 99 / 05241, WO 99 / 07656, WO 00 / 23549 and WO 00 / 23548; methyl ester sulfonates (MES); and alpha-olefin sulfonates (AOS).They also include paraffin sulfonates, which may be monosulfonates and / or disulfonates obtained by sulfonating paraffins of 10 to 20 carbon atoms. The sulfonate surfactants may include alkyl glyceryl sulfonate surfactants.

[0033] The anionic surfactants of the present invention may be in the acid form, which may be neutralized to form the surfactant salts desired for use in the detergent compositions of the present invention. Typical agents for neutralization include metal counterion bases, such as hydroxides, e.g., NaOH or KOH. Further preferred agents for neutralizing the anionic surfactants of the present invention and their auxiliary anionic surfactants or co-surfactants in their acid form include ammonia, amines, or alkanolamines. Alkanolamines are preferred. Suitable non-limiting examples include monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, and other linear or branched alkanolamines known in the art, e.g., highly preferred alkanolamines include 2-amino-1-propanol, 1-aminopropanol, monoisopropanolamine, or 1-amino-3-propanol.

[0034] Nonionic surfactants Preferably, the laundry care composition comprises a nonionic detersive surfactant. Suitable nonionic surfactants include alkoxylated fatty alcohols. The nonionic surfactant may be selected from ethoxylated alcohols and ethoxylated alkylphenols of the formula R(OC2H4),OH, where R is selected from the group consisting of aliphatic hydrocarbon radicals containing from about 8 to about 15 carbon atoms and alkylphenyl radicals, where the alkyl group contains from about 8 to about 12 carbon atoms, and the average value of n is from about 5 to about 15. Other non-limiting examples of nonionic surfactants useful herein include C8-C18 alkyl ethoxylates, such as NEODOL® nonionic surfactants from Shell; C6-C12 alkyl phenol alkoxylates (wherein the alkoxylate units may be ethyleneoxy units, propyleneoxy units, or mixtures thereof); C12-C18 alcohol and C6-C12 alkyl phenol condensates with ethylene oxide / propylene oxide block polymers, such as Pluronic® from BASF; C14-C22 mid-chain branched alcohols, BA; C14-C22 mid-chain branched alkyl alkoxylates, BAE X (where x is 1 to 30); alkyl polysaccharides; specifically alkyl polyglucosides; polyhydroxy fatty acid amides; and ether-capped poly(oxyalkylated) alcohol surfactants. Specific examples include the C12-C15 EO7 and C14-C15 EO7 NEODOL® nonionic surfactants manufactured by Shell, and the C12-C14 EO7 and C12-C14 EO9 Surfonic® nonionic surfactants manufactured by Huntsman.

[0035] Highly preferred nonionic surfactants are the condensation products of Guerbet alcohols having 2 to 18, preferably 2 to 15, and more preferably 5 to 9 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol. Suitable nonionic surfactants include those manufactured by BASF under the trade name Lutensol®. Lutensol XP-50 is a Guerbet ethoxylate containing an average of about 5 ethoxy groups. Lutensol XP-80 and Lutensol XP-90 contain an average of about 8 ethoxy groups. Other suitable nonionic surfactants for use herein include fatty alcohol polyglycol ethers, alkyl polyglucosides and fatty acid glucamides, and alkyl polyglucosides based on Guerbet alcohols.

[0036] amphoteric surfactants The surfactant system may also include an amphoteric surfactant, such as an amine oxide. Preferred amine oxides are alkyl dimethyl amine oxides or alkylamidopropyl dimethyl amine oxides, more preferably alkyl dimethyl amine oxides, especially coco dimethyl amine oxide. The amine oxide may have a linear or medium-branched alkyl moiety.

[0037] Ampholyte surfactants The surfactant system may also include an ampholytic surfactant. Specific, non-limiting examples of ampholytic surfactants include aliphatic derivatives of secondary or tertiary amines, or aliphatic derivatives of heterocyclic secondary and tertiary amines, where the aliphatic radicals can be straight-chain or branched. One of the aliphatic substituents may contain at least about 8 carbon atoms, e.g., about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms, and at least one contains an anionic water-solubilizing group, e.g., carboxy, sulfonate, or sulfate. For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 3,929,678, column 19, lines 18-35, for suitable examples of ampholytic surfactants.

[0038] Zwitterionic surfactants Zwitterionic surfactants are known in the art and generally include surfactants that are neutrally charged overall but have at least one positively charged atom / group and at least one negatively charged atom / group. Examples of zwitterionic surfactants include derivatives of secondary and tertiary amines, derivatives of heterocyclic secondary and tertiary amines, or derivatives of quaternary ammonium, quaternary phosphonium, or tertiary sulfonium compounds. Zwitterionic surfactants include alkyl dimethyl betaines and cocodimethylamidopropyl betaines, C8-C9 18 (For example, C 12 ~C 18 ) Amine oxides and sulfo and hydroxybetaines, for example, those in which the alkyl group is C8-C 18 In certain embodiments, C 10 ~C 14 For examples of betaines, including N-alkyl-N,N-dimethylamino-1-propanesulfonates, see U.S. Pat. No. 3,929,678, column 19, line 38 to column 22, line 48. A preferred zwitterionic surfactant for use in the present invention is cocoamidopropyl betaine.

[0039] cationic surfactants Examples of cationic surfactants include quaternary ammonium surfactants, which may specifically have up to 26 carbon atoms. Additional examples include: a) alkoxylate quaternary ammonium (AQA) surfactants, as discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,136,769; b) dimethylhydroxyethyl quaternary ammonium surfactants, as discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,004,922; and c) polyamine cations, as discussed in WO 98 / 35002, WO 98 / 35003, WO 98 / 35004, WO 98 / 35005, and WO 98 / 35006, which are incorporated herein by reference. ester surfactants; d) cationic ester surfactants as discussed in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,228,042, 4,239,660, 4,260,529 and 6,022,844, which are incorporated herein by reference, and e) amino surfactants as discussed in U.S. Patent No. 6,221,825 and WO 00 / 47708, which are incorporated herein by reference, and specifically amidopropyldimethylamine (APA). Useful cationic surfactants also include those described in U.S. Patent No. 4,222,905, issued to Cockrell on September 16, 1980, and U.S. Patent No. 4,239,659, issued to Murphy on December 16, 1980, both of which are incorporated herein by reference. Quaternary ammonium compounds may also be present in fabric strengthening compositions, such as fabric softeners, and have the structure NR4 + The compound may comprise a quaternary ammonium cation, which is a positively charged polyatomic ion of the formula: where R is an alkyl or aryl group.

[0040] Auxiliary Cleaning Additives The laundry care compositions of the present invention may contain auxiliary cleaning additives. The exact nature of the cleaning auxiliary additive and its level of incorporation will depend on the physical form of the laundry care composition and the exact nature of the cleaning operation for which it is to be used.

[0041] The auxiliary cleaning additives may be selected from the group consisting of builders, structurants or thickeners, clay soil removal / anti-redeposition agents, polymeric soil release agents, polymeric dispersants, polymeric grease cleaning agents, enzymes, enzyme stabilizing systems, bleaching compounds, bleaching agents, bleach activators, bleach catalysts, brighteners, dyes, hue imparting agents, dye transfer inhibitors, chelating agents, suds suppressors, softeners, and fragrances. This list of auxiliary cleaning additives is illustrative only and is not intended to limit the types of auxiliary cleaning additives that may be used. In principle, any auxiliary cleaning additive known in the art may be used in the present invention.

[0042] polymer The composition may contain one or more polymers. Non-limiting examples include polyethyleneimine, carboxymethylcellulose, poly(vinylpyrrolidone), poly(ethylene glycol), poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(vinylpyridine-N-oxide), poly(vinylimidazole), polycarboxylate, or alkoxylated substituted phenol (ASP), all of which may be optionally modified, as described in WO 2016 / 041676. An example of an ASP dispersant includes, but is not limited to, HOSTAPAL BV CONC S1000, available from Clariant.

[0043] Polyamines may be used for grease, particulate removal, or stain removal. A wide variety of amines and polyalkyleneimines can be alkoxylated to various degrees to achieve hydrophobic or hydrophilic cleaning. Such compounds may include, but are not limited to, ethoxylated polyethyleneimine, ethoxylated hexamethylenediamine, and sulfated versions thereof. A useful example of such a polymer is HP20 available from BASF, or a polymer having the following general structure: Bis((C2H5O)(C2H4O) n )(CH3)-N+-C x H 2x-N+-(CH3)-bis((C2H5O)(C2H4O) n ) [wherein n=20-30 and x=3-8], or sulfated or sulfonated variants thereof. To achieve better grease removal and emulsification, polypropoxylated-polyethoxylated amphiphilic polyethyleneimine derivatives may also be included. These may include alkoxylated polyalkyleneimines, preferably having an inner polyethylene oxide block and an outer polypropylene oxide block. The detergent composition may also contain unmodified polyethyleneimines, useful for enhanced beverage stain removal. PEIs of various molecular weights are commercially available from BASF Corporation under the trade name Lupasol®. Examples of suitable PEIs include, but are not limited to, Lupasol FG® and Lupasol G-35®.

[0044] The composition may also contain one or more carboxylate polymers, such as maleate / acrylate random copolymers or polyacrylate homopolymers, which are useful as polymeric dispersants. Alkoxylated polycarboxylates, such as those prepared from polyacrylates, are also useful for providing clay dispersibility. Such materials are described in WO 91 / 08281. Chemically, these materials comprise polyacrylates with one ethoxy side chain for every 7 to 8 acrylate units. The side chains have the formula -(CH2CH2O) m (CH2) n CH3, where m is 2 to 3 and n is 6 to 12. The side chains are ester or ether linked to the polyacrylate "backbone" to provide a "comb" polymer type structure.

[0045]

[0040] A preferred amphiphilic graft copolymer comprises (i) a polyethylene glycol backbone; and (ii) at least one pendant moiety selected from polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, and mixtures thereof. An example of an amphiphilic graft copolymer is Sokalan HP22 supplied by BASF.

[0046] Alkoxylated substituted phenols, as described in WO 2016 / 041676, are also suitable examples of polymers that provide clay dispersancy. Hostapal BV Conc S1000, available from Clariant, is one non-limiting example of an ASP dispersant.

[0047]

[0042] Preferably, the composition comprises one or more soil release polymers. Suitable soil release polymers are polyester soil release polymers, such as Repel-o-tex polymers, including Repel-o-tex SF, SF-2, and SRP6, supplied by Rhodia. Other suitable soil release polymers include Texcare polymers, including Texcare SRA100, SRA300, SRN100, SRN170, SRN240, SRN260, SRN300, and SRN325, supplied by Clariant. Other suitable soil release polymers are Marloquest polymers, such as Marloquest SL, HSCB, L235M, B, and G82, supplied by Sasol. Other suitable soil release polymers include methyl-capped ethoxylated propoxylated soil release polymers, as described in US 9,365,806.

[0048]

[0043] Preferably, the composition comprises one or more polysaccharides, which may be selected from carboxymethylcellulose, methylcarboxymethylcellulose, sulfoethylcellulose, methylhydroxyethylcellulose, carboxymethylxyloglucan, carboxymethylxylan, sulfoethylgalactomannan, carboxymethylgalactomannan, hydroxyethylgalactomannan, sulfoethylstarch, carboxymethylstarch, and mixtures thereof. Another polysaccharide suitable for use in the present invention is glucan. A preferred glucan is polyalpha-1,3-glucan, which is a polymer containing glucose monomer units linked together by glycosidic bonds (i.e., glucosidic bonds), where at least about 50% of the glycosidic bonds are alpha-1,3-glycosidic bonds. Polyalpha-1,3-glucan is a type of polysaccharide. Poly alpha-1,3-glucans can be enzymatically produced from sucrose using one or more glucosyltransferase enzymes, as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 7,000,000 and U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2013 / 0244288 and 2013 / 0244287, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0049]

[0044] Other suitable polysaccharides for use in the composition are cationic polysaccharides. Examples of cationic polysaccharides include cationic guar gum derivatives, quaternary nitrogen-containing cellulose ethers, and synthetic polymers that are copolymers of etherified cellulose, guar, and starch. When used, the cationic polymers herein are either soluble in the composition or soluble in a complex coacervate phase in the composition formed by the cationic polymer and the anionic, amphoteric, and / or zwitterionic surfactant components described above. Suitable cationic polymers are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,962,418, 3,958,581, and U.S. Publication No. 2007 / 0207109A1.

[0050]

[0045] Polymers can also function as deposition aids for other detergent raw materials. Preferred deposition aids are selected from the group consisting of cationic and nonionic polymers. Suitable polymers include cationic starch, cationic hydroxyethyl cellulose, polyvinyl formaldehyde, locust bean gum, mannan, xyloglucan, tamarind gum, polyethylene terephthalate, and polymers containing dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, and may optionally contain one or more monomers selected from the group including acrylic acid and acrylamide.

[0051] Additional amines Polyamines are known to improve grease removal. Preferred cyclic and linear amines are 1,3-bis(methylamine)-cyclohexane, 4-methylcyclohexane-1,3-diamine (Baxxodur ECX 210 supplied by BASF), 1,3 propanediamine, 1,6 hexanediamine, 1,3 pentanediamine (Dytek EP supplied by Invista), and 2-methyl-1,5 pentanediamine (Dytek A supplied by Invista). US 6,710,023 discloses hand dishwashing compositions containing the above diamines and polyamines containing at least three protonatable amines. The polyamines according to the present invention have a pka value of at least 1 pka above the wash pH and at least 2 pka values ​​greater than about 6 below the wash pH. Preferred polyamines are selected from the group consisting of tetraethylenepentamine, hexaethylhexamine, heptaethylheptamine, octaethyloctamine, nonethylnonamine, and mixtures thereof, commercially available from Dow, BASF, and Huntman. Particularly preferred polyetheramines are lipophilically modified, as described in US9752101, US9487739, and US9631163.

[0052] Dye Transfer Inhibitors (DTIs) The composition may also contain one or more dye transfer inhibitors. In one aspect of the present invention, the inventors have surprisingly found that compositions containing a polymeric dye transfer inhibitor in addition to the designated dye provide improved performance. This is surprising because these polymers prevent dye buildup. Suitable dye transfer inhibitors include, but are not limited to, polyvinylpyrrolidone polymers, polyamine N-oxide polymers, copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone and N-vinylimidazole, polyvinyloxazolidone and polyvinylimidazole, or mixtures thereof. Suitable examples include PVP-K15, PVP-K30, ChromaBond S-400, ChromaBond S-403E, and Chromabond S-100, manufactured by Ashland Aqualon, and Sokalan HP165, Sokalan HP50, Sokalan HP53, Sokalan HP59, Sokalan® HP56K, and Sokalan® HP66, manufactured by BASF. Other suitable DTIs are as described in WO 2012 / 004134. When present in the subject compositions, dye transfer inhibitors may be present at levels of from about 0.0001% to about 10%, from about 0.01% to about 5%, or even from about 0.1% to about 3% of the composition by weight.

[0053] enzyme Enzymes may be included in laundry care compositions for a variety of purposes, including the removal of protein-based, carbohydrate-based, or triglyceride-based stains from substrates, for preventing airborne dye transfer in fabric laundering, and for fabric restoration. Suitable enzymes include proteases, amylases, lipases, carbohydrases, cellulases, oxidases, peroxidases, mannanases, and mixtures thereof, of any suitable origin, such as vegetable, animal, bacterial, fungal, and yeast origin. Other enzymes that may be used in the laundry care compositions described herein include hemicellulases, peroxidases, proteases, cellulases, endoglucanases, xylanases, lipases, phospholipases, amylases, glucoamylases, xylanases, esterases, cutinases, pectinases, keratanases, reductases, oxidases, phenoloxidases, lipoxygenases, ligninases, pullulanases, tannases, pentosanases, malanases, β-glucanases, arabinosidases, hyaluronidases, chondroitinases, laccases, or mixtures thereof, esterases, mannanases, pectate lyases, and / or mixtures thereof. Other suitable enzymes include nuclease enzymes. The compositions may also include nuclease enzymes. Nuclease enzymes are enzymes capable of cleaving phosphodiester bonds between nucleotide subunits of nucleic acids. The nuclease enzyme herein is preferably a deoxyribonuclease or ribonuclease enzyme or a functional fragment thereof. Enzyme selection is influenced by factors such as pH activity and / or stability optimum, thermostability, and stability to active detergents, builders, etc.

[0054] Enzymes may be incorporated into the laundry care composition at a level of 0.0001 to 5% active enzyme by weight of the laundry care composition. The enzymes may be added as separate single ingredients or as a mixture of two or more enzymes.

[0055] In some embodiments, lipases may be used. Lipases can be purchased from Novozymes (Denmark) under the trade name Lipex. Amylases (Natalase®, Stainzyme®, Stainzyme Plus®) may be supplied by Novozymes, Bagsvaerd, Denmark. Proteases may be supplied by Genencor International, Palo Alto, Calif., USA (e.g., Purafect Prime®) or by Novozymes, Bagsvaerd, Denmark (e.g., Liquanase®, Coronase®, Savinase®). Other preferred enzymes include pectate lyases, preferably those sold under the trade names Pectawash®, Xpect®, and Pectaway®, as well as mannanases sold under the trade names Mannaway® (all manufactured by Novozymes A / S, Bagsvaerd, Denmark) and Purabrite® (Genencor International Inc., Palo Alto, California). Various enzyme materials and means for their incorporation into synthetic laundry care compositions are disclosed in WO 9307263A, WO 9307260A, WO 8908694A, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,553,139, 4,101,457, and 4,507,219. Enzyme materials useful in liquid laundry care compositions and their incorporation into such compositions are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,261,868.

[0056] Enzyme Stabilization System The enzyme-containing compositions described herein may optionally contain an enzyme stabilizing system in an amount of about 0.001% to about 10%, in some instances about 0.005% to about 8%, and in other instances about 0.01% to about 6% by weight of the composition. The enzyme stabilizing system can be any stabilizing system compatible with the detersive enzymes. Such a system may be inherently provided by other formulation actives or may be added separately, for example, by the formulator or by the detergent enzyme manufacturer. Such stabilizing systems may include, for example, calcium ions, boric acid, propylene glycol, short-chain carboxylic acids, boronic acids, chlorine bleach scavengers, and mixtures thereof, and are designed to address different stabilization concerns depending on the type and physical form of the laundry care composition. For a review of borate stabilizers, see U.S. Pat. No. 4,537,706.

[0057] Chelating Agents Preferably, the laundry care composition includes a chelating agent and / or a crystal growth inhibitor. Suitable molecules include copper, iron, and / or manganese chelating agents and mixtures thereof. Suitable molecules include aminocarboxylates, aminophosphonates, succinates, salts thereof, and mixtures thereof. Non-limiting examples of chelating agents suitable for use herein include ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, N-(hydroxyethyl)ethylenediaminetriacetate, nitrilotriacetate, ethylenediaminetetrapropionate, triethylenetetraaminehexaacetate, diethylenetriaminepentaacetate, ethanoldiglycine, ethylenediaminetetrakis(methylenephosphonate), diethylenetriaminepenta(methylenephosphonic acid) (DTPMP), ethylenediaminedisuccinate (EDDS), hydroxyethanedimethylenephosphonic acid (HEDP), methylglycinediacetic acid (MGDA), diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), and 1,2-dihydroxybenzene-3,5-disulfonic acid (tiron), salts thereof, and mixtures thereof. Tiron and other sulfonated catechols may also be used as effective heavy metal chelating agents. Other non-limiting examples of chelating agents for use in the present invention can be found in U.S. Patent Nos. 7,445,644, 7,585,376, and 2009 / 0176684A1. Other suitable chelating agents for use herein are the commercially available DEQUEST series, as well as chelating agents manufactured by Monsanto, DuPont, and Nalco Inc.

[0058] Whitening agent Optical brighteners or other brightening or whitening agents (i.e., optical brighteners other than diaminostilbene brighteners in optical brightener compositions) may be incorporated into the laundry care compositions described herein at levels of about 0.01 to about 1.2% by weight of the composition. Commercially available optical brighteners that may be used herein can be classified into subgroups, including, but not necessarily limited to, stilbenes, pyrazolines, coumarins, carboxylic acids, methine cyanines, dibenzothiophene-5,5-dioxides, azoles, derivatives of 5- and 6-membered heterocycles, and other miscellaneous agents. Examples of such brighteners are disclosed in "The Production and Application of Fluorescent Brightening Agents," M. Zahradnik, John Wiley & Sons, New York (1982). Specific, non-limiting examples of optical brighteners that may be useful in the compositions of the present invention are those identified in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,790,856 and 3,646,015. Highly preferred whitening agents include 4,4′-bis{[4-anilino-6-morpholino-s-triazin-2-yl]-amino}-2,2′-stilbenedisulfonate, disodium 4,4″-bis[(4,6-di-anilino-s-triazin-2-yl)-amino]-2,2′-stilbenedisulfonate and disodium 4,4′-bis-(2-sulfostyryl)biphenyl.

[0059] bleach

[0054] It may be preferred that the composition include one or more bleaching agents. Suitable bleaching agents include photobleaches, hydrogen peroxide, sources of hydrogen peroxide, preformed peracids and mixtures thereof.

[0060] (1) Photobleaches, such as sulfonated zinc phthalocyanine, sulfonated aluminum phthalocyanine, xanthene dyes, and mixtures thereof;

[0061] (2) Preformed Peracids: Suitable preformed peracids are compounds selected from the group consisting of preformed peroxyacids, or salts thereof, typically including, but not limited to, percarboxylic acids and salts, percarbonic acids and salts, perimidic acids and salts, peroxymonosulfonic acids and salts, e.g., Oxone®, and mixtures thereof. Suitable examples include peroxycarboxylic acids or salts thereof, or peroxysulfonic acids or salts thereof. Particularly preferred peroxyacids are phthalimido-peroxy-alkanoic acids, particularly ε-phthalimidoperoxyhexanoic acid (PAP). Preferably, the peracid or salt thereof has a melting point within the range of 30°C to 60°C.

[0062] (3) Sources of hydrogen peroxide, for example, inorganic perhydride salts, including alkali metal salts such as sodium salts of perborates (usually the mono- or tetrahydrate), percarbonates, persulfates, perphosphates, persilicates, and mixtures thereof.

[0063] Fabric shading dye

[0058] Fabric shading dyes (sometimes referred to as hueing agents, bluing agents, or whitening agents) typically provide blue or purple shading to fabrics. Such dyes are well known in the art and may be used either alone or in combination to create specific shades of hueing and / or to shade different fabric types. The fabric shading dye may be selected from any chemical class of dye as known in the art, including, but not limited to, acridine, anthraquinone (including polycyclic quinone), azine, azo (e.g., monoazo, disazo, trisazo, tetrakisazo, polyazo), benzodifuran, benzodifuranone, carotenoid, coumarin, cyanine, diazahemicyanine, diphenylmethane, formazan, hemicyanine, indigoid, methane, naphthalimide, naphthoquinone, nitro, nitroso, oxazine, phthalocyanine, pyrazole, stilbene, styryl, triarylmethane, triphenylmethane, xanthene, and mixtures thereof. The amount of auxiliary fabric shading dye present in the laundry care composition of the present invention is typically 0.0001 to 0.05 wt. %, preferably 0.0001 to 0.005 wt. %, based on the total laundry care composition. Based on the wash liquor, the concentration of the fabric shading dye is typically from 1 ppb to 5 ppm, preferably from 10 ppb to 500 ppb.

[0064] Suitable textile shading dyes include small molecule dyes, polymeric dyes, and dye-clay conjugates. Preferred textile shading dyes are selected from small molecule dyes and polymeric dyes. Suitable small molecule dyes may be selected from the group consisting of dyes that fall into the Colour Index (CI, Society of Dyers and Colourists, Bradford, UK) classification of acid, direct, basic, reactive, solvent, or disperse dyes.

[0065] Suitable polymeric dyes include dyes selected from the group consisting of polymers containing covalently bound (sometimes referred to as conjugates) chromogens (also known as dye-polymer conjugates), such as polymers in which a chromogenic monomer is copolymerized into the backbone of the polymer, and mixtures thereof. Preferred polymeric dyes include optionally substituted alkoxylated dyes, such as alkoxylated triphenyl-methane polymeric colorants, alkoxylated carbocyclic and heterocyclic azo colorants, including alkoxylated thiophene polymeric colorants, and mixtures thereof, such as those sold under the trademark Liquitint® Textile Substantial Colorants (Milliken, Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA).

[0066]

[0061] Suitable dye clay conjugates include dye clay conjugates selected from the group comprising at least one cationic / basic dye and a smectite clay; preferred clays may be selected from the group consisting of montmorillonite clay, hectorite clay, saponite clay and mixtures thereof.

[0067] Pigments are well known in the art and may be used in the laundry care compositions herein. Suitable pigments include CI Pigment Blue 15-20, especially 15 and / or 16, CI Pigment Blue 29, CI Pigment Violet 15, Monastral Blue, and mixtures thereof.

[0068] builder The laundry care compositions of the present invention may optionally contain a builder. The builder, selected from aluminosilicates and silicates, is intended to help control mineral hardness in the wash water or to aid in the removal of particulate soil from surfaces. Suitable builders may be selected from the group consisting of phosphate polyphosphates, especially their sodium salts; carbonates, bicarbonates, sesquicarbonates, and carbonate minerals other than sodium carbonate or sesquicarbonates; organic mono-, di-, tri-, and tetracarboxylates, especially water-soluble non-surfactant carboxylates in the form of their acid, sodium, potassium, or alkanolammonium salts, and oligomeric or water-soluble low molecular weight polymeric carboxylates, including aliphatic and aromatic types; and phytic acid. These may be complemented by borates, for example, for pH buffering purposes, or by sulfates, especially sodium sulfate, and any other excipients or carriers that may be important in engineering stable surfactant- and / or builder-containing laundry care compositions.

[0069] pH buffer system The laundry care compositions herein may also include a pH buffer system. The laundry care compositions herein may be formulated so that, during use in aqueous cleaning operations, the wash water has a pH of about 6.0 to about 12, and in some instances, about 7.0 to 11. Techniques for controlling pH at recommended usage levels include the use of buffers, alkalis, or acids, and are well known to those skilled in the art. These include, but are not limited to, the use of sodium carbonate, citric acid or sodium citrate, monoethanolamine or other amines, boric acid or borates, and other pH-adjusting compounds known in the art. The laundry care compositions herein may also include a dynamic in-wash pH profile by delaying the release of citric acid.

[0070] structurant / thickener

[0065] Structured liquids can be internally structured, whereby the structure is formed by a primary ingredient (e.g., surfactant material), and / or externally structured by using secondary ingredients (e.g., polymers, clays, and / or silicate materials) to provide a three-dimensional matrix structure. The composition may contain from about 0.01 to about 5% by weight of the composition of a structuring agent, and in some instances, from about 0.1 to about 2.0% by weight of the composition. The structuring agent may be selected from the group consisting of diglycerides and triglycerides, ethylene glycol distearate, microcrystalline cellulose, cellulose-based materials, microfiber cellulose, biopolymers, xanthan gum, gellan gum, and mixtures thereof. In some instances, suitable structuring agents include hydrogenated castor oil and its non-ethoxylated derivatives. Other suitable structuring agents are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 6,855,680. Such structuring agents have a thread-like structure system with various aspect ratios. Further suitable structuring agents and methods for making them are described in WO2010 / 034736.

[0071] Foam suppressor Compounds for reducing or suppressing suds formation can be incorporated into the laundry care compositions described herein. Suds suppression can be particularly important in so-called "high concentration cleaning methods" as described in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,489,455 and 4,489,574, and in front-loading washing machines.

[0072] A wide variety of materials may be used as suds suppressors, and suds suppressors are well known to those skilled in the art. See, for example, Kirk Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 3rd Edition, Vol. 7, pp. 430-447 (John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1979). Examples of suds suppressors include monocarboxylic fatty acids and soluble salts thereof, high molecular weight hydrocarbons such as paraffins, fatty acid esters (e.g., fatty acid triglycerides), fatty acid esters of monohydric alcohols, aliphatic C18-C40 ketones (e.g., stearone), N-alkylated aminotriazines, waxy hydrocarbons preferably having a melting point below about 100°C, silicone suds suppressors, and secondary alcohols. Suds suppressors are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 2,954,347, 4,075,118, 4,265,779, 4,265,779, 3,455,839, 3,933,672, 4,652,392, 4,978,471, 4,983,316, 5,288,431, 4,639,489, 4,749,740 and 4,798,679.

[0073] The laundry care compositions herein may contain 0 to about 10% by weight of the composition of a suds suppressor. When utilized as a suds suppressor, monocarboxylic fatty acids and salts thereof may be present in an amount of up to about 5% by weight of the laundry care composition, and in some instances, from about 0.5 to about 3% by weight of the laundry care composition. Silicone suds suppressors may be utilized in an amount of up to about 2.0% by weight of the laundry care composition, although higher amounts may be used. Monostearyl phosphate suds suppressors may be utilized in an amount ranging from about 0.1 to about 2% by weight of the laundry care composition. Hydrocarbon suds suppressors may be utilized in an amount ranging from about 0.01 to about 5.0% by weight of the laundry care composition, although higher levels may be used. Alcohol suds suppressors may be utilized in an amount ranging from about 0.2 to about 3% by weight of the laundry care composition.

[0074] Bubble Booster

[0069] When high sudsing is desired, suds boosters, such as C10-C16 alkanolamides, may be incorporated into the laundry care composition at about 1 to about 10% by weight of the laundry care composition. Some examples include C10-C14 monoethanol and diethanolamides. If desired, water-soluble magnesium and / or calcium salts, such as MgCl2, MgSO4, CaCl2, CaSO4, etc., may be added at levels of about 0.1 to about 2% by weight of the laundry care composition to provide additional suds and enhance grease removal performance.

[0075] Excipients and Carriers

[0070] Excipients and carriers may be used in the laundry care compositions described herein. As used herein, the terms "excipient" and "carrier" have the same meaning and may be used interchangeably. Liquid laundry care compositions, and other forms of laundry care compositions containing liquid components (e.g., liquid-containing, single-dose packaged laundry care compositions), may contain water or other solvents as an excipient or carrier. Low molecular weight primary or secondary alcohols, exemplified by methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, and phenoxyethanol, are suitable. Monohydric alcohols may, in some instances, be used to solubilize surfactants and polyols, such as those containing 2 to about 6 carbon atoms and 2 to about 6 hydroxy groups (e.g., 1,2-propanediol, 1,3-propanediol, 2,3-butanediol, ethylene glycol, and glycerin). Amine-containing solvents may also be used.

[0076] How to use The present invention includes a method for treating textiles with the laundry care composition described above. Compact, fluid detergent compositions suitable for sale to consumers are suitable for use in laundry pretreatment, laundry cleaning, and home care applications. Such methods include, but are not limited to, contacting at least a portion of a textile, which may be soiled or unsoiled, with the detergent composition, either in its undiluted form or diluted in a wash liquor, followed by an optional rinsing step. The textile material may be subjected to an optional rinsing step after the washing step. A machine laundering method may include treating soiled laundry with an aqueous wash solution in a washing machine into which an effective amount of a machine laundry detergent composition according to the present invention has been dissolved or dispensed. An "effective amount" of detergent composition refers to about 20 g to about 300 g of product dissolved or dispensed in a wash liquor volume of about 5 L to about 65 L. The water temperature may range from about 5°C to about 100°C. The ratio of water to soiled material (e.g., textile) may be from about 1:1 to about 30:1. The compositions may be used at concentrations of from about 500 ppm to about 15,000 ppm in solution. In the context of fabric laundry compositions, use levels may vary depending on the type and severity of soils and stains, as well as wash water temperature, wash water volume, and washing machine type (e.g., top-loading, front-loading, vertical-axis Japanese automatic washing machines).

[0077] The detergent compositions herein may be used for laundering textiles at reduced wash temperatures. These methods of laundering textiles include delivering the laundry detergent composition to water to form a wash liquor and adding the textiles to be laundered to the wash liquor, wherein the wash liquor has a temperature of about 0°C to about 20°C, or about 0°C to about 15°C, or about 0°C to about 9°C. The textiles may be contacted with water before, after, or simultaneously with contacting the laundry detergent composition with water. Another method involves contacting a nonwoven substrate impregnated with the detergent composition with the soiled material. As used herein, "nonwoven substrate" may include any conventionally produced nonwoven sheet or web having suitable basis weight, caliper (thickness), absorbency, and strength characteristics. Non-limiting examples of suitable commercially available nonwoven substrates include those sold under the trade names SONTARA® by DuPont and POLY WEB® by James River Corp.

[0078]

[0073] Also included are hand washing / soaking methods and combined hand washing using semi-automatic washing machines.

[0079] Packaging for the composition The laundry care compositions described herein may be packaged in any suitable container, including those constructed from paper, cardboard, plastic materials, and any suitable laminate. Optional packaging types are described in European Application No. 94921505.7.

[0080] Multi-compartment pouch The laundry care compositions described herein may be packaged as multi-compartment laundry care compositions.

[0081] Other supplementary ingredients For example, other active ingredients, carriers, hydrotropes, processing aids, dyes or pigments, solvents for liquid formulations, solid or other liquid excipients, erythrosine, colloidal silica, waxes, probiotics, surfactin, aminocellulose polymers, zinc ricinoleate, fragrance microcapsules, rhamnolipids, sophorolipids, glycopeptides, methyl ester ethoxylates, sulfonated estolides, cleavable surfactants, biopolymers, silicones, modified silicones, aminosilicones, deposition aids, hydrotropes (especially cumene-sulfone Acid salts, toluene-sulfonates, xylene-sulfonates and naphthalene salts), PVA particle encapsulated dyes or fragrances, pearlizing agents, foaming agents, color changing systems, silicone polyurethanes, opacifiers, tablet disintegrants, biomass excipients, fast-drying silicones, glycol distearate, starch perfume encapsulates; emulsified oils including hydrocarbon oils, polyolefins and fatty esters, bisphenol antioxidants, microfibrous cellulose structuring agents, pro-fragrance, styrene / acrylate polymers, triazines, soaps, superoxide dismutase, benzophenone proteases A wide variety of other ingredients may be used in the laundry care compositions described herein, including enzyme inhibitors, functionalized TiO2, dibutyl phosphate, silica fragrance capsules, and other adjunct ingredients, choline oxidase, triarylmethane blue and violet basic dyes, methine blue and violet basic dyes, anthraquinone blue and violet basic dyes, azo dyes Basic Blue 16, Basic Blue 65, Basic Blue 66, Basic Blue 67, Basic Blue 71, Basic Blue 159, Basic Violet 19, Basic Violet 35, Basic Violet 38, Basic Violet 48, oxazine dyes Basic Blue 3, Basic Blue 75, Basic Blue 95, Basic Blue 122, Basic Blue 124, Basic Blue 141, Nile Blue A, and the xanthene dye Basic Violet 10, alkoxylated triphenylmethane polymeric colorants; alkoxylated thiophenes, polymeric colorants; thiazolium dyes, mica, titanium dioxide-coated mica, bismuth oxychloride, and other actives.

[0082] antioxidants The laundry care composition may optionally contain an antioxidant present in the composition at about 0.001 to about 2% by weight. Preferably, the antioxidant is present at a concentration in the range of 0.01 to 0.08% by weight. Mixtures of antioxidants may also be used.

[0083] One class of antioxidants useful in the present invention are alkylated phenols. A preferred type of hindered phenolic compound has the formula: 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxytoluene (BHT).

[0084]

[0079] Furthermore, the antioxidant used in the composition may be selected from the group consisting of α-, β-, γ-, δ-tocopherol, ethoxyquin, 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline, 2,6-di-tert-butylhydroquinone, tert-butylhydroxyanisole, lignosulfonic acid and its salts, and mixtures thereof.

[0085]

[0080] The laundry care compositions described herein may contain vitamins and amino acids, such as water-soluble vitamins and their derivatives, water-soluble amino acids and their salts and / or derivatives, water-insoluble amino acids viscosity modifiers, dyes, non-volatile solvents or diluents (water-soluble and water-insoluble), pearlescent aids, pediculicides, pH adjusters, preservatives, skin active agents, sunscreens, UV absorbers, niacinamide, caffeine and minoxidil.

[0086]

[0081] The laundry care compositions of the present invention may contain pigment materials such as nitroso, monoazo, disazo, carotenoid, triphenylmethane, triarylmethane, xanthene, quinoline, oxazine, azine, anthraquinone, indigoid, thionindigoid, quinacridone, phthalocyanine, vegetable, and water-soluble ingredients such as natural colors including those having CI names.

[0087] The laundry care compositions of the present invention may also contain antimicrobial agents. Cationic active ingredients may include, but are not limited to, n-alkyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride, alkyldimethylethylbenzylammonium chloride, dialkyldimethyl quaternary ammonium compounds such as didecyldimethylammonium chloride, N,N-didecyl-N-methyl-poly(oxyethyl)ammonium propionate, dioctyldidecylammonium chloride, including quaternary species such as benzethonium chloride and quaternary ammonium compounds having inorganic or organic counterions, such as bromine, carbonate, or other moieties including dialkyldimethylammonium carbonate, as well as antimicrobial amines such as chlorhexidine gluconate, PHMB (polyhexamethylene biguanide), salts of biguanides, substituted biguanide derivatives, organic salts of quaternary ammonium-containing compounds, or inorganic salts of quaternary ammonium-containing compounds, or mixtures thereof.

[0088]

[0083] In one aspect, such a method comprises the step of optionally washing and / or rinsing the surface or fabric, contacting the surface or fabric with any of the compositions disclosed herein, and then optionally washing and / or rinsing the surface or fabric, together with an optional drying step.

[0089] Drying of such surfaces or fabrics can be accomplished by any one of the common means used in either domestic or industrial settings. This may include any fabric capable of being laundered under normal consumer or institutional use conditions. The present invention is suitable for cellulosic substrates, and in some aspects, also for treating synthetic textiles, such as polyester and nylon, and blended fabrics and / or fibers containing synthetic and cellulosic fabrics and / or fibers. Examples of synthetic fabrics include polyester and nylon, which may be present in blends with cellulosic fibers, such as polycotton fabrics. Solutions typically have a pH of 7 to 11, more usually 8 to 10.5. Compositions are typically used at concentrations of 500 ppm to 5,000 ppm in solution. Water temperatures typically range from about 5°C to about 90°C. The water-to-fabric ratio is typically about 1:1 to about 30:1.

[0090] The following examples further illustrate the above-described subject matter but, of course, should not be construed as in any way limiting its scope.

[0091] Example 1 The following examples demonstrate the production of several optical brightener compositions according to the present invention and several alternative optical brightener compositions. The examples also provide data showing the stability of the compositions over time.

[0092] Tens of grams of samples were prepared by combining approximately 35% by weight of a diaminostilbene optical brightener, specifically optical brightener 28 (CAS No. 4193-55-9) ("FB28"), with a solvent system containing an alkyl ester of an organic acid and a polyol. The amount of FB28 and the identity and amount of the alkyl ester of an organic acid and polyol used in preparing each sample are specified in Table 1 below.

[0093] Each sample was prepared by combining the specified amounts of ingredients and mixing for approximately 5 minutes using a FlackTek Speed ​​Mixer DAC400.1 FVZ running at 1,500 rpm. The samples were then stored and aged in an ambient indoor environment. 90 days after mixing, each sample was then removed for visual inspection. Samples that remained a flowable liquid and showed no visual signs of FB28 crystallization were given a "pass" rating, while samples that were no longer a flowable liquid and / or showed visual signs of FB28 crystallization were given a "fail" rating. The results of this grading are shown in Table 1 below.

[0094] [Table 1-1]

[0095] [Table 1-2]

[0096] [Table 1-3]

[0097] [Table 1-4]

[0098] As can be seen from the above data, the present invention provides numerous options for highly active optical brightener compositions. These data can further be used to identify trends in the behavior and characteristics of optical brightener compositions. For example, none of the compositions made with 1,5-pentanediol or 1,6-hexanediol continued to pass stability tests after 90 days of aging. This is believed to be due to the relatively long chain of aliphatic carbon-carbon bonds separating the two hydroxy groups, which reduces the compound's ability to solubilize the diaminostilbene optical brightener. One stable composition was made using a relatively low amount of hexylene glycol as the polyol (e.g., approximately 1% by weight of the solvent system). However, those compositions made with higher amounts of hexylene glycol and / or hexylene glycol containing higher alkyl esters (e.g., ethyl or propyl esters of organic acids) were not stable after aging. Generally, optical brightener compositions made with lower molecular weight polyols (e.g., ethylene glycol, 1,2-propanediol, and 1,3-propanediol) exhibited greater stability than those made with higher molecular weight polyols. However, based on the observations made, it is believed that those optical brightener compositions made with the preferred class of polyols that received a failing rating at 90 days can easily become flowable liquids when heated to temperatures of 60°C or less. As noted above, the preferred class of polyols has a structure in which adjacent hydroxy and / or ether groups of the polyol are separated by four (4) or fewer carbon atoms.

[0099] Example 2 The following examples demonstrate the production of several optical brightener compositions according to the present invention and several alternative optical brightener compositions. The examples also provide data showing the stability of the compositions over time.

[0100] Tens of grams of samples were prepared by combining approximately 45% by weight of a diaminostilbene optical brightener, specifically optical brightener 28 (CAS No. 4193-55-9) ("FB28"), with a solvent system containing an alkyl ester of an organic acid and a polyol. The amount of FB28 and the identity and amount of the alkyl ester of an organic acid and polyol used in preparing each sample are set forth in Table 2 below. The samples were mixed and graded in the manner described in Example 1. The results of the grading are set forth in Table 2 below.

[0101] [Table 2-1]

[0102] [Table 2-2]

[0103] [Table 2-3]

[0104] [Table 2-4]

[0105] As can be seen from the data in Table 2, higher concentrations of diaminostilbene optical brightener in these compositions make it more difficult to produce compositions that remain stable after 90 days of aging. However, successful compositions were made, and several trends can still be observed from these data. First, as in Example 1, stable compositions could not be produced using 1,5-pentanediol or 1,6-pentanediol. Second, optical brightener compositions made with lower molecular weight polyols (e.g., ethylene glycol, 1,2-propanediol, and 1,3-propanediol) generally exhibited greater stability than those made with higher molecular weight polyols. However, based on the observations made, it is believed that those optical brightener compositions made with the preferred class of polyols that received a failing rating at 90 days could easily become a flowable liquid when heated to temperatures below 60°C. As noted above, a preferred class of polyols has a structure in which adjacent hydroxy and / or ether groups of the polyol are separated by four (4) or fewer carbon atoms.

[0106]

[0093] All references cited herein, including publications, patent applications, and patents, are incorporated by reference herein to the same extent as if each reference was individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and was set forth in its entirety herein.

[0107] Use of the terms "a," "an," and "the" and similar referents in the context of describing the subject matter of this application (particularly in the context of the claims below) should be construed to cover both the singular and the plural unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms "comprising," "having," "including," and "containing" should be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning "including, but not limited to") unless otherwise noted. The recitation of ranges of values ​​herein is merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated herein as if it were individually listed herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Any and all examples provided herein, or the use of exemplary language (e.g., "for example"), are intended merely to better elucidate the subject matter of the present application and do not impose limitations on the scope of the subject matter unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the subject matter described herein.

[0108] Preferred embodiments of the subject matter of this application are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the claimed subject matter. Variations of these preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect that those of skill in the art will employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend that the subject matter described herein may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this disclosure includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by this disclosure unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context.

Claims

1. (a) from about 20% to about 60% by weight of a diaminostilbene optical brightener; and (b) about 40% to about 80% by weight of a solvent system 1. An optical brightener composition comprising: (i) an alkyl ester of an organic acid containing at least one carboxyl group and at least one hydroxy group; and (ii) comprises a polyol selected from the group consisting of alkanediols, alkanediol oligomers, alkanetriols, and mixtures thereof; (i) the longest stretch of aliphatic carbon-carbon bonds separating adjacent hydroxy groups in the polyol is 4 or fewer carbon atoms in length, or (ii) the longest stretch of aliphatic carbon-carbon bonds separating an ether group and adjacent hydroxy groups in the polyol is 4 or fewer carbon atoms in length. Optical brightener compositions.

2. 10. The optical brightener composition of claim 1, wherein the composition comprises from about 35% to about 45% by weight of the diaminostilbene optical brightener.

3. 3. The optical brightener composition of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the diaminostilbene optical brightener is a compound of formula (XX): 【Chemistry 1】

4. 4. The optical brightener composition of claim 1, wherein the organic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid.

5. 5. The optical brightener composition of claim 4, wherein the alpha hydroxy acid is selected from the group consisting of glycolic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, citric acid, and mixtures thereof.

6. The alkyl ester of an organic acid comprises at least one C １ ~C ４ 6. The optical brightener composition of any one of claims 1 to 5, which comprises an alkyl group.

7. 7. The optical brightener composition of claim 6, wherein said alkyl ester of an organic acid is selected from the group consisting of methyl glycolate, ethyl glycolate, n-propyl glycolate, isopropyl glycolate, methyl lactate, ethyl lactate, propyl lactate, isopropyl lactate, diethyl maleate, triethyl citrate, and mixtures thereof.

8. 8. The optical brightener composition of any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the polyol is selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, 1,2-propanediol, 1,3-propanediol, 1,3-butanediol, 1,4-butanediol, hexylene glycol, glycerol, diethylene glycol, and mixtures thereof.

9. 9. The optical brightener composition of claim 8, wherein the polyol is selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, 1,2-propanediol, 1,3-propanediol, 1,3-butanediol, glycerol, diethylene glycol, and mixtures thereof.

10. 4. The optical brightener composition of claim 1, wherein the polyol is 1,3-butanediol and the alkyl ester of an organic acid is selected from the group consisting of methyl lactate, diethyl maleate, triethyl citrate, and mixtures thereof.

11. 4. The optical brightener composition of claim 1, wherein the alkyl ester of an organic acid is triethyl citrate and the polyol is 1,3-butanediol.

12. 4. The optical brightener composition of claim 1, wherein the alkyl ester of an organic acid is diethyl maleate and the polyol is 1,3-butanediol.

13. 4. The optical brightener composition of claim 1, wherein the alkyl ester of an organic acid is methyl lactate and the polyol is 1,3-butanediol.

14. 4. The optical brightener composition of claim 1, wherein the alkyl ester of an organic acid is methyl lactate and the polyol is hexylene glycol.

15. 4. The optical brightener composition of claim 1, wherein the alkyl ester of an organic acid is triethyl citrate and the polyol is 1,2-propanediol.

16. 4. The optical brightener composition of claim 1, wherein the alkyl ester of an organic acid is diethyl maleate and the polyol is 1,2-propanediol.

17. 4. The optical brightener composition of claim 1, wherein the alkyl ester of an organic acid is ethyl lactate and the polyol is 1,2-propanediol.

18. A laundry care composition comprising: (i) a laundry care ingredient; and (ii) an optical brightener composition according to any of claims 1 to 17.

19. 20. The laundry care composition of claim 18, wherein the laundry care ingredient is a surfactant.

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