IE52472B1 - Built liquid detergent compositions containing ternary active systems - Google Patents

Abstract

Stable liquid detergent compositions containing non-ionic, amine oxide and alcohol polyethoxylate sulfate surfactants and a water-soluble detergency builder are disclosed. The compositions are single phase isotropic liquids which exhibit improved freezethaw stability. The polyethoxylate sulfate surfactant enhances detergency performance on textiles that have been softened with a conventional cationic fabric softener.

Description

Price 90p This invention relates to stable liquid detergent compositions having superior detergent properties.

There has been considerable demand for liquid detergent compositions which provide superior detergency under a wide variety of conditions including cool water conditions, in order to obtain superior detergency under a wide variety of conditions, a number of components are needed. The formulation of stable liquid detergent compositions is difficult when the components tend to separate into discrete phases.

U.S. Patent 4,247,424 discloses liquid detergent compositions in the form of water-in-oil emulsions which contain ethoxylated alcohol and amine oxide surfactants.

U.S. Patent 4,284,532 discloses liquid detergent compositions in isotropic form which contain ethoxylated alcohol and amine oxide surfactants.

U.S. Patent 4,276,205 discloses detergent compositions containing ethoxylated alcohol and amine oxide surfactants plus a polyalkylene glycol detergency improver .such as polyethylene glycol.

The present invention encompasses a stable liquid detergent composition comprising: (a) from 3% to 20% by weight of an ethoxylated alcohol or ethoxylated alkyl phenol nonionic surfactant of the formula PfOC^H^J^OH, wherein R is selected from aliphatic hydrocarbon radicals containing from 3 to 15 carbon atoms and alkyl phenyl radicals in which the alkyl group contains from 8 to 12 carbon atoms, n is from 3 S2472 to 9, and said nonionic surfactant has an HL3 value of from 10 to 13; (b) from 2% to 15% by weight of an amine oxide surfactant having the formula R2 R5 wherein r‘ is an alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, alkoxyhydroxypropyl, alkoxyhydroxyethyl, alkyl amido or alkyl carboxylate radical in which the alkyl and alkoxy portions contain from 8 to 2 3 carbon atoms, R and R are selected from methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, 2-hydroxyethyl, 2-hydroxypropyl, 3-hydroxypropyl, or said groups joined together to form a cyclic structure in which the nitrogen is part of a heterocyclic ring, and n is from 0 to 10; (c) from 1% to 10% by weight of an alcohol polyethoxylate η sulfate surfactant having the formula R O(C2H4O)mSOjM, wherein R*1 is an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl radical containing from 10 to carbon atoms, m is from 2 to 10 and M is a compatible cation; (d) from 5% to 25% by weight of a water-soluble nitriloacetate or citrate detergency builder capable of sequestering calcium and magnesium ions in water solution; provided that components (a), (b), (c) and (d) together represent less than 40% by weight of the composition; (e) from 0% to 25% by weight of a hydrotrope; and (f) up to 89% by weight water; said liquid detergent composition being in isotropic form and having a pH of from 8 to in a 0.2% water solution at 20°C.

The conpositions of the invention are single phase isotropic liquids which exhibit inproved stability in that they return, or substantially return, to a single isotropic phase after freezing and thawing.

The compositions of the invention also avoid yellowing of fabrics which are regularly softened with conventional cationic fabric softeners.

The liquid detergent conpositions herein conprise five essential ingredients: (a) ethoxylated nonionic surfactant; (b) amine oxide surfactant; (c) alcohol polyethoxylate sulfate surfactant; (d) water-soluble detergency builder (e) water.

The nonionic, amine oxide and polvethoxylate sulfate surfactants and the builders herein together represent less than 4y% by weight of the composition. Compositions containing more than 40% by weight of such components tend to separate into a surfactant-rich sope phase and a salt-rich lye phase after freezing and thawing. Preferred compositions herein contain less than 34%, and most preferably less than 28%, by weight of such components, and exhibit even greater stability in that they return to single phase isotropic liquids after being slowly frozen (e.g., over a period of days) and thawed. The compositions, particularly those with higher surfactant and builder levels within the above limits, also pre15 ferably contain the optional hydrotropes herein which help to solubilize the surfactants and salts in the water phase under a wide variety of conditions.

Ethoxylated Nonionic Surfactant The compositions of the present invention contain from 3% to 20% by weight of an ethoxylated nonionic surfactant of the formula RfOC^H.^OH, wherein R is selected from aliphatic hydrocarbon radicals containing from to 15 carbon atoms and alkyl phenyl radicals in which the alkyl group contains from 8 to 12 carbon atoms, n is from 3 to 9, and said nonionic surfactant has an HLB value of from 10 to 13.

Suitable ethoxylated nonionic surfactants are the condensation products of alkyl phenols having an alkyl group containing from 8 to 15 carbon atoms, in either a straight chain or branched chain configuration, with ethylene oxide, the ethylene oxide being present in amounts equal to from 3 to moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alkyl phenol. The alkyl substituent in such compounds can be derived, for example. 53473 from polymerized propylene or isobutylene, or from octene or nonene. Examples of compounds of this type include nonyl pheno! condensed with 8 moles ethylene oxide per mole of nonyl phenol and dodecyl phenol condensed with 9 moles of ethyl5 ene oxide per mole of dodecyl phenol. Commercially available nonionic surfactants of this type include Igenal (Trade Mark) CO-530, CO-610, CO-530, CA-520, CA--620, and CA-630, marketed by the GAF Corporation.

Other useful nonionic surfactants herein are condensation products of primary or secondary aliphatic alcohols with from 3 to 9 noles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol.

The alkyl chain of the aliphatic alcohol can either be straight or branched and contains frcm 8 to 15 carbon atoms. Examples of such ethoxylated alcohols include the condensation product of 5 moles of ethylene oxide with I mole of tridecanol, myristyl alcohol condensed with 8 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of myristyl alcohol, the condensation product of ethylene oxide with coconut fatty alcohol wherein the coconut alcohol is a mixture of fatty alcohols with alkyl chains varying 2C from 10 to 14 carbon atoms and wherein the condensate contains fi moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol, and the condensation product of 9 moles ethylene oxide with coconut alcohol. Examples of commercially available nonionic surfactants of this type include Tergitol (Trade Mark) 15-S-7 marketed by the Unicn Carbide Corporation and Neodol (Trade Mark) 23-6.5 marketed bv the Shell Chemical Coirpany. Whether the alcohol is derived from natural fats or produced by one bf several petrochemical processes, a mixture of carbon chain lengths is typical. The stated degree of ethoxylation is an average, the distribution being dependent on process conditions.

Ethoxylated alcohols are preferred because of their superior biodegradability relative to ethoxylated alkyl phenols. Particularly preferred are ethoxylated alcohols having an average of from 10 to 15 carbcn atcars in the alcohol, and an average degree of ethoxylation of from 3 to 8 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol.

The cloud point of a 1% aqueous solution of the ethoxylated nonionic surfactant is preferably below 75°C. and most preferably below 55°C.

The preferred ethoxylated nonionic surfactants will have HLB (hydrophile-lipophile balance) values of from 10 to 13 and limited water solubility. The HLB value of surfactants and emulsifiers can be determined experimentally in a well-known fashion. The HLB value of compounds or mixtures of compounds in which the hydrophilic portion of the molecule is principally ethylene oxide can be estimated by the weight ratio of ethylene oxide portion to the lipophilic portion (e.g., the hydrocarbyi radical).

A preferred level of ethoxylated nonionic surfactants in the compositions of the invention is from 5% to 10¾.

Optional ethoxylated nonionic surfactants include: (I) the condensation products of ethylene oxide with a hydrophobic base formed by the condensation of propylene oxide and propylene glycol, and (2) the condensation products of ethylene oxide with the product resulting from the reaction of propylene oxide and ethylenediamine. These surfactants are marketed by BASF Wyandotte under the tradenames Pluronic (Trade Mark) and Tetronic (Trade Mark) respectively. . . _ Amine Oxide Surfactant The compositions of the present invention also contain from to 15% by weight of an amine oxide surfactant 2% having the formula R'(OC2H4)N -7- O .1 wherein R is an alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, alkoxyhydroxypropyl, alkoxyhydroxyethyl, alkyl amido or alkyl carboxylate radical in which the alkyl and alkoxy, respectively, contain from 8 to 18 carbon atoms, R2 and r2are methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, 2-hydroxyethyl, 2-hydroxypropyl, 3-hydroxypropyl, or together are a heterocyclic, e.g., morpholino, structure in which the nitrogen is part of the heterocyclic ring, and n is from 0 to 10.

Specific examples of amine oxide surfactants include: dimethyldodecylamine oxide, dimethyitetradecylamine oxide, ethylmethyltetradecylamine oxide, cetyidimethylamine oxide, dimethylstearylamine oxide, cetylethylpropylamine oxide, diethyldodecylamine oxide, diethyltetradecyiamine oxide, dipropyldodecylamine oxide, bis-(2-hydroxyethyl)dodecylamine oxide, bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-dodecoxy-2-hydroxypropylamine oxide, (2-hydroxypropyl)methyltetradecyiamine oxide, dimethyloleylamine oxide, dimethyl(2-hydroxydodecyl)amine oxide, Cg_2Q alkyl alpha-dimethylamine oxide carboxylates, and the corresponding decyl, hexadecyl and octadecyl homologs of the above compounds. A particularly preferred material is C|2_|g alkyl dimethylamine oxide.

A preferred level of amine oxide surfactant in the compositions of the invention is from 3% to 10%. Preferred weight ratios of ethoxylated nonionic surfactant to amine oxide surfactant are from 1:1 to 4:1, more preferably from 1.5:1 to 3:1.

The Alcohol Polyethoxylate Sulfate Surfactant The present compositions contain from 1% to 10%, preferably from 2% to 6%, by weight of an alcohol polyethoxylate sulfate surfactant and of the formula (I 11 R OtC-jHqOJmSOgM, wherein R is an alkyl (preferred) or hydroxyalkyl radical containing from 10 to 18 carbon atoms, m is from 2 to 10 and tf rs a compatible cation.

The alcohol polyethoxylate. sulfate surfactant is essential to the overall performance and stability of the present compositions.

It has been found that if only the nonionic and amine oxide surfactants are present, fabrics which are regularly softened with .conventional cationic fabric softening ingredients such as ditallowdimethylammonium chloride will gradually become objectionably yellow. The reason for this effect is unclear, but in any event it can be controlled by the addition of an anionic surfactant to the compositions. Surprisingly, of the anionic surfactants tested, only the alcohol polyethoxylate sulfates can be added to the compositions in sufficient quantity to provide the desired effect without forming a separating phase or requiring the use of uneconomical amounts of compatibilizing materials.

The specific alcohol polyethoxyiate sulfate surfactants require at least about two ethoxy groups per molecule on the aver5 age to keep the composition single phase. Preferably the degree of ethoxylation is from two to three.

Preferred alcohol polyethoxyiate sulfate surfactants are C|2-|5 aIkyl polyethoxyiate (2.2) sulfate (^12-15 ^2 2^’ CI4-15E2.2S: C|2-13E3S; CI6-I8E5S: CIH-15E3S; and mixtureS there~ of. The sodium, potassium, and monoethanolammonium salts, and mixtures thereof, are preferred.

Soap A desirable and preferred additional ingredient is a Cjp_jg fatty acid soap having the same cation or cations as the other anionic materials due to ion exchange. This ingredient, at a level of from 0.2% to 5%, preferably from 0.5% to 1%, provides corrosion protection, suds control, and additional cleaning potential. Coconut and unsaturated Cjg_|g soaps such as oieyl are preferred for solubility reasons.

Water-Soluble Detergency Builder.

The compositions herein also contain from 5% to %, preferably from 10% to 20%, by weight of a water-soluble nitrilotriacetate or citrate, detergency builder capable of sequestering calcium or magnesium ions in water solutibn.

The essential detergency builders of the present invention have the ability to sequester calcium or magnesium ions in water solution, and also maintain or assist in maintaining an alkaline pH in a washing solution. Sequestration is the formation of coor30 dination complexes with metallic ions to prevent or inhibit precipitation or other interfering reactions. The phenomenon is also called chelation if certain structural criteria are met by the coordination complex.

Examples of such polycarboxylate builders are sodium and potassium nitrilotriacetate.

Other suitable polycarboxylate builders include the water-soluble salts, especially the sodium and potassium salts, of citric acid.

Preferred builders for use in the present invention are sodium and potassium nitrilotriacetate, sodium and potassium citrate, and mixtures thereof. Sodium nitrilotriacetate is particularly preferred. 52473 It is to be understood that while the alkali metal, and particularly the sodium and potassium, salts of the foregoing detergency builder salts are preferred for use herein from economic and solubility standpoints, the ammonium, alkanolammonium, e.g., triethanolammonium, and dietbanolanrnonium, water-soluble salts of the foregoing builder anions are also useful herein.

Water The compositions of this invention contain up to 39% water, and preferably contain from 35% to 65% water.

Optional Hydrotrope The liquid detergent compositions of this invention are stable and isotropic. Those containing lower levels of water are not necessarily true solutions. Many of the compositions herein appear to be microemuisions of an oil phase in water, the oil phase comprising inter aiia the bulk of the ethoxylated nonionic surfactant.

The hydrotropes of the present invention are water soluble and preferably have an HLB value above 14. Suitable hydrotropes have shorter alkyl chain lengths than the corresponding surfactants used as the principal surfactant in detergent compositions. For example, the soluble salts, particularly sodium and potassium salts, of toluene sulfonate, xylene sulfonate, and cumene, sulfonate are preferred' hydrophilic stabilizing agents in the practice of the invention; a alkylbenzene sulfonate typically used in household detergent compositions is not suitable. .The cations are the same as or compatible with the anionic surfactants.

Phosphate esters, particularly those with a predominance of single alkyl groups and designated primary esters, can have the hydrophilic characteristics necessary to assist in the formation of an isotropic liquid detergent ccnposition. Enphos (Trade Mark) PS-413 and PS-236 (Witco Chemical Company) and Gafac PE-510 (GAP Corpor5 ation) are commercially available phosphate materials suitable as the hydrotrope in the practice of the invention. Preferred phosphate esters will contain a high proportion of monoalkyl phosphate esters and can be of the type consisting of the condensation product of the reaction of R(OC2H4) OH and a phosphoric or polyphosphoric acid, R being an alkyl or alkyl phenyl group, said alkyl containing from 4 to IS carbon atoms and x being 0 to 20.

Ethoxylated nonionic surfactants with a relatively high degree of ethoxylation and a corresponding high HLB value can find use in the compositions of the present invention.

Mixtures of hydrotropes, especially mixtures o# lower alkylbenzene sulfonates, such as toluene sulfonate, and phosphate esters, can be used, but preferably no phosphorus is present.

The types and levels of hydrotropes needed to produce an isotropic liquid detergent composition will be dependent on the type and level of other components, particularly the ethoxylated nonionic surfactant and its extent of water solubility. A preferred level of hydrotrope is from 5¾ to 16% by weight of the liquid detergent composition.

Other Optional. Components The following ingredients can be present, but desirably are not present, especially in substantial quantities. In some embodiments of the present invention the detergent compositions can contain up to 10%, preferably to 5%, of a fatty acid amide surfactant, such as ammonia amides, monoethanol amides, ’diethano! amides, and ethoxylated amides. Preferred amides are C„ monoethanol amides, C. „„ diethanol amides, and o-ZU o-ZU amides having the formula 0 H r-c-n-ch2ch2och2ch2oh, wherein R is a Cg_20 alkyl group, and mixtures thereof. Particularly preferred amides are those where the aikyi group contains from about 10 to about 16 carbon atoms, such as coconut aikyi monoethanol or diethanol amide. Such compounds are commercially available under the tradenames Super-Amide (Trade Mark) L-9 and GR, from Onyx Chemical Co., Jersey City, NJ, Super-Amide F-3 from Ryco, Inc., Conshohocken, PA, and Gafamide (Trade Marie) CDD-518, availablf from GAF Corp.. New York, NY.

These amide components can be added to act as suds modifi10 ers. They tend to boost the sudsing in an active system which exhibits relatively low sudsing and can depress the. sudsing in systems which exhibit high sudsing.

The compositions of the present invention may also contain additional ingredients generally found in laundry detergent com15 positions, at their conventional art-established levels, as long as these ingredients are compatible with the components required herein. For example, the compositions can contain up to %, preferably no more than 5%, and most preferably from 0.001 to 2%, of one or more suds control components.

Typical suds control agents useful in the compositions of the present invention include, but are not limited to, those described below.

Silicone suds control additives are described In U.S.

Patent 3,933,672. The silicone matriai can be represented by alkylated poiysiloxane materials such as silica aerogels and xerogeis and hydrophobic silicas of various types. The silicone material can be described as a siloxane having the formula: wherein x is from 20 to 2,000, and R and R‘ are each 30 alkyl or aryl groups, especially methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, and phenyl. Poiydimethylsiloxanes (R and R' are methyl, having a 53473 molecular weight within the range of from 200 to 200,000, and higher, are all useful as suds controlling agents. Additional suitable silicone matrials wherein the side chain groups R and R‘ are alkyl, aryl, or mixed alkyl and aryl hydrocarbyl groups exhibit useful suds controlling properties. Examples of such ingredients include diethyl-, dipropyl-, dibutyl-, methyl-, ethyl-, and phenylmethyl polysiloxanes. Additional useful silicone suds control agents can be represented by a mixture of an alkylated siloxane, as referred to hereinbefore, and solid silica. Such mixtures are prepared by affixing the silicone to the surface of the solid silica. A preferred silicone suds control agent is represented by a hydrophobic silanated (most preferably timethyl silanated) silica having a particle size in the range from 10 to 20 nm and a specific surface area above about 50 mjgm intimately admixed with dimethyl silicone fluid having a molecular weight in the range from 500 to 200,000 at a weight ratio of silicone to silanated silica of from 19:1 to 1:2. The silicone suds suppressing agent is advantageously releasably incorporated in a water-soluble or water-dispersible, substantially nonsurfaceactive, detergent-impermeable carrier.

Particularly useful suds control .agents are self-emulsifying silicone suds control agents described in U.S.

Patent 4,075,113. An exanple of such a conpound is DB-544 (Trade Mark), commercially available from Dow Corning, which contains a siloxane/glycol copolymer together with solid silica and a siloxane resin.

Microcrystalline waxes having a melting point in the range from 35°C-II5°C and a saponification value of less than 100 represent additional examples of preferred suds control components for use in the subject compositions, and are described in detail in U.S. Patent 4,056,481, The microcrvstalline waxes are substantially water-insoluble, but are water-dispersible in • 52472 tiie presence of organic surfactants. Preferred micincrystalline waxes have a melting point from 65°C to 100°C, molecular weight in the range from 400-1,000; and a penetration value of at least 6, measured at 25°C by ASTM-DI32I. Suitable examples of the above waxes include: microcrystalline and oxidized microcrystalline petroleum waxes; Fischer-Tropsch and oxidized FischerTropsch waxes; ozokerite; ceresin; montan wax; beeswax; candelilla; and carnauba wax.

Alkyl phosphate esters represent an additional preferred o suds control agent for use herein. These preferred phosphate esters are predominantly monosteary! phosphate which, in addition thereto, can contain di- and tristearyl phosphates and monooleyl phosphates, which can contain di- and trioteyl phosphates.

The alkyl phosphate esters frequently contain .some trialkyi phosphate. Accordingly, a preferred phosphate ester can contain, in addition to the monoalkyl ester, e.g., monostearyl phosphate, up to 50 mole percent of dialkyl phosphate and up to 5 mole percent of trialkyl phosphate.

Other adjunct components which can be included in the 0 compositions of the present invention include anionic, zwitterionic, ampholytic and cationic surfactants; bleaching agents; bleach activators; soil release agents (particularly copolymers of ethylene terephthalate and polyethylene oxide terephthalate, such as Milease T (Trade Mark) sold by ICX, United States, as disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,132,680); soil suspending agents; corrosion inhibitors; dyes; fillers; optical brighteners; germicides; pH adjusting agents; alkalinity sources; enzymes; enzyme-stabilizing agents; perfumes, solvents such as ethyl alcohol; carriers; opacifiers; and the like.

The required solution pH of from 8 to 13 can be obtained by the use of suitable alkaline materials such as sodium hydroxide, sodium or potassium carbonate or bicarbonate, sodium or potassium silicates, and the alkanolamines. Particularly preferred is monoethanol amine.

Preferably, the composition contains an optica! brightening or whitening agent. 2 4 7 2 Suitable optical brightening agents include: (1) the reaction product of about one mole of ethylene oxide and one mole of l,2-bis(benzimidazolyl) ethylene, e.g., N-(2·hydroxyethy I) -1,2-bis (benzimidazoly 1 ethylene; (2) tetrasodium 4,4,-bis[(4-bis(2l"-hydroxyethyl)amino-6-(3'-sulfophenyl)amino-l ,3 ,5-triazin-2-yl)amino]-2,2’- stiibenedisulfonate; (3) N- (2-hydroxyethyl-1!, 4'-bis (benzimidazoly 1) stilbene; (4) disodium-4-[6l-su!fonaphtho(l',2'-d)triazol-2-yl]-2stiibenesulfonate; (5) disodium-4,4'-bis[6 methyl ethanolamine)-3-anilinol,3.5-triazin-2,,-yl]-2,2'-stilbenedisulfonate; . (6) disodium 4,4,-bisl(4-(2,-hydroxyethoxy)-61’anilino-l,3,5-triazin-2-yl)amino]-2,2'-stiibenedisulfonate; (7) l^-bisCS'-methyl-Z'-benzoxazolyllethylene; (3) 4-methyl-7-dimethylaminocoumarin; (9) 2-styrylnaphth(l,2-d]oxazole; (10) the reaction product of one mole of 4,4'-bis-(benzimidazolyl) stilDene with 0.5 mole of ethylene oxide and 0.5 mole of propylene oxide; and (11) mixtures thereof.

These optical whitening agents are used in a level of from 0.03% to 0.8% and preferably at a level of 0.4% by weight.

Because of the outstanding performance characteristics of the present" invention, surfactants additional to the essential components will not generally be necessary.

Examples of additional surfactant which can be used in the compositions of the present invention are found in U.S. Patent 3,717,630. However, these components should be used in an amount as to be certain that they will be compatible with the essential surfactant system.

All percentages, parts, and ratios used herein are by weight unless otherwise specified.

The following nonlimiting examples illustrate the compositions of the present invention.

EXAMPLES IX Iii ]V V 5 Sodium (5 alkyl poly- ethoxy 2 25 sulfate Sodium C(2_|3 alkyl poly- 2.9 2.9 - - - ethoxy3 sulfate Monoethanolammonium alkyl "" 2.9 10 benzene sulfonate - - - 2.6 - Oleic fatty acid - 0.4 - - 1.6 Coconut fatty acid C|2 |3 alcohol polyethoxy- 0.5 • 0.5 0.5 late θ 5 6.4 6.4 6.4 6.4 4.7 15 C|2 16 alkyldimethyl amine oxide 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.3 Sodium nitrilotriacetate 18.2 18.2 18.2 18.2 21.5 Potassium toluene sulfonate 9.0 9.0 9.5 11.5 9.0 Monoethanolamine 2.8 2.7 2.8 2.8 2.9 Water and minors Balance- 70 Stability for one week at -1.1, 4.4, 10, 21.1 and 48.9°C Freeze at -l7.b°C followed by OK OK OK OK OK thawing at -l.l°C OK' OK OK heavy OK ppt 25 thawing at 4.4°C OK OK OK heavy white ppt ppt thawing at I0°C OK OK OK heavy white ppt ppt thawing at 2I.1°C OK OK OK OK OK ★ OK means remains as a single phase isotropic liquid.

The above compositions were prepared by mixing the ingredients to form single phase isotropic liquids. The compositions remained as single phase isotropic liquids during static testing for one week at the indicated temperatures. However, when quickly frozen, only the compositions of the present invention (i.e.. 2 4 7 2 Examples I, II and III) returned to single phase isotropic liquids at all thawing temperatures tested.

When the level of sodium nitrilotriacetate in Examples 1, It and ill is reduced to 15%, thereby providing compositions containing a total of 27.6% by weight of the builder and surfactants herein, the compositions exhibit even greater stability in that they also return to single phase isotropic liquids after being slowly frozen over a period of several days and thawed.

Other compositions of the present invention are obtained when the sodium nitrilotriacetate in Examples I, II and III is replaced with 15% or 20% of sodium or potassium citrate. 52473

Claims (5)

1. A stable liquid detergent composition comprising: (a) from 3? to 20% by weight of an ethoxylated alcohol or ethoxylated alkyl phenol nonionic surfactant of the formula R(0C2llzi) n 0JI, wherein R is selected from 5 aliphatic hydrocarbon radicals containing from 8 to 15 carbon atoms and alkyl phenyl radicals in which the alkyl group contains from 8 to 12 carbon atoms, n is from 3 to 9, and said nonionic surfactant has an HLB value of from io to 13; 10 (b) from 2% to 15% by weight of an amine oxide surfactant having the formula , ? 2 R ‘OWn?,—t- 0 R 15 wherein R* is an alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, alkoxyhydroxypropyl, alkoxyhydroxyethyl, alkyl amido or alkyl carboxylate radical in which the alkyl and alkoxy portions contain from 8 to 18 carbon atoms 3/ and are selected from nethyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, 2-hydroxyethyl, 2-hy20 droxypropyl, 3-hydroxypropyl, or said groups joined together to form a cyclic structure in which the nitrogen is part of a heterocyclic ring, and n is from 0 to 10; (c) from 1% to 10% by weight of an alcohol polyethoxylate Ij sulfate surfactant having the formula R O(C-Hj,O) SO-M, wherein u ζ h m a 25 R is an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl radical containing from 10 to 18 carbon atoms, m is from 2 to 10 and M is a compatible cation; (d) from 5% to 25% by weight of a water-soluble nitri lotriacetate or citrate detergency builder 30 capable of sequestering calcium and magnesium ions in water solution; provided that components (a), (b), (c) and (d) together represent ' less than 40% by weight of the composition; (e) from 0% to 25% by weight of a hydrotrope; and (f) up 'to 89% by weight water; said liquid detergent 35 conposticn being in isotropic form and. having a pH Of from. 8 to 13 in a 0.2% water solution at 20°C.

2. The cor.ipo'.ition of Claim I wherein, in the nonionic surfactant, R is a )r alkyl group and n is from 3 to 8.

3. The composition of Claim I wherein the amine oxide surfactant is a *-,2-15 a'kyl dimethylamine oxide. 5

4. The composition of Claim 1 wherein, in the alcohol polyethoxylate sulfate surfactant, m is from 2 to 3. 5. The composition of Claim I wherein the water-soluble detergency builder is sodium or potassium nitrilotriacetate or citrate, or a mixture thereof. 10 6. The composition of Claim , 1 comprising from 5% to 10% of an ethoxylated alcohol nonionic surfactant of the formula R(OC 2 H J) ) n OH wherein R is a C !0-I5 alk y' group and n is from 3 to , from 3% to 10% of a C 12-16 alkyl dimethylamine oxide, and from 2% to 6% of an alcohol IS poiyethoxylate sulfate surfactant of the formula R 1J O(C 2 H 1( O) m S0 3 M wherein R* 1 is a ^|g_|g alkyl group, m is from 2 to 3 and M is sodium or potassium. 7. The composition of Claim 6 wherein the builder represents from 10% to 20% by weight of the composition. 20 ' 8. The composition of Claim 7 wherein the nonionic, amine oxide and poiyethoxylate sulfate surfactants and the builder together represent less than 23% by weight of the composition. «3472 9. The composition of Claim I or 8 comprising from 5% to 16% of a hydrotrope selected from sodium and potassium toluene sulfonate, xylene sulfonate, cumene sulfonate, and mixtures thereof.

5. 10. A stable liquid detergent composition according to Claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with particular reference to the accompanying Examples.