JPH0820799A - Liquid detergent and method for cleansing using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a liquid detergent for use in clothes, etc., which has the excellent ability to remove especially oily soil, and to provide a method for cleansing using the detergent. CONSTITUTION:This detergent comprises as major components a liquid surfactant (solution) and a liquid builder comprising an aqueous inorganic-salt solution regulated so as to have such a concentration that it is insoluble or sparingly soluble in the surfactant. A container containing this detergent is shaken to disperse droplets of either of the surfactant and the builder into the other. This mixture is applied to an oily soil deposited on an object, e.g. a fabric, before the whole object is washed in wash water.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to cleaning clothes and the like, and more particularly to a liquid cleaning agent having excellent cleaning power against stubborn oil stains such as machine oil and grease, and a cleaning method using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a detergent for clothes and the like, especially a detergent for laundry, a liquid type detergent has been put on the market for the sake of easy handling. These liquid detergents are intended for stains such as oils and fats, and generally contain a surfactant and a builder such as an inorganic alkali salt as main components, and prepare both of them at an appropriate concentration with water or a solvent. It is completely dissolved or dispersed. In the detergent, the surfactant mainly has a function of washing oil stains, and the builder has a washing function called a washing aid, which has a function of washing proteins and fats and oils components. In washing clothes and the like, it is desirable that these two functions be exerted without being biased. From this viewpoint, both of them are completely dissolved or dispersed to obtain homogeneity as a detergent.

[0003]

However, the conventional detergents have excellent detergency against stains such as oils and fats, proteins, etc., but are not suitable for severe mineral oil stains such as machine oil and grease. On the other hand, at present, a satisfactory cleaning effect was not obtained. As a cause of this, it was found by the study of the present inventor that the concentration of the surfactant was largely dependent. According to it, it was found that, when the surfactant concentration in the detergent in the partial washing becomes 70% by weight or less, the washing power against severe oil stains such as machine oil is extremely lowered regardless of the type. did. However, the concentration of surfactant in commercially available liquid detergents is
For the following reasons, the maximum is about 50%. In the conventional liquid detergent, there is an idea that both the surfactant and the builder must be completely dissolved or dispersed from the viewpoint of exerting both functions of the detergent without bias. Therefore, the concentration of surfactant and builder is
It will be decided within the constraint of complete dissolution or dispersion of both. Here, there are various known materials as this builder, but an alkali builder is mentioned as a material that can obtain high detergency, and this point will be described below based on this alkali builder.

Examples of inorganic alkali salts used in alkali builders include potassium carbonate, sodium hydroxide,
An aqueous solution of sodium carbonate, sodium metasilicate, sodium tripolyphosphate or the like can be mentioned. Of course, in order to obtain a high detergency for proteins, fats and oils components, it is naturally desirable that the concentration of these components in the aqueous solution is high. On the other hand, surfactants having a cleaning function for oil stains include nonionic, anionic (cationic) and cation (cationic)
There are various types such as systems, but all have the property of being difficult to dissolve or disperse in a high-concentration aqueous solution of an inorganic alkali salt. Therefore, in order to completely dissolve or disperse the surfactant and the alkali builder, a low concentration aqueous solution of an inorganic alkali salt must be used as the alkali builder. However, it is necessary to secure a detergency for proteins, fats and oils components, etc., and it is necessary to secure a certain level or more of the concentration of the inorganic alkali salt itself. Therefore, if the concentration of the alkali builder is kept at a certain level or more and the concentration of the surfactant is 70% or more as described above, it is difficult to dissolve or disperse the alkali builder and the surfactant.

As described above, in the conventional liquid detergent,
For the reasons mentioned above, it is possible to increase the concentration of the surfactant in the detergent to at most about 50%,
It was the current situation that almost no cleaning effect was obtained against heavy oil stains such as machine oil.

[0006]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems and provides a liquid cleaning agent which is particularly excellent in cleaning power against oil stains, and a cleaning method using the same. First, the cleaning agent is characterized by mainly containing a liquid surfactant and a liquid builder composed of an aqueous solution of an inorganic salt prepared to have a concentration that makes the surfactant insoluble or sparingly soluble. Then, the surfactant and the liquid builder may be separated in the container. Further, the surfactant may be a surfactant solution.
Next, as a cleaning method, a cleaning agent containing a liquid surfactant and a liquid builder composed of an aqueous solution of an inorganic salt prepared to a concentration that makes the surfactant insoluble or sparingly soluble in the container is used. A mixed solution in which the other droplet is formed in one of the surfactant and the builder by shaking with, and the mixed solution is applied to the oil-stained portion of the object to be cleaned such as fiber, and then the solution is washed in the washing water. It is characterized in that the entire washing product is washed, and here, as the liquid cleaning agent, it is also possible to use one in which the surfactant and the liquid builder are separated in a container, and further the surfactant is used. Alternatively, a surfactant solution may be used.

Here, the surfactant used in the present invention is
As the nonionic surfactant, structural formula (I) is used.

Embedded image A polyoxyethylene alkyl ether represented by the structural formula (II)

Embedded image A polyoxyethylene alkylphenyl ether represented by

The anionic surfactant has a structural formula
(III)

Embedded image Polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate represented by: structural formula (IV)

[Chemical 4] There are alkylbenzene sulfonic acid, etc.
From the viewpoint of detergency against oil stains and biodegradability in consideration of environmental problems, the polyoxyethylene alkyl ether represented by the structural formula (I) is suitable. In addition, structural formula (I)
Good cleaning effect can be obtained even with one kind or a mixture of two or more kinds of the surfactants represented by (III) to (III). And as a viscosity adjusting solvent for these surfactants, diethylene glycol dimethyl ether, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate, triethylene glycol monomethyl ether, polyethylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethanol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, etc. Although used, in combination with the polyoxyethylene alkyl ether represented by the above general formula (I), diethylene glycol dimethyl ether is particularly suitable in terms of detergency.

As the inorganic salt as the builder component, there are potassium hydroxide, potassium carbonate, sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, sodium metasilicate, sodium tripolyphosphate, etc., and these aqueous solutions are used as the builder. And as the main component, potassium carbonate which is excellent in rinsing property is suitable. On the other hand, when the powdered builder component is dispersed in a surfactant or a surfactant solution, it also exhibits good cleaning ability, but when stored for a long period of time, the builder component tends to precipitate, so in the present invention, The builder is in liquid form.

For example, in the case where the main component is a combination of polyoxyethylene alkyl ether whose viscosity is adjusted with diethylene glycol dimethyl ether and potassium carbonate, in addition to these components, as a perfume, an anti-redeposition agent and a chelating agent. Sub-components such as polyacrylic acid, potassium hydroxide as an alkaline buffer, and dyes are appropriately added. This detergent has a two-layer structure of a surfactant or a surfactant solution and a builder of an inorganic salt aqueous solution which is insoluble or hardly soluble in the surfactant in the container. Then, the concentration of the surfactant component represented by the structural formulas (I) to (IV) in the surfactant or the surfactant solution is
It is set to 70 to 100%. As described above, the surfactant component can obtain a good cleaning effect with any one of the structural formulas (I) to (IV) or a mixture of two or more thereof. Finally, it is desirable that the content ratio of the surfactant with respect to the entire cleaning agent is at least 40% by weight or more.

[0011]

The cleaning agent and the cleaning method of the present invention provide excellent cleaning power by the following functions. The detergent is mainly composed of a liquid surfactant or a surfactant solution, and a liquid builder composed of an aqueous solution of an inorganic salt prepared to a concentration that makes the surfactant insoluble or hardly soluble,
Both are separated in the container. When this is shaken, it becomes a state of a surfactant, a surfactant solution, or a liquid mixture in which one droplet of the other is formed in one of the liquid builders in the container. Next, when this mixed liquid is applied to the oil stain portion of the article to be cleaned such as fiber, the lipophilic group of the surfactant in the mixed liquid acts on the oil stain to increase the hydrophilicity of the oil stain. In this state, the liquid builder described above has an excessively high concentration of inorganic alkali salt, and thus has poor permeability to fibers. Therefore, only the surfactant effectively acts on the oil stain. After that, when the object to be cleaned coated with this cleaning agent is put into the cleaning water, the concentration of the inorganic alkali salt decreases due to the builder component being dissolved in the cleaning water,
Liquid builders quickly penetrate into the fibers. Further, in the wash water, the surfactant applied to the oil stain component penetrates into the fibers other than the oil stain portion. This liquid builder has excellent detergency for proteins and fats and oils components,
Further, since the oil stain is rendered hydrophilic by the above-mentioned surfactant, an excellent cleaning effect for all stains can be obtained simply by applying a detergent to the oil stain portion and then washing in wash water. It will be. As described above, in the cleaning agent of the present invention, even if the ratio of the surfactant to the total amount of the cleaning agent is 70% by weight or less, if the ratio is 40% by weight or more, the surface activity against oil stains is increased. The same cleaning action as that obtained by cleaning with the cleaning agent having the agent ratio of 70% by weight or more can be obtained.

[0012]

EXAMPLES Details of the present invention will be described below based on specific examples. As an example of the present invention, a cleaning agent was prepared by mixing the composition examples shown in Tables 1 to 3.

[0013]

[Table 1]

[0014]

[Table 2]

[0015]

[Table 3]

The polyoxyethylene alkyl ether used as the surfactant has the following structural formula (V).

Embedded image On the other hand, as the solvent for the surfactant, diethylene glycol dimethyl ether having the following structural formula (VI) was used.

[Chemical 6]

The cleaning effect of the present cleaning agent was evaluated by a cleaning test using a washing machine using four kinds of commercially available cleaning agents for comparison. As shown schematically in FIG. 1, this cleaning agent is stored in the container 1 as shown in FIG.
And a surfactant solution 3 inside and a builder 5 of an aqueous solution of an inorganic salt which becomes insoluble or sparingly soluble therein
The container having a two-layered structure is shaken during washing, and the droplets 7 of the builder 5 are added to the surfactant or the surfactant solution 3 as shown in FIG. It was formed and used. It should be noted that a combination of compositions for forming a droplet of the surfactant or the surfactant solution 3 in the builder 5 may be used. Further, in this case, it is convenient in handling that the container 1 is a spray container as shown in the figure. And Table 1
The evaluation results of Composition Example 1 shown in Table 1 are shown in Table 4 below.
The commercially available cleaning agents used for comparison were used in combination with partial cleaning type and total cleaning type as shown in Table 4, and the types of cleaning agents are shown in Table 5. Summarized as. As for the cleaning method, as shown in Table 4, for the conventional product, first, a cleaning agent for partial washing is applied on the oil stains caused by the machine oil adhering to the clothes, and then washing for washing the whole in a washing bath. Cleaning was performed with an agent, and for the product of the present invention, one type of cleaning agent was used, and after applying on oil stains, it was performed without newly adding a cleaning agent in the washing bath. However, when the oil stain is severe, the detergent of the present invention may be newly added to the washing bath for washing.

[0018]

[Table 4]

[0019]

[Table 5]

As is clear from Table 4, the cleaning agent of the present invention has dramatically higher cleaning power than the conventional products. Further, since the same results as in Composition Example 1 were obtained for Composition Example 2 and Composition Example 3 under the same Comparative Example, the evaluation result table was omitted here.

[0021]

The cleaning agent and cleaning method of the present invention are, as described in the section of the action, a liquid surfactant and an aqueous solution of an inorganic salt prepared to a concentration that makes the surfactant insoluble or hardly soluble. Since it is mainly composed of a liquid builder consisting of, the cleaning ability of each component can be sufficiently exerted. Then, this is shaken in a container to form a mixed liquid, and when it is applied to the oil stain portion of the object to be cleaned such as fibers, the lipophilic group of the surfactant in the mixed liquid acts on the oil stain,
In addition to increasing the hydrophilicity of this oil stain, in this state, the liquid builder has poor permeability to the fiber because the concentration of the inorganic alkali salt is too high, so only the surfactant acts efficiently on the oil stain. However, excellent cleaning power can be obtained even with heavy oil stains.

Due to such an action, when the article to be washed coated with this surfactant is subsequently put into the washing water, the builder component is dissolved in the washing water, so that the concentration of the inorganic alkali salt is lowered and the liquid builder is promptly dissolved. Penetrate into the fiber. Furthermore, in the wash water, the surfactant applied to the oil stain part penetrates into the fibers other than the oil stain part, so simply apply the detergent to the oil stain part and then wash in the wash water.
An excellent cleaning effect that has never been obtained can be obtained against all dirt. This effect is that liquid builder has excellent detergency for proteins and fats and oils components, etc., while the detergent is applied directly to oil stains, the surfactant makes it hydrophilic to oil stains. Is given, and the cleaning power of both is exhibited at an extremely high level.

As described above, in the present invention, the surfactant or the surfactant solution and the liquid builder are made to have a concentration such that they are insoluble or sparingly soluble in each other, and shaken at the time of use to prepare a mixed solution. By adopting an unprecedented composition and method, an extremely high cleaning ability has been achieved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view schematically showing a state where the cleaning agent of the present invention is filled in a container, (a) shows a storage state, and (b) shows a state after shaking.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Container 3 Surfactant or Surfactant Solution 5 Builder 7 Droplet

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Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A liquid detergent comprising, as a main component, a liquid surfactant and a liquid builder composed of an aqueous solution of an inorganic salt prepared to have a concentration insoluble or hardly soluble in the surfactant. 2. The liquid detergent according to claim 1, wherein the surfactant and the liquid builder are separated in a container. 3. A liquid detergent containing, as a main component, a liquid surfactant and a liquid builder composed of an aqueous solution of an inorganic salt prepared to have a concentration insoluble or hardly soluble in the surfactant. A mixed solution in which the other droplet is formed in one of the surfactant and the builder by shaking with, and the mixed solution is applied to the oil-stained portion of the object to be cleaned such as fiber, and then the solution is washed in the washing water. A cleaning method for cleaning the entire cleaning object. 4. The cleaning method according to claim 3, wherein the liquid cleaning agent is one in which the surfactant and the liquid builder are separated in a container.