JPH10152695A5 - - Google Patents

Claims (15)

1. A liquid optical brightener formulation having a viscosity of 5 to 5000 mPas, the liquid formulation comprising: (a) 10 to 25% by weight, based on the total weight of the formulation, of an anionic optical brightener;
(b) 15 to 35% by weight of a polar solvent, based on the total weight of the formulation; and (c) 45 to 75% by weight of a nonionic surfactant of the formula:
(wherein m is 1, 2, 3 or 4, and when m is 1, R is a _C8 - _C18 alkyl residue or a _C8 - _C18 alkylcarboxy residue; when m is 2, R is a _C2 - _C4 alkylene glycol residue from which two hydroxy groups have been removed; when m is 3, R is a trimethylolpropane residue from which three hydroxy groups have been removed; when m is 4, R is a pentaerythritol residue from which four hydroxy groups have been removed, _R1 is hydrogen, methyl or ethyl, and n is a number from 1 to 40). 2. The formulation of claim 1, wherein the anionic fluorescent whitening agent has one of the following formulas:
wherein _R2 and _R3 are each independently OH, _NH2 , O- _C1 - _C4 alkyl, O-aryl, NH- _C1 - _C4 alkyl, N( _C1 - _C4 alkyl) ₂ , N(C1- _C4 alkyl)( _C1 -C4 hydroxyalkyl), N( _C1 - _C4 hydroxyalkyl) ₂ , NH-aryl, morpholino, _S - _C1 - _C4 alkyl(aryl), Cl or OH; _R4 is H, _SO3M , O- _C1 - _C4 alkyl, CN, Cl, COO- _C1 - _C4 alkyl or CON( _{C1 - C4} alkyl) ₂ ; M is H, Li, Na, K, Ca, Mg, ammonium, mono-, di-, tri- or tetra- _C1-C4 alkyl. ₄ alkylammonium, mono-, di-, or tri-C ₁ -C ₄ hydroxyalkylammonium, or ammonium di- or tri-substituted with a mixture of C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl and C ₁ -C ₄ hydroxyalkyl groups; and p is 0 or 1). 3. A composition according to claim 1 , wherein a mixture of two or more anionic fluorescent whitening agents is used as component (a) of the composition. 4. A formulation according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein component (b) is water. 5. The formulation of claim 4 , wherein water is used in combination with one or more polar co-solvents. 6. The formulation of claim 5 , wherein the amount of co-solvent is from 0 to 15% by weight, based on the total weight of the formulation. 7. A formulation according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein m in formula (1) is 1 and the compound of formula (1) is a polyadduct of 3 to 20 moles of ethylene oxide with 1 mole of a C8-C18 _{alkyl monoalcohol} . 7. A formulation according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the compound of formula (1) has the formula:
(wherein x and y are each an integer from 1 to 10). 7. A formulation according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein m in formula (1) is 3 and the compound is a polyadduct of 1 mole of trimethylolpropane with 3 to 20 moles of ethylene oxide. 7. A formulation according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein m in formula (1) is 4 and the compound is a polyadduct of 1 mole of pentaerythritol with 4 to 20 moles of ethylene oxide. 11. A formulation according to any one of claims 1 to 10 , wherein a mixture of two or more compounds of formula (1) is used as component (c) of the formulation. 12. A formulation according to any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising one or more adjuvants selected from the group consisting of stabilizers, antifoam agents, alkali agents, fabric softeners, anti-redeposition agents, antioxidants, co -builders and fragrances, which are effective in adjusting the flow properties of the formulation. 2. A process for preparing a formulation according to claim 1, which comprises mixing an anionic fluorescent whitening agent, a solvent and a compound of formula (1) together with any desired auxiliaries, and homogenizing the mixture obtained. 14. The process of claim 13 , wherein the process is carried out at a temperature in the range of 40 to 100°C. A method for preparing a detergent which comprises adding to a detergent composition the required amount of a formulation of formula (1) and homogenizing the resulting mixture.