CLEANING AND BLEACHING COMPOSITION WITH AMIDOPEROXYACID
TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to stable aqueous cleaning and )0 bleaching compositions with a pH as is of from about 0.5 to about 6, which contain amidoperoxyacid, hydrogen peroxide, acylated citrate ester, and two or more ethoxylated alcohols.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 5 Bleaching compositions comprising hydrogen peroxide and bleach activators have been described in the art. The bleach activator reacts with the hydrogen peroxide to yield a peracid which is the bleaching species.
Activated bleaching compositions however have the drawback 0 that the activator and the hydrogen peroxide tend to react in the composition. Such activated bleaching compositions may be chemically unstable upon storage.
Another problem is that bleach activators which are hydrophobic, such as acylated citrate esters, are problematic to 5 use in aqueous compositions because product may separate into two different layer phases which can be seen by the consumer.
Therefore, physical stability upon storage is a further issue.
The present invention includes an aqueous cleaning and bleaching composition with a pH of from about 0.5 to about 6.0, comprising amidoperoxyacid, hydrogen peroxide, and acylated citrate ester which has been emulsified in ethoxylated alcohols with a weighted average Hydrophilic-Lipophilic Balance equal to that of the acylated citrate ester. The compositions allow for good flexibility in formulating and are chemically and physically stable on storage. As an additional benefit, the ethoxylated alcohol mixture used to emulsify the activator provides efficient cleaning.
Before making up the formulations of the present invention it was expected that the amidoperoxyacid would react with th other active ingredients in the composition, particularly th hydrogen peroxide and the activator, adversely affecting th chemical and physical stability of the product and impairin bleaching performance of the amidoperoxyacid. It was als expected that the amidoperoxyacid would dissolve in th composition and recrystallize, causing the product to gel
Surprisingly, the present compositions containing amidoperoxyaci are physically and chemically stable and clean and bleach well.
U.S. Patent 5,118,436, Aoyagi et al , issued June 2, 199 discloses an acidic liquid bleaching composition comprisin hydrogen peroxide, anionic and nonionic surfactants, polyacryli acid and/or maleic polymer, and polyphosphoric, a ino phosphonic, or diphosphonic acids, or salts thereof.
U.S. Patent 4,828,747, Rerek et al., issued May 9, 198 discloses an aqueous liquid bleaching composition of pH 1-6. comprising a solid, particulate, substantially water insoluble organic peroxyacid which is said to be stably suspended by a structuring combination of anionic surfactant, ethoxylated nonionic surfactant and fatty acid.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is an aqueous cleaning and bleaching composition comprising, by weight of the composition:
(a) from about 1 to about 15% of amidoperoxyacid;
(b) from about 0.5 to about 20% of hydrogen peroxide;
(c) from about 1 to about 15% of acylated citrate ester; and
(d) from about 5 to about 25% of two Cβ-18 alcohols which have been ethoxylated with an average from about 2 to about 15 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol, wherein the ethoxylated alcohols have a difference in Hydrophilic-Lipophilic Balances of at least 2, and wherein a mixture of the ethoxylated alcohols has a weighted average Hydrophilic-Lipophilic Balance equal to that of the acylated citrate ester;
wherein the acylated citrate ester is emulsified in the composition by the ethoxylated alcohols, and wherein the pH as is of the composition is from about 0.5 to about 6.
The present invention also encompasses a process for making the present composition.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The compositions according to the present invention are aqueous. Accordingly, they comprise, by weight of the composition, from about 10% to about 95%, preferably from about 30% to about 90%, most preferably from about 60% to about 80%, of water. Deionized water is preferably used.
Although the present invention finds a preferred application in formulating activated laundry cleaning bleaching compositions, it is also applicable to the formulation of any cleaning/bleaching compositions. Bleach compositions of the present invention are preferably used in the wash cycle along with a granular (preferred) or liquid laundry detergent.
The present invention covers an aqueous cleaning and bleaching composition comprising: amidoperoxyacid; hydrogen peroxide; acylated citrate ester; and a blend of Cβ-18 alcohols which have been ethoxylated with an average from about 2 to about 15 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol, wherein the ethoxylated alcohols have a difference in Hydrophilic-Lipophilic Balances of at least 2, and wherein a mixture of the ethoxylated alcohols has a weighted average Hydrophilic-Lipophilic Balance equal to that of the acylated citrate ester; wherein the acylated citrate ester is emulsified in the composition by the alcohols, and wherein the pH as is of the composition is from about 0.5 to about 6.
Formulating the compositions according to the present invention in this acidic pH range (about 0.5-6) contributes to the stability of the composition. The compositions are preferably formulated in a pH range of from about 1 to about 5. The pH of the composition can be trimmed by all means available to the person skilled in the art.
The compositions herein preferably do not compris polyacrylic acid and/or maleic polymer, or polyphosphoric, amin phosphonic, or diphosphonic acids, or salts thereof. The preferably do not comprise anionic surfactant. Embodiments without fatty acid, particularly short chain, are preferred. Hydrogen Peroxide
Compositions according to the present invention comprise hydrogen peroxide or a water-soluble source thereof. Suitable water-soluble sources of hydrogen peroxide include perborate, percarbonate and persulphate salts. Preferably, compositions according to the present invention comprise from about 0.5% to about 20% by weight of the total composition of hydrogen peroxide, preferably from about 2% to about 10%, most preferably from 3% to 8%. Acylated citrate esters
The compositions herein comprise from about 1 to about 15 wt%, preferably from about 2 to about 10 wt%, of acylated citrate ester.
The acylated citrate esters of the present invention are preferably of the formula:
CH2--C00R'
I
R--C00--C--C00R"
CH2--C00R"' wherein R', R" and R'" are independently selected from the group consisting of H, Cι_ιβ alkyl, Cj-is alkenyl, substituted phenyl, unsubstituted phenyl, alkylphenyl, and alkenylphenyl , and R is selected from the group consisting of Cj-Cg alkyl, Cj-Cg alkenyl, substituted phenyl, unsubstituted phenyl, alkylphenyl, and alkenylphenyl . Mixtures of acylated citrate esters are also included herein.
It is best for the efficiency and stability of the peracid precursors according to the present invention that R', R" and R'" should not all be H in a given molecule. Preferably, R is C1-C9 alkyl, and R', R" and R'" are selected from the group consisting of H, C1-4 alkyl, and C1-4 alkenyl, but R', R" and
R'" are not all H. Most preferably, R', R" and R'" are methy or ethyl .
In the bleaching or disinfecting operation, the acylate citrate esters according to the present invention will react wit hydrogen peroxide to yield peracids and citrate esters. Th peracid generated depends on the R group which is chosen Preferred substituted phenyls are sulphophenyls. Preferably, R i C1-C9 alkyl.
Though not preferred, it is also possible to use acylate citrates which are only partially esterified, i.e. R', R" or R"' or combinations thereof are H, the only proviso being that not all three of R', R" and R'" can be H in a given molecule. In th case where only one of R', R" and R'" is H, i.e. the acylated citrate ester is a diester, it is preferred to have a "central" diester, i.e. it is preferred that R" is not H. In the case where two of R', R" and R'" are H, i.e. the acylated citrate ester is a monoester, it is preferred to have a symmetrical onoester, i.e. a central monoester, i.e. it is preferred that R" is not H. In the case where monoesters are used, it is preferred that the ester chain be rather long, i.e. up to 18 carbon atoms.
Preferred acylated citrate esters are selected from the group consisting of acetyl triethyl citrate, octanoyl trimethyl citrate, acetyl trimethyl citrate, nonanoyl triethyl citrate, hexanoyl triethyl citrate, octanoyl triethyl citrate, nonanoyl trimethyl citrate, hexanoyl trimethyl citrate and mixtures thereof.
Some of the compounds according to the present invention are commercially available, such as acetyl triethyl citrate. Other compounds can be synthesized by methods which are well known from the person skilled in the art.
Bleach activators of interest in the present invention are disclosed in co-pending European patent application No. 91870207.7. Acylated citrate esters are also disclosed in the context of bar soaps in FR 2 362 210. They are chemically stable and can be efficient bleach activators. Ethoxylated Alcohols
The compositions herein comprise from about 5 to about 25 wt%, preferably from about 10 to about 20 wt%, of two or more
c8-18> preferably C9-15, alcohols which have been ethoxylated with an average of from about 2 to about 15, preferably 2-10, moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol. The ethoxylated alcohols have a difference in Hydrophilic-Lipophilic Balances (HLBs) of at least 2, preferably 3. A mixture of the ethoxylated alcohols has a weighted average HLB equal to that of the acylated citrate ester, preferably between about 10 and about 12. A mixture or blend of two or more ethoxylated alcohols, with a weighted average HLB equal to that of the acylated citrate ester, is included herein in this definition.
In the compositions according to the present invention, the acylated citrate ester is emulsified in the composition by means of a mixture of the ethoxylated alcohols. The ester is stably emulsified in the composition. The emulsion is physically stable and the activator is kept separate from the hydrogen peroxide; thus, the composition is also chemically stable. The mixture of ethoxylated alcohols comprises a blend of ethoxylated alcohols.
The compositions preferably comprise from about 10 to about 20% of a first ethoxylated alcohol having a Hydrophilic-Lipophilic Balance of from about 1 to about 10, most preferably from about 5 to about 8, and a second ethoxylated alcohol having a Hydrophilic-Lipophilic Balance above 11, most preferably from about 11 to about 16.
A particularly suitable system comprises a first ethoxylated alcohol with an HLB of about 6, for instance a C12-13 alcohol with an average of 2 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol, and a second ethoxylated alcohol with an HLB of about 15, such as a Cg-π alcohol with an average of 10 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol. The compositions according to the present invention may further comprise other ethoxylated alcohols/nonionic surfactants which should however not significantly alter the weighted average HLB value of the overall composition.
Preferably, the compositions according to the present invention are free of other surfactant types, especially anionic surfactants.
The compositions according to the present invention may further comprise the usual optional ingredients such as perfumes, dyes, optical brighteners, pigments, enzymes, soil release agents, dye transfer inhibitors, solvents, buffering agents and the like. Amidoperoxyacid
The compositions of the present invention contain from about
1 to about 15, preferably from about 2 to about 10, most preferably from 3 to 6, weight % of bleach-compatible amidoperoxyacid, preferably solid, substantially water-insoluble organic amidoperoxyacids.
Suitable amidoperoxyacids for use herein are described in
U.S. Patents 4,634,551 and 4,686,063, both Burns et al , issued
January 6, 1987 and August 11, 1987, respectively, both incorporated herein by reference. Suitable amidoperoxyacids are of the formula:
R-l - NH - C - R2 - C - OOH or R1-C-NH-R2-C-00H
II II II II
0 0 0 0 wherein R1 is an alkyl group containing from about 6 to about 12 carbon atoms, and R-- is an alkylene group containing from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms. Preferably, R* is an alkyl group containing from about 8 to about 10 carbon atoms, and R- is an alkylene group containing from about 2 to about 4 carbon atoms.
Also included are sulfone peroxyacids (sulfone peroxycarboxylic acids), which are described in U.S. Patents
4,758,369, 4,824,591, and 5,004,558, all Dryoff et al, issued July
19, 1988, April 25, 1989, and April 2, 1991, respectively, all incorporated herein by reference.
The most preferred amidoperoxyacids are monononylamido peroxyadipic acid (NAPAA) and monononylamido peroxysuccinic acid (NAPSA). Another name for NAPAA is 6-(nonylamino)-6-oxo-caproic acid. The chemical formula for NAPAA is: H O 0
CH3(CH2)8N C(CH2)4COOH The molecular weight of NAPAA is 287.4.
Example I of U.S. Patent 4,686,063 contains one descriptio of the synthesis of NAPSA, from column 8, line 40 to Column 9 line 5, and NAPAA, from column 9, line 15 to column 9, line 65 At the end of the amidoperoxyacid synthesis, the reaction i quenched with water, filtered, washed with water to remove som excess sulfuric acid (or other strong acid with which th peroxyacid was made), and filtered again.
The amidoperoxyacid wet cake thus obtained can be contacte with a phosphate buffer solution at a pH between about 3.5 and 6 preferably between about 4 and 5, according to U.S. Paten
4,909,953, Sadlowski et al , issued March 20, 1990, which i incorporated herein by reference.
Other agents for storage stabilization or exotherm control can be added to the amidoperoxyacid before incorporation into th final product. For example, boric acid, an exotherm control agent disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,686,063, Burns, issued August 11, 1987 and incorporated herein, can be mixed with the amidoperoxyacid (which has been washed in phosphate buffer) in about a 2:1 peracid:boric acid ratio. The phosphate buffer washed amidoperoxyacid can also be mixed with appropriate amounts of dipicolinic acid and tetrasodiu pyrophosphate, a chelating stabilization system. Chelants can optionally be included in the phosphate buffer before contact with the wet cake.
NAPAA can be prepared by, for example, first reacting NAAA (monononyl amide of adipic acid), sulfuric acid, and hydrogen peroxide. The reaction product is quenched by addition to ice water followed by filtration, washing with distilled water, and final suction filtration to recover the wet cake. Washing can be continued until the pH of the filtrate is neutral. Small particle size NAPAA agglomerates are desired herein for optimum stability and pourability, to increase the amount of effective bleach which is in the wash solution and thereby improve bleaching/cleaning of fabrics in the wash. This is particularly useful in a hard water wash, i.e. wash water with more than about 6 grains of hardness, because hardness, specifically calcium ions, has been seen to interfere with available oxygen (AvO) from NAPAA with larger particle size. While not meaning to be bound by
theory, it is believed that the calcium ions in the hard water surround large NAPAA particles, i.e. greater than about 300 microns, and interfere with the dissolution of the NAPAA, and that the smaller (about 0.1-260 microns) NAPAA particles dissolve rapidly in the wash water with minimal interference from the hardness ions. Small NAPAA particles are preferably obtained by quenching in water with high shear applied, e.g. rapid stirring, during addition of the NAPAA solution to water. Other known means of achieving small particle size may be used as appropriate. The NAPAA is then rinsed with water to remove excess sulfuric acid.
The average particle size of the NAPAA (or NAPSA) herein is preferably 0.1 to 260 microns and is in large part a function of the amount of shear applied. The average particle size is preferably from about 10 to 100 microns, and most preferably from about 30 to about 60 microns.
NAPAA filter cake herein is preferably washed twice in phosphate buffer. It has been found that two successive phosphate buffer washes lend optimal stability to NAPAA.
NAPAA for use herein is preferably thermally annealed (or thermally agglomerated), meaning that it has been heated up to 70'C and then quenched and filtered. This process causes NAPAA to grow into a new crystal morphology. These new NAPAA crystals are sheared to an average particle size of about 30-60 microns and are less readily soluble in the bleach product, thus resulting in a more stable product. Process
The amidoperoxyacid, in a preferred embodiment, is emulsified together with the acylated citrate ester. In another embodiment, the amidoperoxyacid is mixed with the rest of the composition after the other required ingredients have been combined.
Included herein is a process for making a composition according to the above comprising the steps of: a) dissolving said acylated citrate ester and said amidoperoxyacid into said first ethoxylated alcohol; b) separately mixing said water, said hydrogen peroxide, and said second ethoxylated alcohol; and
c) emulsifying by pouring the product of step a) into th product of step b) while stirring. Also included herein is a process for making a composition according to the above comprising the steps of: a) mixing said acylated citrate ester and said first ethoxylated alcohol; b) separately mixing the water, the hydrogen peroxide, and the second ethoxylated alcohol; and c) combining said mixtures; and d) mixing said amidoperoxyacid with the product of step c). The following examples illustrate the compositions of the present invention. All parts, percentages and ratios used herein are by weight unless otherwise specified.
EXAMPLE I
A liquid cleaning and bleaching product is prepared with the following composition:
Material Weight %
••-■12-13 alcohol ethoxylated with 2 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol 8.4
Cg-n alcohol ethoxylated with 10 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol 6.6
Acetyl triethyl citrate 7.0
Hydrogen peroxide 7.5 Brightener 0.12
S,S-Ethylene diamino disuccinic acid 0.1
Perfume 0.5
Citric acid to pH 4.0
Water Balance
The ingredients listed above are added to a mixing tank with a single agitator in the order in which they appear below:
Stock Material Wt. %
Premix #1 Cg-π alcohol ethoxylated with 10 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol 7.74
Water 74.08
Hydrogen peroxide (50%) 17.87
Brightener 0.12
S,S-Ethylene diamino disuccinic acid 0.12
Citric acid 0.07 Premix #2
C12-13 alcohol ethoxylated with 2 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol 51.52
Acetyl triethyl citrate 42.42
Perfume 2.03
Premix #2 is slowly added to premix #1 in a ratio of about
1:5.06 with vigorous stirring followed by prolonged, vigorous mixing for up to 5 hours. The resulting product has an initial pH of 3.15 and a viscosity of 648 centipoise (cps). The product is split into two equal portions, denoted below as A and B. To portion B, 5% active thermally annealed NAPAA is mixed in resulting in an increase of the initial viscosity to 792 cps.
Both products remain physically and chemically stable for several days storage at room temperature: Initial 7-Davs
AvO Viscosity pH AvO Viscosity pH
Product A 3.409 648 3.15 3.298 403 2.83
Product B 3.533 792 3.20 3.365 413 3.02
EXAMPLE II The performance of the products from Example I were evaluated in an experiment comparing the dingy cleanup and stain removal of a treatment containing a standard nil-P granular detergent plus a liquid bleach product (Product A above) with a treatment containing the same standard nil-P granular detergent plus the liquid bleach product plus NAPAA (Product B above).
To each of four top-loading automatic washing machines is added 5 lbs. of white ballast fabrics and 17 gallons of 95'F soft water with hardness concentrate added to raise the hardness to 6 gr/gal. To one machine is added 66.3 gms. of detergent and 100 gms. of Product A. To the second machine is added 66.3 gms.
detergent and 100 gms. of the NAPAA containing bleach produc (Product B).
To each of the above wash solutions is added two sets o naturally soiled white fabrics and two sets of artificially stained swatches. The washing machines are then allowed to complete their normal washing and rinsing cycles, and the ballast and test fabrics are dryer dried. This procedure is repeated four times, using different sets of ballast fabrics, naturally soiled white fabrics, and artificially stained swatches for each replicate.
After completion of the four replicates, the fabrics and swatches are arranged under suitable lighting for comparison of dingy cleanup and stain removal. Three qualified graders compare the extent of dingy cleanup and removal of the stains using the following scale:
0: no difference between two swatches 1: thought to be a difference 2: certain of a difference 3: certain of a large difference 4: certain of a very large difference
By this grading the naturally soiled white fabrics are compared for improvement in whiteness, and the artificially stained swatches are compared for removal of the stain. The grades obtained are then averaged to yield the results. The NAPAA containing product showed significantly better removal of grass stains on polycotton (PC), gravy stains on cotton (C), and, particularly, tea stains on polycotton, and better whitening of dingy fabrics, than the non-NAPAA containing product:
Panel Score Unit Grades
Compositions I to IV are each made by preparing two mixtures. A hydrophilic mixture is prepared which comprises the water, citric acid, brightener, S,S-EDDS and the Cg-u alcohol ethoxylated with 10 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol or the Cχ2-13 alcohol ethoxylated with 6.5 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol. Hydrogen peroxide is added in said hydrophilic mixture as a last step.
A second, hydrophobic mixture is prepared which comprises the NAPAA, the acetyl triethyl citrate, and the C12-13 alcohol ethoxylated with 2 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol. Then the hydrophobic mixture is poured into the hydrophilic mixture, while mixing.
Compositions I to IV are stable emulsions, both from a chemical and a physical standpoint.
NAPSA can be substituted for NAPAA. Other ethoxylated alcohols can be substituted. Acetyl trimethyl citrate or nonanoyl triethyl citrate or nonanol trimethyl citrate or hexanoyl triethyl citrate or hexanoyl trimethyl citrate or octanoyl triethyl citrate or octanoyl trimethyl citrate can be substituted for the acetyl triethyl citrate.