WO1997042277A1

WO1997042277A1 - Laundry detergent compositions

Info

Publication number: WO1997042277A1
Application number: PCT/US1996/006278
Authority: WO
Inventors: Robert Henry Callicott; Ronaldo Musico Fabicon; Maki Hyodo
Original assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
Priority date: 1996-05-03
Filing date: 1996-05-03
Publication date: 1997-11-13
Also published as: JPH10506675A; MA24162A1; AR007494A1; PE27199A1

Abstract

Built detergent compositions with a surfactant system comprising alkyl sulfate and alkyl glycerylether sulfonate, having excellent oily/greasy soil removal performance and lime soap dispersing ability.

Description

LAUNDRY DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to laundry detergents having excellent cleaning, sudsing and skin mildness properties, and which are particularly suited to hand laundering of fabrics

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Handwash laundry products are normally used in unheated water. As a result, the ability of the surfactant in the product to efficiently emulsify and remove oily- greasy soils from fabrics is reduced. Also, in underdeveloped and developing countries it is often the case that the washing is done in streams or lakes. In that case, even though the product contains detergency builders to sequester water hardness, the dilution of the product is such that the degree of hardness sequestration is inadequate, thereby resulting in the formation of limesoap and further reducing the efficiency ofthe surfactant. Accordingly, there is a continuing need for more efficient surfactant systems for handwash laundry products

Because these products are used in intimate contact with skin there is also a continuing need to improve their mildness properties. Also, because the consumer of this type of product usually associates good cleaning performance with high sudsing, in most instances it is desirable to maintain high sudsing characteristics when formulating handwash laundry products..

BACKGROUND ART

U.S Pat 2,988,511, Mills, issued June 13, 1961, discloses soap/synthetic bars wherein the synthetic detergent is alkyl glycerylether sulfonate (AGS) The patent teaches that the bars produce high lather and are mild to the skin, and that AGS is an effective dispersant for soap scum (i.e. lime soap). Bars containing alkyl sulfate as an additional synthetic surfactant are also disclosed.

Philippine Pat. 13788, Anderson, issued September 23, 1961, discloses built synthetic detergent laundry bars. The builders are pyrophosphate and carbonate. A material designated "AGS" (identified as "alkyl glyceryl ether sulfate") is disclosed among the suitable synthetic surfactants for use in the bars. Examples XVII and

XXIII ofthe patent contain AGS and alkyl sulfate surfactant. U. S. Pat. 3,928,249, Nunziata, et al., discloses liquid dishwashing compositions containing AGS and alkyl sulfate surfactant, particularly Examples III,

IV, V, VI and XV. European Patent Application 193,386, discloses a built liquid detergent composition containing AGS and other anionic surfactants (See Example V- A).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to built handwash laundry compositions wherein the surfactant system comprises alkyl glycerylether sulfonate and alkyl sulfate. The products are typically in the form of granules or bars, but may also be prepared in the form of liquids.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention it has been found that built handwash laundry products having enhanced cleaning performance, with excellent mildness to skin, and high sudsing characteristics can be achieved by using a surfactant system comprising alkyl glycerylether sulfonate (AGS) and alkyl sulfate.

AGS as a co-surfactant with alkyl sulfate lowers the interfacial tension of alkyl sulfate, thus improving oily/greasy soil removal Also this combination of surfactants has excellent Hme soap dispersing ability. Thus the dinginess which can occur on fabrics due to surfactant deposition and lime soap buildup after multiple washings is reduced. Also AGS greatly improves the hardness tolerance of otherwise hardness- sensitive alkyl sulfate. This allows the use of reduced builder levels in products as well as providing good cleaning results in typically "underbuilt" situations such as occur when washing is done in streams, lakes and the like. Alkyl sulfate (AS i The alkyl sulfate (AS) surfactants used in the compositions of the present invention are well known surfactants and have the formula ROSO3M wherein R is Cg to C22, preferably C12 to Cig, alkyl or alkenyl and M is a water-solubilizing, salt- forming cation such as alkali metal (e.g. Na or K), ammonium, or mono-, di, or tri- C\ to C3 alkylammonium or mono-, di-, or tri-Cl to C3 hydroxyalkyl- ammonium. They are prerpared by sulfation of the corresponding alcohols. The alcohols are typically obtained by reduction of fatty acids, reduction of triglycerides or by synthetic processes such as the OXO process. Preferred alkyl sulfates herein are sodium and potassium salts of the sulfates of coconut alcohols. The level of alkyl sulfate surfactant in the compositions herein is from about 2% to about 60%, Preferably from about 5% to about 35%.

Alkyl glycerylether sulfonate Alkyl glycerylether sulfonate surfactant employed in the compositions of this invention is an anionic surfactant which can be prepared by reacting fatty alcohols with a slight excess of epichlorohydrin and then sulfonating the resulting chloroglyceryl ether by using a Streckerization reaction with a sulfite salt. (e.g. sodium sulfite). The resulting product is a mixture in which the primary component is alkyl glycerylether sulfonate (AGS) having the formula

OH

I ROCH₂CHCH₂SO₃M

wherein R is Cg-C22 (preferably C j2 to C m alkyl or alkenyl, and M is a water- solubiiizing, salt- forming cation such as alkali metal (e.g. sodium or potassium), ammonium, or mono-, di-, or tri- C\ to C3 aikylammonium or mono-, di-, or tri- C \ to C3 hydroxyalkylammonium. Minor amounts of the corresponding diglycerylether disulfonate and triglyceryl trisulfonate salts and some isomers may also be present. Preparation of AGS is described in detail in U.S. Pat 3,024,273, Whyte et al, issued March 6, 1962.

AGS is produced as an aqueous paste, which can be converted to a dried flake form for ease of handling.

AGS is used in the compositions herein in an amount which is from about 4% to about 20% of the total amount of anionic surfactants in the composition, i.e. the weight ratio of AGS to other anionic surfactants is from about 1 :25 to about 1 :4. The anionic surfactants other than AGS can be AS only, or a combination of AS and additional anionic surfactants such as those described under "Optional Ingredients", hereinafter. Builders

The compositions of the present invention typically also comprise a detergent builder. Because of the efficiency of AGS in dispersing lime soap, the amount of builder needed in formulating compositions ofthe present invention for use in water of a given hardness can be less than when AS is used as a surfactant in the absence of AGS.. Builders generally comprise about 1% to about 60%, preferably from about 5% to about 50% of the detergent compositions herein. Laundry bars generally comprise from 1% to about 60%, preferably about 10% to about 60%, more preferably from about 10% to about 50% builder. Laundry granules generally comprise from about 1% to about 60%, preferably 5% to about 50% builder and laundry liquids generally comprise from about 1% to about 30%, preferably from about 5% to about 25% builder.

Builders are generally selected from the varous water-soluble, alkali metal, ammonium or substituted ammonium phosphates, polyphosphates, phosphonates, polyphosphonates, carbonates, silicates, borates, polyhydroxy sulfonates, polyacetates, carboxylates, and polycarboxylates. Preferred are the alkali metal, especially sodium, salts ofthe above.

Specific examples of inorganic phosphate builders are sodium and potassium tripolyphosphate, pyrophosphate, polymeric metaphosphate haveing a degree of polymerization of from about 6 to 21, and orthophosphates. Examples of polyphosphonate builders are the sodium and potassium salts of ethylene diphosphonic acid, the sodium and potassium salts of ethane 1-hydroxy-l, 1 -diphosphonic acid and the sodium and potassium salts of ethane, 1, 1,2-triphosphonic acid. Other phosphorus builder compounds are disclosed in U.S. Patents 3,159,581; 3,213,030; 3,422,021; 3,422,137; 3,400, 176 and 3,400, 148, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Examples of nonphosphorus, inorganic builders which can be used herein are sodium and potassium carbonate, bicarbonate, sesquicarbonate, tetraborate decahydrate, and silicates having a weight ratio of Siθ2 to alkali metal oxide of from about 0.5 to about 4.0, preferably from about 1.0 to about 2.4.and alumonosilicate ion exchange agents such as zeolite A and Zeolite X. Particularly useful aluminosilicate ion exchange agents are disclosed in U.S. Pat. 4,605, 509,Corkill et al issued august 12, 1986. Water-soluble, nonphosphorus organic builders useful herein include the various alkali metal, ammonium and substituted ammonium polyacetates, carboxylates, polycarboxylates and polyhydroxy sulfonates. Examples of polyacetate and polycarboxylate builders are the free acids and the sodium, potassium, lithium, ammonium and substituted ammonium salts of ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, oxydisuccinic acid, mellitic acid, benzene polycarboxylic acids, and citric acid. Fatty acids such as those derived from coconut oil amd tallow can also be used as detergency builders.

Polymeric polycarboxylate builders are set forth in U.S. Patent 3,308,067, Diehl, issued March 7, 1967, the disclosure of which is incoφorated herein by reference. Such materials include the water-soluble salts of homo- and copolymers of aliphatic carboxylic acids such as maleic acid, itaconic acid, mesaconic acid, fumaric acid, aconitic acid, citraconic acid and methylenemalonic acid.

Other suitable polycarboxylates for use herein are the polyacetal carboxylates described in U.S. Patent 4,144,226, issued March 13, 1979 to Crutchfield et al., and U.S. Patent 4,246,495, issued March 27, 1979 to Crutchfield et al., both of which are incoφorated herein by reference. These polyacetal carboxylates can be prepared by bringing together under polymerization conditions an ester of glyoxylic acid and a polymerization initiator. The resulting polyacetal carboxylate ester is then attached to chemically stable end groups to stabilize the polyacetal carboxylate against rapid depolymerization in alkaline solution, converted to the corresponding salt, and added to a detergent composition. Particularly preferred polycarboxylate builders are the ether carboxylate builder compositions comprising a combination of tartrate monosuccinate and tartrate disuccinate described in U.S. Patent 4,663,071, Bush et al., issued May 5, 1987, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Water-soluble silicate solids represented by the formula Siθ2'M2θ, M being an alkali metal, and having a Siθ2;M2θ weight ratio of from about 0.5 to about 4.0, are useful salts in the detergent granules of the invention at levels of from about 2% to about 15% of an anhydrous weight basis, preferably from about 3% to about 8%. Anhydrous or hydrated particulate silicate can be utilized, as well.

Preferred builders for use herein are the tripolyphosphates, pyrophosphates and carbonates, silicates and aluminosilicate ion exchange agents...

Optional Ingredients Surfactants

In addition to the AGS and alkyl sulfate, other surfactants can be present in the composition herein.

Anionic surfactants which are additionally suitable for use herein include the water-soluble salts, preferably the alkali metal, ammonium and alkylolammonium salts, of organic sulfuric reaction products having in their molecular structure an alkyl or alkenyl group containing from about 10 to about 20 carbon atoms and a sulfonic acid or sulfuric acid ester group (Included in the term "alkyl" is the alkyl portion of acyl groups.) Examples of this group of synthetic surfactants are the sodium and potassium alkyl sulfates, the sodium and potassium alkylbenzene sulfonates in which the alkyl group contains from about 9 to about 15 carbon atoms, in straight chain or branched chain configuration, e.g., those of the type described in U.S. Patents 2,220,099 and 2,477,383, incoφorated herein by reference. Especially valuable are linear straight chain alkylbenzene sulfonates in which the average number of carbon atoms in the alkyl group is from about 1 1 to 13. Other anionic surfactants suitable for use herein are the fatty acid monoglyceride sulfonates and sulfates; sodium or potassium salts of sulfuric acid esters of the reaction product of one mole of a fatty alcohol (e.g. coconut or tallow alcohol) with 1 to 10 moles of ethylene oxide; sodium or potassium salts of alkyl phenol ethylene oxide ether sulfates having about 1 to 10 units of ethylene oxide per molecule and in which the alkyl radicals contain about 8 to 12 carbon atoms. In addition, suitable anionic surfactants include the water-soluble salts of esters of alpha-sulfonated fatty acids containing from about 6 to 20 carbon atoms in the fatty acid group and from about 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the ester group; water-soluble salts of 2-acyloxyalkane-l -sulfonic acids containing from about 2 to 9 carbon atoms in the acyl group and from 9 to about 23 carbon atoms in the alkane moiety; water-soluble salts of olefin and paraffin sulfonates containing from about 12 to 20 carbon atoms; and beta-alkyloxy alkane sulfonates containing from about 1 to 3 carbon atoms in the alkyl group and from about 8 to 20 carbon atoms in the alkane moiety.

The fatty acid soaps are also useful as optional anionic surfactants in the compositions herein. Soaps are the water soluble salts of fatty acids having from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms in their alkyl chains. These include the alkali metal soaps such as sodium and potassium soaps as well as the ammonium and alkylolammonium salts of the fatty acids. Preferred soaps are the alkali metal (especially sodium) salts of fatty acids having from about 12 to about 18 carbon atoms in their alkyl chains. These are typically the soaps derived from coconut and tallow fatty acids. Mixtures of tallow and coconut soaps are preferred. An 80/20/ mixture of tallow amd coconut soaps is especially preferred.

Other types of surfactants suitable for use in the compositions herein include nonionic, cationic ampholytic, and zwitterionic types. Typical nonionic surfactants include the alkylene oxide condensates of hydrocarbyl groups (e.g. alkyl or alkyl phenyl) wherein the hydrocarbyl groups contain from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms. Nonionics also include semi polar compounds such as Cg-C22 amine oxides. An extensive discussion of nonionic surfactants is found in U.S. Pat. 5,338,491 Conner, et al issued August 16, 1994. Nonioinics also include fatty acid amide surfactants ofthe formula

O R\

II I

R₂ - C - N - Z wherein: R\ is H, C _j-Cg hydrocarbyl, 2-hydroxyethyl, 2-hydroxypropyl, or a mixture thereof, preferably C1-C4 alkyl, more preferably C\ or C2 alkyl, most preferably Cj alkyl (i.e., methyl); and R² is a C5-C32 hydrocarbyl moiety, preferably straight chain

C7-C19 alkyl or alkenyl, more preferably straight chain C9-C17 alkyl or alkenyl, most preferably straight chain C 1 1 -C j 9 alkyl or alkenyl, or mixture thereof; and Z is a polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl moiety having a linear hydrocarbyl cahin with at least 2 (in the case of glyceraldehyde) or at least 3 hydroxyls (in the case of other reducing sugars) directly connected to the chain, or an alkoxylated derivative (preferably ethoxylated or propoxylated) thereof. Z preferably will be derived from a reducing sugar in a reductive amination reaction; more preferably Z is a glycityl moiety. Suitable reducing sugars include glucose, fructose, maltose, lactose, galactose, mannose, and xylose, as well as glyceraldehyde. As raw materials, high dextrose corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, and high maltose corn syrup can be utilized as well as the individual sugars listed above. Thsse corn syrups may yield a mix of sugar components for Z. It should be understood that it is by no means intended to exclude other suitable raw materials. Z preferably will be selected from the group consisting of -CH₂-(CHOH)_n-CH₂-OH, -CH(-CH₂-OH)-(CHOH)_n.1 -CH₂-OH, - CH₂- (CHOH)₂(CHOR')(CHOH)-CH₂-OH, where n is an integer from 1 to 5, inclusive, and R' is H or a cyclic mono- or polysaccharide, and alkoxylated derivatives thereof. Most preferred are glycityls wherein n is 4, particularly -CH2(CHOH)4-CH2-OH.

In the above formulas, R\ can be, for example, methyl, ethyl propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, 2-hydroxy ethyl, or 2-hydroxy propyl. For highest sudsing, Rj is preferably methyl or hydroxyalkyl. If low sudsing is desired, Ri is preferably C2-Cg alkyl, especially n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-propyl, n-butyl, iso-butyl, pentyl, hexyl and 2- ethyl hexyl.

Specific examples of this type of amide surfactant include Ci2-N-(3- methyxypropyi) glucamide and coconut n-methyl glucamide. Further disclosure of this type of amide surfactant can be found in U.S. Pat. 5,376,310, Cripe, issued December 27, 1994.

Cationic detersive surfactants include the ammonium surfactants such as alkyldimethylammonium halogenides, and those surfactants having the formula:

[R²(OR³)_y[R⁴(OR³)_y]₂R⁵N⁺X^a2 wherein R² is an alkyl or alkyl benzyl group having from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain, each R³ is selected from the group consisting of ffiCH₂CH₂a;, a5CH₂CH(CH₃)aϊ, aeCH₂CH(CH₂OH)a;, ceCH₂CH₂CH2«, and mixtures thereof; each R4 is selected from the group consisting of C1 -C4 alkyl, C1-C4 hydroxyalkyl, benzyl, ring structures formed by joining the two R4 groups, aeCH2CHOHaeCHOHCOR6CHOHCH₂OH wherein R6 is any hexose or hexose polymer having a molecular weight less than about 1000, and hydrogen when y is not 0; R5 is the same as R4 or is an alkyl chain wherein the total number of carbon atoms of R2 plus R5 is not more than about 18; each y is from 0 to about 10 and the sume of the y values is from 0 to about 15; and X is any compatible anion.

Other cationic surfactants useful herein are also described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,228,044, Cambre, issued Oct. 14, 1980. Ampholytic surfactants can be broadly described as aliphatic derivatives of secondary or tertiary amines, or aliphatic derivatives of heterocyclic secondary and tertiary amines in which the aliphatic radical can be straight chain or branched. One of the aliphatic substituents contains at least about 8 carbon atoms, typically from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms, and at least one contains an anionic water-solubilizing group, e.g., carboxy, sulfonate, sulfate. See U.S. Pat. No. 3,929,678 to Laughlin et al., issued December 30, 1975 at column 19, lines 18-35 for examples of ampholytic surfactants. Zwitterionic surfactants can be broadly described as derivatives of secondary and tertiary amines, derivatives of heterocyclic secondary and tertiary amines, or derivatives of quaternary ammonium- quaternary phosphonium or tertiary sulfonium compounds. See U.S. Pat. No. 3,929,678 to Laughlin et al., issued December 30, 1975 at column 19, line 38 through column 22, line 48 for examples of zwitterionic surfactants. Optional surfactants , if used are typically present at levels up to about 5% in the compositions herein.

Other Optional Ingredients

Fabric softening clay which can optionally be used in the compositions herein is preferably a smectite-type clay. The smectite-type clays can be described as expandable, three-layer clays; i.e., alumino-silicates and magnesium silicates, having an ion exchange capacity of at least about 50 meq/lOOg of clay. Preferably the clay particles are of a size that they can not be perceived tactilely, so as not to have a gritty feel on the washed fabrics. The fabric softening clay can be added to compositions herein at levels up to about 30%, typically from about 8% to about 14%.

While any of the smectite-type clays described herein are useful in the present invention, certain clays are preferred. For example, Gelwhite GP is an extremely white form of smectite-type clay and is therefore preferred when formulating white granular detergent compositions. Volclay BC, which is a smectite-type clay mineral containing at least 3% iron (expressed as Fe2θ3) in the crystal lattice, and which has a very high ion exchange capacity, is one ofthe most efficient and effective clays for use in the instant compositions from the standpoint of product performance. On the other hand, certain smectite-type clays are sufficiently contaminated by other silicate minerals that their ion exchange capacities fall below the requisite range; such clays are of no use in the instant compositions.

It has been found that the use of a clay flocculating agent provides improved softening clay deposition onto the clothes and clothes softening performance. The polymeric clay flocculating agent is selected to provide improved deposition of the fabric softening clay. Typically such materials have a high molecular weight, greater than about 100,000. Examples of such materials can include long chain polymers and copolymers derived from monomers such as ethylene oxide, acrylamide, acrylic acid, dimethylamino ethyl methacrylate, vinyl alcohol, vinyl pyrrolidone, and ethylene imine. Gums, like guar gums, are suitable as well. The preferred clay flocculating agent is a poly(ethylene oxide) polymer.

A particularly preferred optional component of the present invention is a detergent chelant. Such chelants are able to sequester and chelate alkali cations (such as sodium, lithium and potassium), alkali metal earth cations (such as magnesium and calcium), and most importantly, heavy metal cations such as iron, manganese, zinc and aluminum. The detergent chelant is particularly beneficial for maintaining good cleaning performance and improved surfactant mileage, despite the presence of the softening clay and the clay flocculating agent. The detergent chelant is preferably a phosphonate chelant, particularly one selected from the group consisting of diethylenetriamine penta(methylene phosphonic acid), ethylene diamine tetra(methylene phosphonic acid), and mixtures and salts and complexes thereof, and an acetate chelant, particularly one selected from the group consisting of diethylenetriamine penta(acetic acid), ethane 1 -hydroxy- 1, 1- diphosphonic acid, ethylene diamine tetra(acetic acid), and mixtures and salts and complexes thereof. Particularly preferred are sodium, salts of diethylenetriamine penta(methylene phosphonate) diethylenetriamine penta (acetate), and mixtures thereof.

The detergent chelant can be included in the laundry product at a level up to about 5%, preferably from about 0.1% to about 3%, more preferably from about 0.2% to about 2%, most preferably from about 0.5% to about 1.0%.

Detergency enzymes are a highly preferred component of the compositions herein. These include proteases, amylases, cellulases and lipases.

Another preferred additional component of compositions of the invention in the form of laundry bars is fatty alcohol having an alkyl chain of 8 to 22 carbon atoms, more preferably from 12 to 18 carbon atoms. Fatty alcohol is effective at reducing the bar wear rate and smear (mushiness) of laundry bars. A preferred fatty alcohol has an alkyl chain predominantly containing from 16 to 18 carbon atoms, so- called "high-cut fatty alcohol," which can exhibit less base odor of fatty alcohol relative to broad cut fatty alcohols. Typically fatty alcohol is contained in the laundry bar at up to a level of 10%, more preferably from about 0.75% to about 6%, most preferably from about 2% to about 5%. The fatty alcohol is generally added to a laundry bar as free fatty alcohol. However, low levels of fatty alcohol can be introduced into the bars as impurities or as unreacted starting material. For example, laundry bars based on coconut fatty alkyl sulfate can contain, as unreacted starting material, from 0.1% to 3.5%, more typically from 2% to 3%, by weight of free coconut fatty alcohol on a coconut fatty alkyl sulfate basis.

Another preferred optional component in the laundry compositions herein is a dye transfer inhibiting (DTI) ingredient to prevent diminishing of color fidelity and intensity in fabrics. A preferred DTI ingredient can include polymeric DTI materials capable of binding fugitive dyes to prevent them from depositing on the fabrics, and decolorization DTI materials capable of decolorizing the fugitives dye by oxidation. An example of an effective decolorization DTI is hydrogen peroxide or a source of hydrogen peroxide, such as percarbonate or perborate, particularly when catalyzed by a material such as peroxidase or metallic ion complexes. Non-limiting examples of polymeric DTI materials include polyvinylpyrridine N-oxide, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), PVP-polyvinylimidazole copolymer, and mixtures thereof Copolymers of N- vinylpyrrolidone and N-vinylimidazole polymers (referred to as "PVPI") are also preferred for use herein.

Another preferred optional component in compositions herein is a secondary fabric softener component in addition to the softening clay. Such materials can be used at levels of about 0.1% to 5%, more preferably from 0.3% to 3%, and can include: amines of the formula R4R5R6N, wherein R4 is C5 to C22 hydrocarbyl, R5 and R_6 are independently Ci to C10 hydrocarbyl (one preferred amineof this type being ditallowmethyl amine); complexes of such amines with fatty acid of the formula R7COOH, wherein R7 is C9 to C22 hydrocarbyl, as disclosed in EP No. 0,133,804; complexes of such amines with phosphate esters of the formula RgO-P(O)(OH)-OR9 and HO-P(O)(OH)-OR9, wherein Rg and R9 are independently Ci to C20 alkyl of alkyl ethoxylate ofthe formula -alkyl-(OCH2CH2); cyclic amines such as imidazolines of the general formula 1 -(higher alkyl) amido (lower alkyl)-2 -(higher alkyl)imidazoline, where higher alkyl is from 12 to 22 carbons and lower alkyl is from 1 to 4 carbons, such as described in UK Patent Application GB 2,173,827; and quaternary ammonium compounds of the formula RlθRl lRl2Rl3N⁺X^", wherein RlO is alkyl having 8 to 20 carbons, Rl 1 is alkyl having 1 to 10 carbons, R12 and R13 are alkyl having 1 to 4 carbons, preferably methyl, and X is an anion, preferably CI" or Br, such as C 12- 13 alkyl trimethyl ammonium chloride. Yet another optional component in the compositions herein is a bleach component. The bleaching component can be a source of OOH group, such as sodium perborate monohydrate, sodium perborate tetrahydrate and sodium percarbonate. Sodium percarbonate (2Na2Cθ3'3H2θ2) is preferred since it has a dual function of both a source of HOOH and a source of sodium carbonate. Another optional bleaching component is a peracid per se, such as a formula:

CH3(CH2)w-NH-C(O)-(CH2)zCO3H wherein z is from 2 to 4 and w is from 4 to 10. The bleaching component can contain, as a bleaching component stabilizer, a chelating agent of polyaminocarboxylic acids, polyaminocarboxylates such as ethylenediaminotetraacetic acid, diethylene- triaminopentaacetic acid, and ethylenediaminodisuccinic acid, and their salts with water-soluble alkali metals. The bleach components can be added to the compositions herein at a level up to 20%, preferably from about 1% to about 10%, more preferably from about 2% to about 6%.

Bleach activators such as nonanoyl benzene sulfonate can be used in combination with persalts such as sodium perborate.

Sodium sulfate and sodium chloride are well-known fillers that are compatible with the compositions of this invention. Other filler materials include bentonite and talc.

Calcium carbonate (also known as Calcarb) is also a well known and often used filler component, particularly in laundry bars. Filler materials are typically used at levels up to 40%, preferably from about 5% to about 25%. Binding agents for holding laundry bars together in a cohesive, soluble form can also be used, and include natural and synthetic starches, gums, thickeners, and mixtures thereof.

Soil suspending agents can be used in the compositions herein.. Soil suspending agents can include water-soluble salts of carboxymethylcellulose and carboxyhydroxymethylcellulose. A preferred soil suspending agent is an acrylic/maleic copolymer, commercially available as Sokolan®, from BASF Corp. Other soil suspending agents include polyethylene glycols having a molecular weight of about 400 to 10,000, and ethoxylated mono- and polyamines, and quaternary salts thereof

Optical brighteners are also preferred optional ingredients in compositions of the present invention. Preferred optical brighteners are diamino stilbene, distyrilbiphenyl-type optical brighteners. Preferred as examples of such brighteners are 4,4'-bis { [4-anilino-6-bis(2-hydoxyethyl) amino- 1,3, 5-trizin-2-yl]amino } stilbene- 2,2'-disulfonic acid disodium salt, 4-4'-bis(2-sulfostyryl) btphenyl and 4,4'-bis[(4- aniIino-6-morpholino-l,3,5-triazin-2-yl) amino]stilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid disodium salt. Such optical brighteners, or mixtures thereof, can be used at levels in the bar of from about 0.05% - 1.0%. Dyes, pigments, germicides, perfumes and fatty acids can also be added to the compositions.

All percentages and ratios set forth in this document are by weight, unless specified otherwise. All documents referred to herein are incoφorated by reference.

Compositions of the present invention can be prepared by conventional means for processing liquid, granular and bar form detergent products

Examples of the invention are set forth hereinafter by way of illustration and are not intended to be in any way limiting ofthe invention.

EXAMPLE I A synthetic laundry bar of the present invention is prepared according to the following formula. weight percent NaC₁₂-ig Alkyl sulfate 22.5

Na coconut AGS 3.0

Na₂C0₃ 3.0

NaDiethylenetriaminepentaphosphonate 0.70

Polyethylene Oxide (MW 600) 0.30 Bentonite clay 10.0

Acrylic/Maleic Copolymer (MW 36,000)-Sokolan CP-5 0.70

Tetrasodium pyrophosphate 5.0

Sodium tripolyphosphate 5.0 Zeolite 1.25 Protease Enzyme ( 1.0 AU activity) 0.10

Amylase Enzyme (60,000 AMU/g activity) 0.75

Lipase Enzyme ( 100,000 LU/g activity) 0.10

Cellulase Enzyme (5,000 activity) 0.15 Moisture and Misc. Balance to 100%

The bar has excellent sudsing and cleaning performance, even in hard water.

EXAMPLE II A granular laundry detergent of the invention is prepared according to the following formula. weight percent

NaCj2-18 AIM sulfate 21.0

Na Coconut AGS 4.0

Sodium tripolyphosphate 17.5

Na2C0₃ 20.0

Zeolite 8.0

Nonanoyl Benzene Sulfonate 2.3

Na Perborate 2.28

Zn Phthalocyanine sulfonate 0.3

Na Diethylenetriaminepentaphosphonate 1.0

Protease Enzyme (1.0 AU/g activity) 0.25

Amylase Enzyme (60,000 AMU/g activity) 0.50 Lipase Enzyme (100,000 LU/g activity) 0.12 Cellulase Enzyme (5,000 CEVU/g activity) 0.15 Moisture and Misc. Balance to 100%

The composition exhibits excellent sudsing and cleaning performance, even in hard water.

EXAMPLE III A liquid laundry detergent of the invention is prepared according to the the following formula. weigl it percent

Na Cj2-C18 Alkyl sulfate 20.5

Na Coconut AGS 5.0

C12-13 Alkyl E6.5 ethoxylate 4.5 C12-14 Fatty acid 5.0

Citric acid 3.0

Ethyl alcohol 5.5

Hexanediol 8.5

Boric acid 3.5 Polyacrylate polymer 3.0

Protease Enzyme (1.0 AU/g activity) 1.5

Lipase Enzyme ( 100,000LU/g activity) 0.2

Cellulase Enzyme 0.1

Fluorescent brightener 0.1 Water and Misc. Balance to 100%

The composition exhibits excellent cleaning performance, even in hard water.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A laundry detergent composition comprising

(a) From about 2% to about 60% of an alkyl sulfate surfactant having the formula

ROSO3M wherein R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl and alkenyl having from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms, and mixtures thereof, and M is a water solubilizing , salt forming cation,

(b) an alkyl glyceryl ether sulfonate surfactant having the formula

OH

ROCH₂CHCH₂SO₃M wherein R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl and alkenyl groups containing from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms, M is a water-solubilizing cation, the wherein the amount of said alkylglyceryl ether sulfonate comprises from about 4% to about 20% of the total amount of anionic surfactant in said composition; and (c) from 1% to about 60% of an organic or inorganic detergency builder.

2. The composition of Claim 1 wherein the amount of Component (c) is from about 10% to about 50%.

3. The composition of Claim 2 wherein R in Component (b) contains from about 12 to about 18 carbon atoms.

4. The composition of Claim 2 wherein the amount of Component (a) is from about 5% to about 35%.

5. . The composition of Claim 4 in the form of a bar .

6. The composition of Claim 4 in the form of a granular product.

7. The composition of Claim 1 in the form of a liquid product wherein the amount of Component (a) is from about 5% to 35% and the amount of Component (c) is from about 5% to about 25%.

8. The composition of any of Claims 1 through 7 wherein component (c) is selected from the group consisting of pyrophosphates, tripolyphosphates, carbonates, and aluminosilicate ion exchange agents.