US3798183A - Detergent builder composition - Google Patents

Abstract

THE PRESENT INVENTION RELATES TO A DETERGENT FORMULATION HAVING A BUILDER WITH THE FORMULATION:

NA-OOC-CH2-CH(-SO3-NA)-COO-NA

Description

United States Patent Ofifice 3,798,183 Patented Mar. 19, 1974 3,798,183 DETERGENT BUILDER COMPOSITION Herman A. Bruson, Woodridge, Conn., and Henry Gould, Houston, Tex., assiguors to Milchem Incorporated, Houston, Tex. No Drawing. Filed Aug. 20, 1971, Ser. No. 173,654

Int. Cl. C11d 1/14, 1/22 US. Cl. 252-557 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to a detergent formulation having a builder with the formula:

S;Na NaOOC-CHa--COONQ.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Summary of the invention.--The present invention relates to the use of sodium sulfosuccinate as a builder for anionic detergent formulation.

(2) Description of the prior art-The broad concept of built detergent compositions has been known for some time and encompasses the capability possessed by certain substances of substantially improving the effectiveness of detergent compounds. The improved or enhanced result as evidence by a washed article appearing cleaner and brighter is generally characterized as the builder efiect. Compounds which perform in this manner are called builders. The improved performance attributed to the builder is manifested in a variety of ways. Among the ways with respect to which builders are thought to have useful effects are such factors as stabilization of suspended solids soils, emulsification of soils, the surface activity in an aqueous detergent solution, the solubilization of water-insoluble materials, foaming or suds producing characteristics of the washing solutions, peptization of soil agglomerates, neutralization of acid soils and the like, in addition to the sequestration of mineral constituents present in the washing solution. The term detergent is used in a general sense and is intended to embrace both cleaning and whiteness maintenance properties. Built detergent compositions prepared specifically for laundering the wide range of natural and synthetic fabrics commonly in use today are termed heavy-duty detergents. Such compositions rely for their effectiveness, in part, on a high proportion of builder materials being present in the composition.

The nature of the building action, while quite widely recognized in the literature is not completely understood. There does appear to be some connection between the ability of a builder to soften water which is used to make up the washing solution and the improved result in detergency obtained when the builder is used. However, not all materials which act to sequester hardness-imparting calcium and magnesium ions perform satisfactorily as builders. No general basis has been found or is known either as regards physical properties or in chemical structure upon which one can predict with any degree of accuracy the performance of chemicals as detergent builders. Further, useful building actions with the most effective builders can be noted both above and below the point at which the builder is present in the washing solution in stiochiometric proportions to the hardness in water.

Building effects in detergents have been noted in connection with various inorganic alkaline salts such as alkali metal carbonates, bicarbonates, phosphates, polyphosphates and silicates. Similar building properties have also been noted in connection with certain organic salts such as akali metal, ammonium or substituted ammonium aminopolycarboxylates such as sodium and potassium ethylenediaminetetraacetate, sodium and potassium N-(Z-hydroxyethyl)-ethylenediaminetriaacetate, sodium and potassium nitrilotriacetate, and sodium, potassium and triethanolammonium-N-(Z-hydroxyethyl)-nitrilodiacetate. Alkali metal salts of phytic acid have also been utilized to some degree as organic builders in detergent formulations.

In recent years, the detergent industry has become concerned about water pollution caused by phosphates. The use of these builders is being discourage or prohibited by law in order to curtail the growth of algae in rivers, lakes and streams where the residues from household and industrial detergents can collect, causing ecological damage by maintaining an active growth of algae that normally require phosphate ions for metabolism and survival.

Sodium sulfocusccinate has been prepared by use of a variety of reactions known to those skilled in the art. For example, US. Pat. No. 3,533,944, entitled Anti-Caking Composition for Linear Alkyl Aryl Sulfonate Detergents, teaches a process for producing an alkali sulfosuccinate solution useful in providing anti-cacking properties to detergents by reacting an approximately stoichiometric amount of sulfur dioxide with a concentrated solution of a disodium or dipotassium maleate while maintaining the pH of the solution within limits of 4 to 11 and heating the solution between F. and 250 F. for a time sufiicient to essentially complete the reaction. The inventors also teach the use of the material in built and unbuilt straightchain alkyl benzene sulfonate detergent formulations in amounts from 2 to 25% by weight of the alkali benzene sulfonate component of the total detergent formulation to prevent the formation of lumps and charring and to eliminate tackiness and caking problems during processing and storage. Generally speaking, the alkyl benzene sulfonate is used in the detergent formulation typically in an amount of about 16%. Thus, the maximum amount of sodium sulfosuccinate typically used would be less than about 4% of the total formulation.

It has now-been surprisingly discovered that although sodium sulfosuccinate exhibits no builder action in anionic detergents at concentrations below about 20%, it does provide such action when used in a range from about 20% to about 60% by weight of the entire detergent formulation. This material does not contain phosphorous or nitrogen which can act to enhance and maintain the growth of algae.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved class of detergent builder materials.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new detergent composition.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the specification and claims which follow.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Sodium sulfosuccinate as used in the present invention may be made in a variety of ways known to those skilled in the art and our invention is not dependent upon the particular preparation of this material. The material may be prepared by reacting sodium hydroxide with water, resulting in an aqueous caustic solution. Maleic anhydride may then be added to the solution. Sulfonation may be achieved by then adding sulfur dioxide slowly, followed by incremental charges of sodium hydroxide to adjust the pH to the alkaline side. Additional maleic anhydride may be added to react with any free sulfur dioxide. Variations of this technique such as that detailed in Example I, may also be utilized.

Many varieties of synthetic detergents may be built with the builder of the present invention. Generally speaking, any anionic detergent may be successfully utilized.

These detergents are water-soluble salts, especially the alkali metal salts of sulfuric reaction products having in their molecular structure an alkyl radical containing from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms and a radical selected from the class consisting of sulfonic acid and sulfuric acid ester radicals. Among the particular materials which can be used are: (1) the sodium alkyl sulfates, particularly those obtained by sulfating high carbon alcohols produced by reducing glycerides of tallow or coconut oil, (2) sodium or potassium alkylbenzenesulfonates in which the alkyl group contains about C to about C (3) sodium alkylpolyethersulfonates, especially those ethers of the higher alcohols derived from tallow and coconut oil, (4) sodium coconut oil fatty acid monoglyceride sulfates and sulfonates, (5) sodium or potassium salts of sulfuric acid esters of the reaction product of 1 mole of a higher fatty alcohol and about 1 to 6 moles of ethylene oxide, (6) sodium or potassium salts of alkylphenol polyoxyalkylene ether sulfate with about 1 to units of alkylene oxide per molecule and in which the alkyl radicals contain about 9 to about 18 carbon atoms, (7) the reaction product of fatty acids esterified with isethionic acid and neutralized with sodium hydroxide, where, for example, the fatty acids are derived from coconut oil, and (8) sodium or potassium salts of fatty acid amides of taurine in which the fatty acids are derived from coconut oil or the like. These detergent compounds can be formulated into a variety of forms such as granular, flake, liquid and tablet forms.

Generally speaking, when preparing either granular or liquid detergent formulations, about to about 60% by weight of the total active formulation may consist of the present builder. Under normal circumstances, the range of about 30% to about 50% is preferred and about 40% of our builder has been found to be generally most desirable. However, the exact amount of the builder composition of the present invention utilized will vary depending on the base detergent formulation and the particular commercial application at hand. The upper limit of about 60% is not deemed critical. However, because of economic reasons, it is believed to be a practical limit.

Our builder composition has been found to have particular utility in liquid detergents. Liquid detergents have posed especially perplexing and difiicult problems for the detergent formulators, mainly because of solubility and stability factors in aqueous mediums. It is well known that although sodium tripolyphosphate is effective in granular detergents, it is not satisfactory in liquid formulations because of conversion to orthophosphate. In view of the increasing acceptance by the industry of liquid detergents it is a very significant contribution of the present invention that an improved built detergent product is made possible that will provide good detergency action in a liquid formulation.

Most of the built liquid detergents available are either water based or have a mixture of water and alcohol as the liquid base. Our detergent builder composition may be satisfactorily utilized in these bases.

A detergent formulation containing our builder composition may contain a variety of miscellaneous additives which may make the finished product more effective and commercially attractive. For example, a soluble sodium carboxymethylcellulose may be added in minor amounts to inhibit soil redeposition. A tarnish inhibitor such as benzotriazole or ethylenethiourea may be added in minor amounts. Fluorescence, perfume, coloring compounds, and optical brightening agents may be frequently desirable. An alkaline material or alkali such as sodium or potassium hydroxide may be added in minor amounts for pH adjustment. Additionally, moisture and heightening agents such as sodium sulfate and sodium carbonate may also be added. Other minor additives may also include corrosion and scale inhibitors and hydrotropic agents to promote homogeneity at lower temperatures.

The following examples further illustrate the novel qualities of the present invention:

4 EXAMPLE I The present example illustrates a suitable laboratory preparation for sodium sulfosuccinate. To 108 grams of maleic acid was added 200 cc. of water to prepare solution A. To 139 grams of sodium. sulfite was added 500 cc. of water to prepare solution B. Solution A was added to solution B slowly at about 40 C. An exotherm was noted. The solution was allowed to age overnight after which 87 grams of 50% sodium hydroxide was added to adjust the pH to about 12. The solution contained about 27% trisodium sulfosuccinate. The solution may be used as is or may be spray dried, resulting in a fine powder.

EXAMPLE II The present example demonstrates the inability of trisodium sulfosuccinate to effectively build an anionic detergent formulation when used at 10% by weight of the entire detergent formulation (62.5% by weight of trisodium sulfosuccinate based on the straight-chain alkyl benzene sulfonate content of the finished detergent).

Standard Tergotometer tests were made to determine the soil removal effectiveness of a representative unbuilt laundry detergent composition as a control formulation and 10% of the builder composition of the present invention in a similar formulation. This test is one commonly used in the industry and is detailed in Proposed Method for Measuring Soil Removal and Whiteness Retention of Fabrics, published by the American Society for Testing and Materials, February 1969. This method provides a means of measuring the ability of detergents to remove artificial soil from fabric and prevent its redeposition on clean fabric. A laboratory-scale agitator-type washing machine is utilized, together with a reflectometer which is calibrated by means of standard vitreous enamel plaques having reflectance in the range of the fabric sample being measured. The washer is operated at a suitable fixed speed which is recorded with test results. After washing, the sample material is damp dried between clean toweling and then ironed flat between two pieces of clean white cotton sheeting. The reflectance readings are then determined. The test builder of the present invention was made as in Example I. The detergent compositions were as follows:

Percent by wt.

Test

Control formula.

Sodium sulfosuccinate 10. 0 Carboxymethyl cellulose- 1. 0 1.0 Sodium sllieate 7. 0 7. 0 Sodium sulfate .4. 76.0 66. 0 Linear sodium alkylaryl sulfonate. 16. 0 16. 0

Each sample was tested at a dilution of 0.25% in water having a hardness rating of 15 grains per gallon. Detergency was measured as the increase in diffuse reflectance accomplished after the laundering of the following three different soiled cloths:

(1) Test fabric soiled cotton, washed and wear finish (2) ACH soiled cotton (3) US. testing soiled cotton The calculation of the improvement in reflectance was made as follows:

Percent improvement in reflectance:

To assure the presence of the correct amount of each formula ingredient in the wash solution, dilute aqueous solutions of both samples were prepared and added on an aliquot basis to the Tergotometer beaker.

The Tergotometer test was made in accordance with the following test conditions:

The results of soil removal tests are as follows:

TABLE 1.AVERAGE INCREASE IN DIFFUSE REFLECTAN CE U.S. Test A011 115 testing fabric Total Builder cotton cotton cotton gain Control. 32. 6 5. 4 15. 5 53. 5 Test formula 32. 6 5. 3 15. 3 53. 2

The results of this test indicated that the sodium sulfosuccinate level was inadequate to provide builder characteristics. The detergent formulation with sodium sulfosuccinate at this level was not as satisfactory as the control formulation containing no builder material.

EXAMPLE III Tests were run and results were evaluated as in Example II above with sodium sulfosuccinate made as in Example I at levels of and 40% by weight of the entire detergent formulation. The results of this test are given in the table below:

TABLE 2.-AVEAGE INCREASE IN DIFFUSE EFLECTANCE ACH 118. Test 115 testing fabric Total Builder cotton cotton cotton gain Control 32. 6 5, 4 15. 5 53. 5 Test formula (20% by wt.) 83. 5 5. 4 14. 9 53. 8 Test formula (40% by wt.) 35. 3 6. 0 17. 4 58. 7

The results of this test indicated that at the 20% by weight level, sodium sulfosuccinate provides some builder action. This action becomes more striking as the level is increased, as exemplified in the 40% by weight level tested above.

Although the invention has been described in terms of specified embodiments which are set forth in detail, it should be understood that this is by illustration only and that the invention is not necessarily limited thereto, since alternative embodiments and operating techniques will become apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the disclosure. Accordingly, modifications are contemplated which can be made without departing from the spirit of the described invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A process for building a detergent composition having present therein a water-soluble salt of an alkyl aryl sulfonate, which comprises adding thereto in an amount from between about forty percent (40%) and about sixty percent by weight of the total detergent composition, a builder having the formula:

SOQNa NaOOCCHz(I3-COONa References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,328,314 6/1967 Marquis 252-483 3 ,424,690 1/ 1969 Marquis 252554 X 2,264,103 11/1941 Tucker 21023 3,635,829 1/1972 Yang 252-526 3,661,787 5/1972 Brown 252109 OTHER REFERENCES Bistline et al., JAO'CS, vol. 48, No. 2, pp. 74-76 (1971 LEON D. ROSDOL, Primary Examiner P. E. WILLIS, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.