Heavy-duty laundry detergent wipe with controlled activation of the washing active substances

Abstract

The present invention discloses a method for manufacturing a four-phase heavy-duty laundry detergent wipe, characterized by the following steps: (a) manufacturing a liquid starting laundry detergent solution which contains enzymes, surfactants and at least one polyvalent alcohol as a solubilizer and which is present in a liquid phase; (b) incorporating soap in the liquid starting laundry detergent solution to obtain a liquid laundry detergent solution (A), wherein the liquid laundry detergent solution is two-phase due to over-saturation; (c) admixing at least two different washing active solid components to the liquid laundry detergent solution (A) which are insoluble in the polyvalent alcohols of step a) to obtain a laundry detergent dispersion (B) which contains the liquid over-saturated two-phase laundry detergent solution (A) from step b) as a liquid continuous outer binary phase and the at least two washing active solid components as a solid phase; (d) applying the laundry detergent dispersion (B) to a solid carrier substrate (C) such that the final product is a four-phase system. Furthermore, a four-phase heavy-duty laundry detergent wipe is disclosed, comprising a solid carrier substrate (C) and a laundry detergent dispersion (B) which has been applied to the carrier substrate, characterized in that the laundry detergent dispersion contains a liquid over-saturated two-phase laundry detergent solution (A), which contains enzymes, surfactants and soap and at least one polyvalent alcohol as a solubilizer, as a liquid continuous outer binary phase and at least two different washing active solid components as a solid phase which is insoluble in the solubilizer.

Claims

1. Method for manufacturing a four-phase heavy-duty laundry detergent wipe, characterized by the following steps: (a) manufacturing a liquid starting laundry detergent solution which contains enzymes, surfactants and at least one polyvalent alcohol as a solubilizer and which is present in a liquid phase; (b) incorporating soap in the liquid starting laundry detergent solution to obtain a liquid laundry detergent solution (A), wherein the liquid laundry detergent solution is two-phase due to over-saturation; (c) admixing at least two different washing active solid components to the liquid laundry detergent solution (A) which are insoluble in the polyvalent alcohols of step a) to obtain a laundry detergent dispersion (B) which contains the liquid over-saturated two-phase laundry detergent solution (A) from step b) as a liquid continuous outer binary phase and the at least two washing active solid components as a solid phase; (d) applying the laundry detergent dispersion (B) to a solid carrier substrate (C) such that the final product is a four-phase system.

2. Method for manufacturing a four-phase heavy-duty laundry detergent wipe according to claim 1, additionally comprising the step: (a′) neutralizing a fatty acid to soap.

3. Method for manufacturing a four-phase heavy-duty laundry detergent wipe according to claim 1, characterized in that the liquid laundry detergent solution A is over-saturated by the soap amount.

4. Method for manufacturing a four-phase heavy-duty laundry detergent wipe according to claim 1, characterized in that the solubilizer is propyleneglycol or glycerol.

5. Method for manufacturing a four-phase heavy-duty laundry detergent wipe according to claim 1, characterized in that the first washing active solid component is a zeolite and/or phyllosilicate and the second washing active component is a bleaching agent and/or its activators.

6. Method for manufacturing a four-phase heavy-duty laundry detergent wipe according to claim 5, characterized in that the bleaching agent and/or the enzymes is surrounded by a coating substance.

7. Method for manufacturing a four-phase heavy-duty laundry detergent wipe according to claim 1, characterized in that the solid carrier substrate (C) has hydrophobic characteristics.

8. Method for manufacturing a four-phase heavy-duty laundry detergent wipe according to claim 7, characterized in that the solid carrier substrate (C) consists of a homopolymeric endless fiber.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(1) The present invention provides a new system for the controlled release of bleaching agents and other washing active components in the form of a laundry detergent wipe. Wet wipes according to the state of the art always contains water or ethanol (for surface cleaning) in order to permit the application of a low-viscosity solution/lotion on a non-woven. These substances have a high polarity (high hydrophily) and function as a solubilizer of surfactants, preserving agents and emulsifiers. For this reason, carrier materials (non-wovens) with hydrophilic fibers and high capillary forces, resp., are used in order to achieve a homogenous impregnation and a high degree of impregnation.

(2) For the general structure and manufacturing—with the exception of the specific composition of the laundry detergent solution defined by the present invention—of the heavy-duty laundry detergent wipe according to the present invention, it is referred to DE 10 2013 014 015 A1 and DE 10 2014 008 586 A2 by the Applicant. With the heavy-duty laundry detergent wipe according to the present invention, the controlled release of the bleaching agents and other washing active components only starts with the addition of water during the washing process.

(3) According to the present invention—and in contrast to the heavy-duty laundry detergent wipe according to DE 10 2013 014 015 A1 and DE 10 2014 008 586 A2 by the Applicant—this could be achieved by using a less polar liquid, in contrast to common solubilizer such as water, such that a plurality of the reactive components (bleaching agents, water softeners) is initially present in solid form (coarse disperse and/or colloidal disperse suspension). Suitable substances are polyvalent alcohols, in particular propyleneglycol or glycerol, since they have only a low toxicity and, thus, only cause a minor pollution to man, animal and environment. In common liquid laundry detergents water is used as the solubilizer and the polyvalent alcohols function as stabilizers, whereas, in the present invention, the latter are used as solubilizers (i.e., in the inventive laundry detergent solution and the heavy-duty laundry detergent). They are necessary in order to maintain the characteristics of a liquid laundry detergent—due to the avoidance of water, on the other hand, the amount of preserving agents can be considerably reduced which results in a better life cycle assessment, as far as the critical dilution volume (CDV) is concerned. Furthermore, the propyleneglycol determines the absorption behavior of the solid carrier substrate onto/into which the laundry detergent solution is applied and incorporated, resp. Particularly suitable for the carrier substrate is a hydrophobic monomolecular endless fiber and a fiber of endless filaments, resp., in particular polypropylene or polyethylene. In this respect, the heavy-duty laundry detergent wipe according to the present invention is particularly characterized by the fact that it neither contains water nor a monohydric alcohol.

(4) The system according to the present invention has the following characteristics: Inhibition of undesired reactions between the washing active components (bleaching agents and the activators, enzymes, surfactants), as well as optionally with scent components (perfume) during storage. Activation of the washing active components above only with/after beginning the washing process in the detergent solution, initiated by adding water/raising temperature of a washing cycle to the heavy-duty laundry detergent wipe according to the present invention. Higher efficiency and effectivity of the heavy-duty laundry detergent wipe due to the higher amount of washing active substances in relation to the carrier substrate.

(5) The invention also provides a method for manufacturing a four-phase heavy-duty laundry detergent wipe with a liquid “hydrophobic” phase. This method comprises the following steps: (a′) optionally neutralizing a fatty acid to soap: (a) manufacturing a liquid starting laundry detergent solution which contains enzymes, surfactants and at least one polyvalent alcohol (e.g., propyleneglycol or glycerol) as a solubilizer (the manufacturing is performed analogously to the manufacturing of a laundry detergent solution containing water according to the prior art); (b) incorporating soap (e.g., with a disperser or homogenizer) in the liquid starting laundry detergent solution to obtain a liquid laundry detergent solution A, wherein the liquid laundry detergent solution is two-phase due to over-saturation with soap (i.e., it demixes to two liquid phases at ambient temperature); (c) admixing (e.g., with an Ystral mixer/disperser) at least two different washing active solid components (e.g., bleaching agents and/or their activators, as well as zeolites and/or phyllosilicates) to the liquid laundry detergent solution A which are insoluble in polyvalent alcohols to obtain a laundry detergent dispersion B which contains the liquid over-saturated two-phase laundry detergent solution A as a liquid continuous outer binary phase and the at least two washing active solid components as a solid phase: (d) applying the laundry detergent dispersion B to a solid carrier substrate C.

(6) The washing active components/ingredients preferred according to the present invention comprise the following classes of substances: bleaching agents and/or their activators coated or encapsulated bleaching agents and/or their coated or encapsulated activators enzymes coated or encapsulated enzymes optical brighteners surfactants water softeners (e.g., zeolites, phyllosilicates a.o.)

(7) Bleaching agents (oxygen donors and their activators) commonly used in laundry detergents and also in the heavy-duty laundry detergent wipes according to the present invention are: perborates hydrogen peroxide phthalimido-peroxo-caproic acid hypochlorides TAED (tetraacetylethylenediamine) chlorate permanganate percarbonate

(8) Enzymes commonly used in laundry detergents are: protease cellulase lipase amylase
which are also used in the heavy-duty laundry detergent wipes according to the present invention.

(9) According to the present invention, the laundry detergent suspensions and lotions, resp., consist of:

(10) Heavy Duty Laundry Detergent Wipe (Universal):

(11) TABLE-US-00001 anionic surfactants nonionic surfactants phosphonates/complex builders C10-C18 fatty acid salts (soap) optical brighteners Enzymes builders (polycarboxylates, zeolites, phyllosilicates) solubilizers (propyleneglycol, glycerol) Scents soil-release polymer

(12) Color Laundry Detergent Wipe (Color):

(13) TABLE-US-00002 anionic surfactants nonionic surfactants phosphonates/complex builders C10-C18 fatty acid salts (soap) Colorants color transfer protection hydrotropes (sodium cumenesulfonate) Enzymes builders (polycarboxylates, zeolites, phyllosilicates) solubilizers (propyleneglycol, glycerol) Scents soil-release polymer

(14) Black Laundry Detergent Wipe (Black):

(15) TABLE-US-00003 anionic surfactants nonionic surfactants phosphonates/complex builders C10-C18 fatty acid salts (soap) Colorants color transfer protection Enzymes builders (polycarboxylates, zeolites, phyllosilicates) solubilizers (propyleneglycol, glycerol) Scents

(16) White Laundry Detergent Wipe (White):

(17) TABLE-US-00004 anionic surfactants nonionic surfactants C10-C18 fatty acid salts (soap) optical brighteners soil-release polymer color transfer protection Enzymes builders (polycarboxylates, zeolites, phyllosilicates) solubilizers (propyleneglycol, glycerol) Colorants Scents

(18) Fine Laundry Detergent Wipe:

(19) TABLE-US-00005 anionic surfactants nonionic surfactants C10-C18 fatty acid salts (soap) phosphonates/complex builders color transfer protection Enzymes builders (polycarboxylates, zeolites, phyllosilicates) solubilizers (propyleneglycol, glycerol) Scents Defoamers

(20) Wool Laundry Detergent Wipe:

(21) TABLE-US-00006 anionic surfactants nonionic surfactants amphoteric surfactants C10-C18 fatty acid salts (soap) phosphonates/complex builders color transfer protection builders (polycarboxylates, zeolites, phyllosilicates) solubilizers (propyleneglycol, glycerol) Scents Conditioners

(22) “Soil release polymers” (SRP) are hydrophilic polymers known to the expert which change surface properties of fibers and textiles for better dirt repellency. SRP protect clothing from deeper penetration of dirt in the textile fabrics. At the same time, they enhance the effectivity of the washing active substances used for textile cleaning. Furthermore, SRP impede repeated deposition of dirt during the washing process. Due to their effectivity already at low temperatures they also contribute to the reduction of energy consumption.

(23) “Conditioners” are substances (e.g., polymers) known to the expert with cationic functional groups having a high substantivity on textile fabrics (e.g., wool, keratine a.o.). As a result, conditioners are deposited on the fibers and provide due to their functional features for different effects (hydrophobization, hydrophilization, etc.) in the conditioning of the textile fibers (e.g. in wool laundry detergents usually a smoothing, loosening and anti-pilling (Knubbelbildung) is desired).

(24) The functional additive which is insoluble in the solubilizer such as propyleneglycol or glycerol and the washing active component, resp., of the laundry detergent dispersion and lotion, resp., contains at least two solids: the first one is a zeolite and/or phyllosilicate, the other one is given by the bleaching agent and/or its activators. The dispersion is statistically fixed to the hydrophobic carrier substrate.

(25) Experiments showed that the stability during storage, the activity, as well as the resource efficiency could be enhanced if the bleaching agent was coated before. The coating is an enclosure of the washing active bleaching agent with a stable coating material. Many different coating materials are known to the expert and are disclosed in Applicant's DE 10 2014 008 586 A1. Depending on the chemical modification of the coating material, the kinetic characteristics concerning dissolution and availability over time can be controlled via the diffusion processes of the non-woven phase (i.e., the solid carrier material).

(26) An optimal relation between the ingredients of the laundry detergent dispersion and lotion, resp., for manufacturing the “universal” variant of the heavy-duty laundry detergent wipe will be described below.

(27) Manufacturing of a Liquid Over-Saturated Two-Phase Laundry Detergent Solution a in Concentrated Form

(28) TABLE-US-00007 Ingredient Amount % Propyleneglycol ad 100 C13-C15 fatty alcohol 20.0000 Dodecylbenzenesulfate 15.0000 Fatty acid 10.0000 NaOH 8.4360 Na Ethylhexylglycerol 4.0000 Na.sub.7H.sub.3[[bis[2-[bis(phosphonatomethyl)- 3.0000 amino]ethyl]amino]methyl]phosphonate Na.sub.4 Iminodisuccinate 1.9000 Nonionic polymer (polyester/polyether copolymer) 1.8000 Protease 1.5000 Phenoxyethanol 0.0325 Perfume 1.0000 Disodium-2-2′-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4,4′- 0.5000 diyldivinylene)bis(benzenesulfonate) Alpha amylase 0.4000 Mannanase 0.4000 Benzisothiazolinone 0.0061 Pectat lyase 0.3500 Cellulase 0.2000 Lipase 0.2000 Methylisothiazolinone 0.0045

(29) Modification to Coarse Disperse Laundry Detergent Suspension B

(30) TABLE-US-00008 Ingredient Amount % Laundry detergent solution A 94 Zeolite 5 Bleaching agent (in particular Sodiumpercarbonate or PAP) 1

(31) Application of the Coarse Disperse Laundry Detergent Suspension B on Wipe C

(32) TABLE-US-00009 Ingredient Amount gr. Laundry detergent suspension B 23 Non-woven polypropylene 5