DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS

Abstract

A detergent composition comprising: (a) ethylenediamine-N,N-disuccinic acid (EDDS) or salt thereof; (b) an aminocarboxylate selected from methylglycine diacetic acid (MGDA) or salt thereof and gluconic acid diacetic acid (GLDA) or salt thereof; and (c) from 3 to 80% (by weight based on the total weight of the composition) of one or more detersive surfactants.

Claims

1. A detergent composition the composition comprising: (a) ethylenediamine-N,N-disuccinic acid (EDDS) or salt thereof; (b) an aminocarboxylate selected from gluconic acid diacetic acid (GLDA) or salt thereof and methylglycine diacetic acid (MGDA) or salt thereof; and (c) from 3 to 80% (by weight based on the total weight of the composition) of one or more detersive surfactants.

2. A detergent composition according to claim 1, wherein the aminocarboxylate is present in the range of from 0.1-15% wt.

3. A detergent composition according to claim 1, wherein the ethylenediamine-N,N-disuccinic acid (EDDS) or salt thereof is present in the range of from 0.1-15% wt

4. A detergent composition according to claim 1, wherein the EDDS and the aminocarboxylate are in present in the composition in a ratio of 1:1-4, by weight.

5. A composition according to claim 1, further comprising one or more polymeric cleaning boosters.

6. A composition according to claim 5, wherein said one or polymeric cleaning boosters comprise an anti-redeposition polymer preferably an alkoxylated polyethyleneimine.

7. A composition according to claim 5, wherein the polymeric cleaning booster comprises a soil release polymer.

8. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises an enzyme.

9. A composition according to claim 1, in which the MGDA is in salt.

10. A composition according to claim 1, in which the level of phosphonate sequestrants is no more than 0.2%, (by weight based on the total weight of the composition).

11. A composition according to claim 1, which is a liquid and has a pH in the range of 6 to 10, when measured on dilution of the composition to 1% (by weight based on the total weight of the composition) using demineralised water.

12. A composition according to claim 1, which contains no more than 0.2%, (by weight based on the total weight of the composition) of transition metal ions selected from Fe (III), Co (II), Co (III), Mn (II), Mn (III), Ce (III), Ce (IV), Zn (II) and Bi (III) and mixtures thereof.

13. A method of making a liquid detergent composition, the method comprising the step of incorporating (a) ethylenediamine-N,N-disuccinic acid (EDDS) or salt thereof; (b) an aminocarboxylate selected from the gluconic acid diacetic acid (GLDA) and methylglycine diacetic acid (MGDA); and (c) from 3 to 80% (by weight based on the total weight of the composition) of one or more detersive surfactants into a liquid detergent composition.

14. A method of laundering fabrics, comprising diluting a dose of the detergent composition as defined in claim 1 obtain a wash liquor, and washing the fabric with the wash liquor so formed.

15. (canceled)

Description

EXAMPLES

[0195] All weight percentages are by weight based on total weight unless otherwise specified. Compositions according to the invention are indicated by a number; and comparative examples (not according to the invention) are indicated by a letter.

Example 1: Sequestrant Performance for Laundry Detergent Liquid Formulation Colour Stability

[0196] 50 ml of the formulations shown in Table 1 were prepared and stored in screw capped glass jars (60 ml volume, 3.5 cm diameter). Formulations were placed in an oven at 45 C. and stored (in the dark) for 4 weeks. Visual observations of formulation colour stability were made in 60 ml glass jars (3.5 cm diameter) by comparison with freshly prepared samples of the same compositions.

[0197] Colour changes were also quantified spectrophotometrically. UV-Vis absorbance measurements made using a Cary 400 UV-VIS spectrophotometer using a 1 cm pathlength cuvette at a wavelength of 400 nm.

[0198] The results are shown in Table 6. The sequestrants have no significant impact on the colour of freshly prepared formulations. In the absence of sequestrants (sample code A), after 4 weeks accelerated storage at 45 C. the formulation develops discolouration. Combinations of EDDS Na.sub.4 with MGDA Na.sub.3 (sample code B) or GLDA Na.sub.4 (sample code C) prevent this colour change more effectively than the corresponding single sequestrants at the same inclusion level (0.65% w/w). A higher level of EDDS inclusion alone (sample code G) results in a more pronounced discoloration while higher levels of MGDA Na.sub.3 and GLDA Na.sub.4 inclusion (sample codes H and I) provide only partial protection against discoloration.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Laundry liquid formulations used in colour stability studies (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) Ingredient A B C D E F G H I Antifoam 0.001 0.001 0.001 0.001 0.001 0.001 0.001 0.001 0.001 Fluorescer 0.200 0.200 0.200 0.200 0.200 0.200 0.200 0.200 0.200 Monoethanolamine 5.500 5.500 5.500 5.500 5.500 5.500 5.500 5.500 5.500 LAS acid 9.940 9.940 9.940 9.940 9.940 9.940 9.940 9.940 9.940 Citric acid 2.500 2.500 2.500 2.500 2.500 2.500 2.500 2.500 2.500 Anionic surfactant 7.450 7.450 7.450 7.450 7.450 7.450 7.450 7.450 7.450 Particulate soil 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 cleaning polymer Polyester soil 0.540 0.540 0.540 0.540 0.540 0.540 0.540 0.540 0.540 release polymer Alkyl ether sulfate 7.450 7.450 7.450 7.450 7.450 7.450 7.450 7.450 7.450 ammonium salt Preservative 1.500 1.500 1.500 1.500 1.500 1.500 1.500 1.500 1.500 Potassium sulfite 0.200 0.200 0.200 0.200 0.200 0.200 0.200 0.200 0.200 Fragrance 1.180 1.180 1.180 1.180 1.180 1.180 1.180 1.180 1.180 Enzymes 1.620 1.620 1.620 1.620 1.620 1.620 1.620 1.620 1.620 EDDS Na.sub.4 0 0.15 0.15 0.65 0 0 2.5 0 0 MGDA Na.sub.3 0 0.5 0 0 0.65 0 0 2.5 0 GLDA Na.sub.4 0 0 0.5 0 0 0.65 0 0 2.5 Water To To To To To To To To To 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 6 Formulation colour changes on elevated temperature storage In product concentration (% w/w as Freshly Aged (45 C. for 4 100% actives) prepared weeks in the dark) A 0.04 (pale yellow) 0.25 (orange - brown) B 0.04 (pale yellow) 0.05 (pale yellow) C 0.05 (pale yellow) 0.07 (pale yellow) D 0.04 (pale yellow) 0.27 (orange-brown) E 0.04 (pale yellow) 0.15 (yellow) F 0.06 (pale yellow) 0.15 (yellow) G 0.06 (pale yellow) 0.36 (yellow) H 0.05 (pale yellow) 0.04 (pale yellow) I 0.07 (pale yellow) 0.06 (pale yellow)