METHOD FOR MAKING A GEL OR A GEL-LIKE DETERGENT

Abstract

A method of forming a gel or gel-like detergent composition comprising: dosing a solid composition, and dosing a liquid composition; into a water-soluble container.

Claims

1. A method of forming a gel or gel-like detergent composition, the method comprising: dosing a solid composition; and dosing a liquid composition into a water-soluble container.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the gel or gel-like composition is an automatic dishwashing detergent.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the dosing of the solid composition occurs before the dosing of the liquid composition.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the solid composition and the liquid composition are dosed from separate nozzles.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the dosing occurs as the water-soluble container is moving on an endless surface.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the solid composition comprises a builder and/or a bleach activator.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the solid composition comprises particles having an average diameter of from 200 μm to 1200 μm.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the liquid composition comprises a non-ionic surfactant.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the gel or gel-like composition does not contain a non-functional structuring or thickening agent.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the gel or gel-like composition is a solid-in-liquid dispersion.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the gel or gel-like composition has a density of greater than 1 g/cm.sup.3.

12. A detergent composition prepared by a method according to claim 1.

13. The detergent composition according to claim 12, wherein the gel or gel-like composition is contained in a water-soluble pouch, preferably a multi-chamber water-soluble pouch.

14. A method of using a detergent composition according to claim 12 in an automatic dishwasher.

Description

EXAMPLES

[0057] Benchmark

[0058] A gel or gel-like composition suitable for use in a commercial multi-component detergent composition was taken as a benchmark. The components of the reference gel are set out in Table 1.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Component Percentage by weight (wt. %) Solid component (trisodium citrate 57.30 builder, bleach activator and catalyst) Liquid component (surfactant, 42.70 thickening agent and auxiliaries)

[0059] Despite the fact that the composition comprises a thickening agent, the benchmark displays rapid phase separation and formation of a surfactant-based supernatant during storage at 40° C., even after prolonged prior storage at room temperature (25° C.). The phase separation results in significant processability problems, as well as aesthetic issues.

[0060] Dosing

[0061] The sequential dosing of the ingredients of the benchmark composition was investigated.

[0062] The solid components were dosed into a compartment composed of polyvinyl alcohol and subsequently in a second step, the liquid components were added on top.

[0063] This method resulted in a suitable gel-like composition with suitable aesthetic appearance. This approach eliminated the pre-mixing step of the ingredients and facilitates the processing and dosing stages in an industrial process. The method results in a composition with higher solid content and so an increased higher density of active ingredients per load, and so increased efficacy, and means that the liquid content can be drastically reduces and eliminates the need for a pumpable gel.

[0064] Composition Stability

[0065] In the first step, 10 g, 15 g and 20 g trisodium citrate were filled into containers and 90 g, 85 g and 80 g, respectively, of the benchmark gel were added to 100 mL containers.

[0066] The cylinders were stored at either 25° C. and 40° C. for 5 or 6 days and the volume of formed supernatant measured. The results are set out in Table 2.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Storage Conditions Supernatant (mL) 100 g of benchmark gel 25° C./5 d 15 ± 2  40° C./5 d 16 ± 2  90 g of gel + 10 g citrate 25° C./6 d 8 ± 2 40° C./6 d 8 ± 2 85 g of gel + 15 g citrate 25° C./6 d 5 ± 2 40° C./6 d 7 ± 2 80 g of gel + 20 g citrate 25° C./6 d 3 ± 2 40° C./6 d 4 ± 2

[0067] Significantly, whereas the benchmark rapidly displayed a clear phase separation and formation of a liquid layer, the inventive method resulted in a comparatively smaller and more aesthetically pleasing supernatant layer.

[0068] The claimed method therefore serves to both mask the visibility of phase separation and permit the inclusion of an increased level of solid actives in the gel.

[0069] The invention is defined by the claims.