LAUNDRY DETERGENT COMPOSITION

Abstract

A liquid laundry detergent composition comprising: one or more anionic and/or non-ionic surfactants; and a sulphated ethoxylated C10Guerbet alcohol surfactant with a number average degree of ethoxylation in the range of 2.5 to 6, wherein the weight ratio of total anionic and/or non-ionic surfactants to sulphated ethoxylated C10 Guerbet alcohol surfactant is from 100:1 to 30:1.

Claims

1. A liquid laundry detergent composition comprising: (i) one or more anionic and/or non-ionic surfactants; and (ii) a sulphated ethoxylated C.sub.10 Guerbet alcohol surfactant with a number average degree of ethoxylation in the range of 2.5 to 6, wherein the weight ratio of total anionic and/or non-ionic surfactants to sulphated ethoxylated C10 Guerbet alcohol surfactant is from 100:1 to 30:1.

2. A liquid laundry detergent composition according to claim 1 wherein the total amount of anionic and/or non-ionic surfactant in the composition, excluding the sulphated ethoxylated C.sub.10 Guerbet alcohol surfactant, is in the range of 2 to 30 wt % of the total composition.

3. A liquid laundry detergent composition according to claim 1, wherein the sulphated ethoxylated C.sub.10 Guerbet alcohol surfactant is selected from the group consisting of sulphated ethoxylated C.sub.10 Guerbet alcohol surfactants with a degree of ethoxylation of 3, 4 or 5.

4. A liquid laundry detergent composition according to claim 1 wherein the sulphated ethoxylated C.sub.10 Guerbet alcohol surfactant is a mixture of different sulphated ethoxylated C.sub.10 Guerbet alcohol surfactants selected from the group consisting of C.sub.10 Guerbet alcohol surfactants with a degree of ethoxylation of 3, 4 and 5.

5. A liquid laundry detergent composition according to claim 1 wherein the sulphated ethoxylated C.sub.10 Guerbet alcohol surfactant has a degree of ethoxylation of 4 or 5.

6. A liquid laundry detergent composition according to claim 1 wherein the composition includes 0.02 to 3.0 wt % of the sulphated ethoxylated C.sub.10 Guerbet alcohol surfactant with a degree of ethoxylation in the range of 1 to 10 based on the total weight of the composition.

7. A liquid laundry detergent composition according to claim 1 wherein the composition includes 0.02 to 3.0 wt % of the sulphated ethoxylated C.sub.10 Guerbet alcohol surfactant with a degree of ethoxylation in the range of 2.5 to 6 based on the total weight of the composition.

8. A liquid laundry detergent composition according to claim 1 wherein the composition includes 18 to 24 wt % of sodium lauryl ether sulphate (SLES) and/or sodium dodecyl benzene sulphonate (NaLAS).

9. A liquid laundry detergent composition according to claim 1 wherein the weight ratio of the total amount of surfactant (excluding the Guerbet surfactant) to the sulphated ethoxylated C.sub.10 Guerbet alcohol surfactant is in the range of 40:1 to 60:1.

10. A liquid laundry detergent composition according to claim 1 wherein the composition further includes one or more additional components selected from the group consisting of: ethoxylated polyethylene imine polymer; polyester soil release polymer; one or more enzymes; enzyme stabiliser; fluorescent agent; bleach catalyst; and perfume.

Description

EXAMPLE 1

[0132] A test detergent including around 20 wt % of an anionic surfactant and around 1 wt % of a non-ionic ethoxylated C.sub.10 Guerbet alcohol surfactant with a degree of ethoxylation of 4 (XP40) was compared in foaming tests against a test detergent including around 20 wt % of an anionic surfactant and around 1 wt % of a sulphated ethoxylated C.sub.10 Guerbet alcohol surfactant with a degree of ethoxylation of 4 (sulphated XP40).

[0133] Foaming tests were performed by adding a fixed amount of detergent composition in a fixed volume of water and inverting the mixtures in a graduated vessel. The tests were performed three times and an average foam volume taken.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 XP40 Sulphated XP40 Laundry Liquid (TLA) No effect Large Benefit Laundry Powder (HW) No effect Large Benefit Hand Dishwash Small Benefit Large Benefit

[0134] Baseline level of surfactant was 1000 ppm. This was replaced by 1/50 XP40 in the controls and Sulphated XP40 in the test samples.

[0135] The data does not only show that sulphate XP40 performs better as a foam booster in hand dish wash compositions but it provides a benefit in powder hand wash (fabric) and liquid top loader automatic (fabric) where no effect is seen at all with the non-sulphated equivalent.

EXAMPLE 2

[0136] In the second example test samples were designed to illustrate the effect of different levels of the Guerbet alcohol surfactant with respect to the remaining anionic surfactant.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Ratio Foam Surfactant Height Std Lower Upper base:SXP40 (cm) Error 95% 95% 100:0  8.5 0.21651 7.8989 9.101 200:1  7.75 0.21651 7.1489 8.351 100:1  9 0.30619 8.1499 9.85 60:1 10 0.30619 9.1499 10.85 50:1 10.25 0.21651 9.6489 10.851 40:1 10.25 0.30619 9.3999 11.1 20:1 8 0.30619 7.1499 8.85 10:1 7.75 0.21651 7.1489 8.351

[0137] The data shows that very low levels and relatively high levels of the Guerbet alcohol surfactant actually inhibit foaming.

[0138] Protocol:

[0139] Surfactant concentration—0.2 gpl

[0140] Water hardness—12° FH (2:1 Ca:Mg)

[0141] Temperature—22° C.

[0142] pH—7

[0143] Base Surfactant system—3:1 SLES 3EO:LAS

[0144] Total surfactant concentration (including Guerbet alcohol surfactant) was 0.2 gpl [0145] 2 litres of wash liquor was added to the bucket and this was agitated by hand. [0146] Hand is horizontal to the bottom of the bucket and fingers spread out. The hand is then moved in a sideways action just breaking the surface of the solution for 20 seconds.

[0147] The foam is then left to drain for 30 seconds after which a ruler is placed in the bucket and the height of the top of the foam measured from the bottom of the bucket is recorded.

[0148] Experiment is repeated.

[0149] Data is then analysed (Annova and Tukey Kramer test) and tabulated.