GB2187749A

GB2187749A - Liquid detergent composition containing hydrophobic brightener

Info

Publication number: GB2187749A
Application number: GB08605966A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jean Wevers; John Richard Walker
Original assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
Current assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
Priority date: 1986-03-11
Filing date: 1986-03-11
Publication date: 1987-09-16
Anticipated expiration: 2006-03-11
Also published as: GB2187749B; NZ219558A; EP0237119A2; ATE97159T1; EP0237119B2; GR3022619T3; EP0237119A3; IE870611L; JPS62275200A; DE3788075T3; EP0237119B1; KR950004931B1; IE60528B1; KR870009008A; DE3788075T2; GB8605966D0; AU6985687A; AU588979B2; JP2859263B2; DE3788075D1

Abstract

Stable isotropic liquid laundry detergents contain a surfactant and a hydrophobic brightener to reduce brightener staining of fabrics. The brighteners are represented by the formula:- <IMAGE> wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 represent, selected independently, anilino, cyclohexylamino, piperazino, phenylenediamino, toluenediamino, morpholino, or aminophenol, with the proviso that the brightener contains not more than one morpholino group.

Description

GB2187749A 1

SPECIFICATION

Stable liquid detergent composition containing hydrophobic brightener Technical Field 5

The present invention relates to stable, preferably single-phase, isotropic liquid laundry deter gents containing a particular hydrophobic disulfonate brightener which reduces or eliminates brightener staining of fabrics while maintaining an excellent level of whitening. Particularly pre ferred are disulfonated tetra-anilino naphthotriazolyl stilbene brighteners. In some embodiments, the hydrophobic brighteners herein may be combined with variable levels of conventional liquid 10 detergent brighteners to further improve and optimize overall fabric appearance. In the event such mixed brighteners are employed, the hydrophobic brightener herein should represent at least about 40% of the total brightener in order to provide the desirable performance benefits.

Optical brighteners, also known as fluorescent whitening agents, are commonly used in laundry detergents. Brighteners deposit onto fabrics where they absorb ultraviolet radiant energy and 15 reemit it as a blue light. This reduces or eliminates any yellowish cast to fabrics and gives them a brighter appearance. However, undesirable brightener staining can occur when liquid detergents come in direct contact with cotton-containing fabrics. The present invention reduces or elimi nates such staining while maintaining an acceptable level of fabric whitening.

Background Art

To overcome and reduce undesirable brightener staining substantial effort had been directed towards using asymmetrical monosulfonated naphthotriazolyl stilbene brighteners (MSB). Repre sentative of these art undertakings are a series of published patents.

British Patent 2,028,365, Gray, published March 5, 1980, discloses built liquid detergents 25 containing anionic surfactants and one or more brighteners, including MSB.

U.S. Patent 3,812,041, Inamorato, issued May 21, 1974, discloses unbuilt liquid detergents containing nonionic surfactants and anionic surfactants in a weight ratio of nonionic to anionic of at least 1. Optional brighteners can include the MSB type.

U.S. Patent 3,959,157, Inamorator, issued May 25, 1976, discloses liquid detergents contain- 30 ing nonionic surfactants, quaternary ammonium softening agents and optional brighteners, equally including MSB.

U.S. Patent 4,430,236, Franks, issued February 7, 1984, discloses liquid detergents containing nonionic surfactants, optional anionic surfactants, hydrogen peroxide, brightener, and preferably quaternary ammonium softening compounds. MSB's are specifically mentioned as being useful. 35 Japanese Patent Application J74-017004, published April 26, 1974, discloses liquid deter gents containing MSB said to be stable to light.

German Patent Application 25 43 998, published April 7, 1977, discloses clear liquid deter gents containing certain diphenyl distyryl brighteners. Examples 1 and 2 are of liquid detergents containing mixtures of MSB and disulfonated brighteners. 40 European Application 85200988.5, filed June 21, 1985, teaches the use of MSB, optionally in combinaton with conventional di-anilino di-morpholino distilbene brighteners with a view to re duce undesirable brightener deposits.

While those prior art attempts can yield considerable improvements versus conventional bright eners as regards reducing staining, their washing performance, e.g., whiteness maintenance, is 45 not better than what is obtained from current disulfonate brightener- It is a main object of this invention to formulate brightener containing concentrated heavy-duty liquid detergent compositions which do not exhibit brightener staining negatives during use while delivering, at least equivalent, whiteness maintenance as compared to conventional detergent brighteners. 50 The above and other objects can now be obtained by the incorporation in heavy-duty liquid detergent of disulfonated brighteners which are more hydrophobic than current disulfonated brightener.

Summary of the Invention 55

The present invention relates to stable isotropic heavy-duty laundry detergent compositions comprising, by weight, (a) from about 3% to about 60% of a surface-active agent selected from anionic and nonionic surfactants and mixtures thereof; and (b) from about 0.01% to about 1% of a hydrophobic disulfonated brightener which represents 60 at least 40% of the total brightener in the composition, the hydrophobic brightener having the formula:

2 GB2187749A 2 R1 R3 --N_ J_ N H N N N N c 1 5 A N i R2 SOa Na503 R4 10 wherein R, R2, 3 and R4 represent, selected- independently, anilino, cyclohexylamino, piperazino, phenylenediamino, toluenediamino, morpholino, and aminophenol, with the proviso the brightener contains not more than the one morpholino group.

Detailed Description o - f the Invention 15

The compositions of the present invention comprise from 3% to 50%_of a surface-active agent and from 0.0 1 % to about 1 % of a hydrophobic brightener. The essential ingredients of the invention as. well as optional components that can desirably be incorporated in the composition of this invention are described hereinafter.

The percent indications, throughout the specification, stand, unless indicated otherwise, for 20 -percent by weight" The hydrophobic brightener herein has, the formula:

R1 R3 25 N H H N N N c=c N N 1 - 1 N H --( H N R2 S" h503 R4_ 30 wherein R, R, R3 and R, represent, -selected independently, anilino, cyclohexylamino, piperazino, phenylenediamino, toluenediamino, morpholino, -and aminophenol, with the proviso that the brightener contains not more than. one morpholino group. 35 Suitable brightener species include any combination of the possible R,-, moieties provided not more than morpholino group is present. Examples of preferred brightener species are the tetra anilino, tetra-piperazino, tetra-eyclohexylamino and combinations thereof such as for example, the di-anilinodipiperazino; and the dianilino-dicyclohexylamino species.

Highly preferred for reasons of minimizing brightener staining are the tetraaffilino derivatives, 40 having the following formula:

4,4'-bis(4-anilino-6-anilino-s-triazin-2-yi)amino)-2,2'-stiibene disulfonic acid sodium salt (A). A pre ferred brightener system in the context of this invention contains at least 40% (by reference to the total amount of the detergent. brightener) of the specific hydrophobic brightener referred to hereinbefore in combination with a conventional detergent brightener, e.g. , a di-sulfonated dianil- 45 ino, dimQrpholino stilbene brightener.

Conventional -detergent brighteners for use in combination with the hydrophobic species de scribed hereinabove embrace common detergent brighteners inclusive of:

4-(2H-naphtho(1,2-d)triazol-2-yi)-2-stilbenesuifonic acid, sodium salt,(i) 4,4'-bis((4-anilino-6(N-2-hydroxyethyl-N-methylamino)-s-triazin-2yi)amino)-2,2'-stilbendisuifonic acid 50 disodium salt; (ii) 4,4'-bi.s((4-anilino-6-morpholino-s-triazin-2-yl)amino)-2,2'stilbenedisulfo nic acid, sodium sal- 2,2-(4,4'm-biphenylene divinylene)-dibenzenesuifonic acid, disodium salt; (ivi) 4,4'-bis(4-phenyi-2H-1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)disodium salt (vi) 55 4,4'-bis((4-anilino6-morpholino-1,3,5-triazin-2-yi)amino)-2-stilbene sulfonate sodium salt. (vii) While the hydrophobic brightener shall represent, at least, 40% of the total brightener, it is understood that the level can very depending. upon the particular nature of the conventional brightener. As an example, the tetra-anilino hydrophobic brighteners can desirably represent from 55%-80% of the total brightener in the event the conventional brightener is represented by (i). 60 The-surface-active agent can be: represented by anionic and nonionic surfactants and mixtures thereof. The surfactant usua lly represents from 3% to 60%, preferably from 10% to 50%.

Suitable anionic surfactants are disclosed in U.S.:Patent 4,285,841, Barrat et aL, issued August 25, 1981, and in U.S. Patent 3,929,678, Laughlin et al., issued December 30, 1975, both incorporated herein by reference. 65 3 GB2187749A 3 Useful anionic surfactants include the water-soluble salts, particularly the alkali metal, ammon- ium and alkylolammonium (e.g., monoethanolammonium or triethanolammonium) salts, of organic sulfuric reaction products having in their molecular structure an alkyl group containing from about to about 20 carbon atoms and a sulfonic acid or sulfuric acid ester group. (included in the term---alkyl- is the alkyl portion of aryl groups.) Examples of this. group of synthetic surfactants 5 are the alkyl sulfates, especially those obtained by sulfating the higher alcohols (C,-C,, carbon atoms) such as-those produced by reducing the glycerides of tallow or coconut oil; and the alkylbenzene sulfonates in which the alkyl group contains from about 9 to about 15 carbon atoms, in straight chain or branched chain configuration, e.g., those of the type described in U.S. Patents 2,220,099 and 2,477,383. Especially valuable are linear straight chain alkylbenzene 10 sulfonates in which the average number of carbon atoms in the alkyl group is from about 11 to 14.

Other anionic surfactants herein are the water-soluble salts of: paraffin sulfontes containing from about 8 to about 24 (preferably about 12 to 18) carbon atoms; alkyl glyceryl ether glyceryl ether sulfonates, especially those ethers of C8-1. alcohols (e.g., those derived from tallow and 15 coconut oil); alkyl phenol ethylene oxide ether sulfates containing from about 1 to about 4 units of ethylene oxide per molecule and from about 10 to about 20 carbon atoms in the alkyl group.

Other useful anionic surfactants herein include the water-soluble salts of esters of alphasulfonated fatty acids containing from about 6 to about 20 carbon atoms in the fatty acid group and from about 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the ester group; water-soluble salts of 2-acyloxyalkane- 20 1-sulfonic acids containing from about 2 to 9 carbon atoms in the acyl group and from about 9 to about 23 carbon atoms in the alkane moiety; water-soluble salts of olefin sulfonates containing from about 12 to 24 carbon atoms; and beta-alkyloxy alkane sulfonates containing from about 1 to 3 carbon atoms in the aikyl group and from about 8 to 20 carbon atoms in the alkane moiety. 25 Preferred anionic surfactants are the C10-C,,3 alkyl sulfates containing an average of from 0 to about 4 ethylene oxide units per mole of alkyl sulfate, C,,-CU linear alkylbenzene sulfonates, and mixtures thereof.

The nonionic surface-active agent can be represented by known species which are eminently well-known in the technical community and many of which have found widespread commercial 30 acceptance. Suitable ethoxylated nonionic surfactants for use herein have the formula R1PC2W ),,OH, wherein R' is a C10-C,, alkyl group or a C,-C,, alkyl. phenyl group, n is from about 3 to about 9, said nonionic surfactant having an HLB (hydrophile-lipophile balance) of from about 10 to about 13. These surfactants are more fully described in U.S. Patent 4, 285,841, Barrat et al., issued August 25, 1981; and 4,284,532, Leikhim et al., issued August 18, 1981, both incor- 35 porated herein by reference. Particularly preferred are condensation products Of CU-Cl, alcohols with from about 3 to about 8 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol, e.g., C,2-Cl, alcohol condensed with about 6.5 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol.

A well-known non-ionic for use herein can be represented by amilne oxide surfactants such as the C,2-C,, alkyl dimethyl amine oxides. 40 Amine oxide surfactants are frequently used in levels of from 0.5% to 4% in combination with conventional ethoxylated nonionics.

In such nonionic systems, the weight ratio of amine oxide: nonionic ethoxylate is frequently in the range from 1:8 to 1:50.

While the compositions herein can be based on an-all anionic or alinonionic surfactant combi- 45 nation, it is frequently desirable to use anionic and nonionic surfactants in a weight ratio of from 1:1 to 3A. In-this weight ratio expression, the nonionic surfactant can be represented by a mixture of a nonionic ethoxylate and amine oxide surfactant.

The compositions herein can in addition to the essential surfactants described hereinbefore, also contain as optional ingredients other synthetic surfactants known in the art such as the 50 cationic, zwitterionic and ampholytic surfactants. These optional surfactants can be used at additive levels and should normally represent less than 40% of the total surfactant in the formula. Suitable examples of these optional surfactants are disclosed in US Patents 4.285.841 and 3.929.678.

The compositions herein are aqueous compositions and contain, depending upon the relative 55 levels of essential ingredients and the possible levels of optional ingredients, a level of water to make the balance to 100%. In some preferred heavy duty liquid executions herein, the water level can be in the range from e.g. 60% to 20%.

The compositions of this invention frequently have a pH, measured at a 1% aqueous solution, at 20'C, in the neutral to mildly alkaline range, i.e., from 6.5 to 9. 60 In addition to the essential ingredients described hereinbefore, the compositions herein fre quently contain a series of optional ingredients which are used for their known functionality in conventional quantities. These optional ingredients augment and enhance, generally, the deter gent performance of the claimed compositions. Examples of the like optional ingredients include:

perfumes, dyes, opacifiers, germicides, antioxidants, suds regulants inclusive of silicones and 65 4 GB2187749A 4 hydrogenated fatty acids, builders inclusive of tartrate monosuccinate acid, sodium tripolyphos phate and sodium pyrophosphate, citric acid, completely hydrated zeolite having a particle dia meter in the range of from 1-10 microns; and alkenyisuccinates having from 10 to 16 carbon atoms in the alkenyl moiety. Further optional components- include soil release agents such as polyethylene glycol terephthalate, performance boosters e.g. tetraethylene pentamine with 15-19 5 EO, corrosion inhibitors such as aminosilanes, enzymes, cationic surfactants, textile softening agents such as quaternary ammonium salts and bentonite clays, ethylene diaminetetra-acetic acid, diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid, fatty acids, alkylene polyaminopolyalkylenephosphonic acids, enzyme stabilizing systems, as well as liquid matrix ingredients inclusive of water and suitable solvents. 10 Suitable fatty acids, saturated or unsaturated, have from 10 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain. Preferred are unsaturated species having from 12 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain, most preferably ofeic: acid. The corresponding soaps can equally be used. The optional fatty acid/soaps are used in levels up to 20%, frequently from 5% to 15%.

Detergent enzymes generally aid and augment the removal of specific stains. Suitable enzymes 15 can be represented by proteases, amylases, lipases, glucose-oxidases, cellulase, or mixtures thereof. Proteases and amylases are preferred in the claimed liquid concentrated compositions. They are frequently employed in a level from about 0.01% to about 2%.

All generally kno wn enzyme stabilizing systems can be used in the compositions herein in the art established level. Examples of suitable stabilizing systems include short C,-, chain carboxylic 20 acid, particularly formic acid, in combination with low level of calcium, boric acid and the water soluble salts thereof possibly in combination with polyols.

Suitable alkylene-polyaminopolyalkylene phosphonic acids for use herein include ethylene diam ine tetramethylene phosphonic acid, diethylene triamine pentamethylene phosphonic acid, or the salts thereof. These polyphosphonates are advantageously utilized in an amount from 0.1%-3%, 25 preferably 0.4%-1.2%; the preferred tetra- and pentamethylene phosphonate species can also be used in combination e.g. in a weight ratio of tetra to penta of from 3A to 1:3.

Acceptable detergent suds regulants herein include hydrogenated fatty acids having from 16 to 22 carbon atoms in-the alkyl chain and alkylated polysiloxanes such as dimethylpolysiloxanes.

The fatty acids suds regulant is frequently used in a level from 0.5 to 5% whereas the silicone 30 can be effectively used in levels in the range from 0.05 to 0.5%. The suds regulant can also be represented -by a combination of hydrogenated fatty acid and silicone.

In the presence of oxidizable materials, the compositions herein can also contain known antioxidants in the art established levels, i.e., 0.01% to 0.25% (by reference to total compo- sition). These antioxidants are frequently introduced in conjunction with unsaturated organic 35 acids. While many suitable antioxidants are readily known and available for that purpose, espe cially preferred for use in the compositions herein are: 2,6 ditertiary butyl-p-cresol, more com monly known as butylated hydroxytoluene, BHT, and 2--tertiarybutyl-4- hydroxyanisole. Other suit able antioxidants are 4,4'thiobis (6-ter-butyl-m-cresol) and 2-methyIT4,6dinonyl phenol Builders such as sodium tripolypho sp hate, sodium pyrophosphate, tartrate monosuccinic acid, 40 citric acid, (IC,7C,) alkyenyisuccinates, completely hydrated zeolite A having a particle diameter of from 1-10 microns or combinations thereof are frequently used at levels from 2% to 25%.

Chelants such as alkylene polyamino-polyalkylene poiycarboxylic and/or polyphosphonic are frequently used at levels from 0.1 to 3%.

Known textiles softening agents inclusive of dItallowdimethylammonium salts and.imidazolinium 45 salts as well bentonite clays such as known from- DE-PS 23-34 899 can also be used depending upon the envisaged functionality of the composition. If the softening agents are. present they normally can represent from 2% to 8%.

Liquid matrix ingredients are further optional components in the compositions herein. This component together with water can constitute the solvent matrix for e.g. the. concentrated liquid 50 executions. Suitable ingredient classes include lower aliphatic alcohols having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms and from 1 to 3 hydroxyl groups, ethers of diethyleneglycol and lower aliphatic monoalcohols having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms. Specific examples of phase regulants are: ethanol; npropanol; isopropanol; butanol; 1,2-propanediol; 1,3-propanediol; monQmethyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, 55 and monobutyl ethers of di-ethylene glycol. The liquid matrix ingredients can be used at varying 55 levels, depending upon e.g. the total level of ingredients in the composition. In the concentrated HDL executions herein, the liquid- solvent can represent from 5% to 30%. The concentrated heavy duty liquid compositions herein constitute a preferred execution of the claimed technology. These compositions can have the following formula.

GB2187749A 5 Component % by weight General Preferred 5 Surface-active agent anionic 10 - 30 Surface-active agent nonionic 50 5 - 20 Builder 2 25 5 - 22 10 Chelant 0.1 - 3 0.4 - 1.2 Enzyme - protease(1.5 AUlg.) 0.1 1.5 0.4 - 1.2 - amylase(7000 TAU/g.) 0.05- 0.8 0.1 - 0.5 15 Brightener hydrophobic 0.01- 1. 0.07-0.3 - conventional 0 - 0.5 0.05- 0.3 Water 70 20 60 - 30 Solvent(liquid matrix) 3 - 30 5 14 20 25 EXAMPLE 1

The fabric staining tendency of various brighteners is evaluated in the following composition..

Component wt.

C,2 linear alkylbenzene sulfonic acid 10.0 30 C12-1, alkyl sulfuric acid 3.0 Cl,,, alcohol polyethoxylate (7E0) 12.0 CU-,l fatty acid 11.0 Oleic acid 4.0 Citric acid (anhydrous) 1.0 35 Diethylenetriamine pentamethylene phosphonic acid 0.8 Triethanolamine 6.0 Sodium hydroxide to pH 7.7 3.4 Propylene glycol 1.6 Ethanol 6.0 40 Alkaline protease (1.5 AU/g) 0.9 Formic acid 0.66 Alpha-arnylase (300 KAU/g) 0.1 Brightener 0.175 Minors and water balance. to 100 45 Non-diluted (as is) detergent samples containing the above detergent brighteners are applied to unbrightened 100% cotton swatches and left for 10 minutes.-The swatches are thereafter washed with the same detergent solution (1% product concentration, 30'C, mild agitation) and - tumble dried. The swatches are then graded under U.V. light for brightener staining, using the 50 following scale.

0 no visible staining T trace of stain 1.0 very light stain 55 1.5 light stain 2.0 medium light stain 2.5 medium stain 3.0 heavy stain 60 The results are as follows:

6 GB2187749A 6 Brightener Staining Grade Blue Nightdress iii 3.0 A 1.0 vii 1.0 5 Pink Undershirt iii 3.0 A 1.5 vii 1.5 Green shorts iii 3.0 10 A 1.5 vii 1.5 Blue Undershirt iii 3.0 A 1.0 15 vii 1.0 Pink Nightdress iii 2.8 A vii 1.0 20 Blue Pillow case iii 2.5 A 0.5 vii 0.5 25 Beige muslin iii 3.0 (technical swatch) A 1,07 vii 1.0 Beige knitted -cotton 111 - 3.0 30 (technical swatch) A 1.0 vii 1.0 Indian cotton iii 3.0 (technical swatch) A 1.0 35 vii 1.0 Pink Jogging iii 2.8 A 1.0 vii 1.0 40 The above results confirm the reduced brightener staining, on a large variety of fabric, of the tetra-anilino brightener (A) in accordance with the invention.

The brightener deposition superiority during the laundry operation is, in a complementary manner, demonstrated with the aid of brightener build-up measurements. 45 Brightener build-up means the speed with which a brightener deposits onto swatches, bright ened and non-brightened. The build-up measurement is carried out as follows:

Test conditions: Miel.e W765, WC short cycle, 180 m] product usage (1% product concentra tion) ballast load=2 kg 100 % cotton bleached (WC wash with perborate/STPP), unbrightened.

Tracerw terry un brightened= u nbleached unbrightened terry bleached by 1 wash at WC with 50 perborate/STPP; terry brightened= bleached brightened terry washed 5 times with an HIDD at 900C.

Measurement:

reemission 440nm terry unbrightened start: 83.88 55 reemission 440nm terry brightened start: 149.13 Results: reemission 440nm 7 GB2187749A 7 n of washes 1 4 - 8 swatch unbrightened (A) 120.52 130.68 136.59 (vii) 111.68 119.23 124.84 5 Swatch brightened (A) 150.27 149.73 150.33 (vii) 140.64 140.78 141.20 EXAMPLE 11

Ad - ditional liquid compositions in accordance with the invention contain the following ingredients:

% by weight 15 C12-Linear alkylbenzene sulfonic acid 6 C,3-C11 Oxoalcohol condensed with 7 moles of ethylene oxide 3 C12-C14 fatty diethanolamide 2 Sodiumtripolyphosphate 23 20 Carboxymethylcellulose.3 Hydrogenated fatty acid (C11-C22) 1 Polydimethylsiloxane 0.2 Brightener (see below) 0.15-0.20 Proteolytic enzyme (1.5 AU-basis).5 25 Glycerine 5 Sodium tetraborate 2 Sodium hydroxide (1% solution) to 9.0 Optional ingredients inclusive of perfume, whitener 1 30 The brightener is represented by:

-A -a mixture of (1: 1 by weight) A and vii; and -a mixture of (9:1 by weight) A and iii.

8 GB2187749A 8 EXAMPLES

III IV v VI VII Vill Dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid - - 8.3 11 7 C12-14-alkyltriethoxy sulfateNa -12 12 12 1 10 5 C12-14-dimethylamine oxide - - 4 2 - 2 C12-13-Oxo alcohol condensed with 6.5 moles of EO 23 21 18 5 12 5 10 C12-Cle fatty acid -- - - 10 - 2 Oleic ac id 5 5 15 Citric acid 1.5 6 2 1 Tartrate monosuccinic acid - - 6 Ditallowdimethylammonium chloride 4 - - 20 Diethylenetriamine penta-ac. etic acid -.8.2 Tetraethylene pentamine15-19 EO 2.5 - 2 - 25 C12-C14-alkenyIsuccinic acid - - 15 - Ethanol 9: 10 7.5 10 -.3 Polyethylene glycol terephthalate(l) 0.5 0.5 0.5 30 Di ethy lenetriaminopentaniethy l ene phosphonic acid - - 1 Monoethanolamine - 2 - 35 Triethanolamine - - 5 Propanediol - 4 2 4 40.40 Proteolytic enzyme (1,5 AU/9 basis) - 1.5 Amylolytic enzyme (7000 TAU/9) - 0.2 0.1 0.2 Brightener A 0.1.2 A- 0.15 0.13 0.10 45 vii.05 0.03 iii 0.02 0.02 0.02 Sod - ium format e - 1 1.5 1 1 50 Sodium-hydrox-ide to adjust.pH to:

1% solution) 8.8 7.5 7 8.3 7.8 8.3 Cptionals inclusive of perfume, 55 dye, silicone, suds regulant, aminosilane, opacifier, water balance to 100 expressed as pH units (1) as - described in more detail in European Patent Application 85202053 6 60 of 12-12.1985.

9 GB2187749A 9

Claims

1. A liquid aqueous heavy duty detergent comprising:

(a) from about 3% to about 60% of a surface-active agent selected from anionic and nonionic surfactants and mixtures thereof; and 5 (b) from about 0.01% to about 1% of a hydrophobic disulfonated brightener which represents at least 40% of the total brightener in the composition, the hydrophobic brightener having the formula:

lo R1 N H H N-J R3 10 C=C- N N H H N 15 R2 5Va Na503 R4 wherein IFI,, R2, R3 and R4 represent, selected independently, anilino, cyclohexylamino, piperazino, phenylenediamino, toluenediamino, morpholino, and aminophenol, with the proviso that the 20 brightener contains not more than one morpholino group.

2. The composition in accordance with Claim 1 characterized in that the hydrophobic bright ener is'represented by species wherein the IR,-, moieties are selected from the group of: tetra anilino, tetra-piperazino, tetra-eyclohexylamino, dianilino-dipiperazino, and dianilino-dicyclohexylam ino. 25

3. The composition in accordance with Claim 1 wherein the surface-active agent represents from 10% to 50% by weight.

4. The composition in accordance with Claim 3 wherein the hydrophobic brightener is repre sented by the tetra-anilino derivative which is present in a level from 0. 07% to 0.3% by weight.

5. The composition in accordance with Claim 1 wherein the surface-active agent is repre- 30 sented by a mixture of anionic and nonionic surface-active agents in a weight ratio of anionic:

nonionic of from 1: 1 to 3: 1.

6. The composition in accordance with Claims 1 and 5 wherein the nonionic surface-active agent is represented by a combination of nonionic ethoxylates and amine oxides in a weight ratio of ethoxylate to amine oxide of from 50:1 to 8A. 35

7. The composition in accordance with Claim 1 wherein the brightener is represented by a mixture of the hydrophobic brightener and a conventional detergent brightener whereby the hydrophobic brightener represents, at least, 40% by weight of the total brightener, i.e., the sum of the hydrophobic brightener and the conventional brightener.

8. The composition in accordance with Claims 1 and 7 wherein the conventional brightener is 40 4,4'-bis((4-anilino-6-morpholino-1,3,5-triazin-2-yi)amino)-2-stilbene sulfonate sodium salt.

9. A liquid concentrated heavy duty detergent having the following formula:

Surface-active agent 10-50% by weight Builder 2-25% by weight 45 Chelant 0.1-3% by weight Enzyme-protease 0.1-1.5% by weight _amylase 0.05-0.8% by weight 50 Hydrophobic brightener of claim

1 0.01-1% by weight Water 70-20% by weight Solvent 3-30% by weight 10. The composition in accordance with Claim 9 wherein the hydrophobic brightener is 55 represented by the tetra-anilino derivative which is present in a level from 0.07% to 0.3% by weight.

Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by Burgess & Son (Abingdon) Ltd, Dd 8991685, 1987.

Published at The Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A 1 AY, from which copies may be obtained.