GB596560A - All-purpose detergent - Google Patents

Abstract

A detergent composition, which resembles soap in that it only gives profuse suds in use when a sufficient amount is employed for adequate cleansing, and which is characterised by mildness towards coloured fabrics and the skin, comprises a mixture of a water-soluble salt of an aliphatic sulphuric acid ester or of an organic sulphonic acid with a tripolyphosphate of formula M5P3O10, M being an alkali metal or ammonium, the amount by weight of the tripolyphosphate being from two to five times the amount by weight of the water-soluble salt. Water-soluble salts of aliphatic sulphuric acid esters mentioned include the water-soluble salts of alkyl sulphuric acids having 8 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl radicle, such as the alkali metal salts of sulphuric acid esters of normal primary aliphatic alcohols having 12 to 18 carbon atoms, particularly salts of lauryl sulphuric acid or oleyl sulphuric acid, the sodium alkyl sulphate derived from the higher alcohols of sperm oil or the sodium alkyl sulphate obtained from the mixed higher alcohols produced by the reduction of such oils as coconut oil or palm kernel oil. Other water-soluble salts of aliphatic sulphuric acid esters mentioned are the salts of fatty acid monoglyceride sulphuric esters derived from fatty acids having 10 to 18 carbon atoms, particularly salts of coconut oil fatty acid monoglyceride sulphuric esters such as the sodium salt of the coconut oil fatty acid mono-ester of 1, 2-dihydroxypropane-3-sulphuric acid ester and the salts of higher fatty acid alkylolamides such as the sodium salt of sulphated coconut oil fatty acid ethanolamide. Water-soluble salts of organic sulphonic acids mentioned include the salts of higher fatty acid esters of lower molecular weight hydroxyalkyl sulphonic acids such as the sodium salt of coconut oil fatty acid monoester of 1, 2-dihydroxypropane-3-sulphonic acid or the oleic acid ester of the sodium salt of isethionic acid, the salts of higher fatty acid amides of low molecular weight aminoalkyl sulphonic acids such as the ammonium salt of the oleic acid amide of N-methyl taurine, the salts of higher alcohol esters of sulphocarboxylic acids such as the sodium salt of the lauryl alcohol ester of sulphoacetic acid, the salts of higher alkyl ethers of low molecular weight hydroxy sulphonic acids such as the monolauryl ether of 1, 2-dihydroxy propane-3-sodium sulphonate, and the salts of higher alkylated benzene sulphonic acids such as the potassium salt of the sulphonic acid derived from the condensation product of benzene and a chlorinated kerosene fraction containing predominantly 12 carbon atoms per molecule. The detergent composition may also contain additional ingredients such as soap, perfume or inorganic salts, and the detergent composition may take the form of paste, flake, powder, spraydried product or aqueous solution. In preparing the detergent composition, the polyphosphate may be mechanically mixed with or crunched into the water-soluble salt to form a slurry. Where the detergent composition is an aqueous solution, polyphosphate and water-soluble salt may be added simultaneously to the water or one or other may be added first. In the examples the detergent composition comprises sodium tripolyphosphate and either the sodium alkyl sulphate derived from the higher alcohols obtained by the reduction of coconut oil, the sodium salt of the sulphuric acid ester of coconut oil monoglyceride or a mixture of sodium cetyl sulphate and sodium stearyl sulphate. Specifications 435,861, 437,128, 438,063, 443,487, 443,731, 547,688 and 574,716 are referred to.