GB2154599A

GB2154599A - Stable detergent emulsions

Info

Publication number: GB2154599A
Application number: GB08503976A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Donald G Borseth; George E Corte
Original assignee: DIVERSEY CORP
Current assignee: DIVERSEY CORP
Priority date: 1984-02-22
Filing date: 1985-02-15
Publication date: 1985-09-11
Also published as: FR2559779A1; ZA851023B; GB8503976D0; AU3876985A

Abstract

Either a built or non-built stable detergent emulsion composition is prepared from a nonionic surfactant or a mixture of nonionic surfactants which are either alcohol or alkyl aryl ethoxylates, as well as mixtures thereof, the surfactant having an HLB value below 13.0. The upper HLB limit corresponds to a cloud point ranging from 120 DEG F to 135 DEG F. By employing nonionic surfactants whose HLB and cloud point are no greater than the upper limit, high levels of nonionic surfactant, i.e. greater than 15 weight percent, can be incorporated into the emulsion. At lower HLB values, builders are not required. At higher HLB values, builders are necessary to form stable emulsions. The composition may be used for laundering or cleaning hard surfaces.

Description

SPECIFICATION Stable detergent emulsions The present invention concerns detergent compositions. More particularly, the present invention concerns stable detergents in the form of emulsions. Even more particularly, the present invention concerns stable detergent emulsion compositions which contain unusually high levels of nonionic surfactants.

Stable detergent emulsions have long been known. Conventionally, these emulsions are prepared by mixing together selected nonionic surfactants, with or without detergent "builders", and a partially esterified maleic acid copolymer which is used to stabilize the active organic ingredient in the aqueous phase. The utilization of the partially esterified maleic acid copolymer is described in United States patent 3,591,508. It is to be appreciated, though, that prior art detergent emulsions contain relatively low levels of nonionic surfactant, as the active organic ingredient. Conventionally, system limitations inherently preclude the incorporation of greater than about fifteen percent by weight of active organic ingredient. Ordinarily, nonionic surfactants are present in such emulsions in a range of about five to fifteen percent.Above this level of active organic ingredient, instability of the system occurs. This precludes the utilization of such emulsions in heavy industrial usage, such as industrial laundries.

As is known to those skilled in the artto which the present invention pertains, conventionally, elevated levels of organic ingredient are necessary in industrial laundries. Based upon recent technology, many industrial laundries employ powder detergents since these contain greater than twenty-five percent by weight of nonionic surfactant. Currently, where liquid detergents are used, the laundries employ an admixture of a liquid nonionic surfactant dispersed in a solvent, which is commonly referred to as a "nonionic oil". Then, separately, and apart from the liquid system there is added to the laundry a liquid "builder", in order to enhance detergency.Based upon the disparity of percentages of active ingredient between liquids and powders, it is most difficult for a liquid detergent to compete with a powder detergent in industrial laundry usage, both from cleaning ability and economy of use.

As will subsequently be detailed, the present invention overcomes the lower level of active ingredient problem in the prior art by providing liquid detergent emulsions which have unusually high levels of nonionic surfactant incorporated therewithin.

The present invention is predicated on the discovery that low hydrophilic-lipophilic balance value (HLB) nonionic surfactants, when used to prepare detergent emulsions, permit the incorporation of high percentages of nonionic surfactant thereinto in excess of fifteen percent by weight. Thus, the present invention contemplates a stable detergent emulsion having high levels of nonionic surfactant present therewithin, wherein the noninic surfactant has an HLB value ranging from about 5, i.e. water insoluble, to about less than 13.0. The upper HLB limit corresponds to a cloud point ranging from about 120 Fto about 135"F.

The nonionic surfactant having a low HLB value, which can be used herein, is selected from the group consisting of alcohol ethoxylates and alkyl aryl ethoxylates. Likewise, mixtures of these nonionic surfactants can be employed herein, insofar as the combined HLB is within the prescribed range.

The upper HLB limit does vary with the type of nonionic surfactant such that the upper HLB limit is about 12 for alcohol ethoxylates. It should be noted that the cloud point of an alcohol etoxylate with an HLB of 12 is nearly the same (about 1 303F) as the cloud point of an alkyl phenol ehtpoxylate with an HLB of 13 (about 1 30 F).

In accordance with the present invention, the nonionic surfactants are stabilized in the emulsion by the incorporation of a partially esterified maleic acid copolymer, or similar polyelectrolyte.

The present invention, further, contemplates the incorporation into the emulsion of other surfactants such as anionic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants and the like, as well as mixtures thereof. Likewise, inorganic and orgnic builders such as polyphosphates, nitrilotriacetate (NTA), caustic and the like, as well as mixtures thereof can be used herein.

It should be further noted with respect hereto that by the incorporation of the elevated amounts of nonionic surfactant, there is a concommitant reduction in the amount of builder which can be incorporated into the detergent emulsions and vice versa. Thus, the present invention provides both built and non-built stable detergent emulsions.

By practicing the present invention percentages in excess of fifteen percent, and up to, typically, forty-five percent by weight, of nonionic surfactant can be present in the emulsion hereof.

Four a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following detailed description and accompanying examples.

As hereinabove noted, the present invention provides stable detergent emulsions having unusually high levels, i.e. greater than about fifteen weight percent, of nonionic surfactant present therewithin. The present invention is founded upon the discovery that by controlling the HLB value of certain selected nonionic surfactants between about 5 to about 13, these unusually high levels of nonionic surfactants, in the emulsions, can be achieved.

The detergent emulsions hereof can be either "built" or "non-built", depending upon the HLB value of the nonionic surfactants. At lower HLB values, it is not necessary to have a built emulsion, while at the higher designated HLB values, it is necessary to build the emulsion to obtain a stable formulation.

Thus, in accordance with the present invention, it has been discovered that by employing a nonionic surfactant having both a controlled hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) value, and cloud point, the non-built and built stable detergent emulsions having high levels of nonionic surfactant can be prepared therefrom.

It should be noted that the term "emulsion" as used herein and in the appended claims means both micro emulsions and macro emulsions.

More specifically, it has been found that by employing a nonionic surfactant having an HLB value ranging from about 5, ie. water insoluble, to about less than 13.0, where the upper HB value corresponds to a cloud point ranging from about 120"F to about 135"F, stable detergent emulsions having greater than about fifteen percent by weight, based on the total weight of the emulsion, can be prepared. Although lesser amounts of nonionic surfactant can be employed, in order to realize the advantages of the present invention, the elevated levels are recommended. Generally, the nonionic surfactant will be present in the emulsion in an amount ranging from about 5 to about 45 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the emulsion.

Preferably, the nonionic surfactant will be present in an amount ranging from about 15 percent by weight to about 40 percent by weight based on the total weight of the emulsion.

As is known to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains, the HLB value of the nonionic surfactant can be readily determined, such as by the method described in United States patent 4,107,067. Likewise, the HLB value of the nonionic surfactant can be controlled by the number of moles of the hydrophile, i.e., the ethylene oxide, added to the lipophilic base. Both the determination of and the control of the HLB value are within the realm of skill of the practitioner.

The nonionic surfactant which is used herein is one having the designated HLB value and which is selected from the group consisting of an alkyl aryl ethoxylate, alcohol ehtoxylate, as well as mixtures thereof.

Generally, these nonionic surfactants are prepared by the condensation reaction of a suitable amount of ethylene oxide with a selected organic hydrophobic base under suitable oxyalkylation conditions. These reactions are well known and documented in prior art.

Representative of the alkyl aryl ethoxylates are, for example, the polyethylene oxide condensates of alkyl phenols. These compounds include the condensation products of alkyl phenols having an alkyl group containing from about 6 to 18 carbon atoms, in either a a straight chain or branched chain configuration, with ethylene oxide, the ethylene oxide being present in an amount equal to about 1.5 to about 15 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alkyl phenol, in order to insure the proper HLB value. The alkyl substituent in such compounds may be derived from polymerized propylene, diisobutylene, octene, or nonene.Examples of compounds of this type include nonyl phenol condensed with about two to about nine moles of ethylene oxide per mole of nonyl phenol; dodecyl phenol condensed with up to about 10 moles of ethtylene oxide per mole of phenol and dinonyl phenol condensed with up to about 15 moles of ethylene poxide per mole of phenol. Commercially available nonionic surfactants of this type include igepal CO-530 (trademark) marketed by the GAF Corporation; and Triton (trademark) X-45 and X-1 14, marketed by the Rohm and Haas company. Likewise, mixtures of the alkyl aryl ethoxylates can be used, so long as the HLB value remains in the prescribed range.

The alcohol ethoxylates useful herein include the condensation products of aliphatic alcohols with ethylene oxide. The alkyl chain of the aliphatic alcohol may either be straight or branched and generally contains from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms. Examples of such ethoxylated alcohols include the condensation product of about 6 moles of ethylene oxide with 1 mole of tridecanol; myristyl alcohol condensed with about 7 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of myristyl alcohol, the condensation product of ethylene oxide with coconut fatty alcohol, wherein the coconut alcohol is a mixture of fatty alcohols with alkyl chains varying from 10 to 14 carbon atoms in length, and wherein the condensate contains about 3 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol; and the condensation product of about 7 moles of ethylene oxide with the above-described coconut alcohol.Examples of commercially available nonionic surfactants of this type includeTergitol (trademark) 15-S-3; 15-S-5; Tergitol Z5-L-3 and 25-L-5 marketed by the Union Carbide Corporation. Mixtures of the alcohol ethoxylates can be used so long as the HLB value remains in the prescribed value.

It should be noted that where a blend of mixture of the selected nonionics is employed, it is possible that one of the nonionics have an HLB value outside the designated range, such as up to about 15, so long as the overall HLB value is within the range. In lieu of defining the upper limit in terms of HLB value, it is also possible and contemplated that the upper limit in defining useful nonionic surfactants be in terms of HLB value and/or cloud point. Thus, in terms of cloud point alone, it is possible to use a blend or mixture of nonionic surfactants having an overall cloud point less than about 130 F, even though any single nonionic surfactant employed in the blend or mixture has a cloud point up to about 200 F.

As noted, nonionic surfactants of the type contemplated for use herein are, of course, well documented.

See, inter alia, United States patents 3,870,648; 3,629,125; 3,574,122; 3,591,508; 4,247,424, as well as Great Britain patent 1,124,186.

In practicing the present invention, the preferred nonionic surfactants are the nonyl phenol ethoxylates, as well as mixtures thereof.

In order to provide stable emulsions, it is necessary to incorporate certain polyelectrolytes which function primarily as emulsion stabilizers. Generally, these polyelectrolytes comprise partially esterified copolymers of maleic acid. They are prepared from the reaction between one or more nonionic surfactants and a copolymer of maleic anhydride, such as the copolymer of methyl vinyl ether and maleic anhydride, or the copolymer of ethylene and maleic an hydride. The maleic anhydride copolymers are well-known and commercially available, such as those sold under the name GANTREX (trademark) by GAF and EMA (trademark) by Monsanto. Likewsie, these products are described in the prior art. See, inter alia, United States patents 3,328,309; 3,629,125; 3,870,648 and 3,301,829.

In practicing the present invention, generally from about 0.75 percent to about 2.5 percent by weight based on the total weight of the emulsion, of the stabilizer is employed. Preferably, from about 1 to about 2 percent by weight based on the total weight of the emulsion, of the stabilizer is employed. A preferred stabilizer is a partially esterified copolymer of methyl vinyl ether and maleic acid.

The emulsions hereof must be built detergents, i.e. contains salts, when the nonionic surfactant employed has a cloud point above about room temperature.

In preparing the built emulsions hereof, any suitable builder can be employed, such as organic-based builders and inorganic builders. Typifying the organic-based builders are, for example, alkanolamines, polymeric polyelectrolytes, the alkali metal salt of a weak acid, nitriloacetic acid, its alkali metal salts, EDTA and the like, as well as mixtures as thereof.

Typifying the inorganic builders are, for example, the well-known alkali metal phosphate builders, alkali metal hydroxides, such as caustic soda and potassium hydroxide, (which also controls the pH) soda ash, silicates, inorganic sulfates, such as sodium and potassium sulfate, and the like, as well as mixtures thereof.

Generally, the builders, where used, will be present in an amount ranging from about 5 to about 35 percent by weight based on the total weight of the emulsion. Preferably, the builders will be present in an amount ranging from about 10 to about 25 percent by weight based on the total weight of the emulsion.

Representative of the alkanolamines useful herein are, for example, monoethanolamine and triethanola mine can be used.

Suitable polymeric polyelectrolytes are, for example, polyacrylates, as well as the GANTREX-type maleic acid copolymer stabilizers. Useful alkali metal salt of a weak acid include sodium acetate, potassium citrate, etc. and the like, as well as mixtures thereof.

Representative of the inorganic phosphate builders are the alkali metal phosphate salts such as, for example, the alkali metal pyrophosphates such as tetrasodium pyrophosphate, tetrapotassium pyrophosphate, and the like; the acid pyrophosphates such as disodium di hydrogen pyrophosphate, trisodium monohydrogen pyrophosphate, dipotassium dihydrogen pyrophosphate, etc., the tripolyphosphates and acid tripolyphosphates such as sodium tripolyphosphate, potassium tripolyphosphate, tetrasodium monhydrogen tripolyphosphate, tripotassium dihydrogen tripolyphosphate, and so forth; the alkali metal tetrapolyphosphates such as hexasodium and hexapotassium tetrapyrophosphate; and the alkali metal hexametaphosphates and higher chain length polyphosphates such as those that are present in the sodium, potassium and lithium phosphate "glasses"; and the like.Of these, the hexametaphosphates tetrapotassium pyrosphosphate and sodium tripolyphosphate are preferred.

The alkali metal hydroxide, where used, is employed also to neutralize the polymeric electrolytes.

Other useful builders include alkali metal bicarbonate, polyacrylates and the like. Of course, mixtures of builders can be used herein.

The nonionic surfactants employed herein can also have other surfactants blended therewith, such as anionic and amphoteric or zwitterionic surfactants, as well as minor amounts of other nonionic surfactants.

Among the anionic detergent compounds useful in the compositions of this invention are, for example, the alkali metal salts of long-chain fatty acids having at least 12 carbon atoms, i.e. "soap". Suitable soaps are the sodium, potassium, and ammonium salts of fatty acids, derived from oils and fats from vegetable and animal sources.

Also among the useful anionic detergent compounds are the water-soluble salts and particularly the alkali metal salts of organic sulfuric reaction products such as the sulfonates and sulfates of alkyl and alkaryl moieties containing from 8 to 22 carbon atoms in the alkyl portion of the radical. Commercially important are the linear alkyl sulfonate sodium salts such as sodium lauryl sulfonate and the sodium and potassium alkyl benzene sulfonates such as are described in United States patents 2,220,099 and 2,477,383. Again these anionic surfactants are well known in the art.

The zwitterionic surfactants contemplated herein are those based on the alkyl imidazolines, such as the Monoterics (trademark) sold by Mona, the quaternary ammonium carboxylates and the quaternary ammonium sulfates.

Among the useful "other" nonionic surfactants are the ethylene oxide adducts of ethylene diamine sold commercially under the trademark TETRONIC as well as the ethylene oxide adducts of propylene glycol sold commercially under the trademark PLURONIC. It must be noted that these "other" nonionic surfactants are employed herein as adjuncts, aithough not as the primary nonionic surfactant from which the present invention is derived.

Anionic surfactants where used are present in amounts ranging from about 0.5 to about 12 percent.

Amphoteric or zwitterionic surfactants where used are present in amounts ranging from about 0.5 to about 5.0 percent. "Other" nonionic surfactants where used are present in amounts ranging from about 0.5 to 3.0 percent. Furthermore, it should be noted that, if the secondary surfactant acts as a hydrotype for the primary surfactant, much less of it can be used since higher levels will destabilize the emulsion. For example, alkyl naphthalene sulfonates (small alkyl chains) are good hydrotropes and, thereore, should be used only in amounts up to about 2 percent, whereas sodium LAS ia nota good hydrotrope and amounts up to 10 percent have been incorporated without decreasing the emulsions stability.

In formulating the emulsions hereof, it is desirable that a pH level greater than about 7 be maintained.

Also, depending on the intended use of the emulsions other additives may be added thereto, such as, microbiocides, perfumes, dyes, optical brighteners, germicides, enzymes, opacifiers, and the like.

The emulsions may also be admixed with nonionic oils, solvents, such as Butyl Cellosolve (trademark), glycol ethers and glycols and the like.

The present emulsions can be used as heavy duty detergents especially useful in removing hydrocarbon soils from fabrics, such a cotton, polyester or polyester blends, as well as from nonporous surfaces. Also the emulsions hereof can be used as metal cleaners, as household detergents or the like.

It should also be noted that when greater amounts of builders are employed, the cloud point of the nonionic surfactant is so depressed that the surfactant is no longer soluble. Hence, as contemplated, herein and as noted above, stable emulsions, whether built or non-built, consists of nonionic surfactants which are essentially insoluble in the external phase of the emulsion.

Following are specific examples of the present invention. In the examples, which are to be construed as illustrative and not limitative of the present invention, all percentages are by weight, absent contrary indications.

Example 1 A built detergent emulsion is prepared by mixing together at room temperature the following: Ingredient Amount, Wt.% Nonionic surfactant l(1) 26.0 Anionic surfactant 1(2) 3.0 NaOHi3) 0.25 Pema copolymer(4) 2.0 Sodium NTA 11.0 Water 57.75 (1) An ethoxylated nonylphenol sold by GAF under the name CO 530 having an HLB value of 10.8 (2) A linear alkyl naphthylene sulfonate sold under the trademark Petro BA (3) Present as a 50 percent NaOH solution.

(4) A nonionic surfactant partially esterified maleic acid-methylvinylether copolymer derived from Gantrex AN 119 prepared according to Example 1 of United States patent 3,326,309.

This formulation provides a stable emulsion, which evidences laundry detergent properties.

Example 2 Following the procedure of Example 1, a series of built detergent emulsions are prepared. Table I below sets forth the ingredients and their amounts.

TABLE 1 ProductA Product B Product C Ingredient Amt. Wt,% Amt. WT.% Amt Wt.% Non ionic surfactant 30.0 30.0 30.0 Anionic surfactant 11(2) 1.0 1.0 1.0 NaOH(3) 0.5 0.5 0.5 Pema copolymer(4) 2.0 2.0 2.0 Sodium NTA 13.0 15.0 21.0 Water 53.5 51.5 45.0 (1) Same as Example 1 (2) Sodium alkyl aryl sulfonate (3) Present as a 50 percent NaOH solution (4) Same as Example 1 Each of the formulations is a stable emulsion which evidence detergent utility using standard detergency tests.

Example 3 Following the procedure of Example ia a series of built detergent emulsions are prepared from the following ingredients: Product D Product E Ingredient Amt Wt.% Amt. Wt.% Nonionic surfactant 1(1) 30.0 25.0 Nonionic surfactant 11(2) - 5.0 Anionic surfactant 11 3) 1.0 1.0 Polymer(4) - 4.0 Pema copolymer(5) 2.0 2.0 Sodium NTA 12.0 12.0 Sodium phosphate 1.0 Water 54.0 52.0 (1) See Example 1 (2) An ethoxylated nonyl phenol sold by GAF under the name CO 630 and having an HLB value of 13.0 (3) See Example 2 (4) A 5000 mol. wt. polyacrylate builder (5) Same as Example 1.

Each of the products show no visible separation after 60 minutes of centrifuging at 2600 rpm (1100 gravities). Product D evidences no separation after 12 weeks storage in a hot box maintained in excess of 1200F; Product E shows no separation after 3 weeks in the hot box. When each of the products are run through two freeze-thaw cycles, both remain phase stable.

As used herein, a product is deemed stable if no more than 6 percent separation occurs after 60 minutes of centrifuging at the top speed of an IEC clinical centrifuge (over 2600 rpm and 1100 gravtities), as well as no more than 1 percent separation after one week storage in a hot box maintained at about 1 20"F.

It is to be appreciated from the preceding that there has been described herein stable detergent emulsions which permit the formation of both built and non-built emulsions having a wide variety of uses.

The present invention affords two important advantages over the prior art. First, usage of the partially esterified emulsion stabilizer enables the formation of high concentrate emulsions which are most cost effective to use when formulated with conventional hydrotypes. Secondly, the present emulsions are pumpable and thus controllable by mechanical and electronic systems, thereby reducing manpower requirements as well as manpower error. Ordinarily, one cannot introduce the amount of surfactants achieved here into a system with hydrotropes in built systems on a cost effective basis.

Claims

1. A stable detergent emulsion characterized in that it comprises: (a) a nonionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of alkyl aryl ethoxylates and mixtures thereof, the surfactant being present in an amount greater than 15 percent by weight based on the total weight of the emulsion, the surfactant having an HLB value of from 5.0 to 13.0 and a cloud point less than 135F; (b) a phase stabilizer for the surfactant; and (c) water.

2. An emulsion as claimed in claim 1 in which the nonionic surfactant has an HLB value of from 5 to 12.5.

3. An emulsion as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the nonionic surfactant is a mixture of the nonionic surfactants, the mixture having a cloud point less than 135"F.

4. An emulsion as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 in which the nonionic surfactant is present in an amount ranging fron 15 to 45 percent by weight based on the total weight of the emulsion.

5. An emulsion as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 in which the phase stabilizer is a partially esterified maleic acid copolymer.

6. An emulsion as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 in which further comprises a detegency builder, the emulsion being a built emulsion.

7. An emulsion as claimed in claim 6 in which the builder is selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal phosphate, alkali metal hydroxides, alkali metal carbonate, alkali metal bicarbonate, alkali metal nitrilotriacetate, nitrilotriacetic, polyacrylates, inorganic sulfates, alkali metal silicates, as well as mixtures thereof, alkanolamines, polymeric polyelectrolytes, alkali metal salt of a weak acid, nitriloacetic acid, the sodium or potassium salts thereof, EDTA, as well as mixtures thereof.

8. An emulsion as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7 in which the nonionic surfactant is either an ethoxylated aklyl phenol or a mixture of ethoxylated alkyl phenols.

9. A stable built detergent emulsion characterized in: (a) a nonionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of alkyl aryl ethoxylates, alcohol ethoxylates and mixtures thereof, the surfactant having an HLB value of from 5.0 to 13.0 and a cloud point less than 135 F; (b) a detergent builder; (c) a phase stabilizer for the nonionic surfactant; (d) water; and wherein the nonionic surfactant is present in an amount greater than 15 percent by weight based on the total weight of the emulsion, and the builder and the nonionic surfactant are present in a respective weight ratio ranging from 0.1 to 2.0

10. An emulsion as claimed in claim 9 in which the nonionic surfactant has an HLB of from 5 to 12.5.

11. An emulsion as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10 in which the nonionic surfactant is a mixture of nonionic surfactants, the mixture having a cloud point less than 135"F.

12. An emulsion as claimed in any of claims 9 to 11 in which the nonionic surfactant is present in an amount ranging from 15 to 45 percent by weight based on the total weight of the emulsion.

13. An emulsion as claimed in any of claims 9 to 12 in which the phase stabilizer is a partially esterified maleic acid copolymer.

14. An emulsion as claimed in any of claims 9 to 13 in which the nonionic surfactant is blended with an anionic surfactant.

15. An emulsion as claimed in any of claims 9 to 14 in which the nonionic surfactant is either an ethoxylated alkyl phenol or a mixture of ethoxylated alkyl phenols.

16. An emulsion as claimed in any of claims 9 to 14 in which (a) the builder is selected from the group consisting of alkali metal phosphate, alkali metal hydroxides, alkali metal carbonate, alkali metal bicarbonate, alkali metal nitrilotriacetate, nitrilotriacetic acid, polyacrylates, inorganic sulfates, alkali metal silicates, as well as mixtures thereof, alkanolamines, polymeric polyelectrolytes, an alkali metal salt of a weak acid, nitriloacetic acid, the sodium or potassium salts thereof, EDTA, as well as mixtures thereof, and (b) the stabilizer is a partially esterified maleic acid copolymer.

17. An emulsion as claimed in claim 15 or claim 16 in which the builder is selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal phosphate, alkali metal hydroxides, alkali metal carbonate, alkali metal bicarbonate, alkali metal nitrilotriacetate, nitrilotriacetic acid, polyacrylates, inorganic sulfates, as well as mixtures thereof, alkanolamines, polymeric polyelectrolytes, the alkali metal salt of a weak acid, nitriloacetic acid, the sodium or potassium salts thereof, EDTA, as well as mixtures thereof.

18. An emulsion as claimed in any of claims 9 to 13 and 15 to 17 which further comprises a surfactant selected from the group consisting of an anionic surfactant, a zwitterionic surfactant or mixtures thereof, the surfactant being blended with the nonionic surfctant.

19. A stable detergent emulsion substantially as herein described with reference to the Examples.