GB738000A - Improved particulate detergent compositions - Google Patents

Abstract

A solid particulate substantially non-caking detergent composition contains (1) 10-95 per cent by weight of sodium monoalkyl benzene sulphonates having 9-18 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain, and (2) 0.5-10 per cent by weight of sodium benzene or a sodium toluene monosulphonate, the remainder, if any, being essentially inorganic sodium salt builders. The composition is obtained by drying an aqueous slurry of an intimate mixture of the components of the composition. The components are preferably mixed by dissolving or dispersing benzene sulphonic acid or p toluene sulphonic acids or their sodium salts in the caustic soda solution to be used for neutralizing the mixture of alkyl benzene sulphonic acid and excess of sulphuric acid formed by the sulphonation of the alkyl benzene. A second method consists in adding benzene sulphonic acid or the toluene sulphonic acids to the sulphonation reaction mixture of alkyl benzene sulphonic acid and unreacted sulphuric acid, whereupon the whole is neutralized. A third method consists in adding benzene sulphonic acid or the toluene sulphonic acids to the mixture of C9-C18 alkyl benzenes before sulphonation and, after sulphonation, neutralizing the reaction mixture. A fourth method consists in sulphonating a mixture of benzene or toluene with C9-C18 alkyl benzenes and neutralizing the reaction mixture. Comparative experimental results are given in respect of (1) a number of compositions containing 40 per cent by weight of C12-C15 sodium polypropylene benzene sulphonate and 0.6-10 per cent of sodium benzene or toluene sulphonate, the balance being sodium sulphate, and (2) a similar series of compositions containing 42-55 per cent by weight of sodium tripolyphosphate as well as sodium sulphate. U.S.A. Specification 2,477,383 is referred to.