GB980543A - Washing agents - Google Patents

Abstract

A detergent composition comprises (a) a salt of the carboxylic ester containing 11-22 carbon atoms of a C10-20-sulphonated fatty acid and a monohydric alcohol, and (b) a fatty alkyl sulphate, usually having 10-20. and preferably 12-18, carbon atoms, and/or an alkylbenzene sulphonate, preferably one in which the alkyl group contains 9-15 carbon atoms and is derived from polypropylene; (a) is preferably derived from a -sulphonated C10-18-fatty acids esterified with C1-4-alcohols, and in particular may either be derived from fatty acid mixtures of which at least 50% by weight contain 12-14 carbon atoms, or from mixtures of which at least 50% contain 16 to 18 carbon atoms provided that the total number of carbon atoms present is not more than 20; esters of a -sulphonated palmitic acid are particularly favoured; (a) generally comprises 20-90%, preferably 35-70%, by weight of the total of (a) and (b). The compositions generally also include 0-20%, preferably 1-5%, of foam stabilizers (but not more than 50% of the total of (a) and (b) such as fatty amides, alkanolamides and condensates thereof with ethylene oxide; 0-70%, preferably 10-50%, of carbonates, bicarbonates, silicates, orthophosphates and sodium sulphate; 0-70%, preferably 5-40%, pyro-, tripoly-, tetrapoly-and meta-phosphates, 0-3.5%, preferably 0-3%, sodium perborate, 0-15%, preferably 3-10%, magnesium silicate, 0.20%, preferably 0-10%, acid phosphates and polyphosphates, boric, citric, oxalic, lactic, glycolic, tartaric or sulphamic acids; and 0-2%, preferably 0.2-1.5%, polymeric carboxylates, glue, gelatin, ether carboxylic or sulphonic acids of starch or cellulose, especially carboxymethyl cellulose, or cellulose or starch sulphates. In such compositions (a) and (b) together generally form 5-75%, and preferably 10-35%, by weight. Hydrotropes, such as the toluene and xylene sulphonates, solvents such as C1-4-alcohols, tri-, tetra- and polyethylene glycols, and magnesium sulphate may also be present. Where undefined, the cations present in any of the salts mentioned may be sodium, potassium or mono-, di- or tri-ethanolamine. The composition may be produced in powder, paste or liquid form.