CA1321334C - Liquid cleaners - Google Patents

Abstract

IMPROVED LIQUID CLEANSERS

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

Aqueous detergent compositions containing butoxy-propanol with a low level of the "secondary" isomer have improved odor characteristics with a variety of perfume compositions even when the compositions contain other typical cosolvents. Preferred compositions include hard surface cleaners having good filming and streaking properties. The compositions contain a detergent surfactant and, desirably, a detergent builder.

Description

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IMPROVED LIQUID CLEANERS

Charlene M. Hastedt Ralph F. Medcalf, Jr.
Geneva G. Otten S TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to liquid detergent compositions. In particular, it relates to aqueous dete~gent compositions suitable for use as a general purpose household cleaning composi~ions.
` ACKGROUND
Attention is directed to the liquid detergent compositions disclosed in Australian Pat. Application 82188168, filed Sept. 9, 19~2, by The Procter & Gamble Company; U.K. Pat. Application GB 2,166,153A, filed Oct. 24, 1985, by The Procter & Gamble Company; and U.K. Pat. Application GB ~,160,887A, published April 30, 1986, by Bristol-Myers Company.
These liquid detergent compositions comprise certain organic solvents, surfactant, and optional builder and/or abrasive. The prior art, however, fails to teach or recognize, the advantage of the specific organic solvent herein in a liquid cleaner formulation.
General purpose household cleaning compositions for hard surfaces such as metal, glass, ceramic, plastic and linoleum surfaces, are comrnercially available in both powdered and liquid form. Powdered cleaning compositions consist mainly of builder or buffering salts such as phosphates, carbonates, silicates, etc. Such compositions display good inorganic soil removal, but they can be deficient in cleaning ability on organic soils such as the calcium and/or magnesium salts of fatty acids, commonly called soap scum or bathtub soil, and greasy/fatty/oily soils typically found in the domestic environment.

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Liquid cleaning compositions have the great advantage that they can be applied to hard surfaces in neat ar concentratPd form so that a relatively high level of surfactant material and organic ;
solvent is delivered directly to the soil. Moreover, it is a rather more straightforward task to incorporate high concen-trations of anionic or nonionic surfactant in a liquid rather than a granular composit;on. For both these reasons, therefore, liquid cleaning compositions have the potential to provide superior soap scum, grease, and oily soil removal over powdered cleaning compo-sitions.
Nevertheless, liquid cleaning compositions still suffer a number of drawbacks which can limit their consumer acceptability.
Thus, they frequently contain little or no detergency builder salts and consequently they tend to have poor cleaning performancQ
15 on particulate soil and also lack "robustness" at high water hardness levels. In additian, they can suffer problems of prsduct form, in particular, inhomogeneity, lack of clarity~ or inadequate viscosity characteristics, or excessive "solvent" odor for con-sumer use. The odor problems are made more acute by the higher in-product and in-use surfactant concentrations necessary for improved grease handling, and the consumers' typical habit of diluting the cleaning compositions with hot, or very warm, water which increiases the vapor pressure of volatile cnmponents.
It has now been determined that a particular butoxy propanol solvent is preferred for odor reasons in liquid cleaners.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONi According to the present inv2ntion there is provided an aqueous liquid detergent composition comprising:
(a) fro~ about 0.1% to about 40X of detergent surfactant;
~b) from about ~.57. to about 25% of butoxy-propanol in which no more than about 20%, preferably less than about 10%, most preferably less than about 7% is the "secondary"
isomer (2-butoxy-propanol) in which the butoxy group is attached to the secondary carbon atom of the propanol; ::
(c) from about U% to about 30YO of detergency builder; and (d) at least about 50% water, said composition being pack-aged in a container that is not adapted to create a spray.
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DTAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENJION
It has now been discovered that some of the odor defects of prior art liquid cleaning compositions can be minimized or over-come through the incsrporation therein of a specific butoxy-propanol solvent. This solvent has superior odor acceptance as compared to other solvents and to a butoxy-propanol solvent which contains higher levels of the "secondary~ isomer. The solvent also has the ability to provide excellent cleaning characteristics across a range of water hardness and/or greasy/oily soils and inorganic particulate soils, as well as to enhance the cleaning contribution of other ingredients, e.g., the detergent surfactant and detergent builders, on marker ink, bathtub soil, calcium soap scum, etc., and excellent shine performance with low soil redepo-sition and little or no propensity to cause filming, streaking or spotting on surfaces washed therewith.
The present in~ention thus provides excellent liquid deter-gent compositions which provide excellent shine performance together with improved cleaning characteristics both on greasy-oily soils and on inorganic particulate soils with little tendency to cause filming or streaking on washed surfaces, and which have importantly preferred odors.
Aqueous liquid cleaners are used full strength or in further dilution in water by th@ oonsumer to clean a wide variety of hard surfaces.
The uses for such cleaning li~uids are too numerous to be specified oompletely, but such liquids are useful for cleaning of counter tops, painted surfaces, walls, floors, appliance exterior surfaces, tables, chairs, windows, mirrors, and so forth. It is understood that terms like Cg-C1g alkyl benzene sulfonate include singular compounds, as well as mixtures thereof.
The Deterqent Surfactant First, such liquid cleaners contain from about 0.1% to about 40X of suitable detergent surfactant. Successively more preferred r3nges of surfactant inclusion are from about 1% to about 10% of surfactant, and from about 2% to about 5% of surfactant. Broadly, the surfactants useful for formulation of aqueous liquid cleaners are the usual ones for hard surface cleaners. Some specific surfactants are those in the broad surfa tant disclosure of U.S.

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Pat. No. 4,287,020, Siklosi, issued Sept. 1, 1981.

The detergent surfactant falls into the following classes:
anionic, cationic, nanionic, zwitterionic and amphoteric sur-s factants. This is taken from Col. 4 of U.S. Pat. No. 4,287,080, Siklosi.
Preferred surfactants for use in such cleaners are one or more of the following: sodium linear Cg-C1g alkyl benzene sul-fonate (LAS), particularly C11-C12 LAS; the sodium salt of a coconut alkyl ether sulfate containing 3 moles of ethylene oxide;
the adduct of a random secondary alcohol having a range of alkyl chain lengths of from 11 to 15 carbon atoms and an average of 2 to 10 ethylene oxide moieties, se~eral commercially available examples of ~hich are Tergitol~15-S-3, Tergitol 15-S-5, Tergitol 15-S-7, and Tergitol 15-S-~, all available from Union Carbide Corporation; the sodium and potassium salts of coconut fatty acids (coconut soaps); the condensation product of a straight-chain primary alcohol containing from about 8 carbons to about 16 carbon atoms and having an averaye carbon chain length of from about 10 to about 12 carbon atoms with from about 4 to about 8 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol; an amide having one of the preferred formulas:
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R - C - N(R1)z wherein R is a straight-chain alkyl group containing from about 7 to about 15 carbon atoms and having an average carbon chain length of from about 9 to about 13 carbon atoms and wherein each Rl is a hydroxy alkyl group containin~ from 1 to about 3 carbon atoms; a zwitterionic surfactant having one of the preferred formulas in the broad surfactant disclosure above; or a phosphine oxide surfactant having one of the preferred formulas in the broad disclosure of semipolar nonionic surfactants. Another preferred class of surfactants is the fluorocarbon surfactants, examples of which are FC-129, a potassium fluorinated alkylcarboxylate and FC-170-C, a mixture of fluorinated alkyl polyoxyethylene ~thanols, both available from 3M Corporation, as well as the Zonyl fluoro-surfactants, available from ~uPont Corporation. It is understood ~ .

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that mixtures of various surfactants may be used. An especially preferred surfactant for use herein is the sodium salt of linear C11-C12 alkyl benzene sulfonate (LAS~.
For many purposes, synthetic (e.g., nonsoap) detergent surfactants are desirable.
ButoxY-Pro~anol A second essential ingredient of aqueous liguid cleaners of the present invention is 0.5% to 25%, preferably 197 to 15%, of butoxy-propanol (mono butyl ether of propylene glycol) that contains no more than about 20%, preferably no more than about lOYo, more preferably no more than about 7% of the "secondary"
isomer in which the butoxy group is attached to the secondary carbon atom of the propanol, i.e., 1-hydroxy-2-butoxy-propanol.
The preferred isomer is the one in which the butoxy group is attached to ~he primary carbon of propylene glycol (1-hydroxy-1-methyl-2-butoxyethane). A major commercial source of butoxy-propanol which was available heretofore contained about one third of the ~secondary" isomer.
The butoxy-propanol solvent containing only small amounts of the ~secondary" isomer provides an effective liquid~ aqueous detergent composition with improved odor as compared to compo-sitions containing more "secondary" isomer or other conventional organic solvents 1 ike Butyl Carb;tol~. The odor of the improved butoxy-propanol is stil7 not sufficiently improved to permit compositions containing it to be sprayed. I.e., the compositiun should not be packaged in a container that is adapted to create a spray. Excessive volatilization, such as occurs when a comp-osition is sprayed, has been shown, by actu~l consumer experience, to create an unacceptable odor, even with compositions cuntaining the improved butoxy-propanol defined herein. Ordinary perfumes do not cover the residual butoxy-propanol odor when the co~positions are sprayed.
The odor advantage of the improved butoxy-propanol is seen with many perfumes, and even when other organic solvents are present. Compositions containing these ~primary" isomers have a "brighterU or "cieaner" smell. The solvent enhances perfumes even in the presence of other solvents, especially less volatile solvents. Accordingly, mixtures oF butoxy-propanol and other - 6 - 1 3 2~ 3 3 ~
solvents such as butoxypropoxypropanol or butyldiglycol, which are less ~olatile, are desirable since the impact of any particular odor is less.
Most perfumes are compatible with the low "secondary" isomer compositions including the popular pine and citrus (lemon) per-fumes.
The levels of the "secondary" isomer in the composition should be less than about 5%, preferably less than about 3%, more preferably less than about lX.
The Perfume Perfume compositions are preferably used at a level of from about 0.01% to about 5%, more preferably from about 0.1% to about 4%, and for some compositions more preferably from about 0.2% to about 2% by weight of the composition. The effect of the butoxy-propanol is to enhance the perfume odor making it "brighter" or "cleaner." The exact basis for this effect is not known, but is independent of perfume type. The enhancement is of a nature that is compatible with the intended use of the compositions, i.e., cleaning.
Examples of perfume compounds and compositions that are useful can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos.: 4,145,184, Brain and Cummins, issued Mar. 20, lg79; 4,515,705, Moeddel, issued May 7, 1985; and 4,152,272, Young, issued May 1, 1979.

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The perfumes that are typieally used include o;trus, pine, floral, spice, etc., perfumes. Other perfume types can be used as well when the odor is consistent with the desired end use. Citrus and pine are especially desirably for hard surface cleaners.
Deterqent 8uilder A third desirable component of the aqueous liquid cleaners of the present invention is from 0% to about 30%, preferably from about 1% to about 15X, more preferably from about 1% to about 12%, of detergent builder. While any of the builders or inorganic salts may be used herein, the preferred builders for use herein are sodium nitrilotriacetate, potassium pyrophosphate, potassium tripolyphosphate, sodium or potassium ethane-l-hydroxyl~ di-- phosphonate, the nonphosphorous chelating agents described in the copending Canadian Pat. Application of Culshaw and Vos, Ser. No.

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563,241 filed April 5, 1988, (e.g., carboxyrnethyltartronic acid, oxydi-malonic acid, tartrate monosuccinic acid, oxydisuccinic acid, tartrate disuccinic acid, and mixtures thereof), sodium citrate, sodium carbonate, sodium sulfite, sodium bicarbonate, and so forth. Most preferred builders for use herein are sodium car-bonate, sodium bicarbonate, tetrapstassium pyrophosphate, sodium tartrate monosuccinic acid and mixtures thereof with tartrate disuccinic acid, sodium nitrilotriacetate, sodium N-(diethylene-glycol)-iminodiacetate, and sodium N-(2-hydroxypropyl)-iminodi-acetate, and the like, sodium sulfite, as well as mixtures of these preferred materials. Potassium pyrophosphate, sodium carbonate, and sodium citrate are preferred builders and are preferably used at a level of from about 1% to about 15Zo.
The OPtionals An optional ingredient which is sometimes highly desirable in aqueous liquid cleaners is a hydrotrope which serves to stabilize the compositions by aiding in the solubilization of their com-ponents. From about 0.1% to about 12% of the hydrotroping agent is used, particularly in compositions with less soluble diols or higher amounts of diols. The hydrotroping agent is selected from the group consisting of alkali metal, ammonium, and triethanolam-monium isopropylbenzene sulfonates, xylene sulfonates, toluene sulfonates, benzene sulfonates, 5 (or 6)-carboxy-4-hexyl-2-cyclo-2S hexane-1-octanoic acid available from Westvaco Corporation, and mixtures thereof. Specific hydrotroping agents found to be useful herein are sodium cumene sulfonate and potassium toluene sul-fonate.
Other cosolvents that can be used include: butoxypropoxy-prupanol t butyl diglycol (Butyl Carbitol0), hexyl diglycol (Hexyl Carbitol~3, butyl triglycol, and mixtures thereof. The level of cosolvent is typically from about 0.2%, to about 20X, preferably from about 1% to about 15%, more preferably from about 2% to about 10%. The ratio of butoxy-propanol to cosolvent should be more than about 1:10, preferably more than about 1:4.
In many applications it will be highly desirable to incor-porate a suds suppressor as an optional ingredient in the aqueous liquid cleaners herein. The purpose of this ingredient is to -. .

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eliminate the need to repetitively rinse a surface after it is washed in order to remove all visible traces of the surfactant.
The composition should contain about 1% or less of the suds suppressor, if it is used. One example is the sodium or potassium ;
salt of a coconut fatty acid. Another example of a suitable suds suppressor is a surfactant which is the condensation product of a straight-chain random secondary alcohol having a chain length of from about 11 to about 15 carbon atoms and having an average length of from about 12 to about 15 carbon atoms with from about 1 to about 3 moles of ethylene oxide.
The balance of the composition (50% to 98%) is water, pref-erably soft water in order to minimize the initial load on the sequestering builders.
Further discussions of the requirements and formulation of aqueous liquid cleaners are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,287,080, Siklosi, supra; 3,679,608, Aubert et al., issued July 25, 1972;
and 3,g70,594, Olaybaugh, issued July 20, 1976.
' All percentages, parts, and ratios herein are by weight unless otherwise specified.
The following examples are illustrative of the present invention. All of the compositions are packaged in conventional packages that are not adapted to create a spray.

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EXAMPLE I
A B C
Component Wt. % Wt. % Wt. ~o Sodiu~ LAS (C12 benzene sulfonate) 2.0 5.0 2.0 Coconut Fatty Acid 1.0 1.0 1.0 Sodium Carbonate 1.5 2.0 2.0 Sodium Bicarbonate 1.0 1.0 1.0 Tetrapotassium Pyrophosphate11.0 8.0 10.0 Sodium Sulfite 0.2 0.2 0.3 Sodium Cumene Sulfonate 6.0 5.0 6.5 Ammonia 1.0 - -Monoethanolamine 0.5 0.5 -Minors (perfume, color, etc.~ 2.0 1.9 2.0 8utoxypropoxypropanol - - 7.0 2.0 Butoxy-Propanol (<7%
"secondary" isomer) 1~.0 2.0 1.0 Soft Water Balance Balance Balance The materials above are combined and stirred until dissolved.

EXAMPLE II
~9mes~ Wt. %
Sodium LAS (C12 benzene sul~unate) 2.0 Coconut Fatty Acid 1.0 Sodium Carbonate . 1.5 Sodium Bicarbonate 1.0 Tetrapotassium Pyrophosphate 11.0 3Q Sodium Sulfite 0.2 Sodium Cumene Sulfonate ` 6.0 A~monia : 1.0 Minors (perfume, color, etc.) 2.0 ;~ .
Butoxy-Propanol (<7%
"secondary" isomer) 5.0 Butoxypropoxypropanol 5.0 Soft Water Balance The materials above are combined and stirred until dissolved.

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EXAMP~E III `~
ComQonent Wt~ %
Sodium LAS gC~2 benzene sulfonate~ 3.0 Coconut Fatty Acid o.5 Sodium Carbonate 2.0 Sod;um Bicarbonate 2.0 Sodium Citrate 8.0 ::
Sodium Sulfite 0.2 Sodium Cumene Sulfonate 5.G
Ammonia }.0 Minors (perfume, color? etc.) 2.0 Butoxy-Propanol (<7% , "secondary" isomer) 2.0 Butyl Carbitol~ 9.5 Soft Water Balance The materials above are combined and stirred until dissolved.

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Claims (6)

1. An aqueous liquid detergent composition comprising:
(a) from about 0.1% to about 40% of detergent surfactant;
(b) from about 0.5% to about 25% of butoxypropanol containing less than about 20% of secondary isomer;
(c) from 0% to about 30% of detergency builder; and (d) at least about 50% water, said composition being packaged in a container that is not adapted to create a spray.

2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the surfactant is anionic.

3. The composition of claim 1 comprising:
(a) from about 1% to about 5% of sodium allyl (C8-C18) benzene sulfonate surfactant;
(b) from about 1% to about 15% of said butoxypropanol (b);
(c) from about 1% to about l5% tetrapotassium pyrophosphate builder; and (d) from about 0.1% to about 4% perfume composition.

4. The composition of claim 1 wherein the surfactant is a mixture of anionic and nonionic types.

5. The composition of claim 1 additionally comprising from about 0.2% to about 20% of cosolvent selected from the group consisting of:
butoxypropoxypropanol, butyl diglycol, butyl triglycol, hexyl diglycol, and mixtures thereof.

6. The composition of claim 1 containing from about 0.01% to about 5% perfume composition.