US2855367A

US2855367A - Detergent composition

Info

Publication number: US2855367A
Application number: US454618A
Authority: US
Inventors: Buck Charles Edward
Original assignee: Colgate Palmolive Co
Current assignee: Colgate Palmolive Co
Priority date: 1954-09-07
Filing date: 1954-09-07
Publication date: 1958-10-07
Anticipated expiration: 1975-10-07

Description

ploy such a synthetic detergent. gents aregenerally employed in a composition designed to possess foaming and cleansing propertiescharacteristic of the heavy duty soaps which they replaced. 'Since thevolume'of foamis generally considered by the house- DETERGENT COMPOSITION Charles Edward Buck,TNorth Arlington, N. .L, assignor to Colgate-Palmolive Company, Jersey City,'N. J., a corporation of Delaware Application September 7,. 1954 Serial N o.-.454,618

-11 Claims. (CL' 252-138) No Drawing.

"The present invention relates to *detergent compositionshaving controlled-foaming power inboth hard and soft water.

Having had'many years experience with the useof soap detergent compositions now used by thehousewifeem- These synthetic deterwife to be indicative of the cleansing power of the composition being employed, most modern heavy dutysynthetic detergent compositions are designed to foam as generously as possible.

For'most purposes such-generously foaming detergent compositions are satisfactory. However, it has been found that when washing fabrics in tumbler type household automatic washing machines it is undesirablelto Iemploy generously foaming detergent compositions because of the prolific foam-producing action of thesemachines.

. Thus if too higha concentration of agenerously foaming washing agent is 'employed in: these machines spill-over results. That is, the volume oftfoam producedis suchas to completely fill themachine, escape through theport normally provided at the topiof the machine for supplying detergent or bleach or other material thereto, and spill over on t-oithefloor on which the machine stands.

-This is inconvenient to cleanupand may mar: theifloor.

:A .second consequence of the presence of copious amounts of foam in such-machinesis .a hindrance, by

such foam, of the mechanical tumbling and rubbing action tofttheifabricszbeing washed. This is an undesirable result as such mechanical. .actiontwaids in the removal of soil from thefabrics by thedetergentlsolutionibeing used.

.A further important disadvantage of the use of agenerou'sly foaming composition in such machines is'amechanical interference with the operation of theimachine 'known as suds-lock. .Suds.lock normally occurs when the. machine reaches that portion .of its cycle wherein the perforated basket or tumblerismotatedvat ahigh-velocity to expel by centrifugal .force .the liquid .held vby .the clothesin the machine. If :the liquid being expelled foams sufiiciently, .the.-foam .fills .thespace between the outside of therapidly rotating-,perforated tumbler and the surrounding. stationarycnclosure andfrequently exerts such aretardingforceor dragon the spinning tumbler as to overload t-heamotor of (the machine causing a fuse orran overload relay toactto stop 'the machine. In .this case the clothes must be removed from the machine and be rung and rinsedby hand so as to lighten the load .on the machine. [.In otherfinstancesthe machine is not stpped,.but the speed of the tumbler is so. reduced by the United States Patent 2 drag of the foam as to insufficiently expel thelliquidifrom the clothes being washed and thus the clothesare not properly rinsed.

Spill-over-and' suds-lock are commonly experienced if the concentration of ah-generously foaming detergent is sufficient to do a satisfactory cleansing job onclothes which have a light soilload. Thus it hasbeenlfoun'd that in soft water it isnot possible to use a suflicient-concentration of a typical heavy duty commercial-soap composition on a'lightly soiled load of wash without .eX- periencingspill-over and suds-lock. These difiiculties occur even more-prevalently and with more heavily soiled loads when modern generously foaming synthetic detergent compositions are employed. 1

Thus there is a substantial need for detergents having 'controlledfoaming properties in conjunction with a high degree of detersive power for use in automa ticrtumbler typehousehold washing machine. However, since the housewife associatesfoamingwith washing, 'for aesthetic purposes. it is desirable to..provide washing compositions for'this use whichwillform a stable foam of minimum but 'sufficient volume. to indicate'the presence and approximate concentration of the detergent composition that is tions :are prepared possessing. ahigh degree of. detergent 'power'andthe'ability to'produce a suitable minimum amount of foamwhen used "in tumbler type automatic Washing machines: infnormal concentrations for proper cleansing action in either'hard'or soft water. lThis unusual result is obtained by a noveljcombination of certain other- WlSC' generously foamingwashing agents and a foam'controlling and detergency improvingadditive.

The composition-of the invention consists essentiallyof a' water soluble polyalkylene' oxide detergent condensate of a hydrophobic'compoundselected from the groupconsisting of alkyl phenols and higher aliphaticmonohydric alcohols, a water soluble salt of 'a higher allstyl aryl sulfonate detergent, and a higher aliphatic'alcjohol. -In

the'present compositions the foam generatedby theirnixtureof the'non-ionic detergent'and the sulfonated detergent is controlled by the highenaliphatic alcohol which is present'as aminorproportion of the mixture. The compositions of thepresent invention, which are excellent detergents, may be prepared in liquid, paste "or powder form and maybe associated with inorganic buildersalts as well as other adjuvant materials.

The non-ionic detergent condensates of the present invention are polyalkeneoxy ethers of a hydrophobiccompound selected from the group consisting of alkyl phenols and higheraliphatic "monohydric alcohols. "The degree "or proportion of the hydrophilic "polyalkeneoxy groups "presentin'a particular condensate Willvary ,With'the specific hydrophobic group therein, generally 1 increasing as the number of carbon atoms in the hydrophobic group increases so as to be sufficient to confer the desired water solubility and detersive properties -'on the "final 'product.

These, detergents are knownin the"art'an'd determination of a specific 'hydrophilic'z'hydrophobic'relationship is--not the essential novelty of theqpresentiinvenalkyl aromatic sulfonates.

alkyl group is about 12 to 15 carbon atoms. yample, propylene may be polymerized to the tetramer .mary alcohols.

decanol, hexadecanol and octadecanol. the contemplation of the present invention to employ unthe character of the hydrophobic group, the detergent condensates included in the present invention will possess at least 5 and usually about 5 to 50 alkeneoxy groups. For example the number of ethenoxy groups per molecule of condensate may be about 7.5, 8.5, 11.5, 20.5 or 30, the range from about 8 to 20 being preferred.

The hydrophobic portion of the non-ionic detergent of the present invention may be an alkyl phenol which has an alkyl group of at least about 5 and usually 8 to 20 carbon atoms. For example the alkyl substituent on the aromatic nucleus may be diisobutylene, diamyl, isooctyl, nonyl, ethyl hcxyl, polymerized propylene, dimerized C C- olefin, and the like. Preferred substituents are the iso-octyl and nonyl groups. Another class of compounds which may act as the hydrophilic portion of the non-ionic detergent of the present invention consists of the higher aliphatic monohydric alcohols. These alcohols have from about 8 to 22 carbon atoms, may have straight or branched chains, and may be saturated or unsaturated. Examples thereof are iso-octyl, nonyl, decyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, hexadecyl, octadecyl and oleyl alcohols which may be condensed with an appropriate amount of ethylene oxide, such as at least about 6, and preferably about 10-30 moles. A typical product is tridecyl alcohol condensed with about 12, or moles of ethylene oxide per mole of tridecyl alcohol.

The water soluble higher alkyl aryl sulfonate salt used in compositions of the present invention may be mononuclear or polynuclear in structure. More particularly the aromatic nucleus may be derived from benzene, toluene, xylene, phenol, cresols, naphthalene, etc. The alkyl substituent on the aromatic nucleus may vary widely, as long as the desired detergent power of the active ingredient is preserved. While the number of sulfonic acid groups present on the nucleus may vary it is usual to have one such group present in order to preserve as much as possible a balance between the hydrophilic and hydrophobic portions of the molecule.

More specific examples of suitable alkyl aromatic sulfonate detergents are water soluble salts of the higher The higher alkyl substituent on the aromatic nucleus may be branched or straightchain in structure; it comprises moreover such groups as decyl, dodecyl, keryl, pentadecyl, mixed long-alkyls derived from long-chain fatty materials, cracked paraflin Wax olefins, polymers of lower monoolefins, etc. Preferred examples of this class are the higher alkyl mononuclear aryl sulfonate salts wherein the alkyl group is about 8 to about 20, and preferably about 12 to 15 carbon atoms. More particularly, it is preferred to use the higher alkyl benzene sulfonate salts wherein the higher For exand condensed with benzene in the presence of a Friedel- Crafts catalyst to yield essentially the dodecyl benzene derivative which is suitable for sulfonation and neutrali- ,preferably about 10 to about 18 to 20 carbon atoms. ,These aliphatic alcohols may be saturated or unsaturated in character. It is preferred to use the saturated pri- Examples of suitable alcohols falling within this classification are decanol, dodecanol, tetrasaturated higher aliphatic alcohols (e. g. oleyl alcohol), branched chain and secondary higher aliphatic alcohols, and higher aliphatic diols. It is not necessary to use the pure substances themselves as the commercial mixtures of these substances are also operable and are preferred from the viewpoint of economy. Thus, commercial mixtures of fatty alcohols containing predominantly the al- It is also within cohols of 10 to 18 carbon atoms are included within the scope of this invention, even though such mixtures may 4 contain minor amounts of fatty alcohols of different chain length.

The aliphatic alcohols may be derived either from natural or synthetic sources. Many naturally occurring wax esters are an important source of higher aliphatic alcohols." Certain animal oils, chiefly those of marine origin such as sperm oil, also contain a high proportion of recoverable alcohols occurring as esters. The most plentiful and economic sources for their production however are their preparation from fatty acids or aldehydes by reduction, or their recovery from oxidized petroleum stocks, and the like, by processes known in the art, e. g. the 0x0 process.

The ratios in which the essential components of the present novel compositions will be employed are a function of the components used and the desired foaming characteristics of the end product. It has been found that the non-ionic detergent condensates used in the pres vent invention foam more generously in soft than in hard water, and the converse has been found true of the alkyl aryl sulfonate salts of the present invention. Therefore the foaming characteristics of the final composition may be adjusted to a certain extent by varying the ratios of these two components. However the aliphatic alcohol is the primary means for controlling the foaming property of the present compositions, acting to reduce the amount of foam produced and to substantially equalize the amount of foam produced by particular compositions when used in hard water on the one hand or in soft water on the other. tial components may therefore vary considerably within the limits wherein the ratio of non-ionic condensate to alkyl aryl sulfonate detergent is from about 10:1 to about 1:2 by weight, and the ratio of the non-ionic condensate to the higher aliphatic alcohol is from about 40:1 to about 1:1 by weight. In general it is preferred that there be more non-ionic condensate present than alkyl aryl sulfonate detergent, and that there be more alkyl aryl sulfonate detergent present than there is higher aliphatic alcohol.

It is one embodiment of the invention to utilize the detergent condensate, the alkyl aryl sulfonates, and the higher aliphatic alcohol of the present invention to prepare a liquid detergent composition. tions it is usually desirable that the proper proportions of the ingredients essential to the present invention be incorporated in a suitable solvent medium such as ethanol or isopropanol. Other suitable lower aliphatic alcohols may be employed if desired, and water may be used as a diluent in compatible amounts. The total concentration of the non-ionic detergent condensate, alkyl aryl sulfonate and the higher aliphatic alcohol in the liquid composition should usually be sufficient to produce a concentrated solution such as about 10 to by weight.

It is another embodiment of the present invention to prepare dry detergent compositions by mixing the proper proportions of the essential components of the present invention with suflicient suitable inorganic salt, normally a major proportion, to produce an apparently dry uble builder salts as the various alkali metal phosphates,

particularly the molecularly-dehydrated polyphosphate salts may be employed in a suitable manner. Examples of phosphate builders are pentasodium tripolyphosphate, hexasodium hexametaphosphate, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, etc. Other water soluble inorganic builder salts The particular proportions of the three essen- In such composi-.

-eter. is had to it by means of a water-tight door'in the front added inorganic salts to produce powdered products may be-prepared'for use'in any suitable manner, i. e. a suitable mixture containing hydratable inorganic salt may be agitated with a small amount of water so as to hydrate the hydratable inorganic salt present and cause agglomera- "tion thereof and adsorption of the organic constituents, or

the components may simply'be mixed, or theymay be islurried with water and spray dried. In the event the components are slurried and spray dried, it may be desirable in some instances to include in the slurry a dispersing agent to helpmaintainuniformity as it has been found that under certain conditions solids settle out and/ or an oily layer separates from such'slurries. Suitable dispersing agents are the alkali metal salts, usually the sodium salt, of'the condensation product offormaldehyde'and naphthalene sulfonic acids, particularly alkyl naphthalene sulfonic acids.

Suitable organic materials 'such as .sodium carboxymethylcellulose or other suitable organic additives may also 'be employed as desired'with the compositions of the present invention.

Bystating that a detergent composition has .the ability to produce a suitable minimum amount of foam when used in tumbler type automatic washing machines in norvmal concentrations for proper cleansing in either hard or soft water it is meant that an approximately solution of the detergent composition in either hard (e. g. about 300 pp. m. hardness) or soft (e. g. about 50 p. p. In. hardness) water at about 120 F. foams to a height of at least /2 but not more than 5 inches during washing of household linens of average soil load in a household horizontal tumbler type automatic washing machine.

The following examples are givento additionally illustrate the nature of the invention and it will be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Allparts are by'weight unless otherwise specified.

EXAMPLE I v The:followingcomposition, whichis a preferred formulation, is prepared.

Formula A Parts Non-ionic detergent 1 10.00 Dodecyl benzene sulfonate, sodium salt 4.00

n-Hexadecanol L50 Pentasodium tripolyphosphate 25.00 Soda ash 10.00 Aqueous sodium silicate (43.5% solids,

Na O:SiO =l:2.35) 6.00 Carboxymethylcellulose 0.50 Fluorescent dye 0.06 Sodium sulfate 42.94

"The non-ionic detergent is a nonyl phenolethylene oxide condensate containing about 9.5 ethenoxy groups per moleeuleof condensate.

Another composition, Formula B, is prepared containing sodium sulfate in the place of the n-hexadecanol alcohol of Formula A. These two compositions are com- .pared by use in a tumbler type automatic washing machine -wherein clothes are washed in a rotating perforated cylindricalbasket-like tumbler about 24 inches in diam- The'basket rotates on a horizontal axis, and access of themachine, the door .being locatedadjacent to the open-end- 'of the basket. :An 8 inch. diameter fglassobservation port is centrally located in the door and-in-normal operation of the automatic roachine the liquid level during the washing cycle is about at the base of=the observation port. A composition is consideredtohave desirable foaming characteristics for use in-sucha machine if under normal conditions for satisfactory cleansing foam isproduce'd during the washing cycle to a height approximately /2 to 5 inches above the liquid level. The'height of'the foam produced during the washing cycle is observed through the observation port .at various time intervals after the detergent composition is added. In theseruns the amount of the detergent composition being employed is sufficient to constitute 0.26% by weight of the solution in the machine. The water used in these tests is soft water of about parts per million hardness and hard water of about 300 parts per million hardness, the tests being carried out at 120 F. The total washing cycle of the machine is aperiod of about 10 minutes in length. The results of these tests are given in Table I below.

TABLE L-AVERAGE WASHING MACHINE FOAM HEIGHT ABOVE BASE OF PORT, IN INCHES 7 SOFT WATER The data in Table I clearly. show that Formula A is a superior product to Formula B in that it produces a stable foam within the desirable range of from /2 to '5 inches in both hard and soft water, whereas Formula "B, which lacks thefatty alcohol of'Formula A, foams excessively in I soft water.

The clothes used in the-above tests comprise items such as sheets, pillow cases, bath towels, hand towels, dish towels, face'cloths and table cloths which are soiled by home usage and rewashed in Formula A or Formula B respectively six times. In order to determine the detersive efficiency of the composition being tested, a Hunter refiectometer is used to measure the whiteness-of these clothes beforethe first soiling and after the last of six successive soilings and washing. The results of these tests are shown in Table II, a difference of about one unit being significant.

TABLE IL-HOUSEHOLD SOIIJED ARTICLES-SIX SOILINGS The higher the number, the more soil remaining on the article.

The data of Table II show that the fatty alcohol of Formula A significantly improves the detergency thereof in soft water, whereas in hard water there is no significant difference in the detergency'of Formulas A and B under the conditions of the test.

Included with each load of wash used for the six soilings and washings of household articles referred to above are cotton swatches which have been artificially uniformly soiled with a standard soil. The whiteness of these swatches is determined as described above before and after each washing as a second measure of the detersivc powers of Formulas A and B. Table III shows the average of these six evaluations of each formula. (Note that the data of Table III arebased on originally soiled swatches and therefore represent amount of soil removed, whereas the data of Table II above are based on originally unsoiled articles and represent soil which was not removed after soiling and Washing.)

TABLE TIL-STANDARD SOILED SWATOHES-REFLECT- OMETER UNITS LIGHTER THAN ORIGINAL S OFT IVATE R The higher the number, the cleaner the article.

The data of Table III show again that the fatty alcohol significantly improves the detergency of Formula A in soft waterbut does not significantly aifect the detergency thereof in hard water, in comparison with Formula B.

EXAMPLE H The following composition represents one having about the maximum permissible foam height in soft water, and a somewhat lower amount in hard water when used in an automatic tumbler-type washing machine as set forth in Example I.

Formula C Parts Tridecyl alcohol-ethylene oxide condensate containing about 12 ethenoxy groups per molecule of condensate 10.00

Dodecyl benzene sulfonate, sodium salt 4.00 n-Hexadecanol' 1.50 Pentasodium tripolyphosphate 25.00 Soda ash 10.00 Sodium silicate (27.0% Na 55.0% SiO 17.5% H O) 6.00 Sodium carboxymethylcellulose 0.50 Fluorescent dye 0.06 Sodium sulfate 42.94

Another similar composition containing sodium sulfate in the place of the n-hexadecanol of this example foams excessively, filling the machine beyond the uppermost level of the port, when used in soft water in accordance with Example I.

EXAMPLE III A suitable liquid detergent comprises:

' Parts Iso-octyl phenol condensed with about moles of ethylene oxide 20 Tetradecanol 2 Pentadecyl benzene sulfonate, sodium salt 2 Ethanol 76 The ethanol may be partially replaced by water in compatible amounts.

Q 8 EXAMPLE IV A satisfactory powdered detergent composition comprises:

Parts Oleyl alcohol condensed with about 15 moles of ethylene oxide I 5.0 Keryl benzene sulfonate, sodium salt 10.0 Dodecanol 2.0 Tetrasodium pyrophosphate 50.0 Sodium carboxyrnethylcellulose 0.5 Sodium sulfate 32.5

EXAMPLE V A suitable composition comprises:

Parts Ethyl hexyl phenol condensed with about 15 moles of ethylene oxide 45 Decyl naphthalene sulfonate, potassium salt 45 Decanol 10 EXAMPLE VI A further suitable composition comprises:

Parts Iso-octyl phenol-ethylene oxide condensate having about 10 ethenoxy groups per molecule 10 Tetrapropylene benzene sulfonate, potassium salt 6 Hexadecyl alcohol 3 Pentasodium tripolyphosphate 45 Soda ash 10 Sodium sulfate 26 The term consisting essentially of as used in the definition of the ingredients present in the composition claimed is intended to exclude the presence of other materials in such amounts as to interfere substantially with the properties and characteristics possessed by the composition set forth but to permit the presence of other materials in such amounts as not substantially to effect said properties and characteristics adversely.

Although the present invention has been described With reference to particular embodiments and examples, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variations and modifications of this invention can be made and that equivalents canbe substituted therefor without departing from the principles and true spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A detergent composition characterized by a foam height of at least /2 but not greater than 5 inches during the washing of household linens of average soil load in a 4% solution of said composition in either hard or soft water at about F. in a household horizontal tumbler-type automatic washing machine which consists essentially of a water soluble non-ionic polyalkylenc oxide detergent condensate of a hydrophobic compound selected from the group consisting of alkyl substituted phenols and higher aliphatic monohydric alcohols, said alkyl substituent containing from about 5 to about 20 carbon atoms and said condensate containing about 5 to 50 ethylene oxide groups per mole of detergent condensate, a water soluble salt of a higher alkyl aryl sulfonate detergent, and a higher aliphatic alcohol containing from about 8 to 20 carbon atoms, the ratio of said non-ionic condensate to said alkyl aryl sulfonate being from about 10:1 to about 1:2 by weight, and the ratio of said non-ionic condensate to said higher aliphatic alcohol being from about 40:1 to about 1:1 by weight.

2. A detergent composition characterized by a foam height of at least /2 but not greater than 5 inches during the Washing of household linens of average soil load in a solution of said composition in either hard or soft water at about 120 F. in a household horizontal tumbler-type automatic Washing machine which consists essentially of a major proportion of inorganic water soluble builder salts and a minor proportion of a mixture consisting essentially of a water soluble non-ionic polyalkylene oxide detergent condensate of a hydrophobic compound selected from the group consisting of alkyl substituted phenols and higher aliphatic monohydric alcohols, said alkyl substituent containing from about to about 20 carbon atoms and said condensate containing from about 5 to 50 ethylene oxide groups per mole of detergent condensate, a water soluble salt of a higher alkyl aryl sulfonate detergent, and a higher aliphatic alcohol containing about to 18 carbon atoms, the ratio of said non-ionic condensate to said alkyl aryl sulfonate being from about 10:1 to about 1:2 by weight, and the ratio of said non-ionic condensate to said higher aliphatic alcohol being from about 40:1 to about 1:1 by Weight.

3. A detergent composition as set forth in claim 2 which contains water soluble inorganic phosphate salts.

4. A detergent composition as set forth in claim 2 wherein said water soluble non-ionic polyalkylene oxide detergent condensate is a polyethylene oxide condensate of a higher aliphatic monohydric alcohol.

5. A detergent composition characterized by a foam height of at least /2 but not greater than 5 inches during the washing of household linens of average soil load in a 4% solution of said composition in either hard or soft water at about 120 F. in a household horizontal tumbler-type automatic washing machine which consists essentially of a water soluble non-ionic polyethylene oxide condensate of an alkyl phenol, said alkyl group containing from about 5 to about 20 carbon atoms and said condensate containing about 5 to 50 ethylene oxide groups per mole of detergent condensate, a water soluble salt of a higher alkyl benzene sulfonate detergent, said alkyl benzene sulfonate containing from about 8 to 20 carbon atoms in said alkyl radical, and a higher fatty alcohol containing from about 8 to 20 carbon atoms, the ratio of said non-ionic condensate to said alkyl benzene sulfonate being from about 10:1 to 1:2 by weight, and the raito of said non-ionic detergent to said higher fatty alcohol being from about 40:1 to 1:1 by weight.

6. A detergent composition as set forth in claim 5 wherein said fatty alcohol is n-hexadecanol.

7. A detergent composition characterized by the fact that an approximately A% solution of said composition in either hard or soft water at about 120 F. foams to a height of at least /2 but not greater than 5 inches during the washing of household linens of average soil load in a household horizontal tumbler type automatic washing machine, said detergent composition consisting essentially of about 2 to 90% by weight of a mixture of a water soluble non-ionic polyethylene oxide detergent condensate of an alkyl phenol having an alkyl group containing about 5 to 20 carbon atoms, said condensate containing about 8 to 20 ethylene oxide radicals per molecule, a water soluble alkyl aryl sulfonate detergent salt having an alkyl group containing about 8 to 20 carbon atoms, and a higher fatty alcohol containing about 10 to 20 carbon atoms, the ratio of said condensate to said sulfonate detergent being from about 10:1 to about 1:2 by weight and the ratio of said condensate to said fatty alcohol being from about 40:1 to 1:1 by weight, and about 10 to 98% of inorganic water soluble builder salts.

8. A detergent composition as set forth in claim 7 which contains pentasodium tripolyphosphate as an inorganic water soluble builder salt.

9. A detergent composition characterized by the fact that an approximately 34% solution of said composition in either hard or soft water at about 120 F. foams to a height of at least /2 but not greater than 5 inches during the washing of household linens of average soil load in a household horizontal tumbler type automatic washing machine, said detergent composition consisting essentially of a water soluble non-ionic polyethylene oxide condensate of a higher aliphatic alcohol containing from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms and said condensate containing about 5 to 50 ethylene oxide groups per mole of aliphatic alcohol, a water soluble anionic salt of a higher alkyl benzene sulfonate detergent, said alkyl benzene sulfonate containing from about 8 to 20 carbon atoms in said alkyl radical, and a higher fatty alcohol containing from about 8 to 20 carbon atoms, the ratio of said non-ionic condensate to said alkyl benzene sulfonate being from about 10:1 to 1:2 by weight, and the ratio of said non-ionic detergent to said higher fatty alcohol being from about 40:1 to 1:1 by weight.

10. A detergent composition characterized by the fact that an approximately solution of said composition in either hard or soft Water at about 120 F. foams to a height of at least 16 but not greater than 5 inches during the washing of household linens of average soil load in a household horizontal tumbler type automatic washing machine, said detergent composition consisting essentially of about 2 to by weight of a mixture of a Water soluble non-ionic polyethylene oxide detergent condensate of a higher aliphatic alcohol containing about 8 to 22 carbon atoms, said condensate containing about 6 to 30 ethylene oxide radicals per molecule, a water soluble alkyl benzene sulfonate detergent salt having an alkyl group containing about 8 to 20 carbon atoms, and a higher fatty alcohol containing about 10 to 20 carbon atoms, and about 10 to 98% of inorganic water soluble builder salts.

11. A detergent composition as set forth in claim 10 which contains pentasodium tripolyphosphate as an inorganic water soluble builder salt.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,166,314 Martin July 18, 1939 2,213,477 Steindorfi Sept. 3, 1940 2,383,737 Richardson Aug. 28, 1945 2,469,493 Barker May 10, 1949 2,477,383 Lewis July 26, 1949 2,519,062 Miskel Aug. 15, 1950 2,577,503 Baird Dec. 4, 1951 2,742,436 Jenkins Apr. 17, 1956 2,746,932 Vitale May 22, 1956

Claims

10. A DETERGENT COMPOSITION CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT AN APPROXIMATELY 1/4% SOLUTION OF SAID COMPOSITION IN EITHER HARD OR SOFT WATER AT ABOUT 120*F. FOAMS TO A HEIGHT OF AT LEAST 1/2 BUT NOT GREATER THAN 5 INCHES DURING THE WASHING OF HOUSEHOLD LINENS OF AVERAGE SOIL LOAD IN A HOUSHOLE HORIZONTAL TUMBLER TYPE AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINE, SAID DETERGENT COMPOSITION CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF ABOUT 2 TO 90% BY WEIGHT OF MIXTURE OF A WATER SOLUBLE NON-IONIC POLYETHYLENE OXIDE DETERGENT CONDENSATE OF A HIGHER ALIPHATIC ALCOHOL CONTAINING ABOUT 8 TO 22 CARBON ATOMS, SAID CONDENSATE CONTAINING ABOUT 6 TO 30 EHTYLENE OXIDE REDICALS PER MOLECULE, A WATER SOLUBLE ALKYL BENZENE SULFONATE DETERGENT SALT HAVING AN ALKYL GROUP CONTAINING 8 TO 20 CARBON ATOMS, AND HIGHER FATTY ALCOHOL CONTAINING ABOUT 10 TO 20 CARBON ATOMS, AND ABOUT 10 TO 98% OF INORGANIC WATER SOLUBLE BUILDER SALTS.

11. A DETERGENT COMPOSITION AS SET FORTH CLAIM 10 WHICH CONTAINS PENTASODIUM TRIPOLYPHOSPHATE AS AN INORGANIC WATER SOLUBLE BUILDER SALT.