Low-temperature-effective detergent compositions and delivery systems therefor

Reference Number: N 04-07

Inventors: Kaufmann, Edward J.; Wiersig, James R.; Wilts; James F.

Owner: NISTAC

USPTO Link: 5362413

Invention Summary

Because the steady rise in energy costs has made energy intensive manufacturing processes much less attractive, it is an object of this invention to provide detergent mull compositions containing high amounts of nonionic surfactants which do not require high energy consumptive processes for their production.

Because there has been a trend in domestic laundry towards lowered wash temperatures, it is a further object of this invention to provide detergent compositions in the form of mulls which have excellent solubility or dispersibility in cool and cold water and which efficiently remove both particulate and oily soils.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide detergent compositions in the form of mulls which have excellent rates of dispersion/dissolution in cool and cold water and which have good phase stability without the addition of clays or other costly phase-stabilizing ingredients and without the requirement of an extremely small average particle size for the solid components of the mulls.

It is another object of this invention to provide a method for conveniently packing, storing and delivering these detergent compositions to washing machines.

The detergent compositions of this invention comprise:

A detergent composition comprising (a) solid builder, (b) liquid surfactant and, optionally, (c) one or more adjuncts, in the form of a low-temperature wash water dispersible, phase stable mull whose solid phase consists essentially of particulate solid builder having an average particle size greater than about 10 microns and whose liquid phase consists essentially of at least one non-ionic surfactant, wherein said liquid phase has a pour point preferably of less than 75.degree. F., thereby rendering said mull readily dispersible in cold wash water, and wherein said mull is rendered phase stable by the presence thereby of (i) a weight percent amount of said particulate builder which exceeds the weight percent of said liquid nonionic surfactant, or (ii) an amount from 0.1% to 5% by weight of the mull of added water effective to impart a viscosity to the mull of about 10,000 to 100,000 centipoise, or (iii) both.