AU595851B2 - Liquid softergent having improved detergency containing alkyl glycoside - Google Patents

Description

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA Patent Act 1952 CO0M PL ET E S PE C I

(ORIGINAL)

~~51 Class Int. Class Application Number l~ l- Lodged Complete Specification Lodged Accepted Published Thi douullflCAN4iiUS tbo s~dMfts made unde SectiOC 49.

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Priority :30 January 1986 Related Art es ta t ~c a a a a t( It

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a lIt ii I I a It I I It a a a It a. I a *1 Name of Applicant Address of Applicant Actual InventorAx Address for Service COLGATE-PATLMOLIVE COMPANY :300 Park Avenue, New York New York 10022, United States of America *Heidrun E. Maaser RICE CO., Patent Attorneys, 28A Montague Street, BALMAIN 2041.

Complete Specification for the invention entitled: LIQUID SOFTERGENT HAVING IMPROVED DETERGENCY CONTAINING ALKYL GtIYCOSIDE The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to us/cm:- '06-w ia i.

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C V Background of the Invention and Prior Art The present invention relates to novel softergent liquid compositions to be used in the laundering of fabrics, comprising an alkyl glycoside in an amount effective to improve cleaning efficacy and softening properties in the presence of quaternary ammonium softening compounds and anionic and nonionic surfactants.

The use of various and diverse chemical materials and particularly cationic quaternary ammonium compounds as softeners for textile products is very well known in the art. It is also well known to employ such materials for their softening effects during the laundering operation and particularly in the rinse cycle of the laundering process. This latter technique has been -lanecessitated by the fact that the aforesaid quaternary compounds heretofore employed, being mainly cationic in nature, were not compatible with the anionic detergents, one of the major types of detergents used in the washing cycle. Furthermore, cationic quaternary compounds are relatively ineffective in the presence of nonionic detergents.

It is also well known that there is a tendency for laundered articles to yellow or discolor when treated with i aforesaid quaternary compounds.

ij Another disadvantage associated with the use of said C .t t I cationic agents in the laundering of fabrics therewith is its tt interference with the deposition on the fabrics of optical S i brightener, thereby reducing optical brightener performance of i! a detergent composition containing said optical brightener, S1 Still another disadvantage of the cationic quaternary ammonium antistatic softener is its interference with the Icleaning properties of the detergent by reducing the soil removal effected by the detergent, resulting in decreased washing i effectiveness. The presence of the anionic detergent material 20 ,Q i substantially negates the fabric softening properties of the c Ka cationic quaternary ammonium compounds.

Accordingly, aforesaid quaternary agents have been I combined with a variety of compounds designed to counteract the adverse detergency properties thereof, or said quaternary softening agents have been replaced by other softening agents in order to improve cleaning efficacy.

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Higher alkyl mono- and poly-glycosides useful as detergents, textile softeners, surfactants, gelling agents, food emulsifiers and lubricants; and processes for their preparation have been disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,598,865; 3,707,535; 3,839,318; 3,772,269; and 3,219,656.

Higher alkyl polyglycosides have been used as nonionic surfactants in a variety of detergent compositions in conjunction with anionic surfactants as shown in U.S. Patent No. 3,721,633, European Patent Nos. 0,070,074; 0,070,075; 0,070,076 0,092,877; 10 and in conjunction with an anionic and another nonionic sur- 1 S factant as shown in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,483,779; 4,483,780; 4,483,787, Eurpoean Patent Nos. 0,075,994; 0,075,995; a.'s 0,075,996 and 0,105,556 to provide good detergency.

*The prior art also discloses detergent compositions containing an alkyl polyglycoside, a conventional nonionic surfactant and a cationic fabric-softening compound to provide both softening and detergency properties during laundering, as shown in U.S. Patent No. 4,493,773; European Patent Nos.

0,094,118 and 0,106,692. However these patents expressly omit n anionic surfactants as being detrimental to the composition.

U.S. Patent No. 4,014,808 discloses an aqueous detergent composition for cleaning hard surfaces such as floors, comprising alkaline builders, a mixture of higher alkyl mono and polyglycosides, a nonionic ethoxylate or any anionic modified ethoxylate in acid form, and a cationic flocculant such as polydiallyldimethyl ammonium chloride which causes soilage to agglomerate into flocs which float, and optionally a flo4tation agent which is sodium alkylaryl sulfonate.

-3- However, none of the cited prior art references discloses a liquid softergent composition for simultaneously cleaning and softening fabrics comprising four essential ingredients, an effective amount of an alkyl glycoside to improve detergency efficacy and softening properties in the presence of a quaternary ammonium softening compound and anionic and nonionic surfactants.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 1 It has now been discovered that the addition of an 10 alkyl polyglycoside surfactant to a liquid softergent formula S containing a cationic quaternary softening compound in a S' nonionic-anionic surfactant system boosts detergency and pro- I vides increased softening properties to fabrics treated therec with.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the instant Sinvention to provide a liquid detergent composition having Simproved cleaning efficacy in the presence of cationic quaternary ammonium softening compounds.

Another object of the invention is to provide a liquid

S

C T detergent composition, that simultaneously cleanses and softens fabrics during the laundering process comprising an alkyl glycoside, a quaternary ammonium softening compound, a nonionic surfactant and an anionic surfactant as the four essential ingredients.

I ingredients.

-4- Still another object of the invention is to provide a liquid softergent formulati.on having improved cleaning and softening properties, due to the wpTesence of an alkyl glycoside in a detergent composition containing a mixture of anionic, nonionic and cationic surfactants.

Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned by

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1 10 practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrur mentalities and combination particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Sre C I To achieve the foregoing and other objects and in accordance with the present invention, as embodied and broadly e j described herein, the liquid softergent composition for laundering fabrics of this invention comprises four essential inrI gredients, an effective amount of an alkyl glycoside to improve detergency efficacy and softening properties in the presence O I of a quaternary ammonium softening compound, an anionic C tI 1 surfactant and a nonionic surfactant in an aqueous carrier; and the method of simultaneously cleansing and softening fabrics without reducing brightener and detergency performance which comprises treating fabrics with said composition during the wash cycle of the laundering operation.

More specifically, present invention relates to a stable liquid softergent composition comprising a C 1

C

3 0 alkyl mono- or polyglycoside in an amount sufficient to overcome the decrease in detergency efficacy due to the quaternary ammonium compound and constitutes about 2 to 25% by weight, about 2 to 8% by weight of a quaternary ammonium softening compound, about 8 to 25% by weight of a nonionic surfactant and about 1 to 12% by weight of an anionic surfactant, in an aqueous carrier.

The alkyl glycosides function as a softening agent and boosts fabric softening in the'presence of cationic surfactants. It is believed that the alkyl glycosides coat the surface of the fabric and/or alter the fabric structure, thereby Simparting softening benefits. It is believed that the alkyl glycosides may disrupt hydrogen-bonding thereby increasing cr s oftening properties. The alkyl glycosides do not interfere with detergency and/or brightener deposition which is another Sproblem of softergents.

The alkyl glycosides, utilized in present novel softer- S !gent, may be defined as having one or more hydrophobic groups containing 1 to 30 carbon atoms per hydrophobic group, and preferably 8 to 15 carbon atoms, and a hydrophilic glycoside 'group containing 1 to about 10, and preferably from about 1 'ito 3 saccharide radicals. The alkyl glycosides may be 4 L¢ represented by the following formula: i4 -6- RO(R'O) Z wherein R is a C 1

C

30 alkyl radical, is an ethoxy, propoxy or glyceryl group, X has a numerical value of 0-10 and preferably 0, Z is a reducing saccharide containing 5 or 6 carbon atoms, and n has a numerical value of 1-10 and preferably to 3. The hydrophobic alkyl group may be saturated or unsaturated, branched or straight chain, preferably saturated and linear, containing 1 to 30 carbon atoms, preferably 8 to 23, carbon atoms. Suitable alkyl polyglycosides include methyl, ethyl, propyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl and mixtures thereof, monoglycosides, diglycosides, triglycosides, tetraglycosides, penta-glycosides, hexaglycog.ides, etc. The glycoside units may be glucose, galactose, mannose, lactose and/or fructose. Methods of preparing the aforesaid glycosides are disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,598,865; 3,707,535; 3,839,318; 3,772,269; 3,219,656, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. The addition of the alkyl glycoside to the softergent improves the cleaning efficacy thereof. The amount of glycoside should be sufficient to counteract the loss in detergency due to the presence of the crtionic quaternary ammonium softening agents in the softergent. Accordingly, the glycoside content improves detergency in the softergent composition, and constitutes about 1 to 30% and preferably 2 to 25% by weight of the composition.

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The cationic quaternary softening agents are commercially well known and include quaternary ammonium compounds wherein typically at least one of the four groups linked to the nitrogen atom is an alkyl group of about 10-20 carbon atoms and at least two of the groups linked to the nitrogen atom are alkyl groups which contain 1-3 carbon atoms and the fourth group may be either another C10 C 2 0 alkyl group or a C 1

C

3 alkyl group, and there is present an anion such as halogen, acetate, methosulfate, etc. Typical quaternary ammonium 1 compounds are ethyl-dimethyl-stearyl ammonium chloride, trimethyl-stearyl ammonium chloride, trimethylcetyl ammonium .t bromide, dimethyl-ethyl-dilauryl ammonium chloride, dimethylr propyl-myristyl ammonium chloride, tallow trimethyl ammonium CC

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Schloride, dihydrogenated tallow dimethyl ammonium chloride, dicocodimethyl ammonium chloride, distearyl dimethyl ammonium Schloride, octadecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride, dodecyl t, trimethyl or triethylammonium chloride, and the corresponding 4 r.

methosulfates and acetates. Other suitable quaternary compounds include duoquats, imidazolinium quats, polyethoxylated quats, ta and amidoalkoxylated quats.

44 The amount of the quaternary ammonium softener utilized I4 C in present softergent composition is preferably about 2-8% by weight of the softergent composition.

In accordance with this invention, the nonionic surfactants for use as the fabric detergent are commercially well known and include the primary aliphatic alcohol ethoxylates, secondary aliphatic alcohol ethoxylates, alkylphenol ethoxylates and the alcohol ethylene oxide-propylene oxide condensates such as Plurafacs (Wyandotte), and mixtures thereof.

The nonionic synthetic organic detergents are generally the -8- C t *t t t I. t r C C V CC C Ic Ie C C (Icc condensation product of an organic aliphatic or alkyl aromatic hydrophobic compound and hydrophilic ethylene oxide groups.

Practically any hydrophobic compound having a carboxy, hydroxy, amido, or amino group with a free hydrogen attached to the nitrogen can be condensed with ethylene oxide or with the polyhydration product thereof, polyethylene glycol, to form a nonionic detergent. Further, the length of the polyethenoxy chain can be adjusted to achieve the desired balance between the hydrophobic and hydrophilic elements.

The nonionic detergents include the polyethylene oxide condensate of one mole of alkyl phenol containing from about 6 to 12 carbon atoms in a straight- or branched-chain configuration with about 5 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide, for example, nonyl phenol condensed with 9 moles of ethylene oxide, dodecyl phenol condensed with 15 moles of ethylene oxide. Condensation products of the corresponding alkyl thiophenols with 5 to moles of ethylene oxide are also suitable.

Also included in the nonionic detergent class are the condensation products of a higher alcohol an alkanol containing about 8 to 18 carbon atoms in a straight or branchedchain configuration) condensed with about 5 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide, for example, lauryl-myristyl alcohol condensed with about 16 moles of ethylene oxide.

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C CC C C' C CC IC C C C I CC A preferred group of nonionic surfactants are the Neodol ethoxylates (Shell which are higher aliphatic alcohol ethoxylates having about 5 to 20 ethyleneoxy groups per mole of aliphatic alcohol containing about 10-18 carbon atoms, such as C1 2 C13 alkanol condensed with 6.5 moles ethylene oxide, C12 C15 alkanol condensed with 12 moles ethylene oxide, C 14

C

15 alkanol condensed with 13 moles ethylene oxide, and the like. Ethoxamers having a HLB (hydrophobic lipophilic balance) value of about 8-15 gives good 4, O/W emulsification, whereas ethoxamers with low HLB values (Below 8) contain less than 5 ethylenoxy groups, and are poor S, emulsifiers and poor nonionic detergents. This nonionic t surfactant is present in the softergent composition in an e c amount equal to or greater than the alkyl polyglycoside content, and about 8-25% by wt. The total amount of nonionic 'cI surfactant, namely the glycoside, which is also a nonionic surfactant, and the nonionic alcohol ethoxylates defined above constitutes the major detergent component in this softergent,

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about 25-40% and preferably 30-40% by wt. of the composition.

S *The anionic surfactants utilized in the softergent of tIt this invention are commercially well known and include alkylbenzene-sulfonic acid and its salts, e.g. compounds of the formula alkyl-phenyl- S0 3 wherein alkyl is an alkyl radical of C 8 to C 2 2 and preferably C 10 to C 18 and M is hydrogen or an alkali metal, which compounds comprise a well- Sknown class of anionic detergents and include sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate, potassium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, sodium laurylbenzenesulfonate, sodium cetylbenzene sulfonate.

Others include paraffin sulfonates, alkyl sulfates, alcohol ether sulfates, olefin sulfonates and the alkylphenolethoxylate sulfates sodium dinonylphenoxynonaethoxyethanol sulfate), and other equivalent water-soluble salts, particularly of the alkali metal series.

Among the above-noted alkylbenzene-sulfonic acid and salts thereof, the preferred compounds include those which are biodegradable and which are particularly characterized by a linear alkyl substituent of from C 10 to C 2 2 and preferably from N C 12 to C 15 It is, of course, understood that the carbon chain length represents, in general, an average chain length since 4 method for producing such products usually employs alkylating reagents of mixed chain length. It is clear, however, that substantially pure olefins as well as alkylating compounds used a S, :in other techniques can and do give alkylated benzene sulfonates wherein the alkyl moiety is substantially at least 99%) of one chain length, C to C, C C or C The 12' 13' 14' 15 linear alkyl benzene sulfonates are further characterized by the position of the benzene ring in the linear alkyl chain with Sany of the position isomers alpha to omega) being operable and contemplated.

t t In addition to the benzene sulfonates one may also employ Ct the lower alkyl (C 1 to C 4 analogs of benzene such as toluene, xylene, the trimethyl benzenes, ethyl benzene, isopropyl benzene and the like. The sulfonates are generally employed in the water soluble salt form which include as the cation, the alkali metals, ammonium and lower amine, and alkanolamine cations.

-11- .i <*,14E j Examples of suitable linear alkyl benzene sulfonates include: rs I I~ k t f I. t e Ie I VI-T C

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sodium n-decyl benzene sulfonate sodium n-dodecyl benzene sulfonate sodium n-tetradecyl benzene sulfonate sodium n-pentadecyl benzene sulfonate sodium n-hexadecyl benzene sulfonate and the corresponding lower alkyl substituted homologues of benzene as well as the salts of the cations previously referred to. Mixtures of these sulfonates may, of course, also be used with mixtures which may include compounds wherein the linear alkyl chain is smaller or larger than indicated herein provided that the average chain length in the mixture conforms to the specific requirements of C 10 to C 22 The linear paraffin sulfonates are also a well-known group of compounds and include water-soluble salts (alklai metal, amine, alkanolamine, and ammonium) of: 1 -decane sulfonic acid 1-dodecane sulfonic acid 1-tridecane sulfonic acid 1-tetradecane sulfonic acid 1- pentadecane sulfonic acid 1-hexadecane sulfonic acid as well as the other position isomers of the sulfonic acid group.

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a ::i rI i In addition to the paraffin sulfonates illustrated above, others with the general range of C 10 to C22 alkyls may be used, with the most preferable range being from C 12 to C 20 The linear alkyl sulfates which are contemplated in this invention comprise the range of C 10 to C20. Specific examples include sodium n-decyl sulfate; sodium n-dodecyl sulfate; sodium n-hexadecyl sulfate, sodium n-heptadecyl sulfate; sodium n-octadecyl sulfate; and the ethoxylated (1 to 100 moles ethylene oxide) derivatives such as the ethoxylated alcohol sulfates, 10 and, or course, the other water-soluble salt-forming cations Smentioned above.

I Included in the group of anionic detergents, which have been described above as suitable in the present invention, 1 are the olefin sulfates, including long chain alkene sulfonates, Slong chain hydroxyalkane sulfonates, as well as disulfonates.

SExamples of suitable olefin sulfonates, which are merely illus- Strative of the general class, are sodium dodecenyl-1 sulfonate, Ssodium tetradecenyl-1 sulfonate, sodium hexadecenyl-i sulfonate, and sodium octadecenyl-l sulfonate. The amount of anionic sur- 0 factant utilized in present composition is less than the nonionic (ethoxylated aliphatic alcohol) surfactant content by Swt, and preferably less than 50% by weight of the total nonionic &urfactant (alkylglycoide plus ethoxylated aliphatic alcohol) content, and constitutes about 1-12% by wt. of the composition.

1 -13- €f t 4i rF t~ r The softergent comopsition of the instant invention may also include conventional laundering additives such as optical brighteners, germicides, soil suspending agents, antiredisposition agents, antioxidants, coloring materials (dyes and pigments), perfumes, water-soluble alcohols, foam boosters, hydrotropes such as sodium and potassium xylene sulfonates, sodium and potassium toluene sulfonates, cumene sulfonates, ethyl benzene sulfonate and the like, enzymes and enzyme stabilizers, provided they do not interfere with the detergency and softening activity of the composition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OT THE INVENTION The following examples are merely illustrative of the Sinvention and are not to be construed as limiting thereof.

Example 1 j Softergent 15% C12-C15 alcohol:7mols Ethylene Oxide

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alkyl polyglycoside, C12-13:3 mols glycoside (Staley Industrial Products) 0.25% Triethanolamine Monoalkyltrimethyl Ammonium Chloride' j 12% C12-15 alcohol:3 mols Ethylene Oxide Sulfate, Sodium Sodium Xylene Sulfonate 0.5% Brightener Q.S. Water 1. tallow trimethyl ammonium chloride -14t I* I 4# Ir i it t CI It The liquid detergent is prepared by mixing the above ingredients until homogeneous to form a stable liquid composition.

The detergency of this product was tested in a tergotometer containing 1 liter of 150 ppm (Calcium) water at 120 0 F and 0 F, with a concentration of 0.18% softergent, and compared to commercial detergent products which do not contain the alkyl glycoside ingredient. A fabric load of standard soiled swatches of Test Fabric nylon (TFN) and cotton (TFC), a 65-35% i blend of polyester-cotton (PC) and 50:50% dacron:cotton (DC) and EMPA 101 Cloth, was washed with the test detergents and dried in electric tumble dryers. Reflectance of the soiled Sswatches are read as a measure of detergency The soil removal (SR) is the sum total of the Rd readings on all the swatches, and the soil removal index (SRI) is the average of the total Rd readings divided by the numbar of swatches.

Table I SDynamo SOLO Ex. 1 Liq. TIDE BOLD 3 20 120 0 F 212.5 202.2 220.9 219.5 181.3 1 SR Total 70 0 F 194.5 183.8 198.7 202.5 193.8 SR Total Example 1 exhibits superior detergency to Dynamo, c .Solo and Bold 3. No statistically significant difference in qc! detergency was observed between Ex.,12 and Liquid Tide at 120°F and 700F.

l Sebum Soil Removal at 120 0 F was equal to Liquid TIDE on cotton and D/C 50/50 and better than most competitors on D/C 50/50. At 70OF Liquid TIDE was slightly better while most other competitors were equal to Ex. 1.

Table II Dynamo SOLO Ex. 1 Liq. TIDE BOLD 1200F Sebum Soil Removal Cotton 75.3 71.5 76.5 74.0 72.3 D/C 50/50 67.8 66.5 70.6 71.2 62.4 0

F

Sebum Soil Removal Cotton 76.4 71.9 76.2 80.5 73.3 SD/C 50/50 68.0 65.2 68.2 70.4 65.5

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A Multistain test at 120 0 F and 70 0 F gave the following results, using Liquid TIDE as control.

S II Table III Ex. 1 SOLO BOLD 3 r, 1200F t SSignificant Wins 2 1 0 Not Significant 7 7 2 Significant Losses 13 14 0

F

C i t cc Significant Wins 5 3 0 F I Not Significant 9 3 C Significant Losses 8 16 17 120OF Ex. 1 Liq. TIDE SOLO BOLD 3 Total Rd For All 1407 1522 1368 1202 22 Swatches Total Rd For all 1351 1390 1240 1215 22 Swatches -16- The most significant losses in detergency as compared to Liquid TIDE were incurred in the case of the enzyme at 120 0

F.

This was to be expected since the Ex. 1 formulation contains no enzymes. However, losses were also observed with the oxidizable stains (grape juice and cranberry juice). Ex. 1 showed strong gains on DDK in case of oily soils (Barbecue Sauce and French Dressing).

At 70 0 F losses due to enzyme stains were considerably reduced. This is due to the fact that enzymes in general are more effective. at higher temperatures. At 70OF Ex. 1 is a much more effective detergent than Liquid TIDE in the case of oily soils (Spangler Sebum/Particulate, Barbecue Sauce, Red

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Crisco Shortening and French Dressing).

Sr BOLD 3 and SOLO did not perform better at any t temperature.

S c The five cycle softening/static/brightener test gave C t the following results: Fluorescence of the cotton swatches is read as a measure of brightener effectiveness (Rb).

20 Table IV a i Rb reading Ex. 1 269.94 C t Liquid TIDE 255.44 SOLO 120.80 i DYNAMO 245.53.

BOLD 3 224.56 The formulation of Ex, 1 was equal to BOLD 3 in controlling static cling and better than SOLO. Ex. 1 was rated somewhat less effective in softening as compared to SOLO, but showed improved softening as compared to the formulation of Ex.1 minus the alkyl glycoside.

-17- Example 2 Softergent 21% Neodol 25-7' 6% sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate 4% tallow trimethyl quaternary ammonium sulfate 2% methyl glucoside 0.4% brightener 8% ethanol sodium xylene sulfonate color Q.S. water 1 C12- C15 alcohol: 7 moles ethylene oxide.

ft ft C 4 tC a a at4 t ft I 4 a, Example 3 Softergent a.

&r an f C C tht a a C a aaO a. 4 a a 21% Neodol 25-7 4% sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate 4% tallow trimethyl ammonium tulfate 2% methyl glycoside 0.4% brightener 8% ethanol sodium xylene sulfonate 0.5% color Q.S. water This formulation was tested in a 5 cycle, 6 Ibs.

clean load softness test using Solo as the control having the greatest softness The softness rating of this formulation, which is 6.8 (the average of these readings after the 1st, 3rd and 5th cycle) compares favorably to Solo. The softness rating is within a range of 1 (the harshest) to 10 (the softest). Adding 3% of a tallow amine 15 ethylene oxide to this formulation reduces the softness rating to 6.0. Omitting the quaternary compound and increasing the methyl glycoside to 6%, increases the softness rating to 7.2.

-18- The following Table IV summarizes the brightening and static results of the 5-cycle tests on 5 test products and 2 controls.

Table V Products Controls DYNAMO SOLO 1 Liq. Det.

6/6 2 Liq. Det.

5/5/6E 3 Soft.

4/4/3E/ 2MG 4 Soft 4/4/ 2MG Soft 4/0/6MG very light very light rrv~de rate Static moderate light Control to heavy v light Brightening 188.5 Q .1st wash 3rd wash 223.1 wash 209.7 Softness 1

SRI

102.9 95.9 90.5 10 171.5 very light 214.7 240.4 222.4 5.9 186.1 light v Light 211.1 228.2 228.9 5.8 190.2 very Light light v light 216.3 227.7 moderate heavy 228.5 254.2 257.0 7.2 184.1 241.9 237.4 6.0 186.6 253.2 251.4 6.8 193.4

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42 V 4 C 1. 6% dodecylbenzene sulfonate (DBS)/6% tallow trimethyl quat (quat) 2. 5% DBS/5% quat/6% tallow amine-15 etlylene aide (TAFO) 3. 4% DBS/4% quat/3%TABD/2% methyl glyoside (C) 4. 4% DBS/4% quat/2 MG 5. 4% DBS/0 quat/6% MG The above results indicate that methyl glucoside imparts softening benefits to fabric. The lab tests also indicate that the glucoside imparts brightening benefits in liquid formulations. However, in the absence of quat., no static control is achieved.

The softergents containing an alkyl glycoside have been unexpectedly found to not only overcome the reduction in detergency due to the presence of the' quaternary softening agent, but have improved the detergency and the j softening properties of the softergent composition. This is clearly shown in Table V by Product 4 containing only 2% methyl glycoside, (Example 3) exhibiting a greater degree of softness than Products 2(5.8) and 3(6.0) containing no alkyl glycoside. Likewise, Product 4 exhibits a great r brightness after the 1st, 3rd and 5th wash cycle, than Products 1, 2 and 3, ,.t as well as an increased SRI value compared to the products containing no alkyl glycoside. Amounts as low as 2% alkyl glycoside is effective in improving both the detergency and softening properties of a softergent composition used in the laundering of fabrics. In addition, present formulations exhibit better cleaning and softening efficacy than other surfactant and/or softener combinations presently on the market, as shwon by the comparative results in Tables I, II IV and V.

It is understood that the foregoing detailed description is given merely by way of illustration and that variations may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the inven- Stion. The "Abstract" given above is mer,'ly for the convenience t C C Cccc of technical searchers and is not to be given any weight with e.t respect to the scope of the invention.

S2t C cis Cc 'i C cc ,tt C i I

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Claims (15)

1. A liquid detergent composition for simultaneously cleaning and softening fabrics comprising four essential ingredients, 2 to 25% by weight of an alkyl glycoside to improve detergency efficacy and softening properties, a quaternary ammonium softening compound, an anionic surfactant and a nonionic surfactant in an aqueous carrier.

2. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the alkyl glycoside has one or more hydrophobic groups containing 1 to 30 carbon atoms per hydrophobic group, and a hydrophilic glycoside group containing 1 to 10 reducing saccharide radicals.

3. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the alkyl glycoside is a C1-C30 alkyl monoglycoside or polyglycoside. *1

4. The composition according to claim 3, wherein the alkyl glycoside is a C12-C13 alkyl triglycoside.

5. The composition according to claim 3, wherein the .glycoside is methyl monoglycoside.

6. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the quaternary ammonium compound contains at least one of the four groups linked to the nitrogen atom is a C10-C20 alkyl group and at least two of the groups are C1-C3 alkyl groups and the fourth group may be either another C10-C20 Salkyl group or a C1-C3 alkyl group. S 7. The composition according to claim 6, wherein the quaternary compound constitutes 2 to 8% by weight of the composition.

8. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the Snonionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of primary aliphatic alcohol ethoxylates, secondary aliphatic alcohol ethoxylates, alkylphenol ethoxylates, alcohol ethylene-oxidepropylene oxide condensates, and mixtures thereof. 1 -r P IV 1 s .l i L -22

9. The composition according to claim 8, wherein the nonionic surfactant constitutes 8-25% by weight. The composition according to claim 8, wherein the total nonionic surfactant content consisting of the combination of the alcohol ethoxylate and the alkyl glycoside constitutes the major detergent component in an amount of 25-40% by weight of the composition.

11. The composition according to claim 8, wherein the nonionic surfactant is a C12-C15 aliphatic alcohol having 7 ethyleneoxy groups per mole of alcohol.

12. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the anionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of alkyl-benzene sulfonates, alcohol ether sulfates, olefin sulfonates, paraffin sulfonates, alkyl sulfates, and ethoxylated alcohol sulfates.

13. The composition according to claim 12, wherein the anionic surfactant content is less than the nonionic ,c t surfactant content, and in an amount of 1-12% by weight.

14. The composition according to claim 12, wherein the anionic surfactant is the sodium salt of the ethoxylated C12-C15 alcohol sulfate-containing 3 moles ethylene oxide per mol alcohol.

15. The composition according to claim 12, wherein the anionic surfactant is sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate.

16. A method of simultaneously cleansing and softening fabrics without reducing brightener and detergency performance which comprises treating fabrics with the composition of claim 1 in the wash cycle of the laundering operation. DATED this 24 day of January 1990 COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: iLIA F.B. RICE CO. 6 r 1

24- 1 1 1 -INA.