USOO6743762B1

(12) United States Patent (10) Patent No.: US 6,743,762 B1

Carr et al. (45) Date of Patent: Jun. 1, 2004

(54) CARBONATE BASED LIQUID LAUNDRY (56) References Cited

DETERGENT BOOSTER
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
(75) Inventors: Charles D. Carr, Yardley, PA (US); 4.414,128 A 11/1983 Goffinet ...................... 252/111
Archana Gupta, Pronceton, NJ (US) 6,022,843 A 2/2000 Shanks et al.
6.228,821 B1 5/2001 Sliva
(73) Assignee: Church & Dwight Co., Inc., Princeton,
NJ (US) * cited by examiner
(*) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this Primary Examiner Necholus Ogden
patent is extended or adjusted under 35 (74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Stephen B. Shear
U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days. (57) ABSTRACT
(21) Appl. No.: 10/305,852 The present invention is a laundry detergent booster liquid
1-1. composition comprising from about 0.3% to about 7% of a
(22) Filed: Nov. 27, 2002 Soluble alkali metal carbonate, especially Sodium carbonate
(51) Int. Cl. ................................................ C11D 17/00 in an aqueous Solution. The booster liquid formulation may
(52) U.S. Cl. ....................... 510276; 510/337; 510/394; contain additional laundry detergent additive materials. Such
510/405; 510/436; 510/473; 510/505; 510/509; as thickening agents, optical brighteners, anti-redeposition
510/524 agents, Surfactants, phosphates, dyes, and fragrances in
(58) Field of Search ................................. 510276,337, addition to the alkali metal carbonate.
510/405, 436, 394, 473, 505, 509, 510,
524 7 Claims, No Drawings
 US 6,743,762 B1
1 2
CARBONATE BASED LIQUID LAUNDRY For a typical convenient consumer unit of use of about 80 g,
DETERGENT BOOSTER this corresponds to a Soluble alkali metal carbonate concen
tration in the booster of about 0.3 to about 7%. The booster
liquid formulation may contain additional laundry detergent
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED additive materials. Such as thickening agents, optical
APPLICATIONS brighteners, anti-redepositions agents, Surfactants,
Not Applicable phosphates, dyes, and fragrances in addition to the alkali
metal carbonate.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
1O
SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable Not Applicable
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION INVENTION
15
This invention relates to liquid formulations which are The invention is a laundry detergent booster liquid for
laundry detergent booster Systems. The invention particu mulation comprising a Soluble alkali metal carbonate, espe
larly relates to carbonate based, especially Sodium carbonate cially Sodium carbonate in an aqueous Solution in an amount
based liquid boosters for laundry detergents. sufficient so that for the given unit of use in a standard 70
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION liter wash bath, the booster contribution of alkali metal
carbonate in the wash liquor is from about 0.0003% to about
Commercial laundry detergents, whether Solid or liquid 0.008% of the wash liquor volume, preferably about
have limitations as to the amount of builders that can be 0.0011% to about 0.008%, more preferably about 0.0019%
effectively utilized. Liquid detergents are particularly to about 0.0066%, still more preferably about 0.0038% to
plagued by limits in Solubility of the various components as 25 about 0.0060%, most preferably about 0.0055%. These lev
well as ingredient incompatibility. Balances must often be els correspond to a product having a convenient unit of use
reached between the detergent material and the builder on a volume of about 80 g of from about 0.3% to about 7%,
variety of parameters. AS Such, booster Systems for com preferably from about 1% to about 7%, more preferably
mercial laundry detergents have come into favor from time about 1.75% to about 6%, still more preferably about 3.5%
to time. VIVID and CLOROX 2 are laundry detergent to about 5.5%, most preferably about 5% of an alkali metal
booster liquids that are hydrogen peroxide based, while carbonate, preferably Sodium carbonate or potassium
BLEACH-FREE CLOROX 2 is a laundry detergent booster carbonate, more preferably Sodium carbonate, based on the
liquid that is enzyme based. Both of these types of Systems entire booster product formulation Volume. In other words,
have their own inherent weaknesses and disadvantages. For the amount of alkali metal carbonate added to the wash
example, enzyme based Systems are expensive and for any 35 liquor (of about 70 liters) is from about 0.21 grams to about
enzyme material which has not been irreversibly denatured 5.6 grams, preferably from about 0.78 grams to about 5.6
in the course of the wash cycle, active enzyme is discharged grams, more preferably from about 1.33 grams to about 4.62
into the environment. Hydrogen peroxide based boosters grams, Still more preferably from about 2.66 grams to about
require low pH to remain shelf stable (-pH 3). Domestic 4.2 grams, most preferably about 3.85 grams.
detergents are generally formulated at pHs above 8, the 40 In addition to the alkali metal carbonate and water, the
point being that the higher pH levels provide better overall composition of the invention may include, but need not
cleaning. include, other laundry detergent compatible components
Such as thickeners, optical brighteners, anti-redeposition
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION agents, anionic or nonionic Surfactants, glycols, phosphates,
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a 45 citrates, dyes, and/or fragrances. For the balance of this
booster system for a laundry detergent which is free of the description, reference to % with respect to ingredients other
foregoing defects of known laundry booster Systems and than the alkali metal carbonate and water in the booster refer
actually raises the pH of liquid laundry wash liquor to a to concentrations for a booster product having a convenient
point where cleaning is more effective. unit of use size of about 80g however, the products that may
It is another object of the invention to provide a carbonate 50 be more concentrated with respect to the alkali metal car
based laundry booster. bonate than those for a unit of use of about 80 g will also be
correspondingly more concentrated for the other compo
It is still another object of the invention to provide a nents that may be present. Similarly, the products that may
method of improving the cleaning obtained from commer be leSS concentrated with respect to the alkali metal carbon
cial liquid laundry detergent products by utilizing a laundry 55 ate than those for a unit of use of about 80 g will also be
detergent booster product. correspondingly leSS concentrated for the other components
Still other objects of the invention will be recognized by which may be present. In other words, if one views the about
those of ordinary skill in the art. 80 g unit of use product limitations, the mere addition or
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
removeal of water therefrom does not remove the product
60 from the Scope of the present invention, but merely changes
The foregoing objects are Surprisingly achieved by a the Size of the unit of use to compensate for the difference
laundry detergent booster liquid composition comprising a in concentration of alkali metal carbonate in the booster
Soluble alkali metal carbonate, especially Sodium carbonate product in question.
in an aqueous Solution in an amount Sufficient So that for the Generally when present, the dye is present in an amount
given unit of use in a standard 70 liter wash bath, the booster 65 of up to about 0.015%, preferably up to about 0.01%, more
contribution of alkali metal carbonate in the wash is from preferably up to about 0.05% of the invention composition,
about 0.0003% to about 0.008% of the wash liquor volume. and fragrance, when present, is present in an amount of up
 US 6,743,762 B1
3 4
to about 0.15%, preferably up to about 0.1%, more prefer be any Viscosity enhancer known to be compatible with
ably up to about 0.05% of the invention composition. Any laundry detergents. Suitable thickeners include, but are not
laundry detergent Suitable dye and fragrance is Suitable for limited to guar gums, Xanthan gums, and high MW (about
use in the present invention and those of ordinary skill will 500,000 to about 1,000,000 molecular weight) polymers
be well aware of how to pick Suitable candidates. (such as R&H Acusol 820 & 823), preferably Xanthan gum.
When a phosphate is present, it can be an alkali metal When present, the thickeners are utilized in amounts of up
phosphate, orthophosphate, metaphosphate, or
polyphosphate, with the Sodium or potassium Slats thereof to about 0.45, preferably from about 0.15% to about 0.25%,
being preferred, Sodium being the most preferred alkali most preferably about 0.2% of the invention formulation.
metal. Of the phosphates, tripolyphosphate is a preferred
Species, with Sodium tripolyphosphate being most preferred. The liquid formulation of the present invention is added
When a phosphate is present, the phosphate is used in an directly to the wash liquor, or may be diluted with water
amount of up to about 0.65%, preferably about 0.4% to before adding it to the wash water) to improve the perfor
about 0.6%, more preferably about 0.45% to about 0.55%, mance of commercial laundry detergent products, by deliv
most preferably about 0.5%. The surfactants which may be
utilized include anionic and nonionic Surfaciants, with the 15 ery of alkali carbonate builder.
anionic Surfactants being preferred. Suitable anionic Surfac
tants include linear alcohol Sulfate (LAS), linear alcohol The following examples merely demonstrate, but do not
ethoxylate sulfate (AES), and aryl sulfonate (AS) and the limit, the present invention.
corresponding disulfonates, preferably AES & disulfonates,
most preferably disulfonate. Suitable nonionic Surfactants
include alcohol ethoxylate (AE), nonylphenylethoxylate EXAMPLES
(NPE), alkyl poly glucoside (Sugar Surfactant Sold by
Cognis/Henkel) (APG), preferably AE & NPE, most pref
erably AE. While there is generally no limitation on the
number of ethoxylation units or on the linear alcohol size in 25 Example 1
the Surfactants, 1-7 moles of ethoxylation are preferred and
1-3 moles of ethoxylation are more preferred for the anio Laundry Detergent Liquid Booster
inic Surfactants and 6-12 moles of ethoxylation are
preferred, with 7–9 moles of ethoxylation being more pre A laundry detergent liquid booster of the invention is
ferred for the nonionic Surfactants. In all cases where a linear prepared according to the following formulation:
alcohol is present, the alcohol may be of any size, but linear
alcohol groups of 12 to 16 carbons are preferred. The
Specified Surfactants may be Substantially pure molecules or
blends of molecules within given ranges of ethoxy units and Component weight %
linear alcohol groups. When the formulation includes a 35 Distilled Water 90.72
Surfactant, the Surfactant is present in an amount of up to Xanthan Gum O.2O
about 0.35%, preferably from about 0.15% to about 0.30%, diaminostilbenedisulfonic acid O.10
more preferably from about 0.21% to about 0.25%, most Acusol 445 O.19
preferably about 0.23%. Dowfax 2A1 (Disulfonate Surfactant) O.23
Propylene Glycol 3.OO
Anti-redepostion polymers generally known in the art are 40 Sodium Tripolyphosphate OSO
Suitable for use in the present invention. These include, but Sodium Carbonate S.OO
are not limited to polyacrylate Such as Acusol 445 (Rohm & Dye O.OOS
Fragrance O.OS
Haas). Other anti-redeposition agents Such as citrates and
Silicates are also Suitably used. When present, the anti 99.995
redeposition agent (polymer or otherwise) is used in 45
amounts of up to 0.3%, preferably about 0.15% to about
0.25%, more preferably about 0.15% to about 0.23%, most The components are added in any desired order and is
preferably about 0.19% of the invention composition. within the discretion of the particular formulator.
Optical brighteners are also Suitably used in the present
invention. These are preferably Stilbene compounds typi 50
cally known in the laundry detergent art. Preferred optical Example 2
brighteners include dibenzofuran biphenyl derivatives, pref
erably stilbene, most preferably diaminostilbenedisulfonic Carbonate Content Limitations
acid, and are generally used in amounts of up to about
0.15%, preferably from about 0.09% to about 0.11%, most 55 Formulations as set forth below were prepared. Each is
preferably 0.10% of the invention formulation. the same except for the amount of Sodium carbonate deliv
Glycols are another optional component of the instant ered. The formulations were used (total of 80 grams of each
formulation. Preferably the glycol is selected from the group formulaton) in conjunction with a 98 gamount of commer
consisting of propylene glycol, or glycerol, most preferably cially available Tide Liquid. Each 80 grams of booster
propylene glycol. When present in the invention 60 formulation contained 0.15g of Acusol 445, 0.8 grams of
formulation, the glycol is used in amounts of up to about 4%, Sodium tripolyphosphate, 0.05 grams of brightener, in addi
preferably from about 2% to about 3.5%, more preferably tion to Sodium carbonate. The Sodium carbonate content of
from about 2.5% to about 3.4%, still more preferably about the booster formulations was varied between 1.75% and
2.7% to about 3.3% and most preferably about 3% of the 28% (1.75%, 3.5%, 7.0%, 14%, and 28%). Standard fabric
invention formulation. 65 Stained in consistent manners were washed therein in
Frequently an optional thickening agent is used to approximately 70 liters of Washliquor and the results are Set
increase the Viscosity of the formulation. The thickener can forth in the table below.
 US 6,743,762 B1
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Control + Control + Control + Control + Control +

1.75% 3.5% 7.0% 14% 28%
Stain Fabric control booster booster booster booster booster
Grass Cotton 70.8 76.7 74.3 70.7 65.8 56.4
Red Wine Cotton 71.2 73.4 71.7 69.9 66.6 58.9
EMPA 116* Cotton 45.6 53.0 56.O 56.7 58.7 52.2
EMPA 117** Polycotton 68.1 71.6 73.7 74.9 75.9 65.9
Egg Yolk Cotton 78.8 81.8 82.2 86.3 90.6 91.2
Mustard Cotton 27.1 28.7 29.0 30.1 37.5 45.5
Blueberry Cotton 59.1 66.4 70.3 78.5 84.1 87.2
Blood Cotton 70.8 745 75.4 75.6 76.8 77.0
Coffee Cotton 63.8 64.6 64.5 60.6 57.4 55.0
Choc. Ice Cream Cotton 87.2 87.5 86.8 84.2 83.7 84.5

*EMPA 116 = blood, milk and carbon black on cotton

**EMPA 117 = blood, milk and carbon black on polycotton

The data reveals that the boosters of the invention when 6. The method of claim 5 wherein said composition
used at the claimed concentrations delivers improved clean- 20 comprises
ing with respect to virtually all of the Stains tested. However,
at concentrations above those of the invention, cleaning of
various Stains is less than that of the control detergent Distilled Water
(without booster) for a significant number of Stains. Xanthan Gum up to about 0.45 parts
We claim: 25 diaminostilbenedisulfonic acid up to about 0.15 parts
1. A method of boosting the cleaning performance of a Acusol 445 up to about 0.3 parts
laundry detergent in a wash liquor comprising adding to the Disulfonate Surfactant up to about 0.35 parts
h li iti ter and Sodium Propylene Glycol up to about 4.00 parts
WS Iquor a composillon compriSIng Wa Sodium Tripolyphosphate up to about 0.65 parts
carbonate in an amount Such that about 0.21 grams to about Sodium Carbonate about 1 to about 7 parts
5.6 grams of Said Sodium carbonate is added per approxi- 30 Dye up to about 0.015 parts
mately 70 liters of Wash liquor, and wherein Said composi- Fragrance up to about 0.15 parts
tion further comprises Sodium tripolyphoSthate, a polyacry
late anti-redeposition agent, and a stilbene brightener. 7. The method of claim 5 wherein said composition
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said composition comprises
further comprises at least one component Selected from the 35
group consisting of thickeners, Surfactants, lower-alkylene
lvcols, citrates, dves, and fragrances.
gy Th h d lai 1. id ition h Distilled Water qs. 100.00%
. The method of claim 1 wherein said composition has an Xanthan Gum about 0.20
approximate unit of use Volume of about 80 g per approxi- diaminostilbenedisulfonic acid about 0.10
mately 70 liters of wash liquor. 40 Acusol 445 about 0.19
4. The method of claim 3 wherein said composition Dowfax 2A1 (Disulfonate Surfactant) about 0.23
bout U.3%
comprises about 0.3% to about 7%O sodium carbonate . . PropyleneTripolyphosphate
Sodium Glycol about 3.00
about 0.50
5. The method of claim 2 wherein said composition Sodium Carbonate about 5.00
comprises water, Sodium carbonate, Xanthan gum, a Stilbene Dye about 0.005
optical brightener, a polyacrylate anti-redeposition agent, a 45 Fragrance about 0.05.
disulfonate Surfactant, propylene glycol, a phosphate,
optionally a dye, and optionally a fragrance. k . . . .