Blends of alcohol ethoxylate and methyl ester sulfonate in unit dose products for improved mildness
The present disclosure provides a unit dose product comprising a pouch formed from a water-soluble film material; and a detergent composition comprising about 5 to about 20 wt % water, about 35 to about 65 wt % of at least one surfactant, and a non-aqueous solvent, wherein the detergent composition is disposed within the pouch. The composition can further comprise additional components, such as a base, a performance polymer, an anti-redeposition agent, an enzyme, a bleaching agent, a bleach activator, a chelating agent, an optical brightener, a bitterant, a corrosion inhibitor, or a combination thereof. The detergent composition comprises surfactants with improved mildness and solvents with lower allergic components.
1 . A unit dose product comprising:
a) a pouch formed from a water-soluble film material; and
b) a detergent composition comprising
i. about 5 to about 20 weight percent (wt %) water,
ii. about 20 to about 65 combined wt % of at least two surfactants comprising a methyl ester sulfonate (MES) and an alcohol ethoxylate (AE), and
iii. a non-aqueous solvent system comprising a polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of about 400 g/mol (PEG 400), and at least two solvents selected from the group consisting of ethanol, propylene glycol, and glycerin,
wherein the detergent composition is disposed within the pouch.
2 . The unit dose product of claim 1 , wherein the MES comprises the formula R 1 CH (C(═O) OR 2 ) SO 3 X wherein R 1 is a C 8 -C 18 alkyl, R 2 is CH 3 or X, and X is a cation that balances the charge.
3 . The unit dose product of claim 2 , wherein the MES comprises at least one of sodium methyl 2-sulfolaurate and disodium 2-sulfolaurate.
4 . The unit dose product of claim 3 , wherein the MES comprises both sodium methyl 2-sulfolaurate and disodium 2-sulfolaurate.
5 . The unit dose product of claim 1 , wherein an MES to AE weight ratio is at least 0.5:1.
6 . The unit dose product of claim 1 , wherein an MES to AE weight ratio is between 0.5:1 and 1:2.5.
7 . The unit dose product of claim 1 , wherein the at least two surfactants further comprise an alkyl ether sulfate (AES).
8 . The unit dose product of claim 1 , wherein the detergent composition comprises about 5 to about 20 wt % MES.
9 . The unit dose product of claim 1 , wherein the detergent composition comprises about 15 to about 30 wt % AE.
10 . The unit dose product of claim 1 , wherein the at least two surfactants further comprise a linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS).
11 . The unit dose product of claim 10 , wherein a LAS to MES weight ratio is between about 1:0.5 to about 1:3.
12 . The unit dose product of claim 1 , wherein the detergent composition does not comprise a linear alkylbenzene sulfonate.
13 . The unit dose product of claim 1 , wherein the detergent composition comprises not more than 2 wt % monoethanolamine.
14 . The unit dose product of claim 1 , wherein the detergent composition has a pH of about 6.5 to about 12.
15 . The unit dose product of claim 1 , wherein the detergent composition has a pH of about 7 to about 8.
16 . The unit dose product of claim 1 , wherein the non-aqueous solvent comprises PEG 400, propylene glycol, and glycerin in a weight ratio of about 3-5:1:1.
17 . The unit dose product of claim 1 , wherein the detergent composition further comprises at least one additive selected from a base, an anti-redeposition agent, a performance polymer, a defoamer, an enzyme, a bleaching agent, a bleach activator, a chelating agent, a chlorine scavenger, an optical brightener, a bitterant, a corrosion inhibitor, and a combination thereof.
18 . The unit dose product of claim 1 , wherein the detergent composition further comprises at least one surfactant selected from a methyl ester ethoxylate, an alkyl ether sulfate, coco fatty acid, a linear alkylbenzene sulfonate, and a combination thereof;
at least one additive selected from a base, a performance polymer, an enzyme, a defoamer, a chelating agent, an optical brightener, an anti-redeposition agent, a bitterant, a corrosion inhibitor, and a combination thereof; and
wherein the non-aqueous solvent comprises glycerin, propylene glycol, PEG 400, and ethanol.
19 . The unit dose product of claim 1 , wherein the water-soluble film material comprises polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) or polyvinyl acetate (PVA).