Liquid laundry detergent with an alkoxylated ester surfactant
View Patent ↗An aqueous liquid laundry detergent composition comprising an alkoxylated carboxylic acid surfcatant and a free radical scavenger in the mole ratio of from about 500:1 to about 20:1. The composition substantially prevents the degradation of the alkoxylated ester surfactant upon storage and is also color-stable.
1. An aqueous liquid laundry detergent composition comprising:
(a) from about 5% to about 80%, by weight of the composition, of a detergent surfactant, wherein from about 1% to about 80%, by weight of the composition is an alkoxylated carboxylic acid ester surfactant of formula (I):
wherein R 1 is selected from linear or branched C 6 to C 22 alkyl or alkylene groups;
R 2 is selected from C 2 H 4 or C 3 H 6 groups;
R 3 is selected from CH 3 , C 2 H 5 or C 3 H 7 groups;
and n has a value between 1 and 20,
(b) a free radical scavenger;
(c) wherein the mole ratio of the ester to the free radical scavenger is from about 500:1 to about 20:1;
(d) a laundry detergent ingredient selected from the group consisting of an enzyme, a fluorescing agent, a soil suspending agent, an anti-redeposition polymer and mixtures thereof;
(e) from about 15% to about 90% of water.
2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the composition comprises an oxidised free radical scavenger.
3. The composition of claim 2 wherein the maximum amount of the oxidised free radical scavenger is about 0.20% by weight of the composition.
4. The composition of claim 1 wherein the maximum amount of the free radical scavenger is about 0.2% by weight of the composition.
5. The composition of claim 1 wherein the ratio is from about 250:1 to about 20:1.
6. The composition of claim 1 wherein the pH of the composition is in the range of from about 6 to about 9.5.
7. The composition of claim 1 , wherein at least 70% of the alkoxylated ester surfactant is still present in the composition upon storage at 40° C. for 3 months.
8. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition remains clear, without yellowing, for at least 1 month on storage at 40° C.
9. An aqueous laundry wash liquor comprising
(a) from about 1 ppm to about 1000 ppm of an alkoxylated carboxylic acid ester of formula (I):
wherein R 1 is selected from linear or branched C 6 to C 20 alkyl or alkylene groups;
R 2 is selected from C 2 H 4 or C 3 H 6 groups;
R 3 is selected from CH 3 , C 2 H 5 or C 3 H 7 groups;
and n has a value between 1 and 20,
(b) from about 0.01 ppm to about 12 ppm free radical scavenger.