Solid redispersible emulsion
The invention relates to a solid redispersible emulsion, which is comprised of an oil-in-water emulsion consisting of a laundry care constituent, which is encapsulated in an enclosure. This enclosure is stabilized by polyvalent metal ions and, initially, is water-insoluble and is rendered soluble by adding metal ions. The enclosure material is preferably a biodegradable material and, in particular, a polysaccharide, such as alginates, pectins or carageenans. These solid and redispersible emulsions are used, in particular, in laundry care products.
1. A solid redispersible emulsion consisting of an oil-in-water emulsion of at least one laundry care component encapsulated in a shell of a shell material stabilized by polyvalent metal ions, wherein said shell is water-insoluble and becomes water-soluble through release of the metal ions.
2. The solid emulsion of claim 1 , wherein the laundry care component is a fabric softener.
3. The solid emulsion of claim 1 , wherein the shell material comprises at least one polysaccharide.
4. The solid emulsion of claim 3 , wherein said polysaccharide is selected from the group consisting of: alginates, pectins and carrageenans.
5. The solid emulsion of claim 3 , wherein said polysaccharide is selected from the group consisting of: alginic acid; sodium alginate; potassium alginate;
ammonium alginate; low-esterification pectin; low-amidation pectin; κ-carrageenan; and mixtures thereof.
6. The solid emulsion of claim 3 , wherein said polysaccharide contains acid groups in free or salt form.
7. The solid emulsion of claim 3 , wherein said polysaccharide is biodegradable.
8. The solid emulsion of claim 1 , wherein the shell comprises at least one polyvalent metal ion selected from the group consisting of : Ca 2+ ; Sr 2+ ; Ba 2+ ;
Al 3+ ; Cu 2+ ; and Zn 2+ .
9. The solid emulsion of claim 1 , wherein the laundry care component makes up at least 30% by weight of said solid redispersible emulsion.
10. The solid emulsion of claim 1 , wherein the laundry care component makes up more than 50% by weight of said solid redispersible emulsion.
11. A laundry care composition, comprising the solid redispersible emulsion of claim 1 .
12. The laundry care composition of claim 11 , further comprising a component that binds metal ions.
13. The laundry care composition of claim 12 , wherein said component which binds metal ions is selected from the group consisting of: zeolites;
EDTA and salts thereof; polyphosphates; pyrophosphates; carboxymethyloxysuccinates;
polyacrylates; citrates; and triacetates.
14. The laundry care composition of claim 11 , wherein said laundry care composition is a powder detergent.
15. A process for making the solid redispersible emulsion of claim 1 , comprising the steps of:
a) emulsifying a laundry care component in water to produce an emulsion;
b) mixing the emulsion of step a) with a solution of a shell material in water or dissolving a shell material in the emulsion of step a), to provide a mixture; and
c) introducing the mixture of step b) into a solution comprising polyvalent metal ions.
16. The process of claim 15 , wherein an emulsifier is present in step a).
17. The process of claim 15 , wherein the solution in step c) is a solution comprising a divalent or trivalent metal salt in water or an alcohol/water mixture.
18. The process of claim 17 , wherein said solution is a solution of calcium chloride in a water/isopropanol mixture.
19. A process for making the solid redispersible emulsion of claim 1 , comprising the steps of:
a) dissolving a shell material in water to produce a solution;
b) emulsifying a laundry care component in the solution of step a) to produce an emulsion; and
c) introducing the emulsion of step b) into a solution comprising polyvalent metal ions.
20. The process of claim 19 , wherein an emulsifier is present in step b).
21. The process of claim 19 ; wherein the solution in step c) is a solution comprising a divalent or trivalent metal salt in water or an alcohol/water mixture.
22. The process of claim 21 , wherein said solution is a solution of calcium chloride in a water/isopropanol mixture.