Sulfate-Free Liquid Laundry Detergent
The present disclosure provides sulfate-free detergent formulations comprising water, a nonionic surfactant, and at least a second surfactant, wherein the formulation has a Zein score of less than about 3 percent when tested as a 10% dilution.
1 . An aqueous detergent formulation comprising:
a) water
b) a nonionic surfactant; and
c) at least a second surfactant;
wherein the formulation
has a Zein score of less than about 3 percent when tested as a 10% dilution; and is substantially sulfate-free.
2 . The formulation of claim 1 , wherein the nonionic surfactant is an ethoxylated alcohol having a Zein score of less than about 1 percent when tested as a 1% active surfactant solution.
3 . The formulation of claim 2 , wherein the ethoxylated alcohol having a Zein score of less than about 1 percent comprises from about 5 to about 30 percent of the formulation by weight.
4 . (canceled)
5 . (canceled)
6 . The formulation of claim 1 , wherein the nonionic surfactant is an ethoxylated alcohol having a Zein score of less than about 1 percent when tested as a 1% active surfactant solution and comprising one or more C 9 -C 15 primary alkanols that has been condensed with 4 to 10 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of C 9 -C 15 primary alkanol.
7 . (canceled)
8 . The formulation of claim 1 , wherein the at least a second surfactant is an amphoteric surfactant having a Zein score of less than about 2 percent when tested as a 1% active surfactant solution, an anionic surfactant having a Zein score of less than about 2 percent when tested as a 1% active surfactant solution, or a second nonionic surfactant having a Zein score of less than about 2 percent when tested as a 1% active surfactant solution.
9 . The formulation of claim 8 , wherein the amphoteric surfactant having a Zein score of less than about 2 percent is a betaine.
10 . The formulation of claim 9 , wherein the betaine is a C 8 -C 18 alkyl-amidoalkylbetaine having the formula.
wherein R 4 is a hydrocarbon chain containing from 8 to 18 carbon atoms, interrupted by an amide group, and m is an integer from 1 to 4.
11 . The formulation of claim 10 , wherein R 4 is R 5 —CONH—(CH 2 ) n — and R 5 is a linear or branched C 9 -C 13 alkyl group and n is 2, 3, or 4.
12 . (canceled)
13 . (canceled)
14 . (canceled)
15 . (canceled)
16 . (canceled)
17 . (canceled)
18 . The formulation of claim 9 , wherein the betaine is cocoamidopropylbetaine.
19 . The formulation of claim 8 , wherein the second nonionic surfactant having a Zein score of less than about 2 percent is a mixture of one or more alkyl polyglucosides, each alkyl polyglucoside having the formula:
wherein for each alky polyglucoside
each m is individually an integer from 1 to 10; and
each R 3 is individually a linear or branched C 8 -C 18 alkyl group.
20 . (canceled)
21 . The formulation of claim 8 , wherein the second nonionic surfactant having a Zein score of less than about 2 percent comprises from about 1 to about 30 weight percent of the formulation.
22 . (canceled)
23 . (canceled)
24 . (canceled)
25 . The formulation of claim 8 , wherein the anionic surfactant having a Zein score of less than about 2 percent is an α-sulfofatty acid ester.
26 . The formulation of claim 25 , wherein the α-sulfofatty acid ester is a methyl ester sulfonate.
27 . The formulation of claim 26 , wherein the methyl ester sulfonate is a C 16 methyl ester sulfonate, a C 18 methyl ester sulfonate, or a mixture thereof.
28 . The formulation of claim 25 , wherein the α-sulfofatty acid ester comprises from about 0.5 to about 5 weight percent of the formulation.
29 . (canceled)
30 . (canceled)
31 . The formulation of claim 1 , further comprising at least one component selected from the group consisting of a pH adjusting agent, one or more enzymes, a defoamer, a hydrotrope, a shading dye, a soil release polymer, an anti-redeposition polymer, a chelating agent, a preservative, an opacifier, a fragrance, and mixtures thereof.
32 . The formulation of claim 1 , wherein the formulation has a cloud point of at least about 110° F.
33 . (canceled)
34 . (canceled)
35 . (canceled)
36 . The formulation of claim 1 , wherein colored fabrics washed with the formulation have a mean Delta E of less than 5 after 10 wash/dry cycles.
37 . (canceled)
38 . (canceled)
39 . (canceled)
40 . A method for retaining color in a washed fabric, the method comprising washing the fabric in an aqueous detergent formulation comprising:
water
a nonionic surfactant; and
at least a second surfactant;
wherein the formulation has a Zein score of less than about 3 percent when tested as a 10% dilution; and is substantially sulfate-free.
41 . The method of claim 40 , wherein said fabric has a mean Delta E of less than 10 after 10 wash/dry cycles.
42 . (canceled)
43 . (canceled)