Solid composition comprising a polysaccharide and a hydrophobic compound, the process and use thereof

1. A solid composition comprising a polysaccharide and a hydrophobic compound having a melting point of between 30° C. and 90° C. wherein the polysaccharide is a cationic guar, a nonionic guar, or a mixture thereof; and wherein the hydrophobic compound is an ester of a fatty acid.

2. The solid composition according to claim 1 , wherein the solid composition further comprises a quaternary ammonium compound, and the weight ratio of the polysaccharide and the hydrophobic compound is between 1:50 and 50:1.

3. The solid composition according to claim 2 , wherein the weight ratio of the polysaccharide and the hydrophobic compound is between 1:30 and 30:1.

4. The solid composition according to claim 2 , wherein the weight ratio of the polysaccharide and the hydrophobic compound is between 1:10 and 10:1.

5. The solid composition according to claim 2 , wherein the quaternary ammonium compound has the general formula (I):

[N + (R 1 )(R 2 )(R 3 )(R 4 )] y X −   (I)

wherein: R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 , which may be the same or different, is a C 1 -C 30 hydrocarbon group, optionally containing a heteroatom or an ester or amide group;

X is an anion; and

y is the valence of X.

6. The solid composition according to claim 2 , wherein the quaternary ammonium compound has the general formula (III):

[N + ((CH 2 ) n -T-R 8 ) 2 (R 8 )(R 9 )] y X −   (III)

wherein:

R 9 group is independently selected from C 1 -C 4 alkyl or hydroxylalkyl group;

R 8 group is independently selected from C 1 -C 30 alkyl or alkenyl group;

T is C(═O)—O— or O—C(═O)—;

n is an integer from 0 to 5;

X is an anion; and

y is the valence of X.

7. The solid composition according to claim 2 , wherein the quaternary ammonium compound has the general formula (IV):

N + (C 2 H 4 − OOCR 10 ) 2 (CH 3 )(C 2 H 4 —OH 3 ) z SO 4 −   (IV)

wherein R 10 is a C 12 -C 20 alkyl group; and

z is an integer from 1 to 3.

8. The solid composition according to claim 2 , wherein the quaternary ammonium compound is selected from the group consisting of:

TET: Di(tallowcarboxyethyl)hydroxyethyl methyl ammonium methylsulfate;

TEO: Di(oleocarboxyethyl)hydroxyethyl methyl ammonium methylsulfate;

TES: Distearyl hydroxyethyl methyl ammonium methylsulfate;

TEHT: Di(hydrogenated tallow-carboxyethyl)hydroxyethyl methyl ammonium methylsulfate;

TEP: Di(palmiticcarboxyethyl)hydroxyethyl methyl ammonium methylsulfate;

DEEDMAC: Dimethylbis[2-[(1-oxooctadecyl)oxy]ethyl]ammonium chloride; and

DHT: Dihydrogenated tallowdimethylammonium chloride.

9. The solid composition according to claim 1 , wherein the solid composition is substantially free or completely free of water.

10. A process for preparing a solid composition comprising the steps of:

(i) combining a polysaccharide, a hydrophobic compound having a melting point of between 30° C. and 90° C., and a quaternary ammonium compound to obtain a mixture; and

(ii) solidifying the mixture;

wherein the weight ratio of the polysaccharide and the hydrophobic compound is between 1:50 and 50:1 wherein the polysaccharide is a cationic guar, a nonionic guar, or a mixture thereof; and wherein the hydrophobic compound is an ester of a fatty acid.

11. The process according to claim 10 , wherein the quaternary ammonium compound is melted, and the step (ii) is cooling the mixture.

12. A process for preparing a liquid composition, comprising the step of mixing the solid composition according to claim 1 with a solvent selected from water, organic solvents, or a mixture thereof.

13. A liquid composition obtained by the process according to claim 12 .

14. The liquid composition according to claim 13 , wherein the liquid composition is an aqueous fabric conditioning composition.

15. A method for conditioning a fabric, comprising the step of contacting the fabric with the solid composition according to claim 1 during a drying cycle of a dryer.

16. A method for conditioning a fabric, comprising the step of contacting the fabric with an aqueous medium comprising the liquid composition according to claim 13 during a rinse cycle of an automatic laundry machine or during manual wash.