Unit dose detergent pack including an opacified liquid detergent composition free of a microplastic opacifier

1. A unit dose detergent pack comprising:

a pouch formed from a water-soluble film; and

an opacified liquid detergent composition releasably disposed within said pouch and comprising:

a plurality of neutralizing agents including more than 50 mole percent of sodium hydroxide and a remainder of alkanolamine present based on a total of 100 mole percent of said plurality of neutralizing agents;

a fatty acid; and

at least one surfactant;

a bittering agent; and

less than 30% by weight of water,

wherein a weight ratio of said sodium hydroxide to said fatty acid is from about 0.3:1 to about 0.8:1, and

wherein said opacified liquid detergent composition is free of a microplastic opacifier and has a turbidity of at least 250 turbidity units (NTU) measured utilizing a turbidity meter at about 24° C.

2. The unit dose detergent pack as set forth in claim 1 wherein said opacified liquid detergent composition includes from about 75 to about 90 mole percent of said sodium hydroxide based on a total of 100 mole percent total of said plurality of neutralizing agents.

3. The unit dose detergent pack as set forth in claim 1 wherein said alkanolamine is monoethanolamine (MEA).

4. The unit dose detergent pack as set forth in claim 1 wherein said opacified liquid detergent composition includes from about 4 to about 10% by weight of said fatty acid based on a total weight of said opacified liquid detergent composition.

5. The unit dose detergent pack as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fatty acid is obtained from palm kernel oil and has a backbone including from 12 to 20 carbon atoms.

6. The unit dose detergent pack as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fatty acid is a coconut fatty acid.

7. The unit dose detergent pack as set forth in claim 1 wherein said opacified liquid detergent composition includes from about 10% to about 20% by weight of said water based on a total weight of said opacified liquid detergent composition.

8. The unit dose detergent pack as set forth in claim 1 wherein said opacified liquid detergent composition includes from about 20 to about 50% by weight of at least one surfactant based on a total weight of said opacified liquid detergent composition.

9. The unit dose detergent pack as set forth in claim 8 wherein said at least one surfactant is linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS).

10. The unit dose detergent pack as set forth in claim 1 wherein said opacified liquid detergent composition has a turbidity of at least 1000 turbidity units (NTU) measured utilizing a turbidity meter at 24° C.

11. The unit dose detergent pack as set forth in claim 1 wherein said opacified liquid detergent composition has a pH of from about 6 to about 8.

12. An opacified liquid detergent composition comprising:

2.0% to 5.0% by weight of sodium hydroxide;

0.3% to 5% by weight of an alkanolamine;

20.0% to 50.0% of a surfactant;

4.0% to 10.0% by weight of a fatty acid;

greater than 0% to 0.05% of a bittering agent;

less than 30% by weight of water;

wherein said opacified liquid detergent composition includes from about 75 to about 90 mole percent of said sodium hydroxide based on a total of 100 mole percent total of said plurality of neutralizing agents;

wherein said opacified liquid detergent composition is free of a microplastic opacifier and has a turbidity of at least 250 turbidity units (NTU) measured utilizing a turbidity meter at about 24° C.

13. The opacified liquid detergent composition as set forth in claim 12 wherein said opacified liquid detergent composition has a turbidity of at least 1000 turbidity units (NTU) measured utilizing a turbidity meter at about 24° C.

14. The opacified liquid detergent composition as set forth in claim 12 wherein a weight ratio of said sodium hydroxide to said fatty acid is from about 0.3:1 to about 0.8:1.

15. The opacified liquid detergent composition as set forth in claim 12 wherein said opacified liquid detergent composition includes from about 10% to about 20% by weight of said water based on a total weight of said opacified liquid detergent composition.

16. The unit dose detergent pack as set forth in claim 1 wherein said surfactant comprises one or more of an anionic surfactant and a nonionic surfactant.

17. A method of making an opacified liquid detergent composition for a unit dose detergent pack, said method comprising the steps of:

combining an alkanolamine and sodium hydroxide to form a combination with the sodium hydroxide present in an amount of more than 50 mole percent based on a total of 100 mole percent of the sodium hydroxide and the alkanolamine together;

adding a surfactant, a bittering agent, and water to the combination to form a mixture; and then

adding a fatty acid to the mixture to form the opacified liquid detergent composition that is free of a microplastic opacifier and has a turbidity of at least 250 turbidity units (NTU) measured utilizing a turbidity meter at 24° C.;

wherein a weight ratio of said sodium hydroxide to said fatty acid is from about 0.3:1 to about 0.8:1; and

encapsulating the opacified liquid detergent composition into a pouch formed from a water-soluble film.

18. The method as set forth in claim 17 wherein the surfactant is a linear alkylbenzene sulfonate and the step of adding the surfactant is further defined as adding from about 20 to about 50% by weight of the linear alkylbenzene sulfonate to the combination to form the mixture.

19. The method as set forth in claim 17 wherein the fatty acid is a coconut fatty acid and the step of adding the fatty acid is further defined as adding from about 4 to about 10% by weight of the coconut fatty acid to the mixture to form the opacified liquid detergent composition.