Method of making a detergent composition
A method of making a detergent composition including the following steps in the recited order: providing an aqueous composition comprising a citrate salt; lowering the pH by adding a first, un-neutralized or partially neutralized, polyacrylic acid having a weight average molecular weight in the range of 1000 to 6000 to form a second mixture; increasing the pH by adding alkali metal carbonate and/or alkali metal bicarbonate to form a third mixture; and adding a second polyacrylic acid having a weight average molecular weight in the range of 1000 to 6000 to form a fourth mixture; wherein the detergent composition is preferably an automatic dishwashing detergent composition or a laundry detergent composition.
1. A detergent composition comprising:
20 wt % to 55 wt % of water;
10 wt % to 15 wt % of polyacrylic acid or a salt thereof, having a weight average molecular weight in the range of 1000 to 6000;
10 wt % to 30 wt % of citrate; and
5 wt % to 20 wt % of one or both of alkali metal carbonate and alkali metal bicarbonate;
wherein the detergent composition is in the form of a gel that retains a shape and does not flow at 20° C., 1 atm pressure.
2. The detergent composition according to claim 1 , wherein:
the citrate is present from 15 wt% to 25 wt %; and
the one or both alkali metal carbonate and alkali metal bicarbonate are present from 8 wt % to 15 wt %.
3. The detergent composition according to claim 2 further comprising one or more of a surfactant, an enzyme, an anti-corrosion agent, and a calcium chelating agent.
4. A detergent system comprising:
a water-soluble container; and
the detergent composition of claim 2 ;
wherein the container contains the detergent composition.