IP Library Granted Patent US 11,718,816
Granted Patent B2
US 11,718,816 · App. 17/102,094 · Granted Aug 8, 2023

Microplastic-free, opacified liquid laundry detergents

Inventors: Daniel Thomas Piorkowski (Fairfield, CT); Janet Coope-Epstein (Trumbull, CT)
Assignee: Henkel AG & Co. KGaA
C11D17/0008C11D1/29C11D1/38C11D1/831
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,718,816
App. No.
17/102,094
Granted
Aug 8, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A microplastic-free, in-vitro opacified detergent composition includes a surfactant component present in an amount of about 8 to about 65 weight percent actives and including (1) an alcohol ethoxy sulfate having a C 8 -C 20 backbone that is ethoxylated with from about 1 to about 10 moles of ethylene oxide, (2) at least one non-ionic surfactant having an alkoxylated alcohol, and (3) at least one anionic surfactant having a linear alkylbenzene sulfonate. The detergent composition also includes water present in a total amount of from about 5 to about 90 weight percent, free fatty acids in a total amount from about 1 to 15 weight percent and a magnesium cation in a total amount of from 0.005 to 0.3 weight percent. The composition has a turbidity value of at least 250 NTU at 75° F.

Claims (43)

1. A detergent composition comprising:

A. a surfactant component present in an amount of about 7 to about 60 weight percent of a total weight of said detergent composition and comprising;

(1) an alcohol ethoxy sulfate having a C 8 -C 20 backbone that is ethoxylated with from about 1 to about 10 moles of ethylene oxide;

(2) at least one non-ionic surfactant comprising an alkoxylated alcohol;

and

(3) at least one anionic surfactant comprising a linear alkylbenzene sulfonate;

B. water present in a total amount of from about 5 to about 90 weight percent of a total weight of said detergent composition; and

C. a free fatty acid component present in an amount of from about 1 to about 15 weight percent of a total weight of said detergent composition,

D. a magnesium cation component present in an amount of from about 0.005 to about 0.3 weight percent of a total weight of said detergent composition,

wherein said detergent composition has a turbidity value greater than 250 NTU at 75° F.

2. The detergent composition of claim 1 wherein the magnesium cation is derived from magnesium chloride, magnesium sulfite, magnesium bisulfate, or magnesium sulfate.

3. The detergent composition of claim 1 wherein the composition is contained in a unit dose.

4. The detergent composition of claim 1 wherein the composition can be stably stored at room temperature between 1 and 30 months.

5. The detergent composition of claim 1 wherein the composition is free of opacifying polymers.

6. The detergent composition of claim 1 wherein the composition further comprises at least one additive ingredient selected from the group consisting of enzymes, free oil fragrance, encapsulated fragrance, chelators, and non-opacifying performance polymers.

7. A detergent composition comprising:

A. a surfactant component present in an amount of about 7 to about 35 weight percent of a total weight of said detergent composition and comprising;

(1) an alcohol ethoxy sulfate having a C 8 -C 20 backbone that is ethoxylated with from about 1 to about 10 moles of ethylene oxide;

(2) at least one non-ionic surfactant comprising an alkoxylated alcohol; and

(3) at least one anionic surfactant comprising a linear alkylbenzene sulfonate;

B. water present in a total amount of from about 40 to about 85 weight percent of a total weight of said detergent composition; and

C. a free fatty acid component present in an amount of from about 1 to about 4 weight percent of a total weight of said detergent composition,

D. a magnesium cation component present in an amount of from about 0.005 to about 0.3 weight percent of a total weight of said detergent composition,

wherein said detergent composition has a turbidity value greater than 500 NTU at 75° F.

8. The detergent composition of claim 7 wherein the magnesium cation is derived from magnesium chloride, magnesium sulfite, magnesium bisulfite, or magnesium sulfate.

9. The detergent composition of claim 7 wherein the composition can be stably stored at room temperature between 1 and 30 months.

10. The detergent composition of claim 7 wherein the composition is free of opacifying polymers.

11. The detergent composition of claim 7 wherein the composition further comprises at least one additive ingredient selected from the group consisting of enzymes, free oil fragrance, encapsulated fragrance, chelators, and non-opacifying performance polymers.

12. A method of forming a stable, micro-plastic free opacified liquid laundry detergent, said method comprising the steps of:

A. a surfactant component present in an amount of about 7 to about 35 weight percent of a total weight of said detergent composition and comprising;

(1) an alcohol ethoxy sulfate having a C 8 -C 20 backbone that is ethoxylated with from about 1 to about 10 moles of ethylene oxide;

(2) at least one non-ionic surfactant comprising an alkoxylated alcohol; and

(3) at least one anionic surfactant comprising a linear alkylbenzene sulfonate;

B. water present in a total amount of from about 5 to about 85 weight percent based on of a total weight of said detergent composition; and

C. a free fatty acid component present in an amount of from about 1 to about 15 weight percent actives based on of a total weight of said detergent composition,

D. a magnesium cation component present in an amount of from about 0.005 to about 0.3 weight percent of a total weight of said detergent composition,

wherein said components A, B, and C are well-mixed prior to the addition of component D; and

wherein, upon the addition of component D, the detergent composition becomes instantaneously opacified with turbidity value greater than 500 NTU at 75° F.

13. The detergent method of claim 12 wherein the magnesium cation is derived from magnesium chloride, magnesium sulfite, magnesium bisulfate, or magnesium sulfate.

14. The detergent method of claim 12 wherein the composition is contained in a unit dose.

15. The detergent method of claim 12 wherein the liquid composition can be stably stored at room temperature between 1 and 30 months.

16. The detergent method of claim 12 wherein the liquid composition is free of opacifying polymers.

17. The detergent method of claim 12 wherein the liquid composition further comprises at least one additive ingredient selected from the group consisting of enzymes, free oil fragrance, encapsulated fragrance, chelators, and non-opacifying performance polymers.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 22, 2022
From: HENKEL IP & HOLDING GMBH
To: HENKEL AG & CO. KGAA
Reel/Frame 059207/0627 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 21, 2021
From: PIORKOWSKI, DANIEL THOMAS; COOPE-EPSTEIN, JANET
To: HENKEL IP & HOLDING GMBH
Reel/Frame 056601/0261 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62938707 · Nov 21, 2019
Related Publication 20210155883A1 · May 27, 2021