Stable unit dose compositions with high water content and structured surfactants
View Patent ↗Stable unit dose compositions with high water content are provided. Such unit dose compositions include an aqueous composition having a water activity of from about 0.60 to about 0.95 and a water-soluble container formed from a water-soluble or water-dispersible film material. In one embodiment, the aqueous composition includes water in an amount of 20% to 70% by weight, a structured surfactant system which is in the form of a lamellar structure, and a salt which promotes the formation of the lamellar structure. The surfactant system may include: (1) a linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) and/or an alcohol ethoxylsulfate (AES), (2) a non-ionic surfactant, and (3) a fatty acid. The unit dose compositions can prevent the enclosed liquid detergent composition with a high level of water content from dissolving or pre-maturely dispersing the water-soluble container due to the lamellar structure of the composition.
1. A unit dose detergent product comprising:
(a) a water-soluble container formed from a water-soluble or water-dispersible film material;
(b) an aqueous composition comprising:
(i) water present in an amount of about 20% to about 70% by weight;
(ii) a surfactant system present in an amount of about 15% to about 70% by weight; wherein the surfactant system is a lamellar structured system; and
(iii) a salt present in an amount of about 0.5% to about 25% by weight;
wherein the aqueous composition has a water activity of from about 0.65 to about 0.95;
wherein the surfactant system comprises:
(1) a linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) in an amount of about 10% to about 20% by weight; an alcohol ethoxylsulfate (AES) in an amount of about 20% to about 40% by weight;
(2) an alcohol ethoxylate (AE) in an amount of about 20% to about 50% by weight; and
(3) a fatty acid in an amount of about 1% to about 15% by weight.
2. The unit dose detergent product of claim 1 ,
wherein water is present in an amount of about 30% to about 60% by weight;
wherein the structured surfactant system is present in an amount of about 25% to about 55% by weight; and
wherein the salt is present in an amount of about 2% to about 10% by weight.
3. The unit dose detergent product of claim 1 ,
wherein the salt contains a cation and an anion, wherein the cation is selected from the group consisting of sodium, calcium, potassium, magnesium, quaternary ammonium, pyridinium, tris(2-hydroxyethyl)methyl ammonium, and a mixture thereof, and the anion is selected from the group consisting of a halide, phosphate, sulphate, formate, acetate, citrate, maleate, succinate, methylsulfate, and a mixture thereof.
4. The unit dose detergent product of claim 3 ,
wherein the salt is sodium chloride, sodium citrate, sodium formate, or a mixture thereof.
5. The unit dose detergent product of claim 1 ,
wherein
the structured surfactant system is present in an amount of about 40% to about 70% by weight; and
the salt is present in an amount of about 0.5% to about 5% by weight.
6. The unit dose detergent product of claim 1 ,
wherein
the structured surfactant system is present in an amount of about 15% to 35% by weight; and
the salt is present in an amount of about 5% to about 20% by weight.
7. The unit dose detergent product of claim 1 ,
wherein
the structured surfactant system is present in an amount of about 35% to about 45% by weight.
8. The unit dose detergent product of claim 1 ,
wherein the aqueous composition from about 30% to about 55% by weight of water.
9. The unit dose detergent product of claim 1 ,
wherein the aqueous composition has a water activity of from about 0.80 to about 0.90.
10. The unit dose detergent product of claim 1 ,
wherein the aqueous composition further comprises a saccharide, an organic solvent, or a combination thereof, as a water binding agent.
11. The unit dose detergent product of claim 1 ,
wherein the aqueous composition does not contain a water binding agent selecting from a saccharide, an organic solvent, and a mixture thereof.
12. A unit dose detergent product comprising:
(a) a water-soluble container formed from a water-soluble or water-dispersible film material;
(b) an aqueous composition comprising:
(i) water present in an amount of about 20% to about 70% by weight;
(ii) a surfactant system present in an amount of about 15% to about 70% by weight; wherein the surfactant system is a lamellar structured system; and
(iii) a salt present in an amount of about 0.5% to about 25% by weight;
wherein the surfactant system comprises:
(1) a linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS); an alcohol ethoxylsulfate (AES),
(2) an alcohol ethoxylate (AE), and
(3) a fatty acid;
wherein the weight ratio of LAS:AES:AE is about 1:2:3; and
wherein the aqueous composition has a water activity of from about 0.65 to about 0.95.
13. The unit dose detergent product of claim 12 ,
wherein water is present in an amount of about 30% to about 60% by weight;
wherein the structured surfactant system is present in an amount of about 25% to about 55% by weight; and
wherein the salt is present in an amount of about 2% to about 10% by weight.
14. The unit dose detergent product of claim 12 , wherein the salt contains a cation and an anion, wherein the cation is selected from the group consisting of sodium, calcium, potassium, magnesium, quaternary ammonium, pyridinium, tris(2-hydroxyethyl)methyl ammonium, and a mixture thereof, and the anion is selected from the group consisting of a halide, phosphate, sulphate, formate, acetate, citrate, maleate, succinate, methylsulfate, and a mixture thereof.
15. The unit dose detergent product of claim 12 , wherein
the structured surfactant system is present in an amount of about 40% to about 70% by weight; and
the salt is present in an amount of about 0.5% to about 5% by weight.
16. The unit dose detergent product of claim 12 , wherein
the structured surfactant system is present in an amount of about 15% to 35% by weight; and
the salt is present in an amount of about 5% to about 20% by weight.
17. The unit dose detergent product of claim 12 , wherein
the structured surfactant system is present in an amount of about 35% to about 45% by weight.
18. The unit dose detergent product of claim 12 , wherein the aqueous composition from about 30% to about 55% by weight of water.
19. The unit dose detergent product of claim 12 , wherein the aqueous composition further comprises a saccharide, an organic solvent, or a combination thereof, as a water binding agent.
20. The unit dose detergent product of claim 12 , wherein the aqueous composition does not contain a water binding agent selecting from a saccharide, an organic solvent, and a mixture thereof.