Title of Invention

LAUNDRY DETERGENT COMPOSITION

Abstract

A laundry detergent composition comprising (a) from 5 to 85 wt% of a surfactant system comprising; (i) from 20 to 50 wt% of a soap (ii) from 10 to 65 wt % of a an anionic surfactant (iii) from 15 to 70 wt % of a nonionic surfactant, (b) optionally, from 0 to 15 wt % of a builder system, and (c) optionally, from 0 to 15 wt% of a builder system, and, (c) optionally other detergent ingredients to 100 wt% characterised in that from 75 wt % to 100 wt % of the soap is present in the form of a granule which is dry-mixed with concentration of soap of at least 75 wt % based on the weight of the granule.

Full Text

C4316/C FORM - 2 THE PATENTS ACT, 1970 (39 of 1970) I & The Patents Rules, 2003 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (See Section 10 and Rule 13) DETERGENT COMPOSITION HINDUSTAN LEVER LIMITED, a company incorporated under the Indian Companies Act, 1913 and having its registered office at Hindustan Lever House, 165/166, Backbay Reclamation, Mumbai -400 020, Maharashtra, India The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed. WO 2004/111175 PCT/EP2004/(MKi0K3 Detergent Conrpositijon Technical Field 5 The present inventi detergent compositi granules, anionic dissolution across on relates to a granular laundry on containing a combination of soap and nonionic surfactants giving improved a range of water hardnesses. 10 Background of the Invention Soap is a common ingredient of detergent powder compositions. It may be included as a detergent active, a builder or a foam suppresser. It may be added to a slurry 15 which is subsequently spray-dried, or in-situ neutralised from the fatty acid and/or dry-mixed with other particulate ingredients, including composite particles which are themselves the product of a spray-drying process or other granulation process. 20 To formulate most flexibly, it is more advantageous to dry-mix soap with the rest of the ingredients, without intermediate processing. When supplied as a raw material for incorporating in such compositions, soap is often in the 25 form of a fine dusty powder. As well as being difficult to handle, such powders have a tendency to cause respiratory tract irritation in those working with them. It is known to incorporate extruded or flaked soap "noodles" in detergent compositions, which have a "particle" size much greater than 30 found.in the aforementioned dusty powders. However, this is often done purely to create a visual effect, for example WO 2004/1111: PCT/EP2O04/O0Mt83 - ? - when such noodles are deliberately coloured' as indictia of certain benefits. The noodle format is also not a very cost- effective means of supplying the soap, especially when formulating dry mixed powders. Laundry detergent compositions have for many years contained anionic surfactants together with nonionic surfactants. It is well known that many anionic surfactants form calcium precipitates, that adhere to clothes. like sodium linear 10 precipitates, that reduces their effectiveness and that may Especially much used anionic surfactants alkyl benzene sulphonate (NaLAS), and sodium primary alcohol sulphate (NaPAS). Similarly it is know that soaps are also sensitive to calcium precipitation 15 and that it in fact soap precipitates very strongly. It is therefore common to include builders in laundry 'formulations. Common builders are1 phosphates and zeolites. However, 20 phosphates are not favoured because possible eutrification of waterways. Zeolites are insoluble and might leave residues to clothes. 25 Mixtures of anionic and non-ionic surfactants are less prone to form calcium precipitates, and these mixtures are applied in many European Countries. However, common nonionic surfactants are more liquid-like and are consequently more difficult to process into solid, non-sticky laundry products.4 30 WO 2IM14/111175 PCT/EP2«04/«»MIX3 - 3 - 10 15 ingredients at the granule and in the It has now surprisingly been found that although the soap and the anionics precipitate very strongly on their own, and they also precipitate when the anionic and the soap are combined together. When soaps, anionics and nonionics are used in the specific levels and in the specific format detailed in the invention, for example the addition of the majority of the soap granules to the rest of the detergent anionic surfactant combination. This post dosing stage as a dry-mix soap form of highly concentrated granules, this results in the tendency to precipitate in hard .water being lower than for formulations containing only the , only the soap or the anionic and soap in advantageously enables the reduction of nonionic and builder requirements in such a composition for the prevention of precipitates. Definition of the |lnvention I According to a first aspect of the invention, there is 20 provided a laundry detergent composition comprising (a) from 5 to 85 |wt % of a surfactant system comprising; from 20 to 50 wt % of a soap, 25 from 10 to 65 wt % of an anionic surfactant. iii) from 15 to! 70 wt % of a nonionic surfactant. 30 (b) optionally, from 0 to 15 wt % of a builder system, and; WO 20(14/111175 PCT/EP20«4/(MM>«83 - 4 - (c) optionally, other detergent ingredients to 100 wt %, wherein from 75 wt % to 100 wt % of the soap is present in the form of a granule which is dry-mixed with the other components/ and the soap granule has a concentration of soap of at least 75 wt % based on the weight of the granule. According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided the use of a laundry detergent composition as claimed in any preceding claim to improve the dissolution of such a composition ,in hard water. According to a third aspect of the invention, there is for the preparation of a laundry provided a process detergent as claimed in any preceding claim. Detailed description of the invention The detergent composition of the invention contains a combination of a soap, an anionic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant, optionally a builder system, and optionally other detergent ingredients. Wherein a set amount of the soap is present in the form of granules which are dry-mixed with the other components, and the soap granule has a defined concentration of soap. i Detergent compositions according to the invention show improved dissolution properties across a range of water hardnesses. WO 2(104/111175 PCT/EP2004/IMIWIH3 - 5 - The soap (i) According to the in'vention-from 5 to 85 wt I, preferably 7 i to 60 wt %, more preferably 10 to 35 wt % of the surfactant 5 system comprises from 20 to 50 wt % of a soap. Preferably the surfactant system comprises from 30 to 40 wt % of a soap. In a preferred emboaiment of the invention from 80 wt % to 10 100 wt %, preferably from 85 to 95.wt % of the soap is present in the form of granules. The laundry detergent compositions of the current invention comprise a soap granule which has a concentration of soap of 15 at least 75 wt % based on the weight of the composition. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the soap granule has i a concentration of|soap of from 80 to 95 wt %, preferably i from 85 to 90 wt V. Preferably the soap granules contain more than 90 wt % soap, less than 10 wt % moisture and less 20 than 1 wt % sodium hydroxide. Useful soap compounds include the alkali metal soaps such as the sodium, potass (for example monoe ;ium, ammonium and substituted ammonium :thanolamine) salts or any combinations of 25 this, of higher fatty acids containing from about 8 to 24 carbon atoms. In a preferred embodiment of the invention he fatty acid soap has a carbon chain length of from Cio to C22. more 30 preferably C3.2 to ,C?o- WO 2004/111175 I>CT/EP2»»4/IM)MW3 6 - Suitable fatty acids can be obtained from natural sources such as plant or animal esters e.g. palm oil, coconut oil, babassu oil, soybean oil, caster oil, rape seed oil, sunflower oil, cottonseed oil, tallow, fish oils, grease lard and mixtures thereof. Also fatty acids can be produced by synthetic means such as the oxidation of petroleum, or hydrogenation of carbon monoxide by the Fischer Tropsch process. Resin acids are suitable such as rosin and those resin acids in tall oil. Naphthenic acids are also suitable. Sodium and potassium soaps can be made by direct saponification of the fats and oils or by the neutralisation of the free fatty acids which are prepared in a separate manufacturing process. Particularly useful are the sodium and potassium salts and the mixtures of fatty acids derived from coconut oil and tallow, i.e. sodium tallow soap, sodium coconut soap, potassium tallow soap, potassium coconut soap. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the soap is a fatty acid soap. In a further preferred embodiment of the invention the fatty acid soap is' a lauric soap. For example Prifac 5908 .a fatty acid from Uniqema which was neutralised with caustic soda. This soap is an example of a fully hardened or saturated lauric soap, which in general is based on coconut or palm kernel oil. In preferred embodiment of the invention the soap is saturated. Also hardened or unsaturated lauric soaps based on coconut or palm kernel oil can be used. These soaps consist mainly of laurate with 12 carbon atoms, and myristate with 14 carbon atoms. Also mixtures of coconut or palm kernel oil and for example palm oil, olive oil, or tallow can be used. In this case more paimitate with 16 WO 2004/111175 PCT/EP20IU/MMI83 - 7 - carbon atoms, steairate with 18 carbon atoms, palmitoleate with 16 carbon atoms and with one double bond, oleate with 18 carbon atoms and with one double bond and/or linoleate with 18 carbon atoms and with two double bonds are present. 5 Preferably the soap does not stand out from the rest of the ingredients. It therefore needs to be whitish, and more or less round namely with an aspect ratio of less than 2. This ensures that the laundry powder in its final format is 10 free-flowing and cDntaining a soap granule means that it is congruent with the rest of the composition. 0 to 650 g/litre, and the bulk density of ed powders are from 400 to 900 g/litre. 15 In a preferred embodiment he soap has a particle size of from 400 to 1400 pm, preferably 500 to 1200 um. In a preferred embodiment the soap granule has a bulk density of from 40 the fully formulat 20 Fabric washing powders containing major quantities of soap are favoured by some consumers because of good detergency, and the tendency to leave clothes feeling softer than those washed with powders based on synthetic detergent-active compounds. Soap also has environmental advantages in that 25 it is fully biodegradable, and is a natural material derived from renewable raw( materials. Saturated sodium soaps have high Krafft temperatures and consequently dissolve poorly at low temperatures, which are 30 applied by some consumers. It is well known that certain mixtures of saturated and unsaturated soaps have much lower WO 20(14/111175 PCT/EP2IMU/IMWIX3 Krafft temperatures stable upon storage mixture used in the balance between dis However, unsaturated soaps are less , and tend to be malodorous. The soap granules therefore needs to be a careful solution properties and stability properties. The stability of the soap is enhanced when it is concentrated in granules; compared to soap that is incorporated at low, concentration into composite granules. The soap may be used in combination with a suitable antioxidant for example ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid and/or ethane-1-hydroxy-l', 1-diphosphonic acid. Also preservatives may be present to prevent degradation of the soap with can result in malodour or discolouration for ex-ample sodium hydrpxyethlidene disphosphonic acid. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the soap granule is post dosed. The anionic surfactant (ii) Anionic surfactants are well known to those skilled in the art. Examples include alkylbenzene sulphonates, particularly linear alkylbenzene sulphonates having an alkyl chain length of C8-C15; primary and secondary alkylsulphates, particularly C8-C20 primary alkyl sulphates; alkyl ether sulphates; olefin sulphonates; alkyl xylene sulphonates; dialkyl sulphosuccinates; and fatty acid ester sulphonates. Sodium salts are generally preferred. W0 2IMU/1I1175 PCT/EP2004/00f.(IS3 - 9 - According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the granular laundry detergent composition comprises an anionic surfactant which is a sulphonate anionic surfactant. 5 According to an especially preferred embodiment, the sulphonate anionic surfactant comprises linear alkylbenzene sulphonate (LAS). In a preferred embodiment the anionic surfactant is present 10 in an amount of from 15 to 50 wt %. In a preferred embodiment the weight ratio of the anionic surfactant to soap is from 0.5:1 to 5:1, preferably 1:1 to 2:1. 15 The nonionic surfalctant (iii) In a preferred embodiment the nonionic surfactant is present in an amount of from 20 to 60 wt %. i 0 Nonionic surfactants that may be used include the primary and secondary alcohol ethoxylates, especially the C8-C20 aliphatic alcohols ethoxylated with an average of from 1 to 20 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol, and more 25 especially the Cicj-Cis primary and secondary aliphatic alcohols ethoxylated with an average of from 1 to 10 moles of ethylene oxide;per mole of alcohol. Non-ethoxylated nonionic surfactants include alkylpolyglycosides, glycerol monoethers, and pdlyhydroxyamide.s (glucamide) . WO 2004/111175 PCT/EP2WU/U060S3 - 10 Examples of suitable nonionics include Neodol 25 5E from Shell, which is a G12 to C15 poly (1 to 6) ethoxylate with an average degree of ethoxylation of 5. Also suitable is Lutensol A7 a C13 to C15 ethoxylate from BASF, with an 5 average degree of ethoxylation of 7. HLB values can be calculated according to the method given i in Griffin, J. Soc.; Cosmetic Chemists, 5 (1954) 249-256. 10 For example, the HLB of a polyethoxylated primary alcohol nonionic surfactant can be calculated according' to the following formula: MW(EO; 15 HLB = x 100 MW(Tot) x 5 where, 20 MW{EO) - the molecular weiqht of the-hvdroDhilic (ethoxvt part ■MW(Tot) = the molecular weight of the whole surfactant molecule 25 In a preferred embodiment the nonionic surfactant is an i alkoxylated alcohol nonionic surfactant. In an especially preferred embodiment the nonionic surfactant is an ethoxylated alcohol nonionic surfactant of 30 the general formula I WO 2004/111175 PCT/EP2004/OO60X3 - 11 - R - ( - 0 - CH2 - CH2)n " OH (I) wherein R is a hydrocarbyl chain having from 8 to 20, preferably 10 to 18', more preferably 12 to 16, most 5 preferably 15 to 1-5 carbon atoms, and the average degree of ethoxylation n is from 2 to 20, preferably 4 to 15, more preferably 6 to 10 In a preferred embodiment the weight ratio of the nonionic i 10 surfactant to soap'is within the range of from 0.5:1 to 5:1, preferably 0.75:1 to 4:1, even more preferably 0.75:1 to 2:1, most preferably 0.75:1 to 1.5:1, it may also be 0.75:1 to 1:1. 15 The optional builder (b) The compositions of the invention may. con-caxn a aei-eiyenuy builder. Preferably the builder is present in an amount of i i from 0 to 15 wt % based on the weight of the total 20 composition. Alternatively the compositions may be essentially free of deterqency builder. The builder may be selected from strong builders such as phosphate builders, aluminosilicate builders and' mixtures 25 thereof. One or more weak builders such as i calcite/carbonatej citrate or polymer builders may be additionally or alternatively present. The phosphate builder (if present) may for example be 30 selected from alkali metal, preferably sodium, WO 20(14/111175 PCT/EP2004/M6083 - 12 - pyrophosphate, ortnophosphate and tripolyphosphate, and mixtures thereof. The aluminosilicate {if present) may be, for example, 5 selected from one' or more crystalline and amorphous aluminosilicates, for example, zeolites as disclosed in GB 1 473 201 (Henkel), amorphous aluminosilicates as disclosed in GB 1 473 202 (Henkel) and mixed crystalline/amorphous aluminosilicates as disclosed in GB 1 470 250 (Procter & 10 Gamble); and layered silicates as disclosed in EP 164 514B (Hoechst). i The alkali metal aluminosilicate may be either crystalline or amorphous or mixtures thereof, having the general 15 formula: 0.8-1.5 Na20. AI2O3. 0.8-6 Si02- These materials contain some bound water and are required to have a calcium ion exchange capacity of at least 50 mg CaO/g The preferred sodium aluminosilicates-contain 1.5-3.5 Si02 20 units (in the formula above). Both the amorphous and the crystalline materials can be prepared readily by reaction between sodium silicate and sodium aluminate, as amply described in the literature. Suitable crystalline sodium aluminosilicate ion-exchange detergency builders are 25 described, for example, in GB 1 429 143 (Procter & Gamble). The preferred sodium aluminosilicates of this type are the well-known commercially available zeolites A and X, and mixtures thereof. WO 2004/111175 PCT/EP2004/0060K3 13 - The zeolite may be the commercially available zeolite 4h now widely used in laundry detergent powders. However, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the zeolite builder incorporat ed in the compositions of the invention is 5 maximum aluminium zeolite P (zeolite MAP) as described and claimed in EP 384 an alkali metal al a silicon to alumi within the range o 070A (Unilever). Zeolite MAP is defined as m.iinosilicate of the zeolite P type having nium ratio not exceeding 1.33, preferably f from 0.90 to 1.33, and more preferably 10 within the range o;f from 0.90 to 1.20. Especially preferred is zeolite MAP having a silicon to aluminium ratio nqt exceeding 1.07, more preferably about 1.00. The calcium binding capacity of zeolite MAP is 15 generally at least 150 mg CaO per g of anhydrous material. Suitable inorganic salts, include alkaline agents such as alkali metal, preferably sodium, carbonates, sulphates, silicates, metasilicates as independent salts or as double 20 salts. The inorganic salt may be selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate, sodium sulphate, burkeite i and mixtures thereof. i The other optional detergent ingredients (c) 25 As well as the surfactants and builders discussed above, the compositions may optionally contain other active ingredients to enhance performance and properties. 30 Additional deterge'nt-active compounds (surfactants) may be chosen from soap and non-soap anionic, cationic, nonionic. WO 2IMU/111175 PCT/EP2004/M6UX3 - 14 - amphoteric and zwitterionic detergent-active compounds, and mixtures thereof. Many suitable detergent-active compound: are available and are fully described in the literature, fo: example, in "Surface-Active Agents and Detergents", Volumes 5 I and II, by Schwartz, Perry and Berch. Cationic surfactants that may be used include quaternary i ammonium salts of the general formula R1R2R3R4N X wherein the R groups are long or short hydrocarbyl chains, typicall; alkyl, hydroxyalkyl or ethoxylated alkyl groups, and X is a 10 solubilising anion'(for example, compounds in which Ri is a C8-C22 alkyl group, preferably a Cs-Cio or C12-C14 alkyl group, R2 is a methyl group, and R3 and R4, which may be the same or different, are methyl or hydroxyethyl groups); and cationic esters (for example, choline esters). 15 Amphoteric suriactants and/or zwitterionic surfactants may also be present. 1 Preferred amphoteric surfactants are amine oxides. These 20 are materials of the general formula RlR2R3N^O wherein Rj is typically a Cs-Cig alkyl group, for example, 25 C12-C14 alkyl, and IR2 and R3, which may be the same or different, are C1-C3 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl groups, for example, methyl groups. The most preferred amine oxide is coco dimethylamine oxide. WO 20(14/111175 PCT/EP2MU/0060K3 - 15 - Preferred zwitterionic surfactants are betaines, and especially amidobetaines. Preferred betaines;are Cs-Cis alkyl amidoalkylbetaines, for i example, coco amidopropyl betaine (CAPB). 5 The detergent compositions of the invention may comprise one or more optional ingredients selected from, peroxyacid and persalt bleaches, bleach activators, sequestrants, cellulose ethers and esters,: cellulosic polymers, other antiredeposition agents, sodium sulphate, sodium silicate, 10 sodium chloride, calcium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, other inorganic salts, fluorescers, photobleaches, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, other dye transfer inhibiting polymers, foam controllers, foam boosters, acrylic and acrylic/maleic polymers, proteases, lipases, cellulases, amylases, other 15 detergent enzymes, citric acid,, soil release polymers, fabric conditioning compounds,. coloured speckles, and perfume. This list is not intended to be exhaustive. Yet other materials that may be present in detergent 20 compositions of the invention lather control agents or lather boosters as appropriate; dyes and decoupling polymers. Suitable lather boosters for use in the present invention include cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB), cocomonoethanolamide i 25 (CMJEA) and amine oxides. WO 2004/111175 P2004/0060S3 - 16 - Preferred amine oxides are of the general form:- CH3 CH3(CH2)n-N >0 CH3 where, n is from 7 to 17. 10 A suitable amine oxide is Admox (Trademark) 12, supplied by Albemarle. Bleaches 15 Detergent compositions according to the invention may suitably contain a 25 30 bleach system. The bleach system is preferably based on peroxy bleach compounds, for example, inorganic persalts or organic peroxyacids, capable of yielding hydrogen peroxide in aqueous solution. Suitable peroxy bleach compounds include organic peroxides such as urea peroxide, and inorganic persalts such as the alkali metal perborates, percarbonates, perphosphates, persilicates and persulphates. Preferred inorganic persalts are sodium perborate monohydrate and tetrahydrate, and sodium percarbonate. Especially preferred is sodium percarbonate having a protective coating against destabilisation by moisture. Sodium percarbonate having a protective coating comprising sodium metaborate and sodium silicate is disclosed in GB 2 123 044B (Kao). WO 2004/111175 PCT/EP2(MI4/OOr»0«3 - 17 - The peroxy bleach compound is suitably present in an amount of from 5 to 35 wt%, preferably from 10 to 25 wt%. The peroxy bleach compound may be used in conjunction with a bleach activator (bleach precursor) to improve bleaching action at low wash temperatures. The bleach precursor is suitably present in an amount of from 1 to 8 wt%, preferably from 2 to 5 wt%. Preferred bleach precursors are peroxycarboxylic acid precursors, more especially peracetic acid precursors and peroxybenzoic acid precursors; and peroxycarbonic acid precursors. An especially preferred bleach precursor suitable for use in the present invention is N,N,N',N'-tetracetyl ethylenediamine (TAED). Also of interest are peroxybenzoic acid precursors, in particular, N,N,N-trimethylammonium toluoyloxy benzene sulphonate. A bleach stabiliser (heavy metal sequestrant) may also be ■present. Suitable bleach stabilisers include ethylenediamine tetraacetate (EDTA) and the polyphosphonates such as Dequest (Trade Mark), EDTMP. Enzymes The detergent compositions may also contain one or more enzymes. Suitable enzymes include the proteases, amylases, cellulases, oxidases, peroxidases and lipases usable for incorporation in detergent compositions. WO 2004/1J1175 PCT/EP20M4/006083 - 18 - In particulate detergent compositions, detergency enzymes are commonly employed in granular form in amounts of from about 0.1 to about 3.0 wt'%. However, any suitable physical form of enzyme may be used in any effective amount. 5 Other Antiredeposition agents, for example cellulose esters and ethers, for example* sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, may also 10 be present. The compositions maiy also contain soil release polymers, for example sulphonated, and unsulphonated PET/POET polymers, both end-capped and non-end-capped, and polyethylene 15 glycol/polyvinyl al'cohol graft copolymers such as Sokolan {Trade Mark) HP22. Especially preferred soil release polymers are the sulphonated non-end-capped polyesters described and claimed in WO 95 32997A {Rhodia Chimie). 20 Powder flow may be Improved by the incorporation of a small amount of a powder .structurant, for example, a fatty acid (or fatty acid soap), a sugar, an acrylate or acrylate/maleate copolymer, or sodium silicate. One preferred powder structurant is fatty acid soap, suitably present in an amount 25 of from 1 to 5 wt%, based on-the weight of the total composition. WO 20(14/111175 PCT/EP2004/006083 ■ - 19 -Form of the composiition The compositions of the invention may be.of any suitable physical form, for ;example, particulates (powders, granules, 5 tablets), liquids, pastes, gels or bars. Preferably the detergent composition is in granular form. The composition can be formulated for use as hand wash or 10 machine wash detergents. Preparation of the compositions Soap can be made in several ways and is well known. For 15 example it can be made by neutralising fatty acid with caustic. The excess water is then dried by for example spray-drying or flash-drying. Most processes result in dusty powders or flakes of neutralised soap. To transform the powder to granules with appropriate particle size and 20 form, an additional step is required. This could be granulation with or without a binder in high shear or low shear granulators., It could also be done by extrusion, complemented by rounding off the particles. Flakes could be milled and sieved,i or also extruded and rounded. Soap 25 granules that are made on a VRV flash-drier are suitable. This equipment combines drying and granulation in one step. Commercial soap granules made on VRV equipment is available from Uniqema under the name Prisavon. 30 The compositions of the invention may be prepared by any suitable process. WO 20(14/111175 PCT/EP2 - 20 - Suitable processes for the production of compositions in powder form include: (1) drum drying of principal ingredients, optionally 5 followed by granulation or postdosing of additional ingredients; Dry mixing is a common process in powdery laundry products. Generally, several ingredients in granule or particulate 10 form, including separately prepared granules, base powders and otherwise encapsulated ingredients are added to a low shear mixer (e.g. rotating drum mixer), where the ingredients are well mixed. Some ingredients may be sprayed on at this stage (e.g. perfumes). The mixture is then ready 15 for packaging (powders) or tabletting (tablets). Other possible alternative is granulating the soap with some other ingredients in an intermediate step before dry-mixing, but this is not preferred. This last method is common practice (fatty acid is commonly granulated with other surfactants, 20 builder etc. in a base powder, and is in-situ neutralized with caustic soda (or sodium carbonate to soap), but this reduces the flexibility to formulate. (2) non-tower granulation of all ingredients in a high- 25 speed mixer/granulator, for example, a Fukae (Trade Mark) FS series mixer, preferably with at least one surfactant in paste form so that the water in the surfactant paste can act as a binder; WO 20(14/111175 PCT/EP20IU/006IIX3 - 21 - (3) non-tower granulation in a high speed/moderate speed i granulator combination, thin film flash drier/evaporator or fluid bed granulator 5 Powders of low to moderate bulk' density may be prepared by spray-drying a' slurry, and optionally postdosing (dry-mixing) further ingredients. "Concentrated" or "compact" powders may be prepa'red by mixing and granulating processes, for example, using a high-speed mixer/granulator, or other 10' non-tower processes Tablets may be prepared by compacting powders, especially "concentrated" powders. 15 Liquid detergent compositions may be prepared by admixing the essential and optional ingredients in any desired order to provide compositions containing the ingredients in the requisite concentrations. 20 The choice of processing route may be in part dictated by the stability or heat-sensitivity of the surfactants involved, and the form in which they are available. In all cases, ingredients such as enzymes, bleach 25 ingredients, sequestrants, polymers and perfumes may be added separately. In a preferred embodiment of the invention there is providec the use of a laundry detergent composition as claimed in an; 30 preceding claim, ^herein the water hardness is from 10 to 4( WO 2004/111175 PCT/EP2004/006083 degrees of French hardness, preferably 16 to 32 degrees of French hardness. Examples 5 The invention will now be further illustrated by the following, non-limiting examples, in which parts and percentages are bv weiaht. 10 In the table below, ithe turbidity of several surfactant f mixtures was measured, at different water hardnesses. The ! soap was a fully saturated lauric soap granule based on Prifac 5808 from Uniqema, LAS was the anionic surfactant and Neodol 23 5E.from Shell, namely a C12 to C15 poly (1 to 6) 15 ethoxylate with an average degree of ethoxylation of 5, was the nonionic surfactant. Turbidity is a measure of how many precipitates are formed by the surfactant mixture when calcium ions are present. ■ The turbidity should be lower than 0.1. 20 The turbidity of a (surfactant solution is measured by the i absorption of light1 when passing through the solution. Here i the absorption was 'measured with a spectrophotometer i {Labsystem Multiscanb MS) at 1 wavelength (540 nm). The 25 equipment was calibrated with millipore water (turbidity = 0) and no light transmittance (turbidity = 1). The solutions were made by dissolving the surfactants in millipore water. The hardness was provided by CaC1.2H20 and MgC1.6H20, such that the ratio of calcium to magnesium ions 30 was 4:1. In all cases, 1.008 g/1 surfactant, was present. The solutions werei well stirred. The experiments were WO 2004/111175 PCT/EP2004/1MI6083 - 23 - carried out at room temperature, and the final values for i turbidity are an average of 4 repeats. As can be seen, formulations that fall within the limits 5 indicated according to the invention, examples 1 to 7 show' little turbidity. Formulations that fall outside the invention, comparative examples A to D, especially those that contain more than more than 50 wt % total anionic show high turbidity. Example Surfactant Composition Turbidit y Soap LAS i ii nonionic 16 FH 32 FH 40 FH A 0.50 0.50 0 0.11 0.23 0.29 B 0.25 0.75 i 0 0.39 0.53 0.55 C 0.17 0.67 0.17 0.04 0.17 0.26 D 0.67 0.17 0.17 0.13 0.14 0.13 1 0.33 0.33 i 0.33 0.04 0.05 0.05 2 0.25 0.60 0.25 0.04 0.05 0.05 3 0.25 0.|25 0.50 0.05 0.05 0.05 4 0.50 0.'25 i 0.25 0.07 0.06 0.07 5 0.33 0,'17 0.50 0.09 0.08 0.05 6 0.33 0,50 0.17 0.09 0.09 0.06 7 0.25 0;38 0.38 0.08 0.07 0.05 10 WO 2004/111175 PCT/EP2«»4/«0A»»83 - 24 -Claims:_ 1. A laundry detergent composition comprising (a) from 5 to 85 wt' % of a surfactant system comprising; (i) from 20 to 50 wt % of a soap, (ii) from 10 to 65 wt % of an anionic surfactant, (iii) from 15 to 70 wt % of a nonionic surfactant, ,{b) optionally, from 0 to 15 wt % of a builder system, and; (c) optionally, other detergent ingredients to 100 wt %, characterised in that from 75 wt % to 100 wt % of the soap is present in the form of a granule which is dry-mixed with the other components, and the soap granule has a concentration of soap of at least 75 wt % based on the weight of the granule. 2. A laundry detergent composition as claimed in claim 1, characterised |in that the soap is a fatty acid soap. 3. A laundry detergent composition as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the fatty acid soap has a carbon chain length of from C]_o to C22. WO 20114/111175 PCT/EP20II4/OUWIX3 - 25 - 4. A laundry detergent composition as claimed in any of claims 2 and 3, characterised in that the fatty acid soap is a lauric soap. 5 5. A laundry detergent composition as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the soap is saturated. 6. A laundry detergent composition as claimed in any 10 preceding claim, characterised in that the anionic surfactant is a sulphonate anionic surfactant. 7. A laundry detergent composition as claimed in claim 6, characterised jin that the sulphonate anionic surfactant 15 comprises linear alkylbenzene sulphonate. 8. A laundry detergent composition as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the nonionic surfactant is'an alkoxylated alcohol nonionic 20 surfactant, i i 9. A laundry detergent composition as claimed in any ■ preceding cla/im, characterised in that the nonionic surfactant is an ethoxylated alcohol nonionic 25 surfactant of the general formula I: R - { - 0 - CH2 - CH2)n - OH (I) wherein R is 30 carbon atoms a hydrocarbyl chain having from 8 to 20 , and the average degree of etho.xylation n is from 2 to' 20. WO 2004/111175 PCT/EP2004/006083 - 26 - 10. A laundry determent composition as claimed in claim 9, characterised in that the ethoxylated alcohol nonionic surfactant has a hydrocarbyl chain length of from C12 to CIB- ! 11. A laundry determent composition as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the soap granule 1 has a particle 'size of between 400 to 1400 urn. i 10 12. A laundry detergent composition as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the soap granule has a bulk density of from 400 to 650 g/litre. 13. A laundry composition as claimed in any preceding 1 15 claim, characterised in that the weight ratio of the nonionic surfactant to soap is within the range of from 0.5:1 to 5:1, preferably 0.75:1 to 4:1, even more preferably 0.16:1 to 2:1 most preferably 0.75:1 to 1.5:1. 20 14. A laundry composition as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the weight ratio of the i anionic surfactant to soap is from 0.5:1 to 5:1, preferably 1:1 to 2:1. l 15. A laundry detergent composition as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that from 80 wt % to 100 wt %, preferably from 85 to 95 wt % of the soap is present in the form of granules. 30 WO 20IU/11D75 PCT/EP2IMU/(MIMIS3 - 27 16. A laundry detergent composition as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the soap granule has a concentration of soap of from 80 to 95 wt %, preferably from 85 to 90 wt I. 17. Use of a laundry detergent composition as claimed in any preceding claim to improve the dissolution of such a composition in hard water. Use of a laundry detergent composition as claimed in claim 17, characterised in that the water hardness is from 10 to 40 to 32 degrees 19. A process for degrees of French hardness, preferably 16 of French hardness. the preparation of a laundry detergent as claimed in any preceding claim. Dated this 12th day of December 2005 HINDUSTAN LEVER LIMITED (S. Venkatramani) Sr Patents Manager

Documents:

01382-mumnp-2005-cancelled pages(12-12-2007).pdf

01382-mumnp-2005-claims(granted)-(12-12-2007).doc

01382-mumnp-2005-claims(granted)-(12-12-2007).pdf

01382-mumnp-2005-correspondence 1(12-12-2005).pdf

01382-mumnp-2005-correspondence 2(12-12-2007).pdf

01382-mumnp-2005-correspondence(ipo)-(15-10-2007).pdf

01382-mumnp-2005-form 1(12-12-2005).pdf

01382-mumnp-2005-form 13(03-10-2007).pdf

01382-mumnp-2005-form 18(04-04-2006).pdf

01382-mumnp-2005-form 2(granted)-(12-12-2007).doc

01382-mumnp-2005-form 2(granted)-(12-12-2007).pdf

01382-mumnp-2005-form 3(12-12-2005).pdf

01382-mumnp-2005-form-pct-isa-210(12-12-2007).pdf

01382-mumnp-2005-power of attorney (20-09-2007).pdf

1382-mumnp-2005-claims.doc

1382-mumnp-2005-claims.pdf

1382-mumnp-2005-descripiton (complete).pdf

1382-mumnp-2005-form-1.pdf

1382-mumnp-2005-form-18.pdf

1382-mumnp-2005-form-2.doc

1382-mumnp-2005-form-2.pdf

1382-mumnp-2005-form-3.pdf

1382-mumnp-2005-form-pct-ib-311.pdf

1382-mumnp-2005-form-pct-ipea-409.pdf

1382-mumnp-2005-form-pct-ipea-416.pdf

1382-mumnp-2005-form-pct-separate sheet-409.pdf

1382-mumnp-2005-pct-search report.pdf