Detergent formulations

Claim 2

In a washing composition an organic detergent surfactant selected from the group consisting of anionic, cationic, non-ionic, ampholytic, zwitterionic detergents and mixtures thereof suitable for use in water and, as a builder, a compound selected from the group consisting of a water-soluble salt of taurine-N,N-diacetic acid, nitrilodiacetic acid-monomethylene sulfonic acid and mixtures thereof, the ratio by weight of the detergent surfactant to the builder being in the range of about 1:10 to about 3:1.

Claim 3

A washing composition consisting essentially of an organic detergent surfactant selected from the group consisting of anionic, cationic, non-ionic, ampholytic, and zwitterionic detergents and mixtures thereof suitable for use in water and, as a builder, a water-soluble salt of taurine-N,N-diacetic acid, the ratio by weight of the detergent surfactant to the builder being in the range of about 1:10 to about 3:1.

Claim 4

A washing composition consisting essentially of an organic detergent surfactant selected from the group consisting of anionic, cationic, non-ionic, ampholytic, and zwitterionic detergents and mixtures thereof suitable for use in water and, as a builder, a water-soluble salt of taurine-N,N-diacetic acid, the ratio by weight of the detergent surfactant to the builder being in the range of about 1:10 to about 3:1.

Claim 5

The composition of claim 2 wherein said water-soluble salt is a sodium salt.

Claim 6

The composition of claim 2 wherein said detergent surfactant is one or a mixture of anionic detergents.

Claim 7

The composition of claim 2 additionally containing from about 2 to about 10 percent by weight based on the total weight of the composition of a water-soluble alkali metal silicate.

Claim 8

The composition of claim 2 additionally containing up to about 60 percent by weight based on the total weight of the composition of an alkali metal sulfate or an alkali metal carbonate or both.

Claim 9

The composition of claim 2 wherein said detergent surfactant is one or a mixture of anionic detergents, wherein said salt is the trisodium salt of taurine-N,N-diacetic acid, and wherein the composition additionally contains from about 2 to about 10 percent by weight based on the total weight of the composition of a water-soluble silicate and from about 10 to about 50 percent by weight based on the total weight of the composition of sodium sulfate.

Claim 10

An aqueous washing system composed of water, an organic detergent surfactant and, as a builder therefor, a water-soluble salt selected from the group consisting of alkali metal salts, ammonium salts, and alkyl ammonium salts of taurine-N,N-diacetic acid, said builder and said surfactant being present in an amount sufficient to achieve the desired washing result, the ratio by weight of said detergent surfactant to said builder being in the range of from about 1:10 to about 3:1, said system having a pH between about 8 and about 12.

Claim 11

An aqueous washing system composed of water, an organic detergent surfactant and, as a builder therefor, a water-soluble salt selected from the group consisting of alkali metal salts, ammonium salts, and alkyl ammonium salts of taurine-N,N-diacetic acid, said builder and said surfactant being present in an amount sufficient to achieve the desired washing result, the ratio by weight of said detergent surfactant to said builder being in the range of from about 1:10 to about 3:1, said system having a pH between about 8 and about 12.

Claim 12

The method of washing articles which comprises contacting the same with an aqueous washing system of claim 8.

Claim 13

The composition of claim 8 wherein said detergent surfactant is one or a mixture of anionic detergents.

Claim 14

The composition of claim 8 wherein said water-soluble salt is a sodium salt of taurine-N,N-diacetic acid.

Claim 15

A washing composition consisting essentially of an organic detergent surfactant selected from the group consisting of anionic, cationic, non-ionic, ampholytic, and zwitterionic detergents and mixtures thereof suitable for use in water and, nitrilodiacetic acid-monomethylene sulfonic acid, the ratio by weight of the detergent surfactant to the builder being in the range of about 1:10 to about 3:1.

Claim 16

A washing composition consisting essentially of an organic detergent surfactant selected from the group consisting of anionic, cationic, non-ionic, ampholytic, and zwitterionic detergents and mixtures thereof suitable for use in water and, nitrilodiacetic acid-monomethylene sulfonic acid, the ratio by weight of the detergent surfactant to the builder being in the range of about 1:10 to about 3:1.

Claim 17

The composition of claim 12 wherein said water-soluble salt is a sodium salt.

Claim 18

The composition of claim 12 wherein said detergent surfactant is one or a mixture of anionic detergents.

Claim 19

The composition of claim 12 additionally containing from about 2 to about 10 percent by weight based on the total weight of the composition of a water-soluble alkali metal silicate.

Claim 20

The composition of claim 12 additionally containing up to about 60 percent by weight based on the total weight of the composition of an alkali metal sulfate or an alkali metal carbonate, or both.

Claim 21

The composition of claim 12 wherein said detergent surfactant is one or a mixture of anionic detergents, wherein said salt is the trisodium salt of nitrilodiacetic acid-monomethylene sulfonic acid, and wherein the composition additionally contains from about 2 to about 10 percent by weight based on the total weight of the composition of a water-soluble sodium silicate and from about 10 to about 50 percent by weight based on the total weight of the composition of sodium sulfate.

Claim 22

An aqueous washing system composed of water, an organic detergent surfactant and, as a builder therefor, a water-soluble salt selected from the group consisting of alkali metal salts, ammonium salts, and alkyl ammonium salts of nitrilodiacetic acid-monomethylene sulfonic acid, said builder and said surfactant being present in an amount sufficient to achieve the desired washing result, the ratio by weight of said detergent surfactant to said builder being in the range of from about 1:10 to about 3: 1, said system having a pH between about 8 and about 12.

Claim 23

An aqueous washing system composed of water, an organic detergent surfactant and, as a builder therefor, a water-soluble salt selected from the group consisting of alkali metal salts, ammonium salts, and alkyl ammonium salts of nitrilodiacetic acid-monomethylene sulfonic acid, said builder and said surfactant being present in an amount sufficient to achieve the desired washing result, the ratio by weight of said detergent surfactant to said builder being in the range of from about 1:10 to about 3: 1, said system having a pH between about 8 and about 12.

Claim 24

The method of washing articles which comprises contacting the same with an aqueous washing system of claim 18.

Claim 25

The composition of claim 18 wherein said detergent surfactant is one or a mixture of anionic detergents.