Heavy-duty liquid detergent and process

Claim 2

In a process for preparing a clear homogeneous heavy-duty liquid detergent composition which contains a surfactant component comprising detersive amounts of both anionic and nonionic surfactants, as well as alkanolamines and magnesium salts, the improvement which comprises: (a) mixing the surfactant component comprising a detersive amount of an anionic surfactant, or mixtures thereof, in the free acid form, with sufficient magnesium hydroxide to provide a mixture characterized by a solution pH of from about 1 to about 5.5; and (b) thereafter admixing sufficient alkanolamine with the foregoing mixture to provide a finished composition characterized by a solution pH of from about 6 to about 9.

Claim 3

A process according to claim 1 wherein the surfactant component comprises a detersive amount of an anionic surfactant, or mixtures thereof, in the free acid form, and a detersive amount of a nonionic surfactant.

Claim 4

A process according to claim 2 wherein the anionic surfactant is a member selected from the group consisting of linear alkyl benzene sulfonates containing from about 10 to about 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl group; branched alkyl benzene sulfonates containing from about 10 to about 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl group; the tallow range alkyl sulfates; the coconut range alkyl glyceryl sulfonates; alkyl ether (ethoxylated) sulfates wherein the alkyl moiety contains from about 12 to about 18 carbon atoms and wherein the average degree of ethoxylation varies between 1 and 12; the sulfated condensation products of tallow alcohol with from about 3 to about 12 moles of ethylene oxide; olefin sulfonates containing from about 14 to about 16 carbon atoms; soaps; and mixtures thereof.

Claim 5

A process according to claim 3 wherein the nonionic surfactant is the condensate of ethylene oxide with an alcohol or alkyl phenol.

Claim 6

A process according to claim 4 wherein the nonionic surfactant is the condensate of 1 to 20 moles of ethylene oxide with a C 9 -C 18 primary or secondary alcohol, or mixture of said condensates.

Claim 7

A process according to claim 1 wherein the alkanolamine is a member selected from the group consisting of monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, and triethanolamine.

Claim 8

A process according to claim 1 which is carried out in the presence of a solvent selected from the group consisting of water and mixtures of water and a water-soluble organic solvent.

Claim 9

A process according to claim 1 wherein the surfactant component is mixed with sufficient magnesium hydroxide to provide solution pH of from about 1 to about 3.

Claim 10

A process according to claim 8 wherein the finished composition is characterized by a solution pH of from about 7 to about 9.

Claim 11

A process according to claim 9 wherein the finished composition is characterized by a solution pH of from about 7 to about 8.

Claim 12

A detergent composition prepared by: (a) mixing a surfactant component comprising a detersive amount of an anionic surfactant, or mixtures thereof, in the free acid form, with sufficient magnesium hydroxide to provide a mixture characterized by a solution pH of from about 1 to about 5.5; and (b) thereafter admixing sufficient alkanolamine with the foregoing mixture to provide a finished composition characterized by a solution pH of from about 6 to about 9.

Claim 13

A detergent composition prepared by: (a) mixing a surfactant component comprising a detersive amount of an anionic surfactant, or mixtures thereof, in the free acid form, with sufficient magnesium hydroxide to provide a mixture characterized by a solution pH of from about 1 to about 5.5; and (b) thereafter admixing sufficient alkanolamine with the foregoing mixture to provide a finished composition characterized by a solution pH of from about 6 to about 9.

Claim 14

A composition according to claim 11 wherein the surfactant component comprises a detersive amount of an anionic surfactant, or mixtures thereof, in the free acid form, and a detersive amount of a nonionic surfactant.

Claim 15

A composition according to claim 12 wherein the anionic surfactant is a member selected from the group consisting of linear alkyl benzene sulfonates containing from about 10 to about 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl group; branched alkyl benzene sulfonates containing from about 10 to about 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl group; the tallow range alkyl sulfates; the coconut range alkyl glyceryl sulfonates; alkyl ether (ethoxylated) sulfates wherein the alkyl moiety contains from about 12 to about 18 carbon atoms and wherein the average degree of ethoxylation varies between 1 and 12; the sulfated condensation products of tallow alcohol with from about 3 to about 12 moles of ethylene oxide; olefin sulfonates containing from about 14 to about 16 carbon atoms; soaps; and mixtures thereof.

Claim 16

A composition according to claim 13 wherein the nonionic surfactant is the condensate of ethylene oxide with an alcohol or alkyl phenol.

Claim 17

A composition according to claim 13 wherein the nonionic surfactant is the condensate of 1 to 20 moles of ethylene oxide with a C 9 -C 18 primary alcohol, or mixtures of said condensates.

Claim 18

A composition according to claim 15 wherein the alkanolamine is a member selected from the group consisting of monoethanolamine, diethanolamine and triethanolamine.

Claim 19

A composition according to claim 16 which comprises from about 5% to about 70% by weight of a solvent selected from the group consisting of water and mixtures of water and a water-soluble organic solvent.

Claim 20

A composition according to claim 17 wherein the surfactant component is mixed with sufficient magnesium hydroxide to provide a mixture characterized by a solution pH of from about 1 to about 3 and thereafter admixed with sufficient alkanolamine to provide a finished composition characterized by a solution pH of from about 7 to about 8.