Encapsulated bleaches and methods for their preparation

Claim 2

A granulated active chlorine bleaching agent encapsulated with a coating comprising: (a) about 15 to about 25% of the total encapsulate weight of a first coating on said agent consisting essentially of a major proportion of a substantially saturated fatty acid being substantially non-reactive with said agent and having a melting point range of about 85° F. to about 135° F. and a plasticizing amount of a microcrystalline wax having a melting point range of about 125° F. to about 210° F.; and (b) about 30% to about 40% of the total encapsulate weight of a second coating on said first coating, said second coating consisting essentially of a major proportion of a fatty acid, a sufficient amount of said microcrystalline wax to plasticize said second coating and about 5 to about 20% of the total encapsulate weight of a polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene copolymer having at least about 65% by weight of polyoxyethylene and having a molecular weight of about 8000 to about 16,500.

Claim 3

A bleaching agent as defined in claim 1 wherein said first coating is about 18 to about 20% of the total encapsulate weight and wherein said second coating is about 32% to about 38% of the total encapsulate weight.

Claim 4

A bleaching agent as defined in claim 1 wherein the fatty acid of said first coating is at least one n-alkanoic acid of about 10 to 20 carbon atoms.

Claim 5

A bleaching agent as defined in claim 3 wherein said fatty acid is a mixture selected from the group consisting of (a) about 83% stearic acid, about 11% palmitic acid and about 6% of n-alkanoic acid of about 12 to about 20 carbon atoms other than stearic or palmitic acid, and (b) about 95% stearic acid and about 5% palmitic acid.

Claim 6

A bleaching agent as defined in claim 1, said agent being capable of substantially passing through a U.S. sieve size of about 10 mesh and at least about 80% of said agent being substantially retained on a U.S. sieve size of about 45 mesh.

Claim 7

A detergent composition for use in washing articles incorporating a sufficient amount of the encapsulated granules of claim 1 to provide about 30 to about 200 parts per million of chlorine in the wash water during use.

Claim 8

A detergent composition as defined in claim 6 comprising: ______________________________________ Approx. Percentage By Weight ______________________________________ anionic or nonionic detergent 1-90% builder 0-90% said encapsulated bleaching agent 2-25% optical brightener 0-0.3% viscosity enhancer 0-1% sodium sulfate 0-25% water Balance to 100%. ______________________________________

Claim 9

A granulated active chlorine bleaching agent encapsulated with a coating comprising: (a) about 5% to about 15% of the total encapsulate weight of a first coating on said agents, said first coating consisting essentially of a major portion of a substantially saturated fatty acid being substantially non-reactive with said agents and having a melting point range of about 85% to about 135° F. and a plasticizing amount of a microcrystalline wax having a melting point range of about 125° F. to about 210° F.; (b) about 25% to about 40% of the total encapsulate weight of a second coating on said first coated agents, said second coating consisting essentially of a major proportion of a fatty acid, a sufficient amount of said microcrystalline wax to plasticize said second coating and about 5 to about 20% by weight of the total encapsulated weight of a polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene copolymer having at least about 65% by weight of polyoxyethylene and having a molecular weight of about 8000 to about 16,500; and (c) about 5% to about 15% of the total encapsulate weight of a third coating on said second coated agents, said third coating consisting essentially of a major portion of a fatty acid and a sufficient amount of said microcrystalline wax to plasticize said third coating.

Claim 10

A granulated active chlorine bleaching agent encapsulated with a coating comprising: (a) about 5% to about 15% of the total encapsulate weight of a first coating on said agents, said first coating consisting essentially of a major portion of a substantially saturated fatty acid being substantially non-reactive with said agents and having a melting point range of about 85% to about 135° F. and a plasticizing amount of a microcrystalline wax having a melting point range of about 125° F. to about 210° F.; (b) about 25% to about 40% of the total encapsulate weight of a second coating on said first coated agents, said second coating consisting essentially of a major proportion of a fatty acid, a sufficient amount of said microcrystalline wax to plasticize said second coating and about 5 to about 20% by weight of the total encapsulated weight of a polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene copolymer having at least about 65% by weight of polyoxyethylene and having a molecular weight of about 8000 to about 16,500; and (c) about 5% to about 15% of the total encapsulate weight of a third coating on said second coated agents, said third coating consisting essentially of a major portion of a fatty acid and a sufficient amount of said microcrystalline wax to plasticize said third coating.

Claim 11

A bleaching agent as defined in claim 8 wherein said first coating is about 8 to about 12% of the total encapsulate weight, wherein said second coating is about 30% to about 35% of the total encapsulate weight and wherein said third coating is about 8 to about 12% of the total encapsulate weight.

Claim 12

A bleaching agent as defined in claim 8 wherein the fatty acid of said first coating is at least one n-alkanoic acid of about 12 to about 20 carbon atoms.

Claim 13

A bleaching agent as defined in claim 32 wherein said fatty acid is a mixture selected from the group consisting of: (a) about 83% stearic acid, about 11% palmitic acid, and about 6% of n-alkanoic acids of about 12 to about 20 carbon atoms other than stearic or palmitic acid, and (b) about 95% stearic acid and about 5% palmitic acid.

Claim 14

A bleaching agent as defined in claim 8, said agent being capable of substantially passing through a U.S. sieve size of about 10 mesh and at least about 80% of said agent being substantially retained on a U.S. sieve size of about 45 mesh.

Claim 15

A detergent composition for use in washing articles incorporating a sufficient amount of the encapsulated granules of claim 8 to provide about 30 to about 200 parts per million of chlorine in the wash water during use.

Claim 16

A detergent composition as defined in claim 13 comprising: ______________________________________ Approx. Percentage By Weight ______________________________________ anionic or nonionic detergent 1-90% builder 0-90% said encapsulated bleaching agent 2-25% optical brightener 0-0.3% viscosity enhancer 0-1% sodium sulfate 0-25% water Balance to 100%. ______________________________________

Claim 17

A granulated bleaching agent encapsulated with a coating comprising: (a) about 35% to about 55% of the total encapsulate weight of a coating on said agents consisting essentially of a major proportion of a fatty acid being substantially non-reactive with said agents and having a melting point range of about 85° F. to about 135° F., a plasticizing amount of a microcrystalline wax having a melting point range of about 125° F. to about 210° F.; and (b) about 5% to about 20% by weight of the total encapsulate weight of a polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene copolymer having at least about 65% by weight of polyoxyethylene and having a molecular weight of about 8000 to about 16,500.

Claim 18

A granulated bleaching agent encapsulated with a coating comprising: (a) about 35% to about 55% of the total encapsulate weight of a coating on said agents consisting essentially of a major proportion of a fatty acid being substantially non-reactive with said agents and having a melting point range of about 85° F. to about 135° F., a plasticizing amount of a microcrystalline wax having a melting point range of about 125° F. to about 210° F.; and (b) about 5% to about 20% by weight of the total encapsulate weight of a polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene copolymer having at least about 65% by weight of polyoxyethylene and having a molecular weight of about 8000 to about 16,500.

Claim 19

A bleaching agent as defined in claim 15 wherein said coating is about 7 to about 14% of the total encapsulate weight.

Claim 20

A bleaching agent as defined in claim 15 wherein said fatty acid is at least one n-alkanoic acid of about 12 to about 20 carbon atoms.

Claim 21

A bleaching agent as defined in claim 17 wherein said fatty acid is a mixture selected from the group consisting of: (a) about 83% stearic acid, about 11% palmitic acid, and about 6% of n-alkanoic acids of about 12 to about 20 carbon atoms other than stearic or palmitic acid, and (b) about 95% stearic acid and about 5% palmitic acid.

Claim 22

A detergent composition comprising: ______________________________________ Approx. Percentage By Weight ______________________________________ anionic or nonionic detergent 1-90% builder 0-90% encapsulated bleaching agent 2-25% optical brightener 0-0.3% viscosity enhancer 0-1% sodium sulfate 0-25% water Balance to 100% ______________________________________ wherein said encapsulated bleaching agent is the bleaching agent of claim 15.