Low phosphate or phosphate free nonaqueous liquid nonionic laundry detergent composition and method of use

Claim 2

A nonaqueous liquid heavy duty laundry detergent composition which comprises 20 to 60 percent of at least one liquid nonionic surfactant detergent and 5 to 50 percent of an alkali metal heptonic acid builder salt.

Claim 3

The detergent composition of claim 1 comprising at least one of the members of the group consisting of a polycarboxylic acid terminated nonionic surfactant anti-gel agent, a C 2 to C 3 alkylene glycol mono C 1 to C 5 alkyl ether and a C 8 to C 20 alkanol phosphoric acid ester stabilizing agent.

Claim 4

The detergent composition of claim 1 comprising one or more detergent adjuvants selected from the group consisting of bleaching agent, bleach activator, optical brightener, enzymes and perfume.

Claim 5

The detergent composition of claim 1 comprising 10 to 40 percent of an alkali metal heptonic acid detergent builder salt.

Claim 6

The detergent composition of claim 1 comprising 5 to 25 percent of a polycarboxylic acid terminated surfactant.

Claim 7

The detergent composition of claim 1 comprising 0.10 to 2.0 percent of a C 8 to C 20 alkanol phosphoric acid ester.

Claim 8

The detergent composition of claim 1 comprising about 5 to 15 percent of a C 2 to C 3 alkylene glycol C 1 to C 5 alkyl mono-ether.

Claim 9

The detergent composition of claim 1 wherein the nonionic surfactant has dispersed therein detergent builder particles having a particle size distribution such that no more than about 10% by weight of said particles have a particle size of more than about 10 microns.

Claim 10

The laundry detergent composition of claim 1 which is polyphosphate free or low polyphosphate and which additionally comprises at least one liquid nonionic surfactant in an amount of about 25 to 50%, a polycarboxylic acid-terminated nonionic surfactant in an amount of about 5 to 25%, an alkali metal heptonic acid builder salt in an amount of about 10 to 40%, a C 2 to C 3 alkylene glycol mono C 1 to C 5 alkyl ether in an amount of about 5 to 15%, a polyphosphate detergent builder in an amount of about 0 to 30%, and a C 16 to C 18 alkanol phosphoric acid ester in an amount of about 0.1 to 1.0%.

Claim 11

The laundry detergent compositon of claim 9 additionally comprising an alkali metal perborate monohydrate bleaching agent in an amount of about 5 to 30%, tetraacetylethylene diamine bleach activation in an amount of about 3 to 20%, and one or more detergent adjuvants selected from the group consisting of anti-encrustation agent, anti-redeposition agent, optical brighteners, enzymes and perfume.

Claim 12

The laundry detergent composition of claim 9 where the detergent builder comprises 25 to 35 percent of an alkali metal salt of heptonic acid.

Claim 13

The detergent composition of claim 9 wherein the sodium salt of heptonic acid has the formula ##STR3##

Claim 14

The detergent composition of claim 9 which is free of phosphate detergent builder.

Claim 15

The laundry detergent composition of claim 9 wich is pourable at high and low temperatures, is stable in storage and does not gel when mixed with cold water.

Claim 16

The detergent composition of claim 9 which comprises a polyphosphate builder salt in an amount of about 5 to 15 percent.

Claim 17

A phosphate detergent builder free nonaqueous liquid heavy duty laundry detergent composition which comprises ______________________________________ Nonionic surfactant in an amount of about 30-40% Polycarboxylic Acid Terminated surfactant in an 5-15% amount of about Sodium salt of heptonic acid in an amount of about 25-35% [Alkylene] Diethylene glycol monobutyl ether in an 8-12% amount of about C.sub.16 to C.sub.18 alkanol ester of phosphoric acid in 0.1-0.5% amount of about Sodium perborate monohydrate bleaching agent in an 8-15% amount of about Tetraacetylethylene diamine (TAED) bleach activator 4-8% in an amount of about ______________________________________

Claim 18

A phosphate detergent builder free nonaqueous liquid heavy duty laundry detergent composition which comprises ______________________________________ Nonionic surfactant in an amount of about 30-40% Polycarboxylic Acid Terminated surfactant in an 5-15% amount of about Sodium salt of heptonic acid in an amount of about 25-35% [Alkylene] Diethylene glycol monobutyl ether in an 8-12% amount of about C.sub.16 to C.sub.18 alkanol ester of phosphoric acid in 0.1-0.5% amount of about Sodium perborate monohydrate bleaching agent in an 8-15% amount of about Tetraacetylethylene diamine (TAED) bleach activator 4-8% in an amount of about ______________________________________

Claim 19

The detergent composition of claim 16 wherein the composition comprises an anti-redeposition agent and anti-encrustation agent.

Claim 20

A method for cleaning soiled fabrics which comprises contacting the soiled fabrics with an effective cleaning amount of the laundry detergent composition of claim 9.

Claim 21

The method of claim 18 for cleaning soiled fabrics which comprises contacting the soild fabrics with the laundry detergent composition of claim 9.

Claim 22

The method of claim 18 for cleaning soiled fabrics which comprises contacting the soiled fabrics with the laundry detergent composition of claim 16.