Detergent composition containing a quaternary ammonium cationic surfactant and a carboxylate anionic surfactant

Claim 1

A detergent composition comprising, in an aqueous medium, (i) at least one quaternary ammonium cationic surfactant selected from the group consisting of (a) monoalkyl quaternary ammonium salt cationic surfactants having the formula (I): ##STR20## wherein R 1 represents an alkyl or alkenyl having 12 to 22 carbon atoms, R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 independently represent methyl or ethyl, and X 1 represents a halogen atom or a methylsulfate residue, (b) ethylene oxide addition quaternary ammonium salt cationic surfactants having the formula (II): ##STR21## wherein R 5 represents an alkyl having 16 to 22 carbon atoms, R 6 represents methyl, ethyl, or an alkyl having 16 to 22 carbon atoms, X 2 represents a halogen atom or a methylsulfate or ethylsulfate residue, m and n are independently an integer of at least 1, provided that the sum of m and n is 2 to 30, and (c) imidazoline quaternary ammonium salt cationic surfactants having the formula (III): ##STR22## wherein R 7 and R 8 independently represent an alkyl or alkenyl having 12 to 22 carbon atoms, and X 3 represents a halogen atom or a methylsulfate or ethylsulfate residue; (ii) at least one carboxylate anionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of: N-acylsarcosinate anionic surfactants having the formula: ##STR23## wherein R 11 represents an alkyl or alkenyl group having 8 to 18 carbon atoms and M 3 represents one or more of alkali metals, organic amines, and basic amino acids; N-acylglutamates having the formula: ##STR24## wherein R 12 represents an alkyl or alkenyl group having 8 to 18 carbon atoms and M 4 independently represents one or more of alkali metals, organic amines, and basic amino acids; N-acyl-N-methyl-β-alanine salt anionic surfactants having the formula: ##STR25## wherein R 13 represents an alkyl or alkenyl group having 8 to 18 carbon atoms and M 5 represents one or more of alkali metals, organic amines, and basic amino acids; and N-acyl alanine salt anionic surfactant having the formula: R.sub.14 CONHCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 COOM.sub.6 wherein R 14 represents an alkyl or alkenyl group having 8 to 18 carbon atoms and M 6 represents one or more of alkali metals, organic amines, and basic amino acids; and (iii) at least one amphoteric surfactant, the mole ratio of the components (i)/(ii) being within the range of from 4/6 to 8/2.