United States Patent 0 "
CC
1
3,480,556
Patented Nov. 25, 1969
2
With reference to (b) above, the beta~branched chain
3,480,556
PRIMARY ALCOHOL SULFATE DETERGENT
COMPOSITIONS
primary alcohol sulfates can contain from 12 to 20 car—
bon atoms and preferably contains 14 to 18 carbon atoms.
William J. De Witt, Burlington, NJ., and Robert C.
Taylor, King of Prussia, Pa., assignors to Atlantic
Rich?eld Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of
R2 is preferably a methyl or ethyl radical. The branched
chain sulfate can be combined with the straight chain
sulfate (a) in ratios of from 9:1 to 1:9. Consequently,
from 10 to 90 parts by weight of the beta-branched chain
primary alcohol sulfate can be combined with from 90
to 10 parts of the straight primary alcohol sulfate. Pref
Pennsylvania
No Drawing. Filed Sept. 29 1966, Ser. No. 583,104
Int. ‘Cl. C11d 1/60, 11/42
US. Cl. 252-152
10 Claims
10
erably, the beta-branched chain primary alcohol sulfate
is present in an amount ranging from. 20 to 60 parts by
Weight per 100' parts of the total detergent ((a)+(b)).
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
The branched chain primary alcohol sulfate can be less
than, equal to or greater than the molecular weight of the
Detergent compositions having superior washing prop
erties comprise a mixture of straight chain and beta— 15 straight chain primary alcohol sulfate. The sodium salts
branched chain primary alcohol sulfates.
of each sulfate are preferred.
The mixture of detergents can exist as a dry powder
or in an aqueous medium. Preferably, since drying is ex
This invention relates to improved detergent composi~
pensive it is in an aqueous medium. The concentration of
tions. More particularly, this invention relates to a mix 2.0 detergent in the slurry can vary over a wide range de
ture of straight and 2-alkyl primary alcohol sulfate
detergents. In another aspect, it relates to aqueous slur
ries and solutions of these detergents.
The salts of higher molecular weight straight chain
primary alcohol sulfates containing from 16 to 20- carbon 25
atoms are poor detergents in applications where foam
heights and foam stability are critical, such as dishwash
ing. For the same reasons, primary alcohol sulfates which
are branched at the second (beta) carbon do not possess
pending upon the application requirements. Whether the
aqueous composition is a slurry or a true solution depends
upon the concentration and solubility of each of the par
ticular sulfates. For example, the sodium salt of n-hexa
decanol sulfate exists only as a slurry at a concentration
of 10 percent in water. Similarly, since the solubility of
the salt decreases with increasing molecular weight most
aqueous compositions containing the n-eicosanol sulfate
salt will be slurries rather than solutions. It is normally
the optimum dishwashing properties. It has been found, 30 desirable to prepare aqueous compositions having a deter
however, that a mixture of these two primary alcohol
gent concentration ranging from about 1 to about 50
sulfates has superior detergent properties when compared
weight percent. Preferably, the detergent concentration
to either of the sulfates alone.
Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide
ranges from 10 to 40 weight percent.
While an improvement in foam characteristics is ob
mixtures of straight and beta-branched chain primary 35 tained merely by combining the straight and branched
alcohol sulfates which have superior detergent properties.
chain salts in water, the optimum improvement occurs
It is a further object of this invention to provide
when foam builders are added to this aqueous composi
tion. Foam builders are well-known in the art. Their
aqueous detergent compositions which have outstanding
foam characteristics.
primary function is to stabilize the foam. Examples of
Speci?cally, the detergent compositions of this inven 40 suitable foam builders include but are not limited to fatty
tion comprise in parts by weight
alcohols such as lauryl alcohol, fatty m-ono- and diethanol
amides such as coco-acid diethanol amides, nonionics
such as lauryl alcohol ethoxylate or alkylphenol ethoxy
late, sulfated nonionic such as lauryl alcohol ethoxy sul
(1) 100 parts of a detergent comprising
(a) from 10 to 90 parts of a straight chain primary
alcohol sulfate having the structural formula
45
wherein R is a straight chain alkyl radical con
taining 14 to 18 carbon atoms and X is a radical
selected from the group consisting of Na, K, NH4,
fate or alkylphenol ethoxy sulfate, saponins, lecithin frac
tions obtained from re?ning sun?ower seed oil cellulosic
materials such as ethylcellulose, higher aliphatic diols
such as hexadecane-1,2-diol, imides of dicarboxylic acids
such as 4-octadecene-1,Z-dicarboxylic acid imide and N
R'R"NH and R’R"R”'N wherein R'R" and R'” 50 alkyliminodiacetic acid, esters of aryl phosphoric acids
are hydroxylated alkyl radicals containing from 1
such as the sodium salt of the methylester of para-tert
to 3 carbon atoms and
octylbenzene phosphoric acid. These builders can be added
(b) from 90 to 10 parts of a beta-branched chain
in functional amounts generally ranging from O to 100
primary alcohol sulfate having the structural
parts per 100 parts detergent. Preferably, the builders are
55 added in amounts ranging from 5 to 60 parts per 100
formula
parts detergent.
The compositions of this invention can be prepared by
any suitable method. For example, the detergents can be
wherein the total number of carbon atoms ranges
prepared by reacting a primary alcohol with sulfur tri
from 12 to 20 and R1 is a straight chain alkyl 60 oxide to form the monoester and then neutralizing to the
radical containing 9 to 17 carbon atoms and R2
salt. These detergents can then either be dried to a powder
is a straight chain alkyl radical containing 1 to 9
or added to water to form a slurry or solution.
carbon atoms and X is as de?ned in (a).
Other ingredients which are commonly added to de
with
tergent compositions can be added to the compositions
(2) From 0 to about 10,000 parts water and
65 of this invention in functional amounts without departing
(3) From 0 to 100 parts of foam builders.
from the scope thereof. For example, the detergent com
It has been found that when the straight and beta
positions of this invention can be combined with common
branched chain primary alcohol sulfates are combined
detergent additives such as hydrotropes, heat stabilizers,
in water with the appropriate foam builders the resulting
colorants, degelling agents, Iviscosity improvers, builders,
formulation has a better dishwashing ability than the 70 perfumes and so forth.
same formulations containing either the straight or beta
It is recognized in the art that major or minor amounts
branched chain primary alcohol sulfates alone.
of other ingredients can be added to a detergent composi
3,480,556
3
tion without destroying their detergent properties. For ex
ample, the detergent compositions of this invention can be
4
wherein R is ‘a straight chain alkyl radical con
taining 14 to 18 carbon atoms and X is a
radical selected from the group consisting of
combined with major or minor amounts of other deter
gents such as alkyl benzene sulfonates without departing
from the scope of this invention.
The following example is given to illustrate a speci?c
Na, K, NH4, R’R"NH and R’R"R"’N wherein
R’R” and R'” are hydroxylated alkyl radicals
containing from 1 t0 3 carbon atoms and
(b) from 90 to 10 parts of a beta-branched chain
embodiment of this invention and should not be con
strued as a limitation upon the scope thereof.
primary alcohol sulfate having the structural
formula
EXAMPLE
10
Three basic detergent formulations containing
Parts
wherein the total number of carbon atoms
ranges from 12 to 20 and R1 is a straight chain
alkyl radical containing 9 to 17 carbon atoms
and R2 is a straight chain alkyl radical contain
ing 1 to 9 carbon atoms and X is as de?ned
Detergent __________________________________ __ 23
Sodium salt of t-nonyl phenol poly(ethoxy)ethanol
sulfate (a foam builder) ____________________ .._ 10
Diethanol amide of lauric acid (a foam builder) ____
5
Water _____________________________________ __ 62
in (a)
were prepared. The detergent in the ?rst formulation was
with
(B) From 0 to 10,000 parts water and
gent was a mixture of the sodium salts of branched chain 20
(C)
From 0 to 100 parts of foam builders.
C16 primary alcohol sulfates (67% 2-methyl and 33%
2. A composition according to claim 1 wherein X in
2-ethyl). The third formulation contained a mixture of
(a) and (b) is sodium.
the ?rst two detergents, namely; 40 percent of the sodium
3. A composition according to claim 1 wherein the
n-hexadecanol sulfate and 60 percent of the sodium salts
of the branched chain C16 alcohol sulfates. Each of the 25 beta-branched chain primary alcohol sulfate in (b) con
sodium n-hexadecanol sulfate, in the second, the deter
tains 14 to 18 carbon atoms.
above detergents contained 10 percent by weight sodium
4. A composition according to claim 1 wherein R2
sulfate produced during the neutralization of the sulfonic
acid.
in (b) is a methyl or ethyl radical.
5. A composition according to claim 1 wherein the
The three detergent formulations were evaluated for
30
dishwas‘hing performance in the following procedure:
Seven grams of a bacon fat-egg mixture containing 40
percent by weight fat were spread on each of twenty-?ve
dinner plates. The soiled plates were baked for 15
6. A composition according to claim 1 wherein the pri
mary alcohol sulfates ((a)+(b)) are combined with
Water.
minutes at 100° F. and then allowed to cool at room
to GI
temperature for 30 minutes.
Three dishwashing solutions were prepared by adding
7.9 grams of each detergent formulation to 2 liters of
water (180 p.p.m. hardness) at 100° F. This provided
solution having a total solids content of 0.15 percent
which was attributable to the detergent, sodium sulfate,
and builders. Each solution was agitated for 30‘ seconds
to generate foam. The effectiveness of the solution is
determined by the number of dishes which can be washed
parts.
9. A composition according to claim 1 wherein the
foam builder is a straight chain carbon compound con
taining a total of from 12 to 15 carbon atoms and selected
from the group consisting of carboxylic acid mono and
diethanol amides and primary alcohol ethoxy sulfates and
ethoxylates.
tion was as follows:
10. A composition according to claim 1 consisting
essentially of:
(A) 100 parts of detergent comprising
Type detergent in the formulation—
Number of dishes washed
3
50
Sodium salts of beta-branched chain C16
alcohol sulfates _____________________ __
7. A composition according to claim 6 wherein the
Water is present in amounts ranging from 150 to 900
parts.
8. A composition according to claim 1 wherein a foam
builder is present in an amount ranging from 5 to 60
before substantially al lof the foam disappears.
The dishwashing ability of the above detergent formula
Sodium n-hexadecanol sulfate __________ __
concentration of beta-branched chain primary alcohol
sulfate of (b) ranges from 20 to 60 parts.
(a) 36 parts of sodium n-hexadecanol sulfate and
4 parts of sodium sulfate
(b) 36 parts of Z-methyI-pentadecanol sulfate,
8%
A blend of 40‘ percent sodium n-hexadecanol
sulfate and 60 percent sodium salts of beta
18 parts of Z-ethyI-tetradecanol sulfate and 6
parts of sodium sulfate
branched chain C16 alcohol sulfates ____ __ 11% 55
From the above results it is demonstrated that the com
with
(B) 270 parts of water and
(C) 44 parts of the sodium salt of t-nonyl phenol
poly(ethoxy)ethanol sulfate and 22 parts of N,
N’-diethanol dodecanamide.
bination of straight and beta-branched chain primary
alcohol sulfates had 290 percent and 35 percent better
dishwashing ability than either the straight or branched
chain sulfates alone.
We claim:
References Cited
1. A detergent composition consisting essentially of in
UNITED STATES PATENTS
parts by Weight
3,338,949
8/1967
Hagemeyer et al. ____ 260-459
(A) 100 parts of a detergent comprising
(a) from 10 to 90 parts of a straight chain pri 65 MAYER WEINBLATT, Primary Examiner
mary alcohol sulfate having the structural
formula
US. Cl. X.R_,
252-137, 161; 260-458
70