Patent Application
20150094253
The present invention relates to encapsulated phthalocyanine particles, comprising at least one water-soluble phthalocyanine compound and gelatine having a bloom strength of 2 to 80 as encapsulating material, to a process for the preparation thereof, compositions comprising such particles and washing agent formulations.
Water-soluble phthalocyanine complex compounds especially zinc and aluminium phthalocyanine sulphonates are frequently used as photo-activators in washing agent preparations.
A problem is seen in the fact that such photo-activators, despite their water-solubility, dissolve too slowly in water. Especially, in the event of inadequate mixing of the washing liquor, coloured photo-activators tend to stain the laundry.
It has now been found that the rate at which formulations of such phthalocyanines, particularly encapsulated phthalocyanines, dissolve in water can be improved by the use of gelatine with higher bloom strength as encapsulating material.
Therefore, the present invention relates to encapsulated phthalocyanine particles comprising
a) at least one water-soluble phthalocyanine compound, and
b) gelatine having a bloom strength of 2 to 80 as encapsulating material.
Suitable phthalocyanine compounds are water-soluble or at least water-dispersible phthalocyanine complex compounds with di-, tri- or tetra-valent coordination centres, particularly metal ions (complexes having a d0 or d10 configuration), as the central atom, to which the substituent of at least one mono-azo dye is attached.
Such phthalocyanine complex compounds correspond to the formula
(PC)-L-(D) (1),
The phthalocyanine complex compound of the formula (1), wherein the phthalocyanine backbone is substituted by at least one sulpho groups and to which the substituent of at least one mono-azo dye is attached by the linking group L, are characterized by rapid photo degradation, which has the effect that discolouration on the treated fabric is avoided, even after repeated treatment. The phthalocyanine complex compounds of the formula (1) are characterized by improved shading and exhaustion onto the fabrics. The phthalocyanine complex compounds of the formula (1) are also highly efficient photo catalysts by additional light absorption and energy transfer to the phthalocyanine part of the molecule.
According to a preferred embodiment the water-soluble phthalocyanine complex compound (1) corresponds to the formula
In the phthalocyanine complex compound that corresponds to the formula (1a) of above, the sum of r and r′ is preferably from 1-4.
Me represents the central metal atom or central metal group coordinated to PC, which is selected from the group consisting of Zn, Al—Z1 and Ti(IV)-(Z1)2, wherein Z1 is as defined above, preferably halogen, e.g. chlorine, or hydroxy.
Me preferably represents Zn.
According to a preferred embodiment the water-soluble phthalocyanine complex compound (1) corresponds to the formula (2a)
wherein
Me represents Zn, Al—Z1, Si(IV)-(Z1)2 or Ti(IV)-(Z1)2, wherein Z1 is chloride, fluoride, bromide or hydroxide;
each Q2 independently of one another represents —SO3−M+ or the group —(CH2)m—COO−M+, wherein M+ is H+, an alkali metal ion or the ammonium ion and m is 0 or a numeral from 1 to 12;
each k is independently selected from 0 and 1, each j is independently selected from 0 and 1-k,
D represents the substituent of a mono-azo dye; and
L represents a group
wherein
R21 represents D, hydrogen, OH, Cl or F, provided that at least one of R21 is D, preferably two of R21 are D;
* marks the point of attachment of PC; and
# marks the point of attachment to D.
For the 1-k in the definition of the number j, the number k shall refer to the substituent -[L-D]k which is attached to the same 6-membered aromatic ring as the respective substituent -[Q2]j.
According to a preferred embodiment, the groups D, independently of one another, represent the substituents of a mono-azo dye of the partial formulae Xa, Xb, Xc or Xd:
The substituents in the naphthyl groups, in the event they are not attached in a fixed position to an individual carbon atom, can be attached in either ring of the naphthyl radical. This is expressed by the horizontal line going through both rings in, for example, in structural formula Xa, Xb and Xc.
For example C1-C4alkylene is methylene, ethylene, propylene or butylene.
Arylene in the context of the description of the instant invention means phenylene or naphthylene, preferably phenylene.
According to a preferred embodiment, the groups D, independently of one another, represent the substituents of a mono-azo dye of the partial formulae XIa, XIb, XIc or XId:
According to a particularly preferred embodiment, D is selected from the group consisting of compounds, wherein the partial formulae 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14:
are present and wherein # marks the point of attachment of the bridging group L.
The sulphonic acid groups of the dyes represented by —SO3H may also be in the form of their salts, in particular of alkali metal salts, such as Na, K or Li salts or as ammonium salts. Also mixtures of the free acid and the corresponding salts are embraced.
A particularly suitable individual phthalocyanine is represented by the following formula wherein the degree of sulphonation is between 1 and 3 in the phthalocyanine ring:
According to another preferred embodiment, the water-soluble phthalocyanine complex compound (1) corresponds to the formula
wherein
PC, L and D are as defined above (including the preferences);
Me is Zn or Al—Z1, Z1 is chlorine, fluorine, bromine or hydroxy;
Y3′ is hydrogen; an alkali metal ion or ammonium ion;
r is zero or a numeral from 1-3; and
r′ is a numeral from 1 to 4.
The amount of water-soluble phthalocyanine complex compounds (1) present in the particles may vary within wide limits. A preferred range is 0.01-20.0 wt.-%, particularly 0.1-20 wt.-%, especially 1-15.0 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the particles. Highly preferred is a range of 2-15.0 wt.-%, especially 2-10 wt.-%.
For the synthesis of the water-soluble phthalocyanine complex compounds (1), two different reaction sequences are available: either by initial synthesis of a metal-free phthalocyanine derivative and subsequent complexation with a metal salt or by synthesis of a phthalocyanine ring system from a simple benzenoid precursor by concomitant incorporation of the metal ion.
Substituents can be introduced before or after the formation of the phthalocyanine ring structure.
A suitable method to obtain water-soluble phthalocyanine complex compounds (1) is the introduction of sulphonate groups, for example by sulphonation of the unsubstituted metal phthalocyanine with 1-4 sulpho groups:
The sulphonated phthalocyanine complex compounds are mixtures of different structure and different positional isomers. The —SO3H-group can be located at positions 3, 4, 5 or 6. Also the degree of sulphonation is varying. For example, a tetra sodium salt of the zinc phthalocyanine can be prepared according to known procedure: J. Griffiths et al., Dyes and Pigments, Vol. 33, 65-78 (1997) and the literature cited therein.
Another method to obtain a sulphonated metal phthalocyanine is reacting a sulpho phthalic acid with a metal salt, urea and a molybdate catalyst in a melt condensation. The position of the sulphonation is determined by the corresponding phthalic acid reactant. If 4-sulphophthalic acid is used, a tetrasulphonated metal phthalocyanine with sulphonic acid groups exclusively in position 4 or 5 is obtained.
The content of sulphonic acid groups can be adjusted by addition of phthalic acid. With this melt process sulphonated zinc phthalocyanine derivatives having a degree of sulphonation between DS=1-4 can be prepared.
In the particles according to the present application, the phthalocyanine complex is being linked with a mono-azo dye molecule corresponding to D via specific linking groups L. A convenient way to realize this linkage is the synthesis of a metal phthalocyanine sulphonyl chloride by a sulphochlorination reaction after known procedures (DE 2812261, DE 0153278). By varying the amount of the sulphochlorination agent, the desired degree of sulpho chloride content can be adjusted. The sulphochlorination reaction of phthalocyanines generally leads to a main product, but as by-products small amounts of lower or higher degree of sulphonyl chloride groups are detected.
The resulting reactive phthalocyanine-sulphonyl chloride can then be reacted further with a suitable dye having an amino group. To illustrate the synthesis, the following synthetic examples leading to zinc and aluminium phthalocyanines linked with amino-functionalized azo dyes are given. The syntheses are performed as shown in the following scheme. From the possible positional isomers, only one is shown. The formation of the side products (degree of —SO3R and SO2Cl) is not shown.
The synthesis of zinc phthalocyanine complex compounds with a lower degree of sulphonation and analogous activation and coupling to the corresponding zinc phthalocyanine azo dyes is also possible.
The synthesis of exactly tris-sulphonated zinc phthalocyanine derivatives is known from literature [J. E. van Lier, Journ. Med. Chem. (1997), 40 (24) 3897] as a product from ring expansion reaction of boron tri(4-sulpho)sub-phthalocyanine.
The synthesis of metal phthalocyanines with lower degree of sulphonation can also be performed by a modified sulphonation reaction, for example by shortening of reaction time and/or reduction of reaction temperature (WO 2009068513 and WO 2009069077).
As component b) all kinds of gelatine may be used. Examples are gelatines of the gelling type and gelatine hydrolysates. Gelatines of the gelling type show, when immersed in water, hydration, whereas for Gelatine hydrolysates no gelation is observed (see Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, 2012, Vol. 16, pages 579-593). In order to obtain a desired bloom strength, gelatines of different bloom values may be used. Variation of the weight ratio results in the desired bloom value. For example, gelatine of bloom strength 0 and gelatine of bloom strength 100 can be used in different weight ratios to adjust the bloom strength; the resulting bloom strength is in general proportional to the amount of gelatine having a bloom strength of 100.
Bloom strength, also referred to as gel strength, is determined with a Bloom gelometer (S. Williams (ed.): Official Methods of Analysis of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists, 14th ed., 23, AOAC, Inc., Arlington, Va. 1984, p. 429; or U.S. Pat. No. 1,540,979). The Bloom strength is determined as follows: 6.67% solution of the gelatine sample is prepared in a special wide-mouthed test bottle, which is then cooled to 10.0±0.1° C. and kept for 17±1 h for maturation at this temperature. The firmness of the resulting gel is then measured with a gelometer. This instrument impresses a standard plunger (12.7 mm diameter, plane surface, sharp edges) into the surface of the gel. The force required to depress the plunger 4 mm into the gel is the gel strength or Bloom value of the gelatin.
Preferred as gelatine component b) are those having a Bloom strength of 2 to 50, especially 3 to 50 and more preferably 4 to 50. Highly preferred are those having a bloom strength of 6 to 50, especially 8 to 50. As upper limit a value of 40, especially 30, is preferred.
The amount of the gelatine component b) is preferably 3-60% by weight, more preferably 5-50% by weight and especially preferably 10-40% by weight, based on the total weight of the particles. Highly preferred is an amount of 15-35% by weight.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the particles may comprise in addition sugar, like saccharose or glucose, for example as glucose syrup. The amount of the optional sugar component, if present, is preferably 0.01-60% by weight, more preferably 1-50% by weight and especially preferably 1-40% by weight, based on the total weight of the particles. Highly preferred is an amount of 5-40% by weight.
The optional oil component c) is preferably a triglyceride oil, or a modified triglyceride oil. These include vegetable oils such as jojoba, soybean, canola, sunflower, safflower, rice bran, avocado, almond, olive, sesame, persic, castor, coconut, and mink oils, as well as raffinates thereof. Synthetic triglycerides may also be employed. Modified triglycerides include materials such as ethoxylated and maleated triglyceride derivatives. Preferred are vegetable oils, especially coconut oil. Further preference is given to medium chain triglycerides.
The amount of the oil component c), if present, is preferably 0.01-10% by weight, more preferably 0.1-10% by weight and especially preferably 0.1-5% by weight, based on the total weight of the particles. Highly preferred is an amount of 0.1-2.5% by weight.
As optional powdering agent component d) any conventional powdering agent may be used, such as a starch, e.g. corn starch, a modified starch, tri-calcium phosphate, lactose, mannitol, ethylcellulose, coagulated albumin, hardened gelatine, casein, stearate-Ca, stearate-Na, a metal soap, hydrogenated ricinus oil, polyoxide, talcum, a wax, silica or a silicate. Preference is given to starch and modified starch. The powdering agent can be used in order to separate the particles during drying, to prevent agglomeration of the particles. The use of a powdering agent is preferred.
The amount of the optional powdering agent component d), if present, is preferably 1-90% by weight, more preferably 5-90% by weight and especially preferably 10-90% by weight, based on the total weight of the particles. Highly preferred is an amount of 10-50% by weight.
The optional additives components e) may be anionic dispersing agents; inorganic salts, aluminium silicates such as zeolites, and also compounds such as talc, kaolin; disintegrants such as, for example, powdered or fibrous cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose; fillers such as, for example, dextrin, starch as for example corn starch or potato starch; water-insoluble or water-soluble dyes or pigments; and also optical brighteners. TiO2, SiO2 or magnesium trisilicate may also be used in small amounts, for example 0.0 to 10.0% by weight, based on the weight of the particles.
The anionic dispersing agents used are, for example, the commercially available water-soluble anionic dispersing agents for dyes, pigments etc.
The following products are listed as examples: condensation products of aromatic sulphonic acids and formaldehyde, condensation products of aromatic sulphonic acids with unsubstituted or chlorinated biphenyls or biphenyl oxides and optionally formaldehyde, (mono-/di-) alkylnaphthalenesulphonates, sodium salts of polymerized organic sulphonic acids, sodium salts of polymerized alkylnaphthalenesulphonic acids, sodium salts of polymerized alkylbenzenesulphonic acids, alkylarylsulphonates, sodium salts of alkyl polyglycol ether sulphates, polyalkylated polynuclear arylsulphonates, methylene-linked condensation products of arylsulphonic acids and hydroxyarylsulphonic acids, sodium salts of dialkylsulphosuccinic acids, sodium salts of alkyl diglycol ether sulphates, sodium salts of polynaphthalenemethanesulphonates, ligno- or oxyligno-sulphonates or heterocyclic polysulphonic acids.
Especially suitable anionic dispersing agents are condensation products of naphthalenesulphonic acids with formaldehyde, sodium salts of polymerized organic sulphonic acids, (mono-/di-)alkylnaphthalenesulphonates, polyalkylated polynuclear arylsulphonates, sodium salts of polymerized alkylbenzenesulphonic acid, lignosulphonates, oxylignosulphonates and condensation products of naphthalenesulphonic acid with a polychloromethylbiphenyl.
The amount of the optional additives component e), if present, is preferably 0.01-90% by weight, more preferably 1-90% by weight and especially preferably 1-60% by weight, based on the total weight of the particles. Highly preferred is an amount of 1-50% by weight.
The particles according to the present invention may contain residual moisture as component f). This water level may range from 0.1-15% by weight, more preferably 1-10% by weight, based on the total weight of the particles.
According to a preferred embodiment, the particles have an average particle size of <1000 μm, especially <500 μm.
According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the particles have an average particle size of 50 to 400 μm.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention relates to particles comprising
a) 0.1-20 wt.-% of at least one water-soluble phthalocyanine compound;
b) 5-60 wt.-% of gelatine having a bloom strength of 2 to 80;
c) 0-10 wt.-% of an oil,
d) 0-90 wt.-% of a powdering agent,
e) 0-90 wt.-% of further additives suitable for the preparation of solid agglomerates, and
f) 0-15 wt.-% of water,
provided that the sum of components a), b), c), d), e) and f) amounts up to 100 wt.-%.
A particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention relates to particles comprising
a) 1-15 wt-% of at least one water-soluble phthalocyanine compound;
b) 5-50 wt.-% of gelatine having a bloom strength of 2 to 80;
c) 0.1-5 wt.-% of an oil,
d) 1-90 wt.-% of a powdering agent,
e) 0-90 wt.-% of further additives suitable for the preparation of solid agglomerates, and
f) 0.1-15 wt.-% of water,
provided that the sum of components a), b), c), d), e) and f) amounts up to 100 wt.-%.
As to each of the components a), b), c), d), e) and f) of the above particles the preferences given before apply.
The present invention also relates to a process for the preparation of the particles described above, which comprises
i) dissolving at least one water-soluble phthalocyanine compound in an aqueous medium,
ii) dissolving gelatine having a bloom strength of 2 to 80 in the resulting solution, or adding an aqueous solution of said gelatine,
iii) converting the mixture thus obtained into droplets, and
iv) reducing the moisture content of the resulting particles.
The particles according to the present invention are prepared according to known methods.
In general, a mixture comprising all required components for the preparation of the particles (except for powdering agent component d)), is subjected to spray-drying. Spray-drying may be carried out at a temperature of 40 to 140° C. According to one embodiment spray-drying is carried out at temperatures of 40 to 100° C., especially 60 to 100° C. According to a further embodiment of the present invention spray-drying is carried out at temperatures of 100 to 140° C., especially 100 to 130° C. During spray-drying, the particles may be covered by powdering agents according to know methods. Usually, after spray-drying, the particles are dried at temperatures ranging from 20-60° C., especially at 40° C. The resulting powder may then be sieved to get the desired particle size. In a preferred method spray-drying is performed while introducing the powdering agent component d) into the spray-drying zone.
The present invention also relates to compositions comprising the particles referred to above.
Such compositions may be liquid, solid, paste-like or gel-like. The compositions, especially washing agent compositions but also washing agent additives or additive concentrates, for example pre- and/or after-treatment agents, stain-re
moving salt, washing-power enhancers, fabric conditioners, bleaching agents, UV-pro
tection enhancers etc., may be in any known and customary form, especially in the form of powders, (super)compact powders, in the form of single- or multi-layer tablets (tabs), bars, blocks, sheets or pastes, or in the form of pastes, gels or liquids used in capsules or in pouches (sachets). Powders may also be used in suitable sachets or pouches.
The present invention also relates to a washing agent composition, comprising
A) particles as defined hereinbefore; and
B) further additives suitable for the preparation of washing agents.
Preferred are washing agent compositions, comprising
A) 0.001 to 1.0 wt-% of particles as defined hereinbefore; and
8) 99.0 to 99.999 wt.-% further additives suitable for the preparation of washing agents.
Preferred washing agent compositions comprise
Provided that the sum of the weight percentages of components I)-VI) in the formulation is 100%.
The anionic surfactant A) can be, for example, a sulphate, sulphonate or carboxylate surfactant or a mixture thereof. Preferred sulphates are those having from 12 to 22 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical, optionally in combination with alkyl ethoxysulphates in which the alkyl radical has from 10 to 20 carbon atoms.
Preferred sulphonates are e.g. alkylbenzene sulphonates having from 9 to 15 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical. The cation in the case of anionic surfactants is preferably an alkali metal cation, especially sodium.
The anionic surfactant component may be, e.g., an alkylbenzene sulphonate, an alkylsulphate, an alkylether sulphate, an olefin sulphonate, an alkane sulphonate, a fatty acid salt, an alkyl or alkenyl ether carboxylate or an sulpho fatty acid salt or an ester thereof. Preferred are alkylbenzene sulphonates having 10 to 20 carbon atoms in the alkyl group, alkyl sulphates having 8 to 18 carbon atoms, alkylether sulphates having 8 to 22 carbon atoms, and fatty acid salts being derived from palm oil or tallow and having 8 to 22 carbon atoms. The average molar number of ethylene oxide added in the alkylether sulphate is preferably 1 to 22, preferably 1 to 10. The salts are preferably derived from an alkaline metal like sodium and potassium, especially sodium. Highly preferred carboxylates are alkali metal sarcosinates of the formula
R109—CO(R110)CH2COOM1,
in which R109 is alkyl or alkenyl having 8-20 carbon atoms in the alkyl or alkenyl radical, R110 is C1-C4 alkyl and M1 is an alkali metal, especially sodium.
The total amount of anionic surfactant is preferably 5.0-50.0 wt.-%, preferably 5.0-40.0 wt.-% and more preferably 5.0-30.0 wt.-%. As to these surfactants it is preferred that the lower limit is 10.0 wt.-%.
Suitable builder substances B) are, for example, alkali metal phosphates, especially tripolyphosphates, carbonates or hydrogen carbonates, especially their sodium salts, silicates, aluminosilicates, polycarboxylates, polycarboxylic acids, organic phosphonates, aminoalkylenepoly(alkylenephosphonates) or mixtures of those compounds.
Especially suitable silicates are sodium salts of crystalline layered silicates of the formula Na—HSitO2t+1.pH2O or Na2SitO2t+1.pH2O wherein t is a number from 1.9 to 4 and p is a number from 0 to 20.
Among the aluminosilicates, preference is given to those commercially available under the names ZEOLITH A, B, X and HS, and also to mixtures comprising two or more of those components. ZEOLITH A is preferred.
Among the polycarboxylates, preference is given to polyhydroxycarboxylates, especially citrates, and acrylates and also copolymers thereof with maleic anhydride. Preferred polycarboxylic acids are nitrilotriacetic acid, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and ethylenediamine disuccinate either in racemic form or in the form of pure enantiomers (S,S).
Phosphonates or aminoalkylenepoly(alkylenephosphonates) that are especially suitable are alkali metal salts of 1-hydroxyethane-1,1-diphosphonic acid, nitrilotris(methylenephosphonic acid), ethylenediaminetetramethylenephosphonic acid, hexamethylenediamin N,N,N′,N′ tetrakis methanephosphonic acid and diethylenetriaminepentamethylenephosphonic acid, as well as the salts thereof. Also preferred polyphosphonates have the following formula
R111 is CH2PO3H2 or a water soluble salt thereof and
d is an integer of the value 0, 1, 2 or 3
are preferred.
Especially preferred are the polyphosphonates wherein b is an integer of the value of 1.
Suitable peroxide components C) include, for example, the organic and inorganic peroxides (like sodium percarbonate or sodium perborate) known in the literature and available commercially that bleach textile materials at conventional washing temperatures, for example from 5 to 95° C.
The amount of the peroxide or the peroxide-forming substance is preferably 0.5-30.0% by weight, more preferably 1.0-20.0% by weight and especially preferably 1.0-15.0% by weight.
Suitable peroxides of component C) are compounds capable of yielding hydrogen peroxide in aqueous solutions, for example, the organic and inorganic peroxides known in the literature and available commercially that bleach textile materials at conventional washing temperatures, for example from 5 to 95° C.
The organic peroxides are, for example, mono- or poly-peroxides, urea peroxides, a combination of a C1-C4alkanol oxidase and C1-C4alkanol (Such as methanol oxidase and ethanol as described in WO 95/07972), alkylhydroxy peroxides, such as cumene hydroperoxide and t-butyl hydroperoxide, organic mono peracids of formula
M signifies hydrogen or a cation,
R112 signifies unsubstituted C1-C18alkyl; substituted C1-C18alkyl; unsubstituted aryl; substituted aryl; —(C1-C8alkylene)-aryl, wherein the alkylene and/or the alkyl group may be substituted; and phthalimidoC1-C8alkylene, wherein the phthalimido and/or the alkylene group may be substituted. Preferred mono organic peroxy acids and their salts are those of the formula;
M signifies hydrogen or an alkali metal, and
R′112 signifies unsubstituted C1-C4alkyl; phenyl; —C1-C2alkylene-phenyl or phthalimidoC1-C8alkylene.
Especially preferred is CH3COOOH and its alkali salts.
Especially preferred is also epsilon-phthalimido peroxy hexanoic acid and Its alkali salts.
Rather than using peroxy acid itself, one may also use organic peroxy acid precursors and H2O2. Such precursors are the corresponding carboxy acid or the corresponding carboxy anhydride or the corresponding carbonyl chloride, or amides, or esters, which can form the peroxy acids on perhydrolysis. Such reactions are commonly known.
Peroxy adds may also be generated from precursors, such as bleach activators, that is to say compounds that, under perhydrolysis conditions, yield unsubstituted or substituted perbenzo- and/or peroxo-carboxylic acids having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, especially from 2 to 4 carbon atoms. Tetraacetyl ethylenediamine (TAED) is used as the activator in laundry compositions commonly used in Europe. Laundry compositions commonly used in the U.S., on the other hand, are frequently based on sodium nonanoylbenzosulfonate (Na-NOBS). Activator systems are effective in general, but the bleaching action of currently customary activators is inadequate under certain but desirable washing conditions (e.g. low temperature, short wash cycle). These and other activators not directly leading to peroxy acids are described in WO0116273 and WO03104199.
The composition may contain one or more optical brighteners, for example from the groups bis-triazinylamino-stilbenedisulphonic acid, bis-triazolyl-stilbenedisulphonic acid, bis-styrylbiphenyl or bis-benzofuranylbiphenyl, bis-benzoxalyl derivatives, bis-benzimidazolyl derivatives or coumarin derivatives or pyrazoline derivatives.
The optical brighteners may be selected from a wide range of groups, such as 4,4′-bis(triazinylamino)-stilbene-2,2′-disulphonic acids, 4,4′-bis-(triazol-2-yl)stilbene-2,2′-disulphonic acids, 4,4′-(diphenyl)-stilbenes, 4,4′-distyryl-biphenyls, 4-phenyl-4′-benzoxazolyl-stilbenes, stilbenyl-naphthotriazoles, 4-styryl-stilbenes, bis-(benzoxazol-2-yl) derivatives, bis-(benzimidazol-2-yl) derivatives, coumarines, pyrazolines, naphthalimides, triazinyl-pyrenes, 2-styrylbenzoxazole- or -naphthoxazole derivatives, benzimidazole-benzofuran derivatives or oxanilide derivatives. These optical brighteners are known and commercially available (for example Tinopal® CBS-X, Tinopal® DMA-X, Tinopal® 5BM-GX from BASF). They are described inter alia in WO 2006/024612.
The composition may contain one or more auxiliaries, such as soil suspending agents, for example sodium carboxymethylcellulose; salts for adjusting the pH, for example alkali or alkaline earth metal silicates; foam regulators, for example soap; salts for adjusting the spray drying and granulating properties, for example sodium sulphate; perfumes; and also, if appropriate, antistatic and softening agents; such as smectite days; photo bleaching agents; pigments; and/or shading agents. These constituents preferably should, of course, be stable to any bleaching system employed. Such auxiliaries can be present in an amount of, for example, 0.1 to 20.0 wt.-%, preferably 0.5 to 10.0 wt.-%, especially 0.5 to 5.0 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the detergent.
Furthermore, the composition can optionally contain enzymes. Enzymes can be added to detergents for stain removal. The enzymes usually improve the performance on stains that are either protein- or starch-based, such as those caused by blood, milk, grease or fruit juices. Preferred enzymes are cellulases, proteases, amylases and lipases. Preferred enzymes are cellulases and proteases, especially proteases. Cellulases are enzymes which act on cellulose and its derivatives and hydrolyse them into glucose, cellobiose, cellooligosaccharide. Cellulases remove dirt and have the effect of mitigating the roughness to the touch. Examples of enzymes to be used include, but are by no means limited to, the following:
Commercially available detergent proteases, such as Alcalase®, Esperase®, Everlase®, Savinase®, Kannase® and Durazym®;
Commercially available detergent amylases, such as Termamyl®, Duramyl®, Stainzyme®, Natalase®, Ban® and Fungamyl®;
Commercially available detergent cellulases, such as Celluzyme®, Carezyme® and Endolase®;
Commercially available detergent lipases, such as Lipolase®, Lipolase Ultra® and Lipoprime®;
Suitable mannanases, such as Mannanaway®;
These enzymes are commercially available from NOVOZYMES NS.
The enzymes can optionally be present in the detergent. When used, the enzymes are usually present in an amount of 0.01-5.0 wt.-%, preferably 0.05-5.0 wt.-% and more preferably 0.1-4.0 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the detergent.
Further preferred additives to the agents according to the invention are dye fixing agents and/or polymers which, during the washing of textiles, prevent staining caused by dyes in the washing liquor that have been released from the textiles under the washing conditions. Such polymers are preferably polyvinylpyrrolidones, polyvinylimidazole or polyvinylpyridine-N-oxides which may have been modified by the incorporation of anionic or cationic substituents, especially those having a molecular weight in the range of from 5000 to 60 000, more especially from 5000 to 50 000. Such polymers are usually used in an amount of from 0.01 to 5.0 wt.-%, preferably 0.05 to 5.0 wt.-%, especially 0.1 to 2.0 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the detergent. Preferred polymers are those given in WO 02/02865, see especially page 1, last paragraph and page 2, first paragraph.
The washing agent composition according to the invention can be prepared in a generally known manner.
A composition in powder form can be prepared, for example, by first preparing an initial powder by spray-drying an aqueous slurry comprising all of the aforementioned components except for components C) and D) and then adding the dry components C) and D) and mixing all of them together. It is also possible to start from an aqueous slurry which, although comprising components A) and B), does not comprise all of component A). The slurry is spray-dried; component D) is then mixed with component B) and added; and then component C) is mixed in dry. The components are preferably mixed with one another in such amounts that a solid compact washing agent composition in granule form is obtained, having a specific weight of at least 500 g/l.
According to a specific embodiment of the process, the production of the washing agent composition is carried out in three steps. In the first step a mixture of anionic surfactant and builder substance is prepared. In the second step peroxide and, where appropriate, the particles according to the invention, are added. That method is usually carried out in a fluidised bed. In a further preferred embodiment, the individual steps are not carried out completely separately, so that there is a certain amount of overlap between them. Such a method is usually carried out in an extruder, in order to obtain granules in the form of “megapearls”.
As an alternative thereto, the particles according to the invention can, for the purpose of admixture with a washing agent in a post-dosing step, be mixed with other washing agent components such as phosphates, zeolites, brighteners or enzymes.
A mixture of that kind for post-dosing of the particles is distinguished by a homogeneous distribution of the particles according to the invention in the mixture and can consist of, for example, from 5 to 50% particles and from 95 to 50% sodium tripolyphosphate. Where the dark appearance of the particles in the washing agent composition is to be suppressed, this can be achieved, for example, by embedding the particles in droplets of a whitish meltable substance (“water-soluble wax”) or, preferably, by encapsulating the particles in a melt consisting of, for example, a water-soluble wax, as described in EP-A-0 323 407, a white solid (e.g. titanium dioxide) being added to the melt in order to reinforce the masking effect of the capsule.
A further aspect of the invention is a shading process for textile fibre materials characterized in that the textile fibre material is treated with encapsulated phthalocyanine particles, said particles comprising
a) at least one water-soluble phthalocyanine compound, and
b) gelatine having a bloom strength of 2 to 80 as encapsulating material.
In such a shading process the particles of the invention are typically used in a detergent or washing agent composition. The amount of the compounds used is, for example, from 0.0001 to 1% by weight, preferably from 0.001 to 0.5% by weight, based on the weight of the textile material.
Examples of suitable textile fibre materials are materials made of silk, wool, polyamide, acrylics or polyurethanes, and, in particular, cellulosic fibre materials and blends of all types. Such fibre materials are, for example, natural cellulose fibres, such as cotton, linen, jute and hemp, and regenerated cellulose. Preference is given to textile fibre materials made of cotton. Also suitable are hydroxyl-containing fibres which are present in mixed fabrics, for example mixtures of cotton with polyester fibres or polyamide fibres.
The shading composition may be in any physical form, preferably in a solid form. Typical solid forms are powder, tablets or granules. Granules are preferred as solid formulation.
The inventive shading process is part of a laundry washing process. It can be part of any step of the laundry washing process (pre-soaking, main washing and after-treatment). The process can be carried out in a washing machine as well as by hand. The usual temperature is between 5° C. and 95° C.
The washing or cleaning agents are usually formulated that the washing liquor has a pH value of about 6.5-11, preferably 7.5-11 during the whole washing procedure.
The liquor ratio in the washing process is usually 1:4 to 1:40, preferably 1:4 to 1:30.
The following Examples illustrate the invention:
30 g gelatine of bloom 106 and 270 g gelatine of bloom 0 were dissolved in 875 g of the zinc(II) phthalocyanine dye conjugate solution obtained according to 1 e) at 62° C. under agitation. After 120 minutes, 45 g of coconut oil was added to the aqueous solution under slow agitation. The resulting mixture was then vigorously emulsified for 30 minutes while maintaining the temperature of around 60° C. The resulting dispersion was diluted with 350 g water.
Subsequently the diluted dispersion was atomized into a spray drying tower at about 80° C., where the dispersion particles were covered with a thin layer of powdering starch and dried at 40° C. for 150 minutes.
The resulting dry powder was sieved and the fraction 120 mesh to 60 mesh (ASTM E 11-70 (1995)) was collected and tested.
The final product had the following characteristics:
Bloom: 11, Spotting performance: 4, Wash performance: K/S=0.014
60 g gelatine of bloom 106 and 240 g gelatine of bloom 0 were dissolved in 1050 g of the zinc(II) phthalocyanine dye conjugate solution obtained according to 1 e) at 62° C. under agitation. After 120 minutes, 45 g of coconut oil was added to the aqueous solution under slow agitation. The resulting mixture was then vigorously emulsified for 30 minutes while maintaining the temperature of around 60° C. The resulting dispersion was diluted with 350 g water.
Subsequently the diluted dispersion was atomized into a spray drying tower at about 80° C., where the dispersion particles were covered with a thin layer of powdering starch and dried at 40° C. for 150 minutes.
The resulting dry powder was sieved and the fraction 120 mesh to 60 mesh (ASTM E 11-70 (1995)) was collected and tested.
The final product had the following characteristics:
Bloom: 21, Spotting performance: 3.5, Wash performance: K/S=0.014
90 g gelatine of broom 106 and 210 g gelatine of bloom 0 were dissolved in 1250 g of the zinc(II) phthalocyanine dye conjugate solution obtained according to 1 e) at 62° C. under agitation. After 120 minutes, 45 g of coconut oil was added to the aqueous solution under slow agitation. The resulting mixture was then vigorously emulsified for 30 minutes while maintaining the temperature of around 60° C. The resulting dispersion was diluted with 480 g water.
Subsequently the diluted dispersion was atomized into a spray drying tower at about 80° C., where the dispersion particles were covered with a thin layer of powdering starch and dried at 40° C. for 150 minutes.
The resulting dry powder was sieved and the fraction 120 mesh to 60 mesh (ASTM E 11-70 (1995)) was collected and tested.
The final product had the following characteristics:
Bloom: 32, Spotting performance: 3, Wash performance: K/S=0.016
135 g gelatine of bloom 106 and 165 g gelatine of bloom 0 were dissolved in 900 g of the zinc(II) phthalocyanine dye conjugate solution obtained according to 1 e) at 62° C. under agitation. After 120 minutes, 45 g of coconut oil was added to the aqueous solution under slow agitation. The resulting mixture was then vigorously emulsified for 30 minutes while maintaining the temperature of around 60° C. The resulting dispersion was diluted with 930 g water.
Subsequently the diluted dispersion was atomized into a spray drying tower at about 80° C., where the dispersion particles were covered with a thin layer of powdering starch and dried at 40° C. for 150 minutes.
The resulting dry powder was sieved and the fraction 120 mesh to 60 mesh (ASTM E 11-70 (1995)) was collected and tested.
The final product had the following characteristics:
Bloom: 48, Spotting performance: 4.5, Wash performance: K/S=0.013
300 g gelatine of bloom 0 was dissolved in 750 g of the zinc(II) phthalocyanine dye conjugate solution obtained according to 1 e) at 62° C. under agitation. After 120 minutes, 45 g of coconut oil was added to the aqueous solution under slow agitation. The resulting mixture was then vigorously emulsified for 30 minutes while maintaining the temperature of around 60° C. The resulting dispersion was diluted with 350 g water.
Subsequently the diluted dispersion was atomized into a spray drying tower at about 80° C., where the dispersion particles were covered with a thin layer of powdering starch and dried at 40° C. for 150 minutes.
The resulting dry powder was sieved and the fraction 120 mesh to 60 mesh (ASTM E 11-70 (1995)) was collected and tested.
The final product had the following characteristics:
Bloom: 0, Spotting performance: 5, Wash performance: K/S=0.013
In the above Examples 1 to 4 and the Comparative Example the following gelatine grades were used:
Gelatine Bloom 106: “Gelatine 106 bloom” by PB Gelatins, Vilvorde, Belgium
The above Examples demonstrate that a higher value of the bloom strength of the gelatine results in encapsulated zinc(II) phthalocyanine dye conjugates having better properties with respect to spotting performance and good wash performance, when compared with corresponding encapsulated zinc(II) phthalocyanine dye conjugates prepared by use of gelatine having a bloom strength of 0.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12165875.1 | Apr 2012 | EP | regional |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2013/058443 | 4/24/2013 | WO | 00 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61639100 | Apr 2012 | US |
