Lever Brothers Company

David A Reed

David Machin

Ho T Tai

Nicolaas J Verhoef

Frank Jones

Francis J Leng

Pedro M Beramendi

Fritz Deutscher

Jane A Crompton

Ozalp Erkey

Detergent compositions comprising stable transparent, translucent or opaque hexagonal phase gels contain an anionic or cationic surfactant which is 'secondary', i.e. its polar head group is either positioned non-terminally on a hydrophobic chain or carries two or more hydrophobic chains; optionally a further surfactant which is nonionic or non-'secondary'; a material (the 'additive') capable of forcing the surfactant system into hexagonal phase; optionally builder, perfume, coloring or other adjuncts; and water. A solid such as abrasive or insoluble builder may be suspended in the gel. Preferred gels of the invention contain alkylbenzene sulphonate or dialkyl sulphosuccinate as the 'secondary' surfactant and urea as the 'additive'. The compositions may be used inter alia for manual dishwashing.

Detergent gel compositions in hexagonal liquid crystal form

Thickened, pourable liquid bleaching compositions which have been thickened with the aid of two different detergent-active materials, e.g. a tertiary amine oxide with a saturated fatty acid soap or an alkali metal sarcosinate often show a decrease in viscosity on storage of the composition. By inclusion of a third, synthetic detergent of the sulphate or sulphonate type, e.g. an alkylethersulphate, compositions are obtained with a significantly reduced decrease of viscosity during storage, particularly over longer periods and at higher storage temperatures. The compositions are useful for bleaching hard surfaces.

Liquid thickened bleaching composition

A stable homogeneous aqueous liquid detergent composition contains 22 to 35% by weight of sodium tripolyphosphate and 6 to 15% by weight of an active detergent mixture comprising (a) a water-soluble anionic sulphonate or sulphate detergent; (b) an alkali metal soap of fatty acids having 12 to 18 carbon atoms, and (c) a nonionic detergent, in a weight ratio of (5.5-8.5):(0.5-3):(1.5-3). The composition is a pourable liquid having a viscosity of 0.35-1.0 Pa s measured at 20.degree. C. and at 21 seconds.sup.-1 shear rate and remaining stable after at least two 24-hour cycles of from -4.degree. C. to ambient temperature. Preferably the composition is prepared by mixing the ingredients in the proper sequence.

Built liquid detergent compositions and method of preparation

A detergent active mixture of a dialkyl (C.sub.7 -C.sub.9) ester of sulphosuccinic acid and a sulphate R(OC.sub.2 H.sub.4).sub.n OSO.sub.3 M wherein R is alkyl, linear or branched, primary or secondary, having 11-18 carbon atoms, n is 0-40 when R is derived from a primary alcohol and 2-40 when derived from a secondary alcohol and M is an alkali metal ammonium or substituted ammonium ion, gives synergistic lather stability in hand dishwashing.

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Port Sunlight, United Kingdom

David A Reed