Amway Corporation

Michael J Wint

Steven J Brouwer

A powdered laundry detergent is provided with (a) a powder laundry detergent base that includes an inorganic carrier and a surfactant and (b) post-added acidulant and discrete whitening agent particles to provide a detergent having improved cool water solubility with bulk color deterioration caused by whitening agents being minimized. The detergent includes from about 5% to about 80% of an inorganic carrier, from about 1% to about 90% of a detergent surfactant, from about 0.1% up to about 15% of an acidulant and from about 0.1% up to about 30% of the discrete whitening agent particles. The acidulant is selected from the group of acids that in an acid form are soluble in water in an amount not greater than about 8%, preferably not greater than about 0.7% by weight at 25.degree. C. and in a salt form are soluble in water at least in an amount of about 15% by weight at 25.degree. C. The whitening agent particles include a whitening agent and a surfactant. The whitening agent surfactant can consist of those anionics, nonionics, zwitterionics, ampholytics, cationics, and mixtures thereof that are solids in a temperature range of from about 32.degree. F. (0.degree. C.) to about 180.degree. F. (82.degree. C.). In a more preferred form, the whitening agent particles consist of a whitening agent, a surfactant, preferably an anionic surfactant, and water.

Powder detergent composition and method of making

A powder laundry detergent has improved solubility in the laundering solution by incorporating an acidulant that, in its acid form, is sparingly soluble in water and, in its salt form, is soluble in water. In particular, the acidulant is selected from the group of acids that in an acid form are soluble in water in an amount not greater than about 0.7% by weight at 25.degree. C. and in a salt form are soluble in water at least in an amount of about 15% by weight at 25.degree. C. A method of improving the solubility of a powder detergent includes admixing an acidulant in the powder detergent where the acidulant is selected from the group of acids that in an acid form are soluble in water in an amount not greater than about 0.7% by weight at 25.degree. C. and in a salt form are soluble in water at least in an amount of about 15% by weight at 25.degree. C.

Powder detergent composition having improved solubility

A powdered laundry detergent is provided with discrete whitening agent particles that do not adversely affect the bulk appearance of the detergent during storage. The detergent includes from about 5% to about 80% of an inorganic carrier, from about 1% to about 90% of a detergent surfactant, and from 0.1% up to about 30% of the discrete whitening agent particles. The whitening agent particles include a whitening agent and a surfactant. The surfactant for the whitening agent particle includes those anionics, nonionics, zwitterionics, ampholytics, cationics, and mixtures thereof that are solids in a temperature range of from about 32.degree. F. (0.degree. C.) to about 180.degree. F. (82.degree. C.). The whitening agent particles, in a more desirably form, include a whitener and water. The particles are formed by extruding a homogenous mass into discrete particles. The homogenous mass includes either a whitening agent, a surfactant, and optionally a plasticizer or a whitening agent and water.

Discrete whitening agent particles method of making, and powder

A powder laundry detergent has improved solubility in the laundering solution and improved dispensability by incorporating an acidulant that, in its acid form, is sparingly soluble in water and, in its salt form, is soluble in water. In particular, the acidulant is selected from the group of acids that in an acid form are soluble in water in an amount not greater than about 8%, preferably no greater than about 0.7% by weight at 25.degree. C. and in a salt form are soluble in water at least in an amount of about 15% by weight at 25.degree. C. A method of improving the solubility of a powder detergent includes admixing an acidulant in the powder detergent where the acidulant is selected from the group of acids that in an acid form are soluble in water in an amount not greater than about 8%, preferably not greater than about 0.7% by weight at 25.degree. C. and in a salt form are soluble in water at least in an amount of about 15% by weight at 25.degree. C.

A powdered laundry detergent is provided with (a) a powder laundry detergent base that includes an inorganic carrier and a surfactant and (b) post-added acidulant and discrete whitening agent particles to provide a detergent having improved cool water solubility with bulk color deterioration caused by whitening agents being minimized. The detergent includes from about 5% to about 80% of an inorganic carrier, from about 1% to about 90% of a detergent surfactant, up to about 15% of an acidulant and up to about 30% of the discrete whitening agent particles. The acidulant is selected from the group of acids that in an acid form are soluble in water in an amount not greater than about 0.7% by weight at 25.degree. C. and in a salt form are soluble in water at least in an amount of about 15% by weight at 25.degree. C. The whitening agent particles include a whitening agent and a surfactant. The whitening agent surfactant can consist of those anionics, nonionics, zwitterionics, ampholytics, cationics, and mixtures thereof that are solids in a temperature range of from about 32.degree. F. (0.degree. C.) to about 180.degree. F. (82.degree. C.).

A process for preparing discrete whitening agent particles that includes the steps of providing a whitening agent, admixing a surfactant that is a solid in a temperature range of from about 32.degree. F. (0.degree. C.) to about 180.degree. F. (82.degree. C.) with the whitening agent to form a substantially homogenous mass, and forming the mixture into discrete particles. The particles are preferably formed by extruding the homogeneous mass through an extruder at an elevated temperature. The particles may be added to a powder detergent.

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Grand Rapids, MI, United States of America

Michael J Wint