Antistatic laundry detergent composition and processes therefor

Abstract

An antistatic particulate laundry detergent composition comprises synthetic organic detergent, preferably sodium linear dodecylbenzene or sodium linear tridecylbenzene sulfonate, inorganic and/or organic builder for the detergent, preferably sodium tripolyphosphate and/or zeolite builder, and higher alkyl or alkylbenzene hydroxyethyl imidazoline of the formula ##STR1## wherein R is an alkyl or alkylbenzene of 8 to 24 carbon atoms preferably stearyl, which detergent composition is of improved detergency due to the presence therein of the higher alkyl or alkylbenzene hydroxyethyl imidazoline antistat. In preferred detergent compositions of this type bentonite is desirably present for its fabric softening activity, and such activity is improved by the presence of the higher alkyl or alkylbenzene hydroxyethyl imidazoline, which also possesses fabric softening properties. When low phosphorus contents of detergent compositions are not required by law or regulation, contents of zeolites and other non-phosphate builders may be omitted and increased proportions of tripolyphosphate may be employed, instead. The mentioned detergent compositions are useful to wash soiled laundry and to make it softer and static-free, whether such washing is with American or European washing machines and in accordance with such practices. Unexpected improvements in soil removal, as measured visually and by reflectometer, are noted after the washing of laundry that had been stained with oily soils, and the washed laundry is softer. Also described in a process for manufacturing detergent compositions comprising synthetic anionic organic detergent, zeolite, tripolyphosphate and the mentioned imidazoline, in which an aqueous crutcher mix is made, to which the zeolite is added before the tripolyphosphate, and the imidazoline is added immediately after the tripolyphosphate, thereby avoiding undesirable reaction of the imidazoline with the zeolite, which reaction has a negative effect on antistatic and fabric softening properties of the resulting product. The product is obtained in particulate solid form by spray drying of the crutcher mix in conventional manner. Various other active and adjuvant components of the detergent composition may be post-added with the spray dried beads or may be incorporated in the crutcher mix.