Composition containing alpha-sulfofatty acid ester and hydrotrope and methods of making and using the same

Abstract

Compositions containing a α-sulfofatty acid ester and a hydrotrope. The α-sulfofatty acid ester and the hydrotrope reduce the pH drift in the composition and solubilize the α-sulfofatty acid ester in solution. Methods are also disclosed for making such compositions.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A liquid composition, comprising: 
 an effective amount of α-sulfofatty acid ester; and    a hydrotrope in an amount effective to solubilize the α-sulfofatty acid ester in solution and to reduce pH drift of the composition.    
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a polyalkoxylated alkanolamide.  
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the polyalkoxylated alkanolamide is a C 16  ethoxylated monoalkanolamide, a C 18  ethoxylated monoalkanolamide or mixture thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrotrope is urea.  
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 4 , wherein the urea is substantially free of ammonium carbamate.  
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the α-sulfofatty acid ester is a methyl ester sulfonate.  
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the α-sulfofatty acid ester is a mixture of methyl ester sulfonates.  
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 7 , wherein the α-sulfofatty acid ester is enriched for C 16  α-sulfofatty acid ester.  
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an effective amount of a Kraft point reducer.    
     
     
         10 . A liquid detergent composition, comprising: 
 an effective amount of α-sulfofatty acid ester; and    urea in an amount effective to solubilize the α-sulfofatty acid ester and reduce pH drift of the composition, the urea being substantially free of ammonium carbamate;    whereby the amount of additional di-salt formation is reduced.    
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 a polyalkoxylated alkanolamide.    
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 a Kraft point reducer.    
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein the α-sulfofatty acid ester is prepared from beef tallow, palm kernel oil, coconut oil, soybean oil, canola oil, cohune oil, coco butter, palm oil, white grease, cottonseed oil, corn oil, rape seed oil, yellow grease, mixtures thereof, or fractions thereof.  
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein the α-sulfofatty acid ester is a methyl ester sulfonate.  
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 nonionic surfactant, other anionic surfactant, cationic surfactant, zwitterionic surfactant, polymer dispersant, builder, oxidizing agent, biocidal agent, foam regulator, activators, catalyst, thickener, fragrance, soil suspending agent, brightener, enzyme, UV protector, salt, water, or inert ingredient.    
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein the α-sulfofatty acid ester is protected from more than a minor amount of additional di-salt formation.  
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein the α-sulfofatty acid ester is a C 16 -enriched methyl ester sulfonate.  
     
     
         18 . A liquid detergent composition, comprising: 
 at least about 25 weight percent of methyl ester sulfonate; and    at least about 10 weight percent of a hydrotrope;    whereby the hydrotrope protects the α-sulfofatty acid ester from more than a minor amount of additional di-salt formation.    
     
     
         19 . A method for making a composition, comprising: 
 providing α-sulfofatty acid ester; and    combining the α-sulfofatty acid ester with an effective amount of hydrotrope to solubilize the α-sulfofatty acid ester in solution and to stabilize the pH of the composition.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the α-sulfofatty acid ester is a methyl ester sulfonate.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 enriching the C 16  content of the methyl ester sulfonate.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 providing a polyalkoxylated alkanolamide; and    combining the polyalkoxylated alkanolamide with the α-sulfofatty acid ester.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 providing another detergent component; and    combining the detergent component with the α-sulfofatty acid ester.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the hydrotrope is urea that is substantially free of ammonium carbamate.  
     
     
         25 . A liquid detergent composition comprising: 
 a stabilized composition consisting essentially of an effective amount of α-sulfofatty acid ester and urea in an amount effective to solubilize the α-sulfofatty acid ester in solution and to reduce pH drift of the composition; and    further comprising at least one additional detergent component selected from the group consisting of nonionic surfactant, secondary anionic surfactant, cationic surfactant, zwitterionic surfactant, secondary hydrotrope, polymer dispersant, builder, oxidizing agent, biocidal agent, foam regulator, activator, catalyst, thickener, fragrance, soil suspending agent, brightener, enzyme, UV protector, salt, water and inert ingredient;    wherein no more than a minor amount of additional amount of disalt formation occurs.    
     
     
         26 . The composition of  claim 25 , wherein the nonionic surfactant comprises a polyalkoxylated alkanolamide.  
     
     
         27 . The composition of  claim 26 , wherein the polyalkoxylated alkanolamide is a C 16  ethoxylated monoalkanolamide, a C 18  ethoxylated monoalkanolamide or mixture thereof.  
     
     
         28 . The composition of  claim 25 , wherein the urea is substantially free of ammonium carbamate.  
     
     
         29 . The composition of  claim 25 , wherein the α-sulfofatty acid ester is a methyl ester sulfonate.  
     
     
         30 . The composition of  claim 25 , wherein the α-sulfofatty acid ester is a mixture of methyl ester sulfonates.  
     
     
         31 . The composition of  claim 25 , wherein the α-sulfofatty acid ester is enriched for C 16  α-sulfofatty acid ester.  
     
     
         32 . The composition of  claim 25 , further comprising: 
 an effective amount of a Kraft point reducer.    
     
     
         33 . A liquid detergent composition comprising: 
 a stabilized composition consisting essentially of an effective amount of methyl ester sulfonate and urea in an amount effective to solubilize the methyl ester sulfonate in solution and to reduce pH drift of the composition; and    further comprising at least one additional detergent component selected from the group consisting of nonionic surfactant, secondary anionic surfactant, cationic surfactant, zwitterionic surfactant, secondary hydrotrope, polymer dispersant, builder, oxidizing agent, biocidal agent, foam regulator, activator, catalyst, thickener, fragrance, soil suspending agent, brightener, enzyme, UV protector, salt, water and inert ingredient;    wherein no more than a minor amount of additional amount of disalt formation occurs.    
     
     
         34 . The composition of  claim 33 , wherein the nonionic surfactant comprises a polyalkoxylated alkanolamide.  
     
     
         35 . The composition of  claim 34 , wherein the polyalkoxylated alkanolamide is a C 16  ethoxylated monoalkanolamide, a C 18  ethoxylated monoalkanolamide or mixture thereof.  
     
     
         36 . The composition of  claim 33 , wherein the urea is substantially free of ammonium carbamate.  
     
     
         37 . The composition of  claim 33 , wherein the methyl ester sulfonate is a mixture of methyl ester sulfonates.  
     
     
         38 . The composition of  claim 33 , wherein the methyl ester sulfonate is enriched for C16 α-sulfofatty acid ester.  
     
     
         39 . The composition of  claim 33 , further comprising: 
 an effective amount of a Kraft point reducer.