Enhanced oil delivery from structured surfactant formulations

Abstract

Novel spherulite-containing compositions are described. Methods for making spherulite-containing compositions are also described. Preferred embodiments include compositions comprising a surfactant component, a salt, and an oil phase, wherein the surfactant component comprises (a) about 6 to about 10 weight % sodium trideceth sulfate; (b) about 1.8 to about 3.0 weight % of a structuring agent; (c) about 1.1 to about 3.0 weight % of a foam booster; (d) water; and (e) about 0.2 to about 0.8 weight % of a cationic guar gum.

1 . A composition comprising a surfactant component, a salt, and an oil phase, wherein the surfactant component comprises (based on the total weight of the composition): 
 (a) about 6 to about 10 weight % sodium trideceth sulfate;    (b) about 1.8 to about 3.0 weight % of a structuring agent;    (c) about 1.1 to about 3.0 weight % of a foam booster;    (d) water; and    (e) about 0.2 to about 0.8 weight % of a cationic guar gum.    
   
   
       2 . The composition according to  claim 1  wherein the salt is NaCl.  
   
   
       3 . The composition according to  claim 1  wherein the oil phase comprises up to about 15 weight % of the total composition.  
   
   
       4 . The composition according to  claim 1  wherein the composition is made using steps comprising:  
     (a1) premixing the cationic guar gum in water to hydrate and disperse said gum;  
     (b1) adding the surfactant component to the (a1) component;  
     (c1) adjusting the pH of the (b1) component to be in a range of about 5.5±1;  
     (d1) adding about 1 to about 3 weight % of the salt to the (c1) component while maintaining the salt level at or below about 6 weight %;  
     (e1) applying shear to component (d1) to form the composition at a shear rate not exceeding about 20 sec −1 ; and  
     (f1) adding the oil phase to the (e1) component with mixing.  
   
   
       5 . The composition according to  claim 1  wherein the total water content of the composition is about 55 to about 80 weight %.  
   
   
       6 . The composition according to  claim 1  wherein the oil phase comprises an oil selected from the group consisting of vegetable oils, mineral oils, and silicone oils.  
   
   
       7 . The composition according to  claim 1  wherein the structuring agent is lauroamphoacetate or cocoamidopropyl betaine.  
   
   
       8 . The composition according to  claim 1  wherein the foam booster is cocomonoethanolamide.  
   
   
       9 . The composition according to  claim 1  wherein the water comprises about 45 to about 55 weight % of the final composition.  
   
   
       10 . The composition according to  claim 1  wherein the vegetable oils are selected from the group consisting of sunflower oil and soy bean oil.  
   
   
       11 . The composition according to  claim 1  further comprising a noncationic guar gum.  
   
   
       12 . The composition according to  claim 11  wherein the noncationic guar gum is present in the composition at about 0.3 to about 0.8 weight % based on the weight of the total composition.  
   
   
       13 . The composition according to  claim 4  wherein steps (c1) and (d1) are reversed.  
   
   
       14 . A composition made by combining a surfactant component, salt and an oil phase wherein:  
     (I) the surfactant component comprises (based on the total weight of the composition): 
 (a) about 6 to about 10 weight % sodium trideceth sulfate;  
 (b) about 1.8 to about 3.0 weight % of a structuring agent;  
 (c) about 1. 1 to about 3.0 weight % of foam booster;  
 (d) water; and  
 (e) about 0.2 to about 0.8 weight % of a cationic guar gum;  
 (II) the salt component is NaCl;  
 (III) an oil phase comprises one or more oils selected from the group consisting of vegetable oils, mineral oils, and silicone oils;  
 wherein the total oil content comprises up to about 15 weight % of the total composition; and  
 wherein the composition is made using sequential steps comprising:  
 (a1) premixing the cationic guar gum in water to hydrate and disperse said gum;  
 (b1) adding the surfactant component to the (a1) component;  
 (c1) adjusting the pH of the (b1) component to be in a range of 5.5±1;  
 (d1) adding about 1 to about 3 weight % of the salt to the (c1) component while maintaining the salt level at or below about 6 weight %;  
 (e1) applying shear to component (d1) to form the composition at a shear rate not exceeding about 20 sec −1 ;  
 (f1) adding the oil phase to the (e1) component with mixing;  
 wherein the total water content of the composition is in the range of about 55 to about 80 weight %; and  
 wherein steps (c1) and (d1) can be reversed.  
 
   
   
       15 . A method of making a spherulite-containing composition comprising:  
     (a1) premixing a cationic guar gum in water to hydrate and disperse the gum;  
     (b1) adding a surfactant component to the (a1) component;  
     (c1) adjusting the pH of the (b1) component to about 5.5±1;  
     (d1) adding about 1 to about 3 weight % of salt to the (c1) component while maintaining the salt level at or below about 6 weight %;  
     (e1) applying shear to component (d1) to form the composition at a shear rate not exceeding about 20 sec −1 ; and  
     (f1) adding an oil phase to the (e1) component with mixing.