Detergent and liquid soap compositions comprising biologically-based mono and di esters

Abstract

A process for providing detergent compositions comprising synthesizing mono and di esters from biologically derived 1,3-propanediol an incorporating said esters into detergent formulations. The basic process involves producing and purifying biologically derived 1,3-propanediol, synthesizing mono and di esters by the condensation of 1,3-propanediol with an acid using a catalyst, recovering the ester and incorporating said ester into a detergent formulation. The compositions made from the biologically derived 1,3-propanediol are also encompassed by the invention.

1 . A method of reducing the anthropogenic CO 2  emission of a detergent composition upon biodegradation, the method comprising:
 preparing a detergent composition comprising an ester wherein said ester is a 1,3-propanediol ester, wherein said 1,3-propanediol portion of said ester is biologically-derived, biodegradable, and exhibits no anthropogenic CO 2  emission upon biodegradation, and   using said detergent composition whereby said detergent composition biodegrades, wherein said reduction of anthropologic CO 2  emission is compared to the anthropologic CO 2  emission of a detergent composition not comprising an ester wherein said ester is a 1,3-propanediol ester, wherein said 1,3-propanediol portion of said ester is biologically-derived and biodegradable.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said detergent composition comprises a solid. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said detergent composition comprises a liquid. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the ester comprises a biobased content of at least 3% biobased carbon. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said ester comprises a biobased content of at least 6% biobased carbon. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said ester comprises a biobased content of at least 25% biobased carbon. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said ester comprises a biobased content of at least 50% biobased carbon. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said ester comprises a biobased content of at least 75% biobased carbon. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said ester comprises a radiocarbon signature of at least 3.225 pMC when calculated according to the ASTM-D6866 method. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said ester comprises a radiocarbon signature of at least 6.45 pMC when calculated according to the ASTM-D6866 method. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said ester comprises a radiocarbon signature of at least 10.75 pMC when calculated according to the ASTM-D6866 method. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said ester comprises a radiocarbon signature of at least 26.875 pMC when calculated according to the ASTM-D6866 method. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said ester comprises a radiocarbon signature of at least 53.75 pMC when calculated according to the ASTM-D6866 method. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said ester comprises a radiocarbon signature of 107.5 pMC when calculated according to the ASTM-D6866 method. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said 1,3-propanediol portion of said ester has at least one of the following characteristics: 1) an ultraviolet absorption of less than about 0.200 at 220 nm and less than about 0.075 at 250 nm and less than about 0.075 at 275 nm; 2) a composition having L*a*b* “b*” color value of less than about 0.15 and an absorbance of less than about 0.075 at 270 nm; 3) a peroxide composition of less than about 10 ppm; and 4) a concentration of total organic impurities of less than about 400 ppm. 
   
   
       16 . A method of reducing the anthropogenic CO 2  emission of a detergent composition upon biodegradation, the method comprising:
 preparing a detergent composition comprising an ester wherein said ester is a biologically-derived, biodegradable 1,3-propanediol ester, and wherein said biologically-derived, biodegradable 1,3-propanediol ester exhibits no anthropogenic CO 2  emission upon biodegradation, and   using said detergent composition whereby said detergent composition biodegrades, wherein said reduction of anthropologic CO 2  emission is compared to the anthropologic CO 2  emission of a detergent composition not comprising biologically-derived, biodegradable 1,3-propanediol ester.   
   
   
       17 . A method of producing an environmentally friendly detergent composition comprising:
 combining ingredients to make said detergent composition wherein said ingredients comprise an ester wherein said ester is a 1,3-propanediol ester, wherein the 1,3-propanediol portion of said ester is biologically-derived and biodegradable, and wherein said 1,3-propanediol portion of said ester exhibits no anthropogenic CO 2  emission upon biodegradation.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the detergent composition comprises between about 0.1% to about 80% biodegradable 1,3 propanediol ester. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said ingredients further comprise one or more components selected from the group consisting of: emulisifers, builders, conditioners, pearlizing agents, colorants, pigments, opacifiers, surfactants, gelling agents, structurants, thickeners, humectants, enzymes, polymers, bleaching agents, bleach surfactants, catalyst components, temperature stabilizers, chemical stabilizers, actives, hydrotropic agents, antioxidants, fragrances, sterilizers, and solvents. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the detergent is selected from the group consisting of liquid soaps, liquid detergents, household cleaning products, and industrial cleaning products.