Powder detergent granule containing acidic water-soluble polymer and manufacturing method thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to powder detergent granules that are substantially free of a water-insoluble component such as zeolite or silica, a method for manufacturing the powder detergent granules and a copolymer having various properties useful as a detergent component. The powder detergent granules of the present invention are substantially free of a water-insoluble component, and thus exhibit good solubility and washing performance (stain removal performance) in cold water, do not leave residue after laundry, and reduce the likelihood of a caking phenomenon during manufacture and storage. And, the powder detergent granules of the present invention are substantially free of zeolite or silica that absorbs a liquid component, but are capable of accommodating a considerable amount of liquid surfactant. Further, a copolymer comprising acrylic acid monomer unit and 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid monomer unit, an acidic water-soluble polymer of the present invention, is useful as a detergent component in various aspects.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
   
   
       13 . A copolymer comprising an acrylic acid monomer unit and 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid monomer unit represented by the following Chemistry  FIG. 3 : 
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
   
   
       14 . The copolymer according to  claim 13 ,
 wherein a weight ratio of acrylic acid monomer unit to 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid monomer unit is 95:5 to 80:20, and   wherein a pH of the copolymer is 0.1 to 3 when measured as 50% aqueous solution and a viscosity of the copolymer is 300 to 2000 cP at 25° C.   
   
   
       15 . A composition, comprising the copolymer defined in  claim 13 . 
   
   
       16 - 19 . (canceled) 
   
   
       20 . The composition of  claim 15 , wherein the composition is for making a detergent product. 
   
   
       21 . The composition of  claim 20  wherein a content of water-insoluble components is 5% weight or less based on a total weight of the detergent product. 
   
   
       22 . The composition of  claim 15 , wherein the composition is for making a metal ion binding product or hard-water softening product. 
   
   
       23 . The composition of  claim 22  wherein the metal ion is a calcium ion.