Detergent formulations containing a surface active composition containing a nonionic surfactant component and a secondary alkyl sulfate anionic surfactant component

Abstract

This invention relates to detergent formulations containing a surface active composition comprising one or more nonionic surfactant components and one or more secondary alkyl sulfate anionic surfactant components.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A detergent formulation which comprises a surfactant composition which comprises between about 0.1 percent by weight and about 56 percent by weight, basis the total weight of the surfactant composition, of one or more nonionic surfactants selected from the group consisting of alcohol ethoxylate surfactants and alkyl-substituted phenol ethoxylate surfactants having an average of between about 3 and about 12 ethylene oxide units per ethoxylate molecule, and between about 0.1 percent by weight and about 60 percent by weight, basis the total weight of the surfactant composition, of one or more secondary alkyl sulfate compounds. 
     
     
       2. A powdered laundry detergent formulation which comprises from about 2 percent by weight to about 50 percent by weight, basis the total weight of the powdered detergent formulation, of a nonionic/secondary alkyl sulfate-containing surfactant composition comprising from about 2 percent by weight to about 56 percent by weight, basis the total weight of the surfactant composition, of one or more nonionic surfactants selected from the group consisting of alcohol ethoxylate surfactants and alkyl-substituted phenol ethoxylate surfactants having an average of between about 3 and about 12 ethylene oxide units per ethoxylate molecule, and from about 2 percent by weight to about 60 percent by weight, basis the total weight of the surfactant composition, of one or more secondary alkyl sulfate compounds, and from about 25 percent by weight to about 85 percent by weight, basis the total weight of the powdered detergent formulation, of one or more detergent builders. 
     
     
       3. The powdered laundry detergent formulation of claim 2 wherein said formulation additionally comprises from about 2 percent by weight to about 50 percent by weight, basis the total weight of the formulation, of one or more filler compounds. 
     
     
       4. The powdered laundry detergent formulation of claim 2 wherein said formulation additionally comprises from about 1 percent by weight to about 12 percent by weight, basis the total weight of the formulation, of one or more bleach compounds. 
     
     
       5. The powdered laundry detergent formulation of claim 2 wherein said formulation additionally comprises from about 2 percent by weight to about 25 percent by weight of an additional surfactant compound selected from the group consisting of nonionic surfactants, anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, zwitterionic surfactants and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       6. A liquid laundry detergent formulation which comprises from about 2 percent by weight to about 42 percent by weight, basis the total weight of the liquid laundry detergent formulation, of a nonionic/secondary alkyl sulfate-containing surfactant composition comprising from about 2 percent by weight to about 40 percent by weight, basis the total weight of the surfactant composition, of one or more nonionic surfactants selected from the group consisting of alcohol ethoxylate surfactants and alkyl-substituted phenol ethoxylate surfactants having an average of between about 3 and about 12 ethylene oxide units per ethoxylate molecule, from about 2 percent by weight to about 59.5 percent by weight, basis the total weight of the surfactant composition, of one or more secondary alkyl sulfate compounds, up to about 15 percent by weight, basis the total weight of the liquid laundry detergent formulation, of one or more cosurfactant compounds, up to about 20 percent by weight, basis the total weight of the liquid laundry detergent formulation, of one or more detergent builders, and from about 35 percent by weight to about 80 percent by weight, basis the total weight of the liquid laundry detergent formulation, of one or more solvents. 
     
     
       7. The liquid laundry detergent formulation of claim 6 wherein said cosurfactant compound is selected from the group consisting of nonionic surfactants, anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, zwitterionic surfactants and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       8. The liquid laundry detergent formulation of claim 6 wherein said formulation additionally comprises from about 0.1 percent by weight to about 5 percent by weight, basis the total weight of the formulation, of one or more enzymes. 
     
     
       9. The liquid laundry detergent formulation of claim 9 wherein said formulation additionally comprises from about 0.5 percent by weight to about 5 percent by weight, basis the total weight of the formulation, of one or more enzyme stabilizers. 
     
     
       10. A light-duty liquid detergent formulation which comprises from about 1 percent by weight to about 35 percent by weight, basis the total weight of the light-duty liquid detergent formulation, of a nonionic/secondary alkyl sulfate-containing surfactant composition comprising from about 1 percent by weight to about 43 percent by weight, basis the total weight of the surfactant composition, of one or more nonionic surfactants selected from the group consisting of alcohol ethoxylate surfactants and alkyl-substituted phenol ethoxylate surfactants having an average of between about 3 and about 12 ethylene oxide units per ethoxylate molecule, and from about 1 percent by weight to about 51 percent by weight, basis the total weight of the surfactant composition, of one or more secondary alkyl sulfate compounds, from about 1 percent by weight to about 15 percent by weight, basis the total weight of the light-duty liquid detergent formulation, of one or more suds stabilizers, and from about 50 percent by weight to about 98 percent by weight, basis the total weight of the light-duty liquid detergent formulation, of water. 
     
     
       11. The light-duty liquid detergent formulation of claim 10 wherein said formulation additionally comprises an anionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of alkenyl carboxysulfonates, methylester sulfonates, alcohol ethoxysulfates, linear alkylbenzene sulfonates, alpha olefin sulfonates, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       12. A hard surface cleaning formulation which comprises from about 0.1 percent by weight to about 40 percent by weight, basis the total weight of the hard surface cleaning formulation, of a nonionic/secondary alkyl sulfate-containing surfactant composition comprising from about 0.1 percent by weight to about 37.5 percent by weight, basis the total weight of the surfactant composition, of one or more nonionic surfactants selected from the group consisting of alcohol ethoxylate surfactants and alkyl-substituted phenol ethoxylate surfactants having an average of between about 3 and about 12 ethylene oxide units per ethoxylate molecule, and from about 0.1 percent by weight to about 52.5 percent by weight, basis the total weight of the surfactant composition, of one or more secondary alkyl sulfate compounds, and from about 60 percent to about 98 percent by weight, basis the total weight of the hard surface cleaning formulation, of water. 
     
     
       13. The hard surface cleaning detergent formulation of claim 12 wherein said formulation additionally comprises from about 2 percent by weight to about 25 percent by weight of a cosurfactant compound selected from the group consisting of nonionic surfactants, anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, zwitterionic surfactants and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       14. The hard surface cleaning detergent formulation of claim 12 wherein said formulation additionally comprises from about 0.1 percent by weight to about 19 percent by weight, basis the total weight of the formulation, of one or more detergent builder compounds.