pH-controlled release of detergent components

US6225276A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Henkel Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien · DE

Inventors

• Thomas Gassenmeier · Goldkronach, DE
• Juergen Millhoff · Goldkronach, DE
• Thomas Mueller-Kirschbaum · Solingen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 6, 1999
• Grant date: May 1, 2001
• Expiry date: Aug 6, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C11D2111/12
• WIPO field: Basic materials chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A process for washing textiles is presented involving the delayed release of ingredients from a detergent composition. The process involves first dissolving the detergent in water resulting in a pH below pH 8, slowly dissolving the coating on a coated alkalizing agent to raise the pH to above pH to above pH 8.5, and above pH 8.5 the polymeric acid coating on a detergent ingredient dissolves, releasing the ingredient into the wash water. Also presented is a detergent composition for delayed bleaching of 1 to 40 percent by weight of a coated bleaching agent having a coating which dissolves slowly in water irrespective of the pH value, 0.5 to 15 percent by weight of a bleach activator coated with a polymeric acid, and 0.1 to 40 percent by weight of an acidifying agent. The process results in a delayed release of bleaching in the wash cycle.