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EP-4162017-B1 - PARTICULATE LAUNDRY ADDITIVE

EP4162017B1EP 4162017 B1EP4162017 B1EP 4162017B1EP-4162017-B1

Inventors

  • MIRACLE, GREGORY, SCOT
  • DITULLIO, DANIEL, DALE, JR.
  • NGUYEN-MEYER, Thuy, T.
  • TRUJILLO, Mauricio
  • ZERHUSEN, JADEN, SCOTT

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20210527

Claims (13)

  1. A composition comprising a plurality of particles, said plurality of particles comprising: about 25% to about 99% by weight water soluble carrier; and about 0.01% to 2%, more preferably 0.05% to 2%, more preferably 0.1% to 1.5%, most preferably 0.1% to 1% by weight antioxidant, wherein the antioxidant comprises a mono- or bis-ester of 3-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-hydroxy-5-methyl benzenepropanoic acid, wherein said antioxidant is dispersed in a matrix of said water soluble carrier, and wherein the carrier has a water solubility of at least 50% as measured by the method described herein.
  2. The composition according to Claim 1, wherein said plurality of particles further comprise about 0.2% to about 20% by weight perfume.
  3. The composition according to Claim 2, wherein said perfume comprises encapsulated perfume.
  4. The composition according to Claim 2, wherein said perfume comprises unencapsulated perfume.
  5. The composition according to any of Claims 2 to 4, wherein said perfume and said antioxidant are dispersed together in said matrix of said water soluble carrier.
  6. The composition according to Claim 1, wherein said plurality of particles is free from perfume.
  7. The composition according to any preceding claim, wherein said water soluble carrier is a water soluble polymer.
  8. The composition according to Claim 7, wherein said water soluble polymer is selected from: polyalkylene polymer of formula H-(C 2 H 4 O) x -(CH(CH 3 )CH 2 O) y -(C 2 H 4 O) z -OH wherein x is from 50 to 300, y is from 20 to 100, and z is from 10 to 200; polyethylene glycol fatty acid ester of formula (C 2 H 4 O) q -C(O)O-(CH 2 ) r -CH 3 wherein q is from 20 to 200 and r is from 10 to 30; polyethylene glycol fatty alcohol ether of formula HO-(C 2 H 4 O) s -(CH 2 ) t )-CH 3 wherein s is from 30 to 250 and t is from 10 to 30; C8-C22 alkyl polyalkoxylate comprising more than 40 alkoxylate units; polyethylene glycol having a weight average molecular weight from 2000 to 15000; EO/PO/EO block copolymer; PO/EO/PO block copolymer; EO/PO block copolymer; PO/EO block copolymer; polypropylene glycol; ethoxylated nonionic surfactant having a degree of ethoxylation greater than 30; polyvinyl alcohol; polyalkylene glycol having a weight average molecular weight from 2000 to 15000; and mixtures thereof.
  9. The composition according to Claim 7, wherein said water soluble polymer is polyethylene glycol having a weight average molecular weight from about 2000 to about 15000.
  10. The composition according to any preceding claim, wherein said antioxidant is 3-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-hydroxy-5-methyl benzenepropanoic acid, 1,1'-[1,2-ethanediylbis(oxy-2,1-ethanediyl)] ester.
  11. The composition according to any preceding claim, wherein said plurality of particles comprises less than about 20% by weight anionic surfactant, optionally less than about 10% by weight anionic surfactant, optionally less than about 5% by weight anionic surfactant, optionally less than about 3% by weight anionic surfactant, optionally less than about 1% by weigh anionic surfactant.
  12. The composition according to any preceding claim, wherein said water soluble carrier is selected from polyalkylene oxide, polyethylene glycol, sodium acetate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium chloride, sodium silicate, polypropylene glycol polyoxoalkylene, polyethylene glycol fatty acid ester, polyethylene glycol ether, sodium sulfate, starch, and mixtures thereof.
  13. A process for treating laundry comprising the steps of: providing an article of laundry in a washing machine; dispensing a plurality of particles, as defined in any of the preceding claims, into said washing machine; and contacting said article of laundry during a wash sub-cycle of said washing machine with said plurality of particles.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION Fabric care laundry additives. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Consumers enjoy using particulate laundry scent additives that are delivered through the wash. In particular, consumers like laundry scent additives that are packaged in a manner that enables the consumer to use a custom amount of the laundry scent additive based on the consumer's judgment of how much of the laundry scent additive is needed to provide the desired benefit. Such laundry scent additives are conveniently provided through the wash along with a fully formulated fabric care composition. A typical particulate laundry scent additive consists of a carrier and perfume. The particles dissolve or disperse in the wash to release the perfume and perfume is deposited on the articles that are being laundered. EP 0283252 A1 discloses particulate bleaching and detergent compositions comprising particles of hydrophobic bleach activator and antioxidant. WO 2007/104412A1 discloses granular compositions for use in laundry applications, which provide improved release of antioxidants to the wash liquor. US 2019/292497 A1 discloses particulate whitening laundry compositions comprising antioxidant. EP 3733826 A1 is a disclosure according to article 54(3) EPC and discloses particulate compositions comprising antioxidant for the treatment of fabric surfaces, which provide malodour benefits without significant discoloration/yellowing problems. Although particulate laundry scent additives are effective for loading perfume onto laundered items, if the laundered articles harbor malodorous materials, the malodor may remain detectable even after the item is laundered. Malodorous materials can accumulate on the fibers of a garment even if the garment is laundered frequently. Garments comprising synthetic fibers are particularly susceptible to malodor buildup. Garments used as exercise wear commonly comprise synthetic fibers and the combination of sweat, body soil, and the like make them particularly vulnerable to malodor buildup. With the problem of malodorous laundered articles in mind, there is a continuing unaddressed need for laundry treatment compositions that can provide for a malodor reduction benefit. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a composition comprising a plurality of particles, the plurality of particles comprising: about 25% to about 99% by weight water soluble carrier; and about 0.01% to 2% by weight antioxidant, wherein the antioxidant comprises a mono- or bis-ester of 3-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-hydroxy-5-methyl benzenepropanoic acid, wherein the antioxidant is dispersed in a matrix of the water soluble carrier, and wherein the carrier has a water solubility of at least 50% as measured by the method described herein. The present invention additionally provides a process for treating laundry comprising the steps of: providing an article of laundry in a washing machine; dispensing a plurality of particles as described herein into the washing machine; and contacting the article of laundry during a wash sub-cycle of the washing machine with the plurality of particles. The plurality of particles may be formed by a process comprising the steps of: providing a melt composition comprising the water soluble carrier and the antioxidant; passing the melt composition through one or more apertures of a distributor; and depositing the melt composition on a movable conveyor beneath the one or more apertures. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1. An apparatus for forming particles. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A laundry treatment composition comprising a plurality of particles can be used to treat malodor using a through the wash process. In a through the wash process, the laundry treatment composition is present during the wash sub-cycle of a washing machine. A washing machine typically has a wash sub-cycle and rinse sub-cycle. Compositions designed to be delivered through the wash are convenient for the user to use. For example, the user can dispense the compositions directly to the drum of the washing machine. Moreover, the compositions are placed in the machine by the user at the time he or she places the load in the tub or starts the machine. Delivering a meaningful malodor treatment benefit to laundry through the wash can be challenging because of the large volume of water used in a typical wash sub-cycle. Ordinarily, laundry treatment composition are diluted in the wash water to form a wash liquor. The individual components of laundry treatment compositions must be provided in the laundry treatment composition at a high enough level so that when diluted in the wash water, an adequate concentration of the individual components is present the wash water to perfume to provide the desired benefit. A malodor benefit can be provided by including an antioxidant in the laundry treatment composition. A liquid laundry detergent composition may include an antioxidant as part of the formulation. Unfortunately, ther