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EP-4734941-A1 - HYDROXYALKANOATE ESTER AQUEOUS COMPOSITIONS

EP4734941A1EP 4734941 A1EP4734941 A1EP 4734941A1EP-4734941-A1

Abstract

The present application discloses aqueous compositions comprising one or more of a compound of formula (I), wherein R 1 , R 2 , and n are defined herein; and (ii) a surface-active agent (e.g., a surfactant, an emulsifier, or a combination thereof). The aqueous compositions are useful as cleansing formulations. The compound of formula (I) in the aqueous compositions improves viscosity, foam properties, and sensorics, and are particularly advantageous for low sulfate formulations or sulfate-free formulations.

Inventors

  • MACEDO, Ana, Carla Reis
  • BOAZ, NEIL, WARREN

Assignees

  • Eastman Chemical Company

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240620

Claims (14)

  1. 1 . An aqueous composition, comprising: (1 ) one or more of a compound of formula I: 5 wherein: each R 1 is independently an unbranched or branched (Ce- 12) alky I; each R 2 is independently a hydrogen, or an unbranched or branched (Ci-e)alkyl; and each n is independently 1 , 2, or 3; (2) a surface-active agent, which is a surfactant, an emulsifier, or a combination thereof, wherein the one or more of the compound of formula I is present at from 0.1 weight percent (“wt%”) to 15 wt%, wherein the surface-active agent is present at from 5 wt% to 30 wt%, wherein the weight percentage is based on the total weight of the aqueous composition, wherein the one or more of the compound of formula I and the surface active agent are different, and wherein the surfactant and the emulsifier are different.
  2. 2. The aqueous composition of claim 1 , wherein the aqueous composition comprises less than 15 wt% of a sulfated anionic surfactant.
  3. 3. The aqueous composition of claim 2, wherein the sulfated anionic surfactant is (C6-3o)alkyl-S04’M + or (C6-3o)alkenyl-S04’M + , wherein M+ is H + , Na + , K + , NH 4 + , (Ci- 4 )alkylH 3 N + , ((Ci- 4 )alkyl) 2 H 2 N + , ((Ci- 4 )alkyl) 3 HN + , or ((C1- 4 )alkyl) 3 N + .
  4. 4. The aqueous composition of claim 3, wherein the sulfated anionic surfactant is sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, sodium myreth sulfate, sodium pareth sulfate, ammonium laureth sulfate, or a combination thereof.
  5. 5. The aqueous composition of claim 1 , wherein the aqueous composition is free of a sulfated anionic surfactant.
  6. 6. The aqueous composition of any one of claims 1 -5, wherein the aqueous composition further comprises, one or more of the following: a conditioning agent; an emollient; a moisturizer; a humectant; a thickener; a lubricant; a chelating agent; a filler; a binding agent; an antioxidant; a preservative; a ultraviolet light absorber; a fragrance; a dye; a buffering agent; an exfoliant; a pH adjuster; a solvent; a viscosity controlling agent; or an active ingredient.
  7. 7. The aqueous composition of claim 6, wherein the active ingredient is one or more of the following: (i) an anti-aging ingredient, (ii) an anti-inflammatory agent, (iii) an antibacterial agent, (iv) an antifungal agent, (v) a plant extract, or (vi) one or more vitamins.
  8. 8. The aqueous composition of any one of claims 1 -7, wherein the aqueous composition further comprises 0.1 wt% to 10 wt% an inorganic salt, based on the total weight of the aqueous composition.
  9. 9. The aqueous composition of claim 8, wherein the inorganic salt is sodium chloride, potassium chloride, sodium bromide, potassium bromide, ammonium chloride, ammonium bromide.
  10. 10. The aqueous composition of any one of claims 1 -9, wherein the pH of the aqueous composition is from 3 to 8, or from 4 to 7, or from 3 to 7, or from 3 to 6, or from 3 to 5, or from 4 to 8, or from 4 to 6, or from 4 to 5, or from 5 to 8, or from 5 to 7, or from 5 to 6, or from 5 to 7, or from 6 to 8, or from 6 to 7.
  11. 1 1 . The aqueous composition of any one of claims 1 -10, wherein the aqueous composition is a shampoo, a hair conditioner, a shower gel, a soap, or any cleansing composition.
  12. 12. The aqueous composition of claim 11 , wherein the aqueous composition is a shampoo.
  13. 13. The aqueous composition of any one of claims 9 or 10, wherein the aqueous composition is free of a sulfated anionic surfactant.
  14. 14. The aqueous composition of any one of claims 1 -13, wherein the compound of formula I is 2-ethylhexyl 3-hydroxybutyrate, or 1 -octyl 3- hydroxybutyrate.

Description

HYDROXYALKANOATE ESTER AQUEOUS COMPOSITIONS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Cleansing compositions are used to provide cleansing of the hair and/or skin to remove dirt, sweat, sebum, and oils, and can also help to promote normal exfoliation and rejuvenation of the skin. The ingredients in such formulations are designed to help generate desirable viscosity, foam, and mildness. These desirable properties can be enhanced by the use of ingredients that modulate the foaming and viscosity properties of the formulation. One class of formulations that is becoming increasingly important are “sulfate-free” formulations. These formulations contain only surfactants which do not contain a sulfate moiety. In the absence of the sulfate-containing surfactants it can be very challenging to develop beneficial sensoric characteristics such as desirable viscosity, significant and long-lasting foam, and good hand feel. In addition, many of the workhorse formulation enhancers (e.g., diethanolamides) are under duress due to toxicological issues, and the alternative solutions are challenged with the sulfate-free formulations. Additives that can improve sulfate-free formulations are of particular interest. One such additive is based on hydroxyalkanoate esters, which can be used to provide compositions that exhibit desirable viscosity and/or foaming action and improved sensorics, particularly for low sulfate or sulfate-free formulations. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present application discloses an aqueous composition, comprising: (i) one or more of a compound of formula I: each R1 is independently an unbranched or branched (Ce- 12) alky I; each R2 is independently a hydrogen, or an unbranched or branched (Ci-e)alkyl; and each n is independently 1 , 2, or 3; (ii) a surface-active agent, which is a surfactant, an emulsifier, or a combination thereof, wherein the one or more of the compound of formula I is present at from 0.1 weight percent (“wt%”) to 15 wt%, wherein the surface-active agent is present at from 5 wt% to 30 wt%, wherein the weight percentage is based on the total weight of the aqueous composition, wherein the one or more of the compound of formula I and the surface active agent are different. The aqueous compositions are useful in cleansing formulations that are low in sulfate or sulfate-free. The aqueous compositions are useful as shampoos, hair conditioners, shower gels, soaps, or other cleansing compositions. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Definitions In general, cleansing formulations are complex chemical compositions composed of surfactants, emulsifiers and various other additives. Surfactants are large volume chemicals that constitute the predominant component in cleansing compositions, whether it be for home or professional use. The incorporation of one or more surfactants in cleansing compositions serves the purpose of reducing the interfacial tension between oil and water by adsorbing at the liquid-liquid and/or liquid-solid interface. When dissolved in water, surfactants provide cleansing compositions with the ability to remove soil from surfaces and further dispersion of said soil in the washing liquor. Chemically, each surfactant molecule is characterized by a hydrophilic head part, said hydrophilic head part being attracted to surrounding water molecules, and a hydrophobic tail part, said hydrophobic tail part repelling surrounding water molecules and simultaneously attaching itself to oil and grease in soil. As a result, these opposing forces loosen the soil and subsequently suspend it in the aqueous environment. In other words, surfactants disperse soil that normally does not dissolve in water by itself. Therefore, surfactants constitute the key component in cleansing compositions by detaching stains and further keeping the soil in the surrounding aqueous environment thereby preventing re-deposition of the soil onto the surface from which it has been removed. In the art, surfactants are generally of four types, namely anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, and amphoteric surfactants. As used herein, the term “anionic surfactant” refers to a surfactant that possesses at least one negative charge and no positive charge besides the associated counterion (M+). Anionic surfactants are those known to a person skilled in the art of detergent compositions. Nonlimiting examples of M+ include lithium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, barium, ammonium, or alkylammonium counterions. Nonlimiting examples of alkylammonium salts include monoethanolammonium salts, diethanolammonium salts, and triethanolammonium salts. Examples of such anionic surfactants include the following classes of surfactants: alpha-olefin sulfonates prepared by sulfonation of long chain alpha olefins such as sodium C12-C14 olefin sulfonate; acyl isethionates such as sodium cocoyl isethionate, sodium methyl lauroyl isethionate and sodium lauroyl isethionate; alkyl sulfosuccinates such as disodium lauryl su