EP-4741479-A1 - PACKAGED GRANULAR LAUNDRY DETERGENT COMPOSITION

EP4741479A1EP 4741479 A1EP4741479 A1EP 4741479A1EP-4741479-A1

Abstract

A packaged granular laundry detergent composition, where the packaged product contains a package and a granular laundry detergent composition and the granular laundry detergent composition is contained within the package. Also contemplated is a method of making the packaged product and a method of using the packaged product.

Inventors

ATESS, Connor John
DODDS, ALISTAIR PATRICK
DOUGLASS, SARAH JANE
HEATHCOTE, LINDSEY
Solache Leon, Fernando
TRAWKA, XAVIER

Assignees

The Procter & Gamble Company

Dates

Publication Date: 20260513
Application Date: 20241112

Claims (15)

A packaged product comprising a packaging and a granular laundry detergent composition, wherein, the package comprises an opening and at least one internal compartment in communication with the opening, and wherein the granular laundry detergent composition is housed within the internal compartment, and wherein, the granular laundry detergent composition comprises between 30% and 60% by weight of the granular laundry detergent composition of a first particle, wherein the first particle comprises between 20% and 97% by weight of the first particle of an anionic surfactant; and wherein the laundry detergent composition comprises between 55% and 85% by weight of the composition of a filler, wherein the filler comprises an alkali metal carbonate, an alkali metal sulphonate, an alkali metal chloride, an alkali metal silicate or a mixture thereof; and wherein, the laundry detergent composition comprises between 0.5% and 1.5% by weight of the laundry detergent composition of a non-ionic surfactant.
The packaged product according to claim 1, wherein the anionic surfactant is selected from linear alkylbenzene sulphonate, alky sulphate, ethoxylated alkyl sulphate or a mixture thereof.
The packaged product according to any preceding claims, wherein the non-ionic surfactant is a fatty alcohol ethoxylated, preferably a fatty alcohol ethoxylate having an average degree of ethoxylation of from 1 and 12, or even between 2 and 9, or even between 3 and 7.
The packaged product according to any preceding claims, wherein the first particle comprises a filler, wherein the filler is preferably selected from an alkali metal carbonate, an alkali metal sulphonate, an alkali metal silicate, an alkali metal chloride, or a mixture thereof.
The packaged product according to any preceding claim, wherein the first particle is a blown powder, an agglomerate or a mixture thereof.
The packaged product according to claim 5, wherein the first particle comprises; a. a first blown powder particle, wherein the first blown powder particle comprises between 15% and 30% by weight of the first blown powder particle of an anionic surfactant and between 40% and 70% by weight of the first blown powder particle of a filler; and b. a first agglomerate particle, wherein the first agglomerate particle comprises between 25% and 40% by weight of the first agglomerate particle of an anionic surfactant and between 40% and 65% by weight of the first agglomerate particle of a filler; and wherein the anionic surfactant is selected from linear alkylbenzene sulphonate, alky sulphate, ethoxylated alkyl sulphate or a mixture thereof; and wherein filler is selected from an alkali metal carbonate, an alkali metal sulphonate, an alkali metal silicate, an alkali metal chloride, or a mixture thereof.
The packaged product according to any preceding claims, wherein the granular laundry detergent composition comprises an adjunct ingredient, wherein the adjunct ingredient is selected from enzymes, bleach, bleach activator, hueing dye, aesthetic dye, brighteners, zeolite, dye transfer inhibitors, antiredeposition aids, soil release polymers or a mixture thereof.
The packaged product according to any preceding claims, wherein the package is constructed from cellulose-containing materials, plastic, or a mixture thereof, preferably a cellulose-containing material, more preferably cardboard, corrugated cardboard, paperboard or a mixture thereof.
A process of making a packaged laundry detergent composition according to any preceding claims, comprising the steps of; a. Preparing a first slurry, wherein the first slurry comprises the anionic surfactant and optionally the filler; b. Drying the first slurry to prepare the first particle; c. Optionally mixing the first particle with at least a second particle; d. Spraying the non-ionic surfactant onto the first and optionally at least second particle; e. Packing the particles into the package.
The process according to claim 9, wherein in step a, a first blown powder slurry is prepared, a first agglomerate slurry is prepared, and in step b, the first blown powder slurry is dried in a blown powder process and the first agglomerate slurry is dried in an agglomeration process.
The process according to claims 9-10, wherein the first particle is mixed with other adjunct ingredients to make the granular laundry detergent composition and the granular laundry detergent composition is added to the package.
A process of laundering fabrics comprising the steps of; a. mixing together a portion of the granular laundry detergent composition, water and fabrics to be washed to create a wash liquor containing the fabrics to be washed; b. agitating the fabrics to be washed within the wash liquor; c. removing the fabrics to be washed from the wash liquor and drying the fabrics. wherein, in step a, the portion of the granular laundry detergent composition is transferred from the packaging to the wash liquor by hand.
The process according to claim 12, wherein the portion of the granular laundry detergent composition weights between 5g and 80g, or even between 40g and 80g, alternatively between 5g and 60g, or even between 15g and 45g.
The process according to claims 12-13, wherein the ambient relative humidity when the portion of the granular laundry detergent composition is transferred is between 30% and 90%.
The process according to claims 12-14, wherein the process is a hand wash process, an automatic wash process, a semi-automatic wash process or a mixture thereof.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION A packaged granular laundry detergent composition, where the packaged product contains a package and a granular laundry detergent composition and the granular laundry detergent composition is contained within the package. Also contemplated is a method of making the packaged product and a method of using the packaged product. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Granular laundry detergent compositions are well known. Without wishing to be bound by theory, the granular laundry detergent composition is mixed with water to create a wash liquor and fabrics to be washed are contacted with this. When the fabrics and wash liquor are in contact with one another, the fabrics are agitated in order to clean them and then they are dried. The granular laundry detergent composition is housed in a package and a portion of the composition is used for each wash operation. Oftentimes, the portion is transferred using a suitable dosing device, however, some consumers prefer to transfer the portion via hand. An issue with dosing via hand is that under low humidity conditions, the granular laundry detergent composition can be very free flowing, meaning a large proportion of the intended portion is lost from the hand as it `slips away'. When the surrounding environmental conditions are such that the humidity is higher then the granular laundry detergent composition becomes `stickier' and so easier to transfer by hand with less loss from the hand during the transfer. However, depending on the season and other influences, it may not be possible to adjust the relative humidity of the surrounding environment. Therefore, there is a need for a granular laundry detergent composition and method of using it in a laundry operation, in which loss of composition from the hand can be reduced during transfer of the laundry detergent composition via hand under a range of humidities. It was surprisingly found that the composition and process of washing according to the present invention achieved this. Without wishing to be bound by theory, the composition of the present invention showed reduced loss from the hand during hand transfer under low relative humidity but did not exhibit compromised transfer under higher relative humidity conditions. In other words, acceptable loss from hand during hand transfer under a range of relative humidities was achieved. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A first aspect of the present invention is a packaged product comprising a packaging and a granular laundry detergent composition, wherein, the package comprises an opening and at least one internal compartment in communication with the opening, and wherein the granular laundry detergent composition is housed within the internal compartment, and wherein, the granular laundry detergent composition comprises between 30% and 60% by weight of the granular laundry detergent composition of a first particle, wherein the first particle comprises between 20% and 97% by weight of the first particle of an anionic surfactant; and wherein the laundry detergent composition comprises between 55% and 85% by weight of the composition of a filler, wherein the filler comprises an alkali metal carbonate, an alkali metal sulphonate, an alkali metal chloride, an alkali metal silicate or a mixture thereof; and wherein, the laundry detergent composition comprises between 0.5% and 1.5% by weight of the laundry detergent composition of a non-ionic surfactant. A second aspect of the present invention is a process of making a packaged laundry detergent composition according to any preceding claims, comprising the steps of; a. Preparing a first slurry, wherein the first slurry comprises the anionic surfactant and optionally the filler;b. Drying the first slurry to prepare the first particle;c. Optionally mixing the first particle with at least a second particle;d. Spraying the non-ionic surfactant onto the first and optionally at least second particle;e. Packing the particles into the package. A third aspect of the present invention is a process of laundering fabrics comprising the steps of; a. mixing together a portion of the granular laundry detergent composition, water and fabrics to be washed to create a wash liquor containing the fabrics to be washed;b. agitating the fabrics to be washed within the wash liquor;c. removing the fabrics to be washed from the wash liquor and drying the fabrics. wherein, in step a, the portion of the granular laundry detergent composition is transferred from the packaging to the wash liquor by hand. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Packaged product The present invention is to a packaged product. The packaged product comprises a packaging and a granular laundry detergent composition. The package comprises an opening and at least one internal compartment in communication with the opening. The granular laundry detergent composition is housed within the internal compartment. The packaging should be understood as any suitable means to house the granul