Zwitterionic Polymers Having Clay Soil Removal/Anti-Redeposition Properties Useful in Detergent Compositions

The present application relates to zwitterionic polymers having clay-soil removal/anti-redeposition properties when used in detergent compositions.

A particularly important property of a detergent composition is its ability to remove particulate type soils from a variety of fabrics during laundering. Perhaps the most important particulate soils are the clay-type soils. Clay soil particles generally comprise negatively charged layers of aluminosilicates and positively charged cations (e.g. calcium) which are positioned between and hold together the negatively charged layers.

A variety of models can be proposed for compounds which would have clay soil removal properties. One model requires that the compound have two distinct characteristics. The first is the ability of the compound to adsorb onto the negatively charged layers of the clay particle. The second is the ability of the compound, once adsorbed, to push apart (swell) the negatively charged layers so that the clay particle loses its cohesive force and can be removed in the wash water.

One class of clay-soil removal compounds which appears to work according to this model are the polyethoxy zwitterionic surfactants disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,301,044 to Wentler et al., issued Nov. 17, 1981. Representative of such compounds are those having the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is a C.sub.14 -C.sub.20 alkyl group, x is 1 or an integer of from 3 to 5, and y is from 6 to 12. See also U.S. Pat. No. 3,929,678 to Laughlin et al., issued Dec. 30, 1975 (detergent composition containing polyethoxy zwitterionic surfactant plus other detergent surfactants); U.S. Pat. No. 3,925,262 to Laughlin et al., issued Dec. 9, 1975 (detergent composition containing polyethoxy zwitterionic surfactants with detergent builders); U.S. Pat. No. 4,157,277 to Gosselink et al., issued June 26, 1979 (C.sub.4 polyoxyalkylene zwitterionic surfactants useful in detergent compositions); U.S. Pat. No. 4,165,334 to Gosselink et al., issued Aug. 21, 1979 (sulfonium-type polyethoxy zwitterionic surfactants).

These polyethoxy zwitterionic surfactants are generally compatible with other detergent surfactants such as the nonionic, zwitterionic and ampholytic types. However, as suggested in the Wentler et al. patent, most anionic surfactants interfere with the particulate soil removal performance of these compounds; anionic soils such as fatty acids likewise interfere. Because anionic detergent surfactants form the most important class of such materials for use in detergent compositions, the lack of compatibility between there polyethoxy zwitterionic surfactants and anionic surfactants poses a significant handicap where particulate (clay) soil removal is desired.

In addition to clay soil removal, one of the other properties mentioned in the Laughlin et al. patents with regard to these polyethoxy zwitterionic surfactants is the ability to keep the removed soil in suspension during the laundering cycle. Soil which is removed from the fabric and suspended in the wash water can redeposit onto the surface of the fabric. This redeposited soil causes a dulling or "graying" effect which is especially noticeable on white fabrics. Because soil is normally hydrophobic, this graying effect is a particularly important problem for those fabrics made in total or in part from hydrophobic fibers, e.g. polyester.

To minimize this problem, anti-redeposition or whiteness maintenance agents can be included in the detergent composition. Besides the previously mentioned polyethoxy zwitterionic surfactants, there are a variety of other compounds which can be used as anti-redeposition agents. One class of agents are the water-soluble copolymers of acrylic or methacrylic acid with acrylic or methacrylic acid-ethylene oxide condensates disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,719,647 to Hardy et al., issued Mar. 6, 1973. Another class of anti-redeposition agents are the cellulose and carboxymethylcellulose derivatives disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,597,416 to Diehl, issued Aug. 3, 1971 (ionic combination of dodecyltrimethyl phosphonium chloride and sodium carboxymethylcellulose), and U.S. Pat. No. 3,523,088 to Dean et al., issued Aug. 4, 1970 (combination of alkali metal carboxymethylcellulose and hydroxypropylcellulose). A mixture of compounds has also been used to provide not only anti-redeposition, but also clay soil removal properties. See. U.S. Pat. No. 4,228,044 to Cambre, issued Oct. 14, 1980, which discloses detergent compositions having anti-redeposition and clay soil removal properties which can comprise a nonionic alkyl polyethoxy surfactant, a polyethoxy alkyl quaternary cationic surfactant and a fatty amide surfactant.

These anti-redeposition agents do have a number of significant handicaps. While effective to keep soil suspended, these compounds may lack additional clay soil removal properties. Moreover, as disclosed in the Diehl and Dean et al. patents, mixtures of compounds can be required to achieve the anti-redeposition benefit. To the extent that there are combined anti-redeposition/clay soil removal benefits as disclosed in the Cambre patent, mixtures of compounds are also required.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide compounds useful in detergent compositions which provide particulate soil, especially clay soil, removal benefits.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide compounds useful in detergent compositions which provide clay soil removal benefits and are anionic detergent surfactant compatible.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide compounds useful in detergent compositions having anti-redeposition properties.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide compounds useful in detergent compositions which combine both clay soil removal and anti-redeposition properties.

These and further objects of the present invention are hereinafter disclosed.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,671,305 to Brown et al. issued June 20, 1972, discloses zwitterionic monomers which form polymers used to treat films, sheets, and filamentary materials so as to give them a durable, hydrophilic, anti-static, anti-soiling, soil releasing finish. These monomers have the formula: ##STR2## wherein n is 0 to 10; R.sup.0 is hydrogen or methyl; Z is oxygen or --NH--; A can be a C.sub.2 -C.sub.3 alkylene group (e.g. ethylene) when n is 1-10; R' and R.sup.2 can be C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl; A' is C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkylene; and R can be SO.sub.2.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,671,502 to Samour et al. issued June 20, 1972, discloses co-polymers useful as binders in the production of non-wovens. These co-polymers consist essentially of from about 5 to about 90% of a monomer having the formula: ##STR3## wherein R.sub.1 is hydrogen or methyl; A is oxygen or --NH--; R.sub.2 is ethylene, propylene, 2-hydroxypropylene or 2-acetoxypropylene; R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are alkyl; n.sub.1 is 1 to 4; and X.sup.- is SO.sub.3 --or CO.sub.2 --; and from about 10 to about 95% by weight of a hydroxyacrylate such as a polyglycerol acrylate/methacrylate having the formula: ##STR4## wherein R' is hydrogen or methyl; R" is hydrogen, methyl or hydroxy; n.sub.2 is 0 when R" is hydrogen or methyl (e.g. an ethylene group); and n.sub.3 is 2 to 4.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,838,057 to Barnes et al., issued Sept. 24, 1974, discloses toilet bars containing ethoxylated quaternary ammonium compounds, including ethoxylated, quaternized polyethyleneimines (PEIs) taught to be useful in the detergent, textile, and polymer industries, as anti-static and softening agents. These ethoxylated quaternized PEIs have the formula: ##STR5## wherein R.sub.1 is a compatible quaternary nitrogen substituent; n is at least 2; x is from 3 to 40; and X.sup.- is a compatible anion. Preferred compounds are those where R.sub.1 is a C.sub.8 -C.sub.22 alkyl group or the group:

where R' is a C.sub.8 -C.sub.22 alkyl group and y is from 3 to 40. See also U.S. Pat. No. 4,179,382 to Rudkin et al., issued Dec. 18, 1979; U.S. Pat. No. 4,152,272 to Young, issued May 1, 1979; and European Application 2,085 to Rudkin et al., published May 30, 1979, which disclose ethoxylated quaternized polyamines having C.sub.10 to C.sub.24 alkyl or alkenyl groups attached to one of the nitrogen atoms useful as fabric softeners.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,531,417 to Morehouse issued Sept. 29, 1970, discloses polysiloxanes having sulfonated polyoxyalkylene groups useful as wetting agents, emulsifiers and detergents. These siloxanes can be used in aqueous solutions at up to 20% by weight, and usually at 0.01 to 1% by weight. These siloxanes contain 1 to 100 mole % of units having the formula: ##STR6## wherein M is a cation (e.g. sodium); R can be hydrogen; R' can be methyl; a can be 3; b can be 2 or 3; c is 1 to 100; x is 0 or 1; y can be 1; and d is 1 to 4. Example 1 discloses one such siloxane having the formula:

which was used as a detergent for soiled cotton (1% aqueous solution). See also U.S. Pat. No. 3,531,507 to Morehouse issued Sept. 29, 1970 (polysiloxanes having sulfonated or sulfated polyoxyalkylene groups useful as detergents); U.S. Pat. No. 3,513,183 to Morehouse issued May 19, 1970 (polysiloxanes having sulfated polyoxyalkylene groups useful as detergents); U.S. Pat. No. 3,997,580 to Morehouse issued Dec. 14, 1976 (polysiloxanes having sulfated polyoxyalkylene groups useful as detergents).

U.S. Pat. No. 3,875,202 to Steckler issued Apr. 1, 1975, discloses monomers useful in the preparation of co- or ter-polymeric films and fibers, and especially to build in anti-static properties. These monomers have the formula: ##STR7## wherein R can be vinyl or allyl; R.sub.1 is either hydrogen; methyl or ethyl; m is 1-10; n is either 0 or a number from 1 to 100; and M is either ammonium or an alkali metal. Example 11 discloses a co-polymer of an allyl polyethoxy sulfate (n equal to about 5) with vinylacetate. U.S. Pat. No. 3,839,393 to Steckler issued Oct. 1, 1974, discloses a similar monomer having the formula: ##STR8## wherein R is either hydrogen or methyl; R.sub.1 is either hydrogen or an alkyl of from 1-22 carbon atoms; n is 1 to 3 when R.sub.1 is either hydrogen or an alkyl of 1-2 carbon atoms and M is either ammonium or an alkali metal. Example 8 discloses a polymer formed between one such monomer and styrene, N-butyl acrylate and methacrylic acid.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,301,783 to Dickson, et al., issued Jan. 31, 1967, discloses oxyalkylated, acylated, alkylated, carbonylated and olefinated derivatives of polyalkyleneimines, in particular polyethyleneimines (PEIs). For the oxyalkylated derivatives, the alkylene oxide (e.g. ethylene oxide) is reacted with the polyalkyleneimine in a mole ratio of from 1:1 to 1000:1, and preferably in a ratio of from 1:1 to 200:1. Among the ethoxylated PEIs disclosed are Examples 1-O.sub.7 and 1-O.sub.8 formed by condensing 105 and 200 moles, respectively, of ethylene oxide with a 900 M.W. PEI. The degree of ethoxylation calculates out to about 4.5 and about 8 ethoxy groups per reactive site, respectively. See also Examples 27-O.sub.5 and 27-O.sub.6 which disclose ethoxylated polypropyleneimines (M.W. 500) which have about 4 and about 8 ethoxy units per reactive site, respectively. Amongst the numerous disclosed uses of these polyalkyleneimine derivatives is a teaching that they are useful as detergents, softening agents, and anti-static agents. Preferred uses disclosed by this patent are as chelating agents, lubricating oil additives, emulsifying agents, and cutting oils.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,792,371 to Dickson, issued May 14, 1957, teaches a process for breaking petroleum emulsions with oxyalkylated tetraethylene pentaamines (TEPA) Ethoxylated TEPAs specifically disclosed include those having about 5 (Example 3aa), about 7 (Example 4aa), about 8.5 (Example 5a) and about 15.5 (Example Bc) ethoxy units per reactive site. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 2,792,370 to Dickson issued May 14, 1957, teaches a process for breaking petroleum emulsions with oxyalkylated triethylene tetramines (TETAs) including those having about 5.5 (Example 3aa), about 7.5 (Example 4aa), about 9 (Example 5a) and about 16.5 (Example Bc) ethoxy units per reactive site. See also U.S. Pat. No. 2,792,372 to Dickson, issued May 14, 1957, (oxyalkylated higher PEAs used to break petroleum emulsions); U.S. Pat. No. 2,792,369 to Dickson, issued May 14, 1957 (oxyalkylated diethylene triamines used to break petroleum emulsions).

U.S. Pat. No. 4,171,278 to Andree et al., issued Oct. 16, 1979, discloses cold water detergent compositions containing a detergent surfactant (e.g. anionic) and a hydroxyalkyl amine in a weight ratio of 100:1 to 1:1. The amine can have the formula: ##STR9## wherein R.sub.1 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.16 alkyl; R.sub.2 is H or C.sub.1 -C.sub.16 alkyl; R.sub.1 +R.sub.2 have 6-20 carbon atoms; R.sub.4 is H or methyl; m, n, and o, are each 0 to 3 and A is bridging group such as ##STR10## wherein R.sub.3 is H or methyl; x is 2 to 6; y is 1 to 3; and p is 0 to 3; the sum of m to p being 1 to 5.5, and preferably 1 to 2. See also German Patent Document 2,165,900 to Kenkel, published July 5, 1973, which discloses a washing agent for graying prevention formed by the reaction product of a PEI with an alkylglycidylether and ethylene oxide (2-hydroxyethyl moiety at each reactive site when ethoxylated).

The present invention relates to zwitterionic polymers having clay soil removal/anti-redeposition properties. These polymers comprise a polymer backbone, at least 2M groups and at least one L-X group, wherein M is a cationic group attached to or integral with the backbone and contains an N+ positively charged center; X is an anionic group or a mixture of anionic and nonionic groups; and L is a hydrophilic chain connecting groups M and X or connecting X to the backbone. L also contains the polyoxyalkylene moiety --[(R'O).sub.m (CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.n ]--, wherein R' is C.sub.3 -C.sub.4 alkylene or hydroxyalkylene, m and n are numbers such that the moiety --(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.n -- comprises at least about 50% by weight of said polyoxyalkylene moiety, and n is at least about 3.

The present invention further relates to detergent compositions which comprise from about 0.05 to about 95% by weight of these zwitterionic polymers or mixtures thereof. These detergent compositions further comprise from about 1 to about 75% by weight of a nonionic, anionic, ampholytic, zwitterionic, or cationic detergent surfactant, or mixture thereof. In addition to these detergent surfactants, the detergent compositions can optionally comprise from 0 to about 80% by weight of a detergent builder.

The zwitterionic polymers of the present invention provide clay soil removal benefits while being anionic detergent surfactant compatible. It is believed that the positively charged cationic groups cause adsorption of the polymer onto the negatively charged layers of the clay particle. It is also believed that the hydrophilic ethoxy units attached to the polymer backbone swell the clay particle so that it loses its cohesive character and is swept away in the wash water. It is further believed that the negatively charged anionic groups attached to the hydrophilic chain aid in forcing apart the negatively charged layers of the clay particle.

The anti-redeposition benefits provided by these zwitterionic polymers are also believed to be due to the positively charged cationic groups which cause it to be adsorbed onto soil suspended in the wash water. As more and more of these polymers adsorb onto the suspended soil, it becomes encased within a hydrophilic layer provided by the attached ethoxy units. As such, the hydrophilically encased soil is prevented from redepositing on fabrics, in particular hydrophobic fabrics such as polyester, during the laundering cycle. Moreover, the negatively charged anionic groups are believed to aid in this process by keeping the encased soils from agglomerating into larger masses which could be trapped by the washed fabric.

The water-soluble zwitterionic polymers of the present invention comprise a polymer backbone, and at least 2M groups and at least one L-X group, wherein M is a cationic group attached to or integral with the backbone; X is an anionic group or a mixture of anionic and nonionic groups; and L is a hydrophilic chain connecting groups M and X or connecting X to the polymer backbone.

As used herein, the term "polymer backbone" refers to the polymeric moiety to which groups M and L-X are attached to or integral with. Included within this term are oligomer backbones (2 to 4 units), and true polymer backbones (5 or more units).

As used herein, the term "attached to" means that the group is pendent from the polymer backbone, as represented by the following general structures A and B: ##STR11##

As used herein, the term "integral with" means that the group forms part of the polymer backbone, examples of which are represented by the following general structures C and D: ##STR12##

Any polymer backbone can be used as long as the zwitterionic polymer formed is water-soluble and has clay soil removal/antiredeposition properties. Suitable polymer backbones can be derived from the polyurethanes, the polyesters, the polyethers, the polyamides, the polyimides and the like, the polyacrylates, the polyacrylamides, the polyvinylethers, the polyethylenes, the polypropylenes and like polyalkylenes, the polystyrenes and like polyalkarylenes, the polyalkyleneamines, the polyalkyleneimines, the polyvinylamines, the polyallylamines, the polydiallylamines, the polyvinylpyridines, the polyaminotriazoles, polyvinyl alcohol, the aminopolyureylenes, and mixtures thereof.

M can be any compatible cationic group which comprises an N.sup.+ (quaternary), positively charged center. The quaternary positively charged centers can be represented by the following general structures E and F: ##STR13## Particularly preferred M groups are those containing a quaternary center represented by general structure E. The cationic group M is also preferably positioned close to or integral with the polymer backbone.

X can be any compatible anionic group, or a mixture of anionic and nonionic groups. Suitable anionic groups include SO.sub.3.sup.-, OSO.sub.3.sup.-, and CO.sub.2.sup.-. Particularly preferred anionic groups are SO.sub.3.sup.- or OSO.sub.3.sup.-. Suitable nonionic groups include hydrogen (H), C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl ester or ether groups, or mixtures thereof. The particularly preferred nonionic groups are H and methyl ether. A mixture of from about 1 to 100% anionic groups and from 0 to about 99% nonionic groups is suitable. A mixture of from about 50 to 100% anionic groups and from 0 to about 50% nonionic groups is typical.

The zwitterionic polymers of the present invention normally have a ratio of cationic groups M to anionic groups X of 1:1. However, by varying the amount of anionic X groups in the polymer, or by appropriate copolymerization of cationic, anionic (i.e. containing the group L-X), or mixed cationic/anionic monomers, the ratio of cationic groups M to anionic groups X can be varied. The ratio of groups M to anionic groups X can usually range from about 1:2 to about 100:1. In preferred zwitterionic polymers, the ratio is from about 1:1 to about 50:1. The polymers formed from such copolymerization are typically random, i.e. the cationic, anionic, or mixed cationic/anionic monomers copolymerize in a nonrepeating sequence.

The units which contain groups M and groups L-X can comprise 100% of the zwitterionic polymers of the present invention. However, inclusion of other units (preferably nonionic) in the polymers is also permissible. Examples of other units include acrylamides, vinylethers, and those containing unquaternized tertiary amine groups (M.sup.1) containing an N center. These other units can comprise from 0 to about 90% of the polymer (from about 10 to 100% of the polymer being units containing groups M and L-X, including M.sup.1 -L-X groups). Usually, these other units comprise from 0 to about 50% of the polymer (from about 50 to 100% of the polymer being units containing groups M and L-X).

The number of groups M and L-X usually ranges from about 2 to about 200 each. Typically, the number of groups M and L-X are each from about 3 to about 100. Preferably, the number of groups M and L-X are each from about 3 to about 40.

Other than moieties for connecting groups M and X, or for attachment to the polymer backbone, hydrophilic chain L usually consists entirely of the polyoxyalkylene moiety --[(R'O).sub.m (CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.n ]--. The moieties --(R'O).sub.m -- and --(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.n -- of the polyoxyalkylene moiety can be mixed together, or preferably form blocks of --(R'O).sub.m -- and --(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.n -- moieties. R' is preferably C.sub.3 H.sub.6 (propylene); m is preferably from 0 to about 5, and most preferably 0, i.e. the polyoxyalkylene moiety consists entirely of the moiety --(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.n --. The moiety --(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.n -- preferably comprises at least about 85% by weight of the polyoxyalkylene moiety, and most preferably 100% by weight (m is 0). For the moiety --(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.n.sup.-, n is usually from about 3 to about 100. Preferably, n is from about 12 to about 42.

A plurality (2 or more) of moieties -L-X can also be hooked together and attached to group M or to the polymer backbone, examples of which are represented by the following general structures G and H: ##STR14##

Structures such as G and H can be formed, for example, by reacting glycidol with group M or with the polymer backbone, and then ethoxylating the subsequently formed hydroxy groups.

The level at which the zwitterionic polymer(s) can be present in the detergent compositions of the present invention can vary widely depending upon the polymer used, the type of detergent formulation (liquid, granular), and the benefits desired. These compositions can be used as laundry detergents, laundry additives, and laundry pretreatments. Generally, these polymers can be included in an amount of from about 0.05 to about 95% by weight of the composition, with the usual range being from 0.1 to about 10% by weight for laundry detergents. Preferred detergent compositions comprise from about 0.5 to about 5% by weight of the polymer of the present invention. For these preferred compositions, the polymer is typically present at from about 1 to about 3% by weight. The polymer is normally present at a level that provides from about 2 ppm to about 200 ppm, preferably from about 10 ppm to about 100 ppm, of the polymer in the wash solution at recommended U.S. usage levels, and normally from about 30 ppm to about 1000 ppm, preferably from about 50 ppm to about 500 ppm for European usage levels.

Representative classes of zwitterionic polymers of the present invention are as follows:

One class of suitable zwitterionic polymers are derived from polyurethanes, polyesters, polyethers, polyamides and the like. These polymers comprise units selected from those having formulas I, II and III: ##STR15## R is H or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl; R.sup.1 is C.sub.2 -C.sub.12 alkylene, hydroxyalkylene, alkenylene, cycloalkylene, arylene or alkarylene, or a C.sub.2 -C.sub.3 oxyalkylene moiety having from 2 to about 20 oxyalkylene units provided no O-O or N-O bonds are formed with A.sup.1 ; when x is 1, R.sup.2 is --R.sup.5 -- except when A.sup.1 is ##STR16## or is --(OR.sup.8).sub.y -- or --OR.sup.5 -- provided that no O-O or N-O bonds are formed with A.sup.1, and R.sup.3 is --R.sup.5 --, except when A.sup.1 is ##STR17## or is --(R.sup.8 O)--.sub.y or --R.sup.5 O-- provided that no O-O or O-N bonds are formed with A.sup.1 ; when x is 0, R.sup.2 is --(OR.sup.8).sub.y --, --OR.sup.5 --, ##STR18## and R.sup.3 is --R.sup.5 --; R.sup.4 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl, --(R.sup.8 O).sub.q --R.sup.9, or the moiety --(R.sup.5).sub.k --[(C.sub.3 H.sub.6 O).sub.m (CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.n ]--(R.sup.5).sub.p --X; R.sup.5 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 alkylene, hydroxyalkylene, alkenylene, arylene, or alkarylene; each R.sup.6 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl, --(R.sup.8 O).sub.q --R.sup.9, or together form the moiety --(CH.sub.2).sub.r --A.sup.2 --(CH.sub.2).sub.s --, wherein A.sup.2 is --O-- or --CH.sub.2 --; R.sup.7 is H or R.sup.4 ; R.sup.8 is C.sub.2 -C.sub.3 alkylene or hydroxyalkylene; R.sup.9 is H, ##STR19## --R, or a mixture thereof; X is SO.sub.3.sup.-, OSO.sub.3.sup.- or CO.sub.2.sup.- ; k is 0 or 1; m is from 0 to about 5; n is at least about 3; m and n are numbers such that the moiety --(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.n -- comprises at least about 85% by weight of the moiety --[(C.sub.3 H.sub.6 O).sub.m (CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.n ]--; p is 1, or 0 only when X is SO.sub.3.sup.- ; q is from 1 to about 100; r is 1 or 2, s is 1 or 2, and r+s is 3 or 4; y is from 2 to about 20; the number of u, v and w is such that there are at least 2 N+ centers and at least 2 X groups.

In the above formulas, A.sup.1 is preferably ##STR20## A.sup.2 is preferably --O--; x is preferably 1; and R is preferably H. R.sup.1 can be linear ##STR21## or branched ##STR22## alkylene, hydroxyalkylene, alkenylene, cycloalkylene, alkarylene or oxyalkylene; when R.sup.1 is a C.sub.2 -C.sub.3 oxyalkylene moiety, the number of oxyalkylene units is preferably from about 2 to about 12; R.sup.1 is preferably C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 alkylene or phenylene, and most preferably C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 alkylene (e.g., ethylene, propylene, hexamethylene). R.sup.2 is preferably --(OR.sup.8).sub.y -- or --OR.sup.5 --; R.sup.3 is preferably --(R.sup.8 O).sub.y -- or --R.sup.5 O--; R.sup.4 and R.sup.6 are preferably methyl or --(R.sup.8 O).sub.q --H, and most preferably methyl. Like R.sup.1, R.sup.5 can be linear or branched, and is preferably C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkylene; R.sup.7 is preferably H or C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl; R.sup.8 is preferably ethylene; X is preferably SO.sub.3.sup.- or OSO.sub.3.sup.- ; k is preferably 0; m is preferably 0; p is preferably 1; q is preferably from about 2 to about 40; r and s are each preferably 2; y is preferably from 2 to about 12.

In the above formulas, n is preferably at least about 6 when the number of N+ centers and X groups is 2 or 3; n is most preferably at least about 12, with a typical range of from about 12 to about 42 for all ranges of u+v+w. For homopolymers (v and w are 0), u is preferably from about 3 to about 40, and is most preferably from about 3 to about 20. For random copolymers (u is at least 1 or preferably 0), v and w are each preferably from about 3 to about 40.

Another class of suitable zwitterionic polymers are derived from polyacrylats, polyacrylamides, polyvinylethers and the like. These polymers comprise units selected from those having formulas IV, V and VI. ##STR23## R is H or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl; R.sup.1 is substituted C.sub.2 -C.sub.12 alkylene, hydroxyalkylene, alkenylene, arylene or alkarylene, or substituted C.sub.2 -C.sub.3 oxyalkylene; each R.sup.2 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 alkylene, hydroxyalkylene, alkenylene, arylene or alkarylene; each R.sup.3 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl, --(R.sup.5 O).sub.q --R.sup.6, the moiety --(R.sup.2).sub.k --[(C.sub.3 H.sub.6 O).sub.m (CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.n ]-- (R.sup.2).sub.p --X, or together form the moiety --(CH.sub.2).sub.r --A.sup.2 --(CH.sub.2).sub.s --, wherein A.sup.2 is --O-- or --CH.sub.2 --; each R.sup.4 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl, --(R.sup.5 O).sub.q --R.sup.6, or two R.sup.4 together form the moiety --(CH.sub.2).sub.r --A.sup.2 --(CH.sub.2).sub.s --; R.sup.5 is C.sub.2 -C.sub. 3 alkylene or hydroxyalkylene; R.sup.6 is H, ##STR24## --R or a mixture thereof; X is SO.sub.3.sup.-, OSO.sub.3.sup.- or CO.sub.2.sup.-; j is 1 or 0; k is 1 or 0; m is from 0 to about 5; n is at least about 3; m and n are numbers such that the moiety --(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.n -- comprises at least about 85% by weight of the moiety --[(C.sub.3 H.sub.6 O).sub.m (CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.n ]--; p is 1, or 0 only when X is SO.sub.3.sup.- or H; q is from 1 to about 100; r is 1 or 2, s is 1 or 2 and r+s is 3 or 4; the number of u, v and w are such that there are at least 2 N+ centers and at least 2 X groups.

In the above formulas, A.sup.1 is preferably ##STR25## or --O--; A.sup.2 is preferably --O--; R is preferably H. R.sup.1 can be linear (e.g. ##STR26## or branched ##STR27## substituted alkylene, hydroxyalkylene, alkenylene, alkarylene, or oxyalkylene;

R.sup.1 is preferably substituted C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 alkylene or substituted C.sub.2 -C.sub.3 oxyalkylene, and most preferably --CH.sub.2 CH-- or ##STR28## Each R.sup.2 is preferably C.sub.2 -C.sub.3 alkylene; each R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are preferably methyl or --(R.sup.5 O).sub.q --H and most preferably methyl; --R.sup.5 -- is preferably ethylene; X is preferably SO.sub.3.sup.- or OSO.sub.3.sup.- ; j is preferably 1; k is preferably 0; m is preferably 0; p is preferably 1; q is preferably from 2 to about 40; r and s are each preferably 2.

In the above formulas, n, u, v and w can be varied according to the n, u, v and w for the polyurethane and like polymers.

Another class of suitable zwitterionic polymers are derived from polyalkyleneamines, polyalkyleneimines and the like. These polymers comprise units selected from those having formulas VII, VIII and IX: ##STR29## wherein R.sup.1 is C.sub.2 -C.sub.12 alkylene, hydroxyalkylene, alkenylene, cycloalkylene, arylene or alkarylene, or a C.sub.2 -C.sub.3 oxyalkylene moiety having from 2 to about 20 oxyalkylene units provided that no O-N bonds are formed; each R.sup.2 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl, --(R.sup.4 O).sub.1 --R.sup.5, or the moiety --(R.sup.3).sub.k --[(C.sub.3 H.sub.6 O).sub.m (CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.n ]--(R.sup.3).sub.p --X; each R.sup.3 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 alkylene, hydroxyalkylene, alkenylene, arylene or alkarylene; R.sup.4 is C.sub.2 -C.sub.3 alkylene or hydroxyalkylene; R.sup.5 is H, ##STR30## --R or mixture thereof, wherein R is C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl; M' is an N+ or N center; X is SO.sub.3.sup.-, OSO.sub.3.sup.- or CO.sub.2.sup.-, or a mixture thereof with H; d is 1 when M' is N+ and is 0 when M' is N; e is 2 when M' is N+ and is 1 when M' is N; k is 1 or 0; m is from 0 to about 5; n is at least about 3; m and n are numbers such that the moiety --(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.n -- comprises at least about 85% by weight of the moiety --[(C.sub.3 H.sub.6 O).sub.m (CH.sub.2 Ch.sub.2 O).sub.n ]--; p is 1, or 0 only when X is SO.sub.3.sup.- or H; q is from 1 to about 100; the number of x, y and z is such that there are at least 2M' groups , at least 2 N+ centers and at least 2 X groups.

In the above formulas, A is preferably --O--; R.sup.1 can be varied like R.sup.1 of the polyurethane and like polymers; each R.sup.2 is preferably methyl, --(R.sup.4 O).sub.q --H, or the moiety --(R.sup.3).sub.k --[(C.sub.3 H.sub.6).sub.m (CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O)]--(R.sup.3).sub.p --X; each R.sup.3 is preferably C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkylene; each R.sup.4 is preferably methyl --(R.sup.4 O).sub.q --H, or the moiety --(R.sup.3).sub.k --[(C.sub.3 H.sub.6 O).sub.m (CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.n ]--(R.sup.3).sub.p --X; R.sup.4 is preferably ethylene; X is preferably SO.sub.3.sup.- or a mixture thereof with H, k is preferably 0; m is preferably 0; p is preferably 0; q is preferably from about 2 to about 40; r and s are each preferably 2.

In the above formulas, n is preferably at least about 6 when the number of M' groups and X groups are each 2 or 3; n is most preferably at least about 12, with a typical range of from about 12 to about 42 for all ranges of x+y+z. Typically, x+y+z is from 2 to about 40, and preferably from 2 to about 20. For short chain length polymers, x+y+z can range from 2 to 9 with from 2 to 9 N+ centers and from 2 to 11 X groups. For long chain length polymers, x+y+z is at least 10, with a preferred range of from 10 to about 42. For both the short and long chain length polymers, the M' groups are typically a mixture of from about 50 to 100% N+ centers and from 0 to about 50% N centers.

Preferred zwitterionic polymers within this class are derived from the C.sub.2 -C.sub.3 polyalkyleneamines (x+y+z is from 2 to 9) and polyalkyleneimines (x+y+z is at least 10, preferably from 10 to about 42). Particularly preferred zwitterionic polyalkyleneamines and polyalkyleneimines are the zwitterionic polyethyleneamines (PEAs) and polyethyleneimines (PEIs). These preferred zwitterionic polymers comprise units having the general formula: ##STR31## wherein R.sup.2 (preferably methyl), M', X, d, e, x, y, z and n are defined as before, a is 1 or 0.

Prior to ethoxylation, the PEAs used in preparing zwitterionic polymers of the present invention have the following general formula: ##STR32## wherein x+y+z is from 2 to 9, and a is 0 or 1 (molecular weight of from about 100 to about 400). Each hydrogen atom attached to each nitrogen atom represents an active site for subsequent ethoxylation. For preferred PEAs, X+y+z is from about 3 to about 7 (molecular weight of from about 140 to about 310). These PEAs can be obtained by reactions involving ammonia and ethylene dichloride, followed by fractional distillation. The common PEAs obtained are triethylenetetramine (TETA) and tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA). Above the pentamines, i.e., the hexamines, heptamines, octamines and possibly nonamines, the cogenerically derived mixture does not appear to separate by distillation and can include other materials such as cyclic amines and particularly piperazines. There can also be present cyclic amines with side chains in which nitrogen atoms appear. See U.S. Pat. No. 2,792,372 to Dickson, issued May 14, 1957, which describes the preparation of PEAs.

The minimum degree of ethoxylation required for preferred clay soil removal/anti-redeposition performance can vary depending upon the number of units in the PEA. Where y+z is 2 or 3, n is preferably at least about 6. Where y+z is from 4 to 9, suitable benefits are achieved when n is at least about 3. For preferred zwitterionic PEAs, n is at least about 12, with a typical range of from about 12 to about 42.

The PEIs used in preparing the polymers of the present invention have a molecular weight of at least about 440 prior to ethoxylation, which represents at least about 10 units. Preferred PEIs used in preparing these polymers have a molecular weight of from about 600 to about 1800. The polymer backbone of these PEIs can be represented by the general formula: ##STR33## wherein the sum of x, y and z represents a number of sufficient magnitude to yield a polymer having the molecular weights previously specified. Although linear polymer backbones are possible, branch chains can also occur. The relative proportions of primary, secondary and tertiary amine groups present in the polymer can vary, depending on the manner of preparation. The distribution of amine groups is typically as follows: ##STR34## Each hydrogen atom attached to each nitrogen atom of the PEI represents an active site for subsequent ethoxylation. These PEIs can be prepared, for example, by polymerizing ethyleneimine in the presence of a catalyst such as carbon dioxide, sodium bisulfite, sulfuric acid, hydrogen peroxide, hydrochloric acid, acetic acid, etc. Specific methods for preparing PEIs are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,182,306 to Ulrich et al., issued Dec. 5, 1939; U.S. Pat. No. 3,033,746 to Mayle et al., issued May 8, 1962; U.S. Pat. No. 2,208,095 to Esselmann et al., issued July 16, 1940; U.S. Pat. No. 2,806,839 to Crowther, issued Sept. 17, 1957; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,553,696 to Wilson, issued May 21, 1951 (all herein incorporated by reference).

As defined in the preceding formulas, n is at least about 3 for the zwitterionic PEIs. However, it should be noted that the minimum degree of ethoxylation required for suitable clay soil removal/anti-redeposition performance can increase as the molecular weight of the PEI increases. For PEIs having a molecular weight of at least about 600, n is usually at least about 12, with a typical range of from about 12 to about 42.

Another class of suitable zwitterionic polymers are those derived from the diallylamines. These polymers comprise units selected from those having formulas and X and XI: ##STR35## wherein R.sup.1 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl, --(R.sup.4 O).sub.q --R.sup.5, or the moeity --(R.sup.2).sub.k --[(C.sub.3 H.sub.6 O).sub.m (CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.n]--(R.sup.2).sub.p --X; each R.sup.2 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 alkylene, hydroxylakylene, alkylene, arylene or alkarylene; each R.sup.3 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl, --(R.sup.4 O).sub.q --R.sup.5, or together form the moiety --(CH.sub.2).sub.r --A--(CH.sub.2).sub.2 --, wherein A is --O-- or --CH.sub.2 --; R.sup.4 is C.sub.2 -C.sub.3 alkylene or hydroxyalkylene; R.sup.5 is H, ##STR36## --R or mixture thereof, wherein R is C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl or hydroxylalkyl; X is SO.sub.3.sup.-, OSO.sub.3.sup.- or CO.sub.2.sup.-, or mixture thereof with H; k is 1 or 0; m is from 0 to about 5; n is at least about 3; m and n are numbers such that the moiety --(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.n -- comprises at least about 85% by weight of the moiety --[(C.sub.3 H.sub.6 O).sub.m (CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.n ]--; p is 1, or 0 only when X is SO.sub.3.sup.- or H; q is from 1 to about 100; r is 1 or 2, s is 1 or 2, and r+s is 3 or 4; x is 1 or 0; y is 1 when x is 0, and 0 when x is 1; the number of u and v is such that the number of N+ centers is at least 2 and the number of X groups is at least 2.

In the above formulas, A is preferably --O--; R.sup.1 is preferably methyl or --(R.sup.4 O).sub.q --H, and most preferably methyl; each R.sup.2 is preferably C.sub.2 -C.sub.3 alkylene; each R.sup.3 is preferably methyl or --(R.sup.4 O).sub.q --H, and most preferably methyl; R.sup.4 is preferably ethylene; X is preferably SO.sub.3.sup.- or mixture thereof with H; k is preferably 0; m is preferably 0; p is preferably 0; q is preferably from 2 to about 40; r and s are each preferably 2.

In the above formulas, n is preferably at least about 6 when the number of N+ centers and X groups are each 2 or 3, n is preferably at least 12, with a typical range of from about 12 to about 42 for all ranges of u+v. Typically, v is 0, and u is from 3 to about 40, and preferably from 3 to about 20.

The polyurethane versions of the present invention can be prepared according to the following general scheme: ##STR37##

The synthesis of one such polymer is described as follows:

To a dry flask was added 102 grams (1.77 moles) of allyl alcohol. 5.5 grams (0.24 moles) of metallic sodium was then dissolved in the alcohol under argon. Ethylene oxide was then added to this mixture with stirring at 80.degree.-120.degree. C. After 17 hours, about 2063 grams of ethylene oxide had been condensed to form the respective ethoxylated compound (n=about 26).

In a flask under argon, 2170 g. (1.77 moles) of the ethoxylated compound from step 1 was dissolved in 1000 ml. of acetonitrile and then cooled to about 10.degree. C. where the solution began to solidify. To this solution was added 490 grams (2.57 moles) of tosyl chloride dissolved in 500 ml. of acetonitrile. The reaction mixture became hotter, was then cooled to 10.degree. C. and then 293 g. (2.9 moles) of triethylamine was added. The temperature of the reaction mixture increased to a maximum of 37.degree. C. after 0.5 hours and then decreased. After 3.5 hours, 30 ml. of H.sub.2 O was added to the reaction mixture to decompose the remaining tosyl chloride.

To the reaction mixture from step 3 was added 360 g. (3.4 moles) of diethanolamine. After heating at 80.degree. C. for about 18 hours, the reaction mixture was acidified with HCl and then extracted with ether. The aqueous phase was then extracted with a mixture of ether:acetonitrile (ratio of about 5:2) twice. The aqueous phase was separated and then made basic with 50% NaOH (476 g.). This aqueous phase was extracted with dichloromethane (2000 ml.). The lower layer was separated and then extracted 3 times with 2000 ml. portions of 1/4 saturated NaCl solution while adding enough 50% NaOH to make the aqueous phase strongly basic (pH of about 11). The lower cloudy organic layer was stripped to give about 1000 ml. of an oil. Toluene (200 ml.) was then added and the mixture stripped again to give an oil (927 g.) which gradually solidified on cooling. This solidified oil contained the desired allylpolyethoxy-(26)-bis-(hydroxyethyl)-amine.

The aminated compound (926 g., 0.87 moles) from step 3 was dissolved in H.sub.2 O and then 12N HCl was added until the pH was 6-7. The temperature was then raised to 90.degree. C. and Na.sub.2 S.sub.2 O.sub.5 (193 g.) was added with continuous stirring and air bubbling. The reaction ran for 6 hours at which point additional Na.sub.2 S.sub.2 O.sub.5 (200 g.) was added and the reaction continued for 24 hours more.

The reaction mixture was worked up by adding 3 volumes of water and 0.75 volumes of dichloromethane. After gentle shaking, the clear lower layer was drawn off and the upper layer was then extracted twice more with dichloromethane. The aqueous phase was then about 1/2 saturated with potassium carbonate (4000 g.) and then reextracted with several portions of dichloromethane. The combined dichloromethane extracts were stripped to give about 900 g. of bis-(hydroxyethyl)-aminopolyethoxy-(26)-3-propanesulfonate as an oil.

The aminosulfonate compound (899 g., 0.87 moles) from step 4 was dissolved in ethanol. Methyl bromide was introduced through a fritted inlet below the surface of the reaction mixture until about 240 g. (2.5 moles) had been added. After about 2.5 hours, the reaction was nearly complete. The insoluble salts present in the reaction mixture were removed by filtration. The filtrate was treated with a mixed bed (H-OH) resin to remove dissolved salts. Water (250 ml.) was added to make the filtrate clear and then the filtrate was treated with three 1 lb. portions of resin. After resin treatment, the conductivity of the filtrate was about 7 u mhos/cm. The resin was filtered out and the combined filtrates and washings (6000 ml.) were stripped to an oil (about 600 g.) and then further stripped in a Kugelrohr at 80.degree.-100.degree. C. for about 5 hours under vacuum (less than 1 mm. pressure) to give a light yellow oil (575 g.) which contained the zwitterionic monomer. This yellow oil crystallized on standing.

The zwitterionic monomer (75 g., 0.07 moles) from step 5 was dissolved in chloroform free of ethanol stabilizer. The monomer had previously been evacuated in a Kugelrohr at 80.degree.-90.degree. C. under a vacuum (pressure of 1 mm.) for at least 18 hours. The monomer in the chloroform was then dried overnight with 3 .ANG. molecular sieves and then transferred to a dry flask (equipped with mechanical stirrer) under argon. To the monomer was added dibutyltin dilaurate catalyst (2.6 g., 0.058 mole equiv.) in chloroform under argon. To the stirred reaction mixture was then added hexamethylenediisocyanate (7.9 g., 0.05 moles) over a 5 minute period. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 18 hours. The chloroform was removed under a vacuum at about 70.degree. C. to give about 85 g. of the desired polymer (u=about 5) as a viscous liquid or solid.

The random copolymer versions of the present invention can be prepared according to the following general scheme: ##STR38##

The synthesis of one such random copolymer is described as follows:

Allyl alcohol was ethoxylated using step 1 of the polyurethane synthesis to give the respective allylpolyethoxylate (12.5). A 452 g. (0.77 moles) portion of this ethoxylated compound was added to 126 g. (1.0 moles) of sodium sulfite in 300 ml. of water. 10% sulfuric acid was then added until the pH was about 6. Water was then added to provide 1600 ml. of a two phase system. An air bubbler was inserted and the system was heated on a steambath overnight. The two layers were separated hot and the upper layer was extracted with toluene. The new lower layer which formed was then extracted twice with chloroform to provide an aqueous solution containing the desired product. This solution was adjusted to pH 9-10 and stripped of most of the solvent. The residue (223 g.) was dissolved in about 800 ml. of acetonitrile and centrifuged to remove salts. The supernatant was then stripped to give 171 g. of sodium polyethoxypropanesulfonate.

This sodium polyethoxypropanesulfonate was converted to the respective acrylate ester by treating 27.5 g. of the sulfonate in 75 ml. of tetrahydrofuran with 4.47 g. of acrylolyl chloride under dry nitrogen. Pyridine was added gradually over 25 minutes with the temperature being kept in the 23.degree.-32.degree. C. range. After the reaction mixture had stood overnight, 1.75 g. of acryloyl chloride and 1.5 ml. of pyridine were added and allowed to react for 0.5 hours. Then 100 ml. of saturated NaCl solution was added, and after mixing, the reaction mixture was centrifuged. The lower liquid layer was extracted with 130 ml. of dichloromethane. The lower dichloromethane layer which formed was washed with saturated NaCl solution (100 ml.) and then with 0.6 saturated NaCl solution (100 ml.). the dichloromethane was then removed under vacuum without heating to give 8.1 g. of the acrylate ester as an oil.

An 8 g. portion (0.008 moles) of the sulfonate monomer from step 1 and 1.9 g. (0.011 moles) of N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-methacrylamide monomer were dissolved in 40 ml. of acetonitrile. The reaction mixture was purged of oxygen by bubbling argon through it. A 0.23 g. portion of benzoyl peroxide was separately dissolved in 10 ml. of acetonitrile and similarly purged. The reaction mixture was heated to reflux and the benzoyl peroxide solution then added dropwise over 0.5 hours. Next, a 0.28 g. portion of azobisisobutyronitrile in 5 ml. of acetonitrile was added to the reaction mixture and heating was continued overnight. A stream of methyl bromide was then passed through 1/2 of the reaction mixture which was then warmed slightly for 1 hour. A 4.1 g. portion of the desired random copolymer was isolated by stripping off the solvent.

Zwitterionic polyethyleneamines and polyethyleneimines can be prepared using standard methods for ethoxylating amines, with subsequent quaternization and sulfation. Representative syntheses of such polyethyleneamines and polyethyleneimines are as follows:

tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA) (M.W. 189, 13.5 g., 0.071 moles) was placed in a nominally dry flask and dried by stirring for 0.5 hrs. at 110.degree.-120.degree. C. under vacuum (pressure less than 1 mm Hg.). The vacuum was released by drawing ethylene oxide (EO) from a prepurged trap connected to a supply tank. Once the flask was filled with EO, an outlet stopcock was carefully opened to a trap connected to an exhaust bubbler. After 3 hrs. stirring at 115.degree.-125.degree. C., H-NMR analysis indicated the degree of ethoxylation of 1 per reactive site. The reaction mixture was cooled while being swept with argon and 0.5 g. (0.0125 moles) of 60% sodium hydride in mineral oil was then added. The stirred reaction mixture was swept with argon until hydrogen evolution ceased. EO was then added to the mixture as a sweep under atmospheric pressure at 117.degree.-135.degree. C. with moderately fast stirring. After 31 hrs., 459 g. (10.43 moles) of EO had been added to give a calculated total degree of ethoxylation of 21.

A 34.8 g. (0.0052 moles) portion of the ethoxylated TEPA from step 1 which was a brown waxy solid, was dissolved in D.sub.2 O to give a 50% solution. The pH of the solution was about 8. The solution was heated to 60.degree. C. and methyl bromide gas swept through the reaction vessel whose exit was connected to a bubbler. Several times during the reaction, the pH became acidic and NaHCO.sub.3 was added to the reaction to maintain the pH at about 8. After about 20 hrs. a bubbler was placed below the reaction mixture surface so that the methyl bromide was bubbled through the mixture while the stirring rate was increased. After a total of 22 hrs., the reaction mixture was diluted to 25% and dialized to remove salts. The reaction mixture was then freeze dried to give a pale yellowish tan crystalline solid as the quaternized ethoxylated TEPA.

A 26.58 g. (0.00373 moles) portion of the quaternized ethoxylated TEPA from step 3, was dissolved in 106 ml of dichloromethane which had been dried over molecular sieves. 2.91 g. of chlorosulfonic acid was dissolved in about 20 ml of dried dichloromethane and dripped into the reaction mixture over 3.25 hrs. at room temperature. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for an additional 3 hrs. The reaction mixture was then poured into 46.5 ml of NaOH and 30 g ice while swirling. The reaction mixture was then made more neutral by adding 13.5 ml of HCl (pH=8). Dichloromethane was evaporated after which the aqueous mixture was dialized for 3 hrs. then diluted to a 10% active aqueous solution containing the desired zwitterionic TEPA.

By a procedure similar to that of Example 3a, PEI (21.5 g., M.W. 600, 0.5 moles) was dried at 120.degree. C. under vacuum and swept with EO until hydroxyethylation was complete (3 hrs.). The hydroxyethylated compound was cooled under argon and 0.1 g. (0.0022 moles) of 50% NaH in mineral oil was added. The reaction was heated to about 70.degree. C. and swept for 13 hrs. until a total of 88.5 g. of EO had been added which gave a calculated degree of ethoxylation of 3.4.

A 53 g. (0.0173 mole) portion of this compound was placed in a similar apparatus, heated to 120.degree. C. and evacuated for 0.5 hrs. then cooled under argon and an additional 0.5 g. (0.010 moles) of 50% NaH was added. EO was swept in for 11 hrs. until 103 g. or EO had been added. This brought the total degree of ethoxylation up to 11.6.

A 74 g. portion (0.0082 moles) of the 11.6 ethoxylated PEI was placed in a similar apparatus and swept with EO for 6 hrs. at 170.degree. C. until 70 g. EO had been added to give a total degree of ethoxylation=23.4.

By a procedure similar to that of Example 3a, 20 g. (0.00114 moles) of the 23.4 ethoxylated PEI from step 1 was dissolved in D.sub.2 O, heated to 50.degree.-60.degree. C. and swept with methyl bromide for a total of 9 hrs. to provide the quaternized ethoxylated PEI.

By a procedure similar to that of Example 3a, 6.01 g. of the quaternized ethoxylated PEI (0.000317 moles) from step 2 was dissolved in about 12 g. of D.sub.2 O having a pH of 8 and then adjusted to about pH 9 using NaOH. To this mixture was added 2.25 g. (0.0162 moles) of a sulfur trioxide-trimethyl amine complex to provide a reaction mixture having a pH of 8.7. The reaction continued for 10 hrs. at 25.degree. C. (pH 8) then 0.53 g. sodium carbonate (0.005 moles) was added to adjust the pH to 11.5. The reaction mixture was stirred for another 4-5 hrs. at 50.degree. C. The mixture was then dialized to remove salts and freeze dried to give an off-white solid as the zwitterionic PEI.

Diallylamine polymer versions of the present invention can be prepared according to the following general scheme: ##STR39## The synthesis of one such polymer is described as follows:

Diallylamine (160 g., 1.65 moles) was dissolved in methanol (160 ml.) under argon and then heated to 45.degree. C. Ethylene oxide was then added for 2.5 hours. Methanol was then removed by heating the reaction mixture to 100.degree. C. in vacuo. To the residue was added sodium hydride (6.6. g., 0.165 moles) with stirring until the evolution of hydrogen ceased. Ethylene oxide was then added until the degree of ethoxylation (n) was about 7.

The crude ethoxylated diallylamine (about 375 g., 0.6 moles) from step 1 was dissolved in about an equal volume of 1N methanolic NaOH and then methyl bromide was added. This methyl bromide addition was continued until H-NMR analysis showed complete disappearance of the methylene hydrogens adjacent to the tertiary nitrogen. Additional portions of 1N methanolic NaOH were added as needed to maintain the pH of the reaction mixture at about 9. The methanol was removed, yielding a damp mass. This damp mass was washed with several portions of dichloromethane. The combined washes were concentrated to yield the desired quaternized compound (433.7 g.).

The quaternized compound (433 g., 0.68 moles) from step 2 was dissolved in dichloromethane (1000 ml.) and cooled to 10.degree. C. in an ice water bath. To this mixture was added chlorosulfonic acid (113.3 g., 0.96 moles) at a rate such that the temperature of the reaction mixture did not exceed 15.degree. C. When addition of the acid was complete, the reaction mixture was stirred for an additional 0.5 hours. The reaction mixture was then poured onto 5N NaOH (80 g., 2.0 moles) and ice. The two phases were separated, and, after drying, the organic phase was concentrated to an oil. A 110 g. portion of this oil was dissolved in H.sub.2 O (2000 ml.) and treated with Rexyn mixed bed resin until the conductivity fell below 1 umho per cm. Filtration (to remove the resin) and concentration yielded the desired zwitterionic monomer (25.4 g.).

The zwitterionic monomer (25 g.) from step 3 was mixed with D.sub.2 O (20 ml.) and heated to 95.degree. C. under argon for 1 hour. Tertbutylhydroperoxide (25 drops) was then added and the reaction continued at 90.degree. C. for 18 hours. Then 20 more drops of the hydroperoxide was added. After heating 3 more days, water was removed in vacuo (50.degree.-60.degree. C. at pressure of 0.1 mm) to yield 27.1 g. of the crude polymer

The amount of detergent surfactant included in the detergent compositions of the present invention can vary form about 1 to about 75% by weight of the composition depending upon the detergent surfactant(s) used, the type of composition to be formulated (e.g. granular, liquid) and the effects desired. Preferably, the detergent surfactant(s) comprises from about 10 to about 50% by weight of the composition. The detergent surfactant can be nonionic, anionic, ampholytic, zwitterionic, cationic, or a mixture thereof:

Suitable nonionic surfactants for use in detergent compositions of the present invention are generally disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,929,678 to Laughlin et al., issued Dec. 30, 1975 at column 13, line 14 through column 16, line 6 (herein incorporated by reference). Classes of nonionic surfactants included are:

1. The polyethyleneoxide condensates of alkyl phenols. These compounds include the condensation products of alkyl phenols having an alkyl group containing from about 6 to 12 carbon atoms in either a straight chain or branched chain configuration with ethylene oxide, the ethylene oxide being present in an amount equal to 5 to 25 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alkyl phenol. The alkyl substituent in such compounds can be derived, for example, from polymerized propylene, diisobutylene, and the like. Examples of compounds of this type include nonyl phenol condensed with about 9.5 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of nonyl phenol; dodecylphenol condensed with about 12 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of phenol; dinonyl phenol condensed with about 15 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of phenol; and diisooctyl phenol condensed with about 15 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of phenol. Commercially available nonionic surfactants of this type include Igepal CO-630, marketed by the GAF Corporation, and Triton X-45, X-114, X-100, and X-102, all marketed by the Rohm & Haas Company.

2. The condensation products of aliphatic alcohols with from about 1 to about 25 moles of ethylene oxide. The alkyl chain of the aliphatic alcohol can either be straight or branched, primary or secondary, and generally contains from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms. Examples of such ethoxylated alcohols include the condensation product of myristyl alcohol condensed with about 10 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol; and the condensation product of about 9 moles of ethylene oxide with coconut alcohol (a mixture of fatty alcohols with alkyl chains varying in length from 10 to 14 carbon atoms). Examples of commercially available nonionic surfactants of this type include Tergitol 15-S-9, marketed by Union Carbide Corporation, Neodol 45-9, Neodol 23-6.5, Neodol 45-7, and Neodol 45-4, marketed by Shell Chemical Company, and Kyro EOB, marketed by The Proctor & Gamble Company.

3. The condensation products of ethylene oxide with a hydrophobic base formed by the condensation of propylene oxide with propylene glycol. The hydrophobic portion of these compounds has a molecular weight of from about 1500 to 1800 and exhibits water insolubility. The addition of polyoxyethylene moieties to this hydrophobic portion tends to increase the water solubility of the molecule as a whole, and the liquid character of the product is retained up to the point where the polyoxyethylene content is about 50% of the total weight of the condensation product, which corresponds to condensation with up to about 40 moles of ethylene oxide. Examples of compounds of this type include certain of the commercially available Pluronic surfactants, marketed by Wyandotte Chemical Corporation.

4. The condensation products of ethylene oxide with the product resulting from the reaction of propylene oxide and ethylenediamine. The hydrophobic moiety of these products consists of the reaction product of ethylenediamine and excess propylene oxide, the moiety having a molecular weight of from about 2500 to about 3000. This hydrophobic moiety is condensed with ethylene oxide to the extent that the condensation product contains from about 40% to about 80% by weight of polyoxyethylene and has a molecular weight of from about 5,000 to about 11,000. Examples of this type of nonionic surfactant include certain of the commercially available Tetronic compounds, marketed by Wyandotte Chemical Corporation.

5. Semi-polar nonionic detergent surfactants which include water-soluble amine oxides containing one alkyl moiety of from about 10 to 18 carbon atoms and 2 moieties selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups and hydroxyalkyl groups containing from 1 to about 3 carbon atoms; water-soluble phosphine oxides containing one alkyl moiety of from about 10 to 18 carbon atoms and 2 moieties selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups and hydroxyalkyl groups containing from about 1 to 3 carbon atoms; and water-soluble sulfoxides containing one alkyl moiety of from about 10 to 18 carbon atoms and a moiety selected from the group consisting of alkyl and hydroxyalkyl moieties of from about 1 to 3 carbon atoms.

Preferred semi-polar nonionic detergent surfactants are the amine oxide detergent surfactants having the formula ##STR40## wherein R.sup.3 is an alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, or alkyl phenyl group or mixtures thereof containing from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms; R.sup.4 is an alkylene or hydroxyalkylene group containing from 2 to 3 carbon atoms or mixtures thereof; x is from 0 to about 3; and each R.sup.5 is an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group containing from 1 to about 3 carbon atoms or a polyethylene oxide group containing from one to about 3 ethylene oxide groups. The R.sup.5 groups can be attached to each other, e.g., through an oxygen or nitrogen atom to form a ring structure.

Preferred amine oxide detergent surfactants are C.sub.10 -C.sub.18 alkyl dimethyl amine oxide and C.sub.8 -C.sub.12 alkoxy ethyl dihydroxy ethyl amine oxide.

6. Alkylpolysaccharides disclosed in U.S. application Ser. No. 371,747 to Ramon A. Llenado, filed Apr. 26, 1982, now abandoned, having a hydrophobic group containing from about 6 to about 30 carbon atoms, preferably from about 10 to about 16 carbon atoms and a polysaccharide, e.g., a polyglycoside, hydrophilic group containing from about 11/2 to about 10, preferably from about 11/2 to about 3, most preferably from about 1.6 to about 2.7 saccharide units. Any reducing saccharide containing 5 or 6 carbon atoms can be used, e.g. glucose, galactose and galactosyl moieties can be substituted for the glucosyl moieties. (Optionally the hydrophobic group is attached at the 2, 3, 4, etc. positions thus giving a glucose or galactose as opposed to a glucoside or galactoside.) The intersaccharide bonds can be, e.g., between the one position of the additional saccharide units and the 2-, 3-, 4-, and/or 6 positions on the preceding saccharide units.

Optionally, and less desirably, there can be a polyalkyleneoxide chain joining the hydrophobic moiety and the polysaccharide moiety. The preferred alkyleneoxide is ethylene oxide. Typical hydrophobic groups include alkyl groups, either saturated or unsaturated, branched or unbranched containing from about 8 to about 18, preferably from about 10 to about 16, carbon atoms. Preferably, the alkyl group is a straight chain saturated alkyl group. The alkyl group can contain up to 3 hydroxy groups and/or the polyalkyleneoxide chain can contain up to about 10, preferably less than 5, most preferably 0, alkyleneoxide moieties. Suitable alkyl polysaccharides are octyl, nonyldecyl, undecyldodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, and octadecyl, di-, tri-, tetra-, penta-, and hexaglucosides, galactosides, lactosides, glucoses, fructosides, fructoses, and/or galactoses. Suitable mixtures include coconut alkyl, di-, tri-, tetra-, and pentaglucosides and tallow alkyl tetra-, penta-, and hexaglucosides.

The preferred alkylpolyglycosides have the formula

wherein R.sup.2 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkylphenyl, hydroxyalkyl, hydroxyalkylphenyl, and mixtures thereof in which the alkyl groups contain from about 10 to about 18, preferably from about 12 to about 14, carbon atoms; n is 2 or 3, preferably 2; t is from 0 to about 10, preferably 0; and x is from 11/2 to about 10, preferably from about 11/2 to about 3, most preferably from about 1.6 to about 2.7. The glycosyl is preferably derived from glucose. To prepare these compounds, the alcohol or alkylpolyethoxy alcohol is formed first and then reacted with glucose, or a source of glucose, to form the glucoside (attachment at the 1-position). The additional glycosyl units can then be attached between their 1-position and the preceding glycosyl units 2-, 3-, 4- and/or 6- position, preferably predominately the 2-position.

7. Fatty acid amide detergent surfactants having the formula: ##STR41## wherein R.sup.6 is an alkyl group containing from about 7 to about 21 (preferably from about 9 to about 17) carbon atoms and each R.sup.7 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 hydroxyalkyl, and --(C.sub.2 H.sub.4 O).sub.x H where x varies from about 1 to about 3.

Preferred amides are C.sub.8 -C.sub.20 ammonia amides, monoethanolamides, diethanolamides, and isopropanol amides.

Anionic surfactants suitable in detergent compositions of the present invention are generally disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,929,678 to Laughlin et al., issued Dec. 30, 1975 at column 23, line 58 through column 29, line 23 (herein incorporated by reference). Classes of anionic surfactants included are:

1. Ordinary alkali metal soaps such as the sodium, potassium, ammonium and alkylolammonium salts of high fatty acids containing from about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms, preferably from about 10 to about 20 carbon atoms.

2. Water-soluble salts, preferably the alkali metal, ammonium and alkylolammonium salts, of organic sulfuric reaction products having in their molecular structure an alkyl group containing from about 10 to about 20 carbon atoms and a sulfonic acid or sulfuric acid ester group. (Included in the term "alkyl" is the alkyl portion of acyl groups.)

Examples of this group of anionic surfactants are the sodium and potassium alkyl sulfates, especially those obtained by sulfating the higher alcohols (C.sub.8 -C.sub.18 carbon atoms) such as those produced by reducing the glycerides of tallow or coconut oil; and the sodium and potassium alkylbenzene sulfonates in which the alkyl group contains from about 9 to about 15 carbon atoms, in straight chain or branched chain configuration, e.g., those of the type described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,220,099 and 2,477,383. Especially valuable are linear straight chain alkylbenzene sulfonates in which the average number of carbon atoms in the alkyl group is from about 11 to 13, abbreviated as C.sub.11 -C.sub.13 LAS.

Preferred anionic surfactants of this type are the alkyl polyethoxylate sulfates, particularly those in which the alkyl group contains from about 10 to about 22, preferably from about 12 to about 18 carbon atoms, and wherein the polyethoxylate chain contains from about 1 to about 15 ethoxylate moieties preferably from about 1 to about 3 ethoxylate moieties. These anionic detergent surfactants are particularly desirable for formulating heavy-duty liquid laundry detergent compositions.

Other anionic surfactants of this type include sodium alkyl glyceryl ether sulfonates, especially those ethers of higher alcohols derived from tallow and coconut oil; sodium coconut oil fatty acid monoglyceride sulfonates and sulfates; sodium or potassium salts of alkyl phenol ethylene oxide ether sulfates containing from about 1 to about 10 units of ethylene oxide per molecule and wherein the alkyl groups contain from about 8 to about 12 carbon atoms; and sodium or potassium salts of alkyl ethylene oxide ether sulfates containing about 1 to about 10 units of ethylene oxide per molecule and wherein the alkyl group contains from about 10 to about 20 carbon atoms.

Also included are water-soluble salts of esters of alpha-sulfonated fatty acids containing from about 6 to 20 carbon atoms in the fatty acid group and from about 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the ester group; water-soluble salts of 2-acyloxy-alkane-1-sulfonic acids containing from about 2 to 9 carbon atoms in the acyl group and from about 9 to about 23 carbon atoms in the alkane moiety; alkyl ether sulfates containing from about 10 to 20 carbon atoms in the alkyl group and from about 1 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide; water-soluble salts of olefin sulfonates containing from about 12 to 24 carbon atoms; and beta-alkyloxy alkane sulfonates containing from about 1 to 3 carbon atoms in the alkyl group and from about 8 to 20 carbon atoms in the alkane moiety.

3. Anionic phosphate surfactants.

4. N-alkyl substituted succinamates.

Ampholytic surfactants can be broadly described as aliphatic derivatives of secondary or tertiary amines, or aliphatic derivatives of heterocyclic secondary and tertiary amines in which the aliphatic radical can be straight chain or branched and wherein one of the aliphatic substituents contains from about 8 to 18 carbon atoms and at least one contains an anionic water-solubilizing group, e.g. carboxy, sulfonate, sulfate. See U.S. Pat. No. 3,929,678 to Laughlin et al., issued Dec. 30, 1975 at column 19, lines 18-35 (herein incorporated by reference) for examples of ampholytic surfactants.

Zwitterionic surfactants can be broadly described as derivatives of secondary and tertiary amines, derivatives of heterocyclic secondary and tertiary amines, or derivatives of quaternary ammonium, quaternary phosphonium or tertiary sulfonium compounds. See U.S. Pat. No. 3,929,678 to Laughlin et al., issued Dec. 30, 1975 at column 19, line 38 through column 22, line 48 (herein incorporated by reference) for examples of zwitterionic surfactants.

Cationic surfactants can also be included in detergent compositions of the present invention. Suitable cationic surfactants include the quaternary ammonium surfactants having the formula:

wherein R.sup.2 is an alkyl or alkyl benzyl group having from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain; each R.sup.3 is selected from the group consisting of --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --, --CH.sub.2 CH(CH.sub.3)--, --CH.sub.2 CH(CH.sub.2 OH)--, --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --, and mixtures thereof; each R.sup.4 is selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 hydroxyalkyl, benzyl, ring structures formed by joining the two R.sup.4 groups, --CH.sub.2 CHOHCHOHCOR.sup.6 CHOHCH.sub.2 OH wherein R.sup.6 is any hexose or hexose polymer having a molecular weight less than about 1000, and hydrogen when y is not 0; R.sup.5 is the same as R.sup.4 or is an alkyl chain wherein the total number of carbon atoms of R.sup.2 plus R.sup.5 is not more than about 18; each y is from 0 to about 10 and the sum of the y values is from 0 to about 15; and X is any compatible anion.

Preferred of the above are the alkyl quaternary ammonium surfactants, especially the mono-long chain alkyl surfactants described in the above formula when R.sup.5 is selected from the same groups as R.sup.4. The most preferred quaternary ammonium surfactants are the chloride, bromide and methylsulfate C.sub.8 -C.sub.16 alkyl trimethylammonium salts, C.sub.8 -C.sub.16 alkyl di(hydroxyethyl)methylammonium salts, the C.sub.8 -C.sub.16 alkyl hydroxyethyldimethylammonium slats, and C.sub.8 -C.sub.16 alkyloxypropyl trimethylammonium salts. Of the above, decyl trimethylammonium methylsulfate, lauryl trimethylammonium chloride, myristyl trimethylammonium bromide and coconut trimethylammonium chloride and methylsulfate are particularly preferred.

Detergent compositions of the present invention can optionally comprise inorganic or organic detergent builders to assist in mineral hardness control. The builders can comprise from 0 to about 80% by weight of the composition. When included, these builders typically comprise up to about 60% by weight of the detergent composition. Built liquid formulations preferably comprise from about 10 to about 25% detergent builder while built granular formulations preferably comprise from about 10 to about 50% by weight detergent builder.

Suitable detergent builders include crystalline aluminosilicate ion exchange materials having the formula:

wherein z and y are at least about 6, the mole ratio of z to y is from about 1.0 to about 0.5; and x is from about 10 to about 264. Amorphous hydrated aluminosilicate materials useful herein have the empirical formula

wherein M is sodium, potassium, ammonium or substituted ammonium, z is from about 0.5 to about 2; and y is 1; this material having a magnesium ion exchange capacity of at least about 50 milligram equivalents of CaCO.sub.3 hardness per gram of anhydrous aluminosilicate.

The aluminosilicate ion exchange builder materials are in hydrated form and contain from about 10% to about 28% of water by weight if crystalline, and potentially even higher amounts of water if amorphous. Highly preferred crystalline aluminosilicate ion exchange materials contain from about 18% to about 22% water in their crystal matrix. The preferred crystalline aluminosilicate ion exchange materials are further characterized by a particle size diameter of from about 0.1 micron to about 10 microns. Amorphous materials are often smaller, e.g., down to less than about 0.01 micron. More preferred ion exchange materials have a particle size diameter of from about 0.2 micron to about 4 microns. The term "particle size diameter" represents the average particle size diameter of a given ion exchange material as determined by conventional analytical techniques such as, for example, microscopic determination utilizing a scanning electron microscope. The crystalline aluminosilicate ion exchange materials are usually further characterized by their calcium ion exchange capacity, which is at least about 200 mg. equivalent of CaCO.sub.3 water hardness/g. of aluminosilicate, calculated on an anhydrous basis, and which generally is in the range of from about 300 mg. eq./g. to about 352 mg. eq./g. The aluminosilicate ion exchange materials are still further characterized by their calcium ion exchange rate which is at least about 2 grains Ca.sup.++ /gallon/minute/gram/gallon of aluminosilicate (anhydrous basis), and generally lies within the range of from about 2 grains/gallon/minute/gram/gallon to about 6 grains/gallon/minute/gram/gallon, based on calcium ion hardness. Optimum aluminosilicates for builder purposes exhibit a calcium ion exchange rate of at least about 4 grains/gallon/minute/gram/gallon.

The amorphous aluminosilicate ion exchange materials usually have a Mg.sup.++ exchange capacity of at least about 50 mg. eq. CaCO.sub.3 /g. (12 mg. Mg.sup.++ /g.) and a Mg.sup.++ exchange rate of at least about 1 grain/gallon/minute/gram/gallon. Amorphous materials do not exhibit an observable diffraction pattern when examined by Cu radiation (1.54 Angstrom Units).

Useful aluminosilicate ion exchange materials are commercially available. These aluminosilicates can be crystalline or amorphous in structure and can be naturally-occurring aluminosilicates or synthetically derived. A method for producing aluminosilicate ion exchange materials is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,985,669 to Krummel, et al. issued Oct. 12, 1976 (herein incorporated by reference). Preferred synthetic crystalline aluminosilicate ion exchange materials useful herein are available under the designations Zeolite A, Zeolite P (B), and Zeolite X. In an especially preferred embodiment, the crystalline aluminosilicate ion exchange material has the formula

wherein x is from about 20 to about 30, especially about 27.

Other examples of detergency builders include the various water-soluble, alkali metal, ammonium or substituted ammonium phosphates, polyphosphates, phosphonates, polyphosphonates, carbonates, silicates, borates, polyhydroxysulfonates, polyacetates, carboxylates, and polycarboxylates. Preferred are the alkali metal, especially sodium, salts of the above.

Specific examples of inorganic phosphate builders are sodium and potassium tripolyphosphate, pyrophosphate, polymeric metaphate having a degree of polymerization of from about 6 to 21, and orthophosphate. Examples of polyphosphonate builders are the sodium and potassium salts of ethylene-1,1-diphosphonic acid, the sodium and potassium salts of ethane 1-hydroxy-1,1-diphosphonic acid and the sodium and potassium salts of ethane, 1,1,2-triphosphonic acid. Other phosphorus builder compounds are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,159,581; 3,213,030; 3,422,021; 3,422,137; 3,400,176 and 3,400,148 (all herein incorporated by reference).

Examples of nonphosphorus, inorganic builders are sodium and potassium carbonate, bicarbonate, sesquicarbonate, tetraborate decahydrate, and silicate having a mole ratio of SiO.sub.2 to alkali metal oxide of from about 0.5 to about 4.0, preferably from about 1.0 to about 2.4.

Useful water-soluble, nonphosphorus organic builders include the various alkali metal, ammonium and substituted ammonium polyacetates, carboxylates, polycarboxylates and polyhydroxysulfonates. Examples of polyacetate and polycarboxylate builders are the sodium, potassium lithium, ammonium and substituted ammonium salts of ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, oxydisuccinic acid, mellitic acid, benzene polycarboxylic acids, and citric acid.

Highly preferred polycarboxylate builders are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,308,067 to Diehl, issued Mar. 7, 1967 (herein incorporated by reference). Such materials include the water-soluble salts of homo- and copolymers of aliphatic carboxylic acids such as maleic acid, itaconic acid, mesaconic acid, fumaric acid, aconitic acid, citraconic acid and methylenemalonic acid.

Other builders include the carboxylated carbohydrates disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,723,322 to Diehl issued Mar. 28, 1973 (herein incorporated by reference).

Other useful builders are sodium and potassium carboxymethyloxymalonate, carboxymethyloxysuccinate, cis-cyclohexanehexacarboxylate, cis-cyclopentanetetracarboxylate phloroglucinol trisulfonate, water-soluble polyacrylates (having molecular weights of from about 2,000 to about 200,000 for example), and the copolymers of maleic anhydride with vinyl methyl ether or ethylene.

Other suitable polycarboxylates are the polyacetal carboxylates disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,144,226, to Crutchfield et al. issued Mar. 13, 1979, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,246,495, to Crutchfield et al., issued Mar. 27, 1979 (both herein incorporated by reference). These polyacetal carboxylates can be prepared by bringing together under polymerization conditions an ester of glyoxylic acid and a polymerization initiator. The resulting polyacetal carboxylate ester is then attached to chemically stable end groups to stabilize the polyacetal carboxylate against rapid depolymerization in alkaline solution, converted to the corresponding salt, and added to a surfactant.

Other useful detergency builder materials are the "seeded builder" compositions disclosed in Belgian Pat. No. 798,856, issued Oct. 29, 1973, (herein incorporated by reference). Specific examples of such seeded builder mixtures are: 3:1 wt. mixtures of sodium carbonate and calcium carbonate having 5 micron particle diameter; 2.7:1 wt. mixtures of sodium sesquicarbonate and calcium carbonate having a particle diameter of 0.5 microns; 20:1 wt. mixtures of sodium sesquicarbonate and calcium hydroxide having a particle diameter of 0.01 micron; and a 3:3:1 wt. mixture of sodium carbonate, sodium aluminate and calcium oxide having a particle diameter of 5 microns.

Other optional ingredients which can be included in detergent compositions of the present invention, in their conventional art-established levels for use (i.e., from 0 to about 20%), include solvents, bleaching agents, bleach activators, soil-suspending agents, corrosion inhibitors, dyes, fillers, optical brighteners, germicides, pH adjusting agents (monoethanolamine, sodium carbonate, sodium hydroxide, etc.), enzymes, enzyme-stabilizing agents, perfumes, fabric softening components, static control agents, and the like.

Granular formulations embodying the detergent compositions of the present invention can be formed by conventional techniques, i.e., by slurrying the individual components in water and then atomizing and spray-drying the resultant mixture, or by pan or drum granulation of the ingredients. Granular formulations preferably comprise from about 10 to about 30% detergent surfactant, usually anionic.

Liquid formulations embodying the detergent compositions can be built or unbuilt. If unbuilt, these compositions conventionally contain approximately 15 to 50% total surfactant, from 0 to 10% of an organic base such as a mono-, di-, or tri-alkanol amine, a neutralization system such as an alkali metal hydroxide and a lower primary alcohol such as ethanol or isopropanol, and approximately 20 to 80% water. Such compositions are normally homogeneous single phase liquids of low viscosity (approximately 100 to 150 centipoise at 75.degree. F.).

Built liquid detergent compositions can be in the form of single phase liquids provided that the builder is solubilized in the mixture at its level of use. Such liquids conventionally contain 10 to 25% total surfactant, 10 to 25% builder which can be organic or inorganic, 3 to 10% of a hydrotrope system and 40 to 77% water. Liquids of this type also have a low viscosity (100 to 150 centipoise at 75.degree. F.). Built liquid detergents incorporating components that form heterogeneous mixtures (or levels of builder that cannot be completely dissolved) can also comprise detergent compositions of the present invention. Such liquids conventionally employ viscosity modifiers to produce systems having plastic shear characteristics to maintain stable dispersions and to prevent phase separation or solid settlement.

While the detergent compositions of the present invention are operative within a wide range of wash pHs (e.g. from about 5 to about 12), they are particularly suitable when formulated to provide a near neutral wash pH, i.e. an initial pH of from about 6.0 to about 8.5 at a concentration of from about 0.1 to about 2% by weight in water at 20.degree. C. Near neutral wash pH formulations are better for enzyme stability and for preventing stains from setting. In such formulations, the wash pH is preferably from about 7.0 to about 8.5, and more preferably from about 7.5 to about 8.0.

Preferred near neutral wash pH detergent formulations are disclosed in U.S. application Ser. No. 380,988 to J. H. M. Wertz and P. C. E. Goffinet, filed May 24, 1982, now abandoned. These preferred formulations comprise:

(a) from about 2 to about 60% (preferably from about 10 to about 25%) by weight of an anionic synthetic surfactant as previously defined;

(b) from about 0.25 to about 12% (preferably from about 1 to about 4%) by weight of a cosurfactant selected from the group consisting of:

(i) quaternary ammonium surfactants having the formula:

wherein R.sup.2, each R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, X and y are as previously defined;

(ii) diquaternary ammonium surfactants having the formula:

wherein R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, y and X are as defined above; particularly preferred are the C.sub.8 -C.sub.16 alkyl pentamethylethylenediamine chloride, bromide and methylsulfate salts;

(iii) amine surfactants having the formula:

wherein R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5 and y are as defined above; particularly preferred are the C.sub.12 -C.sub.16 alkyl dimethyl amines;

(iv) diamine surfactants having the formula:

wherein R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5 and y are as defined above; particularly preferred are the C.sub.12 -C.sub.16 alkyl dimethyl diamines;

(v) amine oxide surfactants having the formula:

wherein R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5 and y are as defined above; particularly preferred are the C.sub.12 -C.sub.16 alkyldimethyl amine oxides; and

(vi) di(amine oxide) surfactants having the formula: ##STR42## wherein R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5 and y are as defined above; preferred are the C.sub.12 -C.sub.16 trimethylethylene di(amine oxides) and

(c) from about 5% to about 40% by weight (preferably 7 to about 30% by weight, and most preferably from about 10 to 20% by weight) of a fatty acid containing from about 10 to about 22 carbon atoms (preferably a C.sub.10 -C.sub.14 saturated fatty acid or mixture thereof); the mole ratio of the anionic surfactant to the cosurfactant being at least 1 and preferably from about 2:1 to about 20:1.

Such compositions also preferably contain from about 3 to about 15% by weight of an ethoxylated alcohol or ethoxylated alkyl phenol (nonionic surfactants) as previously defined. Highly preferred compositions of this type also preferably contain from about 2 to about 10% by weight of citric acid and minor amounts (e.g., less than about 20% by weight) of neutralizing agents, buffering agents, phase regulants, hydrotropes, enzymes, enzyme stabilizing agents, polyacids, suds regulants, opacifiers, antioxidants, bactericides, dyes, perfumes and brighteners, such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,285,841 to Barrat et al., issued Aug. 25, 1981 (herein incorporated by reference).

The following embodiments illustrate, but are not limiting of, detergent compositions of the present invention:

A granular detergent composition is as follows:

The components are added together with continuous mixing to form an aqueous slurry which is then spray dried to form the composition. Instead of the polyurethane, the random copolymer of Example 2, the PEA of Example 3a, the PEI of Example 3b or the diallylamine polymer of Example 4 can be substituted therefor.

A liquid detergent composition is as follows:

The components are added together with continuous mixing to form the composition. Instead of the random copolymer, the polyurethane of Example 1, the PEA of Example 2a, the PEI of Example 3b or the diallylamine polymer of Example 4 can be substituted therefore.

Liquid detergent compositions are as follows:

Embodiment IV is prepared by adding the components together with continuous mixing, in the following order to produce a clear liquid: a paste premix of the alkylbenzene sulfonic acid, 0.9 parts of the sodium hydroxide, propylene glycol, and 2.3 parts of the ethanol; a paste premix of the alkylpolyethoxysulfuric acid, 1.1 parts of the sodium hydroxide and 3.1 parts of the ethanol; alcohol polyethoxylate; premix of monoethanolamine, triethanolamine and brighteners, 1.5 parts potassium hydroxide; balance of the ethanol; citric acid; formate; 1.4 parts potassium hydroxide; fatty acid; pentaacetic acid; alkyl trimethylammonium chloride; adjust pH to about 8.4 with potassium hydroxide, water or citric acid; enzymes; PEA (50% aqueous solution); and perfume. Embodiment III can be prepared in a similar manner. Instead of the PEA, the polyurethane of Example 1, the random copolymer of Example 2, the PEI of Example 3b or the diallylamine polymer of Example 4 can be substituted therefor.

A liquid detergent composition is as follows:

The components are added together with continuous mixing to form the composition. Instead of the PEI, the polyurethane of Example 1, the random copolymer of Example 2, or the diallylamine polymer of Example 4 can be substituted therefor.