WATER SOLUBLE LAUNDRY CAPSULE COMPRISING REDUCED LEVELS OF FINES IN HEDP

• US 20170067004A1
• Filed: 02/17/2015
• Published: 03/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Conopco (Unilever PLC)
• Original Assignee: Conopco (Unilever PLC)
• Inventors: ARORA, Rajat, HENRY, Mark John, HODKINSON, Kerry Elizabeth
• Granted Patent: US 10,041,026 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/22 derived from aromatic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/66 Non-ionic compounds C11D1/002, C11D1/004, C11D1/008 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 17/045 Multi-compartment
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 17/06 Powder; Flakes; Free-flowing mixtures; Sheets
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 2111/12 Soft surfaces, e.g. textile
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/361 Phosphonates, phosphinates or phosphonites
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/3753 Polyvinylalcohol; Ethers or esters thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/386 Preparations containing enzymes , e.g. protease or amylase

Abstract

The present invention relates to a multi-compartment water soluble laundry detergent capsule formed from water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol film and a method of preparing a component of the capsule wherein the capsule comprises: i) a first compartment for holding solid material comprising HEDP sequestrant or a salt thereof; and ii) a second compartment for holding liquid material comprising an aqueous liquid laundry detergent comprising: surfactant, enzymes and hydrotrope wherein: a) the HEDP is present in the capsule in the form of loose packed granules and comprises at least 25% by weight of the solid material in the first compartment; and b) wherein the HEDP further comprises 1.5% by weight or less of fines particles with a particle of less than 180 microns and 3.0% by weight or less of fines particles with a particle size of less than 355 microns.

Claims

1. A multi-compartment water soluble laundry detergent capsule, wherein the capsule is formed from water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol film and wherein the capsule comprises:

i) a first compartment for holding solid material comprising HEDP sequestrant or a salt thereof; and

ii) a second compartment for holding liquid material comprising an aqueous liquid laundry detergent comprising;

surfactant, enzymes and hydrotrope wherein;

a) the HEDP is present in the capsule in the form of loose packed granules and comprises at least 25% by weight of the solid material in the first compartment; and

b) wherein the HEDP further comprises 1.5% by weight or less of fines particles with a particle of less than 180 microns and 3.0% by weight or less of fines particles with a particle size of less than 355 microns.

2. A capsule according to claim 1 wherein the HEDP comprises 1.0% or I less by weight of fines particles with a particle size distribution of less than 180 microns;

more preferably 0.5% or less by weight of fines particles with a particle size distribution of less than 180 microns.

3. A capsule according to claim 1 wherein the HEDP comprises at least 30% by weight of the solid material in the first compartment, more preferably at least 40% by weight of the solid material in the first compartment.

4. A capsule according to claim 1 wherein the HEDP comprises 2.0% or less by weight of fines particles with a particle size distribution of less than 355 microns.

5. A capsule according to claim 1 in which the HEDP granules are HEDP tetra sodium salt.

6. A capsule according to claim 1 wherein the mean particle size of the HEDP granules is in the range 800 to 950 microns.

7. A capsule according to claim 1 in which the first compartment comprises 2 g or less of HEDP and the second compartment comprises 20 to 45 g liquid.

8. A capsule according to claim 1 in which the film thickness of the first compartment is 90 microns or less.

9. A capsule according to claim 1 wherein HEDP comprises 100% by weight of the solid material in the first compartment.

10. A capsule according to claim 1 wherein at least 10% by volume of the first compartment is free from HEDP granules.

11. A method of preparing a capsule as claimed in claim 1 in which method a batch of HEDP granules are sieved one or more times prior to inclusion in the capsule;

and

wherein once sieved the batch of HEDP granules comprise 1.5% by weight or less of fines particles with a particle of less than 180 microns and 3.0% by weight or less of fines particles with a particle size of less than 355 microns.

12. A method according to claim 11 wherein the HEDP granules are sieved twice or more times prior to inclusion in the capsule and

wherein once sieved the batch of HEDP granules comprise 1.0% by weight or less of fines particles with a particle of less than 180 microns and 2.0% by weight or less of fines particles with a particle size of less than 355 microns.