Aqueous liquid cleaning compositions and their use

Abstract

An isotropic aqueous liquid detergent composition comprising: a succinate dimer surfactant selected from alkyl and alkenyl succinate dimers in which two succinic acid moieties or derivatives thereof are joined by a (poly)alkyleneoxy bridge and each carboxylic acid group is independently in the free acid form, salt form or is esterified or is a corresponding amide group; and mixtures thereof; one or more other surfactants; and water.

1 . An isotropic aqueous liquid detergent composition comprising:
 a succinate dimer surfactant consisting of at least one compound of formula (I):   
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
       wherein in formula (I), each of R 1  and R 2  is independently selected from alkyl and alkenyl groups having from 8 to 18, preferably from 12 to 18, most preferably 18 carbon atoms; each of R 3  and R 4  is independently selected from hydrogen, groups M where M is a metal counter-cation, preferably an alkali metal such as sodium, C 1 -C 6 , preferably C 1 -C 4  alkyl groups and groups of formula —NR 6 R 7  where R 6  and R 7  are independently selected from hydrogen and C 1 -C 6 , preferably C 1 -C 4  alkyl groups; and 
       R 5  is selected from poly(alkyleneoxy) groups, preferably groups of formula —(C n H 2n+1 O) m —C n H 2n+1 — where m is from 0 to 12, preferably from 6 to 10, more preferably from 8 to 10, most preferably 10 wherein in each C n H 2n+1  moiety n is independently from 2 to 4, more preferably 2 and preferably also, each n is the same; 
       one or more other surfactants; and water. 
     
   
   
       2 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein R 1  and R 2  are independently selected from groups of formula CH 3 —(CH 2 ) p —CH═CH—CH 2 — where p is preferably from 4 to 14, more preferably from 8 to 14 and most preferably is 14. 
   
   
       3 . A composition according to  claim 1 , comprising from 0.1% to 5%, more preferably from 0.2% to 3%, most preferably from 0.5% to 2% by weight of the disuccinate dimer surfactant. 
   
   
       4 . A composition according to  claim 1 , comprising from 5% to 60%, more preferably from 10% to 50%, most preferably from 12% to 45% by weight of the one or more other surfactants. 
   
   
       5 . A composition according to  claim 1 , comprising from 30% to 90%, more preferably from 40% to 85%, most preferably from 50% to 80% by weight of the water. 
   
   
       6 . A composition according to  claim 1 , further comprising soap. 
   
   
       7 . A composition according to  claim 1 , further comprising an atmospheric oxygen bleach catalyst. 
   
   
       8 . A method of preparing an isotropic liquid detergent composition, the method comprising admixture of a succinate dimer surfactant according to  claim 1 , one or more other surfactants, water and optionally, one or more other ingredients. 
   
   
       9 . Use of a succinate dimer surfactant according to  claim 1 , as a stabiliser for an isotropic liquid detergent composition comprising water and one or more other surfactants.