Method for Scouring Wool

Abstract

The present invention provides for a method for scouring wool by contacting the wool with an aqueous composition comprising an alcohol alkoxylate, water, and optional additives such as hydrotropes serving as stabilizer and/or dispersant. The compositions were found to exhibit both high detergency in wool scouring, and high stability when stored at room temperature or a lower temperature, while still remain lanolin recovery rate at a high level.

1 . A method for scouring wool, comprising contacting the wool with an aqueous composition comprising an alcohol alkoxylate with the following general formula (I):
   RO(AO) n —H   (I)
   wherein R represents linear or branched hydrocarbyl group having 4 to 22 carbon atoms, AO represents an alkyleneoxy unit having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, n is within the range from 1 to 20, and not less than 40 wt % of the alcohol alkoxylates has a distribution of the addition of alcohol alkyleneoxy units ranging from 2-20.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein not less than 40 wt % of the alcohol alkoxylates has a distribution of the addition of alcohol alkyleneoxy units ranging from 4-9. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein not less than 40 wt % of the alcohol alkoxylates has a distribution of the addition of alcohol alkyleneoxy units ranging from 4-7. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein AO is selected from ethylene oxide units, propylene oxide units, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein AO is selected from the combination of ethylene oxide units and propylene oxide units, with the addition of ethylene oxide units being within the range of 2-9, and the addition of propylene oxide units being within the range of 0-5. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein R represents linear or branched hydrocarbyl group having 4 to 22 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein R represents linear or branched hydrocarbyl group having 6 to 13 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein R represents linear or branched hydrocarbyl group having 9 to 11 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a hydrotrope selected from bis(ethoxylated) monoalkyl quaternary ammonium compound having the formula (II), 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein R is C 6 -C 22  hydrocarbyl, preferably C 6 -C 22  alkyl or alkenyl, more preferably C 8 -C 20  alkyl or alkenyl, and most preferably C 10 -C 18  alkyl or alkenyl; R 1  is C 1 -C 4  alkyl, preferably methyl or ethyl, and most preferably methyl; x is an number from 1 to 40, y is a number from 1 to 40 with the sum of x+y ranging from 8 to 25; and A −  is an anion. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein the weight ratio between the alcohol alkoxylate of formula (I) and the hydrotrope of formula (II) is from 99:1 to 60:40. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 9  wherein the total amount of the alcohol alkoxylate of formula (I) and, if present, the hydrotrope of formula (II) in said composition is from 10 to 1000 ppm.