# US 11,441,100 B2 · Opacified and structured liquid laundry detergents containing colloidal particles > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,441,100 B2 - Document ID: US11441100B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/947,209 - Filed: 2020-07-23 - Published: 2022-01-27 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2020-07-23 - Assignees: Henkel AG & Co. KGaA - Applicants: Henkel AG & Co., KGaA - Inventors: Daniel Thomas Piorkowski; Janet Coope-Epstein; Peter Schmiedel; Frank Meier - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11441100B2 ## CPC - C11D 1/22: derived from aromatic compounds - C11D 1/29: Sulfates of polyoxyalkylene ethers - C11D 1/72: Ethers of polyoxyalkylene glycols - C11D 1/83: Mixtures of non-ionic with anionic compounds - C11D 3/046: {Salts} - C11D 3/2079: {Monocarboxylic acids-salts thereof} - C11D 3/2082: {Polycarboxylic acids-salts thereof} - C11D 3/2086: {Hydroxy carboxylic acids-salts thereof} - C11D 3/386: Preparations containing enzymes {, e.g. protease or amylase} - C11D 3/505: {encapsulated or adsorbed on a carrier, e.g. zeolite or clay} - C11D 11/0094: {Process for making liquid detergent compositions, e.g. slurries, pastes or gels} - C11D 17/003: {Colloidal solutions, e.g. gels; Thixotropic solutions or pastes} - C11D 2111/12: Soft surfaces, e.g. textile - C11D: DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL ## Abstract An in-vitro opacified and structured detergent composition includes a surfactant component present in an amount of about 7 to about 50 weight percent actives and including (1) an alcohol ethoxy sulfate having a C8-C20 backbone that is ethoxylated with from about 1 to about 10 moles of ethylene oxide, (2) at least one non-ionic surfactant comprising an alkoxylated alcohol, and (3) at least one anionic surfactant comprising a linear alkylbenzene sulfonate. The detergent composition also includes water present in a total amount of from about 30 to about 90 weight percent, free fatty acids in a total amount from about 1 to 15 weight percent, a magnesium cation in a total amount of from 0.05 to 1 weight percent, and colloidal particles such as encapsulated fragrances. The composition has a yield point value of at least 0.075 Pa at 20° C. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fluid-gel detergent composition having a yield for transitioning between a gel stage and a fluid stage under sheer stress comprising: A. a surfactant system present in an amount of about 7 to about 50 weight percent based on a total weight of said detergent composition and comprising; (1) at least one non-ionic surfactant comprising an alkoxylated alcohol; and (2) at least one anionic surfactant comprising a linear alkylbenzene sulfonate; B. water present in a total amount of from about 30 to about 90 weight percent based on a total weight of said detergent composition; and C. a free fatty acid or a salt thereof present in an amount of from about 1 to about 15 weight percent based on a total weight of said detergent composition, wherein the salt of the fatty acid is capable of being neutralized in the composition to release the free fatty acid; and D. a magnesium salt comprising a magnesium cation component and a counterion component, wherein the magnesium cation component is present in an amount of from about 0.077 to about 1.153 weight percent based on a total weight of said detergent composition; and E. colloidal particles, wherein the colloidal particles comprise an encapsulated fragrance and are homogenously dispersed in said detergent composition; wherein the surfactant system is free of alcohol ethoxy sulfate; wherein said detergent composition has a yield point value greater than 0.075 Pa at 20° C.; wherein before the yield point is reached, said detergent composition acts as a gel or plastic; and wherein after the yield point is reached upon applying sheer stress onto said detergent composition, said detergent composition flows freely. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The detergent composition of claim 1, wherein releasing sheer stress from the detergent composition allows the detergent composition to transition back to a gel or plastic stage. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The detergent composition of claim 1, wherein a weight ratio between the fatty acid and the magnesium salt is from 2:1 to 30:1. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The detergent composition of claim 1, wherein the magnesium cation component is derived from magnesium chloride, magnesium sulfite, magnesium bisulfite, or magnesium sulfate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The detergent composition of claim 1, wherein the encapsulated fragrance is present in an amount of about 0.02 to 1 weight percent based on the total weight of said detergent composition. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The detergent composition of claim 1, wherein the detergent composition has a turbidity value greater than 250 NTU and stably disperses the colloidal particles over a shelf life between 1 and 30 months at room temperature. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The detergent composition of claim 1, wherein the detergent composition is free of a structuring agent and free of an opacifying agent. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The detergent composition of claim 7, wherein the detergent composition is free of a crystallized triglyceride. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The detergent composition of claim 8, wherein the detergent composition is free of hydrogenated castor oil. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The detergent composition of claim 1, wherein the detergent composition comprises at least one additive ingredient including enzymes, free oil fragrance, chelators, or non-structuring performance polymers. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A method of forming a fluid-gel detergent composition according to claim 1, said method comprising the steps of: A. mixing the surfactant system, the fatty acid or the salt thereof, water, and at least one additive ingredient to form a first mixture, wherein the first mixture does not include the magnesium salt; B. mixing the first mixture with the magnesium salt, wherein the magnesium salt comprises a magnesium cation component and a counterion component; and C mixing the colloidal particles in Step A or Step B; wherein after the addition of the magnesium salt, the mixture becomes instantaneously opacified with turbidity value greater than 250 NTU at 20° C. and has a yield point greater than 0.075 Pa; wherein before the yield point is reached, said detergent composition acts as a gel or plastic; and wherein after the yield point is reached upon applying sheer stress onto said detergent composition, said detergent composition flows freely. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the colloidal particles is present in an amount of about 0.02 to 5.0 weight percent based on the total weight of said detergent composition. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising a step of packing the detergent composition into a container before the detergent composition is settled into a gel stage. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the first mixture is free of a structuring polymer and free of an opacifying agent. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the first mixture is free of crystallized triglycerides. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the magnesium cation component is derived from magnesium chloride, magnesium sulfite, magnesium bisulfite, or magnesium sulfate. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one additive ingredient is selected from a group consisting of enzymes, free oil fragrance, chelators, and non-structuring performance polymers.