# US 2021/0277329 A1 · Active compositions for highly viscous laundry and cleaning formulations

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- Number: US 2021/0277329 A1
- Document ID: US20210277329A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/257,661
- Filed: 2019-07-01
- Published: 2021-09-09
- Earliest claimed: 2018-07-05
- Assignees: Evonik Operations GmbH
- Applicants: Evonik Operations GmbH
- Inventors: Stefan Neubauer; Jens HILDEBRAND; Dirk KUPPERT
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210277329A1

## CPC

- C11D 1/62: Quaternary ammonium compounds
- C11D 1/645: Mixtures of compounds all of which are cationic
- C11D 3/0015: {liquid}
- C11D 3/43: Solvents
- C11D 11/0094: {Process for making liquid detergent compositions, e.g. slurries, pastes or gels}
- 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

The invention relates to specific active compositions for producing highly viscous laundry and cleaning formulations, particularly laundry fabric softeners, to a method for the production thereof and to said laundry and cleaning formulations. High viscosity can be achieved in the products according to the invention despite a low concentration of active compositions and without using additional thickeners.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-10. (canceled)

### Claim 11

An active composition for producing laundry and cleaning formulations, comprising a mixture of two or more quaternary ammonium salts of the general formula I):
wherein:
R1 is a linear or branched hydrocarbon radical having an iodine number of less than or equal to 10, and comprising 10 to 32 carbon atoms;
R2, R4 are the same or different, each independently selected from divalent hydrocarbon radicals comprising 1 to 4 carbon atoms;
R3 is hydrogen or an acyl radical of a fatty acid comprising a chain length of 8 to 32 carbon atoms;
R5 is the same as, or different from, R3, and is hydrogen or an acyl radical of a fatty acid comprising a chain length of 8 to 32 carbon atoms;
R6 is a hydrocarbon radical comprising 1 to 4 carbon atoms;
X− is methylsulfate or ethylsulfate;
wherein:
the amount ratio of the quaternary ammonium salts of the general formula I) in the mixture is a result of one or more amine(s) of the general formula II):
wherein:
R1, R2 and R4 have the same definition as in formula I), being reacted with one or more fatty acids corresponding to R3 and R5, in the molar ratio of the sum of all amines of the general formula II) to the sum of all fatty acids of from 0.8 to 1.5.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The active composition of claim 11, wherein:
R1 is a linear or branched hydrocarbon radical having an iodine number of from 0 to 5, and comprising 14 to 20 carbon atoms;
R2, R4 are the same or different, each independently selected from divalent, linear hydrocarbon radicals comprising 1 to 4 carbon atoms;
R3 is hydrogen or an acyl radical of a fatty acid having a chain length of 12 to 22 carbon atoms;
R5 is the same as or different from R3, and is an acyl radical of a fatty acid having a chain length of 12 to 22 carbon atoms;
R6 is methyl or ethyl;
wherein:
the amount ratio of the quaternary ammonium salts of the general formula I) in the mixture is a result of one or more amine(s) of the general formula II) where R1, R2 and R4 have the same definition as in formula I), being reacted with one or more fatty acids corresponding to R3 and R5, in the molar ratio of the sum of all amines of the general formula II) to the sum of all fatty acids of from 0.9 to 1.2.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The active composition of claim 11, wherein the active composition is for producing a fabric softener formulation, wherein:
R1 is a linear or branched hydrocarbon radical having an iodine number of from 0 to 5, and comprising 16 to 18 carbon atoms;
R2, R4 are ethylene;
R3 is hydrogen or an acyl radical of a fatty acid having a chain length of 16 to 18 carbon atoms;
R5 is the same as or different from R3, and is an acyl radical of a fatty acid having a chain length of 16 to 18 carbon atoms;
R6 is methyl;
X− is methylsulfate or ethylsulfate.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The active composition of claim 11, wherein one or both R2 and R4 radicals are ethylene.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The active composition of claim 11, wherein R3 and R5 are hydrogen or acyl radicals of the same fatty acid or fatty acid mixture.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The active composition of claim 11, wherein the mixture comprises quaternary ammonium compounds of the general formula I), wherein:
R1 is a linear alkyl radical comprising 14 to 20 carbon atoms, and having an iodine number less than 8;
R2, R4 are C2H4;
R3, R5 are the same or different, each independently selected from hydrogen or an acyl radical of a fatty acid having a chain length of 12 to 22 carbon atoms;
R6 is methyl or ethyl;
X− is methylsulfate or ethylsulfate.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The active composition of claim 11, wherein the mixture comprises quaternary ammonium compounds of the general formula I), wherein:
R1 is a linear alkyl radical comprising 16 to 18 carbon atoms, and having an iodine number than or equal to 5;
R2, R4 are C2H4;
R3, R5 are the same or different, each independently being an acyl radical of a fatty acid having a chain length of 16 to 18 carbon atoms;
R6 is methyl;
X− is methylsulfate or ethylsulfate.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The active composition of claim 11, wherein:
R3 and R5 are hydrogen or acyl radicals selected from:
plant or tallow fatty acids, having an iodine number from 0 to 50;
plant or tallow fatty acids having an iodine number of less than or equal to 10.

### Claim 19 (depends on 11)

The active composition of claim 11, wherein:
R3 and R5 are acyl radicals selected from:
plant or tallow fatty acids, having an iodine number from 10 to 25;
plant or tallow fatty acids having an iodine number of from 0 to 5.

### Claim 20 (depends on 11)

A method for preparing the active composition of claim 11, comprising:
a) reacting one or more amine(s) of the general formula II),
wherein R1, R2 and R4 have the same definition as in claim 11, with one or more fatty acid(s) having a chain length of 8 to 32 carbon atoms, and the molar ratio of the sum of all amines of the general formula II) to the sum of all fatty acids of from 0.8 to 1.6;
b) reacting the amines of step a) with an alkylating agent, selected from the group consisting of: dimethyl sulfate and diethyl sulfate, for preparing quaternary ammonium salts of the formula I).

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, further comprising:
c) diluting the active composition mixture obtained according to step b) with 30-40% by weight, of a water-miscible solvent.

### Claim 22 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, and further comprising:
c) diluting the active composition mixture obtained according to step b) with 10-20% by weight, of a water-miscible solvent.

### Claim 23 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, and further comprising:
c) diluting the active composition mixture obtained according to step b) with one or more solvents selected from the group consisting of: ethanol; 1-propanol; 2-propanol; 1,2-ethylene glycol; 1,2-propylene glycol; 1,3-propylene glycol; dipropylene glycol; dipropylene glycol; ethylene glycol ether; and propylene glycol ether.

### Claim 24 (depends on 11, 20)

The method of claim 20, wherein R1, R2 and R4 have the same definition as in claim 11, with one or more fatty acid(s) having a chain length of 16 to 18 carbon atoms, and wherein the molar ratio of the sum of all amines of the general formula II to the sum of all fatty acids of from 0.9 to 1.2;

### Claim 25 (depends on 11)

A laundry and cleaning formulation, comprising an active composition according to claim 11.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The laundry and cleaning formulation of claim 25, wherein the formulation is a fabric softener formulation.

### Claim 27 (depends on 25)

The laundry and cleaning formulation of claim 25, comprising the active composition in from 1% by weight to 6% by weight, where the percentages by weight refer to the total composition.

### Claim 28 (depends on 25)

The laundry and cleaning formulation of claim 25, comprising the active composition in from 2% by weight to 5% by weight, where the percentages by weight refer to the total composition.

### Claim 29 (depends on 25)

The laundry and cleaning formulation of claim 25, comprising a viscosity of more than 500 mPas, measured using a Brookfield LVT viscometer and a spindle suitable for the viscosity range at a temperature of 25° C. and 30 rev/min.

### Claim 30 (depends on 25)

The laundry and cleaning formulation of claim 25, comprising a viscosity of more than 1000 mPas, measured using a Brookfield LVT viscometer and a spindle suitable for the viscosity range at a temperature of 25° C. and 30 rev/min.