Washing textiles using low phosphate detergent compsn. - contg. soap and nonionic surfactant and aluminium silicate cation exchanger as water softener

摘要

In the parent patent, solid materials, e.g. textiles, are washed or cleaned with low-phosphate- or phosphate-free detergent solns. in the presence of water-insoluble cation exchangers having Ca bonding capacity =50 mg. CaO/g. and consisting of opt. water of crystallisation-contg. Al silicates having formula (Cat2/nO)x.Al2O3.(SiO2)y (I) (where Cat is a Ca-exchangeable cation having valency n; x is 0.7-1.5 and y is 0.8-6). The washing liq. is passed, opt. continuously, over an adsorption device capable of separating the cation exchanger from the washing liq. Before adding the remaining washin components. the washing liq. is softened with (I) to a degree of hardness 7 (5) degree dH (70 esp. 50 mg. CaO/l.). In this addn. a washing compsn. is used in which (a) the surfactant contains 50 (60-90) wt.% alkali metal soaps of 10-20C saturated and/or unsaturated acids, and (b) soap content of washing soln. is =0.2 (0.4-2) g./l. The compsns. can be used for washing textiles at 85-100 degrees C. and also at 40-65 degrees C., which is the range for washing synthetics and easy-care textiles. Soap addn. does not lower washing-capacity of detergent compsn. and overcomes ecological problems. In an example, detergent compsn. contained 7.5% tallow soaps, 2.5% coconut soap and 4% ethoxylated alcohols.