WO1998000493A1 - Detergent composition - Google Patents

Abstract

According to the present invention there is provided a detergent composition comprising between 3 % and 30 % by weight phosphate builder and an alkoxylated dianionic cleaning agent.

Description

Detergent Composition

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a detergent composition comprising an alkoxylated dianionic cleaning agent and low levels of a phosphate builder compound.

Background to the Invention

Most conventional detergent compositions contain mixtures of various detersive surfactant components. Commonly encountered surfactant components include various anionic surfactants, especially the alkyl benzene sulfonates and alkyl sulfates and various nonionic surfactants, such as alkyl ethoxylates and alkylphenol ethoxylates. Surfactants have found use as detergent components capable of the removal of a wide variety of soils and stains. A consistent effort however is made by detergent manufacturers to improve detersive properties of detergent compositions by providing new and improved surfactants.

A problem commonly associated with surfactants is their apparent sensitivity to free ions in solution. It is believed that an increase in the number of free ions in solution generally results in reduced surfactant performance. The presence of hardness ions (calcium or magnesium ion), which occur naturally in the wash solution, in particular, can reduce surfactant performance. Anionic surfactants are especially sensitive to hardness ions, reducing surfactant performance, eventually precipitating the surfactant from solution as a calcium or magnesium salt.

It is the surprising finding of the present invention that in comparison to other more widely known anionic surfactant components, alkoxylated dianionic cleaning agents provide improved cleaning performance in the presence of relatively high levels of hardness ions. The detergent manufacturer may thus make use of lower levels of phosphate builders.

Builders are employed to sequester free hardness ions, removing them from the wash solution and possible interaction with anionic surfactants. Builders having good sequestering capabilities, such as phosphate, in combination with 2-hydrocarbyl-l ,4-butanediol ethoxylate disulfate have been discussed in US-A-3,832,408 . US-A-3,860,625 and US-A-3, 634,269 describe 2- hydrocarbyl-l,4-butanediol ethoxylate disulfate as components of phosphate-free detergent compositions.

Additionally, US- A-3, 959,334 and US-A-4,000,081 describe 2- hydrocarbyl-l ,4-butanediol disulfates said to be suitable as lime soap dispersants and a method for synthesizing these disulfates.

DE-A- 2,845,905 describes a process for continuous manufacture of butanediol-1 ,4 by catalytic hydrogenation of maleic anhydride.

An advantage of the present invention is the improved cleaning performance, over a wide variety of stains, of the detergent composition formulated with an alkoxylated dianionic surfactant component.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a detergent composition comprising

a) a phosphate builder compound wherein the phosphate builder compound is present at a level of from 3 % to 30% by weight of detergent composition; and

b) a alkoxylated dianionic cleaning agent comprising a structural skeleton of at least five carbon atoms to which two anionic substituent groups spaced at least 3 atoms apart are attached, wherein at least one anionic substituent group is an alkoxy-linked sulfate group and the other is selected from the group consisting of sulfate and sulfonate groups (preferably also alkoxy-linked). Phosphate Builder Compound

The detergent composition described herein has as an essential component a phosphate builder compound. The phosphate builder compound is preferably present at a level of from 3 % to 30% by weight, more preferably from 5% to 25% by weight, most preferably from 10% to 20% by weight of the composition.

Specific examples of phosphate builder compounds include alkali metal tripolyphosphates, sodium, potassium and ammonium pyrophosphate, sodium and potassium and ammonium pyrophosphate, sodium and potassium orthophosphate, sodium polymeta/phosphate in which the degree of polymerisation ranges from about 6 to 21, and salts of phytic acid.

Alkoxylated dianionic cleaning agent

A second essential component of the cleaning compositions of the present invention is an alkoxylated dianionic cleaning agent. The alkoxylated dianionic cleaning agent comprises a structural skeleton of at least five carbon atoms, to which two anionic substituent groups spaced at least three atoms apart are attached. At least one of said anionic substituent groups is an alkoxy-linked sulfate group; the other is a sulfate or sulfonate group, preferably a sulfate group linked by alkoxy moieties to the carbon structural skeleton. Said structural skeleton can for example comprise any of the groups consisting of alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, alkaryl, ether, ester, amine and amide groups. Preferred alkoxy moieties are ethoxy, propoxy, and combinations thereof.

The structural skeleton preferably comprises from 5 to 32, preferably 7 to 28, most preferably 12 to 24 atoms. Preferably the structural skeleton comprises only carbon-containing groups and more preferably comprises only hydrocarbyl groups. Most preferably the structural skeleton comprises only straight or branched chain alkyl groups.

The structural skeleton is preferably branched. Preferably at least 10 % by weight of the structural skeleton is branched and the branches are preferably from 1 to 5, more preferably from 1 to 3, most preferably from 1 to 2 atoms in length (not including the sulfate or sulfonate group attached to the branching).

Again, the anionic substituent groups (which for purposes of counting positions along the structural skeleton includes the alkoxy linking moieties) present in the alkoxylated dianionic cleaning agents useful herein are spaced at a distance of at least three atoms from each other. For example, where one anionic substituent group is attached to a carbon (the first carbon), said first carbon is attached to a second carbon, which is in turn, attached to a third carbon and the third carbon is attached to the second anionic substituent group to give a spacing of three carbon atoms.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, at least one alkoxy-linked anionic substituent group is substituted at a primary position on the structural skeleton. The anionic substituent groups are preferably spaced 1- 3, 1-4, 1-5, 1-6 or greater apart; a 1-4 substitution for disulfated compounds is most preferred. For full clarity, the term l-n substitution is to be interpreted such that 1 indicates an anionic substituent group (including any alkoxy linking moieties) located at a given position on the structural skeleton and n indicates the number of atoms spaced between the first and second anionic substituent groups (including any alkoxy linking moieties).

A preferred alkoxylated dianionic cleaning agent has the formula

where R is an alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, alkaryl, ether, ester, amine or amide group of chain length Ci to C28, preferably C3 to C24, most preferably Cg to C20_> ^or hydrogen; A and B are independently selected from alkyl, substituted alkyl, and alkenyl group of chain length C\ to C28, preferably Ci to C5, most preferably Cj or C2, or a covalent bond; EO/PO are alkoxy moieties selected from ethoxy, propoxy, or mixed ethoxy/propoxy groups, wherein n and m are independently within the range of from about 0 to about 10, with at least m or n being at least 1 ; A and B in total contain at least 2 atoms; A, B, and R in total contain from 4 to about 31 carbon atoms; X and Y are anionic groups selected from the group consisting of sulfate and sulfonate groups, provided that at least one of X or Y is a sulfate group; and M is a cationic moiety, preferably a substituted or unsubstituted ammonium ion, or an alkali or alkaline earth metal ion.

The most preferred alkoxylated dianionic cleaning agent has the formula as above where R is an alkyl group of chain length from Cio to Ci8, A and B are independently Ci or C2, n and m are both 1, both X and Y are sulfate groups, and M is a potassium, ammonium, or a sodium ion.

Preferred alkoxylated dianionic cleaning agents herein include: ethoxylated and/or propoxylated disulfate compounds, preferably C10-C24 straight or branched chain alkyl or alkenyl ethoxylated and/or propoxylated disulfates, more preferably having the formulae:

wherein R is a straight or branched chain alkyl or alkenyl group of chain length from about C6 to about Cig; and n and m are independently within the range of from about 1 to about 10 (preferably from about 1 to about 5).

The alkoxylated dianionic cleaning agent is typically present at levels of incorporation of from about 0.1 % to about 40%, preferably from about 0.1 % to about 35%, most preferably from about 0.5% to about 15% by weight of the detergent composition.

The alkoxylated dianionic cleaning agent may also be present as a component of a surfactant system wherein the dianionic cleaning agent is present at levels of from 0.1 % to 99.9%, preferably from 1 % to 60%, most preferably from 5% to 40% by weight of the surfactant system. The weight ratio of aluminosilicate builder compound to alkoxylated dianionic cleaning agent is preferably from 400: 1 to 1 :60, more preferably from 200:1 to 1:30, most preferably from 100:1 to 1:15.

As will be appreciated more fully from the following discussion of preferred synthesis methods, the present invention compositions may also comprise some amount of sulfated alcohols and/or sulfonated alcohols which may comprise (to differing degrees depending on the reaction conditions used) a portion of the alkoxylated dianionic cleaning agent raw material used to manufacture the present invention compositions. Such alcohols are typically compatible with the present invention compositions and may be present as long as the requisite amount of alkoxylated dianionic cleaning agent is present in the final composition.

Synthesis Methods:

Known syntheses of certain disulfated surfactants, in general, use an alkyl or alkenyl succinic anhydride as the principal starting material. This is initially subjected to a reduction step from which a diol is obtained.

Subsequently the diol is subjected to a sulfation step to give the disulfated product. As an example, US-A-3,634,269 describes 2-alkyl or alkenyl- 1,4- butanediol disulfates prepared by the reduction of alkenyl succinic anhydrides with lithium aluminium hydride to produce either alkenyl or alkyl diols which are then sulfated. In addition, US- A-3, 959,334 and US- A-4,000,081 describe 2-hydrocarbyl-l,4-butanediol disulfates also prepared using a method involving the reduction of alkenyl succinic anhydrides with lithium aluminium hydride to produce either alkenyl or alkyl diols which are then sulfated.

See also US-A-3, 832,408 and US-A-3,860,625 which describe 2-alkyl or alkenyl- 1,4-butanediol ethoxylate disulfates prepared by the reduction of alkenyl succinic anhydrides with lithium aluminium hydride to produce either alkenyl or alkyl diols which are then ethoxylated prior to sulfation. These compounds may also be made by a method involving synthesis of the disulfated cleaning agent from a substituted cyclic anhydride having one or more carbon chain substituents having in total at least 5 carbon atoms comprising the following steps: (i) reduction of said substituted cyclic anhydride to form a diol; and

(ii) sulfation of said diol to form a disulfate wherein said reduction step comprises hydrogenation under pressure in the presence of a transition metal-containing hydrogenation catalyst.

The cyclic anhydride starting material has a ring structure and comprises an acid anhydride linkage. Cyclic anhydrides are generally formed by a ring forming condensation reaction of a single organic compound having a first carboxylic acid (-COOH) functional group and a second -COY functional group separated from the carboxylic acid functional group by at least two carbon atoms, wherein Y is usually an -OH, or halogen functionality.

A specific example of an organic compound which may be condensed to form a cyclic anhydride is maleic acid which on self-condensation provides maleic anhydride. Maleic anhydride is readily available commercially. The ring structure of the cyclic anhydride starting material contains from 4 to 7 carbon atoms, preferably from 4 to 6 carbon atoms in the ring strucmre. Most preferably the cyclic anhydride starting material is based on succinic anhydride which has a 5-membered ring strucmre containing 4 carbon atoms in the ring.

The cyclic anhydride starting material is substituted by one or more carbon containing substituents, such that in total, these substitutents contain at least 5 carbon atoms, preferably from 5 to 25 carbon atoms, more preferably from 7 to 21 carbon atoms. Preferably, all of the carbon chain substituent(s) comprise either alkyl or alkenyl chains, which may be branched or unbranched. In one preferred aspect they are essentially unbranched. In another preferred aspect the chains are primarily monobranched, that is more than 50% by weight of the chains are monobranched. In one preferred aspect the substituted cyclic anhydride has a single carbon chain substituent. In another preferred aspect the substituted cyclic anhydride has two carbon chain substituents each having different points of attachment to the ring strucmre.

Substituted alkenylsuccinic and alkylsuccinic anhydrides are suitable starting materials herein. Preferred anhydrides of this type have the following structures:

where R and R2 are either H or an alkyl group. In one preferred aspect R2 is H.

Linear alkenylsuccinic anhydrides may be obtained in high yield from the single stage 'ene reaction' of maleic anhydride with an alpha-olefin. Branched alkenylsuccinic anhydrides may be obtained from the single stage 'ene reaction' of maleic anhydride with an internal olefin, such as those obtainable from the familiar SHOP (tradename of the Shell Corporation) olefin making process.

Alkylsuccinic anhydride starting materials can be made by reducing alkenylsuccinic anhydrides. This reduction can be achieved under the conditions of the catalytic hydrogenation reduction step as described herein.

The first step is the reduction of the substituted cyclic anhydride to form a diol. The reduction step comprises hydrogenation under pressure in the presence of a transition metal-containing hydrogenation catalyst.

It is an advantage of this method that under the conditions of the catalytic hydrogenation reduction step any alkene linkages are also reduced to alkyl linkages. Thus, if an alkenylsuccinic anhydride is used as the starting material it is reduced via a (single) reduction step to the diol having alkyl chain substituents, as are desired. This contrasts with the situation where UAIH4, which does not reduce alkene linkages, is used in the reduction step, wherein an extra step involving the reduction of the alkenyl succinic anhydride to the alkyl succinic anhydride (via e.g. Pd/hydrogen) must be employed to obtain the desired diol product.

The hydrogenation catalyst acts functionally to enhance the efficiency of the reductive hydrogenation process. For use on a commercial scale it is desirable that the catalyst is easy to regenerate. Preferably the catalyst contains a transition metal selected from the group consisting of the group VIA (particularly Cr), VII A (particularly Mn), VIII (particularly Fe, Co, Ni, Ru, Rh, Pd, Pt) and IB (particularly Cu) elements. Catalysts containing mixtures of any of these transition metals are envisaged as are catalysts containing other metals including the alkali and alkaline earth metals. Copper-containing catalysts, particularly copper chromite (which is commercially available and relatively easy to regenerate) are most preferred.

The hydrogenation catalyst may advantageously be supported on an inert support material. The support material can generally comprise an oxide salt comprising a metal selected from the group consisting of aluminium, silicon and any mixtures thereof. Supports comprising aluminium oxide or silicon dioxide are especially preferred. Carbon and clay materials are also suitable supports.

The reductive hydrogenation step is carried out under pressure, and generally at elevated temperamre. Usually a solvent is employed. This step can be carried out by a batch, continuous or vapor-phase process. A continuous process is preferred. The pressure is typically from 1 x 10-5 to 1 x 10⁷ Pa, more preferably from 1 x 10<> to 5 x 10^ Pa. The temperamre is generally from 150 to 350°C, more preferably from 200 to 300°C. The time of reaction is generally from 30 minutes to 10 hours. Suitable solvents include alcohols, particularly methanol, ethanol, propanol and butanol. It is to appreciated that the exact process conditions used for any particular synthesis will be varied to achieve optimum results in accord with the usual process optimization steps which will be within the remit of the skilled person. In particular the process conditions will be adjusted to minimize the occurence of any competing side-reactions.

One possible problem derives from the incomplete reduction of the cyclic anhydride, such that lactones are formed. These are however, convertible to diols by further catalytic hydrogenation. It may be advantageous to carry out the hydrogenation in two steps, preferably as part of a continuous step- wise process, such that a lactone is formed in the first step followed by a second step in which the lactone is reduced to the diol. Conditions which favour lactone formation are high temperamre ( — 300 °C) and low pressures (— 1 x 105 Pa). Any water formed during the hydrogenation will primarily be in the vapour phase, so that the anhydride is unlikely to be converted to a carboxylic acid which can inhibit the catalyst. The best conditions for diol formation from the lactone are lower temperatures ( — 220 °C) and high pressures ( ~ 1 x 10⁷ Pa), both of which conditions minimize the production of furan by-product.

Furans can be formed by a ring closure reaction of the diol product. The tendency for such furans to form is greater at higher reaction temperatures and can be promoted by the transition-metal containing catalysts employed in the reduction step. The formation of furans may therefore be minimzed by the use of lower reaction temperatures and by designing the process such that once formed the diol is removed from the catalytic environment. The latter objective is met by the use of a continuous process whereby the reactants contact a high level of catalyst for a relatively short time and are then removed from the catalytic environment. By optimization of the time of contact with the catalyst the formation of the desired diol is maximized and that of the furan by-product minimized.

The presence of acids promotes furan formation. In particular, carboxylic acids which may be formed by certain ring-opening reactions of the cyclic anhydrides under the conditions of the reduction step can promote furan formation. This problem can be alleviated by first forming the lactone in a separate step as mentioned above or by the use of an additional esterification step in which the cyclic anhydride is first treated with an alcohol, particularly methanol, in the presence of an esterification catalyst to form a diester. The diester is then converted to the diol via the reduction step.

The sulfation step may be carried out using any of the sulfation steps known in the art, including for example those described in US-A- 3,634,269, US-A-3, 959,334 and US-A-4,000,081. In particular the sulfation may be carried out in two stages where the first stage involves treatment of the diol with a sulfation agent, generally selected from the group consisting of chlorosulfonic acid, sulfur trioxide, adducts of sulfur trioxide with amines and any mixtures thereof. The second stage involves neutralization, which is generally carried out using NaOH.

Synthesis Example I - C14 alkyl-1.4-disulfate

Decyl succinic anhydride as shown in the reaction scheme below (R = a heptyl group) is employed as the starting material. This material is obtained by hydrogenation in the presence of a Pd catalyst of the alkenyl succinic anhydride product obtained from the 'ene' reaction of maleic (acid) anhydride with dec- 1 -ene.

The general reaction scheme for the reduction step is as outlined below:

o

/

R ^{^} \ Cu Chromite (cat) R = C7

Alkylsuccinic Alcohol solvent R'OH w Anhydride o

C0₂R'

R Half-ester

C0₂H

It should be noted from the above that both furan and half ester by-products can also be formed in the reaction.

The reactor utilized is an electrically heated 500 ml (39 mm internal diameter x 432 mm internal length) Autoclave Engineers type 316 (tradename) stainless steel rocking autoclave fitted with an internal thermocouple and valving for periodic sampling of reaction mixtures. The reactor is charged with 50 ml of alcohol solvent and 5 grams of copper chromite catalyst, as sold by Engelhardt under the tradename CU-1885P, that had been washed several times with high purity water then several times with alcohol solvent. The reactor and contents are then heated to 250 °C at a hydrogen pressure of 2.4 x 10^ Pa and held for 1 hour. The reactor is then cooled and charged (without exposing the catalyst to air) with 20 grams of the cyclic anhydride starting material and an additional 50 ml of alcohol solvent. The process is carried out under different conditions of pressure and temperamre, and with varying reaction times. Details of different reaction conditions are summarized in the table below: Example No. Pressure Temp. Time Solvent (106pa) (°C)

1 2.8 235 2.1 hr 1-butanol

2 2.1 210 48 hr 1-butanol

3 2.85 250 2.5 hr 1-butanol

4 2.1 250 15 hr methanol

5 2.1 300 15 hr methanol

6 2.1 200 15 hr 1-octanol

7 2.1 192 4.5 days isobutanol

8 2.1 187 2.5 days ethylene glycol

The sulfation step is carried out, in each case, on the 1,4-alkyl diol product obtained from the reduction step. Chlorosulfonic acid is used which results in a high yield (typically > 90%) of the required C14 alkyl 1,4 disulfate end-product as shown below:

OS0₃Na OS0₃Na

R2 = H R_= C7

Synthesis Example II - C14 alkyl-1.4-disulfate

The alkenyl succinic anhydride product obtained from the 'ene' reaction of maleic (acid) anhydride with dec- 1 -ene (i.e. R = a heptyl group) is used directly as the cyclic anhydride starting material. The need for the additional 'pre-step' of reduction of the alkenyl succinic anhydride to an alkyl succinic anhydride is thus avoided. All other method steps are as in Synthesis Example I. The reaction scheme for the reduction step is thus as shown below:

R Copper Chromite, H2

1-Butanol Solvent

Alkenylsuccinic

Anhydride OButyl

Alkyl-1 ,4-Diol OH Half esters

Alkylfuran

Synthesis Example III - Preparation of Alkyl 1.4-Sulfate/Sulfonates

1,4-dialcohol starting materials are first prepared as described hereinbefore by reduction of alkenyl succinic anhydrides. The desired compounds are then prepared following the reaction sequence as follows (wherein R can be alkyl or alkenyl, Cg to C20):

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

This reaction scheme is described in part in greater detail in Berridge, et. al., (J. Org. Chem. 1990, 55, 1211). This paper illustrates Steps 1 and 2 for several 1,2-, 1,3-, and 1 ,4-dialcohols, and also illustrates the opening of cyclic suifates with phenoxide and fluoride anions. Thus, this reaction sequence is not limited to the preparation of 1,4- sulfate/sulfonates, but may also be followed for the preparation of 1,3-sulfate/sulfonates from the corresponding 1,3-dialcohols.

Additional detergent components

T e detergent compositions of the invention may also contain additional detergent components. The precise nature of these additional components, and levels of incorporation thereof will depend on the physical form of the composition, and the precise nature of the washing operation for which it is to be used. The compositions of the invention preferably contain one or more additional detergent components selected from surfactants, bleaches, additional builders, alkalinity system, organic polymeric compounds, enzymes, suds suppressors, lime soap dispersants, soil suspension and anti-redeposition agents and corrosion inhibitors.

Surfactant

The detergent compositions of the invention preferably contain one or more surfactants selected from anionic, nonionic, non-ester cationic, ampholytic, amphoteric and zwitterionic surfactants and mixtures thereof.

The surfactant is preferably present as a component of a surfactant system at a level of from 0.1 % to 50%, more preferably from 1% to 40% by weight, most preferably from

5% to 30% by weight of the surfactant system. A typical listing of anionic, nonionic, ampholytic, and zwitterionic classes, and species of these surfactants, is given in U.S. P. 3,929,678 issued to Laughlin and Heuring on December 30, 1975. Further examples are given in "Surface Active Agents and Detergents" (Vol. I and II by Schwartz, Perry and Berch). A list of suitable cationic surfactants is given in U.S. P. 4,259,217 issued to Murphy on March 31, 1981.

Where present, ampholytic, amphoteric and zwitteronic surfactants are generally used in combination with one or more anionic and/or nonionic surfactants.

Anionic surfactant

Essentially any anionic surfactants useful for detersive purposes are suitable. These can include salts (including, for example, sodium, potassium, ammonium, and substituted ammonium salts such as mono-, di- and triethanolamine salts) of the anionic sulfate, sulfonate, carboxylate and sarcosinate surfactants. Anionic sulfate surfactants are preferred.

Other anionic surfactants include the isethionates such as the acyl isethionates, N-acyl taurates, fatty acid amides of methyl tauride, alkyl succinates and sulfosuccinates, monoesters of sulfosuccinate (especially samrated and unsamrated

of sulfosuccinate (especially -samrated and unsamrated Cg-C ^ diesters), N-acyl sarcosinates. Resin acids and hydrogenated resin acids are also suitable, such as rosin, hydrogenated rosin, and resin acids and hydrogenated resin acids present in or derived from tallow oil.

Anionic mono-sulfate surfactant

Anionic mono-sulfate surfactants suitable for use herein include the linear and branched primary and secondary alkyl mono-sulfates, alkyl ethoxy mono-sulfates, fatty oleoyl glycerol mono-sulfates, alkyl phenol ethylene oxide ether mono-sulfates, the C5-C 7 acyl-N-(Cι-C4 alkyl) and - N-(Cj-C2 hydroxyalkyl) glucamine mono-sulfates, and mono-sulfates of alkylpolysaccharides such as the mono-sulfates of alkylpolyglucoside (the nonionic nonsulfated compounds being described herein).

Alkyl mono-sulfate surfactants are preferably selected from the linear and branched primary C10-C18 alkyl mono-sulfates, more preferably the C\ - C15 branched chain alkyl mono-sulfates and the C12- 4 linear chain alkyl mono-sulfates.

Alkyl ethoxymono-sulfate surfactants are preferably selected from the group consisting of the Cifj-Ci alkyl mono-sulfates which have been ethoxylated with from 0.5 to 20 moles of ethylene oxide per molecule. More preferably, the alkyl ethoxymono-sulfate surfactant is a Cj j-Ci , most preferably C\ 1-C15 alkyl mono-sulfate which has been ethoxylated with from 0.5 to 7, preferably from 1 to 5, moles of ethylene oxide per molecule.

A particularly preferred aspect of the invention employs mixtures of the preferred alkyl mono-sulfate and alkyl ethoxymono-sulfate surfactants. Such mixtures have been disclosed in PCT Patent Application No. WO 93/18124.

Anionic sulfonate surfactant

Anionic sulfonate surfactants suitable for use herein include the salts of C5-C20 linear alkylbenzene sulfonates, alkyl ester sulfonates, C6-C22 primary or secondary alkane sulfonates, C6-C24 olefin sulfonates, sulfonated polycarboxylic acids, alkyl glycerol sulfonates, fatty acyl glycerol sulfonates, fatty oleyl glycerol sulfonates, and any mixtures thereof.

Anionic carboxylate surfactant

Suitable anionic carboxylate surfactants include the alkyl ethoxy carboxylates, the alkyl polyethoxy polycarboxylate surfactants and the soaps ('alkyl carboxyls'), especially certain secondary soaps as described herein. Suitable alkyl ethoxy carboxylates include those with the formula RO(CH2CH2θ)_x CH2COO-M + wherein R is a C^ to g alkyl group, x ranges from O to 10, and the ethoxylate distribution is such that, on a weight basis, the amount of material where x is 0 is less than 20 % and M is a cation. Suitable alkyl polyethoxy polycarboxylate surfactants include those having the formula RO-(CHRι-CHR2-0)-R3 wherein R is a CO to Cig alkyl group, x is from 1 to 25, Ri and R2 are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl acid radical, succinic acid radical, hydroxysuccinic acid radical, and mixmres thereof, and R3 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon having between 1 and 8 carbon atoms, and mixmres thereof.

Suitable soap surfactants include the secondary soap surfactants which contain a carboxyl unit connected to a secondary carbon. Preferred secondary soap surfactants for use herein are water-soluble members selected from the group consisting of the water-soluble salts of 2-methyl-l- undecanoic acid, 2-ethyl-l-decanoic acid, 2-ρropyl-l-nonanoic acid, 2- butyl-1-octanoic acid and 2-pentyl-l-heptanoic acid. Certain soaps may also be included as suds suppressors.

Alkali metal sarcosinate surfactant

Other suitable anionic surfactants are the alkali metal sarcosinates of formula R-CON (R¹) CH2 COOM, wherein R is a C5-C17 linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group, Rl is a C1-C4 alkyl group and M is an alkali metal ion. Preferred examples are the myristyl and oleoyl methyl sarcosinates in the form of their sodium salts.

Alkoxylated nonionic surfactant

Essentially any alkoxylated nonionic surfactants are suitable herein. The ethoxylated and propoxylated nonionic surfactants are preferred.

Preferred alkoxylated surfactants can be selected from the classes of the nonionic condensates of alkyl phenols, nonionic ethoxylated alcohols, nonionic ethoxylated and/or propoxylated fatty alcohols, nonionic ethoxylate and/or propoxylate condensates with propylene glycol, and the nonionic ethoxylate condensation products with propylene oxide and/or ethylene diamine adducts.

Especially preferred alkoxylated nonionic surfactants include the condensation products of aliphatic alcohols with from 1 to 25 moles of alkylene oxide, particularly ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide, are suitable for use herein. The alkyl chain of the aliphatic alcohol can either be straight or branched, primary or secondary, and generally contains from 6 to 22 carbon atoms. Particularly preferred are the condensation products of alcohols having an alkyl group containing from 8 to 20 carbon atoms with from 2 to 10 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol.

Nonionic polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactant

Polyhydroxy fatty acid amides suitable for use herein are those having the strucmral formula R-^CONRlZ wherein : RI is H, C1-C4 hydrocarbyl, 2- hydroxy ethyl, 2-hydroxy propyl, ethoxy, propoxy, or a mixture thereof, preferable C1-C4 alkyl, more preferably C\ or C2 alkyl, most preferably C\ alkyl (i.e., methyl); and R2 is a C5-C31 hydrocarbyl, preferably straight-chain C5-C19 alkyl or alkenyl, more preferably straight-chain C9- Cj7 alkyl or alkenyl, most preferably straight-chain C11-C17 alkyl or alkenyl, or mixture thereof; and Z is a polyhydroxy hydrocarbyl having a linear hydrpcarbyl chain with at least 3 hydroxyls directly connected to the chain, or an alkoxylated derivative (preferably ethoxylated or propoxylated) thereof. Z preferably will be derived from a reducing sugar in a reductive amination reaction; more preferably Z is a glycityl.

Nonionic fatty acid amide surfactant

Suitable fatty acid amide surfactants include those having the formula: R6CON(R⁷)2 wherein R6 is an alkyl group containing from 7 to 21, preferably from 9 to 17 carbon atoms and each R⁷ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C4 alkyl, C1-C4 hydroxyalkyl, and - (C2H4θ)_xH, where x is in the range of from 1 to 3. Nonionic alkylpolvsaccharide surfactant

Suitable alkylpolysaccharides for use herein are disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,565,647, Llenado, issued January 21, 1986, having a hydrophobic group containing from 6 to 30 carbon atoms and a polysaccharide, e.g., a polyglycoside, hydrophilic group containing from 1.3 to 10 saccharide units.

Preferred alkylpolyglycosides have the formula

R2θ(C_nH_2nO)t(glycosyl)_x

wherein R2 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkylphenyl, hydroxy alkyl, hydroxyalkylphenyl, and mixmres thereof in which the alkyl groups contain from 10 to 18 carbon atoms; n is 2 or 3; t is from 0 to 10, and x is from 1.3 to 8. The glycosyl is preferably derived from glucose.

End-capped nonionic surfactants

End-capped nonionic surfactants include essentially any nonionic surfactant comprising a branched chain alkyl or substituted alkyl group. Suitable end- capped nonionics include end-capped Butyl-polypropylene glycol ethyl ether described in GB l,221,217and end-capped polyethylene glycol ether describes in US 5,205,959.

Preferred end-capped nonionic surfactants include the alkoxylated and alkoxylated alcohol nonionic end-capped surfactants.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is a mixed surfactant system comprising an end-capped nonionic and a polyhydroxy fatty acid amide. The resulting mixed surfactant systems surprisingly exhibit low sudsing benefits.

Amphoteric surfactant Suitable amphoteric surfactants for use herein include the amine oxide surfactants and the alkyl amphocarboxylic acids.

Suitable amine oxides include those compounds having the formula R³(OR )χN°(R⁵)2 wherein R³ is selected from an alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, acylamidopropoyl and alkyl phenyl group, or mixmres thereof, containing from 8 to 26 carbon atoms; R4 is an alkylene or hydroxyalkylene group containing from 2 to 3 carbon atoms, or mixmres thereof; x is from 0 to 5, preferably from 0 to 3; and each R^ is an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group containing from 1 to 3, or a polyethylene oxide group containing from 1 to 3 ethylene oxide groups. Preferred are Cio-Ci alkyl dimethylamine oxide, and CJO-18 acylamido alkyl dimethylamine oxide.

A suitable example of an alkyl aphodicarboxylic acid is Miranol(TM) C2M Cone, manufactured by Miranol, Inc., Dayton, NJ.

Zwitterionic surfactant

Zwitterionic surfactants can also be incorporated into the detergent compositions hereof. These surfactants can be broadly described as derivatives of secondary and tertiary amines, derivatives of heterocyclic secondary and tertiary amines, or derivatives of quaternary ammonium, quaternary phosphonium or tertiary sulfonium compounds. Betaine and sultaine surfactants are exemplary zwitterionic surfactants for use herein.

Suitable betaines are those compounds having the formula R(R')2N+R2cOO- wherein R is a C6-Cιg hydrocarbyl group, each Rl is typically C1-C3 alkyl, and R2 is a C1-C5 hydrocarbyl group. Preferred betaines are C 12- 18 dimethyl-ammonio hexanoate and the C 20- 18 acylamidopropane (or ethane) dimethyl (or diethyl) betaines. Complex betaine surfactants are also suitable for use herein.

Cationic surfactants Suitable cationic ester surfactants are preferably water dispersible compound having surfactant properties comprising at least one ester (ie - COO-) linkage and at least one cationically charged group.

Other suitable cationic surfactants include the quaternary ammonium surfactants selected from mono C6-Ci6, preferably Cβ-Cio N-alkyl or alkenyl ammonium surfactants wherein the remaining N positions are substituted by methyl, hydroxyethyl or hydroxypropyl groups. Other suitable cationic ester surfactants, including choline ester surfactants, have for example been disclosed in US Patents No.s 4228042, 4239660 and 4260529.

Water-soluble builder compound

The detergent compositions of the present invention may additionally contain a water-soluble builder compound, typically present at a level of from 1 % to 80% by weight, preferably from 10% to 70% by weight, most preferably from 20% to 60% by weight of the composition.

Suitable water-soluble builder compounds include the water soluble monomeric polycarboxylates, or their acid forms, homo or copolymeric polycarboxylic acids or their salts in which the polycarboxylic acid comprises at least two carboxylic radicals separated from each other by not more that two carbon atoms, borates, phosphates, and mixmres of any of the foregoing.

The carboxylate or polycarboxylate builder can be momomeric or oligomeric in type although monomeric polycarboxylates are generally preferred for reasons of cost and performance.

Suitable carboxylates containing one carboxy group include the water soluble salts of lactic acid, glycolic acid and ether derivatives thereof. Polycarboxylates containing two carboxy groups include the water-soluble salts of succinic acid, malonic acid, (ethylenedioxy) diacetic acid, maleic acid, diglycolic acid, tartaric acid, tartronic acid and fumaric acid, as well as the ether carboxylates and the sulfinyl carboxylates. Polycarboxylates containing three carboxy groups include, in particular, water-soluble citrates, aconitrates and citraconates as well as succinate derivatives such as the carboxymethyloxysuccinates described in British Patent No. 1,379,241, lactoxysuccinates described in British Patent No. 1,389,732, and aminosuccinates described in Netherlands Application 7205873, and the oxypolycarboxylate materials such as 2-oxa-l,l,3-propane tricarboxylates described in British Patent No. 1,387,447.

Polycarboxylates containing four carboxy groups include oxydisuccinates disclosed in British Patent No. 1,261,829, 1,1,2,2-ethane tetracarboxylates,

1,1,3,3-propane tetracarboxylates and 1,1,2,3-propane tetracarboxylates.

Polycarboxylates containing sulfo substituents include the sulfosuccinate derivatives disclosed in British Patent Nos. 1,398,421 and 1,398,422 and in

U.S. Patent No. 3,936,448, and the sulfonated pyrolysed citrates described in British Patent No. 1,439,000. Preferred polycarboxylates are hydroxycarboxylates containing up to three carboxy groups per molecule, more particularly citrates.

The parent acids of the monomeric or oligomeric polycarboxylate chelating agents or mixmres thereof with their salts, e.g. citric acid or citrate/citric acid mixmres are also contemplated as useful builder components.

Borate builders, as well as builders containing borate-forming materials that can produce borate under detergent storage or wash conditions are useful water-soluble builders herein.

Suitable examples of water-soluble phosphate builders are the alkali metal tripolyphosphates, sodium, potassium and ammonium pyrophosphate, sodium and potassium and ammonium pyrophosphate, sodium and potassium orthophosphate, sodium polymeta/phosphate in which the degree of polymerization ranges from about 6 to 21, and salts of phytic acid.

Organic peroxyacid bleaching system

A preferred feamre of detergent compositions of the invention is an organic peroxyacid bleaching system. In one preferred execution the bleaching system contains a hydrogen peroxide source and an organic peroxyacid bleach precursor compound. The production of the organic peroxyacid occurs by an in situ reaction of the precursor with a source of hydrogen peroxide. Preferred sources of hydrogen peroxide include inorganic perhydrate bleaches. In an alternative preferred execution a preformed orgamc peroxyacid is incorporated directly into the composition. Compositions containing mixmres of a hydrogen peroxide source and organic peroxyacid precursor in combination with a preformed organic peroxyacid are also envisaged.

Inorganic perhydrate bleaches

Inorganic perhydrate salts are a preferred source of hydrogen peroxide. These salts are normally incorporated in the form of the alkali metal, preferably sodium salt at a level of from 1 % to 40% by weight, more preferably from 2% to 30% by weight and most preferably from 5% to. 25% by weight of the compositions.

Examples of inorganic perhydrate salts include perborate, percarbonate, perphosphate, persulfate and persilicate salts. The inorganic perhydrate salts are normally the alkali metal salts. The inorganic perhydrate salt may be included as the crystalline solid without additional protection. For certain perhydrate salts however, the preferred executions of such granular compositions utilize a coated form of the material which provides better storage stability for the perhydrate salt in the granular product. Suitable coatings comprise inorganic salts such as alkali metal silicate, carbonate or borate salts or mixmres thereof, or organic materials such as waxes, oils, or fatty soaps.

Sodium perborate is a preferred perhydrate salt and can be in the form of the monohydrate of nominal formula NaBθ2H2θ2 or the tetrahydrate NaBθ2H2θ2-3H2θ.

Alkali metal percarbonates, particularly sodium percarbonate are preferred perhydrates herein. Sodium percarbonate is an addition compound having a formula corresponding to 2Na2Cθ3.3H2θ2, and is available commercially as a crystalline solid.

Potassium peroxymonopersulfate is another inorganic perhydrate salt of use in the detergent compositions herein.

Peroxyacid bleach precursor

Peroxyacid bleach precursors are compounds which react with hydrogen peroxide in a perhydrolysis reaction to produce a peroxyacid. Generally peroxyacid bleach precursors may be represented as

O X-C -L

where L is a leaving group and X is essentially any functionality, such that on perhydroioysis the strucmre of the peroxyacid produced is

O

X- C -OOH

Peroxyacid bleach precursor compounds are preferably incorporated at a level of from 0.5% to 20% by weight, more preferably from 1 % to 15% by weight, most preferably from 1.5% to 10% by weight of the detergent compositions.

Suitable peroxyacid bleach precursor compounds typically contain one or more N- or O-acyl groups, which precursors can be selected from a wide range of classes. Suitable classes include anhydrides, esters, imides, lactams and acylated derivatives of imidazoles and oximes. Examples of useful materials within these classes are disclosed in GB-A- 1586789. Suitable esters are disclosed in GB-A-836988, 864798, 1147871, 2143231 and EP-A-0170386.

Leaving groups The leaving group, hereinafter L group, must be sufficiently reactive for the perhydrolysis reaction to occur within the optimum time frame (e.g., a wash cycle). However, if L is too reactive, this activator will be difficult to stabilize for use in a bleaching composition.

Preferred L groups are selected from the group consisting of:

R³ Y I I -0-CH=C-CH=CH₂ -0-CH=C-CH=CH₂

-0

and mixmres thereof, wherein R is an alkyl, aryl, or alkaryl group containing from 1 to 14 carbon atoms, R is an alkyl chain containing from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, R is H or R , and Y is H or a solubilizing group. Any of R , R and R may be substituted by essentially any functional group including, for example alkyl, hydroxy, alkoxy, halogen, amine, nitrosyl, amide and ammonium or alkyl ammmonium groups

atoms, M is a cation which prov des solubility to the bleach activator and X is an anion which provides solubility to the bleach activator. Preferably, M is an alkali metal, ammonium or substimted ammonium cation, with sodium and potassium being most preferred, and X is a halide, hydroxide, methylsulfate or acetate anion.

Alkyl percarboxylic acid bleach precursors

Alkyl percarboxylic acid bleach precursors form percarboxylic acids on perhydrolysis. Preferred precursors of this type provide peracetic acid on perhydrolysis.

Preferred alkyl percarboxylic precursor compounds of the imide type include the N-,N,N1N1 tetra acetylated alkylene diamines wherein the alkylene group contains from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, particularly those compounds in which the alkylene group contains 1, 2 and 6 carbon atoms. Tetraacetyl ethylene diamine (TAED) is particularly preferred.

Other preferred alkyl percarboxylic acid precursors include sodium 3,5,5- tri-methyl hexanoyloxybenzene sulfonate (iso-NOBS), sodium nonanoyloxy benzene sulfonate (NOBS), sodium acetoxybenzene sulfonate (ABS) and -pentaacetyl glucose.

Amide substimted alkyl peroxyacid precursors

Amide substimted alkyl peroxyacid precursor compounds are suitable herein, including those of the following general formulae:

R¹ — C — N — R² — C — L R¹ — N — C — R²— C — L

O R⁵ O or R⁵ O O wherein Rl is an alkyl group with from 1 to 14 carbon atoms, R2 is an alkylene group containing from 1 to 14 carbon atoms, and R5 is H or an alkyl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms and L can be essentially any leaving group. Amide substimted bleach activator compounds of this type are described in EP-A-0170386.

Perbenzoic acid precursor

Perbenzoic acid precursor compounds provide perbenzoic acid on perhydrolysis. Suitable O-acylated perbenzoic acid precursor compounds include the substimted and unsubstituted benzoyl oxybenzene sulfonates, and the benzoylation products of sorbitol, glucose, and all saccharides with benzoylating agents, and those of the imide type including N-benzoyl succinimide, tetrabenzoyl ethylene diamine and the N-benzoyl substimted ureas. Suitable imidazole type perbenzoic acid precursors include N- benzoyl imidazole and N-benzoyl benzimidazole. Other useful N-acyl group-containing perbenzoic acid precursors include N-benzoyl pyrrolidone, dibenzoyl taurine and benzoyl pyroglutamic acid.

Cationic peroxyacid precursors

Cationic peroxyacid precursor compounds produce cationic peroxyacids on perhydrolysis.

Typically, cationic peroxyacid precursors are formed by substimting the peroxyacid part of a suitable peroxyacid precursor compound with a positively charged functional group, such as an ammonium or alkyl ammmonium group, preferably an ethyl or methyl ammonium group. Cationic peroxyacid precursors are typically present in the solid detergent compositions as a salt with a suitable anion, such as a halide ion.

The peroxyacid precursor compound to be so cationically substimted may be a perbenzoic acid, or substimted derivative thereof, precursor compound as described hereinbefore. Alternatively, the peroxyacid precursor compound may be an alkyl percarboxylic acid precursor compound or an amide substimted alkyl peroxyacid precursor as described hereinafter Cationic peroxyacid precursors are described in U.S. Patents 4,904,406; 4,751,015; 4,988,451; 4,397,757; 5,269,962; 5,127,852; 5,093,022; 5,106,528; U.K. 1,382,594; EP 475,512, 458,396 and 284,292; and in JP 87-318,332.

Examples of preferred cationic peroxyacid precursors are described in UK Patent Application No. 9407944.9 and US Patent Application Nos. 08/298903, 08/298650, 08/298904 and 08/298906.

Suitable cationic peroxyacid precursors include any of the ammonium or alkyl ammonium substimted alkyl or benzoyl oxy benzene sulfonates, N- acylated caprolactams, and monobenzoyltetraacetyl glucose benzoyl peroxides. Preferred cationic peroxyacid precursors of the N-acylated caprolactam class include the trialkyl ammonium methylene benzoyl caprolactams and the trialkyl ammonium methylene alkyl caprolactams.

Benzoxazin organic peroxyacid precursors

Also suitable are precursor compounds of the benzoxazin-type, as disclosed for example in EP-A-332,294 and EP-A-482,807, particularly those having the formula:

wherein R_j is H, alkyl, alkaryl, aryl, or arylalkyl.

Preformed organic peroxyacid

The organic peroxyacid bleaching system may contain, in addition to, or as an alternative to, an organic peroxyacid bleach precursor compound, a preformed organic peroxyacid , typically at a level of from 1 % to 15% by weight, more preferably from 1 % to 10% by weight of the composition.

A preferred class of organic peroxyacid compounds are the amide substimted compounds of the following general formulae:

_R1 __ _c — _N — _R2 — _c _ OOH R¹ — N — C — R² — C — OOH

O R⁵ O or R⁵ 0 O

wherein Rl is an alkyl, aryl or alkaryl group with from 1 to 14 carbon atoms, R2 is an alkylene, arylene, and alkarylene group containing from 1 to 14 carbon atoms, and R is H or an alkyl, aryl, or alkaryl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms. Amide substimted organic peroxyacid compounds of this type are described in EP-A-0170386.

Other organic peroxyacids include diacyl and tetraacylperoxides, especially diperoxydodecanedioc acid, diperoxytetradecanedioc acid and diperoxyhexadecanedioc acid. Mono- and diperazelaic acid, mono- and diperbrassylic acid and N-phthaloylaminoperoxicaproic acid are also suitable herein.

Bleach catalyst

The compositions described herein may optionally include a bleach catalyst. A suitable type of bleach catalyst is a catalyst comprising a heavy metal cation of defined bleach catalytic activity, such as copper, iron cations, an auxiliary metal cation having little or no bleach catalytic activity, such as zinc or aluminum cations, and a sequestrant having defined stability constants for the catalytic and auxiliary metal cations, particularly ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, ethylenediaminetetra (methylenephosphonic acid) and water-soluble salts thereof. Such catalysts are disclosed in U.S. Pat. 4,430,243.

Other types of bleach catalysts include the manganese-based complexes disclosed in U.S. Pat. 5,246,621 and U.S. Pat. 5,244,594. Preferred examples of these catalysts include Mn^2(^u_0)3(l₅4,7-trimethyl-l ,4,7- triazacyclononane)2-(PF6)2, MnIH2(u-0)ι(u-OAc)2( 1,4, 7-trimethyl- 1,4,7- triazacyclononane)2-(C104)2, Mn^4(u-0)6(l,4,7-triazacyclononane)4- (Clθ4)2, MniπMnIV₄(_u-0)ι(u-OAc)2-(l,4,7-trimethyl-l,4,7- triazacyclononane)2-(Clθ4)3, and mixmres thereof. Others are described in European patent application publication no. 549,272. Other ligands suitable for use herein include l,5,9-trimethyl-l,5,9-triazacyclododecane, 2-methyl-l ,4,7-triazacyclononane, 2-methyl-l ,4,7-triazacyclononane, l,2,4,7-tetramethyl-l ,4,7-triazacyclononane, and mixmres thereof.

For examples of suitable bleach catalysts see U.S. Pat. 4,246,612 and U.S. Pat. 5,227,084. See also U.S. Pat. 5,194,416 which teaches mononuclear manganese (IV) complexes such as Mn(l,4,7-trimethyl-l,4,7- triazacyclononane)(OCH3)3_(PF6). Still another type of bleach catalyst, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. 5,114,606, is a water-soluble complex of manganese (III), and/or (IV) with a ligand which is a non-carboxylate polyhydroxy compound having at least three consecutive C-OH groups. Other examples include binuclear Mn complexed with tetra-N-dentate and bi-N-dentate ligands, including N4Mn-fH(u-0)2MnIVN4)+and [Bipy2Mn^(u- 0)2MnI^vbipy2]-(Clθ4)3.

Further suitable bleach catalysts are described, for example, in European patent application No. 408,131 (cobalt complex catalysts), European patent applications, publication nos. 384,503, and 306,089 (metallo-porphyrin catalysts), U.S. 4,728,455 (manganese/multidentate ligand catalyst), U.S. 4,711,748 and European patent application, publication no. 224,952, (absorbed manganese on aluminosilicate catalyst), U.S. 4,601,845 (aluminosilicate support with manganese and zinc or magnesium salt), U.S. 4,626,373 (manganese/ligand catalyst), U.S. 4,119,557 (ferric complex catalyst), German Pat. specification 2,054,019 (cobalt chelant catalyst) Canadian 866,191 (transition metal-containing salts), U.S. 4,430,243 (chelants with manganese cations and non-catalytic metal cations), and U.S. 4,728,455 (manganese gluconate catalysts).

Alkalinity system An optional component of the detergent compositions is from 1.5% to 95%, preferably from 5% to 60% , most preferably from 10% to 40% by weight of the composition of an alkalinity system comprising components capable of providing alkalinity species in solution. By alkalinity species it is meant for the purposes of this invention: carbonate, bicarbonate, hydroxide and the various silicate anions. Such alkalinity species can be formed for example, when alkaline salts selected from alkali metal or alkaline earth carbonate, bicarbonate, hydroxide or silicate, including crystalline layered silicate, salts and any mixmres thereof are dissolved in water. Alkali metal percarbonate and persilicate salts are also suitable sources of alkalinity species.

Detergent compositions specifically formulated for use in automatic dishwashing preferably contains sodium metasiiicate, present at a level of at least 0.4% Siθ2 by weight. Sodium metasiiicate has a nominal Siθ2 : Na2θ ratio of 1.0. The weight ratio of said sodium silicate to said sodium metasiiicate, measured as Siθ2, is preferably from 50:1 to 5:4, more preferably from 15:1 to 2: 1, most preferably from 10:1 to 5:2.

Heavy metal ion sequestrant

The detergent compositions of the invention preferably contain as an optional component a heavy metal ion sequestrant. By heavy metal ion sequestrant it is meant herein components which act to sequester (chelate) heavy metal ions. These components may also have calcium and magnesium chelation capacity, but preferentially they show selectivity to binding heavy metal ions such as iron, manganese and copper.

Heavy metal ion sequestrants are generally present at a level of from 0.005% to 20%, preferably from 0.1 % to 10%, more preferably from 0.25% to 7.5% and most preferably from 0.5% to 5% by weight of the compositions.

Suitable heavy metal ion sequestrants for use herein include organic phosphonates, such as the amino alkylene poly (alkylene phosphonates), alkali metal ethane 1 -hydroxy disphosphonates and nitrilo trimethylene phosphonates. Preferred among the above species are diethylene triamine penta (methylene phosphonate), ethylene diamine tri (methylene phosphonate) hexamethylene diamine tetra (methylene phosphonate) and hydroxy- ethylene 1,1 diphosphonate.

Other suitable heavy metal ion sequestrant for use herein include nitrilotriacetic acid and polyaminocarboxylic acids such as ethylenediaminotetracetic acid, ethylenetriamine pentacetic acid, ethylenediamine disuccinic acid, ethylenediamine diglutaric acid, 2- hydroxypropylenediamine disuccinic acid or any salts thereof. Especially preferred is ethylenediamine-N, N' -disuccinic acid (EDDS) or the alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, ammonium, or substituted ammonium salts thereof, or mixmres thereof.

Other suitable heavy metal ion sequestrants for use herein are iminodiacetic acid derivatives such as 2-hydroxyethyl diacetic acid or glyceryl imino diacetic acid, described in EP-A-317,542 and EP-A-399,133. The iminodiacetic acid-N-2-hydroxypropyl sulfonic acid and aspartic acid N- carboxymethyl N-2-hydroxypropyl-3-sulfonic acid sequestrants described in EP-A-516,102 are also suitable herein. The β-alanine-N,N' -diacetic acid, aspartic acid-N,N' -diacetic acid, aspartic acid-N-monoacetic acid and iminodisuccinic acid sequestrants described in EP-A-509,382 are also suitable.

EP-A-476,257 describes suitable amino based sequestrants. EP-A-510,331 describes suitable sequestrants derived from collagen, keratin or casein. EP-A-528,859 describes a suitable alkyl iminodiacetic acid sequestrant. Dipicolinic acid and 2-phosphonobutane-l,2,4-tricarboxylic acid are also suitable. Glycinamide-N,N' -disuccinic acid (GADS), ethylenediamine-N- N' -diglutaric acid (EDDG) and 2-hydroxypropylenediamine-N-N'- disuccinic acid (HPDDS) are also suitable.

Water-soluble bismuth compound

The compositions used in this invention may contain a water-soluble bismuth compound, preferably present at a level of from 0.005% to 20%, more preferably from 0.01 % to 5%, most preferably from 0.1 % to 1 % by weight of the compositions.

The water-soluble bismuth compound may be essentially any salt or complex of bismuth with essentially any inorganic or organic counter anion. Preferred inorganic bismuth salts are selected from the bismuth trihalides, bismuth nitrate and bismuth phosphate. Bismuth acetate and citrate are preferred salts with an organic counter anion.

Water-soluble sulfate salt

The compositions may optionally contain a water-soluble sulfate salt, preferably present at a level of from 0.1 % to 40%, more preferably from 1 % to 30%, most preferably from 5% to 25% by weight of the compositions.

The water-soluble sulfate salt may be essentially any salt of sulfate with any counter cation. Preferred salts are selected from the suifates of the alkali and alkaline earth metals, particularly sodium sulfate.

Corrosion inhibitor compound

The compositions may contain corrosion inhibitors preferably selected from organic silver coating agents, particularly paraffin, nitrogen-containing corrosion inhibitor compounds and Mn(II) compounds, particularly Mn(II) salts of organic ligands.

Organic silver coating agents are described in PCT Publication No. WO94/16047 (attorney's docket no. CM497M) and copending UK Application No. UK 9413729.6 (attorney's docket no. CM750F). Nitrogen- containing corrosion inhibitor compounds are disclosed in copending European Application no. EP 93202095.1 (attorney's docket no. CM571F). Mn(II) compounds for use in corrosion inhibition are described in copending UK Application No. 9418567.5 (attorney's docket no. CM719FM).

Organic silver coating agents Organic silver coating agent may be incorporated at a level of from 0.05% to 10% , preferably from 0.1 % to 5% by weight of the total composition.

The functional role of the silver coating agent is to form 'in use' a protective coating layer on any silverware components of the washload to which the compositions of the invention are being applied. The silver coating agent should hence have a high affinity for attachment to solid silver surfaces, particularly when present in as a component of an aqueous washing and bleaching solution with which the solid silver surfaces are being treated.

Suitable organic silver coating agents herein include fatty esters of mono- or polyhydric alcohols having from 1 to about 40 carbon atoms in the hydrocarbon chain.

The fatty acid portion of the fatty ester can be obtained from mono- or poly-carboxylic acids having from 1 to about 40 carbon atoms in the hydrocarbon chain. Suitable examples of monocarboxylic fatty acids include behenic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, myristic acid, lauric acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, isobutyric acid,

Valerie acid, lactic acid, glycolic acid and β,β'- dihydroxyisobutyric acid. Examples of suitable polycarboxylic acids include: n-butyl-malonic acid, isocitric acid, citric acid, maleic acid, malic acid and succinic acid.

The fatty alcohol radical in the fatty ester can be represented by mono- or polyhydric alcohols having from 1 to 40 carbon atoms in the hydrocarbon chain. Examples of suitable fatty alcohols include; behenyl, arachidyl, cocoyl, oleyl and lauryl alcohol, ethylene glycol, glycerol, ethanol, isopropanol, vinyl alcohol, diglycerol, xylitol, sucrose, erythritol, pentaerythritol, sorbitol or sorbitan.

Preferably, the fatty acid and/or fatty alcohol group of the fatty ester adjunct material have from 1 to 24 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain.

Preferred fatty esters herein are ethylene glycol, glycerol and sorbitan esters wherein the fatty acid portion of the ester normally comprises a species selected from behenic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid or myristic acid. The glycerol esters are also highly preferred. These are the mono-, di- or tri-esters of glycerol and the fatty acids as defined above.

Specific examples of fatty alcohol esters for use herein include: stearyl acetate, palmityl di-lactate, cocoyl isobutyrate, oleyl maleate, oleyl dimaleate , and tallowyl proprionate. Fatty acid esters useful herein include: xylitol monopalmitate, pentaerythritol monostearate, sucrose monostearate, glycerol monostearate, ethylene glycol monostearate, sorbitan esters. Suitable sorbitan esters include sorbitan monostearate, sorbitan palmitate, sorbitan monolaurate, sorbitan monomyristate, sorbitan monobehenate, sorbitan mono-oleate, sorbitan dilaurate, sorbitan distearate, sorbitan dibehenate, sorbitan dioleate, and also mixed tallowalkyl sorbitan mono- and di-esters.

Glycerol monostearate, glycerol mono-oleate, glycerol monopalmitate, glycerol monobehenate, and glycerol distearate are preferred glycerol esters herein.

Suitable organic silver coating agents include triglycerides, mono or diglycerides, and wholly or partially hydrogenated derivatives thereof, and any mixmres thereof. Suitable sources of fatty acid esters include vegetable and fish oils and animal fats. Suitable vegetable oils include soy bean oil, cotton seed oil, castor oil, olive oil, peanut oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil, rapeseed oil, grapeseed oil, palm oil and corn oil.

Waxes, including microcrystalline waxes are suitable organic silver coating agents herein. Preferred waxes have a melting point in the range from about 35 °C to about 110°C and comprise generally from 12 to 70 carbon atoms. Preferred are petroleum waxes of the paraffin and microcrystalline type which are composed of long-chain samrated hydrocarbon compounds.

Alginates and gelatin are suitable organic silver coating agents herein.

Dialkyl amine oxides such as C12-C20 methylamine oxide, and dialkyl quaternary ammonium compounds and salts, such as the C12-C20 methylammonium halides are also suitable.

Other suitable organic silver coating agents include certain polymeric materials. Polyvinylpyrrolidones with an average molecular weight of from 12,000 to 700,000, polyethylene glycols (PEG) with an average molecular weight of from 600 to 10,000, polyamine N-oxide polymers, copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone and N-vinylimidazole, and cellulose derivatives such as methylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose and hydroxyethylcellulose are examples of such polymeric materials.

Certain perfume materials, particularly those demonstrating a high substantivity for metallic surfaces, are also useful as the organic silver coating agents herein.

Polymeric soil release agents can also be used as an organic silver coating agent.

Suitable polymeric soil release agents include those soil release agents having: (a) one or more nonionic hydrophile components consisting essentially of (i) polyoxyethylene segments with a degree of polymerization of at least 2, or (ii) oxypropylene or polyoxypropylene segments with a degree of polymerization of from 2 to 10, wherein said hydrophile segment does not encompass any oxypropylene unit unless it is bonded to adjacent moieties at each end by ether linkages, or (iii) a mixmre of oxy alkylene units comprising oxyethylene and from 1 to about 30 oxypropylene units, said hydrophile segments preferably comprising at least about 25 % oxyethylene units and more preferably, especially for such components having about 20 to 30 oxypropylene units, at least about 50% oxyethylene units; or (b) one or more hydrophobe components comprising (i) C3 oxy alkylene terephthalate segments, wherein, if said hydrophobe components also comprise oxyethylene terephthalate, the ratio of oxyethylene terephthalate :C3 oxy alkylene terephthalate units is about 2:1 or lower, (ii) C4-C6 alkylene or oxy C4-C6 alkylene segments, or mixmres therein, (iii) poly (vinyl ester) segments, preferably polyvinyl acetate, having a degree of polymerization of at least 2, or (iv) C1-C4 alkyl ether or C4 hydroxyalkyl ether substituents, or mixmres therein, wherein said substituents are present in the form of C1-C4 alkyl ether or C4 hydroxyalkyl ether cellulose derivatives, or mixmres therein, or a combination of (a) and (b).

Typically, the polyoxyethylene segments of (a)(i) will have a degree of polymerization of from about 200, although higher levels can be used, preferably from 3 to about 150, more preferably from 6 to about 100. Suitable oxy C4-C6 alkylene hydrophobe segments include, but are not limited to, end-caps of polymeric soil release agents such as Mθ3S(CH2)nOCH2CH2θ-, where M is sodium and n is an integer from 4-6, as disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,721,580, issued January 26, 1988 to Gosselink.

Polymeric soil release agents useful herein also include cellulosic derivatives such as hydroxy ether cellulosic polymers, copolymeric blocks of ethylene terephthalate or propylene terephthalate with polyethylene oxide or polypropylene oxide terephthalate, and the like. Such agents are commercially available and include hydroxyethers of cellulose such as METHOCEL (Dow). Cellulosic soil release agents for use herein also include those selected from the group consisting of C1-C4 alkyl and C4 hydroxyalkyl cellulose; see U.S. Patent 4,000,093, issued December 28, 1976 to Nicol, et al.

Soil release agents characterized by poly(vinyl ester) hydrophobe segments include graft copolymers of poly(vinyl ester), e.g., C1-C6 vinyl esters, preferably poly (vinyl acetate) grafted onto poly alkylene oxide backbones, such as polyethylene oxide backbones. See European Patent Application 0 219 048, published April 22, 1987 by Kud, et al.

Another suitable soil release agent is a copolymer having random blocks of ethylene terephthalate and polyethylene oxide (PEO) terephthalate. The molecular weight of this polymeric soil release agent is in the range of from about 25,000 to about 55,000. See U.S. Patent 3,959,230 to Hays, issued May 25, 1976 and U.S. Patent 3,893,929 to Basadur issued July 8, 1975.

Another suitable polymeric soil release agent is a polyester with repeat units of ethylene terephthalate units contains 10-15% by weight of ethylene terephthalate units together with 90-80% by weight of polyoxyethylene terephthalate units, derived from a polyoxyethylene glycol of average molecular weight 300-5,000.

Another suitable polymeric soil release agent is a sulfonated product of a substantially linear ester oligomer comprised of an oligomeric ester backbone of terephthaloyl and oxyalkyleneoxy repeat units and terminal moieties covalently attached to the backbone. These soil release agents are described fully in U.S. Patent 4,968,451, issued November 6, 1990 to J.J. Scheibel and E.P. Gosselink. Other suitable polymeric soil release agents include the terephthalate polyesters of U.S. Patent 4,711,730, issued December 8, 1987 to Gosselink et al, the anionic end-capped oligomeric esters of U.S. Patent 4,721,580, issued January 26, 1988 to Gosselink, and the block polyester oligomeric compounds of U.S. Patent 4,702,857, issued October 27, 1987 to Gosselink. Other polymeric soil release agents also include the soil release agents of U.S. Patent 4,877,896, issued October 31, 1989 to Maldonado et al, which discloses anionic, especially sul- foarolyl, end-capped terephthalate esters.

Another soil release agent is an oligomer with repeat units of terephthaloyl units, sulfoisoterephthaloyl units, oxyethyleneoxy and oxy-l,2-propylene units. The repeat units form the backbone of the oligomer and are preferably terminated with modified isethionate end-caps. A particularly preferred soil release agent of this type comprises about one sulfoisophthaloyl unit, 5 terephthaloyl units, oxyethyleneoxy and oxy- 1,2- propyleneoxy units in a ratio of from about 1.7 to about 1.8, and two end- cap units of sodium 2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)-ethanesulfonate.

A preferred organic silver coating agent is a paraffin oil, typically a predominantly branched aliphatic hydrocarbon having a number of carbon atoms in the range of from 20 to 50; preferred paraffin oil selected from predominantly branched C25-45 species with a ratio of cyclic to noncyclic hydrocarbons of from 1: 10 to 2:1, preferably from 1:5 to 1: 1. A paraffin oil meeting these characteristics, having a ratio of cyclic to noncyclic hydrocarbons of about 32:68, is sold by Wintershall, Salzbergen, Germany, under the trade name WINOG 70.

Nitrogen-containing corrosion inhibitor compounds

Suitable nitrogen-containing corrosion inhibitor compounds include imidazole and derivatives thereof such as benzimidazole, 2-heptadecyl imidazole and those imidazole derivatives described in Czech Patent No. 139, 279 and British Patent GB-A-1, 137,741, which also discloses a method for making imidazole compounds.

Also suitable as nitrogen-containing corrosion inhibitor compounds are pyrazole compounds and their derivatives, particularly those where the pyrazole is substimted in any of the 1, 3, 4 or 5 positions by substituents Rl , R3, R4 and R5 where Ri is any of H, CH2OH, CONH3, or COCH3, R3 and R5 are any of C1-C20 alkyl or hydroxy 1, and R4 is any of H, NH2 or NO2.

Other suitable nitrogen-containing corrosion inhibitor compounds include benzotriazole, 2-mercaptobenzothiazole, l-phenyl-5-mercapto-l , 2,3,4- tetrazole, thionalide, morpholine, melamine, distearylamine, stearoyl stearamide, cyanuric acid, aminotriazole, aminotetrazole and indazole.

Nitrogen-containing compounds such as amines, especially distearylamine and ammonium compounds such as ammonium chloride, ammonium bromide, ammonium sulphate or diammonium hydrogen citrate are also suitable.

Mn(II) corrosion inhibitor compounds

The compositions may contain an Mn(II) corrosion inhibitor compound. The Mn(II) compound is preferably incorporated at a level of from 0.005% to 5% by weight, more preferably from 0.01 % to 1 %, most preferably from 0.02% to 0.4% by weight of the compositions. Preferably, the Mn(II) compound is incorporated at a level to provide from 0.1 ppm to 250 ppm, more preferably from 0.5 ppm to 50 ppm, most preferably from 1 ppm to 20 ppm by weight of Mn(II) ions in any bleaching solution.

The Mn (II) compound may be an inorganic salt in anhydrous, or any hydrated forms. Suitable salts include manganese sulphate, manganese carbonate, manganese phosphate, manganese nitrate, manganese acetate and manganese chloride. The Mn(II) compound may be a salt or complex of an organic fatty acid such as manganese acetate or manganese stearate.

The Mn(II) compound may be a salt or complex of an organic ligand. In one preferred aspect the organic ligand is a heavy metal ion sequestrant. In another preferred aspect the organic ligand is a crystal growth inhibitor.

Other corrosion inhibitor compounds

Other suitable additional corrosion inhibitor compounds include, mercaptans and diols, especially mercaptans with 4 to 20 carbon atoms including lauryl mercaptan, thiophenol, thionapthol, thionalide and thioanthranol. Also suitable are samrated or unsamrated C10-C20 fatty acids, or their salts, especially aluminium tristearate. The C12-C20 hydroxy fatty acids, or their salts, are also suitable. Phosphonated octa- decane and other anti-oxidants such as betahydroxytoluene (BHT) are also suitable.

Copolymers of butadiene and maleic acid, particularly those supplied under the trade reference no. 07787 by Poly sciences Inc have been found to be of particular utility as corrosion inhibitor compounds.

Enzyme

Another preferred ingredient useful in the detergent compositions is one or more additional enzymes.

Preferred additional enzymatic materials include the commercially available upases, cutinases, amylases, neutral and alkaline proteases, esterases, cellulases, pectinases, lactases and peroxidases conventionally incorporated into detergent compositions. Suitable enzymes are discussed in US Patents 3,519,570 and 3,533,139.

Preferred commercially available protease enzymes include those sold under the tradenames Alcalase, Savinase, Primase, Durazym, and Esperase by Novo Industries A/S (Denmark), those sold under the tradename Maxatase, Maxacal and Maxapem by Gist-Brocades, those sold by

Genencor International, and those sold under the tradename Opticlean and Optimase by Solvay Enzymes. Protease enzyme may be incorporated into the compositions in accordance with the invention at a level of from 0.0001 % to 4% active enzyme by weight of the composition.

Preferred amylases include, for example, α-amylases obtained from a special strain of B licheniformis, described in more detail in GB- 1,269,839 (Novo). Preferred commercially available amylases include for example, those sold under the tradename Rapidase by Gist-Brocades, and those sold under the tradename Termamyl and BAN by Novo Industries A/S.

Amylase enzyme may be incorporated into the composition in accordance with the invention at a level of from 0.0001 % to 2% active enzyme by weight of the composition.

Lipolytic enzyme may be present at levels of active lipolytic enzyme of from 0.0001 % to 2% by weight, preferably 0.001 % to 1 % by weight, most preferably from 0.001 % to 0.5% by weight of the compositions.

The lipase may be fungal or bacterial in origin being obtained, for example, from a lipase producing strain of Humicola sp., Thermomyces sp. or Pseudomonas sp. including Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes or Pseudomas fluorescens. Lipase from chemically or genetically modified mutants of these strains are also useful herein. A preferred lipase is derived from Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes. which is described in Granted European Patent, EP-B-0218272.

Another preferred lipase herein is obtained by cloning the gene from Humicola lanuginosa and expressing the gene in Aspergillus oryza. as host, as described in European Patent Application, EP-A-0258 068, which is commercially available from Novo Industri A/S, Bagsvaerd, Denmark, under the trade name Lipolase. This lipase is also described in U.S. Patent 4,810,414, Huge-Jensen et al, issued March 7, 1989.

Organic polymeric compound

Orgamc polymeric compounds are preferred additional components of the detergent compositions in accord with the invention, and are preferably present as components of any particulate components where they may act such as to bind the particulate component together. By organic polymeric compound it is meant herein essentially any polymeric organic compound commonly used as dispersants, and anti-redeposition and soil suspension agents in detergent compositions, including any of the high molecular weight organic polymeric compounds described as clay flocculating agents herein.

Organic polymeric compound is typically incorporated in the detergent compositions of the invention at a level of from 0.1 % to 30%, preferably from 0.5% to 15%, most preferably from 1 % to 10% by weight of the compositions.

Examples of organic polymeric compounds include the water soluble organic homo- or co-polymeric polycarboxylic acids or their salts in which the polycarboxylic acid comprises at least two carboxyl radicals separated from each other by not more than two carbon atoms. Polymers of the latter type are disclosed in GB- A- 1,596,756. Examples of such salts are polyacrylates of MWt 2000-5000 and their copolymers with maleic anhydride, such copolymers having a molecular weight of from 20,000 to 100,000, especially 40,000 to 80,000.

The polyamino compounds are useful herein including those derived from aspartic acid such as those disclosed in EP-A-305282, EP-A-305283 and EP-A-351629.

Terpolymers containing monomer units selected from maleic acid, acrylic acid, polyaspartic acid and vinyl alcohol, particularly those having an average molecular weight of from 5,000 to 10,000, are also suitable herein.

Other organic polymeric compounds suitable for incoφoration in the detergent compositions herein include cellulose derivatives such as methylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose and hydroxyethylcellulose.

Further useful organic polymeric compounds are the polyethylene glycols, particularly those of molecular weight 1000-10000, more particularly 2000 to 8000 and most preferably about 4000.

Crystal growth inhibitor component

The detergent compositions preferably contain a crystal growth inhibitor component, preferably an organodiphosphonic acid component, incorporated preferably at a level of from 0.01 % to 5%, more preferably from 0.1 % to 2 % by weight of the compositions. By organo diphosphonic acid it is meant herein an organo diphosphonic acid which does not contain nitrogen as part of its chemical strucmre. This definition therefore excludes the organo aminophosphonates, which however may be included in compositions of the invention as heavy metal ion sequestrant components.

The organo diphosphonic acid is preferably a -C4 diphosphonic acid, more preferably a C2 diphosphonic acid, such as ethylene diphosphonic acid, or most preferably ethane 1 -hydroxy- 1,1 -diphosphonic acid (HEDP) and may be present in partially or fully ionized form, particularly as a salt or complex.

Lime soap dispersant compound

The compositions of the invention may contain a lime soap dispersant compound, preferably present at a level of from 0.1 % to 40% by weight, more preferably 1 % to 20% by weight, most preferably from 2% to 10% by weight of the compositions.

A lime soap dispersant is a material that prevents the precipitation of alkali metal, ammonium or amine salts of fatty acids by calcium or magnesium ions. Preferred lime soap disperant compounds are disclosed in PCT Application No. WO93/08877 (attorney's docket no. CM466M).

Suds suppressing system

The detergent compositions of the invention, when formulated for use in machine washing compositions, preferably comprise a suds suppressing system present at a level of from 0.01 % to 15%, preferably from 0.05% to 10%, most preferably from 0.1 % to 5% by weight of the composition.

Suitable suds suppressing systems for use herein may comprise essentially any known antifoam compound, including, for example silicone antifoam compounds and 2-alkyl alcanol antifoam compounds.

By antifoam compound it is meant herein any compound or mixmres of compounds which act such as to depress the foaming or sudsing produced by a solution of a detergent composition, particularly in the presence of agitation of that solution.

Particularly preferred antifoam compounds for use herein are silicone antifoam compounds defined herein as any antifoam compound including a silicone component. Such silicone antifoam compounds also typically contain a silica component. The term "silicone" as used herein, and in general throughout the industry, encompasses a variety of relatively high molecular weight polymers containing siloxane units and hydrocarbyl group of various types. Preferred silicone antifoam compounds are the siloxanes, particularly the polydimethylsiloxanes having trimethylsilyl end blocking units.

Other suitable antifoam compounds include the monocarboxylic fatty acids and soluble salts thereof. These materials are described in US Patent 2,954,347, issued September 27, 1960 to Wayne St. John. The monocarboxylic fatty acids, and salts thereof, for use as suds suppressor typically have hydrocarbyl chains of 10 to 24 carbon atoms, preferably 12 to 18 carbon atoms. Suitable salts include the alkali metal salts such as sodium, potassium, and lithium salts, and ammonium and alkanolammonium salts.

Other suitable antifoam compounds include, for example, high molecular weight fatty esters (e.g. fatty acid triglycerides), fatty acid esters of monovalent alcohols, aliphatic Cj -C40 ketones (e.g. stearone) N-alkylated amino triazines such as tri- to hexa-alkylmelamines or di- to tetra alkyldiamine chlortriazines formed as products of cyanuric chloride with two or three moles of a primary or secondary amine containing 1 to 24 carbon atoms, propylene oxide, bis stearic acid amide and monostearyl di- alkali metal (e.g. sodium, potassium, lithium) phosphates and phosphate esters.

A preferred suds suppressing system comprises

(a) antifoam compound, preferably silicone antifoam compound, most preferably a silicone antifoam compound comprising in combination (i) polydimethyl siloxane, at a level of from 50% to 99%, preferably 75 % to 95 % by weight of the silicone antifoam compound; and

(ii) silica, at a level of from 1 % to 50%, preferably 5% to 25% by weight of the silicone/silica antifoam compound;

wherein said silica/silicone antifoam compound is incorporated at a level of from 5% to 50%, preferably 10% to 40% by weight;

(b) a dispersant compound, most preferably comprising a silicone glycol rake copolymer with a polyoxyalkylene content of 72-78 % and an ethylene oxide to propylene oxide ratio of from 1 : 0.9 to 1 : 1.1 , at a level of from 0.5% to 10%, preferably 1 % to 10% by weight; a particularly preferred silicone glycol rake copolymer of this type is DC0544, commercially available from DOW Corning under the tradename DC0544;

(c) an inert carrier fluid compound, most preferably comprising a C\ - Cjg ethoxylated alcohol with a degree of ethoxylation of from 5 to 50, preferably 8 to 15, at a level of from 5% to 80%, preferably 10% to 70%, by weight;

A highly preferred particulate suds suppressing system is described in EP- A-0210731 and comprises a silicone antifoam compound and an organic carrier material having a melting point in the range 50°C to 85 °C, wherein the organic carrier material comprises a monoester of glycerol and a fatty acid having a carbon chain containing from 12 to 20 carbon atoms. EP-A- 0210721 discloses other preferred particulate suds suppressing systems wherein the organic carrier material is a fatty acid or alcohol having a carbon chain containing from 12 to 20 carbon atoms, or a mixmre thereof, with a melting point of from 45 °C to 80°C.

Clay softening system The detergent compositions may contain a clay softening system comprising a clay mineral compound and optionally a clay flocculating agent.

The clay mineral compound is preferably a smectite clay compound. Smectite clays are disclosed in the US Patents No.s 3,862,058, 3,948,790, 3,954,632 and 4,062,647. European Patents No.s EP-A-299,575 and EP- A-313,146 in the name of the Procter and Gamble Company describe suitable organic polymeric clay flocculating agents.

Polymeric dve transfer inhibiting agents

The detergent compositions herein may also comprise from 0.01 % to 10 %, preferably from 0.05% to 0.5% by weight of polymeric dye transfer inhibiting agents.

The polymeric dye transfer inhibiting agents are preferably selected from polyamine N-oxide polymers, copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone and N- vinylimidazole, polyvinylpyrrolidonepolymers or combinations thereof.

a) Polyamine N-oxide polymers

Polyamine N-oxide polymers suitable for use herein contain units having the following strucmre formula :

(I) Ax

R

wherein P is a polymerisable unit, and

O O O

A is NC, CO, C, -O-, -S-, -N-; x is O or 1 ;

R are aliphatic, ethoxylated aliphatics, aromatic, heterocyclic or alicyclic groups or any combination thereof whereto the nitrogen of the N-0 group can be attached or wherein the nitrogen of the N-O group is part of these groups.

The N-0 group can be represented by the following general structures :

O

▲

O (R₁) x -N-(R₂)y ^•*

wherein RI, R2, and R3 are aliphatic groups, aromatic, heterocyclic or alicyclic groups or combinations thereof, x or/and y or/and z is 0 or 1 and wherein the nitrogen of the N-0 group can be attached or wherein the nitrogen of the N-0 group forms part of these groups. The N-O group can be part of the polymerisable unit (P) or can be attached to the polymeric backbone or a combination of both.

Suitable polyamine N-oxides wherein the N-O group forms part of the polymerisable unit comprise polyamine N-oxides wherein R is selected from aliphatic, aromatic, alicyclic or heterocyclic groups. One class of said polyamine N-oxides comprises the group of polyamine N-oxides wherein the nitrogen of the N-O group forms part of the R-group. Preferred polyamine N-oxides are those wherein R is a heterocyclic group such as pyrridine, pyrrole, imidazole, pyrrolidine, piperidine, quinoline, acridine and derivatives thereof.

Other suitable polyamine N-oxides are the polyamine oxides whereto the N-O group is attached to the polymerisable unit. A preferred class of these polyamine N-oxides comprises the polyamine N-oxides having the general formula (I) wherein R is an aromatic, heterocyclic or alicyclic groups wherein the nitrogen of the N-O functional group is part of said R group. Examples of these classes are polyamine oxides wherein R is a heterocyclic compound such as pyrridine, pyrrole, imidazole and derivatives thereof. The polyamine N-oxides can be obtained in almost any degree of polymerisation. The degree of polymerisation is not critical provided the material has the desired water-solubility and dye-suspending power. Typically, the average molecular weight is within the range of 500 to 1000,000.

b) Copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone and N-vinylimidazole

Suitable herein are coploymers of N-vinylimidazole and N-vinylpyrrolidone having an average molecular weight range of from 5,000 to 50,000. The preferred copolymers have a molar ratio of N-vinylimidazole to N- vinylpyrrolidone from 1 to 0.2.

c Polvvinylpyrrolidone

The detergent compositions herein may also utilize polyvinylpyrrolidone ("PVP") having an average molecular weight of from 2,500 to 400,000. Suitable polyvinylpyrrolidones are commercially available from ISP Corporation, New York, NY and Montreal, Canada under the product names PVP K-15 (viscosity molecular weight of 10,000), PVP K-30 (average molecular weight of 40,000), PVP K-60 (average molecular weight of 160,000), and PVP K-90 (average molecular weight of 360,000). PVP K-15 is also available from ISP Corporation. Other suitable polyvinylpyrrolidones which are commercially available from BASF Cooperation include Sokalan HP 165 and Sokalan HP 12.

d) Polvvinyloxazolidone

The detergent compositions herein may also utilize polyvinyloxazolidones as polymeric dye transfer inhibiting agents. Said polyvinyloxazolidones have an average molecular weight of from 2,500 to 400,000.

e) Polvvinylimidazole The detergent compositions herein may also utilize polyvinylimidazole as polymeric dye transfer inhibiting agent. Said polyvinylimidazoles preferably have an average molecular weight of from 2,500 to 400,000.

Optical brightener

The detergent compositions herein also optionally contain from about 0.005% to 5% by weight of certain types of hydrophilic optical brighteners.

Hydrophilic optical brighteners useful herein include those having the strucmral formula:

wherein Ri is selected from anilino, N-2-bis-hydroxyethyl and NH-2- hydroxyethyl; R2 is selected from N-2-bis-hydroxy ethyl, N-2- hydroxyethyl-N-methylamino, morphilino, chloro and amino; and M is a salt-forming cation such as sodium or potassium.

When in the above formula, Rj is anilino, R2 is N-2-bis-hydroxyethyl and M is a cation such as sodium, the brightener is 4,4',-bis[(4-anilino-6-(N-2- bis-hydroxyethyl)-s-triazine-2-yl)amino]-2,2'-stilbenedisulfonic acid and disodium salt. This particular brightener species is commercially marketed under the tradename Tinopal-UNPA-GX by Ciba-Geigy Corporation.

Tinopal-UNPA-GX is the preferred hydrophilic optical brightener useful in the detergent compositions herein.

When in the above formula, R\ is anilino, R2 is N-2-hydroxyethyl-N-2- methylamino and M is a cation such as sodium, the brightener is 4,4'- bis[(4-amlino-6-(N-2-hydroxyethyl-N-methylamino)-s-triazine-2- yl)amino]2,2'-stilbenedisulfonic acid disodium salt. This particular brightener species is commercially marketed under the tradename Tinopal 5BM-GX by Ciba-Geigy Corporation.

When in the above formula, Rj is anilino, R2 is morphilino and M is a cation such as sodium, the brightener is 4,4'-bis[(4-anilino-6-morphilino-s- triazine-2-yl)amino]2,2'-stilbenedisulfonic acid, sodium salt. This particular brightener species is commercially marketed under the tradename Tinopal AMS-GX by Ciba Geigy Corporation.

Cationic fabric softening agents

Cationic fabric softening agents can also be incorporated into compositions in accordance with the present invention. Suitable cationic fabric softening agents include the water insoluble tertiary amines or dilong chain amide materials as disclosed in GB-A-1 514 276 and EP-B-0011 340.

Cationic fabric softening agents are typically incorporated at total levels of from 0.5% to 15% by weight, normally from 1 % to 5% by weight.

Other optional ingredients

Other optional ingredients suitable for inclusion in the compositions of the invention include perfumes, colours and filler salts, with sodium sulfate being a preferred filler salt.

pH of the compositions

The present compositions preferably have a pH measured as a 1 % solution in distilled water of at least 10.0, preferably from 10.0 to 12.5, most preferably from 10.5 to 12.0.

Form of the compositions

The compositions in accordance with the invention can take a variety of physical forms including granular, tablet, bar and liquid forms. The compositions are particularly the so-called concentrated granular detergent compositions adapted to be added to a washing machine by means of a dispensing device placed in the machine drum with the soiled fabric load.

The mean particle size of the components of granular compositions in accordance with the invention should preferably be such that no more that 5% of particles are greater than 1.7mm in diameter and not more than 5% of particles are less than 0.15mm in diameter.

The term mean particle size as defined herein is calculated by sieving a sample of the composition into a number of fractions (typically 5 fractions) on a series of Tyler sieves. The weight fractions thereby obtained are plotted against the aperture size of the sieves. The mean particle size is taken to be the aperture size through which 50% by weight of the sample would pass.

The bulk density of granular detergent compositions in accordance with the present invention typically have a bulk density of at least 600 g/litre, more preferably from 650 g/litre to 1200 g/litre. Bulk density is measured by means of a simple funnel and cup device consisting of a conical funnel moulded rigidly on a base and provided with a flap valve at its lower extremity to allow the contents of the funnel to be emptied into an axially aligned cylindrical cup disposed below the funnel. The funnel is 130 mm high and has internal diameters of 130 mm and 40 mm at its respective upper and lower extremities. It is mounted so that the lower extremity is 140 mm above the upper surface of the base. The cup has an overall height of 90 mm, an internal height of 87 mm and an internal diameter of 84 mm. Its nominal volume is 500 ml.

To carry out a measurement, the funnel is filled with powder by hand pouring, the flap valve is opened and powder allowed to overfill the cup. The filled cup is removed from the frame and excess powder removed from the cup by passing a straight edged implement eg; a knife, across its upper edge. The filled cup is then weighed and the value obtained for the weight of powder doubled to provide a bulk density in g/litre. Replicate measurements are made as required. Dianionic cleaning agent agglomerate particles

The dianionic cleaning agent system herein is preferably present in granular compositions in the form of dianionic cleaning agent agglomerate particles, which may take the form of flakes, prills, marumes, noodles, ribbons, but preferably take the form of granules. The most preferred way to process the particles is by agglomerating powders (e.g. aluminosilicate, carbonate) with high active dianionic cleaning agent pastes and to control the particle size of the resultant agglomerates within specified limits. Such a process involves mixing an effective amount of powder with a high active dianionic cleaning agent paste in one or more agglomerators such as a pan agglomerator, a Z-blade mixer or more preferably an in-line mixer such as those manufactured by Schugi (Holland) BV, 29 Chroomstraat 8211 AS, Lelystad, Netherlands, and Gebruder Lodige Maschinenbau GmbH, D- 4790 Paderborn 1, Elsenerstrasse 7-9, Postfach 2050, Germany. Most preferably a high shear mixer is used, such as a Lodige CB (Trade Name).

A high active dianionic cleaning agent paste comprising from 50% by weight to 95% by weight, preferably 70% by weight to 85% by weight of dianionic cleaning agent is typically used. The paste may be pumped into the agglomerator at a temperamre high enough to maintain a pumpable viscosity, but low enough to avoid degradation of the anionic surfactants used. An operating temperamre of the paste of 50° C to 80° C is typical.

Laundry washing method

Machine laundry methods herein typically comprise treating soiled laundry with an aqueous wash solution in a washing machine having dissolved or dispensed therein an effective amount of a machine laundry detergent composition in accord with the invention. By an effective amount of the detergent composition it is meant from 40g to 300g of product dissolved or dispersed in a wash solution of volume from 5 to 65 litres, as are typical product dosages and wash solution volumes commonly employed in conventional machine laundry methods. In a preferred use aspect a dispensing device is employed in the washing method. The dispensing device is charged with the detergent product, and is used to introduce the product directly into the drum of the washing machine before the commencement of the wash cycle. Its volume capacity should be such as to be able to contain sufficient detergent product as would normally be used in the washing method.

Once the washing machine has been loaded with laundry the dispensing device containing the detergent product is placed inside the drum. At the commencement of the wash cycle of the washing machine water is introduced into the drum and the drum periodically rotates. The design of the dispensing device should be such that it permits containment of the dry detergent product but then allows release of this product during the wash cycle in response to its agitation as the drum rotates and also as a result of its contact with the wash water.

To allow for release of the detergent product during the wash the device may possess a number of openings through which the product may pass. Alternatively, the device may be made of a material which is permeable to liquid but impermeable to the solid product, which will allow release of dissolved product. Preferably, the detergent product will be rapidly released at the start of the wash cycle thereby providing transient localised high concentrations of product in the drum of the washing machine at this stage of the wash cycle.

Preferred dispensing devices are reusable and are designed in such a way that container integrity is maintained in both the dry state and during the wash cycle. Especially preferred dispensing devices for use with the composition of the invention have been described in the following patents; GB-B-2, 157, 717, GB-B-2, 157, 718, EP-A-0201376, EP-A-0288345 and EP-A-0288346. An article by J. Bland published in Manufacturing Chemist, November 1989, pages 41-46 also describes especially preferred dispensing devices for use with granular laundry products which are of a type commonly know as the "granulette". Another preferred dispensing device for use with the compositions of this invention is disclosed in PCT Patent Application No. W094/11562. Especially preferred dispensing devices are disclosed in European Patent Application Publication Nos. 0343069 & 0343070. The latter Application discloses a device comprising a flexible sheath in the form of a bag extending from a support ring defining an orifice, the orifice being adapted to admit to the bag sufficient product for one washing cycle in a washing process. A portion of the washing medium flows through the orifice into the bag, dissolves the product, and the solution then passes outwardly through the orifice into the washing medium. The support ring is provided with a masking arrangemnt to prevent egress of wetted, undissolved, product, this arrangement typically comprising radially extending walls extending from a central boss in a spoked wheel configuration, or a similar strucmre in which the walls have a helical form.

Alternatively, the dispensing device may be a flexible container, such as a bag or pouch. The bag may be of fibrous construction coated with a water impermeable protective material so as to retain the contents, such as is disclosed in European published Patent Application No. 0018678. Alternatively it may be formed of a water-insoluble synthetic polymeric material provided with an edge seal or closure designed to rupture in aqueous media as disclosed in European published Patent Application Nos. 0011500, 0011501, 0011502, and 0011968. A convenient form of water frangible closure comprises a water soluble adhesive disposed along and sealing one edge of a pouch formed of a water impermeable polymeric film such as polyethylene or polypropylene.

Machine dishwashing method

Any suitable methods for machine washing or cleaning soiled tableware, particularly soiled silverware are envisaged.

A preferred machine dishwashing method comprises treating soiled articles selected from crockery, glassware, hollowware, silverware and cutlery and mixmres thereof, with an aqueous liquid having dissolved or dispensed therein an effective amount of a machine dishwashing composition in accord with the invention. By an effective amount of the machine dishwashing composition it is meant from 8g to 60g of product dissolved or dispersed in a wash solution of volume from 3 to 10 litres, as are typical product dosages and wash solution volumes commonly employed in conventional machine dishwashing methods.

Packaging for the compositions

Commercially marketed executions of the bleaching compositions can be packaged in any suitable container including those constructed from paper, cardboard, plastic materials and any suitable laminates. A preferred packaging execution is described in European Application No. 94921505.7.

Abbreviations used in Examples

In the detergent compositions, the abbreviated component identifications have the following meanings:

LAS Sodium linear C12 alkyl benzene sulfonate TAS Sodium tallow alkyl sulfate C_XE2SADS Sodium Cx ethoxylated disulfate of formula

R-CH(EO)2Sθ4"CH2CH2(Eθ2)Sθ4- with an average of 2 moles of ethylene oxide (EO) and where R = C10-CI8

C45AS Sodium 4-C15 linear alkyl sulfate CxyEzS Sodium Cι -Ciy branched alkyl sulfate condensed with z moles of ethylene oxide

C45E7 A C 14- 15 predominantly linear primary alcohol condensed with an average of 7 moles of ethylene oxide

C25E3 A C 12-15 branched primary alcohol condensed with an average of 3 moles of ethylene oxide C25E5 A C 12-15 branched primary alcohol condensed with an average of 5 moles of ethylene oxide Nonionic C13-C15 mixed ethoxylated/propoxylated fatty alcohol with an average degree of ethoxylation of

3.8 and an average degree of propoxylation of 4.5 sold under the tradename Plurafac LF404 by

BASF GmbH (low foaming)

QAS R2.N+(CH₃)2(C₂H4θH) with R₂ = C₁₂ - C_i4 Soap Sodium linear alkyl carboxylate derived from an

80/20 mixmre of tallow and coconut oils.

TFAA Cl6^_Ci8 alkyl N-methyl glucamide TPKFA C12-C14 topped whole cut fatty acids STPP Anhydrous sodium tripolyphosphate Zeolite A Hydrated Sodium Aluminosilicate of formula

Nai2(A102Siθ2)i2- 27H20 having a primary particle size in the range from 0.1 to 10 micrometers

NaSKS-6 Crystalline layered silicate of formula δ -Na2Si2θ5

Citric acid Anhydrous citric acid Carbonate Anhydrous sodium carbonate with a particle size between 200μm and 900μm

Bicarbonate Anhydrous sodium bicarbonate with a particle size distribution between 400μm and 1200μm

Silicate Amorphous Sodium Silicate (Siθ2:Na2θ; 2.0 ratio)

Metasiiicate Sodium metasiiicate (Siθ2:Na2θ ratio = 1.0) Sodium sulfate Anhydrous sodium sulfate Citrate Tri-sodium citrate dihydrate of activity 86.4% with a particle size distribution between 425 μm and 850 μm

MA/AA Copolymer of 1 :4 maleic/acrylic acid, average molecular weight about 70,000.

CMC Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose

Protease Proteolytic enzyme of activity 4KNPU/g sold by

NOVO Industries A/S under the tradename

Savinase

Alcalase Proteolytic enzyme of activity 3AU/g sold by

NOVO Industries A/S Cellulase Cellulytic enzyme of activity 1000 CEVU/g sold by NOVO Industries A/S under the tradename

Carezyme

Amylase Amylolytic enzyme of activity 60KNU/g sold by

NOVO Industries A/S under the tradename

Termamyl 60T

BSA Amylotic enzyme sold under the tradename LEI 7 by Novo Industries A/S (approx 1 % enzyme activity) Lipase Lipolytic enzyme of activity lOOkLU/g sold by

NOVO Industries A/S under the tradename

Lipolase

Endolase Endoglunase enzyme of activity 3000 CEVU/g sold by NOVO Industries A/S PB4 Sodium perborate tetrahydrate of nominal formula NaBO2.3H2O.H2O2

PB1 Anhydrous sodium perborate bleach of nominal formula NaBθ2-H2θ2

Percarbonate Sodium Percarbonate of nominal formula

2Na2Cθ3.3H2θ2

NaDCC Sodium dichloroisocyanurate

NOBS Nonanoyloxybenzene sulfonate in the form of the sodium salt.

TAED Tetraacetylethylenediamine DTPMP Diethylene triamine penta (methylene phosphonate), marketed by Monsanto under the

Trade name Dequest 2060

BTA Benzotriazole BzP Benzoyl Peroxide Paraffin Paraffin oil sold under the tradename Winog 70 by

Winershall

Bismuth nitrate Bismuth nitrate salt PA30 Polyacrylic acid of average molecular weight approximately 8,000 Terpolymer Terpolymer of average molecular weight approx.

7,000, comprising acrylic:maleic:ethylacrylic acid monomer units at a weight ratio of 60:20:20

480N Random copolymer of 3:7 acrylic/methacrylic acid, average molecular weight about 3,500

PAAC Pentaamine acetate cobalt (III) salt

Photoactivated Sulfonated Zinc Phthlocyanine encapsulated in bleach dextrin soluble polymer Brightener 1 Disodium 4,4 '-bis(2-sulphostyryl)biphenyl Brightener 2 Disodium 4,4'-bis(4-anilino-6-morpholino-l .3.5- triazin-2-yl)amino) stilbene-2:2 ' -disulfonate.

HEDP 1, 1-hydroxyethane diphosphonic acid PVNO Polyvinylpyridine N-oxide PVPVI Copolymer of polyvinylpyrolidone and vinylimidazole

SRP1 Sulfobenzoyl end capped esters with oxyethylene oxy and terephtaloyl backbone

SRP2 Diethoxylated poly (1, 2 propylene terephtalate) short block polymer

Silicone antifoam Polydimethylsiloxane foam controller with siloxane-oxyalkylene copolymer as dispersing agent with a ratio of said foam controller to said dispersing agent of 10: 1 to 100: 1.

KOH 100% active solution of Potassium Hydroxide

In the following Examples all levels are quoted as % by weight of the composition:

Example 1

The following laundry detergent compositions A to F were prepared in accord with the invention:

A B C D E F

Ci4 E2SADS 8.0 8.0 8.0 8.0 8.0 8.0 C25E3 3.4 3.4 3.4 3.4 3.4 3.4

QAS - 0.8 - - 0.8 -

STPP 18.1 5.0 10.5 16.3 25.0 29.4

Carbonate 13.0 13.0 13.0 27.0 27.0 27.0

Silicate 1.4 1.4 1.4 3.0 3.0 3.0

Sodium sulfate 26.1 26.1 26.1 26.1 26.1 26.1

PB4 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0

TAED 1.5 1.5. 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5

DTPMP 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25

HEDP 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3

Protease 0.26 0.26 0.26 0.26 0.26 0.26

Amylase 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1

MA/AA 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3

CMC 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2

Photoactivated 15 15 15 15 15 15 bleach (ppm) ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm

Brightener 1 0.09 0.09 0.09 0.09 0.09 0.09

Perfume 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 Silicone antifoam 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5

Misc/minors to 100%

Density in g/litre 850 850 850 850 850 850

Example 2

The following granular laundry detergent compositions G of bulk density 750 g/litre were prepared in accord with the invention:

G

C22E2SADS 5.25

C45AS -

C25AE3S -

C45E7 3.25

C25E3 -

QAS 0.8

STPP 10.7

Zeolite A 10.7

Carbonate 6.1

Bicarbonate -

Silicate 6.8

Sodium sulfate 39.8

PB4 5.0

TAED 0.5

DTPMP 0.25

HEDP -

Protease 0.26

Lipase 0.15

Cellulase 0.28

Amylase 0.1 MA/AA 0.8

CMC 0.2

Photoactivated bleach 15 ppm (ppm)

Brightener 1 0.08

Brightener 2 -

Perfume 0.3

Silicone antifoam 0.5

Minors/misc to 100%

Example 3

The following nil bleach-containing detergent formulations of particular use in the washing of colored clothing, according to the present invention were prepared:

J K L

Blown Powder

STPP 15.0 20.0 25.0

Sodium sulfate 0.0 5.0 -

C20 E2SADS 3.0 4.0 6.0

DTPMP 0.4 0.5 -

CMC 0.4 0.4 -

MA/AA 4.0 4.0 -

Agglomerates

C45AS - - 11.0

LAS 6.0 5.0 -

C20 SADS 3.0 2.0 -

Silicate 4.0 4.0 -

Zeolite A 15.0 10.0 -

CMC - - 0.5

MA/AA - - 2.0

Carbonate 9.0 7.0 5.0

Spray On

Perfume 0.3 0.3 0.5

C45E7 4.0 4.0 4.0

C25E3 2.0 2.0 2.0

Dry additives

MA/AA - - 3.0

Zeolite A - - 12.0

Citrate 10.0 - 8.0

Bicarbonate 7.0 3.0 5.0

Carbonate 8.0 5.0 7.0

PVPVI/PVNO 0.5 0.5 0.5

Alcalase 0.5 0.3 0.9

Lipase 0.4 0.4 0.4

Amylase 0.6 0.6 0.6 Cellulase 0.6 0.6 0.6

Silicone antifoam 5.0 2.5 0.5

Dry additives

Sodium sulfate 0.0 9.0 0.0

Balance (Moismre and 100.0 100.0 100.0 Miscellaneous)

Density (g/litre) 700 700 700

Example 4

The following detergent formulations, according to the present invention were prepared:

M N 0 P

LAS 16.0 14.0 14.0 18.0

Cι E2SADS 2.7 1.0 3.0 6.0

TFAA - 1.0 - -

C25E5/C45E7 - 2.0 - 0.5

C45E3S - 2.5 - -

STPP 30.0 18.0 30.0 22.0

Silicate 9.0 5.0 10.0 8.0

Carbonate 13.0 7.5 - 5.0

Bicarbonate - 7.5 - -

DTPMP 0.7 1.0 - -

SRP 1 0.3 0.2 - 0.1

MA/AA 2.0 1.5 2.0 1.0

CMC 0.8 0.4 0.4 0.2

Protease 0.8 1.0 0.5 0.5

Amylase 0.8 0.4 - 0.25

Lipase 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.1

Cellulase 0.15 0.05 - -

Photoactivated 45ppm 45ρpm - lOppm bleach (ppm)

Brightener 1 0.2 0.2 0.08 0.2

PB1 6.0 2.0 - -

NOBS 2.0 1.0 - -

Polyethylene 0.2 0.2 oxide of MW 5,000,000

Bentonite clay - - - 10.0

Balance 100 100 100 100 (Moismre and Miscellaneous) Example 5

The following high density detergent formulations, according to the present invention were prepared:

Example 6

The following liquid detergent formulations, according to the present invention were prepared:

S T U V W X Y Z

C16 E2SADS 10. 3.0 9.0 6.0 7.0 3.0 5.4 1.5 0

C25AS 4.0 1.0 2.0 10. - 13.0 18.0 15.0 0

C25E3S 1.0 - - 3.0 - 2.0 2.0 4.0

C25E7 6.0 8.0 13. 2.5 - - 4.0 4.0 0

TFAA - - - 4.5 - 6.0 8.0 8.0

QAS - - - - 3.0 1.0 - -

TPKFA 2.0 - 13. 2.0 - 15.0 7.0 7.0 0

Rapeseed fatty acids - - - 5.0 - - 4.0 4.0

STPP 15. 25.0 15. 10. 12.5 14.1 14.1 14.1 0 0 0

Citric acid 2.0 3.0 1.0 1.5 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

Dodecenyl/tetradecenyl 12. 10.0 - - 15.0 - - - succinic acid 0

Oleic acid 4.0 2.0 1.0 - 1.0 - - -

Ethanol 4.0 4.0 7.0 2.0 7.0 2.0 3.0 2.0

1,2 Propanediol 4.0 4.0 2.0 7.0 6.0 8.0 10.0 13.-

Mono Ethanol Amine - - - 5.0 - - 9.0 9.0

Tri Ethanol Amine - - 8 - - - - -

NaOH up to pH 8.0 8.0 7.6 7.7 8.0 7.5 8.0 8.2

Ethoxylated 0.5 0.5 0.2 0.4 0.3 tetraethylene pentamine

DTPMP 1.0 1.0 0.5 1.0 2.0 1.2 1.0 -

SRP 2 0.3 - 0.3 0.1 - - 0.2 0.1

PVNO - - - - - - - 0.10

Protease 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.2 — 0.5 0.3 0.6

5 Alcalase - - - - 1.5 - - -

Lipase - 0.10 - 0.0 - ^_ 0.15 0.15 1

Amylase 0.2 0.25 0.6 0.5 0.25 0.9 0.6 0.6

5

Cellulase - - - 0.0 - - 0.15 0.15

5

Endolase - - - 0.1 - - - 0 0.07

Boric acid 0.1 0.2 - 2.0 1.0 1.5 2.5 2.5

Na formate - - 1.0 - - - - -

Ca chloride - 0.015 - 0.0 - - - - 1

Bentonite clay - - - - 4.0 4.0 - -

Suspending clay SD3 - - - - 0.6 0.3 - -

Balance (Moismre and 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 Miscellaneous)

Example 7

The following compact high density (0.96Kg/l) dishwashing detergent compositions AA to AC were prepared in accord with the invention. Granular dishwashing detergent compositions examples AD to AF of bulk density 1.02Kg/L were prepared in accord with the invention:

AA AB AC AD AE AF

Cig E2SADS 0.50 0.40 0.2 1.2 1.3 1.7

STPP 24.80 24.80 25.00 30.00 30.00 30.00

Citrate 10.00 10.00 - - 8.00 -

Carbonate - - 17.50 30.50 23.50 30.50

Silicate 20.36 20.36 14.81 7.40 7.40 7.40

Metasiiicate 2.50 2.50 2.50 2.50 - 2.50

PB1 7.79 - - 4.40 2.40 -

PB4 - 7.79 - - - -

Percarbonate - - 6.70 - - 5.40

Nonionic 1.50 1.50 2.00 0.75 0.75 0.75

TAED 2.39 2.39 2.39 1.00 1.00 -

HEDP 0.46 0.46 1.00 0.46 0.46 0.46

DTPMP - - 0.65 - - -

BzP - 4.44 - - 1.40 -

Paraffin 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.25 0.25 0.25

Protease 2.20 2.20 2.20 1.10 1.10 1.10

Amylase 1.50 1.50 1.20 0.38 0.38 0.38

BTA 0.30 0.30 0.30 0.15 - 0.15

Bismuth Nitrate - - 0.30 0.30 - -

PA30 - - - 4.0 - -

Terpolymer - 4.00 - - - -

480N 2.77 2.77 6.00 - - -

Sulphate 8.44 8.44 20.77 23.90 21.90 21.90

Misc inc moismre to balance pH (1 % solution) 10.90 10.90 11.00 10.80 10.80 10.80 Example 8

The following detergent composition tablets in accord with the present invention of 25g weight were prepared by compression of a granular dishwashing detergent composition at a pressure of BKN/c ^ using a standard 12 head rotary press:

Example 9

The following liquid detergent compositions in accord with the present invention AJ to AK, of density 1.40Kg/L were prepared:

Claims

Claims

1. A detergent composition comprising

a) a phosphate builder compound wherein the phosphate builder compound is present at a level between 3% and 30% by weight of detergent composition; and

b) a alkoxylated dianionic cleaning agent comprising a strucmral skeleton of at least five carbon atoms to which two anionic substituent groups spaced at least 3 atoms apart, are attached wherein at least one anionic group is an alkoxy-linked sulfate group and the other anionic group is selected from the group consisting of sulfate and sulfonate groups (preferably also alkoxy-linked).

2. A detergent composition according to claim 1 wherein said phosphate builder compound is sodium tripolyphosphate.

3. A detergent composition according to either of claims of 1 or 2 wherein said dianionic cleaning agent comprises a strucmral skeleton of from 5 to

32 atoms.

4. A detergent composition according to claim 3 wherein the strucmral skeleton comprises only carbon-containing groups.

5. A detergent composition according to claim 4 wherein the strucmral skeleton comprises only hydrocarbyl groups.

6. A detergent composition according to claim 5 wherein the strucmral skeleton comprises only samrated alkyl groups.

7. A detergent composition according to any of claims 3 to 6 wherein the strucmral skeleton is branched.

8. A detergent composition according to any of claims 1 to 7 wherein at least one anionic substituent group is substimted at a primary location on the strucmral skeleton.

9. A detergent composition according to claim 8 wherein the anionic substituent groups are substituted at the 1 ,4 positions on the strucmral skeleton.

10. A detergent composition according to claims 8 to 9 wherein the second anionic substitution group is an alkoxy-linked sulfate group.

11. A detergent composition according to any of claims 1 to 10 wherein the dianionic cleaning agent is of the formula

wherein R is a straight or branched chain alkyl or alkenyl group of chain length from about C6 to about C g; EO/PO are alkoxy moieties selected from ethoxy, propoxy, or mixed ethoxy/propoxy groups; n and m are independently within the range of from about 1 to about 10; and M is a cationic moiety.

12. A detergent composition according to claim 11 wherein R is an alkyl group of chain length C4 to Cig and m and n are from 1 to 5.

13. A detergent composition according to any of claims 1 to 12 wherein the weight ratio of phosphate builder compound to dianionic cleaning agent is from 10: 1 to 1:2.

14. A detergent composition according to any of claims 1 to 13 wherein the alkoxylated dianionic cleaning agent is present as a component of a surfactant system additionally comprising a nonionic surfactant.

15. A detergent composition according to any of claims 1 to 14 wherein the ratio of alkoxylated dianionic cleaning agent to nonionic surfactant is from 1:100 and 100:1.

16. A detergent composition according to any claims 1 to 15 wherein the alkoxylated dianionic cleaning agent is present at levels of between 0.1 and 99.9% by weight of the surfactant system.

17. Use of the detergent composition according to any of claims 1 to 16 in a laundry washing method.

18. Use of the detergent composition according to any of claims 1 to 16 in a dishwashing method.