MXPA01002200A - The use of an aliphatic-aromatic diacyl peroxide in a bleaching composition - Google Patents

Abstract

The use of an aliphatic-aromatic diacyl peroxide in a bleachingcomposition to provide stain removal and improved fabric colour safety.

Description

THE USE OF AN ALIPHATIC-AROMATIC PIACILO PEROXIDE IN A WHITENING COMPOSITION TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to the use of an aliphatic-aromatic diacyl peroxide in a bleaching composition.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Compositions containing peroxygen bleach typically based on hydrogen peroxide have been extensively described in laundry applications such as laundry detergents, laundry additives or laundry pre-treatment. An example of said bleaching agent is a diacyl peroxide. Diacyl peroxides and compositions containing said compounds, including dialiphatic, diaromatic and aliphatic-aromatic diacyl peroxides have been described in the prior art. I JP1009601 (KAO) discloses a composition comprising a hydrogen peroxide, a diacyl peroxide and a surfactant. The diacyl peroxide can be dialiphatic, diaromatic or aliphatic-aromatic. It is described that the composition has good storage stability.

WO98 / 11189 (Procter &Gamble) describes a process for bleaching a fabric with a liquid composition comprising a dialiphatic peroxide. This document does not disclose aliphatic-aromatic diacyl peroxides. It has been found that although diaromatic peroxides provide good stain removal, they are aggressive bleaching agents that cause damage to the fabrics, resulting in poor fabric color security. It is believed that a radical decomposition of hydrogen peroxide occurs on the surface of the fabric, generating free radicals. It is further speculated that this generation of free radicals can provide an aggressive decomposition of certain inks present in the fabrics, resulting in chemical damage of visible ink molecules such as discoloration and / or loss of color intensity. In this way, the bleaching performance and the color safety of fabrics are somewhat conflicting requirements, but both are desirable in a single bleaching composition. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a bleaching composition that provides good stain removal and good fabric color security. European Patent Nos. EP-A-742 279 and EP-A-752 469 describe bleaching compositions for laundry containing chelating agents, radical scavengers and polyamines, and which are safe for colors and fabrics. The peroxygen bleaches disclosed therein include peroxyacids such as diperoxidedecanedioic acid but do not disclose aliphatic-aromatic diacyl peroxides. It has now been discovered that the above objectives can be met using an aliphatic-aromatic diacyl peroxide to treat soiled fabrics. In fact, it has been found that mixed aliphatic-aromatic diacyl peroxide, especially in an aqueous bleaching composition, provides good stain removal performance on fabrics, when compared to the use of the same composition without either a diacyl peroxide. aliphatic-aromatic or comprising a dialiphatic diacyl peroxide. In addition, it has been found that mixed aliphatic-aromatic diacyl peroxide, especially in an aqueous bleaching composition, reduces damage to color of color fabrics (ie improves color security), when compared to color damage. observed with the same composition but comprising a different peroxygen bleach, for example a diachromatic diacyl peroxide, in place of said aliphatic-aromatic diacyl peroxide. An advantage of the present invention is that the improved stain removal performance obtained is noticeable by the consumer over a variety of stains / soils, including enzymatic stains such as blood, yerba, and especially carotenoid-like stains such as tomato sauce.

In this way, the applicant has discovered that the diacyl peroxides of the present invention not only provide good stain removal but also provide good fabric color security.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, the use of a diacyl peroxide having the general formula is provided: wherein R1 is an aliphatic group and R2 is an aromatic group to provide spot removal and improved fabric color security.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Diacyl peroxide The diacyl peroxide of the present invention has the general formula: wherein R1 is an aliphatic group and R2 is an aromatic group. In a preferred aspect of the present invention R1 has from 1 to 30, more preferably from 4 to 20 carbon atoms. R1 may be linear, branched, cyclic, saturated, unsaturated, substituted, unsubstituted or mixtures thereof. Preferably R1 is linear and comprises from 8 to 16 carbon atoms. Where R1 is substituted, the carbon atom is preferably substituted with a halogenide or a sulfate-containing or nitrogen-containing functionality such as S03-, SO4-, N02, NR3 + where R = H or alkyl chain. R 2 may be a mono or polycyclic aromatic ring, a homo or heteroatomatic, substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ring and mixtures thereof. Where R 2 is substituted, the carbon atom is preferably substituted with a halogenide, sulfur-containing functionality, which contains nitrogen or an alkyl chain in which the number of carbon atoms is on the scale of 1 to 20, more preferably from 4 to 10. Suitable substituents containing sulfur or containing nitrogen include SO3-, S04-, NO2, NR3 + wherein R = H or an alkyl chain. Preferably R2 is benzene. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the diacyl peroxide is preferably benzoylalkanoyl peroxide, in which the alkanoyl group has from 8 to 18 carbon atoms. More preferably, the diacyl peroxide is selected from the group consisting of benzoylauroyl peroxide, benzoyldecanoyl peroxide, benzoylketoyl peroxide, para-alkylbenzoylauroyl peroxide, para-alkylbenzoyl decanyl peroxide, para-alkylbenzoylketoyl peroxide, and mixtures thereof. In a particularly preferred embodiment the diacyl peroxide is benzoylauroyl peroxide. The diacyl peroxides described herein are easily synthesized by persons skilled in the art, see for example Organic Peroxides Vol. 1, page 65, edited by Daniel Swern of Wiley Interscience. The present invention also relates to the use of a bleaching composition comprising the diacyl peroxides described herein. Where the present invention relates to a bleaching composition, diacyl peroxide is typically present in the range of 0.01% to 10%, preferably 0.1% to 3%, more preferably 0.3% to 2% and more preferably 0.5. % to 1% by weight of the composition. The compositions that are used according to the present invention may further comprise another peroxygen bleach in addition to said aliphatic diacyl peroxide, hereinafter called the "second" peroxygen bleach. Additional optional ingredients may be added in said compositions, for example bleach activators, surfactants, brighteners, chelating agents, radical scavengers, stabilizers, soil suspending polymers, soil release agents, ink transfer inhibiting agents, solvents, colorants, rheology modifiers, foam suppressors, catalysts, perfumes or mixtures thereof. Preferred optional ingredients are described in more detail below. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it has been found that the use of preferably aqueous bleaching compositions comprising a diacyl peroxide as described herein, and a second peroxygen bleach, provide improved performance of stain removal and bleaching performance. while they still ensure good security of fabric color, in comparison to the same compositions but without said diacyl peroxide described herein. Thus, the present invention also encompasses the use of a bleaching composition preferably comprising from 0.05% to 10% by weight of the total diacyl peroxide composition described herein and from 0.01% to 10% by weight of a second peroxygen bleach. Additionally, in another preferred embodiment of the present invention the composition also comprises a bleach activator. Said compositions provide an even more effective whitening performance, especially at room temperature. The second peroxygen bleach to be used herein may be any peroxygen bleach known in the art, with the exception of the diacyl peroxide described herein. Such peroxygen bleaches include hydrogen peroxide, a water-soluble source thereof, or mixtures thereof. Hydrogen peroxide is most preferred for use in the compositions according to the present invention. Moreover, the presence of the second peroxygen bleach, preferably hydrogen peroxide, contributes to the excellent cleaning and bleaching benefits of the compositions. As used herein, a "hydrogen peroxide" source refers to any compound that produces perhydroxyl ions when in contact with water. Suitable water-soluble sources of hydrogen peroxide for use herein include percarbonates, persilicate, persulfate such as monopersulfate, perborates, peroxyacids such as diperoxide decandioic acid (DPDA), phthaloylaminoperoxycaproic acid (PAP), perphthalic magnesium acid, perluric acid, perbenzoic acid and alkylperbenzoic, hydroperoxide such as t-butyl hydroperoxide and mixtures thereof. Compositions according to the present invention comprise from 0.01% to 10%, preferably from 0.5% to 8%, more preferably from 2% to 8% and more preferably from 4% to 7% by weight of the composition of a second bleach of peroxygen. In a particularly preferred aspect of the present invention, the bleaching composition comprises a diacyl peroxide as described herein and a surfactant. The surfactant may be a surfactant system comprising more than one surfactant. The compositions of the present invention are preferably aqueous liquid compositions. Said aqueous compositions are preferably formulated to have pH from 2 to 5. The pH of the compositions of the present invention can be adjusted using organic or inorganic acids known to those skilled in the art. Particularly suitable organic acids for use herein are aryl and / or alkyl sulfonate, such as methanesulfonic acid or naphthalene dusylphonic acid, citric acid, succinic acid, tartaric acid, sulfamic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid and the like. Particularly suitable inorganic acids are sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, nitric acid. The compositions that are used according to the process of the present invention are preferably aqueous compositions. The compositions that are used herein have a pH of from 0 to 12. Preferably the composition has a pH of from 0 to 10, more preferably from 1 to 7, and more preferably from 2 to 4. By the term "improved color security" "is intended to say that the damage to inks present on a fabric caused by the diacyl peroxide of the present invention is reduced when compared to the damage caused by other bleaching agents, especially diaromatic peroxides, for example dibenzoyl peroxide, i.e. The improved fabric color security is good for reduced fabric color damage. The damage caused to the inks is observed as a loss of color intensity. Additionally, this reduction in heat damage is seen even when the diacyl peroxide of the present invention is left in contact with the fabric., and therefore the ink of the fabric, for prolonged periods at the time before the subsequent washing or rinsing of the fabric, for example 24 hours. It is speculated that color security is achieved due to the lower reactivity of the diacyl peroxide of the present invention against other bleaching agents, especially diachromatic diacyl peroxide. which is known to cause cloth color damage. The stain removal performance and fabric color security of the diacyl peroxide can be evaluated by the following test method. A diacyl peroxide according to the present invention, but preferably a composition comprising the diacyl peroxide, is first applied on a cloth, preferably on the soiled portion of said cloth, allowed to act thereon for 1 minute at 24 hours, preferably 5 to 10 minutes, after which the fabric is washed in accordance with the common washing conditions, at a temperature of 30 ° C to 70 ° C for a period sufficient to whiten said fabric. The stain removal performance can be evaluated by comparing side by side the pretreated dirty color fabric with the diacyl peroxide composition or product, according to the present invention, with those pre-treated with the reference containing it, for example, the same compositions but without the diacyl peroxide of the present invention. For example, the typical stains to be used in said stain removal test method are commercially available from WFK (Krefeld, Germany) or from EMC (Empirical Manufacturing Company) Cincinnati, Ohio USA, such as herbs, coffee, tomato sauce. , dirty motor oil, cosmetics, barbecue sauce, blood on different substrates / cloth, for example cotton (CW120) or polycotton (PCW28). A visual grading scale can be used to assign differences in panel evaluation units (psu) on a scale of 0 to 4 for spot removal performance. Color security can be evaluated by determining color damage by side-by-side comparison of the dirty colored fabric treated with the diacyl peroxide of the present invention with that treated with the reference product, eg, the same composition but without the diacyl peroxide of the present invention or a different bleaching agent, for example a diaromatic agent. Sample clips / technically colored fabrics suitable for use in the color damage test method of the present are commercially available from Tecnotessile (Prato, Italy) or from EMC (Empirical Manufacturing Company) Cincinnati, Ohio USA. The fabrics / typical color cloth samples used are for example the most sensitive to bleach such as: C83 Reactive Blue®, C102 Reactive Blue®, C65 Reactive Violet®, C73 Direct Blue®, C105 Direct Brown®, C111 Direct Red®, C40 Sulfur Green®. Methods of visual and / or instrumental grading with the "Hunterlab Tristimulus MINISCAN" can be used for the evaluation of color damage. It is contemplated that diacyl peroxide or a composition comprising it can be used as a pre-treatment, as an additive or a component of a detergent composition. Where the diacyl peroxide is used as a pre-treatment, it is preferred that the fabric to which the diacyl peroxide has been added is subsequently washed. By "washing" it is to be understood herein simply to rinse the fabrics with water, or the fabrics may be washed with a conventional detergent composition comprising at least one active surface agent, by means of a washing machine or simply by hand. Where the diacyl peroxide is a component of a composition, the composition can be used in pure or diluted form. By "pure form" it is understood that the compositions are applied directly on the fabric without suffering any dilution.

Optional Wherein the present invention relates to the use of a composition comprising the diacyl peroxide, the composition may further comprise optional ingredients such as activators of bleach, surfactants, brighteners, chelating agents, radical scavengers, stabilizers, suspension polymers, dirt, soil release agents, dye transfer inhibiting agents, solvents, colorants, rheology modifiers, foam suppressors, catalysts, perfumes, or mixtures thereof. As an optional but highly preferred ingredient, the compositions of the present invention comprise a bleach activator or mixtures thereof. By "bleach activator" is meant herein a compound that reacts with hydrogen peroxide to form a peracid. The peracid formed in this way constitutes the activated bleach. Bleach activators particularly suitable for use herein are hydrophobic bleach activators, i.e., a bleach activator that is not substantially and stably miscible with water. Bleach activators suitable for use herein include those belonging to the class of esters, amides, imides and anhydrides. Examples of suitable compounds of this type are described in the British patent GB 1 586 769 and GB 2 143 231 and a method for their formation in the form of granules is described in published European patent application EP-A-62 523. The examples Suitable compounds of said compounds to be used herein are tetracetyl ethylenediamine (TAED), 3,5,5-trimethylhexanoyloxybenzene sulfonate, diperoxydodecanoic acid as described for example in US Pat. No. 4,818,425 and peroxyadipic acid nonyl amide as described for example in US 4 259 201 and alkylbenzene sulfonates such as n-nonanoyloxybenzenesulfonate (NOBS). N-acyl caprolactams selected from the group consisting of benzoyl caprolactam, octanoyl caprolactam, nonanoyl caprolactam, hexanoilcaprolactama, decanoyl, undecenoyl caprolactam, formilcaprolactama, acetylcaprolactam, propanoilcaprolactama, butanoilcaprolactama, pentanoilcaprolactama, substituted or unsubstituted, or mixtures thereof are also suitable. A particular family of bleach activators of interest is described in EP 624 154, and triethylacetyl citrate (ATC) is particularly preferred in that family. Triethylacetyl citrate has the advantage that it is non-harmful to the environment and is eventually degraded in citric acid and alcohol. Additionally, triethylacetyl citrate has a good hydrolytic stability in the product with storage and is an efficient bleach activator. Finally, it provides good detergency-improving ability to the composition. The compositions according to the present invention may comprise from 0.01% to 30% by weight of the total composition of a bleach activator, or mixtures thereof, preferably from 0.5% to 10%, and more preferably from 3% to 7%. %. The compositions according to the present invention can comprise a surfactant or mixtures thereof. Any surfactant known to those skilled in the art can be used herein including anionic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, zwitterionic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants and / or cationic surfactants up to a level of 50% by weight of the composition total. The compositions according to the present invention may be formulated as solutions, emulsions, microemulsions, suspensions, pastes or powders.

For reasons of stability, the compositions according to the present invention which may typically comprise a bleach activator, as described hereinbefore, are preferably formulated as aqueous emulsions of the bleach activator in a matrix comprising water, the aliphatic diacyl peroxide, the second peroxygen bleach and an emulsifying surfactant system, or as microemulsions of said bleach activator in a matrix comprising water, the aliphatic diacyl peroxide, the second peroxygen bleach and a hydrophilic surfactant. Preferred peroxygen bleach-containing compositions herein comprise an emulsifying surfactant system of at least two different surfactants, ie, at least one hydrophobic surfactant having an HLB of up to 9.5 or mixtures thereof, and less a hydrophilic surface active agent having an HLB above 10, or mixtures thereof, in order to emulsify the hydrophobic bleach activator where it is present. Preferably herein, said two different surfactants must have different HLB (hydrophilic / lipophilic balance) values in order to form stable compositions, and preferably the difference in HLBs value of the two surfactants is at least 1. , preferably at least 2. In fact, by the appropriate combination of at least two of said surfactants with different HLB in water, emulsions will be formed which do not substantially separate into separate layers, by staying for at least two weeks at 40 ° C . Preferred compositions according to the present invention comprise from 0.1% to 50%, more preferably from 1% to 20% and more preferably from 2% to 10% by weight of surfactant. The surfactant may be hydrophilic or hydrophobic. Preferred compositions according to the present invention comprise at least 0.01%, preferably at least 2% and more preferably at least 4% of a hydrophobic surfactant and at least 0.01%, preferably at least 2%, and more preferably at least minus 4% of a hydrophilic surfactant. The hydrophilic surfactant has an HLB above 10. The hydrophilic nonionic surfactants preferably have an HLB above 10 and more preferably above 10.5. The preferred hydrophobic surfactants are the non-ionic hydrophobic surfactants. Said hydrophobic nonionic surfactants have an HLB of up to 9.5, preferably below 9.5, more preferably below 9. The non-ionic hydrophobic surfactants to be used herein have excellent fat-cutting properties, ie they have an effect solvent that contributes to the removal of hydrophobic dirt. Suitable nonionic surfactants for use herein include alkoxylated fatty alcohols, preferably ethoxylated and / or propoxylated fatty alcohol. In fact, a wide variety of said alkoxylated fatty alcohols is commercially available which have very different HLB values (hydrophilic / lipophilic balance). The HLB values of said alkoxylated nonionic surfactants depend essentially on the chain length of the fatty alcohol, the nature of the alkoxylation and the degree of alkoxylation. The nonionic hydrophilic surfactants tend to have a high degree of alkoxylation and a short chain fatty alcohol, while the hydrophobic surfactants tend to have a low degree of alkoxylation and a long chain fatty alcohol. Surfactant catalogs are available which list a number of surfactants including nonionics, together with their respective HLB values. Suitable chemical processes for preparing the nonionic surfactants for use herein include the condensation of the corresponding alcohols with alkylene oxide, in the desired proportions. Such methods are well known to the person skilled in the art and have been described extensively in the art. As an alternative, a wide variety of alkoxylated alcohols suitable for use herein are commercially available from various suppliers. The preferred hydrophobic nonionic surfactants for use in the present invention are surfactants having an HLB of up to 9 and which are in accordance with the formula RO- (C2H4?) N (C3H6?) MH, in which R is an alkyl chain of C6 to C22 or an alkyl benzene chain of C6 to C28, and in which n + m is from 0.5 to 5 and n is from 0 to 5 and m is from 0 to 5 and preferably n + m is from 0.5 to 4.5 and, n and m are from 0 to 4.5. Preferred R chains for use herein are the C8 to C22 alkyl chains. Accordingly, the hydrophobic nonionic surfactants suitable for use herein are Dobanol R 91-2.5 (HLB = 8.1; R is a mixture of C9 and Cu alkyl chains, n is 2.5 and m is 0), or Lutensol R TO3 (HLB = 8, R is a mixture of C13 and C15 alkyl chains, n is 3 and m is 0), or Tergitol R 25L3 (HLB = 7.7, R is on the alkyl chain length scale of C12 to C15, n is 3 and m is 0) or Dobanol R 23-3 (HLB = 8.1, R is a mixture of alkyl of C12 and C13, n is 3 and m is 0), or Dobanol R 23-2 (HLB = 6.2, R is a mixture of alkyl chains of C12 and C? 3? n is 2 and m is 0), or mixtures thereof. Preferred herein are Dobanol R 23-3 or Dobanol R 23-2, Lutensol R T03, or mixtures thereof. These Lutensol R surfactants are commercially available from SHELL. These Lutensol R surfactants are commercially available from BASF and those Tergitol R surfactants are commercially available from UNION CARBIDE. Other hydrophobic nonionic surfactants suitable for use herein are non-alkoxylated surfactants. An example is Dobanol R23 (HLB < 3). The preferred hydrophilic nonionic surfactants for use herein are surfactants having an HLB above 10 and which are according to the formula RO- (C2H4?) N (C3H60) mH, in which R is a chain C6 to C22 alkyl or an alkyl benzene chain of Cβ to C28, and in which n + m is from 5 to 11 and n is from 0 to 11 and m is from 0 to 11, preferably n + m is from 6 to 10 and, n and m are from 0 to 10. Through this description, n and m refer to the average degree of ethoxylation / propoxylation. Preferred R chains for use herein are the C8 to C22 alkyl chains * Accordingly, the hydrophilic nonionic surfactants suitable for use herein are Dobanol R 23-6.5 (HLB = 11.9; R is an mixture of alkyl chains of Cl2 and C13, n is 6.5 and m is 0), or Dobanol R 25-7 (HLB = 12, R is a mixture of alkyl chains of C12 to C15, n is 7 and m is 0), or Dobanol R 45-7 (HLB = 11.6, R is a mixture of C and C15 alkyl chains, n is 7 and m is 0), or Dobanol R 91-5 (HLB = 11.6, R is a mixture of alkyl from C9 to CII, n is 5 and m is 0), or Dobanol R 91-6 (HLB = 12.5, R is a mixture of alkyl chains from Cg to Cu, n is 6 and m is 0), or Dobanol R 91 -8 (HLB = 13.7, R is a mixture of Cg to Cu alkyl chains, n is 8 and m is 0), or Dobanol R 91.10 (HLB = 14.2, R is a mixture of alkyl chains from Cg to Cu, n is 10 and m is 0), or mixtures thereof. Preferred herein are Dobanol R 91-10, or Dobanol R 45-7, Dobanol R 23-6.5, or mixtures thereof. These Dobanol R surfactants are commercially available from SHELL. Apart from the hydrophilic nonionic surfactants, other hydrophilic surfactants may also be used in the compositions of the present invention such as anionic surfactants described hereinafter and / or polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactants, or mixtures thereof, according to the formula: R2-C (0) -N (R1) -Z, wherein R1 is H, or C1-C4 alkyl, C1-C4 hydrocarbyl, 2-hydroxyethyl, 2-hydroxypropyl or a mixture thereof, R2 is C5-C31 hydrocarbyl, and Z is a polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl having a linear hydrocarbyl chain with at least 3 hydroxyls directly connected to the chain, or an alkoxylated derivative thereof. Preferably, R 1 is C 1 -C 4 alkyl more preferably C 1 or C 2 alkyl and more preferably methyl, R 2 is a C 7 -C 6 straight chain alkyl or alkynyl, more preferably an alkyl or C 1 -C 8 alkynyl chain straight, more preferably straight-chain Cn-C 8 alkyl or alkynyl, and more preferably straight-chain Cn-C1 alkyl or alkynyl or mixtures thereof. Z will preferably be derived from a reducing sugar in a reductive amination reaction, more preferably Z is a glycityl. Suitable reducing sugars include glucose, fructose, maltose, lactose, mannose and xyloza. As raw materials, high dextrose corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, and high maltose corn syrup can also be used as the individual sugars listed above. These corn sugars can yield a mixture of sugar components for Z. It will be understood that there is no attempt to exclude other suitable raw materials. Preferably Z will be selected from the group consisting of -CH2- (CHOH) n -CH2? H, -CH (CH2OHHCHOH) n-1-CH2OH, -CH2- (CHOH) 2- (CHOR ') (CHOH) -CH2OH , wherein n is an integer from 3 to 5, inclusive, and R 'is H or a cyclic or aliphatic monosaccharide, and alkoxylated derivatives thereof. Most preferred are glycityls in which n is 4, in particular CH2- (CHOH) -CH2OH. In the formula R2-C (0) -N (R1) -Z, R1 may be, for example, N-methyl, N-ethyl, N-propyl, N-isopropyl, N-butyl, N-2-hydroxy ethyl, N-2-hydroxy propyl, R2"C (O) -N <; it can be, for example, cocamide, esteramide, oleamide, lauramide, myristamide, capricamide, palmitamide, ceboamide, and the like. Z can be 1-deoxyglucityl, 2-deoxyfructityl, 1-deoxymaltityl, 1-deoxylactityl, 1-deoxygalactityl, 1-deoxymannityl, 1-deoxymalototriotityl and the like. The polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactants suitable for use herein may be commercially available under the trade name HOE® from Hoechst. Methods for making polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactants are known in the art. In general, they can be made by reacting an alkylamide with a reducing sugar in a reductive amination reaction to form a corresponding N-alkyl polyhydroxyamine, and then reacting the N-alkyl polyhydroxyamine with an aliphatic fatty ester or triglyceride in a condensation / amidation step to form the product of N-alkyl acid amide, N-polyhydroxy fatty acid. Methods for making compositions containing polyhydroxy fatty acid amides are described, for example, in Great Britain Patent Specification 809,060, published February 18, 1959, by Thomas Hedley & Co., Ltd., patent of E.U.A. 2,965,576, issued on December 20, 1960 to E.R. Wilson, patent of E.U.A. 2,703,798, Anthony M. Schwartz, issued March 8, 1955, patent of E.U.A. issued on December 25, 1934 to Piggott and WO92 / 06070, each of which is incorporated herein by reference. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which the compositions comprise acetyl triethyl citrate as the bleach activator, a suitable surfactant system would comprise a non-ionic hydrophobic surfactant with for example an HLB of 6, such as Dobanol R 23-2 and a hydrophilic ionic surfactant with for example an HLB of 15, such as a Dobanol R91-10. Other suitable nonionic surfactant systems comprise for example a Dobanol R23-6.5 (HLB of 12) and a Dobanol R 23 (HLB below 6) or a Dobanol R 45-7 (HLB = 11.6) and a Dobanol 23-3 (HLB = 8.1). In the embodiment of the present invention wherein the compositions are formulated as emulsions said compositions are opaque. In centrifugation examination, it was observed that said emulsions in the present did not show phase separation after 15 minutes at 6000 rpm. Under microscopic examination, said emulsions appeared as a dispersion of drops in a matrix. In the embodiment wherein the compositions of the present invention are formulated as microemulsions, said bleach microemulsions according to the present invention comprise a hydrophilic surfactant system comprising at least two different surfactants such as a nonionic surfactant and a surfactant. anionic The hydrophilic surfactants suitable for use herein are those hydrophilic surfactants mentioned herein. A key factor in order to stably incorporate for example the bleach activator into said microemulsions is that at least one of said surfactants of the hydrophilic surfactant system must have a HLB value different from that of the bleach activator. In fact, if all the surfactants have the same HLB value as the activator, a single continuous phase could be formed, thereby decreasing the chemical stability of the bleach / bleach activator system. Preferably, at least one of said surfactants has an HLB value that differs by at least 1.0 from HLB unit, preferably 2.0 from that of the bleach activator. Suitable anionic surfactants for use herein include water-soluble salts or acids of the formula ROSO3M or RSO3M in which R is preferably a C10-C24 hydrocarbyl, preferably an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl having a C10-C20 alkyl component more preferably an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl of C2-C18 and M is H or a cation, for example, an alkali metal cation (eg, sodium, potassium, lithium ) or ammonium or substituted ammonium (e.g. methyl, dimethyl, and trimethylammonium cations and quaternary ammonium cations such as tetramethylammonium and dimethylpiperidinium cations and quaternary ammonium cations derived from alkylamines such as ethylamine, diethylamine, triethyl amine, and mixtures thereof and similar). Typically, the C12-16 alkyl chains are preferred for lower wash temperatures (for example below 50 ° C) and the Ciß-iß alkyl chains are preferred for higher wash temperatures (for example above) 50 ° C). Other suitable anionic surfactants for use herein are water-soluble salts or acids of the formula RO (A) mSO3M in which R is an unsubstituted alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group of C-? Or-24 having an alkyl component of C 10? -24, preferably an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl of C12-20, more preferably alkyl or hydroxyalkyl of C12-18, A is an ethoxy or propoxy unit, m is larger than zero, typically between 0.5 and 6, more preferably between 0.5 and 3 , and M is H or a cation which can be, for example, a metal cation (for example sodium, potassium, lithium, calcium, magnesium, etc.), an ammonium or substituted ammonium cation. The ethoxylated alkyl sulfates as well as the propoxylated alkyl sulfates are contemplated herein. Specific examples of substituted ammonium cations include methyl, dimethyl, trimethylammonium and quaternary ammonium cations, such as tetramethylammonium, dimethylpiperidinium and cations derived from alkanolamines such as ethylamine, diethylamine, triethylamine, mixtures thereof, and the like. Exemplary surfactants are polyethoxylated C 2-18 alkyl sulfate (1.0), C 2 -C 8 (8E (1.0) M), polyethoxylated alkyl sulphate of C ?2-C8 (2.25), C ?2-C? 8E (2.25) M), polyethoxylated alkyl sulfate of C-2-C18 (3.0), C? 2-C? 8E (3.0) M), and polyethoxylated alkyl sulfate of C12-C8 (4.0), C? 2-C? 8E (4.0) M), in which M is conveniently selected from sodium and potassium. Other useful anionic surfactants may also be used for detersive purposes herein. These include soap salts (including, for example, sodium, potassium, ammonium, and substituted ammonium salts such as mono-, di- and triethanolamine salts), linear C9-C20 alkylbenzenesulfonates. C8-C22 primary or secondary alkanesulphonates, olefinsulfonates C8-C24 sulfonated polycarboxylic acids prepared by sulfonation of the pyrolyzed product of alkaline earth metal citrates, for example, as described in British Patent Specification No. 1, 082,179, C8-C24 alkyl polyglycol ether sulphates (containing up to 10 moles of ethylene oxide); alkyl ester sulfonates such as Cu-iß methyl ester sulfonates; acylglycerol sulfonates, oleylglycerol fatty sulfonates, alkylphenolthylene oxide ether sulfates, paraffin sulphonates, alkyl phosphates, isethionates such as acyl isethionates, N-acyl taurates, alkyl succinamates and sulfosuccinates, sulfosuccinate monoesters (especially monoesters C 2 -C 8 saturated and unsaturated), sulfosucinate diesters (especially saturated and unsaturated C6-Ci4 diesters), alkylpolysaccharide sulfates such as alkyl polyglycoside sulfates (the non-sulfated nonionic compounds being described below), alkyl sulfates branched primary, alkyl polyethoxycarboxylates such as those of the formula RO (CH2CH20)? CH2COO-M + in which R is a Cd-C22 alkyl, k is an integer from 0 to 10, and M is a soluble cation for the formation of sai Resin acids and hydrogenated resin acids are also suitable, such as rosin, hydrogenated rosin, and resin acids and hydrogenated resin acids present or derived from wood oil. Additional examples are given in "Surface Active Agents and Detergents" (Vol. I and II by Schwartz, Perry and Berch). A variety of such surfactants are also generally described in the US patent. 3,929,678, issued December 30, 1975 to Laughlin, et al, in column 23, line 58 to column 29, line 23 (incorporated herein by reference). Particularly preferred anionic surfactants for use in the compositions described herein are alkali metal or alkaline earth metal, preferably sodium, paraffin sulphonates (for example NaPS available for example from Hoechst or Huis). Other anionic surfactants suitable for use herein also include acyl sarcosinate or mixtures thereof, in their acid and / or salt form, preferably long chain acyl sarcosinates having the following formula: wherein M is hydrogen or a cationic moiety and wherein R is an alkyl group of 11 to 15 carbon atoms, preferably 11 to 13 carbon atoms. The preferred M are hydrogen and alkali metal salts, especially sodium and potassium. Said sarcosinate acyl surfactants are derived from natural fatty acids and the amino acid sarcosine (N-methylglycine). They are suitable for use as an aqueous solution of their salt or in their acid form as a powder. Being derivatives of natural fatty acids, said acyl sarcosinates are completely and rapidly biodegradable and have good compatibility with the skin. Accordingly, the particularly preferred long chain acyl sarcosinates for use herein include C12 acyl sarcosinate (ie an acyl sarcosinate according to the above formula in which M is hydrogen and R is a group alkyl of 11 carbon atoms) and acyl sarcosinate of C (ie an acyl sarcosinate according to the formula above in which M is hydrogen and R is an alkyl group of 13 carbon atoms). C 2 acyl sarcosinate is commercially available, for example, as Hamposyl L-30® supplied by Hampshire. Acyl sarcosinate of C is commercially available, for example, as Hamposyl M-30® supplied by Hampshire. Other hydrophilic nonionic surfactants suitable for use in the present microemulsions include the hydrophilic nonionic surfactants as defined herein above for the emulsions.

The preferred manufacture of the microemulsions of the present invention includes premixing the surfactants with water and subsequently adding the other ingredients including the diaryl aiiphatic peroxide, the second peroxygen bleach, for example, hydrogen peroxide, and other ingredients as a bleach activator if present. Regardless of this preferred order of addition, it is important that during the mixing of the ingredients, the microemulsions are maintained constantly under agitation at relatively high stirring energies, preferably 30 minutes at 750 rpm, more preferably 30 minutes at 1000 rpm. In the embodiment of the present invention wherein the compositions are formulated as microemulsions said compositions are microscopically transparent in the absence of opacifiers and colorants. In examination by centrifugation, it was observed that said microemulsions in the present did not show phase separation after 15 minutes at 6000 rpm. Under microscopic examination, said microemulsions appeared as a dispersion of drops in a matrix. It has been observed that the particles have a size which is typically around or below 3 microns in diameter. Accordingly, said bleaching compositions of the present invention can be packaged in a given deformable container / bottle without compromising the stability of said container / bottle comprising it by staying for long periods of time.

Suitable chelating agents for use herein include chelating agents that are selected from the group consisting of phosphonate chelating agents, aminocarboxylate chelating agents, polyfunctionally substituted aromatic chelating agents, and additional chelating agents such as glycine, salicylic acid, aspartic acid, acid glutamic acid, malonic acid or mixtures thereof. When chelating agents are used, they are typically present in amounts in the range of 0.001% to 5% by weight of the total composition and more preferably from 0.5% to 2% by weight. Phosphonate chelating agents suitable for use herein may include etidronic acid as well as aminophosphonate compounds including aminoalkylene poly (alkylene phosphonate), alkali metal diphosphonates, ethane 1 -hydroxy, nitrilotrimethylene phosphonates, ethylenediamine tetramethylene phosphonates, and diethylene triamine pentamethylene phosphonates. In a preferred embodiment, the phosphonate chelator is alkali metal diphosphonate ethane 1-hydroxy (HEDP). The phosphonate compounds may be present in their acid form or as salts of different cations or some or all of their acid functionalities. Preferred phosphonate chelating agents for use herein are diethylene triamine pentamethylene phosphonates. Said phosphonate chelating agents are commercially available from Monsanto under the trade name DEQUEST®.

The most preferred phosphonate chelating agent to be used herein is amino (methylene phosphonic) acid, referred to herein as ATMP. In fact, it has been found that the addition of ATMP, ie the compound of formula: in a liquid composition of the present invention considerably reduces the damage associated in some other way with the pretreatment of fabrics with peroxygen bleach-containing compositions, especially those fabrics that contain metal ions, such as copper, iron, chromium and manganese. Polyfunctionally substituted aromatic chelating agents may also be useful in the compositions herein.

Consult the patent of E.U.A. No. 3,812,044, issued on May 21, 1974 to Connor et al. Preferred compounds of this type in acid form are dihydroxy disulfobenzenes such as 1,2-dihydroxy-3,5-disulfobenzene. A preferred biodegradable chelating agent for use herein is ethylene diamine N, N'-disuccinic acid, or alkali metal, or alkaline earth metal, ammonium or substituted ammonium salts thereof or mixtures thereof. Ethylenediamine-N, '-disuccinic acids, especially the (S, S) isomer, have been described extensively in the US patent. No. 4,704, 233, dated November 3, 1987 to Hartman and Perkins. The ethylenediamine-N, N'-disuccinic acids are, for example, commercially available under the tradename ssEDDS® from Palmer Research Laboratories. Suitable aminocarboxylates for use herein include ethylenediaminetetraacetates, diethylenetriaminepentaacetates, diethylenetriaminepentaacetate (DTPA), N-hydroxyethylene-dylenediamine triacetates, nitrilotriacetates, ethylenediaminetetrapropionate, triethylenetetraminehexaacetates, ethanoldiglycine, propylenediaminetetraacetic acid (PDTA) and methylglycine di-acetic acid (MGDA), both in their acid form, or in its forms of alkali metal salts, ammonium and substituted ammonium. Particularly suitable amino carboxylates for use herein are diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, propylenediaminetetraacetic acid (PDTA) which is, for example, commercially available from BASFF under the tradename Trilon FS® and methylglycineadiacetic acid (MGDA). Another preferred chelating agent to be used herein is of the formula: wherein Ri, R2, 3 and R4 are independently selected from the group consisting of -H, alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, aryloxy, -Cl, -Br, -N02, -C (O) R ', and - S02R "wherein R 'is selected from the group consisting of -H, -OH, alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, and aryloxy; R" is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, and aryloxy; Rs, Re, R7, and Rs are independently selected from the group consisting of -H and alkyl. Particularly preferred chelating agents for use herein are ATMP, diethylenetriaminemethylene phosphonate, ethylene N, N'-disuccinic acid, diethylenetriamine pentaacetate, glycine, salicylic acid, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, malonic acid or mixtures thereof and the more preferred is ATMP. Radical scavengers suitable for use herein include the substituted mono- and dihydroxybenzenes and their analogs, alkyl and aryl carboxylates and mixtures thereof. Preferred such radical scavengers for use herein include di-tert-butylhydroxytoluene (BHT), hydroquinone, di-tert-butylhydroquinone, mono-tert-butyl hydroquinone, tert-butyl-hydroxy anisole, benzoic acid, toluic acid, catechol, t-butyl catechol, benzylamine, 1, 1, 3-tris (2-methyl-4-hydroxy-5-t-buyphenyl) butane, n-propylgallate or mixtures thereof and the most preferred is di-tert- butyl hydroxytoluene. Radical scavengers, when used, are typically present herein in amounts in the range of 0.001% to 2% by weight of the total composition and preferably 0.001% or 0.5% or by weight. The presence of chelating agents, especially ATMP and / or radical scavengers, makes it possible to contribute to the safety profile of the compositions of the present invention suitable for pretreating a soiled colored fabric with prolonged contact times before washing said fabric. Other stabilizers such as inorganic stabilizers can also be used herein. Examples of inorganic stabilizers include sodium stannate and various alkali metal phosphonates such as well-known sodium tripolyphosphates, sodium pyrophosphate and sodium orthophosphate. The compositions according to the present invention may further comprise a suppressant of foams such as 2-alkylalcanol or mixtures thereof, as an optional ingredient. Particularly suitable for use in the present invention are the 2-alkylalkanols having an alkyl chain comprising from 6 to 16 carbon atoms, preferably from 8 to 12 and a terminal hydroxy group, said alkyl chain being substituted in the alpha position by an alkyl chain comprising from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, preferably from 2 to 8 and more preferably 3 to 6. Such compounds are commercially available. for example, in Isofol® series such as Isofol® 12 (2-butyloctanol) or Isofol® 16 (2-hexyldecanol). Typically, the compositions of the present invention comprise up to 2% by weight of the total composition of a 2-alkylalcanol, or mixtures thereof, preferably from 0.05% to 1.5% and more preferably from 0.1% to 0.8%.

The compositions according to the present invention may further comprise a soil-suspending polymer or mixtures thereof as an optional ingredient. Any soil-suspending polymer known to those skilled in the art can also be used herein. Polyamine polymers such as polyacoxylated polyamines are particularly suitable. These materials can be conveniently represented as molecules of the empirical structures with repeating units: - [N -Rh Form Amina (alkoxy) and R1 I - [N + -R] - nX- Quaternized form (alkoxy) and wherein R is a hydrocarbyl group, typically 2-6 carbon atoms; R1 may be a C1-C20 hydrocarbon; the alkoxy groups are ethoxy, propoxy and the like, and y is 2-30, more preferably 10-20; n is an integer of at least 2, preferably 2-20, more preferably 3-5; and X "is an anion such as a halide or methylisulfate, which results from the quatemization reaction.

The most highly preferred polyamines for use herein are so-called ethoxylated polyethylene amines, i.e., the polymerized reaction product of ethylene oxide with ethylene imine, having the general formula: (EtO) - - [N- -O-Chfc -n- -N- - (EtO) y (EtO) y (EtO) y when y = 2-30. It is particularly preferred to use an ethoxylated polyethyleneamine, in particular ethoxylated tetraethylenepentamine, and quaternized ethoxylated hexamethylenediamine. It has been surprisingly discovered that such polyamine, soil-suspending polymers contribute to the benefits of the present invention, that is, when they are added on top of said aliphatic diacyl peroxide, they further improve the stain removal performance of a composition comprising them, especially under laundry pre-treatment conditions as described herein. In fact, they allow to improve the performance of stain removal on a variety of stains including greasy stains, enzymatic stains, clay / mud stains as well as bleach stains. Typically, the compositions comprise up to 10% by weight of the total composition of said stain-suspending polyamine polymer or mixtures thereof, preferably from 0.1% to 5% and more preferably from 0.3% to 2%. The present compositions may also comprise other polymeric soil release agents known to those skilled in the art. Said polymeric dirt release agents are characterized to have hydrophilic segments, to hydrophilize the surface of hydrophobic fibers, such as polyester and nylon, and hydrophobic segments, to deposit on the hydrophobic fibers and to remain adhered to them until completing the washing cycles and rinse and therefore, serve as an anchor for the hydrophilic segments. This may allow stains that occur subsequent to treatment with the soil release agent to be more easily cleaned in subsequent washing procedures. The polymeric soil release agents useful herein include especially those soil release agents having: (a) one or more nonionic hydrophilic 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 2 to 10, wherein said hydrophilic segment does not encompass any oxypropylene unit unless it is attached to adjacent portions at each end by its ether linkages, or (iii) a mixture of oxyalkylene units comprising oxyethylene and from 1 to 30 oxypropylene units in which said mixture contains a sufficient quantity of oxyethylene units in such a way that the hydrophilic component has a sufficiently large hydrophilicity to increase the hydrophilicity of surfaces of conventional polyester synthetic fiber when depositing the release agent According to the invention, said hydrophilic segments preferably comprise at least 25% oxyethylene units and more preferably, especially for said components having from 20 to 30 oxypropylene units, at least 50% oxyethylene units.; or (b) one or more hydrophobic components comprising (i) oxyalkylene terephthalate segments of C3, in which, if said hydrophobic components also comprise oxyethylene terephthalate, the ratio of oxyethylene terephthalate: oxyalkylene terephthalate units of C3 is about 2: 1 or more low, (iii) C4-C6 alkylene segments or C-C6 oxyalkylene segments, or mixtures thereof, (iii) poly (vinylester) segments, preferably polyvinylacetate, having a degree of polymerization of at least 2, or (iv) substituents of C 1 -C 4 alkyl ether or C 4 hydroxyalkyl ether, or mixtures thereof, in which said substituents are present in the form of C 1 -C 4 alkyl ether or C 4 hydroxyalkyl cellulose ether derivatives , or mixtures thereof, and said cellulose derivatives are amphiphilic, in which they have a sufficient level of C 1 -C 4 alkyl ether and / or C 4 hydroxyalkyl ether units to be deposited on the sup conventional polyester synthetic fiber surfaces and retaining a sufficient level of hydroxyls, once adhered to said surfaces of conventional synthetic fiber, to increase the hydrophilicity of fiber surface, or a combination of (a) and (b). Typically, the polyoxyethylene segments of (a) (!) Will have a degree of polymerization of from 1 to 200, although higher levels, preferably from 3 to 150, more preferable from 6 to 100 may be used. The hydrophobic oxyalkylene segments of C4-C6 include, but are not limited to, blocked ends of polymeric soil release agents such as M? 3S (CH2) nOCH2CH2? -, where M is sodium and n is an integer of 4-6, as described in US Pat. the US patent 4,721, 580, issued on January 26, 1988 to Gosselink. Polymeric soil release agents useful in the present invention also include cellulosic derivatives such as hydroxyether cellulosic polymers, co-polymer blocks of ethylene terephthalate or propylene terephthalate with polyethylene oxide or polypropylene terephthalate oxide, and the like. Such agents are commercially available and include cellulose hydroxyethers such as METHOCEL (Dow). The cellulosic soil release agents for use herein also include those that are selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 4 alkyl cellulose and C 4 hydroxyalkyl; consult the patent of E.U.A. 4,000,093, issued December 28, 1976 to Nicol, et al. Dirt release agents that are characterized by hydrophobic poly (vinyl ester) segments include poly (vinyl ester) graft copolymers for example Ci-Cß vinyl esters, preferably poly (vinylacetate) grafted to the base structures of polyalkylene, such as polyethylene oxide base structures. See the European patent application 0 219 048, published on April 22, 1987 by Kud, et al. Commercially available soiling release agents of this type include SOKALAN material type, for example SOKALAN HP-22, available from BASF (West Germany). One type of preferred soil release agent is a copolymer having random blocks of ethylene terephthalate and polyethylene terephthalate oxide (PEO). The molecular weight of this polymeric soil release agent is in the range of 25,000 to 55,000. Consult the patent of E.U.A. 3,959,230 to Hays, issued May 25, 1976, and the patent of E.U.A. 3,893,929 to Basadur issued July 8, 1975. Another preferred polymeric soil release agent is a polyester with repeat units of ethylene terephthalate units containing 10-15% by weight of ethylene terephthalate units with 90-80% by weight of polyoxyethylene terephthalate units, derived from a polyoxyethylene glycol of average molecular weight of 300-5,000. Examples of this polymer include in commercially available material ZELCON 5126 (from Dupont) and MILEASE T (from ICI). See also the patent of E.U.A. 4, 702,857, issued on October 27, 1987 to Gosselink. Another preferred polymeric soil release agent is a sulfonated product of a substantially linear ester oligomer comprising an oligomeric ester base structure of terephthaloyl and oxyalkylenoxy repeating units and terminal portions conveniently adhered to the base structure. These soil release agents are fully described in the US patent. 4,968,451, issued November 6, 1990 to J.J. Scheibel and E.P. Gosselink. Other suitable polymeric dirt release agents include the terephthalate polyesters of the U.S. patent. 4,71 1, 730, issued on December 8, 1987 to Gosselink et al, the oligonucleic esters of anionic blocked ends of the U.S. patent. 4,721, 580, issued on January 26, 1988 to Gosselink, and the oligomeric polyester block compounds of the U.S.A. 4,702,857, issued on October 27, 1987 to Gosselink. Preferred polymeric dirt release agents also include the soil release agents of the U.S.A. 4,877,896, issued on October 31, 1989 to Maldonado et al, which describes anionic terephthalate esters, especially sulfoaroyl, of blocked end. Still another preferred soil release agent is an oligomer with repeating units of terephthaloyl units, sulfoisoterephthaloyl units, oxyethyleneneoxy units and oxy-1,2-propylene. The repeating units form the base structure of the oligomer and are terminated with blocked ends of modified setionate. A particularly preferred soiling release agent of this type comprises approximately one sulfoisophthaloyl unit, 5 terephthaloyl units, oxyethyleneoxy units, and oxy-1,2-propyleneneox in a ratio of about 1.7 to 1.8, and two blocked end units of 2. - Sodium (2-hydroxyethoxy) -ethanesulfonate. Said dirt release agent also comprises from 0.5% to 20% by weight of the oligomer, of a crystalline reduction stabilizer, which is preferably selected from the group consisting of xylene sulfonate, eumenium sulfate, toluene sulfonate, and mixtures thereof. same. Consult the patent of E.U.A. No. 5,415,807 issued May 16, 1995 to Gosselink et al. If used, the soil release agents will generally comprise from 0.01% to 10.0% by weight, of the detergent compositions herein, typically from 0.1% to 5%, preferably from 0.2% to 3.0%. of the present invention may also include one or more materials effective to inhibit the transfer of dyes from one colored surface to another during the cleaning process In general, said dye transfer inhibiting agents include polyvinylpyrrolidone polymers, N-polymers, polyaminm oxide, copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone and N-vinylimidazole, manganese phthalocyanine, peroxidases, and mixtures thereof If used, these agents will typically comprise from 0.01% to 10% by weight of the composition, preferably 0.01. to 5%, and more preferably from 0.05% to 2%.

More specifically, the preferred polyamide N-oxide polymers for use herein contain units having the following structural formula: R-A? -P; wherein P is a polymerizable unit to which an N-O group can adhere or the N-O group can be part of the polymerizable unit or the N-O group can adhere to both units; A is one of the following structures: -NC (O) -, -C (0) 0-, -S-, -O-, -N =; x is 0 or 1; and R is an aliphatic group, ethoxylated, aromatic, heterocyclic or acyclic aliphatics, or any combination thereof to which the nitrogen of the N-O group may be attached or the N-O group is part of those groups. Preferred polyamide N-oxides are those in which R is a heterocyclic group such as pyridine, pyrrole, imidazole, pyrrolidine, piperidine and derivatives thereof. The N-O group can be represented by the following general structures: in which Ri, R 2 R 3 are aliphatic, aromatic, heterocyclic or non-cyclic groups or combinations thereof; x, y, and z are 0 or 1; and the nitrogen of the N-O group may be attached or be part of any of the groups mentioned above. The amine oxide unit of the polyamide N-oxides has a pKa < 10, preferably pKa < 7, more preferred pKa < 6 Any polymer base structure can be used as long as the amine oxide polymer formed is water soluble and has dye transfer inhibition properties. Examples of polymeric base structures are polyvinyls, polyalkylenes, polyesters, polyethers, polyamides, polyimides, polyacrylates and mixtures thereof. These polymers include random or block copolymers wherein one type of monomer is an amine N-oxide and the other type of monomer is an N-oxide. The amine N-oxide polymers typically have a ratio of amine to amine N-oxide from 10: 1 to 1: 1,000,000. However, the number of amine oxide groups present in the polyamine oxide polymer can be varied by suitable copolymerization or by an appropriate degree of N-oxidation. Polyamine oxides can be obtained in almost any degree of polymerization. Typically, the average molecular weight is within the range of 500 to 1,000,000; more preferred 1, 000 to 500,000; and more preferred 5,000 to 100,000. This preferred class of materials can be referred to as "PVNO". The most preferred polyamine N-oxide useful in the detergent compositions herein is poly (4-vinylpyridine) N-oxide, which has an average molecular weight of 50,000 and a ratio of amine to amine N-oxide of 1. :4. Copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone and N-vinylimidazole polymers (referred to as a "PVPVI" class) are also preferred for use herein. Preferably the PVPVI has an average molecular weight scale of 5,000 to 1,000,000, more preferably 5,000 to 200,000, and more preferably 10,000 to 20,000. (The average molecular weight scale is determined by light scattering as described in Barth, et al., Chemical Analysis, Vol. 113. "Modern Methods of Polymer Characterization," the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. ). The PVPVI copolymers typically have a molar ratio of N-vinylimidazole to N-vinylpyrrolidone from 1: 1 to 0.2: 1, more preferably from 0.8: 1 to 0.3: 1, and more preferably from 0.6: 1 to 0.4: 1. These copolymers can be linear or branched. The compositions of the present invention may also use a polyvinylpyrrolidone ("PVP") having an average molecular weight of 5,000 to 400,000, preferably 5,000 to 200,000, and more preferably 5,000 to 5,000. The PVP's are known to the experts in the field of detergents; see for example EP-A-262,897 and EP-A-256,696, incorporated herein by reference. Compositions containing PVP may also contain polyethylene glycol ("PEG") having an average molecular weight of 500 to 100., 000, preferably from 1,000 to 10,000. Preferably, the ratio of PEG to PVP in a ppm basis supplied in wash solutions is from 2: 1 to 50: 1, and more preferably from 3: 1 to 10: 1. If high foam formation is desired, foam enhancers such as C10-C16 alkanolamides can be incorporated into the compositions, typically at levels of 1% -10%. Cio-C monoethanol and diethanol amides illustrate a typical class of such foam impellers. The use of such foaming enhancers with adjunct high foaming surfactants such as the amine oxides such as betamine and sultaines noted above is also advantageous. If desired, soluble magnesium salts such as MgCl 2, MgS 4, and the like can be added at levels of, for example, 0.1% -2%, to provide additional foams and to improve the fat removal performance. Any optical brighteners, fluorescent whitening agents or other whitening or brightening agents known in the art can be incorporated into the compositions herein when they are designed for fabric treatment or washing, typically at levels from 0.05% to 1.2%, by weight, of the detergent compositions herein. Commercial optical brighteners that may be useful in the present invention may be classified into subgroups, including, but not necessarily limited to, stilbene, pyrazoline, coumarin, carboxylic acids, methylcyanins, dibenzothiophene-5,5-dioxide, azoles , 5- and 6-membered heterocyclic ring brighteners, this list is illustrative and not limiting. Examples of such brighteners are described in "The Production and Application of Fluorescent Brightening Agents," M. Zahradnik, published by John Wiley & amp;; Sons, New York (1982). Specific examples of optical brighteners that are useful in the present compositions are those identified in the U.S.A. 4,790,856, issued to Wixon on December 13, 1988. These brighteners include the PHORWHITE series of Verana brighteners. Other brighteners described in this reference include: Tinopal UNPA, Tinopal CBS and Tinopal 5BM; available from Ciba-Geigy; Artic White CC and Artic White CWD, available from Hilton-Davis, located in Italy; 2- (4-stirii-phenyl) -2H-naphthol [1,2-d] triazoles; 4,4'-bis- (1, 2,3-triazol-2-yl) -stilbenes; 4,4'-bis (styryl) bsphenyls; and the aminocoumarins. Specific examples of those brighteners include 4-methyl-7-diethyl-amino coumarin; 1,2-bis (-benzimdiazol-2-yl) ethylene; 2,5-bis (benzoxazol-2-yl) thiophene; 2-styryl-naphtho- [1,2-djoxazole; and 2- (stilbene-4-yl) -2H-naphthol- [1,2-d] triazole. See also the patent of E.U.A. 3,646,015, issued on February 29, 1972, to Hamilton. Anionic brighteners are typically preferred herein. If desired, the compositions herein may additionally incorporate a catalyst or accelerator to further improve bleaching or removal of dirt. Any suitable bleach catalyst can be used. For detergent compositions which are used at a total level of 1,000 to 5,000 ppm in water, the compositions will typically provide a concentration of 0.1 ppm to 700 ppm, more preferably 1 ppm to 50 ppm, or less, of the catalyst species in the washing liquid. Bleach catalysts can also be used herein. Typical bleach catalysts comprise a transition metal complex, for example one in which the metal coordination ligands are fairly resistant to labilization and which do not deposit metal oxides or hydroxides to any appreciable degree under the typical alkaline conditions of washing. Such catalysts include manganese-based catalysts which are described in the U.S. Pat. 5,246,621, E.U.A. 5,244,594; E.U.A. 5,194,416; E.U.A. 5,114,606; and EP Nos. 549,271 A1, 549,272 A1, 544,440 A2, and 544,490 A1; Preferred examples of these catalysts include Mn? v2 (μ-0) 3 (TACN) 2- (PF6) 2, Mnlll (μ-0)? (μ-OAc) 2 (TACN) 2) CI04) 2, Mn? v4 (μ-0) 6 (TACN) 4 (CI04) 4, MnillMnlv4- (μ-0) 1 (μ-OAc) 2- (TACN) 2- (CI04) 3, Mnlv- (TACN) - (OCH3) 3 (PF6), and mixtures thereof in which TACN is trimethyl-1, 4,7-triazacyclononane or an equivalent macrocycle; although alternating metal coordinating ligands as well as mononuclear and monometallic complexes as well as di- and polymetallic complexes and alternating metal complexes such as iron or ruthenium are all within the scope of the present. Other metal-based bleach catalysts include those described in the U.S.A. 4,430,243 and E.U.A. 5,114,611. The use of manganese with several complex ligands to improve bleaching is also reported in the following U.S. Patents: 4,728,455; 5,284,944; 5,246,612; 5,256,779; 5,280,117; 5,274,147; 5,153,161; and 5,227,084. The transition metals can also be formed in pre-complexes or complexes in situ with suitable donor ligands selected depending on the metal selection, their oxidation state and the denticity of the ligands. Other complexes that may be included herein are those of the application of E.U.A. Series No. 08 / 210,186, submitted on March 17, 1994.

The present invention will be further illustrated by the following examples.

EXAMPLES The following compositions were prepared according to the present invention. All amounts are described as a percentage by weight of the total composition.

Composition 1 Dobanol 45-7 5% NaPS 1% Benzoylauroyl peroxide 0.5% H202 6.8% Water and minors to the rest PH 4 Composition 2 Dobanol 45-7 5% NaPS 1% Isopar M 1.5% Benzoylauroyl peroxide 2% Water and minors up to the rest PH 4 Composition 3 Dobanol 45-7 3% NaPS 3% Isopar M 1.5% Benzoyluroyl peroxide 0.5% H202 6.8% Water and minors until the rest PH 4 Composition 4 Dobanol 45-7 5% NaPS 1% Isopar M 1.5% Benzoyluroyl peroxide 0.5% HEDP 0.16% H202 6.8% o Water and minors until the rest PH 5 Composition 5 Dobanol 45-7 5% NaPS 1% or Isopar M 1.5% Peroxide p-pentyl-benzoylauroyl 0.5% H202 6.8% Water and minors until the rest PH 4 Composition 6 NaAS 2.7% Dobanol 23-3 2.5% Dobanol 91-10 2.6% Isopar M 1.5% Benzoylauroyl peroxide 0.5% H202 6.8% Water and minor to the rest pH 4 Composition 7 Dobanol 23-6.5 7..0% Dobanol 23-3 1.5% Dobanol 91-10 1.6% NaAs 1.7% Isopar M 1.5% Benzoylauroyl peroxide 0.5% H202 6.8% Water and minor to the rest pH 4

Claims (8)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - The use of a diacyl peroxide of the general formula: wherein R1 is an aliphatic group and R2 is an aromatic group in a bleaching composition to provide spot removal and improved fabric color security.

2. The use according to claim 1, further characterized in that R1 is an aliphatic group having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, preferably from 4 to 20 and is selected from linear, branched, cyclic, saturated, unsaturated, substituted, unsubstituted or mixtures thereof.

3. The use according to any of the preceding claims further characterized in that R2 is an aromatic group that is selected from mono or polycyclic ring, homo or heteroatom, substituted or unsubstituted or mixtures thereof.

4. The use according to any of the preceding claims further characterized in that R1 and R2 are independently replaced with a halide, sulfur-containing functionality, nitrogen-containing functionality, an alkyl chain in which the number of carbon atoms in the alkyl chain it is in the range from 1 to 20, preferably from 4 to 13, or mixtures thereof.

5. The use according to any of the preceding claims further characterized in that the diacyl peroxide is benzoylalkanoyl peroxide in which the alkanoyl group has 8 to 18 carbon atoms.

6. The use according to any of the preceding claims further characterized in that the diacyl peroxide is selected from the group consisting of benzoyluroyl peroxide, benzoylcanoyl peroxide, benzoylketoyl peroxide, para-alkylbenzalloyl peroxide, para-alkylbenzoyl decanyl peroxide, para-alkylbenzoylketoyl peroxide wherein the alkyl is preferably a pentyl and mixtures thereof.

7. The use according to any of the preceding claims further characterized in that the bleaching composition is aqueous.

8. The use according to any of the preceding claims further characterized in that the bleaching composition comprises at least one surfactant.