WO2000042150A1 - Detergent compositions comprising a pectate lyase and a metal bleach catalyst - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to detergent compositions comprising a pectate lyase and a metal bleach catalyst for superior cleaning performance.

Description

DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS COMPRISING A PECTATE LYASE AND A METAL BLEACH CATALYST

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to detergent compositions comprising a pectate lyase and a metal bleach catalyst.

Background of the invention

Performance of a detergent product is judged by a number of factors, including the ability to remove soils, and the ability to prevent the redeposition of the soils, or the breakdown products of the soils on the articles in the wash. Therefore, detergent compositions include nowadays a complex combination of active ingredients which fulfill certain specific needs. In particular, current detergent formulations generally include surfactants and detergent enzymes providing cleaning and fabric care benefits.

Removal of stains stemming from plants, wood, mould-clay based soil, muddy soils, and fruits is one of today's toughest cleaning tasks; especially with the trend toward low wash temperatures. These stains typically contain complex mixtures of fibrous material based mainly on carbohydrates and their derivatives: fibres and cell wall components and highly coloured chromophores. Plant based soils are additionally accompanied with amylose, sugars and their derivatives. Food soils are often difficult to remove effectively from a soiled substrate. Highly coloured or "dried-on" soils derived from fruit and/or vegetable juices are particularly challenging to remove. Specific examples of such soils would include orange juice, tomato juice, carrot juice, banana, mango or broccoli soils. Indeed, pectin polymers are important constituents of plant cell walls. Pectin is a hetero- polysaccharide with a backbone composed of alternating homogalacturonan (smooth regions) and rhamnogalacturonan (hairy regions). The smooth regions are linear polymers of 1 ,4-linked alpha-D-galacturonic acid. The galacturonic acid residues can be methyl-esterified on the carboxyl group to a varying degree, usually in a non-random fashion with blocks of polygalacturonic acid being completely methyl-esterified. The substrates on which pectin containing stains are commonly found can be fabrics, dishware or hard surfaces.

In addition, the complex nature of everyday "body" soils typically found on pillow cases, T-shirts, collars and socks, provides a continuous thorough cleaning challenge for detergents. These soils are difficult to remove completely due in part to their interaction with the pectin components in the primary cell walls of cotton fibers comprising cotton containing fabrics, and often residues build up on such fabric leading to dinginess and yellowing. Moreover, body fluid stains, such as blood and menstrual fluids, are often difficult to remove effectively from a soiled item, especially when the stains have been aged. Everyday body soils are also found on sanitary and kitchen surfaces such as bathtubs, toilet bowls and dishware.

In addition, highly coloured or 'dried-on' soils derived for example, from fruit and/or vegetables are also particularly challenging soils to remove. These coloured stains contain highly coloured compounds based on carotenoid compounds such as α-,β- and γ-carotene and lycopene and xanthophyls (zeaxanthin or capsanthin), or porphyrins such as chlorophyll and flavonoid pigments and dye components. This latter group of natural flavonoid based dye components comprises the highly coloured anthocyanins dyes and pigments based on pelargonidin, cyanidin, delphidin and their methyl esters and the antoxanthins. These compounds are the origin of most of the orange, red, violet and blue colours occurring in fruits and are abundant in all berries, cherry, red and black currents, grapefruits, passion fruit, oranges, lemons, apples, pears, pomegranate, red cabbage, red beets and also flowers. Carotenoids soils are derived from carrots and tomatoes and in any processed products containing these components as well as certain tropical fruits and saffron. In particular in the dishwashing context, these coloured food soils may be removed from soiled articles into the wash solution, and then may be redeposited from the wash solution onto other articles in the wash or onto the interior of the dishwashing machine. The problem is particularly noticeable when the wash load includes articles soiled by foods naturally containing significant levels of coloured dyestuff molecules, including for example tomato sauce and curry.

Traditionally, the removal of such bleachable stains has been enabled by the use of bleach components such as oxygen bleaches, including hydrogen peroxide and organic peroxyacids. The organic peroxyacids are often obtained by the in situ perhydrolysis reaction between hydrogen peroxide and an organic peroxyacid bleach precursor. More recently, products containing bleach catalysts, particularly manganese bleach catalysts have become of interest.

Pectin degrading enzymes are known to provide soil/stain removal benefits when used in washing and cleaning operations, specifically to provide the removal of a broad range of plant and fruit based stains and enhance the body soil cleaning profile of the detergent compositions. By pectin degrading enzyme it is meant herein any enzyme which acts to break down pectin substances and pectin related substances. Pectin degrading enzymes can be classified according to their preferential substrate, highly methyl-esterified pectin or low methyl-esterified pectin and polygalacturonic acid (pectate), and their reaction mechanism, beta- elimination or hydrolysis. Pectin degrading enzymes can be mainly endo-acting, cutting the polymer at random sites within the chain to give a mixture of oligomers, or they may be exo-acting, attacking from one end of the polymer and producing monomers or dimers. Several pectinase activities acting on the smooth regions of pectin are included in the classification of enzymes provided by the Enzyme Nomenclature (1992) such as pectate lyase (EC 4.2.2.2), pectin lyase (EC 4.2.2.10), polygalacturonase (EC 3.2.1.15), exo-polygalacturonase (EC 3.2.1.67), exo-polygalacturonate lyase (EC 4.2.2.9) and exo-poly-alpha- galacturonosidase (EC 3.2.1.82). The pectin degrading enzymes are natural mixtures of the above mentioned enzymatic activities.

Each type of pectin degrading enzyme has a unique profile of substrate specificity, activity and stability under different hardness, pH, temperature, surfactant and other detergent ingredient matrix conditions. Pectin degrading enzymes are specifically directed to degrade pectin substances and in particular plant cell walls. In particular, pectate lyase enzymes are directed to the cleavage of α-D-(1 ,4) glycosidic bonds in poly-D-galcturonans by the mechanism of β- elimination. These pectate lyase enzymes further help as well with the removal of mixed stains / soils comprising pectin substances and other components. However, soils / stains which are not sensitive to pectate lyases such as non- pectin carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and their derivatives may block the accessibility of the pectin substances to the enzymes and necessitate a further strong detergent ingredient.

It has been surprisingly found that the combination of a metal bleach catalyst system can maximise the pectate lyase enzyme cleaning efficiency. Further it has been surprisingly found that detergent compositions comprising a pectate lyase and a metal bleach catalyst, provide superior cleaning due to the synergistic effect of the metal bleach catalyst providing cleaning, stain removal and in a laundry context whiteness maintenance, and the pectate lyase degrading the pectin components of such soil and/or, in a laundry context, the pectin component of the fabrics that can bind such soils. This metal bleach catalyst - 02/H202-releasing compound - enzyme mixed system delivers an outstanding cleaning effect, especially on food coloured stains and body soils. Moreover, when formulated as a laundry and/or fabric care composition, the compositions of the present invention provide synergistic whiteness maintenance.

The use of pectin degrading enzymes in detergent has already been recognised in the art. The use of pectin enzyme is also recognised for the cleaning of contact lenses (US 4,710,313 - J60196724). Enzymes having a pectinase activity are described in DE 36 35 427 to increase the capacity of the detergent for removing inorganic dirt, e.g. sludges, from laundry without damaging the fibres and without discoloration to allow the use of zeolites and polycarbonate builders which have a lower capacity for dispersing inorganic materials than the phosphates. Benefits for the use of pectin enzymes in detergent formulations, particularly those designed for use in laundry, dishwashing and household cleaning operations have been recognised in WO95/25790. JP 60226599 describes detergent compositions comprising conventional detergent actives and a cellulase and hydrolase such as hemicellulase, pectinase, amylase or protease. The combination of cellulase and hydrolase is said to give a good washing effect on inorganic fouling together with enzymatic activity. WO95/09909 describes an enzyme preparation comprising modified enzymes selected from the group of amylase, lipase, oxidoreductase, pectinase or hemicellulase; the modified enzymes having an improved performance due to an alkaline pi and/or increased surface activity obtained by chemical modification or amino acid substitution. Modified pectin and/or pectolytic and/or hemi-cellulolytic and/or lipolytic enzymes are applied advantageously in the papermaking industry and modified amylase and/or lipase in laundry and dishwashing.

In particular, Pectate lyases have been cloned from different bacterial genera such as Erwinia, Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, Streptomyces, Penicillium, Bacteroides, Thermomonospora, Fusahum, Aspergillus, and Xanthomonas. Also from Bacillus subtilis (Nasser et al. (1993) FEBS 335:319-326) and Bacillus sp. YA-14 (Kim et al. (1994) Biosci. Biotech. Biochem. 58:947-949) cloning of a pectate lyase has been described. Purification of pectate lyases with maximum activity in the pH range of 8-10 produced by Bacillus pumilus (Dave and Vaughn (1971) J. Bacteriol. 108:166-174), B. polymyxa (Nagel and Vaughn (1961) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 93:344-352), B. stearothermophilus (Karbassi and Vaughn (1980) Can. J. Microbiol. 26:377-384), Bacillus sp. (Hasegawa and Nagel (1966) J. Food Sci. 31 :838-845) and Bacillus sp. RK9 (Kelly and Fogarty (1978) Can. J. Microbiol. 24:1164-1172) has been reported. WO 98/45393 discloses detergent compositions containing protopectinase with remarkable detergency against muddy soiling.

Metal bleach catalysts are known in the detergency field. Recent art includes : WO98/36403 describes laundry compositions comprising a transition metal bleach catalyst comprising a complex of a transition metal and a cross-bridged macropolycyclic ligand. WO98/39405 relates to a laundry composition comprising a bleach activator and/or organic percarboxylic acid, a transition metal bleach catalyst comprising a complex of a transition metal and a cross-bridged macropolycyclic ligand. W097/36991 relates to a bleaching composition comprising a metal-containing bleach catalyst, an oxygen-releasing bleach system and an amino tricarboxylic acid of a specific formula. W097/34985 discloses a bleaching composition comprising a metal-containing bleach catalyst, an oxygen-releasing bleach system and a cellulase. W097/29174 describes bleach catalyst particles for use in detergent compositions. W097/22681 relates to an automatic dishwashing composition comprising a metal bleach catalyst, a source of hydrogen peroxide, phosphate builder and a dishwashing ingredient.

However, the synergistic combination of a pectate lyase and a metal bleach catalyst, for superior cleaning performance in a detergent composition, has never been previously recognised.

Summary of the invention

The present invention relates to detergent compositions, including laundry and/or fabric care, dishwashing and hard surfaces compositions, comprising a pectate lyase and a metal bleach catalyst for providing superior cleaning performance.

Furthermore, the detergent compositions of the present invention provide whiteness maintenance in a laundry context whiteness maintenance, and deliver an outstanding cleaning effect, especially on food coloured stains and body soils.

Detailed description of the invention

The present invention relates to detergent compositions comprising a pectate lyase and a metal bleach catalyst for providing superior cleaning performance. Preferably such compositions will further comprise an oxygen source.

Each type of pectin degrading enzyme has a unique profile of substrate specificity, activity and stability under different hardness, pH, temperature, surfactant and other detergent ingredient matrix conditions. Pectin degrading enzymes are specifically directed to degrade pectin substances and in particular plant cell walls. In particular, pectate lyase is a pectin degrading enzyme which splits the α-1 Aglucoside bond of polygalacturonic acids found in pectin substances, to create a double bond between C4 and C5.

Pectate lyase enzymes further help the removal of mixed stains / soils comprising pectin substances and other components. However, soils / stains which are not sensitive to pectate lyases such as non-pectin carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and their derivatives or highly colored materials associated with the pectin, may block the accessibility of the pectin substances to the enzyme and necessitate a further strong detergent ingredient.

It has been surprisingly found that a metal bleach catalyst can maximise the pectate lyase cleaning efficiency. Such a metal bleach catalyst system is known to provide superior cleaning, stain removal and in a laundry and/or fabric care context, whiteness maintenance. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that the pectate lyase degrades the pectin components of soils and stains binding chromophores. Such enzymatic degradation of the pectin components exposes these colour bodies to the metal catalyst which subsequently bleaches them. It has been found that such combinations lead to performance synergy in soil and stain cleaning, especially on coloured food stains/soils and body soils.

The Pectate Lyase enzyme

An essential element of the detergent composition of the present invention is a pectate lyase enzyme.

Pectate lyase is classified within the classification of enzymes provided by the Enzyme Nomenclature (1992) as EC 4.2.2.2. Said enzyme is known to split the α-1 Aglucoside bond of galacturonic acid found in pectin substances, creating a double bond between C4 and C5 and is substantially free for other pectin degrading activities, i.e. having less than 25%, preferably less than 15%, more preferably less than 5% by weight of the enzyme compound of other pectin degrading enzyme activities.

Pectate lyases have been cloned from different bacterial genera such as Erwinia, Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, Streptomyces, Penicillium, Bacteroides, Thermomonospora, Fusarium, Aspergillus, and Xanthomonas. Also from Bacillus subtilis (Nasser et al. (1993) FEBS 335:319-326) and Bacillus sp. YA-14 (Kim et al. (1994) Biosci. Biotech. Biochem. 58:947-949) cloning of a pectate lyase has been described. Purification of pectate lyases with maximum activity in the pH range of 8-10 produced by Bacillus pumilus (Dave and Vaughn (1971) J. Bacteriol. 108:166-174), B. polymyxa (Nagel and Vaughn (1961) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 93:344-352), B. stearothermophilus (Karbassi and Vaughn (1980) Can. J. Microbiol. 26:377-384), Bacillus sp. (Hasegawa and Nagel (1966) J. Food Sci. 31 :838-845) and Bacillus sp. RK9 (Kelly and Fogarty (1978) Can. J. Microbiol. 24:1164-1172) has been reported. WO 98/45393 discloses detergent compositions containing protopectinase with remarkable detergency against muddy soils.

Further suitable pectate lyases for use in the present invention are the protopectinases having an optimum reaction pH of 7.0 or higher when polygalacturonic acid is used as a substrate such as described in WO98/45393 and the pectic acid lyase having the amino acid sequence SEQ no 1 of EP 870 843 or having such amino acid sequence with one or more amino acid being deleted, added or substituted.

Preferred are the pectate lyase enzymes described in the international co- pending application PCT/DK98/00515, internationally filed on November 24, 1998 :

- A pectate lyase comprising a first amino acid sequence consisting of seven (7) amino acid residues having the following sequence: Asn Leu Asn Ser Arg Val Pro (NLNSRVP);

- A pectate lyase which is : i) a polypeptide produced by Bacillus agaradhaerens, NCIMB 40482 or DSM 8721 , or by a Bacillus species having a 16S rDNA sequence homology to Bacillus agaradhaerens, DSM 8721 , of at least 99%, or ii) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence as shown in positions

27-359 of SEQ ID NO:2 of PCT/DK98/00515, or iii) an analogue of the polypeptide defined in i) or ii) which is at least 45% homologous with said polypeptide, or iv) is derived from said polypeptide by substitution, deletion or addition of one or several amino acids, provided that the arginine in position 240, and optionally also the arginine in position 245, is conserved and the derived polypeptide is at least 42% homologous with said polypeptide, or v) is immunologically reactive with a polyclonal antibody raised against said polypeptide in purified form;

- A pectate lyase which is : i) a polypeptide produced by Bacillus licheniformis, ATCC 14580, or by a Bacillus species having a 16S rDNA sequence homology to Bacillus licheniformis, ATCC 14580, of at least 99%, or ii) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence as shown in positions

28-341 of SEQ ID NO:4 of PCT/DK98/00515, or iii) an analogue of the polypeptide defined in i) or ii) which is at least 45% homologous with said polypeptide, or iv) is derived from said polypeptide by substitution, deletion or addition of one or several amino acids, provided that the arginine in position 233, and optionally also the arginine in position 238, is conserved and the derived polypeptide is at least 42% homologous with said polypeptide, or v) is immunologically reactive with a polyclonal antibody raised against said polypeptide in purified form;

- A pectate lyase which is : i) a polypeptide produced by a Bacillus species having the 16S rDNA sequence of SEQ ID NO: 14 of PCT/DK98/00515 or by a Bacillus species having a 16S rDNA sequence homology to SEQ ID NO:14 of

PCT/DK98/00515 higher than 97.3%; or ii) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence as shown in positions 181-509 of SEQ ID NO:6 of PCT/DK98/00515, or iii) an analogue of the polypeptide defined in i) which is at least 50% homologous with said polypeptide, or iv) is derived from said polypeptide by substitution, deletion or addition of one or several amino acids, provided that the arginine in position 390, and optionally also the arginine in position 395, is conserved and the derived polypeptide is at least 44% homologous with said polypeptide, or v) is immunologically reactive with a polyclonal antibody raised against said polypeptide in purified form, - A pectate lyase which is : i) a polypeptide produced by the species Bacillus halodurans, or ii) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence as shown in positions

42-348 of SEQ ID NO:8 of PCT/DK98/00515, or iii) an analogue of the polypeptide defined in i) or ii) which is at least 45% homologous with said polypeptide, or iv) is derived from said polypeptide by substitution, deletion or addition of one or several amino acids, provided that the arginine in position 240, and optionally also the arginine in position 245, is conserved and the derived polypeptide is at least 40% homologous with said polypeptide, or v) is immunologically reactive with a polyclonal antibody raised against said polypeptide in purified form, - A pectate lyase which is i) a polypeptide produced by a Bacillus species having the 16S rDNA sequence of SEQ ID NO:13 of PCT/DK98/00515 or by a Bacillus species having a 16S rDNA sequence homology to SEQ ID NO: 13 of

PCT/DK98/00515 higher than 98.1%; or ii) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence as shown in positions

25-335 of SEQ ID NO: 10 of PCT/DK98/00515, or iii) an analogue of the polypeptide defined in i) or which is at least 45% homologous with said polypeptide, or iv) is derived from said polypeptide by substitution, deletion or addition of one or several amino acids, provided that the arginine in position 227, and optionally also the arginine in position 232, is conserved and the derived polypeptide is at least 41% homologous with said polypeptide, or v) is immunologically reactive with a polyclonal antibody raised against said polypeptide in purified form. Similarly preferred is the pectate lyase enzyme described in the international co- pending application PCT/DK98/00514, internationally filed on November 24, 1998 and which is :

D a polypeptide produced by Bacillus licheniformis, ATCC 14580, or ϋ) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence as shown in positions 28-221 of SEQ ID NO:4 of PCT/DK98/00514, or iϋ) an analogue of the polypeptide defined in i) or ii) which is at least

60% homologous with said polypeptide, or iv) is derived from said polypeptide by substitution, deletion or addition of one or several amino acids, provided that the lysines in positions 133 and 155 and the arginine in position 158 are conserved and the derived polypeptide is at least 66% homologous with positions 60-158 of SEQ ID NO:4 of PCT/DK98/00514, or ) is immunologically reactive with a polyclonal antibody raised against said polypeptide in purified form.

More preferred pectate lyases for the purpose of the present invention are those having opimum activity at pH's >7.0 and derived from Streptomyces fradiae, Streptomyces nitrosporeus, Erwinia carotovora, Bacillus spheroides, Thermomonospora fusca, Pseudomonas solanacearum, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, Fusarium solani, Xanthomonas campestris, Bacillus agaradhaerens, and/or Bacillus licheniformis.

Most preferred pectate lyase for the purpose of the present invention is the Pectate lyase from Bacillus agaradhaerens, NCIMB 40482 or DSM 8721.

The pectate lyase is incorporated into the detergent compositions of the present invention preferably at a level of from 0.0001% to 2%, more preferably from 0.0005% to 0.1%, most preferred from 0.001% to 0.02% pure enzyme by weight of the composition.

The pectate lyase of the invention, in addition to the enzyme core comprising the catalytically domain, may also contain a cellulose binding domain (CBD), the cellulose binding domain and enzyme core (the catalytically active domain) of the enzyme being operably linked. The cellulose binding domain (CBD) may exist as an integral part of the encoded enzyme, or a CBD from another origin may be introduced into the enzyme thus creating an enzyme hybrid. In this context, the term "cellulose-binding domain" is intended to be understood as defined by Peter Tomme et al. "Cellulose-Binding Domains: Classification and Properties" in "Enzymatic Degradation of Insoluble Carbohydrates", John N. Saddler and Michael H. Penner (Eds.), ACS Symposium Series, No. 618, 1996. This definition classifies more than 120 cellulose- binding domains into 10 families (l-X), and demonstrates that CBDs are found in various enzymes such as cellulases, xylanases, mannanases, arabinofuranosidases, acetyl esterases and chitinases. CBDs have also been found in algae, e.g. the red alga Porphyra purpurea as a non-hydrolytic polysaccharide-binding protein, see Tomme et al., op.cit. However, most of the CBDs are from cellulases and xylanases, CBDs are found at the N and C termini of proteins or are internal. Enzyme hybrids are known in the art, see e.g. WO 90/00609 and WO 95/16782, and may be prepared by transforming into a host cell a DNA construct comprising at least a fragment of DNA encoding the cellulose- binding domain ligated, with or without a linker, to a DNA sequence encoding the pectate lyase enzyme and growing the host cell to express the fused gene. Enzyme hybrids may be described by the following formula:

CBD - MR - X wherein CBD is the N-terminal or the C-terminal region of an amino acid sequence corresponding to at least the cellulose binding domain; MR is the middle region (the linker), and may be a bond, or a short linking group preferably of from about 2 to about 100 carbon atoms, more preferably of from 2 to 40 carbon atoms; or is preferably from about 2 to about 100 amino acids, more preferably of from 2 to 40 amino acids; and X is an N-terminal or C-terminal region of the pectate lyase of the invention.

The above-mentioned enzymes may be of any suitable origin, such as vegetable, animal, bacterial, fungal and yeast origin. Origin can further be mesophilic or extremophilic (psychrophilic, psychrotrophic, thermophilic, barophilic, alkalophilic, acidophilic, halophilic, etc.). Purified or non-purified forms of these enzymes may be used. Nowadays, it is common practice to modify wild-type enzymes via protein / genetic engineering techniques in order to optimise their performance efficiency in the detergent compositions of the invention. For example, the variants may be designed such that the compatibility of the enzyme to commonly encountered ingredients of such compositions is increased. Alternatively, the variant may be designed such that the optimal pH, bleach or chelant stability, catalytic activity and the like, of the enzyme variant is tailored to suit the particular cleaning application.

In particular, attention should be focused on amino acids sensitive to oxidation in the case of bleach stability and on surface charges for the surfactant compatibility. The isoelectric point of such enzymes may be modified by the substitution of some charged amino acids, e.g. an increase in isoelectric point may help to improve compatibility with anionic surfactants. The stability of the enzymes may be further enhanced by the creation of e.g. additional salt bridges and enforcing metal binding sites to increase chelant stability.

The Metal Bleach Catalyst

The second essential element of the detergent compositions of the present invention is a metal 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 aluminium 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.

Preferred 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 MnlV2(u-0)3(1 ,4,7-trimethyl-1 ,4,7-triazacyclononane)2- (PFe)2, Mn^lll2(u-0)ι (u-OA O ,4,7-trimethyl-1 ,4,7-triazacyclononane)2-(Clθ4)2, Mn^|V₄(_U-0)6(1 ,4,7-triazacyclononane)4-(Clθ4)2, Mn^lllMn^IV4(u-0)ι(u-OAc)2_ (1 ,4,7-trimethyl-1 ,4,7-triazacyclononane)2-(Clθ4)3, and mixtures thereof. Others are described in European patent application publication no. 549,272. Other ligands suitable for use herein include 1 ,5,9-trimethyl-1 ,5,9-triazacyclododecane, 2-methyl-1 ,4,7-triazacyclononane, 2-methyl-1 ,4,7-triazacyclononane, 1 ,2,4,7- tetramethyl-1 ,4,7-triazacyclononane, and mixtures thereof.

The bleach catalysts useful in the compositions herein may also be selected from the 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(1 ,4,7-trimethyl-1 ,4,7-triaza-cyclononane)(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. Preferred ligands include sorbitol, iditol, dulsitol, mannitol, xylithol, arabitol, adonitol, meso-erythritol, meso-inositol, lactose, and mixtures thereof.

U.S. Pat. 5,114,611 describes other suitable bleach catalysts comprising a complex of transition metals, including Mn, Co, Fe, or Cu, with an non-(macro)- cyclic ligand. Said ligands are of the formula:

R² R³ j I j j R¹-N=C-B-C=N-R⁴

wherein R¹, R², R³, and R⁴ can each be selected from H, substituted alkyl and aryl groups such that each R1-N=C-R2 and R3-C=N-R4 form a five or six- membered ring. Said ring can further be substituted. B is a bridging group selected from O, S. CR⁵R⁶, NR⁷ and C=0, wherein R⁵, R⁶, and R⁷ can each be H, alkyl, or aryl groups, including substituted or unsubstituted groups. Preferred ligands include pyridine, pyridazine, pyrimidine, pyrazine, imidazole, pyrazole, and triazole rings. Optionally, said rings may be substituted with substituents such as alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, halide, and nitro. Particularly preferred is the ligand 2,2'-bispyridylamine. Preferred bleach catalysts include Co, Cu, Mn, Fe,- bispyridylmethane and -bispyridylamine complexes. Highly preferred catalysts include Co(2,2'-bispyridylamine)Cl2, Di(isothiocyanato)bispyridylamine-cobalt (II), trisdipyridylamine-cobalt(ll) perchlorate, Co(2,2-bispyridylamine)2θ2Clθ4, Bis- (2,2'-bispyridylamine) copper(ll) perchlorate, tris(di-2-pyridylamine) iron(ll) perchlorate, and mixtures thereof. Preferred examples include binuclear Mn complexes with tetra-N-dentate and bi- N-dentate ligands, including N4Mn"'(u-0)2Mn'VN4)⁺and [Bipy2Mn'"(u- 0)2Mn^|Vbipy₂]-(CI04)3.

Other bleach catalysts are described, for example, in European patent application, publication 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) and U.S. 4,430,243 (chelants with manganese cations and non-catalytic metal cations). Highly preferred catalysts are described in U.S. 4,728,455 (manganese gluconate catalysts).

Suitable examples of manganese catalysts containing organic ligands are described in US-A-4,728,455, US-A-5, 114,606, US-A-5,153,161 , US-A- 5,194,416, US-A-5,227,804, US-A-5,246,612, US-A-5,246,621 , US-A-5,256,779, US-A-5,274,147, US-A-5,280,117, and EP-A-544,440, EP-A-544,490, EP-A- 549,271 EP-A-549,272. Preferred examples of these catalysts include Mn^ιv ₂ (u- 0)₂(1 ,4,7-trimethyl-1 ,4,7-triazacyclononane)₂(PF₆)₂,Mn^lll ₂(u-0)₁(u-OAc)₂(1 ,4,7- trimethyl-1 ,4,7triazacyclononane)₂(CI0₄)₂, Mn^ιv ₄(u-0)₆(1 ,4,7-trimethyl-

1 ,4,7triazacyclononane)₄(CI0₄)_4, Mn^lllMn^,v ₄(u-0)₁(u-OAc)₂(1 ,4,7-trimethyl-1 ,4,7- triazacyclononane)₂(CI0₄)₃ Mn^ιv (1 ,4,7-trimethyl-1 ,4,7-triazacyclononane)- (OCH₃)₃(PF₆), and mixtures thereof. Other metal-based bleach catalysts include those disclosed in US-A-4,430,243 and US-A-5, 114,611.

Iron and manganese salts of aminocarboxylic acids in general are useful herein including iron and manganese amino-carboxylate salts disclosed for bleaching in the photographic color processing arts. A particularly useful transition metal salt is derived from ethylenediaminedisuccinate and any complex of this ligand with iron or manganese. Another type of bleach catalyst, as disclosed in US-A-5, 114,606, is water soluble complex of manganese (II), (lll)m and/or (IV) with a ligand which is a non- carboxylate polyhydroxy compound having at least three consecutive C-OH groups. Preferred ligands include sorbitol, iditol, dulsitol, mannitol, xylithol, arabitol, adonitol, meso-erythritol, meso-inositolm, lactose and mixtures thereof. Especially preferred is sorbitol.

Other examples include Mn gluconate, Mn(CF₃S0₃)₂, and binuclear Mn complexed with tetra-N-dentate and bi-N-dentate ligands, including [bipy₂Mn'"(u- 0)₂Mn^lvbipy₂]-(CI0₄)₃.

Other bleach catalysts are described, for example, in EP-A-408,131 (cobalt complexes), EP-A-384,503 and EP-A-306,689 (metallo-porphyrins),US-A- 4,728,455 (manganese/multidenate ligand), US-A-4, 711 ,748 (absorbed manganese on aluminosilicate), US-A-4,601 ,845 (aluminosilicate support with manganese, zinc or magnesium salt), US-A-4,626,373 (manganese/ligand), US- A-4, 119, 557 (ferric complex), US-A-4,430,243 (Chelants with manganese cations and non-catalytic metal cations), and US-A-4, 728,455 (manganese gluconates). Other suitable Metal-containing catalysts for use in the present invention include cobalt-containing catalysts such as Pentaamine acetate cobalt(lll) salts and manganese-containing catalysts such as those described in EPA 549 271 ; EPA 549 272; EPA 458 397; US 5,246,621 ; EPA 458 398; US 5,194,416 and US 5,114,611. Bleaching composition comprising a peroxy compound, a manganese-containing bleach catalyst and a chelating agent is described in the patent application No 94870206.3 published under EP-A-718 398.

Preferred catalysts are the catalysts based on cobalt and described in W096/23859, WO96/23860 and W096/23861 and US-A-5,559,261. WO 96/23860 describe cobalt catalysts of the type [Co _nL _mX _p]^zy _z, where L is an organic ligand molecule containing more than one heteroatom selected from N,P,0 and S; X is a co-ordinating species; n is preferably 1 or 2; m is preferably 1 to 5; p is preferably 0 to 4 and Y is a counterion. One example of such a catalyst is Nm N'-Bis(salicylidene)ethylenediaminecobalt (II). Other cobalt catalysts described in these applications are based on Co(lll) complexes with ammonia and nmon-, bi-, tri- and tetradentate ligands such as [Co(NH ₃) ₅OAc]²⁺ with Cl^", Oac^", PF₆ ^~, S0₄ ⁼, BF₄ anions. Preferred cobal catalysts are the one described in US 5,798,326 and US 5, 703,030. US 5,798,326 describes a selection of cobalt (III) catalysts having the formula : Co[(NH3)_nM_mB_bT,Q_qP_p]Y_y wherein Cobalt is in the +3 oxidation from, n is an integer from 0 to 5, preferably 4-5, more preferably 5; M represents a monodentate ligand; m is an integer from 0-5, preferably 1 or 2, more preferably 1 ; B represents a bidenate ligant; b is an integer from 0-2; T represents a tridentate ligand; t is 0 or 1 ; Q is a tetradentate ligand; q is 0 or 1 ; P is an pentadentate ligand; p is 0 or 1 and n+m+2b+3t+4q+5p=6; Y is one or more appropriately selected counteranions present in a number y, where y is an integer from 1-3, preferably 2-3, more preferably 2 when Y is a -1 charged anion, to obtain a charge-balanced salt. US 5,703,030 describes a cobalt catalyst having the formula [Co(NH3)5M]T_y wherein cobalt is in the +3 oxidation statte; M is a carboxylate-containing ligand having the formula RC(0)0-; and T is one or more counteranions present in a number y, where y is an integer to obtain a charge-balanced salt (preferably from 1-3, more preferably 2 when T is a -1 charged anion).

Certain transition-metal containing bleach catalysts can be prepared in situ by the reaction of a transition-metal salt with suitable chelating agent for example a mixture of manganese sulfate and ethylenediaminediscussinate. Highly coloured transition metal-containing bleach catalysts may be co-processed with zeolites to reduce the colour impact.

Preferred metal catalysts for the purpose of the present invention are the catalysts described in WO98/39406 and comprising a complex of a transition metal and a cross-bridged macropolycyclic ligand in which:

(1) the metal is selected from Mn(ll), Mn(IV), Mn(V), Fe(ll), Fe(lll), Fe(IV), Co(l), Co(ll), Co(lll), Ni(l), Ni(ll), Ni(lll), Cu(l), Cu(ll), Cr(lll), Cr(IV), Cr(V), Cr(VI), V(lll), V(IV), V(V), Mo(IV), Mo(V), Mo(VI), W(IV), W(VI), Pd(ll), Ru(ll), RU(III) and Ru(IV); and (2) the macropolycyclic rigid ligand is selected from:

(i) ligand of formula (I) having denticity of 4 or 5:

(ii) ligand of formula (II) having denticity of 5 or 6:

(iii) ligand of formula (III) having denticity of 6 or 7; (where E = moiety (CRn)a-X-(CRn)a"; X = O, S, NR or P, or a covalent bond (especially covalent bond); for each E the sum of a + a' = 1-5( especially 2 and 3; G = (CRn)b; R = H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, alkylaryl or heteroaryl or two or more are covalently bonded to form an aromatic or hetero aromatic, cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl ring; D = donor atom selected from N,0, S, or P, at least two D atoms are bridgehead donor atoms coordinated to the transition metal; b = Cor D or cycloalkyl or heterocyclic ring; n = 1 or 2, completing the valence of C atoms to which R moieties are bonded; n' = 0 or 1 completing the valence of D donor atoms to which R moieties are bonded; n" = 0,1 or 2 completing the valence of B atoms to which R moieties are bonded; a, a' = 0-5, preferably a + a' = 2 or 3, the sum of all a + sum of all a' in formula (I) being 7-12, the sum of all a + a' in formula (II) being 6 (especially 8) -12, the sum of all a + a' in formula (III) being 8 (especially 10)-15 and the sum of all a + a' in formula (IV) being 10 (especially 12)-18; b = 0-9 (especially 0-5) or one or more of the (CRn)b moieties covalently bonded from any D to the B atom is absent as long as at least two (CRn)b covalently bond two of the D donor atoms to the B atom and the sum of all b is 1-5; and

(iv) optionally one or more non-macropolycyclic ligands, preferably selected from H20, ROH, NR3, RCN, OH-, OOH-, RS-, RO-,

OCN-, SCN-, N3-, CN-, F-, CI-, Br-, I-, 02-, N03-, N02-, S042-,

S032-, P043-, organic phosphates, organic phosphonates, organic sulphates, organic sulphonates, and aromatic N-donors such as pyridines, pyrazines, pyrazoles, imidazoles, benzimidazoles, pyrimidines, triazoles, and thiazoles with R being H, optionally substituted alkyl or aryl; and (b) at least 0.1% adjunct ingredient(s), preferably oxygen bleaching agent. Preferably the donor atoms in the macropolycyclic ligand are N,

S, O or P, especially N or O, more especially all are N. The ligand comprises 4 or 5 donor atoms all connected to the same transition metal. The ligand comprises an organic macrocycle ring having at least 12, especially 12-20 atoms. Al, a are 2 or 3, all X are covalent bonds, a' are 0 and B are 0.1 or 2. The mol ratio of transition metal to ligand is 1 :1 and transition metal is Mn or Fe. More preferred catalyst comprising such complex of a transition metal and a cross-bridged macropolycyclic ligand is [Mn(Bcyclam)CI2]:

"Bcyclam" (5,12-dimethyl-1 ,5,8,12-tetraaza-bicyclo[6.6.2]hexadecane) is prepared according to J.Amer.Chem.Soα, (1990), 112, 8604. Bcyclam (1.00 g., 3.93 mmol) is dissolved in dry CH3CN (35 mL, distilled from CaH2). The solution is evacuated at 15 mm until the CH3CN begins to boil. The flask is then brought to atmospheric pressure with Ar. This degassing procedure is repeated 4 times. Mn(pyridine)2Cl2 (1.12 g., 3.93 mmol), synthesized according to the literature procedure of J. Inorg. Nucl. Chem., (1974), 36, 1535, is added under Ar and the mixture is stirred overnight at room temperature. The reaction solution is filtered with a 0.2μ filter. The filtrate is evaporated. 1.35 g. of product is collected, 90% yield.

The bleach catalyst is typically used in a catalytically effective amount in the compositions and processes herein. By "catalytically effective amount" is meant an amount which is sufficient, under whatever comparative test conditions are employed, to enhance bleaching and removal of the stain or stains of interest from the target substrate. The test conditions will vary, depending on the type of washing appliance used and the habits of the user. Some users elect to use very hot water; others use warm or even cold water in laundering operations. Of course, the catalytic performance of the bleach catalyst will be affected by such considerations, and the levels of bleach catalyst used in fully-formulated detergent and bleach compositions can be appropriately adjusted. As a practical matter, and not by way of limitation, the compositions and processes herein can be adjusted to provide on the order of at least one part per ten million of the active bleach catalyst species in the aqueous washing liquor, and will preferably provide from about 1 ppm to about 200 ppm of the catalyst species in the wash liquor. To illustrate this point further, on the order of 3 micromolar manganese catalyst is effective at 40°C, pH 10 under European conditions using perborate and a peroxyacid bleach precursor. An increase in concentration of 3-5 fold may be required under U.S. conditions to achieve the same results.

Therefore, the metal bleach catalyst are generally comprised in the detergent compositions of the present invention at a level of from 1ppb to 10%, preferably from about 0.1 ppm to about 1% most preferably from about 1 ppm to about 0.1% by weight of the composition.

More preferred metal bleach catalysts for the detergent compositions of the present invention is the cobalt catalysts Co[(NH3)_nM_mB_bT_tQ_qP_p]Y_y described in US 5,798,326 (See supra); the cobalt catalyst [Co(NH3)5M]T_y described in US 5, 703,030 (See supra); the catalyst comprising a transition metal and a cross- bridged macropolycyclic ligant [Mn(Bcyclam)CI2] and/or mixtures thereof.

The Oxygen Source

Preferably, the detergent composition of the invention will comprise in addition to the metal bleach catalyst, an oxygen source, defining together a bleaching system.

Such oxygen source comprises an oxygen bleaching species including for example, inorganic perhydrate bleaches or organic peroxyacids. In a preferred execution the bleaching system contains a hydrogen peroxide source and a peroxyacid bleach precursor compound. The production of the 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.

Inorganic perhydrate bleaches

Inorganic perhydrate salts are a preferred source of hydrogen peroxide. These salts are normally incorporated in the form of the sodium salt at a level of from 1% to 95% by weight, more preferably from 10% to 90% by weight and most preferably from 20% to 80% by weight of the bleaching compositions. When incorporated in a bleaching composition which is comprised in a detergent composition in accordance with the present invention, the inorganic perhydrate salts are preferably present 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 detergent composition. Examples of inorganic perhydrate salts include perborate, perphosphate, persulfate and persilicate salts. A preferred inorganic perhydrate salt is an alkali or alkaline earth metal percarbonate salt.

Sodium percarbonate, which is a preferred percarbonate salt for inclusion in bleach compositions in accordance with the invention, is an addition compound having a formula corresponding to 2Na2Cθ3-3H2θ2, and is available commercially as a crystalline solid. The percarbonate is most preferably incorporated into such compositions in a coated form which provides in product stability.

Sodium perborate can be in the form of the monohydrate of nominal formula NaBθ2H2θ2 or the tetrahydrate NaBθ2H2θ2-3H2θ.

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 utilise a coated form of the material which provides better storage stability for the perhydrate salt in the granular product.

A suitable coating material providing in product stability comprises mixed salt of a water soluble alkali metal sulphate and carbonate. Such coatings together with coating processes have previously been described in GB-1 ,466,799, granted to Interox on 9th March 1977. The weight ratio of the mixed salt coating material to percarbonate lies in the range from 1 : 200 to 1 : 4, more preferably from 1 : 99 to 1 : 9, and most preferably from 1 : 49 to 1 : 19. Preferably, the mixed salt is of sodium sulphate and sodium carbonate which has the general formula Na2Sθ4.n.Na2Cθ3 wherein n is form 0.1 to 3, preferably n is from 0.3 to 1.0 and most preferably n is from 0.2 to 0.5.

Other coatings which contain silicate (alone or with borate salts or boric acids or other inorganics), waxes, oils, fatty soaps can also be used advantageously within the present invention.

Potassium peroxymonopersulfate is another inorganic perhydrate salt of use in the detergent compositions herein. Peroxyacid bleach precursor compound

Peroxyacid bleach precursors are preferably incorporated at a level of from 1% to 50% by weight, more preferably from 2% to 30% by weight, most preferably from 5% to 20% by weight of the bleaching compositions.

When incorporated in a bleaching composition which is comprised in a detergent composition in accordance with the invention, the peroxyacid bleach precursors are preferably present at a level of from 0.5% to 20% by weight, more preferably from 1% to 15% by weight and most preferably from 1.5% to 10% by weight of the detergent composition.

Suitable peroxyacid bleach precursors 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 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.

N-acylated lactam precursor compound

N-acylated precursor compounds of the lactam class are disclosed generally in GB-A-855735. Whilst the broadest aspect of the invention contemplates the use of any lactam useful as a peroxyacid precursor, preferred materials comprise the caprolactams and valerolactams.

Suitable N-acylated lactam precursors have the formula:

f wherein n is from 0 to about 8, preferably from 0 to 2, and R is H, an alkyl, aryl, alkoxyaryl or alkaryl group containing from 1 to 12 carbons, or a substituted phenyl group containing from 6 to 18 carbon atoms

Suitable caprolactam bleach precursors are of the formula:

o

o CH. CH.

CH.

R^J N

CH. CH.

wherein R^ is H or an alkyl, aryl, alkoxyaryl or alkaryl group containing from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, preferably from 6 to 12 carbon atoms, most preferably R¹ is phenyl.

Suitable valero lactams have the formula:

0

o CH. CH.

R^J N

CH. CH.

wherein Rl is H or an alkyl, aryl, alkoxyaryl or alkaryl group containing from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, preferably from 6 to 12 carbon atoms. In highly preferred embodiments, R¹ is selected from phenyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, 2,4,4- trimethylpentyl, decenyl and mixtures thereof. The most preferred materials are those which are normally solid at <30°C, particularly the phenyl derivatives, i.e. benzoyl valerolactam, benzoyl caprolactam and their substituted benzoyl analogues such as chloro, amino alkyl, alkyl, aryl and alkoxy derivatives.

Caprolactam and valerolactam precursor materials wherein the Rl moiety contains at least 6, preferably from 6 to 12, carbon atoms provide peroxyacids on perhydrolysis of a hydrophobic character which afford nucleophilic and body soil clean-up. Precursor compounds wherein R1 comprises from 1 to 6 carbon atoms provide hydrophilic bleaching species which are particularly efficient for bleaching beverage stains. Mixtures of 'hydrophobic' and 'hydrophilic' caprolactams and valero lactams, typically at weight ratios of 1 :5 to 5:1 , preferably 1 :1 , can be used herein for mixed stain removal benefits.

Highly preferred caprolactam and valerolactam precursors include benzoyl caprolactam, nonanoyl capro-lactam, benzoyl valerolactam, nonanoyl valerolactam, 3,5,5-trimethylhexanoyl caprolactam, 3,5,5-trimethylhexanoyl valerolactam, octanoyl caprolactam, octanoyl valerolactam, decanoyl caprolactam, decanoyl valerolactam, undecenoyl caprolactam, undecenoyl valerolactam, (6-octanamidocaproyl)oxybenzene-sulfonate, (6-nonanamido- caproyl)oxybenzenesulfonate, (6-decanamidocaproyl)-oxybenzene-sulfonate, and mixtures thereof. Examples of highly preferred substituted benzoyl lactams include methylbenzoyl caprolactam, methylbenzoyl valerolactam, ethylbenzoyl caprolactam, ethylbenzoyl valerolactam, propylbenzoyl caprolactam, propylbenzoyl valerolactam, isopropylbenzoyl caprolactam, isopropylbenzoyl valerolactam, butylbenzoyl caprolactam, butylbenzoyl valerolactam, tert- butylbenzoyl caprolactam, tert-butylbenzoyl valerolactam, pentylbenzoyl caprolactam, pentylbenzoyl valerolactam, hexylbenzoyl caprolactam, hexylbenzoyl valerolactam, ethoxybenzoyl caprolactam, ethoxybenzoyl valerolactam, propoxybenzoyl caprolactam, propoxybenzoyl valerolactam, isopropoxybenzoyl caprolactam, isopropoxybenzoyl valerolactam, butoxybenzoyl caprolactam, butoxybenzoyl valerolactam, tert-butoxybenzoyl caprolactam, tert- butoxybenzoyl valerolactam, pentoxybenzoyl caprolactam, pentoxybenzoyl valerolactam, hexoxybenzoyl caprolactam, hexoxybenzoyl valerolactam, 2,4,6- trichlorobenzoyl caprolactam, 2,4,6-trichlorobenzoyl valerolactam, pentafluorobenzoyl caprolactam, pentafluorobenzoyl valerolactam, dichlorobenzoyl caprolactam, dimethoxybenzoyl caprolactam, 4-chlorobenzoyl caprolactam, 2,4-dichlororbenzoyl caprolactam, terephthaloyl dicaprolactam, pentafluorobenzoyl caprolactam, pentafluorobenzoyl valerolactam, dichlorobenzoyl valerolactam, dimethoxybenzoyl valerolactam, 4-chlorobenzoyl valerolactam, 2,4-dichlororbenzoyl valerolactam, terephthaloyl divalerolactam, 4- nitrobenzoyl caprolactam, 4-nitrobenzoyl valerolactam, and mixtures thereof.

Perbenzoic acid precursor

Essentially any perbenzoic acid precursors are suitable herein, including those of the N-acylated lactam class, which are preferred.

Suitable O-acylated perbenzoic acid precursor compounds include the substituted and unsubstituted benzoyl oxybenzene sulfonates, including for example benzoyl oxybenzene sulfonate:

Also suitable are the benzoylation products of sorbitol, glucose, and all saccharides with benzoylating agents, including for example:

Ac = COCH3; Bz = Benzoyl

Preferred perbenzoic acid precursor compounds of the imide type include N- benzoyl succinimide, tetrabenzoyl ethylene diamine and the N-benzoyl substituted ureas. Suitable imidazole type perbenzoic acid precursors include N- benzoyl imidazole and N-benzoyl benzimidazole and other useful N-acyl group- containing perbenzoic acid precursors include N-benzoyl pyrrolidone, dibenzoyl taurine and benzoyl pyroglutamic acid.

Preferred perbenzoic acid precursors include the benzoyl diacyl peroxides, the benzoyl tetraacyl peroxides, and the compound having the formula:

Phthalic anhydride is another suitable perbenzoic acid precursor compound herein:

Perbenzoic acid derivative precursors

Suitable perbenzoic acid derivative precursors include any of the herein disclosed perbenzoic precursors in which the perbenzoic group is substituted by essentially any functional group including alkyl groups.

Cationic peroxyacid precursors

Cationic peroxyacid precursor compounds are also suitable herein. Typically such cationic peroxyacid precursors are formed by substituting the peroxyacid part with an ammonium or alkyl ammonium group, preferably an ethyl or methyl ammonium group.

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 substituted alkyl or benzoyl oxybenzene sulfonates, N-acylated caprolactams, and monobenzoyltetraacetyl glucose benzoyl peroxides.

A preferred cationically substituted benzoyl oxybenzene sulfonate is the 4- (trimethyl ammonium) methyl derivative of benzoyl oxybenzene sulfonate:

A preferred cationically substituted alkyl oxybenzene sulfonate is the methyl ammonium derivative of 2,3,3-tri-methyl hexanoyloxybenzene sulfonate.

Preferred cationic peroxyacid precursors of the N-acylated caprolactam class include the trialkyl ammonium methylene benzoyl caprolactams, particularly trimethyl ammonium methylene benzoyl caprolactam:

Another preferred cationic peroxyacid precursor is 2-(N,N,N-trimethyl ammonium) ethyl sodium 4-sulphophenyl carbonate chloride.

Alkyl fatty peroxyacid bleach precursors Alkyl fatty peroxyacid bleach precursors form alkyl fatty peroxyacids on perhydrolysis. Preferred precursors of this type give rise to peracetic acid on perhydrolysis.

Preferred alkyl fatty peroxyacid 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.

Amide substituted peroxyacid bleach precursors

Another preferred class of peroxyacid bleach activator compounds are the amide substituted compounds of the following general formulae:

R¹ -

wherein R1 is an alkyl or aryl group with from 1 to 14 carbon atoms, R² is an alkylene, arylene, and alkarylene group containing from 1 to 14 carbon atoms, and R5 is H or an alkyl, aryl, or alkaryl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms and L can be essentially any leaving group. Rl preferably contains from 6 to 12 carbon atoms. R² preferably contains from 4 to 8 carbon atoms. R^ may be straight chain or branched alkyl containing branching, substitution, or both and may be sourced from either synthetic sources or natural sources including for example, tallow fat. Analogous structural variations are permissible for R². The substitution can include alkyl, aryl, halogen, nitrogen, sulphur and other typical substituent groups or organic compounds. R⁵ is preferably H or methyl. R¹ and R5 should not contain more than 18 carbon atoms in total. L may be selected from any of the leaving groups described hereinbefore for the analogues having R1 as an aryl or alkaryl group. Amide substituted bleach activator compounds of this type are described in EP-A-0170386.

The L group must be sufficiently reactive for the 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. These characteristics are generally paralleled by the pKa of the conjugate acid of the leaving group, although exceptions to this convention are known. Ordinarily, leaving groups that exhibit such behaviour are those in which their conjugate acid has a pKa in the range of from 4 to 13, preferably from 6 to 11 and most preferably from 8 to 11.

1 2 5

Preferred bleach precursors are those wherein R , R and R are as defined for the amide substituted compounds and L is selected from the group consisting of:

o O

-N— C-R¹ -N Λ N ii

-N— C-CH— R⁴

R³

I

Y

R³ Y

I I

-0-CH=C— CH=CH₂ -0-CH=C-CH=CH₂

■ '

1 and mixtures thereof, wherein R is an alkyl, aryl, or alkaryl group containing

3 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.

alkyl chain containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, M is a cation which provides 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 substituted ammonium cation, with sodium and potassium being most preferred, and X is a halide, hydroxide, methylsulfate or acetate anion. It should be noted that bleach activators with a leaving group that does not contain a solubilizing groups should be well dispersed in the bleaching solution in order to assist in their dissolution.

Organic peroxyacids

The compositions may contain as components of the bleaching system organic peroxyacids, typically at a level of from 2% to 30% by weight, more preferably from 5% to 20% by weight of the bleaching composition. When the bleaching compositions are comprised in a detergent composition in accordance with the present invention, the organic peroxyacid is preferably present at a level of from 1% to 15% by weight and more preferably from 1% to 10% by weight of the detergent composition.

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

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

O R⁵ O or R⁵ O O

wherein R¹ 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 R⁵ is H or an alkyl, aryl, or alkaryl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms. R1 preferably contains from 6 to 12 carbon atoms. R² preferably contains from 4 to 8 carbon atoms. R^ may be straight chain or branched alkyl, substituted aryl or alkylaryl containing branching, substitution, or both and may be sourced from either synthetic sources or natural sources including for example, tallow fat. Analogous structural variations are permissible for R². The substitution can include alkyl, aryl, halogen, nitrogen, sulphur and other typical substituent groups or organic compounds. R^ is preferably H or methyl. Rl and R^ should not contain more than 18 carbon atoms in total. Amide substituted organic peroxyacid compounds of this type are described in EP-A-0170386.

Other organic peroxyacids include diperoxydodecanedioc acid, diperoxytetradecanedioc acid, diperoxyhexadecanedioc acid, mono- and diperazelaic acid, mono- and diperbrassylic acid.

Also suitable is the nonanoyl-oxybenzene-sulfonate (NOBS, described in US 4,412,934). Useful bleaching agents, including peroxyacids and bleaching systems comprising bleach activators and peroxygen bleaching compounds for use in detergent compositions according to the invention are described in our co- pending applications USSN 08/136,626, PCT/US95/07823, W095/27772, W095/27773, W095/27774 and W095/27775.

The hydrogen peroxide may also be present by adding an enzymatic system (i.e. an enzyme and a substrate therefore) which is capable of generating hydrogen peroxide at the beginning or during the washing and/or rinsing process. Such enzymatic systems are disclosed in EP Patent Application 91202655.6 filed October 9, 1991.

Detergent components

The detergent compositions of the invention will preferably comprise further additional detergent components. The precise nature of these additional component, and levels of incorporation thereof will depend on the physical form of the composition, and the nature of the cleaning operation for which it is to be used.

The detergent compositions according to the invention can be liquid, paste, gels, bars, tablets, spray, foam, powder or granular. Granular compositions can also be in "compact" form and the liquid compositions can also be in a "concentrated" form. Tablets can be in single phase or multiple phase forms.

In a first embodiment, the present invention relates to a laundry detergent and/or fabric care composition comprising a pectate lyase and a metal bleach catalyst (Examples 1-15). In a second embodiment, the present invention relates to dishwashing or household detergent compositions (Examples 16-24).

The compositions of the invention may for example, be formulated as hand dishwashing compositions, hand and machine laundry detergent compositions including laundry additive compositions and compositions suitable for use in the soaking and/or pretreatment of stained fabrics and compositions for use in general household hard surface cleaning operations. When formulated as compositions for use in manual dishwashing methods the compositions of the invention preferably contain a surfactant and preferably other detergent compounds selected from organic polymeric compounds, suds enhancing agents, group II metal ions, solvents, hydrotropes and additional enzymes.

When formulated as compositions suitable for use in a laundry machine washing method, the compositions of the invention preferably contain both a surfactant and a builder compound and additionally one or more detergent components preferably selected from organic polymeric compounds, bleaching agents, additional enzymes, suds suppressors, dispersants, lime-soap dispersants, soil suspension and anti-redeposition agents and corrosion inhibitors. Laundry compositions can also contain softening agents, as additional detergent components. Such compositions containing a pectate lyase and a metal bleach catalyst can provide fabric cleaning, stain removal, color appearance when formulated as laundry detergent compositions.

When formulated as compositions suitable for use in a machine dish wash method, the compositions of the invention preferably contain a low foaming nonionic surfactant, a builder system, and one or more components preferably selected from organic polymeric compounds, bleaching agents, additional enzymes, suds suppressors, dispersants, lime-soap dispersants, soil suspension and anti-redeposition agents and corrosion inhibitors.

The compositions of the invention can also be used as detergent additive products in solid or liquid form. Such additive products are intended to supplement or boost the performance of conventional detergent compositions and can be added at any stage of the cleaning process. If needed the density of the laundry detergent compositions herein ranges from

400 to 1200 g/litre, preferably 500 to 950 g/litre of composition measured at

20°C.

The "compact" form of the compositions herein is best reflected by density and, in terms of composition, by the amount of inorganic filler salt; inorganic filler salts are conventional ingredients of detergent compositions in powder form; in conventional detergent compositions, the filler salts are present in substantial amounts, typically 17-35% by weight of the total composition. In the compact compositions, the filler salt is present in amounts not exceeding 15% of the total composition, preferably not exceeding 10%, most preferably not exceeding 5% by weight of the composition. The inorganic filler salts, such as meant in the present compositions are selected from the alkali and alkaline-earth-metal salts of sulphates and chlorides. A preferred filler salt is sodium sulphate. Liquid detergent compositions according to the present invention can also be in a "concentrated form", in such case, the liquid detergent compositions according the present invention will contain a lower amount of water, compared to conventional liquid detergents. Typically the water content of the concentrated liquid detergent is preferably less than 40%, more preferably less than 30%, most preferably less than 20% by weight of the detergent composition.

Suitable detergent compounds for use herein are selected from the group consisting of the below described compounds.

Surfactant system

Preferably, the detergent compositions of the present invention will comprise a surfactant system wherein the surfactant can be selected from cationic, nonionic and/or conventional anionic and/or mixtures thereof. Also suitable are ampholytic and/or zwitterionic and/or semi-polar surfactants.

The surfactant system is typically present at a level of from 0.1% to 60% by weight. More preferred levels of incorporation are 1% to 35% by weight, most preferably from 1% to 30% by weight of laundry detergent compositions in accord with the invention. The surfactant is preferably formulated to be compatible with enzyme components present in the composition. In liquid or gel compositions the surfactant is most preferably formulated such that it promotes, or at least does not degrade, the stability of any enzyme in these compositions.

Polyethylene, polypropylene, and polybutylene oxide condensates of alkyl phenols are suitable for use as the nonionic surfactant of the surfactant systems of the present invention, with the polyethylene oxide condensates being preferred. These compounds include the condensation products of alkyl phenols having an alkyl group containing from about 6 to about 14 carbon atoms, preferably from about 8 to about 14 carbon atoms, in either a straight-chain or branched-chain configuration with the alkylene oxide. In a preferred embodiment, the ethylene oxide is present in an amount equal to from about 2 to about 25 moles, more preferably from about 3 to about 15 moles, of ethylene oxide per mole of alkyl phenol. Commercially available nonionic surfactants of this type include Igepal™ CO-630, marketed by the GAF Corporation; and Triton™ X- 45, X-114, X-100 and X-102, all marketed by the Rohm & Haas Company. These surfactants are commonly referred to as alkylphenol alkoxylates (e.g., alkyl phenol ethoxylates).

The condensation products of primary and secondary aliphatic alcohols with from about 1 to about 25 moles of ethylene oxide are suitable for use as the nonionic surfactant of the nonionic surfactant systems of the present invention. The alkyl chain of the aliphatic alcohol can either be straight or branched, primary or secondary, and generally contains from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms. Preferred are the condensation products of alcohols having an alkyl group containing from about 8 to about 20 carbon atoms, more preferably from about 10 to about 18 carbon atoms, with from about 2 to about 10 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol. About 2 to about 7 moles of ethylene oxide and most preferably from 2 to 5 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol are present in said condensation products. Examples of commercially available nonionic surfactants of this type include TergitofTM 15-S-9 (the condensation product of C11-C15 linear alcohol with 9 moles ethylene oxide), TergitofTM 24-L-6 NMW (the condensation product of C12-C14 primary alcohol with 6 moles ethylene oxide with a narrow molecular weight distribution), both marketed by Union Carbide Corporation; Neodol™ 45-9 (the condensation product of C-14-C15 linear alcohol with 9 moles of ethylene oxide), NeodofTM 23-3 (the condensation product of C-J2-C13 linear alcohol with 3.0 moles of ethylene oxide), NeodofTM 45-7 (the condensation product of C14-C-15 linear alcohol with 7 moles of ethylene oxide), NeodofTM 45.5 (the condensation product of C14-C-15 linear alcohol with 5 moles of ethylene oxide) marketed by Shell Chemical Company, KyroTM ^QQ ^_ne condensation product of C13-C15 alcohol with 9 moles ethylene oxide), marketed by The Procter & Gamble Company, and Genapol LA 030 or 050 (the condensation product of C12-C14 alcohol with 3 or 5 moles of ethylene oxide) marketed by Hoechst. Preferred range of HLB in these products is from 8-11 and most preferred from 8-10.

Also useful as the nonionic surfactant of the surfactant systems of the present invention are the alkylpolysaccharides disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,565,647, Llenado, issued January 21 , 1986, having a hydrophobic group containing from about 6 to about 30 carbon atoms, preferably from about 10 to about 16 carbon atoms and a polysaccharide, e.g. a polyglycoside, hydrophilic group containing from about 1.3 to about 10, preferably from about 1.3 to about 3, most preferably from about 1.3 to about 2.7 saccharide units. Any reducing saccharide containing 5 or 6 carbon atoms can be used, e.g., glucose, galactose and galactosyl moieties can be substituted for the glucosyl moieties (optionally the hydrophobic group is attached at the 2-, 3-, 4-, etc. positions thus giving a glucose or galactose as opposed to a glucoside or galactoside). The intersaccharide bonds can be, e.g., between the one position of the additional saccharide units and the 2-, 3-, 4-, and/or 6- positions on the preceding saccharide units. The preferred alkylpolyglycosides have the formula

R2θ(C_nH₂nO)t(glycosyl)_x

wherein R² is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkylphenyl, hydroxyalkyl, hydroxyalkylphenyl, and mixtures thereof in which the alkyl groups contain from about 10 to about 18, preferably from about 12 to about 14, carbon atoms; n is 2 or 3, preferably 2; t is from 0 to about 10, preferably 0; and x is from about 1.3 to about 10, preferably from about 1.3 to about 3, most preferably from about 1.3 to about 2.7. The glycosyl is preferably derived from glucose. To prepare these compounds, the alcohol or alkylpolyethoxy alcohol is formed first and then reacted with glucose, or a source of glucose, to form the glucoside (attachment at the 1 -position). The additional glycosyl units can then be attached between their 1 -position and the preceding glycosyl units 2-, 3-, 4- and/or 6- position, preferably predominately the 2-position.

The condensation products of ethylene oxide with a hydrophobic base formed by the condensation of propylene oxide with propylene glycol are also suitable for use as the additional nonionic surfactant systems of the present invention. The hydrophobic portion of these compounds will preferably have a molecular weight of from about 1500 to about 1800 and will exhibit water insolubility. The addition of polyoxyethylene moieties to this hydrophobic portion tends to increase the water solubility of the molecule as a whole, and the liquid character of the product is retained up to the point where the polyoxyethylene content is about 50% of the total weight of the condensation product, which corresponds to condensation with up to about 40 moles of ethylene oxide. Examples of compounds of this type include certain of the commercially-available Plurafac™ LF404 and Pluronic™ surfactants, marketed by BASF.

Also suitable for use as the nonionic surfactant of the nonionic surfactant system of the present invention, are the condensation products of ethylene oxide with the product resulting from the reaction of propylene oxide and ethylenediamine. The hydrophobic moiety of these products consists of the reaction product of ethylenediamine and excess propylene oxide, and generally has a molecular weight of from about 2500 to about 3000. This hydrophobic moiety is condensed with ethylene oxide to the extent that the condensation product contains from about 40% to about 80% by weight of polyoxyethylene and has a molecular weight of from about 5,000 to about 11 ,000. Examples of this type of nonionic surfactant include certain of the commercially available Tetronic™ compounds, marketed by BASF.

Preferred for use as the nonionic surfactant of the surfactant systems of the present invention are polyethylene oxide condensates of alkyl phenols, condensation products of primary and secondary aliphatic alcohols with from about 1 to about 25 moles of ethylene oxide, alkylpolysaccharides, and mixtures thereof. Most preferred are C8-C14 alkyl phenol ethoxylates having from 3 to 15 ethoxy groups and Cg-C-iβ alcohol ethoxylates (preferably C-J O avg.) having from 2 to 10 ethoxy groups, and mixtures thereof. Highly preferred nonionic surfactants are polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactants of the formula.

R² - C - N - Z,

II I

O R1

wherein R1 is H, or R¹ is C1.4 hydrocarbyl, 2-hydroxy ethyl, 2-hydroxy propyl or a mixture thereof, R² is 05.31 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, R1 is methyl, R² is a straight C11.15 alkyl or C-15.18 alkyl or alkenyl chain such as coconut alkyl or mixtures thereof, and Z is derived from a reducing sugar such as glucose, fructose, maltose, lactose, in a reductive amination reaction.

Suitable anionic surfactants to be used are linear alkyl benzene sulfonate, alkyl ester sulfonate surfactants including linear esters of C8-C20 carboxylic acids (i.e., fatty acids) which are sulfonated with gaseous SO3 according to "The Journal of the American Oil Chemists Society", 52 (1975), pp. 323-329. Suitable starting materials would include natural fatty substances as derived from tallow, palm oil, etc.

The preferred alkyl ester sulfonate surfactant, especially for laundry applications, comprise alkyl ester sulfonate surfactants of the structural formula: O

II R - CH - C - OR⁴

I S03M wherein R3 is a C8-C20 hydrocarbyl, preferably an alkyl, or combination thereof, R4 is a Ci-Cø hydrocarbyl, preferably an alkyl, or combination thereof, and M is a cation which forms a water soluble salt with the alkyl ester sulfonate. Suitable salt-forming cations include metals such as sodium, potassium, and lithium, and substituted or unsubstituted ammonium cations, such as monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, and triethanolamine. Preferably, R3 is C10-C16 alkyl, and R⁴ is methyl, ethyl or isopropyl. Especially preferred are the methyl ester sulfonates wherein R³ is C10-C16 alkyl.

Other suitable anionic surfactants include the alkyl sulfate surfactants which are water soluble salts or acids of the formula ROSO3M wherein R preferably is a C-10-C24 hydrocarbyl, preferably an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl having a C10-C20 alkyl component, more preferably a C-12-C18 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl, and M is H or a cation, e.g., an alkali metal cation (e.g. sodium, potassium, lithium), or ammonium or substituted ammonium (e.g. methyl-, dimethyl-, and trimethyl ammonium cations and quaternary ammonium cations such as tetramethyl- ammonium and dimethyl piperdinium cations and quaternary ammonium cations derived from alkylamines such as ethylamine, diethylamine, triethylamine, and mixtures thereof, and the like). Typically, alkyl chains of C-|2-C<|6 are preferred for lower wash temperatures (e.g. below about 50°C) and C-|g_i8 alkyl chains are preferred for higher wash temperatures (e.g. above about 50°C).

Other anionic surfactants useful for detersive purposes can also be included in the detergent compositions of the present invention. These can include salts (including, for example, sodium, potassium, ammonium, and substituted ammonium salts such as mono-, di- and triethanolamine salts) of soap, C8-C22 primary of secondary alkanesulfonates, C8-C24 olefinsulfonates, sulfonated polycarboxylic acids prepared by sulfonation of the pyrolyzed product of alkaline earth metal citrates, e.g., as described in British patent specification No. 1 ,082,179, C8-C24 alkylpolyglycolethersulfates (containing up to 10 moles of ethylene oxide); alkyl glycerol sulfonates, fatty acyl glycerol sulfonates, fatty oleyl glycerol sulfates, alkyl phenol ethylene oxide ether sulfates, paraffin sulfonates, alkyl phosphates, isethionates such as the acyl isethionates, N-acyl taurates, alkyl succinamates and sulfosuccinates, monoesters of sulfosuccinates (especially saturated and unsaturated C12-CI8 rnonoesters) and diesters of sulfosuccinates (especially saturated and unsaturated C6-C12 diesters), acyl sarcosinates, sulfates of alkylpolysaccharides such as the sulfates of alkylpolyglucoside (the nonionic nonsulfated compounds being described below), branched primary alkyl sulfates, and alkyl polyethoxy carboxylates such as those of the formula RO(CH2CH2θ)k-CH2COO-M+ wherein R is a C8-C22 alkyl, k is an integer from 1 to 10, and M is a soluble salt-forming cation. 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 tall oil.

Further examples are described in "Surface Active Agents and Detergents" (Vol. I and II by Schwartz, Perry and Berch). A variety of such surfactants are also generally disclosed in U.S. Patent 3,929,678, issued December 30, 1975 to Laughlin, et al. at Column 23, line 58 through Column 29, line 23 (herein incorporated by reference).

When included therein, the laundry detergent compositions of the present invention typically comprise from about 1% to about 40%, preferably from about 3% to about 20% by weight of such anionic surfactants.

Highly preferred anionic surfactants include alkyl alkoxylated sulfate surfactants hereof are water soluble salts or acids of the formula RO(A)_mS03M wherein R is an unsubstituted C10-C24 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group having a C10-C24 alkyl component, preferably a C12-C20 ^a'M ^or hydroxyalkyl, more preferably C12- C18 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl, A is an ethoxy or propoxy unit, m is greater than zero, typically between about 0.5 and about 6, more preferably between about 0.5 and about 3, and M is H or a cation which can be, for example, a metal cation (e.g., sodium, potassium, lithium, calcium, magnesium, etc.), ammonium or substituted-ammonium cation. Alkyl ethoxylated sulfates as well as alkyl propoxylated sulfates are contemplated herein. Specific examples of substituted ammonium cations include methyl-, dimethyl, trimethyl-ammonium cations and quaternary ammonium cations such as tetramethyl-ammonium and dimethyl piperdinium cations and those derived from alkylamines such as ethylamine, diethylamine, triethylamine, mixtures thereof, and the like. Exemplary surfactants are C12-C18 alkyl polyethoxylate (1.0) sulfate (Ci2-C-|8E(1.0)M), C12-C18 alkyl polyethoxylate (2.25) sulfate (Ci2-CιsE(2.25)M), C-12-C18 alkyl polyethoxylate (3.0) sulfate (Ci2-CiδE(3.0)M), and C12-C18 alkyl polyethoxylate (4.0) sulfate (Ci2-Ci8E(4.0)M), wherein M is conveniently selected from sodium and potassium.

The detergent compositions of the present invention may also contain cationic, ampholytic, zwitterionic, and semi-polar surfactants, as well as the nonionic and/or anionic surfactants other than those already described herein. Cationic detersive surfactants suitable for use in the detergent compositions of the present invention are those having one long-chain hydrocarbyl group. Examples of such cationic surfactants include the ammonium surfactants such as alkyltrimethylammonium halogenides, and those surfactants having the formula : [R²(OR3)_y][R4(OR3)_y]₂R5N+X-

wherein R² is an alkyl or alkyl benzyl group having from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain, each R³ is selected from the group consisting of -CH2CH2-, -CH2CH(CH3)-, -CH₂CH(CH2θH)-, -CH₂CH₂CH₂-, and mixtures thereof; each R⁴ is selected from the group consisting of C1-C4 alkyl, C1-C4 hydroxyalkyl, benzyl ring structures formed by joining the two R⁴ groups, - CH2CHOH-CHOHCOR⁶CHOHCH2θH wherein R⁶ is any hexose or hexose polymer having a molecular weight less than about 1000, and hydrogen when y is not 0; R§ is the same as R⁴ or is an alkyl chain wherein the total number of carbon atoms of R² plus R^ is not more than about 18; each y is from 0 to about 10 and the sum of the y values is from 0 to about 15; and X is any compatible anion.

Quaternary ammonium surfactant suitable for the present invention has the formula (I):

Formula I

whereby R1 is a short chainlength alkyl (C6-C10) or alkylamidoalkyl of the formula (II) :

Formula II

y is 2-4, preferably 3. whereby R2 is H or a C1-C3 alkyl, whereby x is 0-4, preferably 0-2, most preferably 0, whereby R3, R4 and R5 are either the same or different and can be either a short chain alkyl (C1-C3) or alkoxylated alkyl of the formula III,

whereby X- is a counterion, preferably a halide, e.g. chloride or methylsulfate.

Formula III

R6 is C<|-C4 and z is 1 or 2.

Preferred quat ammonium surfactants are those as defined in formula I whereby R-| is CQ, C-| O or mixtures thereof, x=o, R3, R4 = CH3 and R5 = CH2CH2OH.

Highly preferred cationic surfactants are the water-soluble quaternary ammonium compounds useful in the present composition having the formula : R<| R₂R3R4N⁺X- (i)

wherein R-j is Cs-C-jβ alkyl, each of R2, R3 and R4 is independently C1-C4 alkyl, C1-C4 hydroxy alkyl, benzyl, and -(C2H4θ)χH where x has a value from 2 to 5, and X is an anion. Not more than one of R2, R3 or R4 should be benzyl.

The preferred alkyl chain length for R<| is C-12-C15 particularly where the alkyl group is a mixture of chain lengths derived from coconut or palm kernel fat or is derived synthetically by olefin build up or OXO alcohols synthesis. Preferred groups for R2R3 and R4 are methyl and hydroxyethyl groups and the anion X may be selected from halide, methosulphate, acetate and phosphate ions.

Examples of suitable quaternary ammonium compounds of formulae (i) for use herein are : coconut trimethyl ammonium chloride or bromide; coconut methyl dihydroxyethyl ammonium chloride or bromide; decyl triethyl ammonium chloride; decyl dimethyl hydroxyethyl ammonium chloride or bromide;

^12-15 dimethyl hydroxyethyl ammonium chloride or bromide; coconut dimethyl hydroxyethyl ammonium chloride or bromide; myristyl trimethyl ammonium methyl sulphate; lauryl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride or bromide; lauryl dimethyl (ethenoxy)4 ammonium chloride or bromide; choline esters (compounds of formula (i) wherein Ri is

CH2-CH2-O-C-C12-I4 alkyl and R2R3R4 are methyl).

II O di-alkyl imidazolines [compounds of formula (i)].

Other cationic surfactants useful herein are also described in U.S. Patent 4,228,044, Cambre, issued October 14, 1980 and in European Patent Application EP 000,224.

Typical cationic fabric softening components include the water-insoluble quaternary-ammonium fabric softening actives or the corresponding amine precursor, the most commonly used having been di-long alkyl chain ammonium chloride or methyl sulfate. Preferred cationic softeners among these include the following:

I) ditallow dimethylammonium chloride (DTDMAC); 2) dihydrogenated tallow dimethylammonium chloride;

3) dihydrogenated tallow dimethylammonium methylsulfate;

4) distearyl dimethylammonium chloride;

5) dioleyl dimethylammonium chloride;

6) dipalmityl hydroxyethyl methylammonium chloride; 7) stearyl benzyl dimethylammonium chloride;

8) tallow trimethylammonium chloride;

9) hydrogenated tallow trimethylammonium chloride;

10) C12-14 alkyl hydroxyethyl dimethylammonium chloride;

I I) C-12-18 alkyl di hydroxyethyl methylammonium chloride; 12) di(stearoyloxyethyl) dimethylammonium chloride (DSOEDMAC);

13) di(tallow-oxy-ethyl) dimethylammonium chloride;

14) ditallow imidazolinium methylsulfate;

15) 1-(2-tallowylamidoethyl)-2-tallowyl imidazolinium methylsulfate.

Biodegradable quaternary ammonium compounds have been presented as alternatives to the traditionally used di-long alkyl chain ammonium chlorides and methyl sulfates. Such quaternary ammonium compounds contain long chain alk(en)yl groups interrupted by functional groups such as carboxy groups. Said materials and fabric softening compositions containing them are disclosed in numerous publications such as EP-A-0,040,562, and EP-A-0,239,910.

The quaternary ammonium compounds and amine precursors herein have the formula (I) or (II), below :

(I) (ll)

wherein Q is selected from -O-C(O)-, -C(0)-0-, -0-C(0)-0-, -NR⁴-C(0)-, -C(O)-

NR⁴-;

R is (CH₂)_n-Q-T² or T³; R² is (CH₂)_m-Q-T⁴ or T$ or R³;

R³ is C1-C4 alkyl or C1-C4 hydroxyalkyl or H;

R⁴ is H or C1-C4 alkyl or C1-C4 hydroxyalkyl;

T¹ , T², T³, T⁴, T§ are independently C^ 1-C22 alkyl or alkenyl; n and m are integers from 1 to 4; and X" is a softener-compatible anion. Non-limiting examples of softener-compatible anions include chloride or methyl sulfate.

The alkyl, or alkenyl, chain T^ , T², T³, T⁴, T^ must contain at least 11 carbon atoms, preferably at least 16 carbon atoms. The chain may be straight or branched. Tallow is a convenient and inexpensive source of long chain alkyl and alkenyl material. The compounds wherein T¹ , T², T³, T⁴, T⁵ represents the mixture of long chain materials typical for tallow are particularly preferred.

Specific examples of quaternary ammonium compounds suitable for use in the aqueous fabric softening compositions herein include :

1) N,N-di(tallowyl-oxy-ethyl)-N,N-dimethyl ammonium chloride;

2) N,N-di(tallowyl-oxy-ethyl)-N-methyl, N-(2-hydroxyethyl) ammonium methyl sulfate;

3) N,N-di(2-tallowyl-oxy-2-oxo-ethyl)-N,N-dimethyl ammonium chloride;

4) N,N-di(2-tallowyl-oxy-ethylcarbonyl-oxy-ethyl)-N,N-dimethyl ammonium chloride; 5) N-(2-tallowyl-oxy-2-ethyl)-N-(2-tallowyl-oxy-2-oxo-ethyl)-N,N-dimethyl ammonium chloride;

6) N,N,N-tri(tallowyl-oxy-ethyl)-N-methyl ammonium chloride;

7) N-(2-tallowyl-oxy-2-oxo-ethyl)-N-(tallowyl-N,N-dimethyl-ammonium chloride; and 8) 1 ,2-ditallowyl-oxy-3-trimethylammoniopropane chloride; and mixtures of any of the above materials.

When included therein, the detergent compositions of the present invention typically comprise from 0.2% to about 25%, preferably from about 1% to about 8% by weight of such cationic surfactants.

Ampholytic surfactants are also suitable for use in the detergent compositions of the present invention. These surfactants can be broadly described as aliphatic derivatives of secondary or tertiary amines, or aliphatic derivatives of heterocyclic secondary and tertiary amines in which the aliphatic radical can be straight- or branched-chain. One of the aliphatic substituents contains at least about 8 carbon atoms, typically from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms, and at least one contains an anionic water-solubilizing group, e.g. carboxy, sulfonate, sulfate. See U.S. Patent No. 3,929,678 to Laughlin et al., issued December 30, 1975 at column 19, lines 18-35, for examples of ampholytic surfactants.

When included therein, the detergent compositions of the present invention typically comprise from 0.2% to about 15%, preferably from about 1% to about 10% by weight of such ampholytic surfactants.

Zwitterionic surfactants are also suitable for use in detergent compositions. 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. See U.S. Patent No. 3,929,678 to Laughlin et al., issued December 30, 1975 at column 19, line 38 through column 22, line 48, for examples of zwitterionic surfactants. When included therein, the detergent compositions of the present invention typically comprise from 0.2% to about 15%, preferably from about 1% to about 10% by weight of such zwitterionic surfactants.

Semi-polar nonionic surfactants are a special category of nonionic surfactants which include water-soluble amine oxides containing one alkyl moiety of from about 10 to about 18 carbon atoms and 2 moieties selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups and hydroxyalkyl groups containing from about 1 to about 3 carbon atoms; water-soluble phosphine oxides containing one alkyl moiety of from about 10 to about 18 carbon atoms and 2 moieties selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups and hydroxyalkyl groups containing from about 1 to about 3 carbon atoms; and water-soluble sulfoxides containing one alkyl moiety of from about 10 to about 18 carbon atoms and a moiety selected from the group consisting of alkyl and hydroxyalkyl moieties of from about 1 to about 3 carbon atoms.

Semi-polar nonionic detergent surfactants include the amine oxide surfactants having the formula

0

R³(OR⁴)xN(R⁵)2

wherein R³ is an alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, or alkyl phenyl group or mixtures thereof containing from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms; R⁴ is an alkylene or hydroxyalkylene group containing from about 2 to about 3 carbon atoms or mixtures thereof; x is from 0 to about 3; and each R⁵ is an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group containing from about 1 to about 3 carbon atoms or a polyethylene oxide group containing from about 1 to about 3 ethylene oxide groups. The R⁵ groups can be attached to each other, e.g., through an oxygen or nitrogen atom, to form a ring structure. These amine oxide surfactants in particular include C-|fj-Ci8 alkyl dimethyl amine oxides and C8-C12 alkoxy ethyl dihydroxy ethyl amine oxides. When included therein, the cleaning compositions of the present invention typically comprise from 0.2% to about 15%, preferably from about 1% to about 10% by weight of such semi-polar nonionic surfactants. The detergent composition of the present invention may further comprise a co- surfactant selected from the group of primary or tertiary amines. Suitable primary amines for use herein include amines according to the formula R1 NH2 wherein R-| is a C6-C12, preferably Cβ-C-io alkyl chain or R4X(CH2)_n. is -0-,-C(0)NH- or -NH-₎ R4 is a C6-C12 alkyl chain n is between 1 to 5, preferably 3. R-| alkyl chains may be straight or branched and may be interrupted with up to 12, preferably less than 5 ethylene oxide moieties. Preferred amines according to the formula herein above are n-alkyl amines. Suitable amines for use herein may be selected from 1-hexylamine, 1- octylamine, 1-decylamine and laurylamine. Other preferred primary amines include C8-C10 oxypropylamine, octyloxypropylamine, 2-ethylhexyl- oxypropylamine, lauryl amido propylamine and amido propylamine.

Suitable tertiary amines for use herein include tertiary amines having the formula R1 R2R3N wherein R1 and R2 are C-i-Cδ alkylchains or

R3 is either a C6-C12, preferably Cβ-Cio alkyl chain, or R3 is R4X(CH2)n_> whereby X is -0-, -C(0)NH- or -NH- R4 is a C4-C12, n is between 1 to 5, preferably 2-3. R5 is H or C1-C2 alkyl and x is between 1 to 6 . R3 and R4 may be linear or branched ; R3 alkyl chains may be interrupted with up to 12, preferably less than 5, ethylene oxide moieties.

Preferred tertiary amines are R1R2R3N where R1 is a C6-C12 alkyl chain, R2 and R3 are C1-C3 alkyl or

where R5 is H or CH3 and x = 1-2.

Also preferred are the amidoamines of the formula: O

Ri — C-NH — ( CH, )— N— ( R₂ ) n 2

wherein R-| is C6-C12 alkyl; n is 2-4, preferably n is 3; R2 and R3 is C1-C4

Most preferred amines of the present invention include 1 -octylamine, 1- hexylamine, 1-decylamine, 1-dodecylamine,C8-10oxypropylamine, N coco 1- 3diaminopropane, coconutalkyldimethylamine, lauryldimethylamine, lauryl bis(hydroxyethyl)amine, coco bis(hydroxyehtyl)amine, lauryl amine 2 moles propoxyiated, octyl amine 2 moles propoxylated, lauryl amidopropyl- dimethylamine, C8-10 amidopropyldimethylamine and C10 amidopropyl- dimethylamine.

The most preferred amines for use in the compositions herein are 1-hexylamine, 1 -octylamine, 1-decylamine, 1-dodecylamine. Especially desirable are n- dodecyldimethylamine and bishydroxyethylcoconutalkylamine and oleylamine 7 times ethoxylated, lauryl amido propylamine and cocoamido propylamine.

Bleaching agent

The detergent compositions of the present invention can in addition to the metal bleach catalyst / oxygen source system, further comprise another bleaching agent.

Bleaching agents that can be used encompasses the halogen bleaching agents. Examples of hypohalite bleaching agents, for example, include trichloro isocyanuric acid and the sodium and potassium dichloroisocyanurates and N- chloro and N-bromo alkane sulphonamides. Such materials are normally added at 0.5-10% by weight of the finished product, preferably 1-5% by weight.

Bleaching agents other than oxygen bleaching agents are also known in the art and can be utilized herein. One type of non-oxygen bleaching agent of particular interest includes photoactivated bleaching agents such as the sulfonated zinc and/or aluminum phthalocyanines. These materials can be deposited upon the substrate during the washing process. Upon irradiation with light, in the presence of oxygen, such as by hanging clothes out to dry in the daylight, the sulfonated zinc phthalocyanine is activated and, consequently, the substrate is bleached. Preferred zinc phthalocyanine and a photoactivated bleaching process are described in U.S. Patent 4,033,718. Typically, detergent compositions will contain about 0.025% to about 1.25%, by weight, of sulfonated zinc phthalocyanine.

Builder system

The detergent compositions of the present invention can further comprise a builder. Any conventional builder system is suitable for use herein including aluminosilicate materials, silicates, polycarboxylates, alkyl- or alkenyl-succinic acid and fatty acids, materials such as ethylenediamine tetraacetate, diethylene triamine pentamethyleneacetate, metal ion sequestrants such as aminopolyphosphonates, particularly ethylenediamine tetramethylene phosphonic acid and diethylene triamine pentamethylenephosphonic acid. Phosphate builders can also be used herein.

Suitable builders can be an inorganic ion exchange material, commonly an inorganic hydrated aluminosilicate material, more particularly a hydrated synthetic zeolite such as hydrated zeolite A, X, B, HS or MAP.

Another suitable inorganic builder material is layered silicate, e.g. SKS-6

(Hoechst). SKS-6 is a crystalline layered silicate consisting of sodium silicate

(Na₂Si₂0₅).

Suitable polycarboxylates containing one carboxy group include lactic acid, glycolic acid and ether derivatives thereof as disclosed in Belgian Patent Nos. 831 ,368, 821 ,369 and 821 ,370. Polycarboxylates containing two carboxy groups include the water-soluble salts of succinic acid, malonic acid, (ethylenedioxy) diacetic acid, maleic acid, diglycollic acid, tartaric acid, tartronic acid and fumaric acid, as well as the ether carboxylates described in German Offenlegenschrift 2,446,686, and 2,446,687 and U.S. Patent No. 3,935,257 and the sulfinyl carboxylates described in Belgian Patent No. 840,623. 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 Netherlands Application 7205873, and the oxypolycarboxylate materials such as 2-oxa-1 ,1 ,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 ,082,179, while polycarboxylates containing phosphone substituents are disclosed in British Patent No. 1 ,439,000.

Alicyclic and heterocyclic polycarboxylates include cyclopentane-cis,cis,cis- tetracarboxylates, cyclopentadienide pentacarboxylates, 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-furan - cis, cis, cis-tetracarboxylates, 2,5-tetrahydro-furan -cis - dicarboxylates, 2,2,5,5- tetrahydrofuran - tetracarboxylates, 1 ,2,3,4,5,6-hexane -hexacar-boxylates and and carboxymethyl derivatives of polyhydric alcohols such as sorbitol, mannitol and xylitol. Aromatic poly-carboxylates include mellitic acid, pyromellitic acid and the phthalic acid derivatives disclosed in British Patent No. 1 ,425,343. Of the above, the preferred polycarboxylates are hydroxycarboxylates containing up to three carboxy groups per molecule, more particularly citrates.

Preferred builder systems for use in the present compositions include a mixture of a water-insoluble aluminosilicate builder such as zeolite A or of a layered silicate (SKS-6), and a water-soluble carboxylate chelating agent such as citric acid. Other preferred builder systems include a mixture of a water-insoluble aluminosilicate builder such as zeolite A, and a watersoluble carboxylate chelating agent such as citric acid. Preferred builder systems for use in liquid detergent compositions of the present invention are soaps and polycarboxylates.

Other builder materials that can form part of the builder system for use in granular compositions include inorganic materials such as alkali metal carbonates, bicarbonates, silicates, and organic materials such as the organic phosphonates, amino polyalkylene phosphonates and amino polycarboxylates. Other suitable water-soluble organic salts are the homo- or co-polymeric 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 this type are disclosed in GB-A-1 ,596,756. Examples of such salts are polyacrylates of MW 2000-5000 and their copolymers with maleic anhydride, such copolymers having a molecular weight of from 20,000 to 70,000, especially about 40,000.

Detergency builder salts are normally included in amounts of from 5% to 80% by weight of the composition preferably from 10% to 70% and most usually from 30% to 60% by weight.

Conventional detergent enzymes

The detergent compositions can in addition to the pectate lyase enzyme further comprise one or more enzymes which provide cleaning performance, fabric care and/or sanitisation benefits.

Said enzymes include enzymes selected from cellulases, hemicellulases, peroxidases, proteases, gluco-amylases, amylases, xylanases, lipases, phospholipases, esterases, cutinases, other pectinases, keratanases, reductases, oxidases, phenoloxidases, lipoxygenases, ligninases, pullulanases, tannases, pentosanases, malanases, β-glucanases, arabinosidases, hyaluronidase, chondroitinase, laccase or mixtures thereof.

A preferred combination is a detergent composition having cocktail of conventional applicable enzymes like protease, amylase, lipase, cutinase and/or cellulase in conjunction with one or more plant cell wall degrading enzymes.

Suitable proteases are the subtilisins which are obtained from particular strains of B. subtilis and B. licheniformis (subtilisin BPN and BPN'). One suitable protease is obtained from a strain of Bacillus, having maximum activity throughout the pH range of 8-12, developed and sold as ESPERASE® by Novo Industries A/S of Denmark, hereinafter "Novo". The preparation of this enzyme and analogous enzymes is described in GB 1 ,243,784 to Novo. Other suitable proteases include ALCALASE®, DURAZYM® and SAVINASE® from Novo and MAXATASE®, MAXACAL®, PROPERASE® and MAXAPEM® (protein engineered Maxacal) from Gist-Brocades. Proteolytic enzymes also encompass modified bacterial serine proteases, such as those described in European Patent Application Serial Number 87 303761.8, filed April 28, 1987 (particularly pages 17, 24 and 98), and which is called herein "Protease B", and in European Patent Application 199,404, Venegas, published October 29, 1986, which refers to a modified bacterial serine protealytic enzyme which is called "Protease A" herein. Suitable is the protease called herein "Protease C", which is a variant of an alkaline serine protease from Bacillus in which lysine replaced arginine at position 27, tyrosine replaced valine at position 104, serine replaced asparagine at position 123, and alanine replaced threonine at position 274. Protease C is described in EP 90915958:4, corresponding to WO 91/06637, Published May 16, 1991. Genetically modified variants, particularly of Protease C, are also included herein.

A preferred protease referred to as "Protease D" is a carbonyl hydrolase variant having an amino acid sequence not found in nature, which is derived from a precursor carbonyl hydrolase by substituting a different amino acid for a plurality of amino acid residues at a position in said carbonyl hydrolase equivalent to position +76, preferably also in combination with one or more amino acid residue positions equivalent to those selected from the group consisting of +99, +101 , +103, +104, +107, +123, +27, +105, +109, +126, +128, +135, +156, +166, +195, +197, +204, +206, +210, +216, +217, +218, +222, +260, +265, and/or +274 according to the numbering of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subtilisin, as described in WO95/10591 and in the patent application of C. Ghosh, et al, "Bleaching Compositions Comprising Protease Enzymes" having US Serial No. 08/322,677, filed October 13, 1994. Also suitable is a carbonyl hydrolase variant of the protease described in WO95/10591 , having an amino acid sequence derived by replacement of a plurality of amino acid residues replaced in the precursor enzyme corresponding to position +210 in combination with one or more of the following residues : +33, +62, +67, +76, +100, +101 , +103, +104, +107, +128, +129, +130, +132, +135, +156, +158, +164, +166, +167, +170, +209, +215, +217, +218, and +222, where the numbered position corresponds to naturally- occurring subtilisin from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens or to equivalent amino acid residues in other carbonyl hydrolases or subtilisins, such as Bacillus lentus subtilisin (co-pending patent application US Serial No. 60/048,550, filed June 04, 1997). Also suitable for the present invention are proteases described in patent applications EP 251 446 and WO 91/06637, protease BLAP® described in WO91/02792 and their variants described in WO 95/23221. See also a high pH protease from Bacillus sp. NCIMB 40338 described in WO 93/18140 A to Novo. Enzymatic detergents comprising protease, one or more other enzymes, and a reversible protease inhibitor are described in WO 92/03529 A to Novo. When desired, a protease having decreased adsorption and increased hydrolysis is available as described in WO 95/07791 to Procter & Gamble. A recombinant trypsin-like protease for detergents suitable herein is described in WO 94/25583 to Novo. Other suitable proteases are described in EP 516 200 by Unilever.

The proteolytic enzymes are incorporated in the detergent compositions of the present invention a level of from 0.0001% to 2%, preferably from 0.001% to 0.2%, more preferably from 0.005% to 0.1% pure enzyme by weight of the composition.

The cellulases usable in the present invention include both bacterial or fungal cellulases. Preferably, they will have a pH optimum of between 5 and 12 and a specific activity above 50 CEVU/mg (Cellulose Viscosity Unit). Suitable cellulases are disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,435,307, Barbesgoard et al, J61078384 and WO96/02653 which discloses fungal cellulase produced respectively from Humicola insolens, Trichoderma, Thielavia and Sporotrichum. EP 739 982 describes cellulases isolated from novel Bacillus species. Suitable cellulases are also disclosed in GB-A-2.075.028; GB-A-2.095.275; DE-OS-2.247.832 and W095/26398.

Examples of such cellulases are cellulases produced by a strain of Humicola insolens (Humicola grisea var. thermoidea), particularly the Humicola strain DSM

1800.

Other suitable cellulases are cellulases originated from Humicola insolens having a molecular weight of about 50KDa, an isoelectric point of 5.5 and containing 415 amino acids; and a ^"43kD endoglucanase derived from Humicola insolens, DSM 1800, exhibiting cellulase activity; a preferred endoglucanase component has the amino acid sequence disclosed in PCT Patent Application No. WO 91/17243. Also suitable cellulases are the EGIII cellulases from Trichoderma longibrachiatum described in WO94/21801 , Genencor, published September 29, 1994. Especially suitable cellulases are the cellulases having color care benefits. Examples of such cellulases are cellulases described in European patent application No. 91202879.2, filed November 6, 1991 (Novo). Carezyme and Celluzyme (Novo Nordisk A/S) are especially useful. See also W091/17244 and WO91/21801. Other suitable cellulases for fabric care and/or cleaning properties are described in WO96/34092, W096/17994 and W095/24471.

Said cellulases are normally incorporated in the detergent composition at levels from 0.0001% to 2% of pure enzyme by weight of the detergent composition.

Peroxidase enzymes are used in combination with oxygen sources, e.g. percarbonate, perborate, persulfate, hydrogen peroxide, etc and with a phenolic substrate as bleach enhancing molecule. They are used for "solution bleaching", i.e. to prevent transfer of dyes or pigments removed from substrates during wash operations to other substrates in the wash solution. Peroxidase enzymes are known in the art, and include, for example, horseradish peroxidase, ligninase and haloperoxidase such as chloro- and bromo-peroxidase. Peroxidase-containing detergent compositions are disclosed, for example, in PCT International Application WO 89/099813, WO89/09813 and in European Patent application EP No. 91202882.6, filed on November 6, 1991 and EP No. 96870013.8, filed February 20, 1996. Also suitable is the laccase enzyme. Enhancers are generally comprised at a level of from 0.1% to 5% by weight of total composition. Preferred enhancers are substitued phenthiazine and phenoxasine 10-Phenothiazinepropionicacid (PPT), 10-ethylphenothiazine-4- carboxylic acid (EPC), 10-phenoxazinepropionic acid (POP) and 10- methylphenoxazine (described in WO 94/12621) and substitued syringates (C3- C5 substitued alkyl syringates) and phenols. Sodium percarbonate or perborate are preferred sources of hydrogen peroxide.

Said peroxidases are normally incorporated in the detergent composition at levels from 0.0001% to 2% of pure enzyme by weight of the detergent composition.

Other preferred enzymes that can be included in the detergent compositions of the present invention include lipases. Suitable lipase enzymes for detergent usage include those produced by microorganisms of the Pseudomonas group, such as Pseudomonas stutzeri ATCC 19.154, as disclosed in British Patent 1,372,034. Suitable lipases include those which show a positive immunological cross-reaction with the antibody of the lipase, produced by the microorganism Pseudomonas fluorescent 1AM 1057. This lipase is available from Amano Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Nagoya, Japan, under the trade name Lipase P "Amano," hereinafter referred to as "Amano-P". Other suitable commercial lipases include Amano-CES, lipases ex Chromobacter viscosum, e.g. Chromobacter viscosum var. lipolyticum NRRLB 3673 from Toyo Jozo Co., Tagata, Japan; Chromobacter viscosum lipases from U.S. Biochemical Corp., U.S.A. and Disoynth Co., The Netherlands, and lipases ex Pseudomonas gladioli. Especially suitable lipases are lipases such as M1 Lipase^ and LipomaxR (Gist-Brocades) and Lipolase^ and Lipolase Ultra^(Novo) which have found to be very effective when used in combination with the compositions of the present invention. Also suitables are the lipolytic enzymes described in EP 258 068, WO 92/05249 and WO 95/22615 by Novo Nordisk and in WO 94/03578, WO 95/35381 and WO 96/00292 by Unilever. Also suitable are cutinases [EC 3.1.1.50] which can be considered as a special kind of lipase, namely lipases which do not require interfacial activation. Addition of cutinases to detergent compositions have been described in e.g. WO-A- 88/09367 (Genencor); WO 90/09446 (Plant Genetic System) and WO 94/14963 and WO 94/14964 (Unilever). The lipases and/or cutinases are normally incorporated in the detergent composition at levels from 0.0001% to 2% of pure enzyme by weight of the detergent composition.

Amylases (α and/or β) can be included for removal of carbohydrate-based stains. WO94/02597, Novo Nordisk A/S published February 03, 1994, describes detergent compositions which incorporate mutant amylases. See also WO95/10603, Novo Nordisk A/S, published April 20, 1995. Other amylases known for use in detergent compositions include both α- and β-amylases. α- Amylases are known in the art and include those disclosed in US Pat. no. 5,003,257; EP 252,666; WO/91/00353; FR 2,676,456; EP 285,123; EP 525,610; EP 368,341; and British Patent specification no. 1 ,296,839 (Novo). Other suitable amylases are stability-enhanced amylases described in W094/18314, published August 18, 1994 and WO96/05295, Genencor, published February 22, 1996 and amylase variants having additional modification in the immediate parent available from Novo Nordisk A/S, disclosed in WO 95/10603, published April 95. Also suitable are amylases described in EP 277 216, W095/26397 and W096/23873 (all by Novo Nordisk). Examples of commercial α-amylases products are Purafect Ox Am® from Genencor and Termamyl®, Ban®, Fungamyl® and Duramyl®, all available from Novo Nordisk A/S Denmark. W095/26397 describes other suitable amylases : α- amylases characterised by having a specific activity at least 25% higher than the specific activity of Termamyl® at a temperature range of 25°C to 55°C and at a pH value in the range of 8 to 10, measured by the Phadebas® α-amylase activity assay. Suitable are variants of the above enzymes, described in W096/23873 (Novo Nordisk). Other amylolytic enzymes with improved properties with respect to the activity level and the combination of thermostability and a higher activity level are described in W095/35382.

The amylolytic enzymes are incorporated in the detergent compositions of the present invention a level of from 0.0001% to 2%, preferably from 0.00018% to 0.06%, more preferably from 0.00024% to 0.048% pure enzyme by weight of the composition.

The above-mentioned enzymes may be of any suitable origin, such as vegetable, animal, bacterial, fungal and yeast origin. Origin can further be mesophilic or extremophilic (psychrophiiic, psychrotrophic, thermophilic, barophilic, alkalophilic, acidophilic, halophilic, etc.). Purified or non-purified forms of these enzymes may be used. Nowadays, it is common practice to modify wild-type enzymes via protein / genetic engineering techniques in order to optimise their performance efficiency in the detergent compositions of the invention. For example, the variants may be designed such that the compatibility of the enzyme to commonly encountered ingredients of such compositions is increased. Alternatively, the variant may be designed such that the optimal pH, bleach or chelant stability, catalytic activity and the like, of the enzyme variant is tailored to suit the particular cleaning application.

In particular, attention should be focused on amino acids sensitive to oxidation in the case of bleach stability and on surface charges for the surfactant compatibility. The isoelectric point of such enzymes may be modified by the substitution of some charged amino acids, e.g. an increase in isoelectric point may help to improve compatibility with anionic surfactants. The stability of the enzymes may be further enhanced by the creation of e.g. additional salt bridges and enforcing calcium binding sites to increase chelant stability. Special attention must be paid to the cellulases as most of the cellulases have separate binding domains (CBD). Properties of such enzymes can be altered by modifications in these domains.

Said enzymes are normally incorporated in the detergent composition at levels from 0.0001% to 2% of pure enzyme by weight of the detergent composition. The enzymes can be added as separate single ingredients (prills, granulates, stabilized liquids, etc. containing one enzyme ) or as mixtures of two or more enzymes (e.g. co-granulates ).

Other suitable detergent ingredients that can be added are enzyme oxidation scavengers which are described in co-pending European Patent application 92870018.6 filed on January 31 , 1992. Examples of such enzyme oxidation scavengers are ethoxylated tetraethylene polyamines.

A range of enzyme materials and means for their incorporation into synthetic detergent compositions is also disclosed in WO 9307263 A and WO 9307260 A to Genencor International, WO 8908694 A to Novo, and U.S. 3,553,139, January 5, 1971 to McCarty et al. Enzymes are further disclosed in U.S. 4,101 ,457, Place et al, July 18, 1978, and in U.S. 4,507,219, Hughes, March 26, 1985. Enzyme materials useful for liquid detergent formulations, and their incorporation into such formulations, are disclosed in U.S. 4,261 ,868, Hora et al, April 14, 1981. Enzymes for use in detergents can be stabilised by various techniques. Enzyme stabilisation techniques are disclosed and exemplified in U.S. 3,600,319, August 17, 1971 , Gedge et al, EP 199,405 and EP 200,586, October 29, 1986, Venegas. Enzyme stabilisation systems are also described, for example, in U.S. 3,519,570. A useful Bacillus, sp. AC13 giving proteases, xylanases and cellulases, is described in WO 9401532 A to Novo.

Colour care and fabric care benefits

Technologies which provide a type of colour care benefit can also be included. Examples of these technologies are metallo catalysts for colour maintenance. Such metallo catalysts are described in co-pending European Patent Application No. 92870181.2. Dye fixing agents, polyolefin dispersion for anti-wrinkles and improved water absorbancy, perfume and amino-functional polymer (PCT/US97/16546) for colour care treatment and perfume substantivity are further examples of colour care / fabric care technologies and are described in the co-pending Patent Application No. 96870140.9, filed November 07, 1996.

Fabric softening agents can also be incorporated into detergent compositions in accordance with the present invention. These agents may be inorganic or organic in type. Inorganic softening agents are exemplified by the smectite clays disclosed in GB-A-1 400 898 and in USP 5,019,292. Organic fabric softening agents include the water insoluble tertiary amines as disclosed in GB-A1 514 276 and EP-B0 011 340 and their combination with mono C12-C14 quaternary ammonium salts are disclosed in EP-B-0 026 527 and EP-B-0 026 528 and di- long-chain amides as disclosed in EP-B-0 242 919. Other useful organic ingredients of fabric softening systems include high molecular weight polyethylene oxide materials as disclosed in EP-A-0 299 575 and 0 313 146.

Levels of smectite clay are normally in the range from 2% to 20%, more preferably from 5% to 15% by weight, with the material being added as a dry mixed component to the remainder of the formulation. Organic fabric softening agents such as the water-insoluble tertiary amines or dilong chain amide materials are incorporated at levels of from 0.5% to 5% by weight, normally from 1% to 3% by weight whilst the high molecular weight polyethylene oxide materials and the water soluble cationic materials are added at levels of from 0.1% to 2%, normally from 0.15% to 1.5% by weight. These materials are normally added to the spray dried portion of the composition, although in some instances it may be more convenient to add them as a dry mixed particulate, or spray them as molten liquid on to other solid components of the composition.

Chelating Agents

The detergent compositions herein may also optionally contain one or more iron and/or manganese chelating agents. Such chelating agents can be selected from the group consisting of amino carboxylates, amino phosphonates, polyfunctionally-substituted aromatic chelating agents and mixtures therein, all as hereinafter defined. Without intending to be bound by theory, it is believed that the benefit of these materials is due in part to their exceptional ability to remove iron and manganese ions from washing solutions by formation of soluble chelates. Amino carboxylates useful as optional chelating agents include ethylenediaminetetracetates, N-hydroxyethylethylenediaminetriacetates, nitrilo- triacetates, ethylenediamine tetraproprionates, triethylenetetraamine- hexacetates, diethylenetriaminepentaacetates, and ethanoldiglycines, alkali metal, ammonium, and substituted ammonium salts therein and mixtures therein. Amino phosphonates are also suitable for use as chelating agents in the compositions of the invention when at lease low levels of total phosphorus are permitted in detergent compositions, and include ethylenediaminetetrakis (methylenephosphonates) as DEQUEST. Preferably, these amino phosphonates do not contain alkyl or alkenyl groups with more than about 6 carbon atoms. Polyfunctionally-substituted aromatic chelating agents are also useful in the compositions herein. See U.S. Patent 3,812,044, issued May 21 , 1974, to Connor et al. Preferred compounds of this type in acid form are dihydroxydisulfobenzenes such as 1 ,2-dihydroxy-3,5-disulfobenzene.

A preferred biodegradable chelator for use herein is ethylenediamine disuccinate ("EDDS"), especially the [S,S] isomer as described in U.S. Patent 4,704,233, November 3, 1987, to Hartman and Perkins.

The compositions herein may also contain water-soluble methyl glycine diacetic acid (MGDA) salts (or acid form) as a chelant or co-builder useful with, for example, insoluble builders such as zeolites, layered silicates and the like.

If utilized, these chelating agents will generally comprise from about 0.1% to about 15% by weight of the detergent compositions herein. More preferably, if utilized, the chelating agents will comprise from about 0.1% to about 3.0% by weight of such compositions.

Suds suppressor

Another optional ingredient is a suds suppressor, exemplified by silicones, and silica-silicone mixtures. Silicones can be generally represented by alkylated polysiloxane materials while silica is normally used in finely divided forms exemplified by silica aerogels and xerogels and hydrophobic silicas of various types. These materials can be incorporated as particulates in which the suds suppressor is advantageously releasably incorporated in a water-soluble or water-dispersible, substantially non-surface-active detergent impermeable carrier. Alternatively the suds suppressor can be dissolved or dispersed in a liquid carrier and applied by spraying on to one or more of the other components. A preferred silicone suds controlling agent is disclosed in Bartollota et al. U.S. Patent 3 933 672. Other particularly useful suds suppressors are the self- emulsifying silicone suds suppressors, described in German Patent Application DTOS 2 646 126 published April 28, 1977. An example of such a compound is DC-544, commercially available from Dow Corning, which is a siloxane-glycol copolymer. Especially preferred suds controlling agent are the suds suppressor system comprising a mixture of silicone oils and 2-alkyl-alcanols. Suitable 2-alkyl- alkanols are 2-butyl-octanol which are commercially available under the trade name Isofol 12 R. Such suds suppressor system are described in Co-pending European Patent application N 92870174.7 filed 10 November, 1992.

Especially preferred silicone suds controlling agents are described in Co-pending European Patent application N°92201649.8. Said compositions can comprise a silicone/silica mixture in combination with fumed nonporous silica such as AerosilR.

The suds suppressors described above are normally employed at levels of from 0.001% to 2% by weight of the composition, preferably from 0.01% to 1% by weight.

Others

Other components used in detergent compositions may be employed, such as soil-suspending agents, soil-release agents, optical brighteners, abrasives, bactericides, tarnish inhibitors, coloring agents, and/or encapsulated or non- encapsulated perfumes.

Especially suitable encapsulating materials are water soluble capsules which consist of a matrix of polysaccharide and polyhydroxy compounds such as described in GB 1 ,464,616. Other suitable water soluble encapsulating materials comprise dextrins derived from ungelatinized starch acid-esters of substituted dicarboxylic acids such as described in US 3,455,838. These acid-ester dextrins are, preferably, prepared from such starches as waxy maize, waxy sorghum, sago, tapioca and potato. Suitable examples of said encapsulating materials include N-Lok manufactured by National Starch. The N-Lok encapsulating material consists of a modified maize starch and glucose. The starch is modified by adding monofunctional substituted groups such as octenyl succinic acid anhydride.

Antiredeposition and soil suspension agents suitable herein include cellulose derivatives such as methylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose and hydroxyethylcellulose, and homo- or co-polymeric polycarboxylic acids or their salts. Polymers of this type include the polyacrylates and maleic anhydride- acrylic acid copolymers previously mentioned as builders, as well as copolymers of maleic anhydride with ethylene, methylvinyl ether or methacrylic acid, the maleic anhydride constituting at least 20 mole percent of the copolymer. These materials are normally used at levels of from 0.5% to 10% by weight, more preferably from 0.75% to 8%, most preferably from 1% to 6% by weight of the composition.

Preferred optical brighteners are anionic in character, examples of which are disodium 4,4'-bis-(2-diethanolamino-4-anilino -s- triazin-6-ylamino)stilbene-2:2' disulphonate, disodium 4, - 4'-bis-(2-morpholino-4-anilino-s-triazin-6-ylamino- stilbene-2:2' - disulphonate, disodium 4,4' - bis-(2,4-dianilino-s-triazin-6- ylamino)stilbene-2:2' - disulphonate, monosodium 4',4" -bis-(2,4-dianilino-s-tri- azin-6 ylamino)stilbene-2-sulphonate, disodium 4,4' -bis-(2-aniiino-4-(N-methyl-N- 2-hydroxyethylamino)-s-triazin-6-ylamino)stilbene-2,2' - disulphonate, di-sodium

4,4' -bis-(4-phenyl-2,1 ,3-triazol-2-yl)-stilbene-2,2' disulphonate, di-so-dium

4,4'bis(2-anilino-4-(1-methyl-2-hydroxyethylamino)-s-triazin-6- ylami-no)stilbene-

2,2'disulphonate, sodium 2(stilbyl-4"-(naphtho-1',2':4,5)-1 ,2,3 - triazole-2"- sulphonate and 4,4'-bis(2-sulphostyryl)biphenyl. Highly preferred brighteners are the specific brighteners disclosed in EP 753 567.

Other useful polymeric materials are the polyethylene glycols, particularly those of molecular weight 1000-10000, more particularly 2000 to 8000 and most preferably about 4000. These are used at levels of from 0.20% to 5% more preferably from 0.25% to 2.5% by weight. These polymers and the previously mentioned homo- or co-polymeric polycarboxylate salts are valuable for improving whiteness maintenance, fabric ash deposition, and cleaning performance on clay, proteinaceous and oxidizable soils in the presence of transition metal impurities.

Soil release agents useful in compositions of the present invention are conventionally copolymers or terpolymers of terephthalic acid with ethylene glycol and/or propylene glycol units in various arrangements. Examples of such polymers are disclosed in the commonly assigned US Patent Nos. 4116885 and 4711730 and European Published Patent Application No. 0 272 033. A particular preferred polymer in accordance with EP-A-0 272 033 has the formula

(CH₃(PEG)43)o.75(POH)o.25[T-PO)2.8(T-PEG)o.₄]T(PO- H)θ.25((PEG)₄₃CH3)o.75

where PEG is -(OC2H4)0-,PO is (OC3H6O) and T is (PCOC6H4CO).

Also very useful are modified polyesters as random copolymers of dimethyl terephthalate, dimethyl sulfoisophthalate, ethylene glycol and 1-2 propane diol, the end groups consisting primarily of sulphobenzoate and secondarily of mono esters of ethylene glycol and/or propane-diol. The target is to obtain a polymer capped at both end by sulphobenzoate groups, "primarily", in the present context most of said copolymers herein will be end-capped by sulphobenzoate groups. However, some copolymers will be less than fully capped, and therefore their end groups may consist of monoester of ethylene glycol and/or propane 1-2 diol, thereof consist "secondarily" of such species.

The selected polyesters herein contain about 46% by weight of dimethyl terephthalic acid, about 16% by weight of propane -1.2 diol, about 10% by weight ethylene glycol about 13% by weight of dimethyl sulfobenzoic acid and about 15% by weight of sulfoisophthalic acid, and have a molecular weight of about 3.000. The polyesters and their method of preparation are described in detail in EPA 311 342.

It is well-known in the art that free chlorine in tap water rapidly deactivates the enzymes comprised in detergent compositions. Therefore, using chlorine scavenger such as perborate, ammonium sulfate, sodium sulphite or polyethyleneimine at a level above 0.1% by weight of total composition, in the formulas will provide improved through the wash stability of the detergent enzymes. Compositions comprising chlorine scavenger are described in the European patent application 92870018.6 filed January 31 , 1992.

Alkoxylated polycarboxylates such as those prepared from polyacrylates are useful herein to provide additional grease removal performance. Such materials are described in WO 91/08281 and PCT 90/01815 at p. 4 et seq., incorporated herein by reference. Chemically, these materials comprise polyacrylates having one ethoxy side-chain per every 7-8 acrylate units. The side-chains are of the formula -(CH2CH2θ)_m(CH2)_nCH3 wherein m is 2-3 and n is 6-12. The side- chains are ester-linked to the polyacrylate "backbone" to provide a "comb" polymer type structure. The molecular weight can vary, but is typically in the range of about 2000 to about 50,000. Such alkoxylated polycarboxylates can comprise from about 0.05% to about 10%, by weight, of the compositions herein.

Dispersants

The detergent composition of the present invention can also contain dispersants : Suitable water-soluble organic salts are the homo- or co-polymeric 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 this type are disclosed in GB-A-1 ,596,756. Examples of such salts are polyacrylates of MW 2000-5000 and their copolymers with maleic anhydride, such copolymers having a molecular weight of from 1 ,000 to 100,000. Especially, copolymer of acrylate and methylacrylate such as the 480N having a molecular weight of 4000, at a level from 0.5-20% by weight of composition can be added in the detergent compositions of the present invention.

The compositions of the invention may contain a lime soap peptiser compound, which has preferably a lime soap dispersing power (LSDP), as defined hereinafter of no more than 8, preferably no more than 7, most preferably no more than 6. The lime soap peptiser compound is preferably present at a level from 0% to 20% by weight.

A numerical measure of the effectiveness of a lime soap peptiser is given by the lime soap dispersant power (LSDP) which is determined using the lime soap dispersant test as described in an article by H.C. Borghetty and CA. Bergman, J. Am. Oil. Chem. Soc, volume 27, pages 88-90, (1950). This lime soap dispersion test method is widely used by practitioners in this art field being referred to, for example, in the following review articles; W.N. Linfield, Surfactant science Series, Volume 7, page 3; W.N. Linfield, Tenside surf, det., volume 27, pages 159-163, (1990); and M.K. Nagarajan, W.F. Masler, Cosmetics and Toiletries, volume 104, pages 71-73, (1989). The LSDP is the % weight ratio of dispersing agent to sodium oleate required to disperse the lime soap deposits formed by 0.025g of sodium oleate in 30ml of water of 333ppm CaCθ3 (Ca:Mg=3:2) equivalent hardness.

Surfactants having good lime soap peptiser capability will include certain amine oxides, betaines, sulfobetaines, alkyl ethoxysulfates and ethoxylated alcohols.

Exemplary surfactants having a LSDP of no more than 8 for use in accord with the present invention include C^<|6-Ci8 dimethyl amine oxide, C12-C18 alkyl ethoxysulfates with an average degree of ethoxylation of from 1-5, particularly C^«|2-C"|5 alkyl ethoxysulfate surfactant with a degree of ethoxylation of amount 3 (LSDP=4), and the C14-C-15 ethoxylated alcohols with an average degree of ethoxylation of either 12 (LSDP=6) or 30, sold under the tradenames Lutensol A012 and Lutensol A030 respectively, by BASF GmbH.

Polymeric lime soap peptisers suitable for use herein are described in the article by M.K. Nagarajan, W.F. Masler, to be found in Cosmetics and Toiletries, volume 104, pages 71-73, (1989).

Hydrophobic bleaches such as 4-[N-octanoyl-6-aminohexanoyl]benzene sulfonate, 4-[N-nonanoyl-6-aminohexanoyl]benzene sulfonate, 4-[N-decanoyl-6- aminohexanoyl]benzene sulfonate and mixtures thereof; and nonanoyloxy benzene sulfonate together with hydrophilic / hydrophobic bleach formulations can also be used as lime soap peptisers compounds.

Dye transfer inhibition The detergent compositions of the present invention can also include compounds for inhibiting dye transfer from one fabric to another of solubilized and suspended dyes encountered during fabric laundering operations involving colored fabrics.

Polymeric dye transfer inhibiting agents

The detergent compositions according to the present invention also comprise from 0.001% to 10 %, preferably from 0.01% to 2%, more preferably from 0.05% to 1% by weight of polymeric dye transfer inhibiting agents. Said polymeric dye transfer inhibiting agents are normally incorporated into detergent compositions in order to inhibit the transfer of dyes from colored fabrics onto fabrics washed therewith. These polymers have the ability to complex or adsorb the fugitive dyes washed out of dyed fabrics before the dyes have the opportunity to become attached to other articles in the wash. Especially suitable polymeric dye transfer inhibiting agents are polyamine N- oxide polymers, copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone and N-vinylimidazole, polyvinylpyrrolidone polymers, polyvinyloxazolidones and polyvinylimidazoles or mixtures thereof. Addition of such polymers also enhances the performance of the enzymes according the invention.

a) Polyamine N-oxide polymers

The polyamine N-oxide polymers suitable for use contain units having the following structure formula :

(") Ax |

R wherein P is a polymerisable unit, whereto the R-N-0 group can be attached to or wherein the R-N-0 group forms part of the polymerisable unit or a combination of both.

O O O II II II

A is NC, CO, C, -0-,-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-0 group is part of these groups.

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

0 O

1 I (R1)x -N- (R2)y =N- (R1)x

I (R3)z

wherein R1 , 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-0 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-0 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.

Another class of said polyamine N-oxides comprises the group of polyamine N- oxides wherein the nitrogen of the N-0 group is attached to the R-group.

Other suitable polyamine N-oxides are the polyamine oxides whereto the N-0 group is attached to the polymerisable unit.

Preferred class of these polyamine N-oxides are the polyamine N-oxides having the general formula (I) wherein R is an aromatic, heterocyclic or alicyclic groups wherein the nitrogen of the N-0 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. Another preferred class of polyamine N-oxides are the polyamine oxides having the general formula (I) wherein R are aromatic, heterocyclic or alicyclic groups wherein the nitrogen of the N-0 functional group is attached to said R groups. Examples of these classes are polyamine oxides wherein R groups can be aromatic such as phenyl.

Any polymer backbone can be used as long as the amine oxide polymer formed is water-soluble and has dye transfer inhibiting properties. Examples of suitable polymeric backbones are polyvinyls, polyalkylenes, polyesters, polyethers, polyamide, polyimides, polyacrylates and mixtures thereof.

The amine N-oxide polymers of the present invention typically have a ratio of amine to the amine N-oxide of 10:1 to 1 :1000000. However the amount of amine oxide groups present in the polyamine oxide polymer can be varied by appropriate co-polymerization or by appropriate degree of N-oxidation.

Preferably, the ratio of amine to amine N-oxide is from 2:3 to 1 :1000000. More preferably from 1:4 to 1 :1000000, most preferably from 1:7 to 1 :1000000. The polymers of the present invention actually encompass random or block copolymers where one monomer type is an amine N-oxide and the other monomer type is either an amine N-oxide or not. The amine oxide unit of the polyamine N-oxides has a PKa < 10, preferably PKa < 7, more preferred PKa <

6. The polyamine 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; preferably from 1 ,000 to 50,000, more preferably from 2,000 to 30,000, most preferably from 3,000 to 20,000.

b) Copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone and N-vinylimidazole The N-vinylimidazole N-vinylpyrrolidone polymers used in the present invention have an average molecular weight range from 5,000-1 ,000,000, preferably from 5,000-200,000. Highly preferred polymers for use in detergent compositions according to the present invention comprise a polymer selected from N-vinylimidazole N- vinylpyrrolidone copolymers wherein said polymer has an average molecular weight range from 5,000 to 50,000 more preferably from 8,000 to 30,000, most preferably from 10,000 to 20,000.

The average molecular weight range was determined by light scattering as described in Barth H.G. and Mays J.W. Chemical Analysis Vol 113,"Modern Methods of Polymer Characterization".

Highly preferred N-vinylimidazole N-vinylpyrrolidone copolymers have an average molecular weight range from 5,000 to 50,000; more preferably from 8,000 to 30,000; most preferably from 10,000 to 20,000.

The N-vinylimidazole N-vinylpyrrolidone copolymers characterized by having said average molecular weight range provide excellent dye transfer inhibiting properties while not adversely affecting the cleaning performance of detergent compositions formulated therewith.

The N-vinyiimidazole N-vinylpyrrolidone copolymer of the present invention has a molar ratio of N-vinylimidazole to N-vinylpyrrolidone from 1 to 0.2, more preferably from 0.8 to 0.3, most preferably from 0.6 to 0.4 .

c) Polyvinylpyrrolidone

The detergent compositions of the present invention may also utilize polyvinylpyrrolidone ("PVP") having an average molecular weight of from about 2,500 to about 400,000, preferably from about 5,000 to about 200,000, more preferably from about 5,000 to about 50,000, and most preferably from about 5,000 to about 15,000. 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). Other suitable polyvinylpyrrolidones which are commercially available from BASF Cooperation include Sokalan HP 165 and Sokalan HP 12; polyvinylpyrrolidones known to persons skilled in the detergent field (see for example EP-A-262,897 and EP-A- 256,696).

d) Polyvinyloxazolidone : The detergent compositions of the present invention may also utilize polyvinyloxazolidone as a polymeric dye transfer inhibiting agent. Said polyvinyloxazolidones have an average molecular weight of from about 2,500 to about 400,000, preferably from about 5,000 to about 200,000, more preferably from about 5,000 to about 50,000, and most preferably from about 5,000 to about 15,000.

e) Polyvinylimidazole :

The detergent compositions of the present invention may also utilize polyvinylimidazole as polymeric dye transfer inhibiting agent. Said polyvinylimidazoles have an average about 2,500 to about 400,000, preferably from about 5,000 to about 200,000, more preferably from about 5,000 to about 50,000, and most preferably from about 5,000 to about 15,000.

f) Cross-linked polymers :

Cross-linked polymers are polymers whose backbone are interconnected to a certain degree; these links can be of chemical or physical nature, possibly with active groups n the backbone or on branches; cross-linked polymers have been described in the Journal of Polymer Science, volume 22, pages 1035-1039. In one embodiment, the cross-linked polymers are made in such a way that they form a three-dimensional rigid structure, which can entrap dyes in the pores formed by the three-dimensional structure. In another embodiment, the cross- linked polymers entrap the dyes by swelling. Such cross-linked polymers are described in the co-pending patent application 94870213.9

Method of washing

The compositions of the invention may be used in essentially any washing or cleaning methods, including soaking methods, pretreatment methods and methods with rinsing steps for which a separate rinse aid composition may be added.

The process described herein comprises contacting fabrics, dishware or any other hard surface with a cleaning solution in the usual manner and exemplified hereunder. A conventional laundry method comprises treating soiled fabric with an aqueous liquid having dissolved or dispensed therein an effective amount of the laundry detergent and/or fabric care composition. A preferred machine dishwashing method comprises treating soiled articles with an aqueous liquid having dissolved or dispensed therein an effective amount of the machine diswashing or rinsing composition. A conventional effective amount of the machine dishwashing composition means from 8-60 g of product dissolved or dispersed in a wash volume from 3-10 litres. According to a manual dishwashing method, soiled dishes are contacted with an effective amount of the diswashing composition, typically from 0.5-20g (per 25 dishes being treated). Preferred manual dishwashing methods include the application of a concentrated solution to the surfaces of the dishes or the soaking in large volume of dilute solution of the detergent composition. A conventional hard surface method comprises treating soiled hard items/surfaces with e.g. a sponge, brush, clothe, etc. with an aqueous liquid having dissolved or dispensed therein an effective amount of the hard surface cleaner and/or with such composition undiluted. It also encompasses the soaking of a hard item in a concentrated solution or in a large volume of dilute solution of the detergent composition.

The process of the invention is conveniently carried out in the course of the cleaning process. The method of cleaning is preferably carried out at 5°C to 95°C, especially between 10°C and 60°C. The pH of the treatment solution is preferably from 7 to 12.

The following examples are meant to exemplify compositions of the present invention, but are not necessarily meant to limit or otherwise define the scope of the invention. In the detergent compositions, the enzymes levels are expressed by pure enzyme by weight of the total composition and unless otherwise specified, the detergent ingredients are expressed by weight of the total compositions. The abbreviated component identifications therein have the following meanings:

LAS Sodium linear C<| <|_<|3 alkyl benzene sulphonate. TAS Sodium tallow alkyl sulphate. CxyAS Sodium Cι_x - Ciy alkyl sulfate. CxySAS Sodium Ciχ - C-jy secondary (2,3) alkyl sulfate.

MBAS Mid-branched alkyl sulfate.

CxyEz C-1x - C-|y predominantly linear primary alcohol condensed with an average of z moles of ethylene oxide.

CxyEzS C-|_x - Ciy sodium alkyl sulfate condensed with an average of z moles of ethylene oxide.

CxEOy Cy alcohol with an average of ethoxylation of y. Nonionic Mixed ethoxylated/propoxylated fatty alcohol e.g.

Plurafac LF404 being an alcohol with an average degree of ethoxylation of 3.8 and an average degree of propoxylation of 4.5.

QAS R₂.N+(CH3)2(C2H₄OH) with R₂ = C₁₂-C<|4. SADS Sodium C14-22 alkyl disulfate of the formula 2-R.C4H7.-

1 ,4-(S04-)2 where R = C10-18.

MES x-sulpho methyl ester of C18 fatty acid. APA Cδ-io amido propyl dimethyl amine. Soap Sodium linear alkyl carboxylate derived from a 80/20 mixture of tallow and coconut fatty acids.

Neodol xy-z C1x-C1y linear primary alcohol z ethoxylate.

CFAA C-12-C-I4 alkyl N-methyl glucamide.

TFAA C-|6-Ci8 alkyl N-methyl glucamide.

TPKFA C-|2-C«|4 topped whole cut fatty acids.

DEQA Di-(tallow-oxy-ethyl) dimethyl ammonium chloride.

DEQA (2) Di-(soft-tallowyloxyethyl) hydroxyethyl methyl ammonium methylsulfate.

DTDMAMS Ditallow dimethyl ammonium methylsulfate. SDASA 1 :2 ratio of stearyldimethyl amine:triple-pressed stearic acid.

Silicate Amorphous Sodium Silicate (Siθ2:Na2θ ratio = 1.6-

3.2:1).

Metasilicate Sodium metasilicate (Siθ2:Na2θ ratio = 1.0). Zeolite A Hydrated Sodium Aluminosilicate of formula

Na-|2(A1θ2Siθ2)i2- 27H20 having a primary particle size in the range from 0.1 to 10 micrometers (Weight expressed on an anhydrous basis).

Na-SKS-6 Crystalline layered silicate of formula δ-Na2Si2θ5 Citrate Tri-sodium citrate dihydrate.

Citric Anhydrous citric acid.

Borate Sodium borate

Carbonate Anhydrous sodium carbonate.

Bicarbonate Sodium hydrogen carbonate.

Sulphate Anhydrous sodium sulphate.

STPP Sodium tripolyphosphate.

TSPP Tetrasodium pyrophosphate.

MA/AA Random copolymer of 4:1 acrylate/maleate, average molecular weight about 70,000-80,000.

MA/AA 1 Random copolymer of 6:4 acrylate/maleate, average molecular weight about 10,000.

AA Sodium polyacrylate polymer of average molecular weight 4,500.

Polycarboxylate Copolymer comprising mixture of carboxylated monomers such as acrylate, maleate and methyacrylate with a MW ranging between 2,000-80,000 such as

Sokolan commercially available from BASF, being a copolymer of acrylic acid, MW4.500.

Catalyst Mn(Bcyclam)CI2

PB1 Anhydrous sodium perborate monohydrate.

PB4 Sodium perborate tetrahydrate of nominal formula

NaBθ3.4H2θ.

Percarbonate Anhydrous sodium percarbonate of nominal formula 2.74

Na2Cθ3.3H2θ2 .

NaDCC Sodium dichloroisocyanurate.

TAED Tetraacetyl ethylene diamine.

NOBS Nonanoyloxybenzene sulfonate in the form of the sodium salt.

NACA-OBS (6-nonamidocaproyl) oxybenzene sulfonate. DOBS Decanoyl oxybenzene sulfonate in the form of the sodium salt.

DTPA Diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid. HEDP 1 ,1-hydroxyethane diphosphonic acid. DETPMP Diethyltriamine penta (methylene) phosphonate, marketed by Monsanto under the Trade name Dequest

2060.

EDDS Ethylenediamine-N.N'-disuccinic acid, (S,S) isomer in the form of its sodium salt

Chelant Chelant selected from EEDS, HEDP, DTPA, DETPMP and/or mixtures thereof.

MnTACN Manganese 1 ,4,7-trimethyl-1 ,4,7-triazacyclononane.

Photoactivated Sulfonated zinc phtalocyanine encapsulated in dextrin

Bleach soluble polymer.

Photoactivated Sulfonated alumino phtalocyanine encapsulated in

Bleach 1 dextrin soluble polymer.

PAAC Pentaamine acetate cobalt(lll) salt.

Paraffin Paraffin oil sold under the tradename Winog 70 by

Wintershall.

NaBz Sodium benzoate. Pectate lyase Pectate lyase from Bacillus agaradhaerens, NCIMB

40482 or DSM 8721

Protease Proteolytic enzyme sold under the tradename Savinase ,

Alcalase, Durazym by Novo Nordisk A/S, Maxacal,

Maxapem sold by Gist-Brocades and proteases described in patents WO91/06637 and/or W095/10591 and/or EP 251 446.

Amylase Amylolytic enzyme sold under the tradename Purafact

Ox AmR described in WO 94/18314, WO96/05295 sold by Genencor; Termamyl®, Fungamyl® and Duramyl®, all available from Novo Nordisk A/S and those described in W095/26397 (sold under the tradename Natalase By

Novo Nordisk).

Lipase Lipolytic enzyme sold under the tradename Lipolase

Lipolase Ultra by Novo Nordisk A/S and Lipomax by

Gist-Brocades.

Cellulase Cellulytic enzyme sold under the tradename Carezyme,

Celluzyme and/or Endolase by Novo Nordisk A/S. CMC Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose. PVNO Polyvinylpyridine-N-Oxide, with an average molecular weight of 50,000.

PVPVI Copolymer of vinylimidazole and vinylpyrrolidone, with an average molecular weight of 20,000.

Brightener 1 Disodium 4,4'-bis(2-sulphostyryl)biphenyl. Brightener 2 Disodium 4,4'-bis(4-anilino-6-morpholino-1.3.5-triazin-2- yl) stilbene-2:2'-disulfonate.

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.

Suds Suppressor 12% Silicone/silica, 18% stearyl alcohol,70% starch in granular form.

Opacifier Water based monostyrene latex mixture, sold by BASF

Aktiengesellschaft under the tradename Lytron 621.

Thickener High molecular weight crosslinked polyacrylates such as

Carbopol offered by B.F. Goodrich Chemical Company and Polygel.

SRP 1 Anionically end capped poly esters. SRP 2 Diethoxylated poly (1 ,2 propylene terephtalate) short block polymer.

QEA bis((C2H5θ)(C2H4θ)n)(CH3) -N⁺-C₆H₁₂-N⁺-(CH3) bis((C2H5θ)-(C2H4θ))_n, wherein n = from 20 to 30.

SCS Sodium cumene sulphonate.

HMWPEO High molecular weight polyethylene oxide. PEGX Polyethylene glycol.of a molecular weight of x. PEO Polyethylene oxide, with an average molecular weight of

5,000.

TEPAE Tetreaethylenepentaamine ethoxylate.

BTA Benzotriazole.

PH Measured as a 1% solution in distilled water at 20°C.

Example 1

The following high density and bleach-containing laundry detergent compositions were prepared according to the present invention: Blown Powder

Zeolite A 12.0 - 15.0

Sulfate - 5.0 -

LAS 3.0 - 3.0

C45AS 3.0 2.0 4.0

QAS - - 1.5

DETPMP 0.4 0.4 0.4

CMC 0.4 0.4 0.4

MA/AA 1.0 2.0 2.0

Agglomerates

QAS 1.0 _ _

LAS - 11.0 7.0

TAS 2.0 2.0 1.0

Silicate 3.0 - 4.0

Zeolite A 8.0 8.0 8.0

Carbonate 8.0 8.0 4.0

Agglomerate

NaSKS-6 15.0 12.0 5.0

LAS 8.0 7.0 4.0

Spray On

Perfume 0.3 0.3 0.3

C25E3 2.0 - 2.0

Dry additives

QEA 1.0 0.5 0.5

Citric/Citrate 5.0 - 2.0

Bicarbonate - 3.0 -

Carbonate 8.0 15.0 10.0

Catalyst 0.002 0.02 0.02

TAED and/ or NACA-OBS 6.0 - 5.0

NOBS - 2.0 -

Percarbonate/ PB1 14.0 7.0 10.0

Polyethylene oxide of MW - - 0.2

5,000,000 III

Bentonite clay - - 10.0

Citric acid 4.0 - 1.5

Pectate lyase 0.001 0.02 0.01

Protease 0.033 0.033 0.033

Lipase 0.008 0.008 0.008

Amylase 0.001 0.001 0.001

Cellulase 0.0014 0.0014 0.0014

Silicone antifoam 5.0 5.0 5.0

Sulfate - 3.0 -

Density (g/litre) 850 850 850

Moisture and miscellaneous Up to 100%

Example 2

The following laundry compositions, which may be in the form of granules or tablet, were prepared according to the present invention.

I II III IV V

Base Product

C45 AS/TAS 8.0 5.0 3.0 3.0 3.0

LAS 8.0 - 8.0 - 7.0

C25AE3S 0.5 2.0 1.0 - -

C25AE5/AE3 2.0 - 5.0 2.0 2.0

QAS - - - 1.0 1.0

Zeolite A 20.0 18.0 11.0 - 10.0

SKS-6 (I) (dry add) - - 9.0 - -

MA/AA 2.0 2.0 2.0 - -

AA - - - - 4.0

Citrate - 2.0 - - -

Citric 2.0 - 1.5 2.0 -

DTPA 0.2 0.2 - - -

EDDS - - 0.5 0.1 -

HEDP - _ 0.2 0.1 _

Catalyst 0.05 0.005 0.01 0.002 0.02 I II III IV V

PB1 3.0 5.0 10.0 - 4.0

Percarbonate - - - 18.0 -

NOBS 3.0 4.0 - - 4.0

NACA OBS - - 2.0 - -

TAED - - 2.0 5.0 -

Carbonate 15.0 18.0 8.0 15.0 15.0

Sulphate 5.0 12.0 2.0 17.0 3.0

Silicate - 1.0 - - 8.0

Protease 0.033 0.033 0.033 0.046 0.046

Lipase 0.008 0.008 0.008 0.008 0.008

Amylase 0.001 0.001 0.001 0.0014 0.0014

Cellulase 0.0014 0.0014 0.0014 0.01 0.01

Pectate lyase 0.001 0.002 0.02 0.05 0.005

Minors 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5

Perfume 0.2 0.3 0.5 0.2 0.1

Moisture and miscellaneous Up to 100%

Minors include Brightener / SRP1 / CMC / Photobleach / MgS04 / PVPVI/ Suds suppressor /PEG.

Example 3

The following high density laundry detergent compositions were prepared according to the present invention:

I II III

QAS 2.0 - 2.0

MES - 2.0

LAS 6.0 -

TAS - 2.0

C45AS 6.0 4.0 2.0

MBAS16.5, 1.9 4.0 -

Zeolite A 15.0 6.0

Carbonate 4.0 8.0 4.0

MA/AA 4.0 2.0 I II III

CMC 0.5 0.5 -

DETPMP 0.4 0.4 -

Spray On

C25E3 1.0 1.0 -

Perfume 0.5 0.5 0.5

Agglomerate

SKS-6 7.0 15.0 20.0

LAS 5.8 9.0 15.0

Zeolite - 0.9 -

Water 0.08 0.1 -

Dry Adds

EDDS/HEDP 0.5 0.3 0.5

NaSKS 6 (1) 5.0 6.0 4.0

Citrate - 1.0 -

Citric 2.0 - 2.0

Catalyst 0.001 0.01 0.02

NACA-OBS 4.1 - 5.0

TAED 0.8 2.0 -

Percarbonate 20.0 20.0 15.0

SRP 1 0.3 0.3 -

Pectate lyase 0.002 0.01 0.03

Protease 0.046 0.046 0.033

Lipase 0.008 0.008 0.006

Cellulase 0.0014 0.0014 0.001

Amylase 0.01 0.01 -

QEA 1.0 - 1.0

Silicone antifoam 1.0 0.5 0.5

Brightener 1 0.2 0.2 -

Brightener 2 0.2 - 0.2

Density (g/litre) 850 850 800

Moisture and miscellaneous Up to 100%

Example 4 The following laundry compositions, which may be in the form of granules or tablet, were prepared in accordance with the invention:

IV

Base Product

C45 AS/TAS 8.0 5.0 3.0 3.0 3.0

LAS 8.0 - 8.0 - 7.0

C25AE3S 0.5 2.0 1.0 - -

LAS/NaSKS-6 5.0 17.0 9.0 20.0 15.0

C25AE5/AE3 2.0 - 5.0 2.0 2.0

QAS - - - 1.0 1.0

Zeolite A 20.0 10.0 10.0 - 10.0

SKS-6 - - 2.0 - -

MA/AA 2.0 2.0 2.0 - -

AA - - - - 4.0

Citrate - 2.0 - - -

Citric 2.0 - 1.5 2.0 -

DTPA 0.2 0.2 - - -

EDDS - - 0.5 0.1 -

HEDP - - 0.2 0.1 -

Catalyst 0.001 0.05 0.3 0.02 0.1

PB1 3.0 5.0 10.0 - 4.0

PC - - - 18.0 -

NOBS 3.0 4.0 - - 4.0

NACA OBS - - 2.0 - -

TAED - - 2.0 5.0 -

Carbonate 15.0 18.0 8.0 15.0 15.0

Sulphate 5.0 12.0 2.0 17.0 3.0

Silicate - 1.0 - - 8.0

Protease 0.033 0.033 0.033 0.046 0.033

Lipase 0.008 0.008 0.008 0.008 0.008

Amylase 0.001 0.001 0.001 0.0014 0.001

Cellulase 0.0014 0.0014 0.0014 0.01 0.0014

Pectate lyase 0.001 0.02 0.01 0.015 0.03

Minors 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 I II III IV V

Perfume 0.2 0.3 0.5 0.2 0.1

Moisture and miscellaneous Up to 100%

Minors include Brightener / SRP1 / CMC / Photobleach / MgS04 / PVPVI/ Suds suppressor /PEG.

Example 5

The following high density laundry detergent compositions were prepared according to the present invention:

I II III IV

Agglomerate

QAS 2.0 - 2.0 -

MES - 2.0 - -

LAS 6.0 - - -

TAS - 2.0 - -

C45AS 6.0 4.0 2.0 -

MBAS16.5, 1.9 4.0 - - -

Zeolite A 15.0 6.0 - -

Carbonate 4.0 8.0 4.0 8.0

MA/AA 4.0 2.0 - 2.0

CMC 0.5 0.5 - 0.5

DETPMP 0.4 0.4 - 0.5

Spray On

C25E3 1.0 1.0 - -

Perfume 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5

Agglomerate

SKS-6 7.0 15.0 20.0 10.0

LAS 5.8 9.0 15.0 10.0

Zeolite - 0.9 - -

C45 AS - 3.0 - -

Water 0.08 0.1 _ 0.2

Dry Adds 1 II III IV

EDDS/HEDP 0.5 0.3 0.5 0.8

NaSKS 6) 5.0 6.0 4.0 11.0

Citrate - 1.0 - -

Citric 2.0 - 2.0 4.0

Catalyst 0.005 0.1 0.02 0.02

NACA-OBS 4.1 - 5.0 4.0

TAED 0.8 2.0 - 2.0

Percarbonate 20.0 20.0 15.0 17.0

SRP 1 0.3 0.3 - 0.3

Pectate lyase 0.01 0.02 0.001 0.002

Protease 0.046 0.046 0.033 0.016

Lipase 0.008 0.008 0.006 -

Cellulase 0.0014 0.0014 0.001 0.001

Amylase 0.003 0.003 - 0.0015

QEA 1.0 - 1.0 1.0

Silicone antifoam 1.0 0.5 0.5 1.5

Brightener 1 0.2 0.2 - 6.2

Brightener 2 0.2 - 0.2 -

Density (g/litre) 850 850 800 775

Moisture and miscellaneous Up to 100%

Example 6

The following granular detergent were prepared in accordance with the present invention:

I II III IV

Base granule

STPP - 22.0 - 15.0

Zeolite A 30.0 - 24.0 5.0

Sulfate 5.5 5.0 7.0 7.0

MA/AA 3.0 - - -

AA - 1.6 2.0 -

MA/AA (1) - 12.0 - 6.0

LAS 14.0 10.0 9.0 20.0 I II III IV

C45AS 8.0 7.0 9.0 7.0

C45AE11S - 1.0 - 1.0

MES 0.5 4.0 6.0 -

SADS 2.5 - - 1.0

Silicate - 1.0 0.5 10.0

Soap - 2.0 - -

Brightener 1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2

Carbonate 6.0 9.0 8.0 10.0

PEG 4000 - 1.0 1.5 -

DTPA - 0.4 - -

Spray on

C25E9 - - - 5.0

C45E7 1.0 1.0 - -

C23E9 - 1.0 2.5 -

Perfume 0.2 0.3 0.3 -

Dry additives

Carbonate 5.0 10.0 13.0 8.0

PVPVI/PVNO 0.5 - 0.3 -

Protease 0.033 0.033 0.033 0.0016

Lipase 0.008 - - 0.008

Amylase 0.0016 - - 0.0016

Cellulase 0.0002 0.0005 0.0005 0.0002

Pectate lyase 0.001 0.02 0.03 0.015

DTPA 0.5 0.3 0.5 1.0

Catalyst 0.001 0.005 0.02 0.05

PB1 5 3.0 10 4.0

NOBS/ TAED 0.5 0.3 0.5 0.6

Sulfate 4.0 5.0 - 5.0

SRP1 - 0.4 - -

Sud supressor - 0.5 - - speckle 0.9 - 2.7 1.2

Moisture and miscellaneous Up to 100%

Example 7 The following laundry detergent compositions were prepared in accordance with the present invention:

I II III IV V VI VII

LAS 12.0 16.0 23.0 19 18.0 20.0 16.0

C45AS 4.5 - - - 4.0

C45 E0.5S - - - - -

C45 E3S - - 2.0 - 1.0 1.0 1.0

C45E6.5S 2.0 2.0 - 1.3 - - 0.6

C₉-C₁₄ alkyl dimethyl - - 1.0 0.5 2.0 hydroxy ethyl quaternary ammonium salt

Tallow fatty acid - - - - 1.0

Tallow alcohol - - - - - - - ethoxylate (50)

STPP 23.0 25.0 24.0 22,0 20.0 15.0 20.0

Carbonate 15.0 12.0 15.0 10.0 13.0 11.0 10.0

Sodium Polyacrylate 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 - - -

(45%)

MA/AA - - 1.0 1.0 1.0 2.0 0.5

Silicate (1 :6 ratio 3.0 6.0 9.0 8.0 9.0 6.0 8.0

Sulfate 25.0 18.0 20.0 18.0 20.0 22.0 13.0

PB1 5.0 5.0 10.0 8.0 3.0 1.0 2.0

PEG MW -4000 (50%) 1.5 1.5 1.0 1.0 - - 0.5

CMC 1.0 1.0 1.0 - 0.5 0.5 0.5

Citric - - - - - - -

Catalyst 0.05 0.005 0.1 0.002 0.02 0.05 0.005

NOBS/ DOBS 0.5 1.0 0.5 0.5 1.0 0.7 0.3

TAED 1.5 1.0 2.5 3.0 0.3 0.2 0.5

SRP1 1.5 1.5 1.0 1.0 - 1.0 -

SRP2 - - - - 1.0 - 1.0

Moisture 7.5 7.5 6.0 7.0 5.0 3.0 5.0

Mg sulphate - - - - 1.0 0.5 1.5

Chelant - - - - 0.8 0.6 1.0

Protease 0.033 0.033 0.033 .0016 0.033 0.016 0.033 1 II III IV V VI VII

Lipase 0.008 - - 0.008 0.006 - 0.008

Amylase .0016 - - .0016 0.001 0.001 .0016

Cellulase .0002 .0005 .0005 .0002 - .0015 .0002

Pectate lyase 0.001 0.02 0.01 0.001 0.002 0.015 0.03 speckle 2.5 4.1 4.2 4.4 5.6 5.0 5.2

Minors 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.5 1.5 1.0

Example 8

The following laundry detergent compositions were prepared in accordance with the present invention:

I II III IV

LAS 13.3 13.7 10.4 8.0

C45 AS 3.9 4.0 4.5

C45 EO.5S 2.0 2.0

C45 E3S . . . .

C45E6.5S 0.5 0.5 0.5 5.0

C₉-C₁₄ alkyl dimethyl hydroxy 1.0 - - 0.5 ethyl quaternary ammonium salt

Tallow fatty acid 0.5

Tallow alcohol ethoxylate (50) - - 1.0 0.3

STPP - 41.0 - 20.0

Zeolite A 26.3 - 21.3 1.0

Carbonate 23.9 12.4 25.2 17.0

Sodium Polyacrylate (45%) 3.4 0.0 2.7

MA/AA - - 1.0 1.5

Silicate (1 :6 ratio) 2.4 6.4 2.1 6.0

Sulfate 10.5 10.9 8.2 15.0

Catalyst 0.001 0.1 0.02 0.005

PB1 1.0 1.0 1.0 2.0

PEG MW -4000 (50%) 1.7 0.4 1.0

CMC 1.0 - - 0.3

Citric - - 3.0 -

NOBS/ DOBS 0.2 0.5 0.5 0.1 1 II III IV

TAED 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3

SRP 1 1.5 - - -

SRP2 - 1.5 1.0 1.0

Moisture 7.5 3.1 6.1 7.3

Mn sulphate - - - 1.0

Chelant - - - 0.5 speckles 0.5 1.0 3.0 0.5

Pectate lyase 0.001 0.01 0.005 0.002

Protease 0.033 0.033 0.033 0.0016

Lipase 0.008 - - 0.008

Amylase 0.0016 - - 0.0016

Cellulase 0.0002 0.0005 0.0005 0.0002

Minors 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

Example 9

The following liquid detergent formulations were prepared according to the present invention (Levels are given in parts per weight, enzyme are expressed in pure enzyme) :

I II III IV V

LAS 11.5 9.0 - 4.0 -

C25E2.5S - 3.0 18.0 - 16.C

C45E2.25S 11.5 3.0 - 16.0 -

C23E9 - 3.0 2.0 2.0 1.0

C23E7 3.2 - - - -

CFAA - - 5.0 - 3.0

TPKFA 2.0 - 2.0 0.5 2.0

Citric (50%) 6.5 1.0 2.5 4.0 2.5

Ca formate 0.1 0.06 0.1 - -

Na formate 0.5 0.06 0.1 0.05 0.0E

SCS 4.0 1.0 3.0 1.2 -

Borate 0.6 - 3.0 2.0 3.0

Na hydroxide 6.0 2.0 3.5 4.0 3.0

Ethanol 2.0 1.0 4.0 4.0 3.0 I II III IV V

1 ,2 Propanediol 3.0 2.0 8.0 8.0 5.0

Monoethanolamine 3.0 1.5 1.0 2.5 1.0

TEPAE 2.0 - 1.0 1.0 1.0

Catalyst 0.01 0.01 0.005 0.005 0.1

Pectate lyase 0.001 0.002 0.01 0.01 0.005

Protease 0.03 0.01 0.03 0.02 0.02

Lipase - - 0.002 - -

Amylase - - - 0.002 -

Cellulase - - 0.0002 0.0005 0.0001

SRP 1 0.2 - 0.1 - -

DTPA - - 0.3 - -

PVNO - - 0.3 - 0.2

Brightener 1 0.2 0.07 0.1 - -

Silicone antifoam 0.04 0.02 0.1 0.1 0.1

Miscellaneous and water

Example 10

The following liquid detergent formulations were prepared according to the present invention (Levels are given in parts per weight, enzyme are expressed in pure enzyme) :

I II III IV I II III IV

LAS 10.0 13.0 9.0 - 25.0 - - -

C25AS 4.0 1.0 2.0 10.0 - 13.0 18.0 15.0

C25E3S 1.0 - - 3.0 - 2.0 2.0 4.0

C25E7 6.0 8.0 13.0 2.5 - - 4.0 4.0

TFAA - - - 4.5 - 6.0 8.0 8.0

APA - 1.4 - - 3.0 1.0 2.0 -

TPKFA 2.0 - 13.0 7.0 - 15.0 11.0 11.0

Citric 2.0 3.0 1.0 1.5 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

Dodecenyl / tetradecenyl 12.0 10.0 - - 15.0 - - - succinic acid

Rapeseed fatty acid 4.0 2.0 1.0 - 1.0 - 3.5 -

Ethanol 4.0 4.0 7.0 2.0 7.0 2.0 3.0 2.0 I II III IV I II III IV

1 ,2 Propanediol 4.0 4.0 2.0 7.0 6.0 8.0 10.0 13.0

Monoethanolamine - - - 5.0 - - 9.0 9.0

Triethanolamine - - 8.0 - - - 0.4 0.3

TEPAE 0.5 - 0.5 0.2 2.0 1.2 1.0

DETPMP 1.0 1.0 0.5 1.0

Pectate lyase 0.01 .001 .001 0.02 0.02 .002 .002 0.02

Protease 0.02 0.02 0.01 .008 - - .003 .003

Lipase - .002 - .002 .004 0.01 0.01 0.01

Amylase .004 .004 0.01 .008 - - .004 .003

Cellulase - - - .002 - - .002 .001

Catalyst 0.01 0.01 .005 .005 0.02 0.01 0.1 .001

SRP 2 0.3 - 0.3 0.1 1.0 1.5 2.5 2.5

Boric acid 0.1 0.2 1.0 2.0 4.0 4.0

Ca chloride - 0.02 - 0.01 0.1 0.2 0.3

Brightener 1 - 0.4 - - 0.4 -

Suds suppressor 0.1 0.3 - 0.1 0.8 0.7

Opacifier 0.5 0.4 - 0.3 8.0 7.5 8.0 8.2

NaOH up to pH 8.0 8.0 7.6 7.7

Miscellaneous and water

Example 11

The following liquid detergent compositions were prepared according to the present invention (Levels are given in parts by weight, enzyme are expressed in pure enzyme) :

I II

LAS 28.0 19.0

C45AS 14.0 6.0

C13E8 3.0 3.0

Oleic acid 3.0 2.5

Citric 5.0 5.0

Na hydroxide 0.4 4.0

Ca Formate 0.2 0.1

Na Formate - 0.5 1 II

Ethanol 7.0 -

Monoethanolamine 16.5 8.0

1 ,2 propanediol 6.0 5.5

Xylene sulfonic acid - 2.0

TEPAE 1.5 0.8

Protease 0.05 0.02

Pectate lyase 0.02 0.01

Catalyst 0.001 0.02

PEG - 0.7

Brightener 2 0.4 0.1

Perfume 0.5 0.3

Water and Minors

Example 12

The following granular fabric detergent compositions which provide "softening through the wash" capability were prepared according to the present invention :

I II

C45AS - 10.0 LAS 7.6 - C68AS 1.3 - C45E7 4.0 - C25E3 - 5.0

Coco-alkyl-dimethyl hydroxy1.4 1.0 ethyl ammonium chloride Citrate 5.0 3.0 Na-SKS-6 - 11.0 Zeolite A 15.0 15.0 MA/AA 4.0 4.0 DETPMP 0.4 0.4 Catalyst 0.0001 0.0001 PB1 15.0 -

Percarbonate - 15.0 TAED 5.0 5.0 1 II

Smectite clay 10.0 10.0

HMWPEO - 0.1

Pectate lyase 0.001 0.01

Protease 0.02 0.01

Lipase 0.02 0.01

Amylase 0.03 0.005

Cellulase 0.001 -

Silicate 3.0 5.0

Carbonate 10.0 10.0

Suds suppressor 1.0 4.0

CMC 0.2 0.1

Miscellaneous and minors Up to 100%

Example 13

The following rinse added fabric softener composition was prepared according to the present invention :

DEQA (2) 20.0

Pectate lyase 0.001

Catalyst 0.0001

Cellulase 0.001

HCL 0.03

Antifoam agent 0.01

Blue dye 25ppm

CaCI₂ 0.20

Perfume 0.90

Miscellaneous and water Up to 100%

Example 14

The following fabric softener and dryer added fabric conditioner compositions were prepared according to the present invention :

I II III IV V 1 II III IV V

DEQA 2.6 19.0 - - -

DEQA(2) - - - - 52.0

DTMAMS - - - 26.0 -

SDASA - - 70.0 42.0 40.2

Stearic acid of IV=0 0.3 - - - -

Neodol 45-13 - - 13.0 - -

HCL 0.02 0.02 - - -

Ethanol - - 1.0 - -

Pectate lyase 0.001 0.002 0.01 0.01 0.005

Catalyst 0.0005 0.001 0.001 0.01 0.0002

Perfume 0.3 1.0 0.75 1.0 1.5

Glycoperse S-20 - - - - 15.4

Glycerol monostearate - - - 26.0 -

Digeranyl Succinate - - 0.38 - -

Silicone antifoam 0.01 0.01 - - -

Electrolyte - 0.1 - - -

Clay - - - 3.0 -

Dye 10ppm 25ppm 0.01 - -

Water and minors 100% 100% - - -

Example 15

The following laundry bar detergent compositions were prepared according to the present invention (Levels are given in parts per weight, enzyme are expressed in pure enzyme) :

I II Ill VI V Ill VI V

LAS - - 19.0 15.0 21.0 6.75 8.8 -

C28AS 30.0 13.5 - - - 15.75 11.2 22.5

Na Laurate 2.5 9.0 - - - - - -

Zeolite A 2.0 1.25 - - - 1.25 1.25 1.25

Carbonate 20.0 3.0 13.0 8.0 10.0 15.0 15.0 10.0

Ca Carbonate 27.5 39.0 35.0 - - 40.0 - 40.0

Sulfate 5.0 5.0 3.0 5.0 3.0 - - 5.0

TSPP 5.0 - - - - 5.0 2.5 - 1 II III VI V III VI V

STPP 5.0 15.0 10.0 - - 7.0 8.0 10.0

Bentonite clay - 10.0 - - 5.0 - - -

DETPMP - 0.7 0.6 - 0.6 0.7 0.7 0.7

CMC - 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 - - 1.0

Talc - - 10.0 15.0 10.0 - - -

Silicate - - 4.0 5.0 3.0 - - -

PVNO 0.02 0.03 - 0.01 - 0.02 - -

MA/AA 0.4 1.0 - - 0.2 0.4 0.5 0.4

SRP 1 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3

Pectate lyase 0.01 0.001 0.005 0.02 0.02 0.001 0.01 0.01

Amylase - - 0.01 - - - 0.002 -

Protease - 0.004 - 0.003 0.003 - - 0.002

Lipase - 0.002 - 0.002 - - - -

Cellulase - .0003 - - .0003 .0002 - -

Catalyst 1.0 5.0 0.1 3.0 10.0 1.0 0.3 1.0

PEO - 0.2 - 0.2 0.3 - - 0.3

Perfume 1.0 0.5 0.3 0.2 0.4 - - 0.4

Mg sulfate - - 3.0 3.0 3.0 - - -

Brightener 0.15 0.1 0.15 - - - - 0.1

Photoactivated - 15.0 15.0 15.0 15.0 - - 15.0 bleach (ppm)

Example 16

The following compact high density (0.96Kg/l) dishwashing detergent compositions were prepared according to the present invention :

I II III IV V VI

STPP - 51.0 51.0 - - 44.3

Citrate 17.0 - - 50.0 40.2 -

Carbonate 17.5 14.0 20.0 - 8.0 33.6

Bicarbonate - - - 26.0 - -

Silicate 15.0 15.0 8.0 - 25.0 3.6

Metasilicate 2.5 4.5 4.5 - - -

Catalyst 0.01 0.005 0.1 2.0 0.01 0.005 I II III IV V VI

PB1 10.0 8.0 8.0 - - -

PB4 - - - 10.0 - -

Percarbonate - - - - 11.8 4.8

Nonionic 2.0 1.5 1.5 3.0 1.9 5.9

TAED 2.0 - - 4.0 - 1.4

HEDP 1.0 - - - - -

DETPMP 0.6 - - - - -

MnTACN - - - - 0.01 -

PAAC - 0.01 0.01 - - -

Paraffin 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.6 - -

Pectate lyase 0.04 0.001 0.03 0.005 0.005 0.005

Protease 0.072 0.053 0.053 0.026 0.059 0.01

Amylase 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.021 0.021 0.006

Lipase - 0.001 - 0.005 - -

BTA 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.3

Polycarboxylate 6.0 - - - 4.0 0.9

Perfume 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2

PH 11.0 11.0 11.3 9.6 10.8 10.9

Miscellaneous, sulfate and water Up to 100%

Example 17

The following granular dishwashing detergent compositions of bulk density 1.02Kg/L were prepared according to the present invention :

1 II III IV V VI

STPP 30.0 33.5 27.9 29.6 33.8 22.0

Carbonate 30.5 30.5 30.5 23.0 34.5 45.0

Silicate 7.0 7.5 12.6 13.3 3.2 6.2

Metasilicate - 4.5 - - - -

Catalyst 0.01 0.2 0.005 0.1 1.00 0.5

Percarbonate - - - - 4.0 -

PB1 4.4 4.5 4.3 - - -

NADCC - - - 2.0 - 0.9

Nonionic 1.0 0.7 1.0 1.9 0.7 0.5 1 II III IV V VI

TAED 1.0 - - - 0.9

PAAC - 0.004 - - -

Paraffin 0.25 0.25 - - -

Pectate lyase 0.004 0.005 0.001 0.02 0.02 0.001

Protease 0.036 0.021 0.03 - 0.006

Amylase 0.03 0.005 0.004 - 0.005

Lipase 0.005 - 0.001 - -

BTA 0.15 0.15 - - 0.2

Perfume 0.2 0.2 0.05 0.1 0.2

PH 10.8 11.3 11.0 10.7 11.5 10.9

Miscellaneous, sulfate and water Up to 100%

Example 18

The following tablet detergent compositions were prepared according to the present invention by compression of a granular dishwashing detergent composition at a pressure of 13KN/cm² using a standard 12 head rotary press:

I II Ill IV V VI VII VIII

STPP - 48.8 54.7 38.2 - 52.4 56.1 36.0

Citrate 20.0 - - - 35.9 - - -

Carbonate 20.0 5.0 14.0 15.4 8.0 23.0 20.0 28.0

Silicate 15.0 14.8 15.0 12.6 23.4 2.9 4.3 4.2

Pectate lyase 0.001 0.001 0.01 0.004 0.02 0.02 0.001 0.005

Protease 0.042 0.072 0.042 0.031 0.052 0.023 0.023 0.029

Amylase 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.007 0.015 0.003 0.017 0.002

Lipase 0.005 - - - - - - -

Catalyst 0.001 0.003 0.05 0.001 0.001 0.003 0.01 0.001

PB1 14.3 7.8 11.7 12.2 - - 6.7 8.5

PB4 - - - - 22.8 - 3.4 -

Percarbonate - - - - - 10.4 - -

Nonionic 1.5 2.0 2.0 2.2 1.0 4.2 4.0 6.5

PAAC _ - 0.02 0.009 - _ _ _ 1 II III IV V VI VII VIII

MnTACN - - - - 0.007 - - -

TAED 2.7 2.4 - - - 2.1 0.7 1.6

HEDP 1.0 - - 0.9 - 0.4 0.2 -

DETPMP 0.7 - - - - - - -

Paraffin 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.5 - - 0.5 -

BTA 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 -

Polycarboxylate 4.0 - - - 4.9 0.6 0.8 -

PEG - - - - - 2.0 - 2.0

Glycerol - - - - - 0.4 - 0.5

Perfume - - - 0.05 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2

Weight of tablet 20g 25g 20g 30g 18g 20g 25g 24g

PH 10.7 10.6 10.7 10.7 10.9 11.2 11.0 10.8

Miscellaneous, sulfate and water Up to 100%

Example 19

The following liquid dishwashing detergent compositions of density 1.40Kg/L were prepared according to the present invention :

I II III IV

STPP 17.5 17.2 23.2 23.1

Carbonate - 2.4 - -

Silicate 6.1 24.9 30.7 22.4

NaOCI 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.2

Thickener 1.0 1.1 1.1 1.0

Nonionic - 0.1 0.06 0.1

NaBz 0.7 - - -

Pectate lyase 0.005 0.001 0.02 0.001

Catalyst 0.001 0.01 0.0008 0.001

NaOH 1.9 - - -

KOH 3.6 3.0 - -

Perfume 0.05 - - - pH 11.7 10.9 10.8 11.0 Water up to 100%

Example 20

The following liquid rinse aid compositions were prepared according to the present invention :

I II III IV

Pectate lyase 0.001 0.0005 0.01 0.001

Catalyst 0.1 0.01 0.008 0.001

Nonionic 10.0 13.6 62.3 60.0

Propylene glycol - - 5.0 5.5

Citric 3.5 4.6 - -

SCS 10.0 7.7 - - pH of the liquid 3.0 2.5 7.2 7.2

Miscellaneous, solvent and water Up to 100%

Example 21

The following manual liquid dishwashing compositions were prepared according to the present invention :

I II Ill IV V VI VII

C12-14E06-2S 25.0 28.0 26.0 30.0 20.0 26.0 26.0

C12-14 alkyl dimethyl 2.0 6.0 6.0 7.8 5.0 6.0 6.0 amine oxide

C12-14 alkyl dimethyl 2.0 - - - - - - betaine

C12-14 glucose amide 3.0 1.0 - - - - -

C11E09 - 1.0 - 4.0 2.0 - -

C9-11E08 5.0 - 3.0 - - 3.0 3.0

DTPA - 0.1 - - - - -

SCS - 1.0 3.5 3.0 2.5 3.5 3.5

Xylene sulfonate - 3.0 - - - - -

Mg hydroxide 1.0 - - - - - - I II III IV V VI VII

Mg chloride 0.4 2.6 - - - - -

1 ,3 bis (methylamino) - - 0.7 1.0 0.3 2.5 0.7 cyclohexane

N,N-dimethylamino) - - 0.2 0.5 0.2 0.2 0.2 ethyl methacrylate homopolymer

Citric - - 3.0 - - - -

Maleic acid - - - 2.5 - - -

Ethanol 8.0 5.0 7.0 7.0 4.0 7.0 7.0

Protease - - - - - - 0.02

Amylase - - - - - 0.005 -

Pectate lyase 0.005 0.01 0.02 0.02 0.005 0.01 0.001

Catalyst 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.005 0.008 0.01 0.001

Perfume 0.2 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.5 0.5

Water and minors Up to 100%

Example 22

The following liquid hard surface cleaning compositions were prepared according to the present invention :

1 II III IV V

Pectate lyase 0.005 0.001 0.02 0.02 0.005

Amylase 0.01 0.002 0.005 - -

Protease 0.05 0.01 0.02 - -

Hydrogen peroxide - - - 6.0 6.8

Catalyst 0.1ppm 4ppm O.δppm 1ppm 2ppm

Acetyl triethyl citrate - - - 2.5 -

DTPA - - - 0.2 -

Butyl hydroxy toluene - - - 0.05 -

EDTA* 0.05 0.05 0.05 - -

Citric / Citrate 2.9 2.9 2.9 1.0 - I II III IV V

LAS 0.5 0.5 0.5 - -

C12 AS 0.5 0.5 0.5 - -

C10AS - - - - 1.7

C12(E)S 0.5 0.5 0.5 - -

C12.13 E6.5 nonionic 7.0 7.0 7.0 - -

Neodol 23-6.5 - - - 12.0 -

Neodol 23-3 - - - - 1.5

Neodol 91-10 - - - - 1.6

C25AE1.8S - - - 6.0

Na paraffin sulphonate - - - 6.0

Perfume 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.5 0.2

Propanediol - - - 1.5

Ethoxylated tetraethylene - - - 1.0 - pentaimine

2, Butyl octanol - - - - 0.5

Hexyl carbitol^** 1.0 1.0 1.0 - -

SCS 1.3 1.3 1.3 - - pH adjusted to 7-12 7-12 7-12 4 -

Miscellaneous and water Up to 100%

*Na4 ethylenediamine diacetic acid

**Diethylene glycol monohexyl ether

Example 23

The following spray composition for cleaning of hard surfaces and removing household mildew was prepared according to the present invention :

Catalyst 0.1 ppm

Pectate lyase 0.01

Amylase 0.01

Protease 0.01

Na octyl sulfate 2.0

Na dodecyl sulfate 4.0

Na hydroxide 0.8

Silicate 0.04 Butyl carbitol^* 4.0

Perfume 0.35

Water/minors up to 100%

*Diethylene glycol monobutyl ether

Example 24

The following disinfecting compositions were prepared according to the present invention.

I II III

Wipe Spray Liquid

H202 1.0 1.5 1.0

Na tetraborate 10.H2O - 1.0 -

Catalyst 0.01 0.001 0.005

C10 Amine Oxide - 0.9 0.9

C12-14 alkyl dimethyl amine oxide 0.4 - -

C7-10 AS - - 6.0

C9-11EO10 - 0.05 -

C8-18 Fatty acid - 0.1 0.2

Ethanol 9.0 1.0 2.5

Benzyl alcohol - 0.8 -

Propylene or diethylene glycol butyl ether 1.0 1.5 -

Poly(propylene glycol) monobutyl ether 0.2 - -

HEDP - 0.1 -

Butylated hydroxytoluene 0.01 0.06 0.03

Salicyclic acid 0.03 - 0.07

Pectate lyase 0.001 0.01 0.005

Perfume 0.1 0.3 0.3

Citric 0.7 - 1.5

Dye - - 2.0

NaOH - 0.1 -

Miscellaneous and water Up to 100%

Claims

1. A detergent composition comprising a detergent ingredient, a pectate lyase enzyme and metal bleach catalyst.

2. A detergent composition according to claim 2 wherein the metal bleach catalyst is selected from :

(a) the [Mn(Bcyclam)CI2] catalyst;

(b) the cobalt catalyst having the formula : Co[(NH3)_nM_mB_bT_tQ_qP_p]Y_y wherein Cobalt is in the +3 oxidation from, n is an integer from 0 to 5, preferably 4-5, more preferably 5; M represents a monodentate ligand; m is an integer from 0-5, preferably 1 or 2, more preferably 1 ; B represents a bidenate ligant; b is an integer from 0-2; T represents a tridentate ligand; t is 0 or 1 ; Q is a tetradentate ligand; q is 0 or 1 ; P is an pentadentate ligand; p is 0 or 1 and n+m+2b+3t+4q+5p=6; Y is one or more appropriately selected counteranions present in a number y, where y is an integer from 1-3, prepferably 2-3, more preferably 2 when Y is a -1 charged anion, to obtain a charge-balanced salt;

(c) the cobalt catalyst having the formula [Co(NH3)5M]T_y wherein cobalt is in the +3 oxidation statte; M is a carboxylate-containing ligand having the fromula RC(0)0-; and T is one or more counteranions present in a number y, where y is an interger to obtain a charge-balanced salt (preferably from 1 - 3, more preferably 2 when T is a -1 charged anion); and/or mixtures thereof.

3. A detergent composition according to 1-2 further comprising an oxygen source, preferably a hydrogen peroxide source and a peroxyacid bleach precursor compound.

4. A composition according to any preceding claim wherein the metal bleach catalyst is present in an amount of from 1ppb to 10%, preferably from 0.1 ppm to 1%, more preferably from 1ppm to 0.1% by weight of total composition.

5. A detergent composition according to any of the preceding claims wherein said pectate lyase is present at a level of from 0.0001% to 2%, preferably from 0.0005% to 1.0, more preferably from 0.001% to 0.5% pure enzyme by weight of total composition.

6. A method of cleaning a fabric, a dishware or hard surface with a detergent composition according to any of the preceding claims.