The present invention relates to detergent composition comprising a particulate material.

Typical household detergent compositions comprise a number of different components. Each of these components has its own bespoke role to play in the cleaning process to which the overall composition is addressed. For example enzymes are used to target specific biological based stains, bleaches are used to decolour / destroy a broad-spectrum of stains by oxidation and surfactants are used to target / dissolve grease from the items.

To arrive at the overall formulation is usually a relatively complex exercise and involves a consideration of the materials being cleaned, the stains likely to be targeted as well as other considerations such as cost and importantly the stability of the composition.

Stability of the composition is important because the efficacy of the composition should not be unduly affected before its point of use. Some detergent components, such as inorganic materials display a high display of stability in transport and storage over a variety of storage conditions. Some other detergent components are more sensitive and less stable, e.g. enzymes. This problem can be exacerbated in that some detergent components are detrimentally antagonistic against one another. This is especially true of bleaches and oxidation sensitive components, such as dyes and enzymes.

Means have been used to separate / protect sensitive ingredients in detergent compositions. However, these means are usually complex and / or expensive. Examples of the methods used include tabletting of detergents wherein the tablets have a plurality of different layers such that sensitive components can be located in one layer away from antagonistic elements. Nevertheless, these kinds of tabletting machines, whilst relatively commonplace, are complicated and expensive. Additionally the formulation employed has to be tailored to suit a tabletting operation, e.g. by the inclusion of binders, which, though necessary to provide structural integrity to the tablet, are expensive and commonly provide no detergent function per se. Furthermore the particle size of the tabletted formulation has to be highly regulated.

Other stability / separation means include the coating of sensitive components and separation of detergent compositions in multiple chamber containers; again this is expensive as it requires the preparation of a multiple chamber container.

The object of the present invention is to obviate / mitigate the problems outlined above.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a detergent composition comprising a particulate material, wherein the particulate is an agglomerate of an anionic soap component and a secondary detergent component.

We have found that a detergent composition in accordance with the invention has numerous surprising advantageous properties. These include chiefly the added stability (e.g. in storage / transport) of the overall detergent composition and especially of the secondary component which forms a co-particulate with the soap.

In addition the composition of the invention has been found to display excellent release properties in use. Without wanting to be limited by theory it appears that the soap particles dissolve relatively slowly when applied to the item being cleaned, e.g. B2009/002923

3 in a wash liquor. Thus as a result any detrimental reaction between the secondary detergent component contained in the soap particulate and any other antagonistic component contained in the detergent is vastly reduced.

Furthermore as the coating itself is active in a washing process the particles of the present invention have been found to be exceptional in terms of packaging efficacy and performance.

Generally the soap is an anionic soap. Preferred examples of such anionic soaps include salts of fatty acids, for example C ₈ - Ci ₈ fatty acids, especially the sodium potassium or alkanolammo- nium salts, and alkyl, for example Cg-Ci ₈ , benzene sulfonates.

Other anionic surfactants and / or nonionic surfactants (e.g. such as fatty alcohol ethoxylates / propoxylates) may be used as the soap provided that the melting point of the surfactant is at or above room temperature.

Generally the content of the secondary detergent component in the particulate is from 1 to 50%, more preferably from 1 to 40wt%, more preferably from 5 to 30wt% and most preferably about 20wt%.

Preferably the secondary detergent component is an enzyme. In this regard the release properties of the composition have been found to be particularly beneficial. Since the soap flakes have a relatively slow dissolution time the remainder of the detergent formulation is released first into the wash liquor, whilst the enzymes are released more slowly. In this way detrimental reaction with any other detergent components is significantly reduced.

Preferred examples of enzymes include one or more of protease, lipase, amylase and cellulase enzymes. Additionally / alternatively the secondary detergent component comprises a dye transfer inhibitor (DTI) . Indeed it has been found that most DTIs exhibit higher stability and better flow properties when encompassed within the particulate material of the invention.

Preferred examples of DTIs include one or more of PVP, PVNO, PVP-VI .

The particulate may also contain a filler. Where a filler is present the proportion of the filler in the particulate is pref- erably from 1 to 50%, more preferably from 1 to 40wt%, more preferably from 5 to 40wt% and most preferably about 30wt%.

Preferred examples of fillers includes zeolites.

Preferably the composition has a particle size of lOOμm to 2mm.

Preferably the particles are in the form of a prills, noodles, flakes. Most preferably the particles are in the form of flakes .

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of producing a composition according to the first aspect of the invention.

The particle is preferably produced by extrusion, pelletisation and / or lamination.