Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a laundry treatment composition and a process for laundering a stained fabric. It particularly relates to a liquid laundry treatment composition for removal of tough stains.

Background of the Invention

Removal of stains from fabric can be a challenge. Washing stained fabric with a detergent may produce a satisfactory result if the stains are light and not greasy. However, if the stains are heavy, washing with detergent often does not remove the stains because the detergent ingredients are diluted in the wash and are not concentrated at the stain.

To successfully remove heavy stains, it is known in the art to apply a separate stain treatment, e.g., by spraying or squirting a stain treatment product directly on the stain or using a wipe impregnated with a stain treatment product to scrub a stain.

A variety of stain removing composition are known. Some are efficacious against a particular stain or class of stains.

US2007/0093407 A1 (P&G) discloses a process for treating a fabric with a laundry pretreater composition for improving overall stain removal performance. The laundry pretreater composition includes a peroxycarboxylic acid.

More recently, US2009/0061017 A1 (Pedersen et al.) discloses a shelf stable composition comprising a peroxycarboxylic acid for providing antimicrobial benefits. The composition includes specific ratio ranges between hydrogen peroxide and peroxycarboxylic acid.

There is still a need to provide a laundry treatment composition which provides for improved stain removal performance on all types of stain and where the composition can be stably formulated across a pH range from 5 to 10 and further where the composition provides the stain removal benefits at low temperatures conditions. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a laundry treatment composition for treating fabrics which has improved overall stain removal performance on a wide range of soils such as oily/fatty, enzymatic and particulate stain, in particular mixed greasy/bleachable stains and sebum stain removal.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a laundry treatment composition having both water and a water miscible solvent which form a clear homogeneous liquid that allows for uniform dosing during manufacture and dispensing for use.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a shelf stable composition.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a laundry treatment composition having water miscible solvent without impacting the isotropic nature of the composition.

Summary of the Invention

We have found that a liquid laundry treatment composition providing a stable composition and excellent stain removal performance on various stain types particularly sebum stains can be achieved when a water miscible solvent and peroxycarboxylic acid is combined with specific surfactant system comprising anionic surfactant, nonionic surfactant and amphoteric surfactant.

Accordingly, in a first aspect of the present invention disclosed is a laundry treatment composition comprising: i) a water miscible organic solvent; ii) a peroxycarboxylic acid; iii) a surfactant system comprising an anionic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant and an amphoteric surfactant; and, iv) water. and wherein the pH of the composition is in the range from 5 to 9.

According to a second aspect of the present invention disclosed is a process for treating fabrics comprising the steps of: i) applying a laundry treatment composition according to the first aspect onto stained part of a fabric; ii) rinsing said fabric in an aqueous bath and/or washing said fabric in an aqueous wash liquor comprising water and a conventional laundry detergent.

According to a third aspect of the present invention disclosed is a kit with parts comprising: i) a laundry treatment composition according to the first aspect of the present invention; ii) instructions for treating fabrics according to the process described in the second aspect; and, iii) optionally, an implement suitable for use in the process of the second aspect.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention disclosed is a use of peroxycarboxylic acid, water-miscible organic solvent and a surfactant system which comprises anionic surfactant, nonionic surfactant and an amphoteric surfactant in a laundry treatment composition for providing improved stain removal performance, preferably improved sebum stain removal.

These and other aspects, features and advantages will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from a reading of the following detailed description and the appended claims. For the avoidance of doubt, any feature of one aspect of the present invention may be utilised in any other aspect of the invention. The word "comprising" is intended to mean "including" but not necessarily "consisting of" or "composed of." In other words, the listed steps or options need not be exhaustive. It is noted that the examples given in the description below are intended to clarify the invention and are not intended to limit the invention to those examples per se. Similarly, all percentages are weight/weight percentages unless otherwise indicated. Except in the operating and comparative examples, or where otherwise explicitly indicated, all numbers in this description indicating amounts of material or conditions of reaction, physical properties of materials and/or use are to be understood as modified by the word "about". Numerical ranges expressed in the format "from x to y" are understood to include x and y. When for a specific feature multiple preferred ranges are described in the format "from x to y", it is understood that all ranges combining the different endpoints are also contemplated. Detailed Description of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention disclosed is a laundry treatment composition which includes a water miscible organic solvent, a surfactant system, a peroxycarboxylic acid and water.

Water-miscible organic solvent

According to the first aspect disclosed laundry treatment composition includes a water- miscible organic solvent. Preferably the water miscible organic solvent has a Hansen solubility parameter ( ⁵ HSP) that ranges from 14 to 22 MPa ⁰⁵ (at 25°C), more preferably 15 to 20 MPa ⁰⁵ (at 25°C) and most preferably from 15 to 18.5 MPa ⁰⁵ (at 25°C).

Hansen solubility parameter is preferably calculated using a software called HSPiP Versions.1 (http://hspip. software, informer. corn/3.1/). The input given to the software is in the form of SMILES (Simplified Molecular Input Line Entry Specification) of the structure of proposed solvent.

Hansen Solubility Parameters were developed by Charles Hansen as a way of predicting if one material will dissolve in another to form a solution. The parameters are based on the idea that like dissolves like where one molecule is defined as being 'like' another if it bonds to itself in a similar way. Specifically, each molecule is given three Hansen parameters, each generally measured in MPa ⁰⁵ .

The solubility parameter has been defined as the square root of the cohesive energy density and describes the attractive strength between molecules of the material. Hansen assumed that the cohesive energy arises from the dispersive, permanent dipole-dipole interactions and hydrogen bonding forces. The basis of the Hansen solubility parameter is that the total energy of vaporization of a liquid consists of several individual parts. Hansen has defined three types of contributions to the energy of vaporization, namely: dispersive (D), polar (P) and hydrogen bonding (H).

The three parameters are: (i) the energy from dispersion bonds between molecules (D); (ii) the energy from dipolar intermolecular force between molecules (P); (iii) the energy from hydrogen bonds between molecules (H).

Each of the three parameters (i.e., dispersion, polar and hydrogen bonding) represents a different characteristic of solvency, or solvent capability. In combination, the three parameters are a measure of the overall strength and selectivity of a solvent. The total Hansen solubility parameter, which is the square root of the sum of the squares of the three parameters mentioned previously, provides a more general description of the solvency of the solvents.

The HSP is defined as the square root of the sum of the squares of the dispersion, polar and hydrogen bond components:

The polar component (bp) is in the range of 0.5 to 10 MPa ⁰⁵ (at 25°C), preferably 1 to 8 MPa ⁰⁵ (at 25 °C), more preferably 2 to 6 MPa ⁰⁵ (at 25°C), still more preferably 3 to 5 MPa ⁰⁵ (at 25 °C).

The hydrogen bond component ( n) is in the range of 3 to 10 MPa ⁰⁵ (at 25°C), preferably 3 to 8 MPa ⁰⁵ (at 25 °C), more preferably 3 to 7 MPa ⁰⁵ (at 25°C), still more preferably 3 to 6 MPa ⁰⁵ (at 25 °C).

The dispersion component (bo) is in the range of 13 to 18 MPa ⁰⁵ (at 25°C), preferably

14 to 17 MPa ⁰⁵ (at 25 °C), more preferably 3 to 7 MPa ⁰⁵ (at 25°C), still more preferably

15 to 16 MPa ⁰⁵ (at 25 °C).

This HSP for mixture of solvents are additive according to the respective concentrations of its components.

The Hansen Solubility Parameter may either be calculated or predicted using the methods disclosed in "Hansen Solubility Parameters: a User's Handbook", by Charles M. Hansen, CRC Press, Boca Raton, 2000. Hansen Solubility Parameters of any solvent may also be calculated by "Molecular Modelling Pro" software, version 5.1 .9 (ChemSW, Fairfield CA, www.chemsw.com) or Hansen Solubility from Dynacomp Software.

Useful water-miscible organic solvent according to the present invention includes but is not limited to 2-pyrrolidone, N-methyl pyrrolidone, 2-methylpyrrolidone, Dipropylene glycol dimethyl ether (PPM), Dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether (DPMA), Butyl di-glycol, Butyl di-glycol acetate (BDGA), 4-methyl-1 ,3-dioxolan-2-one; these ingredients being further selected with the proviso that the composition forms a single phase, transparent, true solution. More preferably the water-miscible organic solvent according to the present invention is selected from the group consisting of alcohol solvent, amino alcohol solvent, glycol solvent, glycol ether solvent and combinations thereof. Glycol solvent and glycol ether solvent are preferred as generally being less odorous, less volatile, and more compatible with other cleaning component as compared to alcohol solvent.

The water miscible organic solvent is preferably a glycol ether solvent selected from the group consisting of glycol ethers having Formula I, Formula II and mixtures thereof.

RiO(R ₂ O) _n R3 . Formula I

R4O(R5O) _n Re Formula II wherein:

Ri is a linear or branched C4, C5 or Ce alkyl or a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl, R2 is ethyl or isopropyl,

R3 is hydrogen or methyl and n is 1, 2 or 3.

R4 is n-propyl or isopropyl,

Rs is isopropyl,

Re is hydrogen or methyl and n is 1, 2 or 3.

Preferred glycol ether solvents according to Formula I are ethyleneglycol n-butyl ether, diethyleneglycol n-butyl ether, triethyleneglycol n-butyl ether, propyleneglycol n-butyl ether, dipropyleneglycol n-butyl ether, tripropyleneglycol n-butyl ether, and mixtures thereof. Most preferred glycol ethers according to Formula I are propyleneglycol n-butyl ether, dipropyleneglycol n-butyl ether and mixtures thereof.

Preferred glycol ether solvents according to Formula II are propyleneglycol n-propyl ether, dipropyleneglycol n-propyl ether, and mixtures thereof.

Most preferred glycol ether solvents are, propyleneglycol n-butyl ether, dipropyleneglycol n- butyl ether, di(propyleneglycol)dimethyl ether and mixtures thereof, especially Di-propylene glycol mono n-butyl ether, Diethylene glycol mono butyl ether, Di-propylene glycol mono methyl ether, Ethylene glycol mono hexyl ether, Diethylene glycol mono ethyl ether, Propylene glycol methyl ether acetate, dipropyleneglycol n-butyl ether and combinations thereof.

Suitable glycol ether solvents can be purchased from The Dow Chemical Company, more particularly from the E-series (ethylene glycol based) Glycol Ethers and the Pseries (propylene glycol based) Glycol Ethers line-ups. Suitable glycol ether solvents include Butyl Carbitol, Hexyl Carbitol, Butyl Cellosolve, Hexyl Cellosolve, Butoxytriglycol, Dowanol Eph, Dowanol PnP, Dowanol DPnP, Dowanol PnB, Dowanol DPnB, Dowanol TPnB, Dowanol PPh, and mixtures thereof.

Preferably the solvent is a glycol ether solvent with flash point more than 80°C, more preferably more than 100°C, most preferably above 115°C.

By way of example, suitable solvents for use herein include propylene glycol t-butyl ether, propylene glycol n-butyl ether, Diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol n-butyl ether. Diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol n-butyl ether are preferred, diethylene glycol being the most preferred.

The composition according to the present invention includes 1 wt.% to 40 wt.% of the water-miscible organic solvent. The amount of water-miscible organic solvent in the laundry treatment composition is preferably at least 4 wt.%, still preferably at least 5 wt.%, further preferably at least 10 wt.%, more preferably at least 15 wt.%, still more preferably 20 wt.% but preferably not more than 35 wt.%, still preferably not more than 30 wt.%, and most preferably not more than 25 wt.% based on the laundry treatment composition.

Surfactant system

According to the first aspect disclosed treatment composition includes a surfactant system including an anionic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant and an amphoteric surfactant.

The total surfactant content in the surfactant system in accordance to the present invention is from 1 wt.% to 50 wt.% of the laundry treatment composition. This implies the sum total of all of the surfactant present in a given composition. It is necessary that the composition has three different types of surfactants, their amount in total being 1 to 50 % by weight. Preferably the total surfactant content present in the laundry treatment composition is from 1 wt.% to 45 wt.%, still preferably from 4 wt.% to 45 wt.%, still more preferably from 10 wt.% to 45 wt.%, furthermore preferably from 11 to 45 wt.% and still more preferably from 11.5 wt.% to 45 wt.%, most preferably from 15 wt.% to 30 wt.%.

Anionic surfactant:

The surfactant system of the laundry treatment composition of the present invention includes an anionic surfactant. Examples of anionic surfactant are given in "Surface Active Agents and Detergents" (Vol. I and II by Schwartz, Perry and Berch). A list of suitable cationic surfactants is given in U.S.P. 4,259,217 issued to Murphy on March 31 , 1981.

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

Other anionic surfactants include the isethionates such as the acyl isethionates, N-acyl taurates, fatty acid amides of methyl tauride, alkyl succinates and sulfosuccinates, monoesters of sulfosuccinate (especially saturated and unsaturated C12 to C monoesters) diesters of sulfosuccinate (especially saturated and unsaturated Ce to C14 diesters), N-acyl sarcosinates. Resin acids and hydrogenated resin acids are also suitable, such as rosin, hydrogenated rosin, and resin acids and hydrogenated resin acids present in or derived from tallow oil.

Preferably the anionic surfactant is selected from alkyl sulphate surfactant, alkyl sulphonate surfactant, alkoxylated anionic surfactant, alkyl ether sulphonate surfactant or combinations thereof.

Preferably the anionic surfactant is an alkoxylated anionic surfactant having an alkyl group with carbon chain length Cs C and having 1 to 30 moles of alkylene oxide, still preferably 1 to 20 moles alkylene oxide, further preferably 1 to 10 moles alkylene oxide. Preferably the alkylene oxide is an ethylene oxide. This surfactant may have a normal or branched chain alkyl group containing lower ethoxy groups with two or three carbon atoms. A general formula of such surfactants is RO(C2H4O) _X , SOTM* where R is an alkyl chain having from 10 to 22 carbon atoms, saturated or unsaturated, M is a cation which makes the compound water-soluble, especially an alkali metal, ammonium or substituted ammonium cation, and x averages from 1 to 15. Preferably R is an alkyl chain having from 8 to 18 carbon atoms, more preferably 8 to 16 carbon atoms, M is sodium and x averages from 1 to 3, more preferably x is 1.

It is particularly preferred that the alkoxylated anionic surfactant is an ethoxylated anionic surfactant which is preferably sodium lauryl ether sulphate (SLES). It is the sodium salt of lauryl ether sulphonic acid in which the predominantly C12 lauryl alkyl group is ethoxylated with an average of 1 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide per mole, more preferably 1 to 15 moles of ethylene oxide per mole, still more preferably 1 to 7 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of SLES.

Other examples of suitable ethoxylated anionic surfactants that could be used in accordance with the present invention are C12 to C15 normal or primary alkyl triethoxy sulphate, sodium salt; n-decyl diethoxy sulphate, sodium salt; C12 primary alkyl diethoxy sulphate, ammonium salt; C12 primary alkyl triethoxy sulfate, sodium salt; C15 primary alkyl tetraethoxy sulfate, sodium salt; mixed Onto C15 normal primary alkyl mixed tri- and tetraethoxy sulfate, sodium salt; stearyl pentaethoxy sulfate, sodium salt; and mixed C10 to C15 normal primary alkyl triethoxy sulfate, potassium salt.

Preferably the composition includes from 1 wt.% to 20 wt.% alkoxylated Cs to C anionic surfactant. The amount of the alkoxylated anionic surfactant is preferably at least 2 wt.%, still preferably at least 3 wt.%, still preferably at least 5 wt.% but typically not more than 18 wt.%, still preferably not more than 15 wt.% but preferably not more than 10 wt.% and most preferably the composition includes 2 to 10 wt.% alkoxylated anionic surfactant. In addition to the alkoxylated anionic surfactant, the composition may preferably include other above-mentioned anionic surfactant.

The composition according to the present invention includes 1 wt.% to 40 wt.% of the anionic surfactant. The amount of anionic surfactant in the laundry treatment composition is preferably at least 2 wt.%, still preferably at least 4 wt.%, further preferably at least 15 wt.%, more preferably at least 20 wt.%, but preferably not more than 35 wt.%, still preferably not more than 30 wt.% of the laundry treatment composition.

Non-ionic surfactant:

The surfactant system of the laundry treatment composition of the present invention includes a non-ionic surfactant.

Non-ionic surfactants are characterized by the presence of a hydrophobic group and an organic hydrophilic group and are typically produced by condensation of an organic aliphatic or alkyl aromatic hydrophobic compound with ethylene oxide.

Usually, the nonionic surfactants are polyalkoxylated lipophiles wherein the desired hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLB) is obtained from addition of a hydrophilic alkoxy group to a lipophilic moiety. A preferred class of nonionic surfactants is the alkoxylated alkanols in which the alkanol is of 9 to 20 carbon atoms and wherein the number of moles of alkylene oxide (of 2 or 3 carbon atoms) is from 5 to 20. Of such materials, it is preferred to use those wherein the alkanol is a fatty alcohol of 9 to 11 20 or 12 to 15 carbon atoms and which contain from 5 to 8 or 5 to 9 alkoxy groups per mole. Also preferred are paraffin-based alcohols (e.g. nonionic surfactants from Huntsman or Sassol). Preferably the non-ionic surfactant is selected from an alkoxylated linear alcohol, more preferably an ethoxylated linear alcohol.

Exemplary of such compounds are those in which the alkanol is of 10 to 15 carbon atoms and which contain about 5 to 12 ethylene oxide groups per mole, e.g. Neodol™ family. These are condensation products of a mixture of higher fatty alcohols averaging about 12 to 15 carbon atoms with about 9 moles of ethylene oxide. The higher alcohols are primary alkanols.

Another subclass of alkoxylated surfactant which may be used contain a precise alkyl chain length rather than an alkyl chain distribution of the alkoxylated surfactants. Typically, these are referred to as narrow range alkoxylates. Examples of these include the Neodol™-1 series of surfactants. Other useful non-ionic surfactants are represented by the commercially well-known class of non-ionic surfactants sold under the trademark Plurafac™ from BASF. The Plurafac™ are the reaction products of a higher linear alcohol and a mixture of ethylene and propylene oxides, containing a mixed chain of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, terminated by a hydroxyl group. Examples include C13 to C15 fatty alcohols condensed with 6 moles ethylene oxide and 3 moles propylene oxide, C13 to C15 fatty alcohol condensed with 7 moles propylene oxide and 4 moles ethylene oxide, C13 to C15 fatty alcohol condensed with 5 moles propylene oxide and 10 moles ethylene oxide or mixtures of any of the above.

Another group of nonionic surfactants are commercially available as Dobanol™ which is an ethoxylated C12 to C15 fatty alcohol with an average of 7 moles ethylene oxide per mole of fatty alcohol. Preferably the nonionic surfactant is selected from an alkoxylated linear alcohol, preferably ethyoxylated.

The composition according to the present invention includes 1 wt.% to 40 wt.% of the non-ionic surfactant, more preferably 2 wt.% to 25 wt.% nonionic surfactant.. Preferably the amount of nonionic surfactant in the laundry treatment composition is at least 2 wt.%, still preferably at least 2.5 wt.%, further preferably at least 3 wt.% and most preferably at least 5 wt.%, but typically not more than 30 wt.%, still preferably not more than 25 wt.% and most preferably not more than 20 wt.% based on the laundry treatment composition.

Amphoteric surfactant:

The surfactant system of the liquid treatment composition of the present invention includes an amphoteric surfactant. The term amphoteric surfactant as used herein also includes zwitterionic surfactant.

The amphoteric surfactant is selected from amine oxide, betaines or combinations thereof, preferably betaines. Particularly preferred are the betaines, especially sulphobetaines and carbobetaines.

Preferred alkyl betaines have a formula of CH3(CH2)6CH2N ⁺ (CH3)2CH2COO' . Further alkyl betaines include (dodecyldimethylammonium) acetate (also known as lauryl betaine, (tetradecyldimethylammonium) acetate (also known as myristyl betaine, (cocodimethylammonium) acetate and (oleyldimethylammonium) acetate (also known as oleyl betaine).

An example of alkyl betaine is Empigen™ BB surfactant, available from Sigma Aldrich. Preferred amidobetaines are Ce to C alkyl amidoalkyl betaines; for example (cocoamidopropyldimethylammonium) acetate (also known as cocoamidopropyl betaine or CAPB). Examples of sulphatobetaines are 3-(dodecyldimethylammonium)-1 -propane sulfate; and 2-(cocodimethylammonium)-1 -ethane sulfate. Examples of sulfphobetaines, are 3-(dodecyldimethylammonium)-2-hydroxy-1 -propane sulfonate; 3- (tetradecyldimethylammonium)-l -propane sulfonate; 3-( C12 to C14 alkyl- amidopropyldimethylammonium)-2-hydroxy-1 -propane sulfonate; and 3- (cocodimethylammonium)-l -propane sulfonate.

Another group of zwitterionic surfactant is an amine oxide zwitterionic surfactant. Examples include but are not limited to cocoamido propyl dimethyl amine oxide and alkene dimethyl amine oxide.

In a particularly preferred composition, the anionic surfactant is an alkoxylated sulphate, said non-ionic surfactant is an ethoxylated fatty alcohol and said zwitterionic surfactant is a carbobetaine or sulphobetaine. Preferably CAPB.

The composition according to the present invention includes 0.1 wt.% to 20 wt.% of the amphoteric surfactant, still preferably from 0.1 to 3 wt.%. Preferably the amount of amphoteric surfactant in the laundry treatment composition is at least 2 wt.%, still preferably at least 3 wt.%, further preferably at least 3.5 wt.% and most preferably at least 5 wt.%, but typically not more than 20 wt.%, still preferably not more than 15 wt.% and most preferably not more than 10 wt.% based on the laundry treatment composition.

Peroxycarboxylic acid

According to the first aspect disclosed laundry treatment composition includes a peroxycarboxylic acid.

Peroxycarboxylic (or percarboxylic or peracid) acids generally have the formula

R(CO ₃ H) _n , where, for example, R is H or an alkyl, arylalkyl, cycloalkyl, aromatic, or heterocyclic group, and n is one, two, or three, and named by prefixing the parent acid with peroxy. The R group can be saturated or unsaturated as well as substituted or unsubstituted. The composition of the invention can employ peroxycarboxylic acids containing, for example, 1 to 20 carbon atoms, preferably 2 to 12 carbon atoms. For example, peroxycarboxylic (or percarboxylic) acids can have the formula R(CG>3H) _n , where R is a Ci to C20 alkyl group, a Ci to C20 cycloalkyl, a Ci to C20 arylalkyl group, Ci to C20 (e. g., Ce) aryl group, or a Ci to C20 heterocyclic group; and n is one, two, or three. Also preferred are peroxycarboxylic acids where R is H or a Ci to C3 alkyl group and n is one, two or three.

Peroxycarboxylic acids useful in the composition of the present invention include peroxyformic acid, peroxyacetic acid, peroxybutyric acid, peroxypentanoic acid, peroxyhexanoic acid, peroxyheptanoic acid, peroxyoctanoic acid, peroxynonanoic acid, peroxydecanoic acid, peroxyundecanoic acid, peroxydodecanoic acid, peroxysalicylic acid, peroxybenzoic acid, mixtures thereof, or the like. The alkyl backbones of the peroxycarboxylic acid can be straight chain, branched, or a mixture thereof. Peroxy forms of carboxylic acids with more than one carboxylate moiety can have one or more (e.g., at least one) of the carboxyl moieties present as peroxycarboxyl moieties.

Peroxyoctanoic (or peroctanoic) acid is a peroxycarboxylic acid having the formula, for example, of n-peroxyoctanoic acid: CH3(CH2)eCOOOH. Peroxyoctanoic acid can be an acid with a straight chain alkyl moiety, an acid with a branched alkyl moiety, or a mixture thereof. A preferred peroxycarboxylic acid is a peroxyacetic (or peracetic) acid having the formula: CH3COOOH.

Preferred peroxycarboxylic acid includes an imido-aromatic peroxycarboxylic acid. Preferably the imido-aromatic peroxycarboxylic acid has from 1 to 18 carbon atoms, still preferably from 1 to 8 carbon atoms. Preferably the imido-aromatic peroxycarboxylic acid has the general formula (I): Formula (I) wherein:

• A represents an optionally substituted benzene or naphthalene ring,

• the groups R, which may be the same or different from each other, represent hydrogen, lower alkyl, substituted alkyl group, OH, COOH, COOOH or COOR', wherein R’ represents a Ci to Cs alkyl group and n is an integer of from 1 to 5, preferably 1 to 3.

Preferably, the alkyl groups R have 1 to 5 carbon atoms. The group(s) R is selected from linear or branched Ci to Cs alkyl groups, optionally substituted by at least one Ci to Cs alkoxy, NO2or OH radical.

Examples of Ci to Cs alkyl groups are methyl, ethyl, n- and i-propyl, n-, i-, sek- and terbutyl and pentyl. Said groups may optionally be substituted, e.g. with one or more (preferably 1 to 3) radicals selected from Ci to Cs alkoxy (e.g. methoxy and ethoxy), OH, COOH or COOOH, COOR', NO2 and halogen (e.g. F, Cl and Br). Examples of such groups are -CH2OCH3, -CH ₂ OC2H5,-CH ₂ OH, -CH ₂ COOH, -CH ₂ COOOH, - CH2CH2COOH, -CH2CH2COOOH, CH2CI, -CH ₂ F, CF ₃ and -CH2COOC2H5.

Likewise, the group A may carry one or more (up to 4 and preferably 1 or 2) substituents. Said substituents may be selected e.g. from the ones recited above as substituents for the alkyl groups R and, additionally, from Ci to Cs alkyl groups. Particularly preferred substituents are COOH and COOOH radicals. Preferred substituents for the Ci to Cs alkyl groups R’ are the same as those already mentioned above in connection with the groups R. A particularly preferred meaning of R is hydrogen.

The following imido-aromatic (poly)percarboxylic acids of formula (I) have been shown to be particularly useful: phthalimido-peracetic acid, 3-phthalimido-perpropionic acid, 4- phthalimido-perbutyric acid, 2-phthalimido-di- perglutaric acid, 2-phthalimido-di- persuccinic acid, 3-phthalimido-perbutyric acid, 2-phthalimido-per-propionic acid, methyl half-ester of 2-phthalimido-mono-per-glutaric acid, 3-phthalimido-diperadipic acid, naphthalimido-peracetic acid, 2-phthalimido-mono-persuccinic acid, 4-(4- percarboxy)-phthalimido-perbutyric acid, e-phthalimidoperoxohexanoic acid, E- phthalimidoperoxododecanoic acid, N, N'-terephthaloyl-di- (6-aminoperoxohexanoic acid), N, N'-di (4-peroxobenzoylcarboxylic acid) ethylenediamine, N, N'-terephthaloyl-di (4-aminoperoxobutanoic acid). The imido-aromatic (poly)percarboxylic acids of formula

(I) may be in the form of crystalline solids. The percarboxylic acid of formula (I) are usually solid at room temperature.

Preferably the imido-aromatic (poly)percarboxylic acids of the formula (I) is such that R is CH2 and n is 5 that is it is a E-N, N-phthaloyl-amino-peroxy-caproic acid (PAP). PAP has a solubility of about 58 ppm in pure water at 10°C.

The composition according to the present invention includes preferably 1 wt.% to

20 wt.% peroxycarboxylic acid. Preferably the amount of peroxycarboxylic acid in the laundry treatment composition is at least 2 wt.%, still preferably at least 2.5 wt.%, further preferably at least 3 wt.% and most preferably at least 5 wt.%, but typically not more than 15 wt.%, still preferably not more than 13 wt.% and most preferably not more than 10 wt.% based on the laundry treatment composition.

Preferably the composition of the present invention includes less than 5 wt.% hydrogen peroxide, more preferably less than 3 wt.% still preferably less than 1 wt.% hydrogen peroxide in the composition. Most preferably the laundry treatment composition of the present invention is substantially free of the hydrogen peroxide, that is the composition does not have any deliberately added hydrogen peroxide.

Water

According to the first aspect disclosed laundry treatment composition includes water. The composition is made up to 100 percent by adding water. The composition preferably comprises at least 20 wt.% water, preferably at least 25 wt.%, still preferably at least 60 wt.%, more preferably, the laundry treatment composition contains 30 wt.% to 90 wt.%, most preferably 20 wt.% to 80 wt.% water.

Laundry treatment composition

The laundry treatment composition of the present invention may be applied to the fabric prior to rinsing the fabric in an aqueous bath and/or washing the fabric in an aqueous wash liquor. Alternately the laundry treatment composition of the present invention may be added to the aqueous wash liquor having a conventional laundry detergent. Form of the composition:

The laundry treatment composition of the present invention may be in the form of a liquid, spray, foam, stick and wipes. The term liquid also includes gel-like and pasty form. The composition of the present invention is preferably contacted to fabrics in a liquid form. The term "liquid form", includes compositions in the neat form, in their diluted form or in their dissolved form. By "diluted form", it is meant herein that the composition, may be diluted by the user, preferably with water. Said compositions can be diluted up to 500 times, preferably from 5 to 200 times and more preferably from 10 to 80 times. By "dissolved form", it is meant herein that the composition may be dissolved by the user in a suitable solvent, preferably selected from the group of alkaline water solution, organic solvents, and mixtures thereof. Suitable solvents for use herein may be preferably selected from the group of alcohols, alkoxylated alcohols, ketones, esters, carboxylic acids, salt of carboxylic acids, sulfonic acids, salt of sulfonic acids, ethers, and mixtures thereof. pH:

The pH of the compositions in accordance with the invention is in the range of 5 to 9, more preferably 7 to 9. Still preferably the composition of the present invention has a pH less than 7. Alternately the pH ranges from 5 to 9, still preferably from 7 to 9. The pH is measured at 10% solution in distilled water at 20°C.

In order to provide acidic properties, compositions in accordance with the invention comprise one or more organic acids sufficient for the pH to be in said range. The persons of ordinary skill in the art would know or would be able to calculate the amount of acid or acids necessary to arrive at the desired pH.

An advantage of the laundry treatment compositions, suitable for use in the process of treating fabrics according to the present invention, is that they are physically and chemically stable upon prolonged periods of storage.

Chemical stability of these compositions may be evaluated by measuring the concentration of available oxygen at given storage time after having manufactured the compositions. By "chemically stable" it is meant that the composition comprising a peroxycarboxlic acid as used herein do not undergo more than 15% AvO loss, in one month at 25°C. Available oxygen (AvO) loss of a peracid-containing composition can be measured by titration with potassium permanganate after reduction with a solution containing ammonium ferrous sulphate. Said stability test method is well known in the art. Alternatively peracid concentration can also be measured using a chromatography method described in the literature for peracids (F. Di Furia et al. , Gas-liquid Chromatography Method for Determination of Peracids, Analyst, Vol 113, May 1988, p 793-795).

By "physically stable" it is meant herein that no phase separation occurs in the laundry treatment composition used herein for a period of 7 days at 50°C.

Optional ingredients:

The composition of the present invention may include one or more of the following optional ingredients. Non-limiting examples include buffering agents and other stain removal aid like polymers, builders, electrolytes, buffers, sequestrants etc.

The composition according to the present invention may preferably comprise a soil suspending polyamine polymer or mixtures thereof, as optional ingredient. Any soil suspending polyamine polymer known to those skilled in the art may be used herein. Particularly suitable polyamine polymers for use herein are polyalkoxylated polyamines.

Preferably the composition of the present invention includes polymeric soil release agents known to those skilled in the art. Such polymeric soil release agents are characterized by having both hydrophilic segments, to hydrophilize the surface of hydrophobic fibres, such as polyester and nylon, and hydrophobic segments, to deposit upon hydrophobic fibres and remain adhered thereto through completion of washing and rinsing cycles and, thus, serve as an anchor for the hydrophilic segments. This can enable stains occurring subsequent to treatment with the soil release agent to be more easily cleaned in later washing process. The polymeric soil release agents useful herein includes those having (i) one or more nonionic hydrophile components consisting of oxyalkylene units, polyoxyalkylene segments or mixtures thereof wherein the oxyalkylene unit consists of oxyethylene units, oxypropylene units or mixtures thereof, (ii) one or more hydrophobe components comprising oxyalkylene terephthalate segments, C4 to Ce alkylene or oxy C4 to Ce alkylene segments, or mixtures therein, poly (vinyl ester) segments, preferably polyvinyl acetate), Ci to C4 alkyl ether or C4 hydroxyalkyl ether substituents, or mixtures therein, wherein said substituents are present in the form of Ci to C4 alkyl ether or C4 hydroxyalkyl ether cellulose derivatives, or mixtures therein, and such cellulose derivatives are amphiphilic, or a combination of (i) and (ii). The polymeric soil release agents may be selected from cellulosic derivatives such as hydroxyether cellulosic polymers, co-polymeric blocks of ethylene terephthalate or propylene terephthalate with polyethylene oxide or polypropylene oxide terephthalate, and the like. Such agents are commercially available and include hydroxyethers of cellulose such as METHOCEL (Dow).

Cellulosic soil release agents for use herein also include those selected from the group consisting of Ci to C4 alkyl and C4 hydroxyalkyl cellulose; see II. S. Pat. No. 4, 000, 093, issued Dec. 28, 1976 to Nicol, et al. Soil release agents characterised by poly(vinyl ester) hydrophobe segments include graft co-polymers of poly(vinyl ester), e. g. , Ci to Ce vinyl esters, preferably poly-(vinyl acetate) grafted onto polyalkylene oxide backbones, such as polyethylene oxide backbones. See European Patent Application 0 219 048, published Apr. 22, 1987 by Kud, et al. Commercially available soil release agents of this kind include the SOKALAN type of material, e.g., SOKALAN HP-22, available from BASE (West Germany).

Preferred soil release agent includes copolymer having random blocks of ethylene terephthalate and polyethylene oxide (PEO) terephthalate. The molecular weight of this polymeric soil release agent is in the range of from about 25,000 to about 55,000. Another preferred polymeric soil release agent is a polyester with repeat units of ethylene terephthalate units which contains 10 to 15% by weight of ethylene terephthalate units together with 90 to 80% by weight of polyoxyethylene terephthalate units, derived from a polyoxyethylene glycol of average molecular weight 300 to 5,000. Preferred polymeric soil release agents also include the soil release agents of II. S.

Pat. No. 4, 877, 896, issued Oct. 31 , 1989 to Maldonado et al, which discloses anionic, especially sulfoaroyl, end-capped terephthalate esters.

Preferably the soil release agents comprise from 0.01 wt.% to 10.0 wt.%, of the laundry treatment composition of the present invention, typically from 0. 1 wt.% to 5 wt.%, preferably from 0.2 wt.% to 3.0 wt.%. Electrolyte:

Composition in accordance with the invention comprise 0.5 wt.% to 15 wt.% electrolyte. More preferably, the compositions comprise 0.5 to 10% by weight electrolyte. Yet further preferably the compositions comprise 0.5 to 5 % by weight electrolyte. It is preferred that the electrolyte is a salt of an acid and a base, at least one of which is strong. Preferably, the electrolyte is a salt of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal. Suitable examples include sodium chloride, sodium carbonate, potassium chloride and potassium nitrate. Other suitable electrolytes include salts of the acid present in the composition. Suitable examples include sodium lactate and sodium citrate. It is observed that an increase in the electrolyte contents causes more stain removal however, such a technical effect tapers off beyond the claimed range and at least for sodium chloride, which is a particularly preferred electrolyte, the effect tapers off at 10 % by weight of the salt. In other words, further increase does not enhance the stain removal.

Buffer:

The composition of the present invention preferably comprises buffer. The preferred buffering agent comprises a weak acid and a base. Preferably the buffering agent comprises a carboxylic acid and a base selected from ammonium or alkali metal hydroxides and/or organic amines can also be used. Ammonium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide are particularly preferred. Preferably, such a system will buffer the product at a pH of less than 5, more preferably 2 to 4.5.

More preferably the buffering agent is a weak acid and its salt, more preferably the acid is a weak organic acid. The preferred buffering agents are carboxylic acid in combination with its salts. Suitable examples include but are not limited to citric acid and citrate salt, other organic weak acids and their salts. Preferably the buffer is present in an amount of less than 20 wt.% preferably less than 10 wt.%

Sequestrant:

Weak sequestrant in the form of organic polycarboxylic acids are preferred components of the compositions according to the present invention. The presence of these weak sequestrants improves cleaning performance. It is believed that these components sequester weakly bound calcium ions as well as certain transition metal ions like Fe ³⁺ ons which are involved in the attachment of soil to surfaces and thereby facilitate the removal of these soils. Strong sequestrants can also be present. However, sequestrants such as EDTA are less preferred for environmental reasons, as it has been suggested that such poorly biodegradable sequestrants can solubilise heavy metals from river-bottom deposits. Moreover, EDTA and other strong sequestrants have a tendency to complex with the calcium present in the domestic water and prevent the formation of the defoaming calcium soap. Preferably, the sequestrant is selected from, citric, adipic, succinic, maleic, glutaric acids, mixtures thereof or salts thereof. Typical levels of sequestrant range from 0.5 to 20 wt.%, preferably 1 to 4 wt.% in the laundry treatment composition. Composition without sequestrant may also be prepared.

Package

The laundry treatment composition according to the first aspect of the present invention is enclosed in a package. The packaged laundry treatment composition is enclosed in the package wherein the ingredients including the water miscible organic solvent, peroxycarboxylic acid, surfactant system and water is a part of a single composition.

Preferably the package is a flexible package or rigid container. Flexible package made from plastics, preferably selected from the group of polyolefins, polyesters and still more preferably from polyolefins are known in the art. These may be single layered or multilayered. The flexible package may be made from a single type of material or two more different material. Preferably the flexible package is made from a single material for ease of recyclability. The flexible package made be preferably recyclable. More preferably the flexible package is made from renewable non-petroleum source. Still preferably the flexible package comprises bio-based material, still preferably paper or paperboard. The package may be a rigid container. Rigid containers are well known to the person skilled in the art and any known form of the rigid container may be suited for the present invention. Preferably the rigid container is recyclable, preferably having a bio-based material. It is also preferred that at least a part of the rigid container is made from a non-petroleum source.

Process for treating fabrics

According to a second aspect of the present invention disclosed is a process for treating fabrics comprising the steps of: i) applying a laundry treatment composition according to the first aspect of the present invention onto stained parts of a fabric; ii) rinsing said fabric in an aqueous bath and/or washing said fabric in an aqueous wash liquor comprising water and a conventional laundry detergent.

The process of treating a fabric according to the present invention is performed by applying the laundry treatment composition either in neat form or diluted form onto a stained part of said fabric. Preferably the fabric so treated is rinsed after it has been contacted with the composition, before said composition has completely dried off. Preferably the composition of the present invention is added in an amount ranging from 0.2 to 5 mL onto the stained portion of the fabric. The stained fabrics may be soaked in the composition according to the invention, or alternatively, the composition could be applied either neat or in diluted form onto the stained fabrics. Alternatively, or additionally, the pretreatment step may comprise the step of soaking the stained fabric in an aqueous solution to which the treatment composition is added.

Preferably the step of mechanically rubbing the composition into the stained part of the fabric after step (i) is performed. The mechanical rubbing of the composition is preferably using an implement. The mechanical rubbing may be performed by rubbing said implement in a circular motion vis-a-vis stained parts of the fabric to be treated. Alternatively, the mechanical rubbing step may be operated by rubbing the implement in a back and forth transversal motion with respect to stained of the fabric. Suitable implements may be for instance selected from the group of brushes, wipes, sponges, dosing balls known to a person skilled in the art. It is highly preferred that the implement is a brush with bristles. Preferably, the implement is made from a material which is not capable of absorbing the laundry treatment composition.

The next step involves rinsing said fabric in an aqueous bath and/or washing said fabric in an aqueous wash liquor comprising water and a conventional laundry detergent. Preferably the process comprises both the step of rinsing said fabric and the step of washing said fabric. When both the rinsing step and the washing step are performed, it is preferred to perform the rinsing step herein after said fabric has been washed with a conventional laundry detergent composition. This can either be performed by hand in a container of water or by placing the fabric under flowing water or in a rinse cycle and/or in the main wash cycle of a laundry washing machine. The conventional laundry detergent composition can take any of a number of forms: examples include powders, granules, bars, gels and liquids. Preferably the composition is in the form of a liquid. Preferably they are main wash products. It can take the form of a laundry composition for the main wash, which may be dilutable or non-dilutable.

In the process of treating a fabric according to the present invention the laundry treatment composition remains in contact with the stained parts of the fabric for a period sufficient to work on the stained area on the fabric. When used in diluted form the aqueous composition herein remains in contact with the fabrics for preferably 1 minute to 3 hours and more preferably from 1 minutes to 1 hour, still preferably from 1 minute to 30 minutes. When used in its neat form the liquid laundry treatment composition herein remains in contact with the fabrics for preferably from 1 minute to 1 hours and more preferably from 1 minute to 30 minutes.

The temperature of the process has an influence on the stain removal performance and/or bleaching performance of the laundry treatment composition. More specifically, an increased temperature accelerates the stain removal process, i.e. diminishes the time required to remove a given soil. It is therefore preferred that step (i) of the treating process according to the present invention, where the laundry treatment composition as described herein is used in its diluted or neat form, is performed at a temperature of from 4°C. to 60°C., preferably from 10°C. to 50°C. and most preferably from 20°C. to 40°C.

All the steps of the process may be performed by hand, preferably for the convenience of the user, step (iii) of the process is carried out in a laundry washing machine having at least one rinse cycle and a wash cycle. In general, washing machines have a prerinse cycle wherein the fabric is moistening with at least water. This pre-rinse cycle may be followed by additional rinse cycles but is normally followed with the main wash cycle. It is into the main wash cycle that detergent compositions are conventionally delivered. The main wash cycle is followed with at least one post-wash rinse cycle, preferably at least 2 rinse cycles. It is preferred that step (iii) is performed in the prerinse and/or in the main wash cycle.

According to a third aspect of the present invention disclosed is a kit of parts comprising: i) a laundry treatment composition according to the first aspect of the present invention; ii) instructions for treating fabrics according to the process described in the second aspect; and, iii) optionally, an implement suitable for use in the process of the second aspect.

Instructions for treating fabrics according to the process herein may be printed directly onto the exterior surface of the container or on a separate sheet of paper. Further examples include providing instructions on a label attached to the container holding the composition; on a sheet either attached to the container or accompanying it when purchased; or in advertisements, demonstrations, and/or other written or oral instructions which may be connected to the purchase or use of the compositions. Specifically, the instructions will include a description of the use of the composition, for instance, the recommended amount of composition to use in a washing machine to clean the fabric; the recommended amount of compositions to apply to the fabric.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention disclosed is a use of peroxycarboxylic acid, a water-miscible organic solvent and a surfactant system which comprises anionic surfactant, nonionic surfactant and an amphoteric surfactant in a laundry treatment composition for providing improved stain removal performance, preferably improved sebum stain removal. The stain may be any stain. Preferably, the stained portion of the fabric substantially contains oily or sebaceous stains. They are predominately solid in nature and such stains usually contact with fabrics in the course of their regular use. Non-limiting examples include mechanical grease, tomato oil stain, curry oil stain, dirty motor oil and sebum derived stains. Alternatively, the stains are tea or fruit stains.

Examples

Laundry treatment compositions according to the present invention (Ex 1) and comparative laundry treatment composition (Comp A to D) were prepared having the formulation as provided in Table 2. The prepared composition was packaged in a container. The required amount of the composition was dispensed from the container to perform the experiment as provided in table 1. The sebum stained fabric swatches were then contacted with the laundry treatment composition for a period of 10 minutes followed by a washing step and then drying. The treatment process followed had the following parameters.

Table 1

Stain Removal Index (SRI)

SRI is a measure of how much of a stain on fabric is removed during washing process. The intensity of any stain can be measured by reflectometer as the difference between the stain and a clean cloth giving AE* for each stain. It is defined as AE*, which is calculated as:

AE =[(AL) ² + (Aa) ² + (Ab) ² ] ^1/2

L*, a*, and b* are the coordinates of the CIE 1976 (L*, a*, b*) colour space, determined using a standard reflectometer. AE* can be measured before and after the stain is washed, to give AE*bw (before wash) and AE* _aw (after wash). The SRI is then defined as, SRI = 100 - AE*after wash.

SRI of 100 implies complete removal of a stain.

The clean (or virgin) fabric is an "absolute standard" which is not washed. For each experiment, it refers to an identical piece of fabric to that which the stain is applied. Therefore, its point in L* a* b* colour space stays constant. A series of compositions were prepared. Some were within the scope of the invention while some were not. Each composition was subjected to the test described earlier (SRI). Details of each composition and the observations are summarised in Tables 2.

Table 2

* anionic surfactant used was SLES 1 EO

^& non-ionic surfactant used was C12 to C15 alkyl ethoxylate 7EO

^A amphoteric surfactant used was cocamidopropyl betaine (CARB) ^% solvent used was dipropylene glycol n-butyl ether.

The data in table 2 shows that a laundry treatment composition according to the present invention (Ex 1) comprising a peroxycarboxylic acid along with a surfactant system and a water-miscible organic solvent provides good stain removal performance on difficult to remove sebum stains as compared to the comparative examples (Comp

A to Comp D) where the composition includes a peroxycarboxylic acid but where either the glycol ether solvent is absent or the surfactant system is outside the claimed invention.