AN ARYL BORONIC ACID

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to liquid detergent compositio containing an aryl boronic acid for inhibition of proteolyt enzyme. More specifically, this invention pertains to liqu detergent compositions containing - _, a detersive surfactan proteolytic enzyme, a detergent-compatible second enzyme, and aryl boronic acid of the structure:

where X is selected from Ci-Ce alkyl, substituted Cj-Ce alkyl aryl, substituted aryl, hydroxyl, hydroxyl derivative, amine Ci-Ce alkylated amine, amine derivative, halogen, nitro, thiol thiol derivative, aldehyde, acid, acid salt, ester, sulfonate o phosphonate; each Y is independently selected from hydrogen Ci-Cβ alkyl, substituted C1-C5 alkyl, aryl. substituted aryl hydroxyl, hydroxyl derivative, halogen, amine, alkylated amine amine derivative, nitro, thiol, thiol derivative, aldehyde, acid ester, sulfonate or phosphonate; and n is 0 to 4.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Protease-containing liquid detergent compositions are well known. A commonly encountered problem, particularly with heav duty liquid laundry detergents, is the degradation by proteolyti enzyme of second enzymes in the composition, such as ^" lipase, amylase and cellulase. The performance of the second enzyme upon storage and its stability in product are thus impaired by proteolytic enzyme.

Boronic acids are known to reversibly inhibit proteolytic enzyme. This inhibition of proteolytic enzyme by boronic acid is reversible upon dilution, as occurs in wash water. The inhibition constant (K-j) is ordinarily used as a measure of capacity to inhibit enzyme activity, with a low K-j indicating a more potent inhibitor. However, it has been found herein that not all boronic acids are effective inhibitors of proteolytic enzyme in liquid detergents, particularly heavy duty liquid laundry detergents, regardless of their K-j values. In fact, the class of boronic acids described herein are superior in liquid detergents, contrary to what one would expect.

A discussion of the inhibition of one proteolytic enzyme, subtilisin, is provided in Philipp, M. and Bender, M.L., "Kinetics of Subtilisin and Thiolsubtilisin", Molecular & Cellular Biochemistry, vol. 51, pp. 5-32 (1983). Inhibition constants for boronic acids are provided therein, and boronic acids are cited as subtilisin inhibitors. Low K-j values are said to indicate more effective inhibitors. One class of boronic acid, peptide boronic acid, is discussed as an inhibitor of trypsin-l ke serine proteases such as thrombin, plasma kallikrein and plasmin, especially in pharmaceuticals, in European Patent Application 0 293 881, Kettner et al . , published December 7, 1988. European Patent Application Serial No. 90/870212, published November 14, 1990 discloses liquid detergent compositions containing certain bacterial serine proteases and upases.

U.S. Patent 4,908,150, Hessel et al , issued March 13, 1990 describes liquid detergent compositions containing lipolytic enzymes wherein the stability of the lipolytic enzyme is said to be improved by inclusion of particular nonionic ethylene glycol containing copolymers.

U.S. Patent 4,566,985, Bruno et al , issued January 28, 1986 describes liquid cleaning compositions containing a mixture of enzymes including a protease and second enzymes. The composition

also contains an effective amount of benzamidine hydrohalide to inhibit the digestive effect of protease on the second enzymes.

In European Application 0376 705, Cardinali et al , published July 4, 1990, liquid detergent compositions containing a mixture of lipolytic enzymes and proteolytic enzymes have been described.

The storage stability of the lipolytic enzyme is said to be enhanced by the inclusion of a lower aliphatic alcohol and a salt of a lower carboxylic acid and a surfactant system which is predominantly nonionic.

In European Patent Application 0 381 262 Aronson et al , published August 8, 1990, mixtures of proteolytic and lipolytic enzymes in a liquid medium have been disclosed. The stability of lipolytic enzyme is said to be improved by the addition of a stabilizing system comprising boron compound and a polyol which are capable of reacting, whereby the polyol has a first binding constant with the boron compound of at least 500 1/mole and a second binding constant of at least 1000 l2/mole2.

None of these teach or describe the use of aryl boronic acid which has a substitution at the 3-position relative to boron as an unexpectedly superior reversible inhibitor of proteolytic enzyme in liquid detergent compositions to protect second enzymes in the compositions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a liquid detergent composition comprising: a. from about 0.001 to 10 weight % of aryl boronic acid of the following structure:

where X is selected from C1-C5 alkyl, substituted Ci-Ce alkyl, aryl, hydroxyl, hydroxyl derivative, amine, C1-C6

alkylated amine, amine derivative, halogen, nitro, thiol, thiol derivative, aldehyde, acid, acid salt, ester, sulfonate or phosphonate; each Y is independently selected from hydrogen, Ci-Cβ alkyl, substituted Ci-Cβ alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, hydroxyl, hydroxyl derivative, halogen, amine, alkylated amine, amine derivative, nitro, thiol, thiol derivative aldehyde, acid, ester, sulfonate or phosphonate, and n is 0 to 4. b. from about 0.0001 to 1.0 weight % of active proteolytic enzyme; c. a performance-enhancing amount of a detergent-compatible second enzyme; and d. from about 1 to 80 weight % of detersive surfactant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The instant liquid detergent compositions contain four essential ingredients: (a) certain aryl boronic acids, (b) proteolytic enzyme, (c) detergent-compatible second enzyme, and (d) detersive surfactant. A. Boronic Acid

It is generally believed that boronic acids inhibit proteolytic enzyme by attaching themselves at the active site on the proteolytic enzyme. A boron to serine covalent bond and a hydrogen bond between histidine and a hydroxyl group on the boronic acid are apparently formed. It is believed that the strength of these bonds determines the efficiency of the inhibitor and that the bond strength is determined by steric fitting of the inhibitor molecule in the enzyme's active site. Upon dilution, as under typical wash conditions, these bonds are broken and protease activity is regained.

It is believed that in liquid detergent compositions, the boronic acid-proteolytic enzyme bond strength is adversely affected by detersive surfactants. While not meaning to be bound by theory, it is believed to be important to have an optimum

steric disposition in the boronic acid molecule to promote additional bonding and allow good proteolytic enzyme inhibition. It is theorized herein that this is achieved by placing a critical substituent group ("X" herein) on the aromatic ring of aryl boronic acid at the 3-position relative to boron. Suitable substituents (X) are: Ci to C$ alkyl, substituted Ci-Cβ alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, hydroxyl, hydroxyl derivative, amine, Ci-Cβ alkylated amine, amine derivative, nitro, halogen, thiol, thiol derivative, aldehyde, acid, acid salt, ester, sulfonate, and phosphonate.

It is believed, that binding can be especially enhanced by placing in particular a hydrogen bonding group in the 3-position of the aromatic ring of aryl boronic acid. This seems to promote hydrogen bonding between the inhibitor and the proteolytic enzyme. These hydrogen bonding groups include amine, alkylated amine, amine derivative, nitro, hydroxyl, and hydroxyl derivative, which are preferred.

It is believed herein that a bond, probably a hydrogen bond or other interaction, between the X on aryl boronic acid and an amino acid (probably asparagine) on the proteolytic enzyme contributes to the particularly strong binding of this boronic acid to the proteolytic enzyme. The bonding is believed to be enhanced by the critical substitution in the 3-position on the aromatic ring relative to boron (X). It is believed that a strong covalent serine-hydroxyl bond, a weaker histidine-hydroxyl bond, possible hydrophobic interaction between the benzene ring and the proteolytic enzyme, and the asparagine-X bond (or interaction) are responsible for strong aryl boronic acid/proteolytic enzyme bonding and thus good inhibition of the proteolytic enzyme by this aryl boronic acid. The present model is:

*Amino acid residues of a proteolytic enzyme molecule. Without meaning to be bound by theory, it is believed that the three bonds formed (at serine, histidine, and asparagine) with the proteolytic enzyme are the reason 3-substituted aryl boronic acid is a superior reversible inhibitor of proteolytic enzyme.

Inhibition constants are usually used as indicators of the strength of the boronic acid to proteolytic enzyme bond. Ki's for the inhibition of subtilisin by boronic acid have been published by Phillip & Bender (cited above). Other serine proteases with the same catalytic site as subtilisin (e.g. BPN', Protease B and chymotrypsin) are expected to be inhibited by boronic acid to the same extent as subtilisin. However, in liquid detergent matrices it has been found herein that inhibition constants cannot be used as predictors of the performance of enzyme inhibitors.

For example, one would predict based on inhibition constants of boronic acids for subtilisin that 4-bromobenzene boronic acid, K-j 1.0 x 10 ^~5 , is a better proteolytic enzyme inhibitor than

3-aminobenzene boronic acid, K-j 1.3 x 10~ ⁴ . However, it has been found that the reverse is true.

The structure of the boronic acid herein is:

where X is selected from Ci-Ce alkyl, substituted Cj-Cβ alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, hydroxyl, hydroxyl derivative, amine, Ci-Cδ alkylated amine, amine derivative, halogen, nitro, thiol, thiol derivative, aldehyde, acid, acid salt, ester, sulfonate or phosphonate; each Y is independently selected from hydrogen, Ci-Cδ alkyl, substituted Ci-Cβ alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, hydroxyl, hydroxyl derivative, halogen, amine, alkylated amine, amine derivative, nitro, thiol, thiol derivative, aldehyde, acid, ester, sulfonate or phosphonate; and n is between 0 and 4.

It is preferred that n is 0 and Y is hydrogen. Y is on any of the carbons in the bridge between boron and the benzene ring.

The aryl boronic acid herein with its 3-position substitution (X) has been found to be a surprisingly superior inhibitor of proteolytic enzyme.

X is preferably hydroxyl, hydroxyl derivative, nitro, amine, alkylated amine, amine derivative, and is more preferably amine, amine derivative, or alkylated amine. Even more preferred are amine derivatives, particularly acetamido (NHCOCH3), and sulfonamido (NHSO2CH3), and alkylated amine, particularly methylamino (NHCH3). Most preferred is acetamidobenzene boronic acid:

H3C-C-O The amine derivatives such as acetamido have been found in this context to be stable to hydrolysis and oxidation in product, and colorless and effective in inhibiting proteolytic enzyme. Therefore they do not impart undesirable color to the composition unlike the parent amine.

In the present liquid detergent composition, from about 0.001 to 10, preferably about 0.02 to 5, most preferably 0.05 to 2, weight % of this 3-substituted aryl boronic acid is preferred. The amount of this aryl boronic acid will vary where detergency builder is present in the composition. Higher levels of this aryl boronic acid should be used with higher builder levels. B. Proteolytic Enzyme

A second essential ingredient in the present liquid detergent compositions is from about 0.0001 to 1.0, preferably about 0.0005 to 0.5, most preferably about 0.002 to 0.1, weight % of active proteolytic enzyme. Mixtures of proteolytic enzyme are also included. The proteolytic enzyme can be of animal, vegetable or microorganism (preferred) origin. More preferred is serine proteolytic enzyme of bacterial origin. Purified or nonpurified forms of this enzyme may be used. Proteolytic enzymes produced by chemically or genetically modified mutants are included by definition, as are close structural enzyme variants. Particularly preferred is bacterial serine proteolytic enzyme obtained from Bacillus subtilis and/or Bacillus licheniformis.

Suitable proteolytic enzymes include Alcalase ^® , Esperase®, Savinase® (preferred); Maxatase ^® , Maxacal ^® (preferred), and Maxapem 15 ^® (protein engineered Maxacal ^® ); and subtilisin BPN and BPN' (preferred); which are commercially available. Preferred proteolytic enzymes are also 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 proteolytic enzyme which is called "Protease A" herein. Preferred proteolytic enzymes, then, are selected from the group consisting of Savinase ^® , Maxacal ^® , BPN', Protease A and Protease B, and mixtures thereof. Protease B is most preferred. C. Second Enzyme

The third essential ingredient in the present liquid compositions is a performance-enhancing amount of a detergent- compatible second enzyme. By "detergent-compatible" is meant compatibility with the other ingredients of a liquid detergent composition, such as detersive surfactant and detergency builder. These second enzymes are preferably selected from the group consisting of lipase, amylase, cellulase, and mixtures thereof. The term "second enzyme" excludes the proteolytic enzymes discussed above, so each composition herein contains at least two kinds of enzyme, including at least one proteolytic enzyme.

The amount of second enzyme used in the composition varies according to the type of enzyme and the use intended. In general, from about 0.0001 to 1.0, more preferably 0.001 to 0.5, weight % on an active basis of these second enzymes are preferably used.

Mixtures of enzymes from the same class (e.g. lipase) or two or more classes (e.g. cellulase and lipase) may be used. Purified or non-purified forms of the enzyme may be used.

Any lipase suitable for use in a liquid detergent composition can be used herein. Suitable upases for use herein include those of bacterial and fungal origin. Second enzymes from chemically or genetically modified mutants are included.

Suitable bacterial upases include those produced by

Pseudomonas. such as Pseudomonas stutzeri ATCC 19.154, as disclosed in British Patent 1,372,034, incorporated herein by reference. Suitable lipases include those which show a positive immunological cross-reaction with the antibody of the lipase produced by the microorganism Pseudomonas fluorescens IAM 1057.

This lipase and a method for its purification have been described in Japanese Patent Application 53-20487, laid open on February 24,

1978, which is incorporated herein by reference. This lipase is available under the trade name Lipase P "A ano," hereinafter referred to as "Amano-P." Such lipases should show a positive immunological cross reaction with the Amano-P antibody, using the standard and well-known immunodiffusion procedure according to

Ouchterlony (Acta. Med. Scan., 133, pages 76-79 (1950)). These lipases, and a method for their immunological cross-reaction with Amano-P, are also described in U.S. Patent 4,707,291, Thorn et al., issued November 17, 1987, incorporated herein by reference. Typical examples thereof are the Amano-P lipase, the lipase ex Pseudomonas fraoi FERM P 1339 (available under the trade name Amano-B), lipase ex Psuedomonas nitroreducens var. lioolvticum FERM P 1338 (available under the trade name Amano-CES), lipases ex Chromobacter viscosum, e.g. Chromobacter viscosu var. lioolvticum NRRLB 3673, and further Chromobacter viscosum lipases, and lipases ex Pseudomonas gladioli. Other lipases of interest are Amano AKG and Bacillis Sp lipase (e.g., Solvay enzymes).

Other lipases which are of interest where they are detergent-compatible are those described in EP A 0 399 681, published November 28, 1990, EP A 0 385 401, published September 5, 1990, EP A 0 218 272, published April 15, 1987, and PCT/DK 88/00177, published May 18, 1989, all incorporated herein by reference. Suitable fungal lipases include those producible by Humicola lanuqinosa and Ther omvces lanuqinosus. Most preferred is lipase obtained by cloning the gene from Humicola lanuqinosa and expressing the gene in Aspergillus orvzae as described in European Patent Application 0 258 068, incorporated herein by reference, commercially available under the trade name Lipolase ^® .

From about 2 to 20,000, preferably about 10 to 6,000, lipase units of lipase per gram (LU/g) of product can be used in these compositions. A lipase unit is that amount of lipase which produces 1 μmol of titratable butyric acid per minute in a pH stat, where pH is 7.0, temperature is 30 ^* C, and substrate is an emulsion tributyrin and gum arabic, in the presence of Ca ⁺⁺ and NaCl in phosphate buffer.

Any cellulase suitable for use in a liquid detergent composition can be used in these compositions. Suitable cellulase enzymes for use herein include those of bacterial and fungal

origins. Preferably, they will have a pH optimum of between 5 and 9.5. From about 0.0001 to 1.0, preferably 0.001 to 0.5, weight % on an active enzyme basis of cellulase can be used. Suitable cellulases are disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,435,307, Barbesgaard et al., issued March 6, 1984, incorporated herein by reference, which discloses fungal cellulase produced from Humicola insolens. Suitable cellulases are also disclosed in GB-A-2.075.028, GB-A-2.095.275 and DE-0S-2.247.832. Examples of such cellulases are cellulases produced by a strain of Humicola insolens (Humicola grisea var. theπnoidea.. particularly the Humicola strain DSM 1800, and cellulases produced by a fungus of Bacillus N or a cellulase 212-producing fungus belonging to the genus Aeromonas. and cellulase extracted from the hepatopancreas of a marine mollusc (Dolabella Auricula Solander). Any amylase suitable for use in a liquid detergent composition can be used in these compositions. Amylases include, for example, α-amylases obtained from a special strain of B.licheniforms, described in more detail in British Patent Specification No. 1,296,839. A ylolytic proteins include, for example, Rapidase , Maxamyl^M and TermamylTM.

From about 0.0001% to 1.0, preferably 0.0005 to 0.5, weight % on an active enzyme basis of amylase can be used. D. Detersive Surfactant From about 1 to 80, preferably about 5 to 50, most preferably about 10 to 30, weight % of detersive surfactant is the fourth essential ingredient in the present invention. The detersive surfactant can be selected from the group consisting of anionics, nonionics, cationics, ampholytics, zwitterionics, and mixtures thereof. Anionic and nonionic surfactants are preferred.

The benefits of the present invention are especially pronounced in compositions containing ingredients that are harsh to enzymes such as certain detergency builders and surfactants. Preferably the anionic surfactant comprises C 2-C20 alkyl sulfate, C12 to 20 alk l ether sulfate and Cg to 20 linear alkylbenzene sulfonate. Suitable surfactants are described below.

Heavy duty liquid laundry detergents are the preferred liquid detergent compositions herein. The particular surfactants used can vary widely depending upon the particular end-use envisioned. These compositions will most commonly be used for cleaning of laundry, fabrics, textiles, fibers, and hard surfaces. Anionic Surfactants

One type of anionic surfactant which can be utilized is alkyl ester sulfonates. These are desirable because they can be made with renewable, non-petroleum resources. Preparation of the alkyl ester sulfonate surfactant component is according to known methods disclosed in the technical literature. For instance, linear esters of C8-C20 carboxylic acids can be 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, and coconut oils, etc.

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

0

R3 - CH - C - OR*

SO3M

wherein R3 is a C8-C20 hydrocarbyl, preferably an alkyl, or combination thereof, R ⁴ is a Ci-Cg hydrocarbyl, preferably an alkyl, or combination thereof, and M is a soluble salt-forming cation. Suitable salts include metal salts such as sodium, potassium, and lithium salts, and substituted or unsubstituted ammonium salts, such as methyl-, dimethyl, -trimethyl , and quaternary ammonium cations, e.g. tetramethyl-ammonium and dimethyl piperydinium, and cations derived from alkanolamines, e.g. monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, and triethanolamine.

Preferably, R ³ is C10-C16 alkyl, and R ⁴ is methyl, ethyl or isopropyl. Especially preferred are the methyl ester sulfonates wherein R ³ is C14-C16 alkyl. Alkyl sulfate surfactants are another type of anionic surfactant of importance for use herein. In addition to providing excellent overall cleaning ability when used in combination with polyhydroxy fatty acid amides (see below), including good grease/oil cleaning over a wide range of temperatures, wash concentrations, and wash times, dissolution of alkyl sulfates can be obtained, as well as improved formulability in liquid detergent formulations are water soluble salts or acids of the formula ROSO3M wherein R preferably is. a C10-C24 hydrocarbyl, preferably an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl having a C10-C20 alkyl component, more preferably a C12-C18 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl , and M is H or a cation, e.g., an alkali metal cation (e.g., sodium, potassium, lithium), substituted or unsubstituted ammonium cations such as methyl-, dimethyl-, and trimethyl ammonium and quaternary ammonium cations, e.g., tetramethyl-ammonium and dimethyl piperdinium, and cations derived from alkanolamines such as ethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, and mixtures thereof, and the like. Typically, alkyl chains of C12-I6 ^ar e preferred for lower wash temperatures (e.g., below about 50 ^* C) and C 6_ s alkyl chains are preferred for higher wash temperatures (e.g., above about 50 ^* C).

Alkyl alkoxylated sulfate surfactants are another category of useful anionic surfactant. These surfactants are water soluble salts or acids typically of the formula R0(A) _m S03M wherein R is an unsubstituted C10-C2 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group having a C10-C24 alkyl component, preferably a C12-C20 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl , more preferably 1 - 18 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 ethoxy!ated sulfates as well as alkyl propoxylated sulfates are contemplated herein. Specific examples of substituted ammonium cations include methyl-, dimethyl-, tri ethyl-ammonium and quaternary ammonium cations, such as tetramethyl-ammonium, dimethyl piperydinium and cations derived from alkanolamines, e.g. monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, and triethanolamine, and mixtures thereof. Exemplary surfactants are C12-C18 alkyl polyethoxylate (1.0) sulfate, C12-C18 alkyl polyethoxylate (2.25) sulfate, C12-C18 alkyl polyethoxylate (3.0) sulfate, and C12-C18 alkyl polyethoxylate (4.0) sulfate wherein M is conveniently selected from sodium and potassium. Other Anionic Surfactants

Other anionic surfactants useful for detersive purposes can also be included in the compositions hereof. These can include salts (including, for example, sodium, potassium, ammonium, and substituted ammonium salts such as mono-, di- and triethanolamine salts) of soap, C9-C20 linear alkylbenzenesulphonates, C8-C22 primary or secondary al anesulphonates, C8-C2 olefinsulphonates, sulphonated polycarboxylic acids prepared by sulphonation of the pyrolyzed product of alkaline earth metal citrates, e.g., as described in British Patent Specification No. 1,082,179, alkyl glycerol sulfonates, fatty acyl glycerol sulfonates, fatty oleyl glycerol sulfates, alkyl phenol ethylene oxide ether sulfates, paraffin sulfonates, alkyl phosphates, isothionates such as the acyl isothionates, N-acyl taurates, fatty acid amides of methyl tauride, alkyl succinamates and sulfosuccinates, monoesters of sulfosuccinate (especially saturated and unsaturated C1 -C18 monoesters) diesters of sulfosuccinate (especially saturated and unsaturated C6-C14 diesters), N-acyl sarcosinates, sulfates of alkylpolysaccharides such as the sulfates of alkylpolyglucoside (the nonionic nonsulfated compounds being described below), branched primary alkyl sulfates, alkyl polyethoxy carboxylates such as those of the formula RO(CH2CH2θ)kCH2COO- + wherein R is a C8-C22 alkyl, k is an integer from 0 to 10, and M is a soluble

salt-forming cation, and fatty acids esterified with isethionic acid and neutralized with sodium hydroxide. 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 given 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). Nonionic Detergent Surfactants

Suitable nonionic detergent surfactants are generally disclosed in U.S. Patent 3,929,678, Laughlin et al . , issued December 30, 1975, at column 13, line 14 through column 16, line 6, incorporated herein by reference. Exemplary, non-limiting classes of useful nonionic surfactants are listed below.

1. The polyethylene, polypropylene, and polybutylene oxide condensates of alkyl phenols. In general, the polyethylene oxide condensates are preferred. These compounds include the condensation products of alkyl phenols having an alkyl group containing from about 6 to about 12 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 5 to about 25 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 TritonTM χ-45, χ-H4, X-100, and X-102, all marketed by the Rohm & Haas Company. These compounds are commonly referred to as alkyl phenol alkoxylates, (e.g., alkyl phenol ethoxylates) .

2. The condensation products of aliphatic alcohols with from about 1 to about 25 moles of ethylene oxide. 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. Particularly preferred are the condensation products of alcohols having an alkyl group containing from about 10 to about 20 carbon atoms with from about 2 to about 18 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol. Examples of commercially available nonionic surfactants of this type include Tergitol™ 15-S-9 (the condensation product of C11-C15 linear secondary alcohol with 9 moles ethylene oxide), Tergitol™ 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 conden¬ sation product of C14-C15 linear alcohol with 9 moles of ethylene oxide), Neodol™ 23-6.5 (the condensation product of C12-C13 linear alcohol with 6.5 moles of ethylene oxide), Neodol™ 45-7 (the condensation product of C14-C15 linear alcohol with 7 moles of ethylene oxide), Neodol™ 45-4 (the condensation product of C14-C15 linear alcohol with 4 moles of ethylene oxide), marketed by Shell Chemical Company, and Kyro™ EOB (the condensation product of C13-C15 alcohol with 9 moles ethylene oxide), marketed by The Procter & Gamble Company. This category of nonionic surfactant is referred to generally as "alkyl ethoxylates."

3. The condensation products of ethylene oxide with a hydrophobic base formed by the condensation of propylene oxide with propylene glycol. The hydrophobic portion of these compounds preferably has a molecular weight of from about 1500 to about 1800 and exhibits 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 Pluronic™ surfactants, marketed by BASF.

4. 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.

5. 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 f

wherein R ³ is an alkyl, hydroxyalkyl , or alkyl phenyl group or mixtures thereof containing from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms; R ⁴ 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 R ⁵ 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 R ⁵ 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 Cio-Cis alkyl dimethyl amine oxides and C8-C12 alkoxy ethyl dihydroxy ethyl amine oxides.

6. 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.

Optionally, and less desirably, there can be a polyalkylene- oxide chain joining the hydrophobic moiety and the polysaccharide moiety. The preferred alkyleneoxide is ethylene oxide. Typical hydrophobic groups include alkyl groups, either saturated or unsaturated, branched or unbranched containing from about 8 to about 18, preferably from about 10 to about 16, carbon atoms. Preferably, the alkyl group is a straight chain saturated alkyl group. The alkyl group can contain up to about 3 hydroxy groups and/or the polyalkyleneoxide chain can contain up to about 10, preferably less than 5, alkyleneoxide moieties. Suitable alkyl

polysaccharides are octyl , nonyldecyl, undecyldodecyl , tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl , hexadecyl, heptadecyl, and octadecyl , di-, tri-, tetra-, penta-, and hexaglucosides, galactosides, lactosides, glucoses, fructosides, fructoses and/or galactoses. Suitable mixtures include coconut alkyl, di-, tri-, tetra-, and pentaglucosides and tallow alkyl tetra-, penta-, and hexa¬ glucosides.

The preferred alkylpolyglycosides have the formula R ² 0(C _n H _2n O)t(glycosyl) _x wherein R ² is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, al yl- phenyl, 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 pre¬ ferably 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-pos.ition, preferably predominately the 2-position. 7. Fatty acid amide surfactants having the formula:

wherein R ⁶ is an alkyl group containing from about 7 to about 21 (preferably from about 9 to about 17) carbon atoms and each R ⁷ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C4 alkyl, C1-C4 hydroxyalkyl , and -(C2H4θ) _x H where x varies from about 1 to about 3.

Preferred amides are C8-C 0 ammonia amides, onoethanol- amides, diethanolamides, and isopropanolamides. Cationic Surfactants Cationic detersive surfactants can also be included in detergent compositions of the present invention. Cationic surfactants include the ammonium surfactants such as alkyldimethylammonium halogenides, and those surfactants having the formula: [R2(0R ³ )y][R ⁴ (0R ³ ) _y ]2R ⁵ N+X- wherein R ² is an alkyl or alkyl benzyl group having from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain, each R ³ is selected from the group consisting of -CH2CH2-, -CH CH(CH3)-, -CH2CH(CH20H)-, -CH2CH2CH2-, and mixtures thereof; each R ⁴ is selected from the group consisting of C1-C4 alkyl, C1-C4 hydroxyal yl , benzyl, ring structures formed by joining the two R ⁴ groups, -CH2CHOH-CHOHCOR ⁶ CHOHCH2θH wherein R ⁶ 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 R ⁴ or is an alkyl chain wherein the total number of carbon atoms of R ² plus R5 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.

Other cationic surfactants useful herein are also described in U.S. Patent 4,228,044, Cambre, issued October 14, 1980, incorporated herein by reference. Other Surfactants

Ampholytic surfactants can be incorporated into the detergent compositions hereof. 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 chain or branched. 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 (herein incorporated by reference) for examples of ampholytic surfactants.

Zwitterionic surfactants can also be incorporated into the detergent compositions hereof. These surfactants can be broadly described as derivatives of secondary and tertiary amines, derivatives of heterocyclic secondary and tertiary amines, or derivatives of quaternary ammonium, .quaternary phosphonium or tertiary sulfonium compounds. 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 (herein incorporated by reference) for examples of zwitterionic surfactants. Ampholytic and zwitterionic surfactants are generally used in combination with one or more anionic and/or nonionic surfactants. Polvhvdroxy Fatty Acid Amide Surfactant

The liquid detergent compositions hereof preferably contain an "enzyme performance-enhancing amount" of polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactant. By "enzyme-enhancing" is meant that the formulator of the composition can select an amount of polyhydroxy fatty acid amide to be incorporated into the composition that will improve enzyme cleaning performance of the detergent composition. In general, for conventional levels of enzyme, the incorporation of about 1%, by weight, polyhydroxy fatty acid amide will enhance enzyme performance.

The detergent compositions hereof will typically comprise at least about 1 weight % polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactant and preferably will comprise from about 3% to 50%, most preferably from about 3% to 30%, of the polyhydroxy fatty acid amide.

The polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactant component comprises compounds of the structural formula:

Rl

I

(I) R2 - C - N - Z

wherein: R ¹ is H, C1-C4 hydrocarbyl, 2-hydroxy ethyl, 2-hydroxy propyl, or a mixture thereof, preferably C1-C4 alkyl, more preferably Ci or C2 alkyl, most preferably Ci alkyl (i.e., methyl); and R ² is a C5-C31 hydrocarbyl, preferably straight chain C7-C19 alkyl or alkenyl, more preferably straight chain C9-C17 alkyl or alkenyl, most preferably straight chain C11-C15 alkyl or alkenyl, or mixtures thereof; and Z is a polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl having a linear hydrocarbyl chain with at least 3 hydroxyls directly connected to the chain, or an alkoxylated derivative (preferably ethoxylated or propoxylated) thereof. Z preferably will be derived from a reducing sugar in a reductive amination reaction; more preferably Z will be a glycityl. Suitable reducing sugars include glucose, fructose, maltose, lactose, galactose, mannose, and xylose. As raw materials, high dextrose corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, and high maltose corn syrup can be utilized as well as the individual sugars listed above. These corn syrups may yield a mix of sugar components for Z. It should be understood that it is by no means intended to exclude other suitable raw materials. Z preferably will be selected from the group consisting of -CH ₂ -(CH0H) _n -CH ₂ 0H, -CH(CH ₂ 0H)-(CH0H) _n .,- CH ₂ 0H, -CH ₂ -(CH0H)2(CH0R')(CH0H)-CH20H, and alkoxylated derivatives thereof, where n is an integer from 3 to 5, inclusive, and R' is H or a cyclic or aliphatic monosaccharide. Most preferred are glycityls wherein n is 4, particularly -CH2- (CH0H)4-CH20H. In Formula (I), R' can be, for example, N-methyl, N-ethyl, N-propyl, N-isopropyl, N-butyl, N-2-hydroxy ethyl, or N-2-hydroxy propyl .

R ^z -C0-N< can be, for example, cocamide, stearamide, oleamide, lauramide, myristamide, capricamide, palmitamide, tallowamide, etc.

Z can be 1-deoxyglucityl , 2-deoxyfructityl , 1-deoxymaltityl , 1-deoxylactityl, 1-deoxygalactityl, 1-deoxymannityl , 1-deoxymalto- triotityl, etc. Methods for making polyhydroxy fatty acid amides are known in the art. In general, they can be made by reacting an alkyl amine with a reducing sugar in a reductive amination reaction to form a corresponding N-alkyl polyhydroxyamine, and then reacting the N-alkyl polyhydroxyamine with a fatty aliphatic ester or triglyceride in a condensation/amidation step to form the N-alkyl, N-polyhydroxy fatty acid amide product. Processes for making compositions containing polyhydroxy fatty acid amides are disclosed, for example, in G.B. Patent Specification 809,060, published February 18, 1959, U.S. Patent 2,965,576, issued December 20, 1960 to E. R. Wilson, and U.S. Patent 2,703,798, Anthony M. Schwartz, issued March 8, 1955, and U.S. Patent 1,985,424, issued December 25, 1934 to Piggott, each of which is incorporated herein by reference. E. Optional Ingredients Detergency Builders

From 0 to about 50, preferably about 3 to 30, more preferably about 5 to 20, weight % detergency builder can be included herein. Inorganic as well as organic builders can be used-.

Inorganic detergency builders include, but are not limited to, the alkali metal, ammonium and alkanolammonium salts of polyphosphates (exemplified by the tripolyphosphates, pyrophosphates, and glassy polymeric eta-phosphates), phosphonates, phytic acid, silicates, carbonates (including bicarbonates and sesquicarbonates), sulphates, and aluminosili- cates. Borate builders, as well as builders containing borate-forming materials that can produce borate under detergent storage or wash conditions (hereinafter, collectively "borate builders"), can also be used. Preferably, non-borate builders are used in the compositions of the invention intended for use at wash conditions less than about 50 ^β C, especially less than about 40 ^β C.

Examples of silicate builders are the alkali metal silicates, particularly those having a Siθ2:Na2θ ratio in the range 1.6:1 to 3.2:1 and layered silicates, such as the layered sodium silicates described in U.S. Patent 4,664,839, issued May 12, 1987 to H. P. Rieck, incorporated herein by reference. However, other silicates may also be useful such as for example magnesium silicate, which can serve as a crispening agent in granular formulations, as a stabilizing agent for oxygen bleaches, and as a component of suds control systems.

Examples of carbonate builders are the alkaline earth and alkali metal carbonates, including sodium carbonate and sesquicarbonate and mixtures thereof with ultra-fine calcium carbonate as disclosed in German Patent Application No. 2,321,001 published on November 15, 1973, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Aluminosilicate builders are useful in the present invention. Aluminosilicate builders are of great importance in most currently marketed heavy duty granular detergent compositions, and can also be a significant builder ingredient in liquid detergent formulations. Aluminosilicate builders include those having the empirical formula:

M _z (zAlθ2-ySiθ2) wherein M is sodium, potassium, ammonium or substituted ammonium, ∑ is from about 0.5 to about 2; and y is 1; this material having a magnesium ion exchange capacity of at least about 50 milligram equivalents of CaCθ3 hardness per gram of anhydrous aluminosilicate. Preferred aluminosilicates are zeolite builders which have the formula: Na _z [(Alθ2) _z (Siθ2)y] -xH2θ wherein z and y are integers of at least 6, the molar ratio of z to y is in the range from 1.0 to about 0.5, and x is an integer from about 15 to about 264.

Useful aluminosilicate ion exchange materials are commercially available. These aluminosilicates can be crystalline

or amorphous in structure and can be naturally-occurring aluminosilicates or synthetically derived. A method for producing aluminosilicate ion exchange materials is disclosed in U.S. Patent 3,985,669, Krummel , et al., issued October 12, 1976, incorporated herein by reference. Preferred synthetic crystalline aluminosilicate ion exchange materials useful herein are available under the designations Zeolite A, Zeolite P (B), and Zeolite X. In an especially preferred embodiment, the crystalline aluminosilicate ion exchange material has the formula:

Nai2[(Alθ2)i2(Siθ2)i2]-xH2θ wherein x is from about 20 to about 30, especially about 27. This material is known as Zeolite A. Preferably, the aluminosi icate has a particle size of about 0.1-10 microns in diameter. Specific examples of polyphosphates are the alkali metal tripolyphosphates, sodium, potassium and ammonium pyrophosphate, sodium and potassium and ammonium pyrophosphate, sodium and potassium orthophosphate, sodium polymeta phosphate in which the degree of polymerization ranges from about 6 to about 21, and salts of phytic acid.

Examples of phosphonate builder salts are the water-soluble salts of ethane 1-hydroxy-l, 1-diphosphonate particularly the sodium and potassium salts, the water-soluble salts of methylene diphosphonic acid e.g. the trisodium and tripotassium salts and the water-soluble salts of substituted methylene diphosphonic acids, such as the trisodium and tripotassium ethyl idene, isopyropylidene benzylmethylidene and halo methylidene phosphonates. Phosphonate builder salts of the aforementioned types are disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,159,581 and 3,213,030 issued December 1, 1964 and October 19, 1965, to Diehl; U.S. Patent No. ^' 3,422,021 issued January 14, 1969, to Roy; and U.S. Patent Nos. 3,400,148 and 3,422,137 issued September 3, 1968, and January 14, 1969 to Quimby, said disclosures being incorporated herein by reference.

Organic detergent builders preferred for the purposes of the present invention include a wide variety of polycarboxylate compounds. As used herein, "polycarboxylate" refers to compounds having a plurality of carboxylate groups, preferably at least 3 carboxylates.

Polycarboxylate builder can generally be added to the composition in acid form, but can also be added in the form of a neutralized salt. When utilized in salt form, alkali metals, such as sodium, potassium, and lithium, or alkanolammonium salts are preferred.

Included among the polycarboxylate builders are a variety of categories of useful materials. One important category of polycarboxylate builders encompasses the ether polycarboxylates. A number of ether polycarboxylates have been disclosed for use as detergent builders. Examples of useful ether polycarboxylates include oxydisuccinate, as disclosed in Berg, U.S. Patent 3,128,287, issued April 7, 1964, and Lamberti et al . , U.S. Patent 3,635,830, issued January 18, 1972, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

A specific type of ether polycarboxylates useful as builders in the present invention also include those having the general formula:

CH(A)(COOX)-CH(CO0X)-O-CH(C0OX)-CH(CO0X)(B) wherein A is H or OH; B is H or -0-CH(C00X)-CH2(C00X) ; and X is H or a salt-forming cation. For example, if in the above general formula A and B are both H, then the compound is oxydissuccinic acid and its water-soluble salts. If A is OH and B is H, then the compound is tartrate monosuccinic acid (TMS) and its water-soluble salts. If A is H and B is -0-CH(C00X)-CH2(C00X), then the compound is tartrate disuccinic acid (TDS) and its water-soluble salts. Mixtures of these builders are especially preferred for use herein. Particularly preferred are mixtures of TMS and TDS in a weight ratio of TMS to TDS of from about 97:3 to about 20:80. These builders are disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,663,071, issued to

Bush et al., on May 5, 1987.

Suitable ether polycarboxylates also include cyclic compounds, particularly alicyclic compounds, such as those described in U.S. Patents 3,923,679; 3,835,163; 4,158,635;

4,120,874 and 4,102,903, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Other useful detergency builders include the ether hydroxypolycarboxylates represented by the structure: H0-[C(R)(C00M)-C(R)(C00M)-0] _n -H wherein M is hydrogen or a cation wherein the resultant salt is water-soluble, preferably an alkali metal, ammonium or substituted ammonium cation, n is from about 2 to about 15 (preferably n is from about 2 to about 10, more preferably n averages from about 2 to about 4) and each R is the same or different and selected from hydrogen, C1-4 alkyl or C1-4 substituted alkyl (preferably R is hydrogen).

Still other ether polycarboxylates include copolymers of maleic anhydride with ethylene or vinyl methyl ether, 1, 3, 5-trihydroxy benzene-2, 4, 6-trisulphonic acid, and carboxymethyloxysuccinic acid.

Organic polycarboxylate builders also include the various alkali metal, ammonium and substituted ammonium salts of polyacetic acids. Examples include the sodium, potassium, lithium, ammonium and substituted ammonium salts of ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid, and nitrilotriacetic acid.

Also included are polycarboxylates such as mellitic acid, succinic acid, oxydisuccinic acid, polymaleic acid, benzene 1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid, and carboxymethyloxysuccinic acid, and soluble salts thereof.

Citrate builders, e.g., citric acid and soluble salts thereof (particularly sodium salt), are polycarboxylate builders of particular importance for heavy duty liquid detergent formulations, but can also be used in granular compositions.

Other carboxylate builders include the carboxylated carbohydrates disclosed in U.S. Patent 3,723,322, Diehl, issued March 28, 1973, incorporated herein by reference. Also suitable in the detergent compositions of the present invention are the 3,3-dicarboxy-4-oxa-l,6-hexanedioates and the related compounds disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,566,984, Bush, issued January 28, 1986, incorporated herein by reference. Useful succinic acid builders include the C5-C20 alkyl succinic acids and salts thereof. A particularly preferred compound of this type is dodecenylsuccinic acid. Alkyl succinic acids typically are of the general formula R-CH(C00H)CH2(C00H) i.e., derivatives of succinic acid, wherein R is hydrocarbon, e.g., C10-C20 alkyl or alkenyl, preferably C1 -C16 or wherein R may be substituted with hydroxyl, sulfo, sulfoxy or sulfone substituents, all as described in the above-mentioned patents.

The succinate builders are preferably used in the form of their water-soluble salts, including the sodium, potassium, ammonium and alkanolammonium salts. Specific examples of succinate builders include: laurylsuc¬ cinate, myristylsuccinate, palmitylsuccinate, 2-dodecenylsuccinate (preferred), 2-pentadecenylsuccinate, and the like. Laurylsuc- cinates are the preferred builders of this group, and are described in European Patent Application 86200690.5/0,200,263, published November 5, 1986.

Examples of useful builders also include sodium and potassium carboxymethyloxymalonate, carboxymethyloxysuccinate, cis-cyclo- hexane-hexacarboxylate, cis-cyclopentane-tetracarboxylate, water- soluble polyacrylates (these polyacrylates having molecular weights to above about 2,000 can also be effecitvly utilized as dispersants), and the copolymers of maleic anhydride with vinyl methyl ether or ethylene.

Other suitable polycarboxylates are the polyacetal car- boxylates disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,144,226, Crutchfield et al ., issued March 13, 1979, incorporated herein by reference. These

polyacetal carboxylates can be prepared by bringing together, under polymerization conditions, an ester of glyoxylic acid and a polymerization initiator. The resulting polyacetal carboxylate ester is then attached to chemically stable end groups to stabilize the polyacetal carboxylate against rapid depolymeriza- tion in alkaline solution, converted to the corresponding salt, and added to a surfactant.

Polycarboxylate builders are also disclosed in U.S. Patent 3,308,067, Diehl, issued March 7, 1967, incorporated herein by reference. Such materials include the water-soluble salts of homo- and copolymers of aliphatic carboxylic acids such as maleic acid, itaconic acid, mesaconic acid, fumaric acid, aconitic acid, citraconic acid and methylenemalonic acid. Other organic builders known in the art can also be used. For example, monocarboxylic acids, and soluble salts thereof, having long chain hydrocarbyls can be utilized. These would include materials generally referred to as "soaps." Chain lengths of C10-C20 are typically utilized. The hydrocarbyls can be saturated or unsaturated. Soil Release Agent

Any soil release agents known to those skilled in the art can be employed in the practice of this invention. Preferred polymeric soil release agents are characterized by having both hydrophilic segments, to hydrophilize the surface of hydrophobic fibers, such as polyester and nylon, and hydrophobic segments, to deposit upon hydrophobic fibers 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 procedures.

Whereas it can be beneficial to utilize polymeric soil release agents in any of the detergent compositions hereof, especially those compositions utilized for laundry or other applications wherein removal of grease and oil from hydrophobic

surfaces is needed, the presence of polyhydroxy fatty acid amide in detergent compositions also containing anionic surfactants can enhance performance of many of the more commonly utilized types of polymeric soil release agents. Anionic surfactants interfere with the ability of certain soil release agents to deposit upon and adhere to hydrophobic surfaces. These polymeric soil release agents have nonionic hydrophile segments or hydrophobe segments which are anionic surfactant-interactive. Typical polymeric soil release agents useful in this invention include those having: (a) one or more nonionic hydrophile components consisting essentially of (i) polyoxy¬ ethylene segments with a degree of polymerization of at least 2, or (ii) oxypropylene or polyoxypropylene segments with a degree of polymerization of from 2 to 10, wherein said hydrophile segment does not encompass any oxypropylene unit unless it is bonded to adjacent moieties at each end by ether linkages, or (iii) a mixture of oxyalkylene units comprising oxyethylene and from 1 to about 30 oxypropylene units wherein said mixture contains a sufficient amount of oxyethylene units such that the hydrophile component has hydrophilicity great enough to increase the hydrophilicity of conventional polyester synthetic fiber surfaces upon deposit of the soil release agent on such surface, said hydrophile segments preferably comprising at least about 25% oxyethylene units and more preferably, especially for such components having about 20 to 30 oxypropylene units, at least about 50% oxyethylene units; or (b) one or more hydrophobe components comprising (i) C3 oxyalkylene terephthalate segments, wherein, if said hydrophobe components also comprise oxyethylene terephthalate, the ratio of oxyethylene terephthalate:C3 oxyalkylene terephthalate units is about 2:1 or lower, (ii) C4-C6 alkylene or oxy C4-C5 alkylene segments, or mixtures thereof, (iii) poly (vinyl ester) segments, preferably poly(vinyl acetate), having a degree of polymerization of at least 2, or (iv) C1-C4 alkyl ether or C4 hydroxyalkyl ether substituents, or mixtures

thereof, wherein said substituents are present in the form of C1-C4 alkyl ether or C4 hydroxyalkyl ether cellulose derivatives, or mixtures thereof, and such cellulose derivatives are amphiphilic, whereby they have a sufficient level of C1-C4 alkyl ether and/or C4 hydroxyalkyl ether units to deposit upon conventional polyester synthetic fiber surfaces and retain a sufficient level of hydroxyls, once adhered to such conventional synthetic fiber surface, to increase fiber surface hydrophilicity, or a combination of (a) and (b).

Useful soil release polymers are described in U.S. Patent 4,000,093, issued December 28, 1976 to Nicol et al . , European Patent Application 0 219 048, ^" published April 22, 1987 by Kud et al. U.S. Patent 3,959,230 to Hays, issued May 25, 1976, U.S. Patent 3,893,929 to Basadur issued July 8, 1975, U.S. Patent 4,702,857, issued October 27, 1987 to Gosselink, U.S. Patent 4,711,730, issued December 8, 1987 to Gosselink et al . , U.S. Patent 4,721,580, issued January 26, 1988 to Gosselink, U.S. Patent 4,702,857, issued October 27, 1987 to Gosselink, U.S. Patent 4,877,896, issued October 31, 1989 to Maldonado et al . All of these patents are incorporated herein by reference.

If utilized, soil release agents will generally comprise from about 0.01% to about 10.0%, by weight, of the detergent composi¬ tions herein, typically from about 0.1% to about 5%, preferably from about 0.2% to about 3.0%. Chelating Agents

The detergent compositions herein may also optionally contain one or more iron and manganese chelating agents as a builder adjunct material. Such chelating agents can be selected from the group consisting of amino carboxylates, amino phosphonates, polyfunctionally -substituted aromatic chelating agents and mixtures thereof, 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 in compositions of the invention can have one or more, preferably at least two, units of the substructure

CH

\

N - (CH2)χ - COOM,

wherein M is hydrogen, alkali metal, ammonium or substituted ammonium (e.g. ethanolamine) and x is from 1 to about 3, pref¬ erably 1. Preferably, these amino carboxylates do not contain alkyl or alkenyl groups with more than about 6 carbon atoms. Operable amine carboxylates include ethylenediaminetetraacetates, N-hydroxyethylethylenediaminetriacetates, nitri1otriacetates, ethylenediamine tetraproprionates, triethylenetetraaminehexa- acetates, diethylenetriaminepentaacetates, and ethanoldiglycines, alkali metal, ammonium, and substituted ammonium salts thereof and mixtures thereof.

Amino phosphonates are also suitable for use as chelating agents in the compositions of the invention when at least low levels of total phosphorus are permitted in detergent composi¬ tions. Compounds with one or more, preferably at least two, units of the substructure

—CH ₂

N (CH ₂ )χ P0 ₃ M ₂ ,

wherein M is hydrogen, alkali metal, ammonium or substituted ammonium and x is from 1 to about 3, preferably 1, are useful and include ethylenediaminetetrakis (methylenephosphonates), nitrilotris (methylenephosphonates) and diethylenetriaminepentakis (methylenephosphonates). Preferably, these amino phosphonates do

not contain alkyl or alkenyl groups with more than about 6 carbon atoms. Alkylene groups can be shared by substructures.

Polyfunctionally - substituted aromatic chelating agents are also useful in the compositions herein. These materials can comprise compounds having the general formula

wherein at least one R is -SO3H or -COOH or soluble salts thereof and mixtures thereof. U.S. Patent 3,812,044, issued May 21, 1974, to Connor et al . , incorporated herein by reference, discloses polyfunctionally - substituted aromatic chelating and sequestering agents. Preferred compounds of this type in acid form are dihydroxydisulfobenzenes such as 1,2-dihydroxy -3,5-disulfo- benzene. Alkaline detergent compositions can contain these materials in the form of alkali metal, ammonium or substituted ammonium (e.g. mono-or triethanol-amine) salts.

If utilized, these chelating agents will generally comprise from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of the detergent composi- tions herein. More preferably chelating agents will comprise from about 0.1% to about 3.0% by weight of such compositions.

Clay Soil Removal/Anti-redeposition Agents

The compositions of the present invention can also optionally contain water-soluble ethoxylated amines having clay soil removal and anti-redeposition properties. Liquid detergent compositions which contain these compounds typically contain from about 0.01% to 5%.

The most preferred soil release and anti-redeposition agent is ethoxylated tetraethylenepentamine. Exemplary ethoxylated amines are further described in U.S. Patent 4,597,898, VanderMeer,

issued July 1, 1986, incorporated herein by reference. Another group of preferred clay soil removal/anti-redeposition agents are the cationic compounds disclosed in European Patent Application 111,965, Oh and Gosselink, published June 27, 1984, incorporated herein by reference. Other clay soil removal/anti-redeposition agents which can be used include the ethoxylated amine polymers disclosed in European Patent Application 111,984, Gosselink, published June 27, 1984; the zwitterionic polymers disclosed in European Patent Application 112,592, Gosselink, published July 4, 1984; and the amine oxides disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,548,744, Connor, issued October 22, 1985, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Other clay soil removal and/or anti redeposition agents known in the art can also be utilized in the compositions hereof. Another type of preferred anti-redeposition agent includes the carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) materials. These materials are well known in the art. Polymeric Dispersing Agents Polymeric dispersing agents can advantageously be utilized in the compositions hereof. These materials can aid in calcium and magnesium hardness control. Suitable polymeric dispersing agents include polymeric polycarboxylates and polyethylene glycols, although others known in the art can also be used. Suitable polymeric dispersing agents for use herein are described in U.S. Patent 3,308,067, Diehl, issued March 7, 1967, and European Patent Application No. 66915, published December 15, 1982, both incorporated herein by reference. Briqhtener Any suitable optical brighteners or other brightening or whitening agents known in the art can be incorporated into the detergent compositions hereof.

Commercial optical brighteners which may be useful in the present invention can be classified into subgroups which include, but are not necessarily limited to, derivatives of stilbene,

pyrazoline, coumarin, carboxylic acid, methinecyanines, dibenzothiphene-5,5-dioxide, azoles, 5- and 6-membered-ring heterocycles, and other miscellaneous agents. Examples of such brighteners are disclosed in "The Production and Application of Fluorescent Brightening Agents", M. Zahradnik, Published by John Wiley & Sons, New York (1982), the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Suds Suppressors Compounds known, or which become known, for reducing or suppressing the formation of suds can be incorporated into the compositions of the present invention. Suitable suds suppressors are described in Kirk Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, Third Edition, Volume 7, pages 430-447 (John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1979), U.S. Patent 2,954,347, issued September 27, 1960 to St. John, U.S. Patent 4,265,779, issued May 5, 1981 to Gandolfo et al., U.S. Patent 4,265,779, issued May 5, 1981 to Gandolfo et al . and European Patent Application No. 89307851.9, published February 7, 1990, U.S. Patent 3,455,839, German Patent Application DOS 2,124,526, U.S. Patent 3,933,672, Bartolotta et al . , and U.S. Patent 4,652,392, Baginski et al., issued March 24, 1987. All are incorporated herein by reference.

The compositions hereof will generally comprise from 0% to about 5% of suds suppressor. Other Ingredients

A wide variety of other ingredients useful in detergent compositions can be included in the compositions hereof, including other active ingredients, carriers, hydrotropes, processing aids, dyes or pigments, solvents for liquid formulations, bleaches, bleach activators, etc.

Liquid detergent compositions can contain water and other solvents as carriers. Low molecular weight primary or secondary alcohols exemplified by methanol, ethanol, propanol , . and isopropanol are suitable. Monohydric alcohols are preferred for solubilizing surfactant, but polyols such as those containing from

2 to about 6 carbon atoms and from 2 to about 6 hydroxy groups (e.g., propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, glycerine, and 1,2-propanediol) can also be used. Liquid Compositions

Preferred heavy duty liquid laundry detergent compositions hereof will preferably be formulated such that during use in aqueous cleaning operations, the wash water will have a pH of between about 6.5 and 11.0, preferably between about 7.0 and 8.5. The compositions herein preferably have a pH in a 10% solution in water at 20 ^# C of between about 6.5 to 11.0, preferably 7.0 to 8.5. Techniques for controlling pH at recommended usage levels include the use of buffers, alkalis, acids, etc., and are well known to those skilled in the art. This invention further provides a method for cleaning substrate, such as fibers, fabrics, hard surfaces, skin, etc., by contacting said substrate, with a liquid detergent composition comprising detersive surfactant, proteolytic enzyme, a detergent-compatible second enzyme, and the aryl boronic acids described above. Agitation is preferably provided for enhancing cleaning. Suitable means for providing agitation include rubbing by hand or preferably with use of a brush, sponge, cloth, mop, or other cleaning device, automatic laundry washing machines, automatic dishwashers, etc. Preferred herein are concentrated liquid detergent compositions. By "concentrated" is meant that these compositions will deliver to the wash the same amount of active detersive ingredients at a reduced dosage. Typical regular dosage of heavy duty liquids is 118 milliliters in the U.S. (about 1/2 cup) and 180 milliliters in Europe.

Concentrated heavy duty liquids herein contain about 10 to

100 weight % more active detersive ingredients than regular heavy duty liquids, and are dosed at less than 1/2 cup depending upon their active levels. This invention becomes even more useful in concentrated formulations because there are more actives to

interfere with enzyme performance. Preferred are heavy duty liquid laundry detergent compositions with from about 30 to 90, preferably 40 to 80, most preferably 50 to 60, weight % of active detersive ingredients.

The following examples illustrate the compositions of the present invention. All parts, percentages and ratios used herein are by weight unless otherwise specified.

EXAMPLES 1-8

A base composition is made as shown below and used in Examples 1-8:

BASE MATRIX 1

COMPONENT WT % 1) C14-15 alkyl polyethoxylate (2.25) sulfonic acid 10.00

2) C12.3 linear alkylbenzene sulfonic acid 8.50

3) C12-13 alkyl polyethoxylate (6.5) 2.40

4) Sodium cumene sulfonate 2.10

5) Ethanol 1.19 6) 1,2 propanediol 5.00

7) Sodium hydroxide 1.90

8) Monoethanolamine 2.40

9) Citric acid 1.50

10) C12-14 fatty acid 1.90 11) Tetraethylene pentaamine ethoxylate (15- 18) 1.44

12) Brightener 0.10

13) Calcium formate 0.05

14) Sodium formate 0.80

15) Water/Misc. 58.49 16) Polyethoxy terephthalate (MW=3170) 0.48

17) Dye /perfume 0.25

18) Ingredients per Examples 1-8 1.50

Total 100.00 The components are added in the order shown above. Base Matrix 1 is then used in the formulations shown below:

Method Used to Determine Residual Lipase Activity Initial lipase activity is measured using a pH-stat computer assisted titrimeter. A titration mixture is prepared using 10 M calcium chloride (CaC12), 20mM sodium chloride (NaCl) and 5mM tris buffer at a pH of 8.5-8.8. A commercial lipase substrate containing 5.0 wt% olive oil, and an emulsifier is used. 100 micro!iters of the detergent composition is added to the mixture. The fatty acids formed by lipase-catalysed hydrolysis are titrated against a standard sodium hydroxide solution. The slope of the titration curve is taken as the measure of lipase activity. Initial activity is measured immediately after the composition is prepared. The samples are then aged at 90 ^* F (32.2"C) and the residual activity is measured after two and three weeks of storage at 90'F. The residual activity in Table 1 below is reported as the percentage of initial activity. The inhibition constant (Ki) is used as a measure of the ability of an inhibitor to inhibit a proteolytic enzyme. The lower the Ki is, the better the inhibition is, according to the literature.

DATA TABLE 1

% REMAINING LIPASE ACTIVITY Ki** 2 WEEKS 3 WEEKS

Example 1 2.2x10-5 23* 7 Example 2 4.5x10-4 7 4 Example 3 9.4x10-6 43 31 Example 4 7.2x10-3 10* 7

Example 5 1.3x10-4 86 82 Example 6 6.0x10-7 80 68 Example 7 n.a. 100 60 Example 8 1.0x10-5 72 64

* Reading after 11 days.

** For subtilisin from Phillip & Bender article cited above. CONCLUSION: In liquid detergent compositions, only 3-substituted boronic acids (Examples 5-8), which have a common structure of:

X Y where X, Y and n are as described above, are effective inhibitors of proteolytic enzyme.

Other boronic acids (Examples 1-4) do not provide sufficient stability to lipase. This behavior surprisingly is not predictable from Ki values of these inhibitors for subtilisin type protease, which have been used in the past to predict the effectiveness of the inhibitor. From Kis, one would predict that 3-aminobenzene boronic acid (Example 5) would be inferior to 4-bromobenzene boronic acid (Example 1) or 4-chlorobenzene boronic acid (Example 3). In fact, 3-aminobenzene boronic acid is the most effective aryl boronic acid tested (after 3 weeks of storage at 90 ^* F; 32.2 ^* C).

Other compositions of the present invention are obtained when Protease B is substituted with other proteases such as Alcalase ^® , Savinase® and BPN', and/or lipase is substituted by or used in conjunction with other second enzymes such as amylase.

EXAMPLES 9-14 A concentrated built base composition, shown below, is made and used in Examples 9 -14:

BASE MATRIX 2 COMPONENT WT %

1) C14-15 alkyl polyethoxylate (2.25) sulfonic acid 10.60

2) C12.3 linear alkylbenzene sulfonic acid 12.50 3) C12-13 alkyl polyethoxylate (6.5) 2.40

4) Sodium cumene sulfonate 6.00

5) Ethanol 1.47

6) 1,2 propanediol 4.00

7) Sodium hydroxide 0.30 8) Monoethanolamine 1.00

9) Tetraethylene pentaamine ethoxylate (15- 18) 1.50

10) C12-14 Fatty acid 2.00

11) Water/Misc. 22.23

12) Ingredients per Examples 9-14 36.00

TOTAL 100.00 The ingredients are added in the order shown above. Base Matrix 2 is then used in the formulations shown below:

3-Aminobenzene boronic acid 0.50 3-Acetamidobenzene boronic acid -- 0.50 3-Methanesulfonamidobenzene boronic acid -- " 0.50

Water 19.54 19.54 19.54

TOTAL 100.00 100.00 100.00 pH (10% Formulation) (7.5-8.1)

The lipase activity was measured as described previously (Examples 1-8). The residual activity after 2 and 3 weeks is reported in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2

% RESIDUAL LIPASE ACTIVITY

** For subtilisin from Phillip & Bender article cited above. CONCLUSION: As in previous examples, 3-substituted aryl boronic acids provide superior stability to lipase in the presence of the proteolytic enzyme, contrary to what one would expect from Kis based on the literature.

Other compositions of the present invention are obtained when Protease B is substituted with other proteolytic enzymes such as Alcalase® and BPN', and/or lipase is substituted by other enzymes such as amylase. EXAMPLES 15-17

The following concentrated, built, base formula is made and used in Examples 15-17.

BASE MATRIX 3 COMPONENT WT % 1) C14-15 alkyl polyethoxylate (2.25) sulfonic acid 9.30

2) C12.3 linear alkyl benzene sulfonic acid

3) Polyhydroxy C12-H fatty acid amide

4) Sodium cumene sulfonate 5) Ethanol

6) 1,2 propane diol

7) Sodium hydroxide

8) Potassium hydroxide

9) Sodium tartrate mono- and di-succinate (80:20 mix)

10) Citric acid

11) C12-14 alkenyl succinic acid

12) Sodium formate

13) Water/Misc. 14) Ingredients per Examples 15-17

TOTAL

The composition is made by adding the ingredients in the above order and used in the formulations below.

Base Matrix 3

Protease B (34 g/L)

Lipase (100,000 LU/g)

4-Methoxybenzene boronic acid 1.00 3-Aminobenzene boronic acid -- 1.00

3-Acetamidobenzene boronic acid-- -- 1.00

Water 10.20 10.20 10.20

TOTAL 100.00 100.00 100.00 pH (10% Solution) (7.9-8.5) Lipase activity is measured as explained previously (Examples

1-8). The residual activity after 9 and 20 days is reported in

Table 3 below.

DATA TABLE 3 % RETAINED LIPASE ACTIVITY 9 DAYS 20 DAYS Example 15 4 0

Example 16 73 55

Example 17 84 68

CONCLUSIONS: The 3-substituted aryl boronic acids provide significantly superior lipase stability (Examples 16-17) compared to other boronic acids (Example 15).

Other compositions of the present invention are obtained when Protease B is substituted with other proteases such as Alcalase® and BPN', and/or lipase is substituted by other second enzymes such as amylase. EXAMPLES 18-20

The Base Matrix composition shown below is made and used in Examples 18-20 below:

BASE MATRIX 4 COMPONENT WT % 1) C14-15 alkyl polyethoxylate (2.25) sulfonic acid 12.00

2) C12.3 linear alkylbenzene sulfonate 12.50

3) C12-13 alkyl polyethoxylate (6.5) 3.00

4) Sodium cumene sulfonate 6.00

5) Ethanol 1.47 6) 1,2 propanediol 4.00

7) Sodium hydroxide 2.00

8) Tetraethylenepentaamine ethoxylate (15- 18) 1.50

9) Water/Misc. 45.03 10)Ingredients per Examples 18-20 12.50 TOTAL 100.00

The Base Matrix 4 is used in the Examples 18-20 below.

EX 18 EX 19 EX 20 WT % WT % . WT % Base 87.50 87.50 87.50

Protease B (34 g/L) 0.55 0.55 0.55

Lipolase (100,000 LU/g) 0.75 0.75 0.75

3-Nitrobenzene boronic acid 0.20 3-Aminobenzene boronic acid -- 0.20

3-Acetamidobenzene boronic acid --

Water 11.00

TOTAL 100.00

EXAMPLES 21-23 A base matrix composition was prepared as shown below and used in Examples 21-23 below:

BASE MATRIX 5

COMPONENT WT %

I) C12.3 l inear al kyl benzene sul fonic acid 7.25 2) C14-15 al kyl polyethoxyl ate (7) 8.00

3) Coconut al kyl sul fonic acid 1.75

4) Dodecenyl succinic acid 5.00

5) Citric acid 9.00

6) Diethylenedinitrilopentakismethylene phosphonic acid 0.70 7) Ethanol 4.00

8) 1,2 propanediol 2.00

9) Sodium hydroxide 7.70

10) Water/Misc. 44.10

II) Perfume 0.30 12) Brightener 0.16

13) Suds supressor 0.03

14) Calcium chloride 0.01

15) Ingredients per Examples 21-23 10.00

16) Ethoxylated polyethylene terephthalate 0.20 TOTAL 100.00

Base Matrix 5 is used to prepare samples as shown in Examples 21-23.

EX 21 EX 22 EX 23

WT % WT % WT % Base Matrix 5 90.00 90.00 90.00

Lipase activity is measured as explained previously (Examples 1-8). The residual activity after 1 and 2 weeks at 35'C is reported in Table 4 below:

DATA TABLE 4 % RETAINED LIPASE ACTIVITY

Other compositions of the present invention are obtained when Protease B is substituted with other proteases such as Alcalase®, Savinase ^® and BPN', and/or lipase is substituted by or used in conjunction with other second enzymes such as amylase. WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: