Reference to a Sequence Listing

This application comprises a Sequence Listing in computer readable form, which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to compositions with improved cleaning and/or wash performance. The invention also relates to methods of using the compositions of the invention.

Description of the Related Art

Compositions comprising enzymes have been used for cleaning and washing for many decades. The compositions typically comprises one or more surfactants and a protease and/or an alpha-amylase, but many also comprise a lipase. Lipases are biocatalysts used to remove lipid stains by hydrolyzing triglycerides to generate fatty acids.

EP1 ,712,610 relates to detergent compositions comprising a lipase which is a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence which: (a) has at least 90% identity with the wild-type lipase derived from Humicola lanuginosa strain DSM 4109; (b) compared to said wild-type lipase, comprises a substitution of an electrically neutral or negatively charged amino acid at the surface of the three- dimensional structure within 15 Angstroms of E1 or Q249 with a positively charged amino acid; and (c) comprises a peptide addition at the C-terminal; and/or (d) comprises a peptide addition at the N- terminal; and/or (e) meets the following limitations: i) comprises a negative amino acid in position E210 of said wild-type lipase; ii) comprises a negatively charged amino acid in the region corresponding to positions 90-101 of said wild-type lipase; and iii) comprises a neutral or negative amino acid at a position corresponding to N94 of said wild-type lipase and/or has a negative or neutral net electric charge in the region corresponding to positions 90-101 of said wild-type lipase; the detergent composition comprising up to 10 wt% aluminosilicate (anhydrous basis) and/or phosphate builder, the composition having a reserve alkalinity of greater than 4.

EP171 ,611 concerns detergent compositions comprising a lipase which is a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence which: (a) has at least 90% identity with the wild-type lipase derived from Humicola lanuginosa strain DSM 4109; (b) compared to 50 said wild-type lipase, comprises a substitution of an electrically neutral or negatively charged amino acid at the surface of the three- dimensional structure within 15 Angstroms of E1 or Q249 with a positively charged amino acid; and (c) comprises a peptide addition at the C-terminal; and/or (d) comprises a peptide addition at the N- terminal and/or (e) meets the following limitations: i) comprises a negative amino acid in position E210 of said wild-type lipase; ii) comprises a negatively charged amino acid in the region corresponding to positions 90-101 of said wild-type lipase; and iii) comprises a neutral or negative amino acid at a position corresponding to N94 of said wild-type lipase and/or has a negative or neutral net electric charge in the region corresponding to positions 90-101 of said wild-type lipase; the composition having a reserve alkalinity of greater than 7.5, and the detergent composition comprising up to 15 wt% aluminosilicate (anhydrous basis) and/or phosphate builder (anhydrous basis).

Cleaning or washing compositions can comprise many different active ingredients which may interfere with the ability of lipases to remove lipid stains. Thus, the need exists for lipase-containing compositions with improved cleaning and/or wash performance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to compositions having improved cleaning and/or wash performance. Compositions of the invention are suitable as detergent compositions, such as laundry detergent compositions and include adjunct compositions used in combination with such detergent compositions. Compositions of the invention improve removal of lipid stains.

In the first aspect, the invention relates to compositions comprising: i) at least one surfactant; ii) sodium carbonate and sodium sulfate; and iii) a lipase.

A composition of the invention increases the percentage of fat removed from a subject, such as a fabric, garment or textile and hereby improves cleaning and/or wash performance. This is evidenced in Examples 2 to 4.

In a preferred embodiment, a composition of the invention is a granular or powder detergent composition, in particular a granular or powder laundry detergent composition.

The surfactants constitute from about 0.1 wt.% to about 60 wt.%, such as about 1 wt.% to about 40 wt.%, or about 3 wt.% to about 20 wt.% or about 3 wt.% to about 15 wt.%, or about 3 wt.% to about 10 wt.% of the active components in the composition.

In a preferred embodiment the composition comprises at least one surfactant selected from the group of anionic and/or cationic and/or non-ionic and/or semi-polar and/or zwitterionic, or a mixture thereof. In a preferred embodiment a composition of the invention comprises a mixture of one or more nonionic surfactants; one or more anionic surfactants; and optionally one or more cationic surfactants. According to the invention, the composition may comprise one or more anionic surfactants, in particular linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) and/or alcohol ether sulfate (AEOS), one or more non-ionic surfactants, in particular alcohol ethoxylate (AEO); and optionally one or more cationic surfactants, in particular alkyl quaternary ammonium compounds. In an embodiment, the anionic surfactants constitute from 2-20 wt.%, in particular 5-15 wt.%; the non-ionic surfactants constitute from 0.1-10 wt.%, in particular 0.3-5 wt.%; and the optional cationic surfactants constitute less than 1 wt.% of the active components in the composition. In an embodiment sodium carbonate constitutes from 5-20 wt.%, preferably 5-18 wt.%, more preferable 5-15 wt.%, such as 5-12 wt.% or 5-10 wt.% of the active components in the composition.

In a preferred embodiment, sodium sulfate constitutes from 45-75 wt.%, preferably 48-75 wt.%, more preferably 50-75 wt.%, even more preferably 52-75 wt.%, in particular 56-75 wt.% of the active components in the composition. In a preferred embodiment, the ratio between sodium sulfate and sodium carbonate is at least 2:1 , preferably at least 3:1 , preferably at least 4:1 , preferably at least 5:1 , preferably at least 6:1 , preferably at least 7:1 , preferably at least 8:1 , preferably at least 9:1 , preferably at least 10:1 , preferably at least 11:1 , preferably at least 12:1 , preferably at least 13:1 , preferably at least 14:1 , preferably at least 15:1.

In a preferred embodiment, the ratio between sodium sulfate and sodium carbonate is in the range between 2:1 and 15:1 , preferably between 3:1 and 14:1 , preferably between 4:1 and 13:1 , preferably between 5:1 and 12:1 , preferably between 6:1 and 11 :1 , preferably between 7:1 and 10:1.

In a preferred embodiment, the lipase is derived from a strain of Thermomyces, in particular a strain of Thermomyces lanuginosus, in particular the lipase shown as SEQ ID NO: 1 or a variant thereof.

In a preferred embodiment, the lipase is a variant of a parent lipase, wherein said variant

(a) comprises a modification in at least one position corresponding to positions T231 and/or N233 of SEQ ID NO: 1 ; and optionally further comprises a modification in at least one position corresponding to positions E1 , D27, G38, F51, G91 , D96, K98, D111, G163, H198S, Y220, G225, D254, and P256 of SEQ ID NO: 1 ;

(b) has a sequence identity of at least 50% but less than 100% to SEQ ID NO: 1 ;

(c) has lipase activity.

In an embodiment, the modification(s) is(are) selected from one or more of the substitutions corresponding to: T231R and N233R/C; and the optional modification(s) is(are) selected from the group of one or more of the following substitutions corresponding to: E1C, D27R, G38A, F51V, G91A, D96E, K98I, D111A, G163K, H198S, Y220F, G225R, D254S, and P256T (using SEQ ID NO: 1 for numbering).

In a preferred embodiment the lipase used in a composition of the invention is a variant of the wild-type Thermomyces lanuginosus lipase (shown as SEQ ID NO: 1) with T231 R+N233R substitutions (i.e., shown as SEQ ID NO: 2).

In an embodiment, the parent lipase is the one shown as SEQ ID NO: 1 , or a lipase having at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, in particular 100% identity to SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2.

In an embodiment, the lipase variant has at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, but less than 100% identity to SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2.

In an embodiment, the lipase variant has 1-30 modifications, preferably substitutions, in particular 2-25 modifications, such as 3-20 modifications.

In an embodiment, the composition of the invention further comprises at least one additional enzyme, such as an amylase, protease, cellulase, another lipase, beta-glucanase, and/or mannanase.

In an aspect, the invention relates to the use of a composition of the invention for laundry or industrial cleaning.

The invention also related to the use of a composition of the invention in a laundry process where the wash cycle is less than 360 minutes, such as less than 280 minutes, such as less than 150 minutes, such as less than 100 minutes, such as less than 50 minutes, such as less than 30 minutes, such as less than 15 minutes, or such as less than 10 minutes.

In a further aspect, the invention relates to methods of laundering, comprising laundering a subject, e.g., a fabric, garment or textile with a composition of the invention, preferably at a temperature of 50°C or less, or more preferably at a temperature of 40°C or less, or more preferably at a temperature of 30°C or less, or even more preferably at a temperature of 20°C or less.

Finally, the invention relates to methods of pre-treating a subject, e.g., fabric, garment or textile with a composition according to the invention comprising the steps of adding said composition to said subject and leaving the composition on the subject for a period of time, and rinsing off said composition from said subject.

Overview of sequences listing

SEQ ID NO: 1 displays the amino acid sequence of the wild-type Thermomyces lanuginosus lipase (TLL). SEQ ID NO: 2 displays the amino acid sequence of the wild-type Thermomyces lanuginosus lipase (TLL). with substitutions T231 R and N233R.

Definitions

Lipase: The terms “lipase”, “lipase enzyme”, “lipolytic enzyme”, “lipid esterase”, “lipolytic polypeptide”, and “lipolytic protein” refers to an enzyme in class EC3.1.1 as defined by Enzyme Nomenclature. It may have lipase activity (triacylglycerol lipase, EC3.1.1.3), cutinase activity (EC3.1.1.74), sterol esterase activity (EC3.1.1.13) and/or wax-ester hydrolase activity (EC3.1.1.50). For purposes of the present invention, lipase activity is determined according to the procedure described in Example 1.

Parent or parent lipase: The term “parent” or “parent lipase” means a lipase to which an alteration is made to produce the enzyme variants. The parent lipase may be a naturally occurring (wild-type) polypeptide or a variant or fragment thereof. In an embodiment the parent lipase is the wild-type lipase derived from Thermomyces lanuginosus (TLL) shown as SEQ ID NO: 1. In another embodiment the parent lipase is the lipase variant of the Thermomyces lanuginosus lipase (TLL) shown as SEQ ID NO: 2.

Sequence identity: The relatedness between two amino acid sequences is described by the parameter “sequence identity”.

For purposes of the present invention, the sequence identity between two amino acid sequences is determined using the Needleman-Wunsch algorithm (Needleman and Wunsch, 1970, J. Mol. Biol. 48: 443-453) as implemented in the Needle program of the EMBOSS package (EMBOSS: The European Molecular Biology Open Software Suite, Rice et ai, 2000, Trends Genet. 16: 276-277), preferably version 5.0.0 or later. The parameters used are gap open penalty of 10, gap extension penalty of 0.5, and the EBLOSUM62 (EMBOSS version of BLOSUM62) substitution matrix. The output of Needle labeled “longest identity” (obtained using the -nobrief option) is used as the percent identity and is calculated as follows:

(Identical Residues x 100)/(Length of Alignment - Total Number of Gaps in Alignment)

The term “corresponding to” as used herein, refers to a way of determining the specific amino acid of a sequence wherein reference is made to a specific amino acid sequence. E.g. for the purposes of the present invention, when references are made to specific amino acid positions, the skilled person would be able to align another amino acid sequence to said amino acid sequence that reference has been made to, in order to determine which specific amino acid may be of interest in said another amino acid sequence. Alternative alignment methods may be used, and are well-known for the skilled person in the art.

The term "fabric" or “garment” as used herein, refers to any textile material. Thus, it is intended that the term encompass garments, as well as fabrics, yarns, fibers, non-woven materials, natural materials, synthetic materials, and any other textile material.

The term "textile" as used herein, refers to woven fabrics, as well as staple fibers and filaments suitable for conversion to or use as yarns, woven, knit, and non-woven fabrics. The term encompasses yarns made from natural, as well as synthetic (e.g., manufactured) fibers. The term, "textile materials" is a general term for fibers, yam intermediates, yarn, fabrics, and products made from fabrics (e.g., garments and other articles).

The term “water hardness” or “degree of hardness” or “dH” or “°dH” as used herein refers to German degrees of hardness. One degree is defined as 10 milligrams of calcium oxide per litre of water.

Corresponding Positions:_For purposes of the present invention, the polypeptides disclosed in SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2 may be used to determine the corresponding amino acid residue in another polypeptide. The amino acid sequence of another polypeptide is aligned with the polypeptide disclosed in SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2 and based on the alignment, the amino acid position number corresponding to any amino acid residue in the polypeptide disclosed in SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2 is determined using the Needleman-Wunsch algorithm (Needleman and Wunsch, 1970, J. Mol. Biol. 48: 443-453) as implemented in the Needle program of the EMBOSS package (EMBOSS: The European Molecular Biology Open Software Suite, Rice et al., 2000, Trends Genet. 16: 276-277), preferably version 5.0.0 or later. The parameters used are gap open penalty of 10, gap extension penalty of 0.5, and the EBLOSUM62 (EMBOSS version of BLOSUM62) substitution matrix.

Identification of the corresponding amino acid residue in another enzyme may be determined by an alignment of multiple polypeptide sequences using several computer programs including, but not limited to, MUSCLE (multiple sequence comparison by log-expectation; version 3.5 or later; Edgar, 2004, Nucleic Acids Research 32: 1792-1797), MAFFT (version 6.857 or later; Katoh and Kuma, 2002, Nucleic Acids Research 30: 3059-3066; Katoh etai., 2005, Nucleic Acids Research 33: 511-518; Katoh and Toh, 2007, Bioinformatics 23: 372-374; Katoh etai., 2009, Methods in Molecular Biology 537:_39-64; Katoh and Toh, 2010, Bioinformatics 26:_1899-1900), and EMBOSS EMMA employing ClustalW (1.83 or later; Thompson et al., 1994, Nucleic Acids Research 22: 4673-4680), using their respective default parameters.

When the other enzyme has diverged from the polypeptides of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2 such that traditional sequence-based comparison fails to detect their relationship (Lindahl and Elofsson, 2000, J. Mol. Biol. 295: 613-615), other pairwise sequence comparison algorithms may be used. Greater sensitivity in sequence-based searching can be attained using search programs that utilize probabilistic representations of polypeptide families (profiles) to search databases. For example, the PSI-BLAST program generates profiles through an iterative database search process and is capable of detecting remote homologs (Atschul etal., 1997, Nucleic Acids Res. 25: 3389-3402). Even greater sensitivity can be achieved if the family or superfamily for the polypeptide has one or more representatives in the protein structure databases. Programs such as GenTHREADER (Jones, 1999, J. Mol. Biol. 287: 797-815; McGuffin and Jones, 2003, Bioinformatics 19: 874-881) utilize information from a variety of sources (PSI-BLAST, secondary structure prediction, structural alignment profiles, and solvation potentials) as input to a neural network that predicts the structural fold for a query sequence. Similarly, the method of Gough et al., 2000, J. Mol. Biol. 313: 903-919, can be used to align a sequence of unknown structure with the superfamily models present in the SCOP database. These alignments can in turn be used to generate homology models for the polypeptide, and such models can be assessed for accuracy using a variety of tools developed for that purpose.

Substitutions: For an amino acid substitution, the following nomenclature is used: Original amino acid, position, substituted amino acid. Accordingly, the substitution of glycine at position G109 with alanine is designated as “Gly109Ala” or “G109A”. Multiple mutations are separated by addition marks (“+”) or by commas (“,”), e.g., “Gly109Ala + Leu173Pro” or “G109A.L173P”, representing substitutions at positions 109 and 173 of glycine (G) with alanine (A) and leucine (L) with proline (P), respectively. If more than one amino acid may be substituted in a given position these are listed or divided by slash, such as /. Thus, if both Ala and Pro according to the invention may be substituted instead of the amino acid occupying at position 109 this is indicated as X109A/P where the X in the present example indicates that different enzymes may be parent e.g. such as an alpha-amylase with SEQ ID NO: 1 or an alpha-amylase having at least 75% identity hereto. Thus, in some cases the variants are represented as 109A/P orX109A/P indicating that the amino acids to be substituted vary depending on the parent enzyme.

Deletions: For an amino acid deletion, the following nomenclature is used: Original amino acid, position, *. Accordingly, the deletion of arginie at position 181 is designated as “Arg181*” or “R181*”. Multiple deletions are separated by addition marks (“+”) or commas, e.g., “Arg181* + Gly182*” or “R181*+G182*” or“R181*, G182*”.

Insertions: The insertion of an additional amino acid residue such as e.g. a lysine after G#i may be indicated by: Gly#iGlyLys or G#iGK. Alternatively insertion of an additional amino acid residue such as lysine after G109 may be indicated by: *109aL. When more than one amino acid residue is inserted, such as e.g. a Lys, and Ala after 109 this may be indicated as: Gly109GlyLysAla or G109GKA. In such cases, the inserted amino acid residue(s) may also be numbered by the addition of lower case letters to the position number of the amino acid residue preceding the inserted amino acid residue(s), in this example: *109aK *109bA.

Collectively, substitutions, deletions, and insertions may herein termed “modifications”. Thus, it is to be understood that any variant described herein comprises modifications, such as substitutions, deletions and/or insertions unless otherwise indicated by context.

Multiple modifications: Variants comprising multiple modifications are separated by addition marks (“+”), slash marks (T), or by commas e.g., “Gly109Pro+Lys391Ala” or “G109P, K391A” representing a substitution of glycine at position 109 and lysine at position 391 with proline and alanine, respectively as described above.

Different modifications: Where different modifications can be introduced at a position, the different modifications are separated by a division (V), or by a comma e.g., “Gly109Pro,Lys” or “G109P.K” represents a substitution of glycine at position 109 with proline or lysine. Thus, “Gly109Pro,Lys + Lys391Ala” designates the following variants: “Gly109Pro+Lys391Ala”, “Gly109Lys+Lys391Ala” or “G109P.K + K391A”.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to compositions for cleaning or washing subjects such as fabrics, garments or textiles. The cleaning or wash performance may be determined as the removal of fat from lard soiled swatches after washing with a composition at 25°C or 30°C for 20 minutes (see the Examples 2 to 4 below). Compositions of the invention improve the cleaning and/or wash performance by increasing the percentage of fat removed.

In the first aspect, the invention relates to compositions comprising: i) at least one surfactant; ii) sodium carbonate and sodium sulfate; iii) a lipase.

In one embodiment, a composition of the invention improves cleaning and/or wash performance compared to a corresponding composition comprising no lipase. In one embodiment, a composition of the invention improves cleaning and/or wash performance compared to a corresponding composition comprising no sodium carbonate and/or sodium sulfate. In one embodiment, a composition of the invention improves cleaning and/or wash performance compared to a corresponding composition comprising a ratio of sodium carbonate and sodium sulfate of 2:1.

In one embodiment, a composition of the invention improves cleaning and/or wash performance compared to a corresponding composition comprising a ratio of sodium carbonate and sodium sulfate of 3:1. In one embodiment, a composition of the invention improves cleaning and/or wash performance compared to a corresponding composition comprising a ratio of sodium carbonate and sodium sulfate of 4:1. In one embodiment, a composition of the invention improves cleaning and/or wash performance compared to a corresponding composition comprising a ratio of sodium carbonate and sodium sulfate of 5:1. In one embodiment, a composition of the invention improves cleaning and/or wash performance compared to a corresponding composition comprising a ratio of sodium carbonate and sodium sulfate of 6:1. In one embodiment, a composition of the invention improves cleaning and/or wash performance compared to a corresponding composition comprising a ratio of sodium carbonate and sodium sulfate of 7:1. In one embodiment, a composition of the invention improves cleaning and/or wash performance compared to a corresponding composition comprising a ratio of sodium carbonate and sodium sulfate of 8:1. In one embodiment, a composition of the invention improves cleaning and/or wash performance compared to a corresponding composition comprising a ratio of sodium carbonate and sodium sulfate of 9:1. In one embodiment, a composition of the invention improves cleaning and/or wash performance compared to a corresponding composition comprising a ratio of sodium carbonate and sodium sulfate of 10:1. In one embodiment, a composition of the invention improves cleaning and/or wash performance compared to a corresponding composition comprising a ratio of sodium carbonate and sodium sulfate of 11 :1. In one embodiment, a composition of the invention improves cleaning and/or wash performance compared to a corresponding composition comprising a ratio of sodium carbonate and sodium sulfate of 12:1.

In one embodiment, a composition of the invention improves cleaning and/or wash performance compared to a corresponding composition comprising a ratio of sodium carbonate and sodium sulfate of 13:1. In one embodiment, a composition of the invention improves cleaning and/or wash performance compared to a corresponding composition comprising a ratio of sodium carbonate and sodium sulfate of 14:1. In one embodiment, a composition of the invention improves cleaning and/or wash performance compared to a corresponding composition comprising a ratio of sodium carbonate and sodium sulfate of 15:1.

In one embodiment, a composition of the invention improves cleaning and/or wash performance by comprising an improved sodium sulfate to sodium carbonate ratio.

In a preferred embodiment, the composition of the invention is a granular or powder detergent composition, in particular a granular or powder laundry detergent composition. When the composition of the invention is solid, conventionally, surfactants are incorporated into agglomerates, extrudates or spray dried particles along with solid materials, usually builders, and these may be admixed to produce a fully formulated composition according to the invention. In the granular form the composition of the present invention is preferably one having an overall bulk density of from 350 to 1200 g/l, more preferably 450 to 10OOg/l or even 500 to 900g/l. Preferably, the particles of the composition in a granular form may have a size average particle size of from 200mm to 2000mm, preferably from 350mm to 600mm.

Surfactants

A composition of the present invention may comprise a surfactant or surfactant system wherein the surfactant can be selected from nonionic surfactants, anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, ampholytic surfactants, zwitterionic surfactants, semi-polar nonionic surfactants and mixtures thereof. Surfactants are typically present at a level of from about 0.1% to 60% wt.%, such as about 1% to about 40% wt.%, or about 3% to about 20% wt.%, or about 3% to about 15% wt.%, or about 3% to about 10% wt.% of the active components in the composition.

Suitable anionic detersive surfactants include sulphate and sulphonate detersive surfactants.

Suitable sulphonate detersive surfactants include alkyl benzene sulphonate, in one aspect, Cio-13 alkyl benzene sulphonate. Suitable alkyl benzene sulphonate (LAS) may be obtained, by sulphonating commercially available linear alkyl benzene (LAB); suitable LAB includes low 2-phenyl LAB, such as Isochem® or Petrelab®, other suitable LAB include high 2-phenyl LAB, such as Hyblene®. A suitable anionic detersive surfactant is alkyl benzene sulphonate that is obtained by DETAL catalyzed process, although other synthesis routes, such as HF, may also be suitable. In one aspect a magnesium salt of LAS is used.

Suitable sulphate detersive surfactants include alkyl sulphate, in one aspect, Ca-is alkyl sulphate, or predominantly Ci ₂ alkyl sulphate.

Another suitable sulphate detersive surfactant is alkyl alkoxylated sulphate, in one aspect, alkyl ethoxylated sulphate, in one aspect, a C ₈ -ie alkyl alkoxylated sulphate, in another aspect, a C ₈ -18 alkyl ethoxylated sulphate, typically the alkyl alkoxylated sulphate has an average degree of alkoxylation of from 0.5 to 20, or from 0.5 to 10, typically the alkyl alkoxylated sulphate is a C ₈ -18 alkyl ethoxylated sulphate having an average degree of ethoxylation of from 0.5 to 10, from 0.5 to 7, from 0.5 to 5 or from 0.5 to 3.

The alkyl sulphate, alkyl alkoxylated sulphate and alkyl benzene sulphonates may be linear or branched, substituted or un-substituted.

The detersive surfactant may be a mid-chain branched detersive surfactant, in one aspect, a mid-chain branched anionic detersive surfactant, in one aspect, a mid-chain branched alkyl sulphate and/or a mid-chain branched alkyl benzene sulphonate, e.g. a mid-chain branched alkyl sulphate. In one aspect, the mid-chain branches are Ci- ₄ alkyl groups, typically methyl and/or ethyl groups.

Non-limiting examples of anionic surfactants include sulfates and sulfonates, in particular, linear alkylbenzenesulfonates (LAS), isomers of LAS, branched alkylbenzenesulfonates (BABS), phenylalkanesulfonates, alpha-olefinsulfonates (AOS), olefin sulfonates, alkene sulfonates, alkane-2, 3- diylbis(sulfates), hydroxyalkanesulfonates and disulfonates, alkyl sulfates (AS) such as sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), fatty alcohol sulfates (FAS), primary alcohol sulfates (PAS), alcohol ethersulfates (AES or AEOS or FES, also known as alcohol ethoxysulfates or fatty alcohol ether sulfates), secondary alkanesulfonates (SAS), paraffin sulfonates (PS), ester sulfonates, sulfonated fatty acid glycerol esters, alpha-sulfo fatty acid methyl esters (alpha-SFMe or SES) including methyl ester sulfonate (MES), alkyl- or alkenylsuccinic acid, dodecenyl/tetradecenyl succinic acid (DTSA), fatty acid derivatives of amino acids, diesters and monoesters of sulfo-succinic acid or soap, and combinations thereof.

Suitable non-ionic detersive surfactants are selected from the group consisting of: C ₈ -Ci ₈ alkyl ethoxylates, such as, NEODOL®; C6-C12 alkyl phenol alkoxylates wherein the alkoxylate units may be ethyleneoxy units, propyleneoxy units or a mixture thereof; Ci ₂ -Ci ₈ alcohol and C ₆ -Ci ₂ alkyl phenol condensates with ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block polymers such as Pluronic®; Ci ₄ -C ₂₂ midchain branched alcohols; Ci ₄ -C ₂₂ mid-chain branched alkyl alkoxylates, typically having an average degree of alkoxylation of from 1 to 30; alkylpolysaccharides, in one aspect, alkylpolyglycosides; polyhydroxy fatty acid amides; ether capped poly(oxyalkylated) alcohol surfactants; and mixtures thereof.

Suitable non-ionic detersive surfactants include alkyl polyglucoside and/or an alkyl alkoxylated alcohol.

In one aspect, non-ionic detersive surfactants include alkyl alkoxylated alcohols, in one aspect C ₈ -i ₈ alkyl alkoxylated alcohol, e.g. a C ₈ -i ₈ alkyl ethoxylated alcohol, the alkyl alkoxylated alcohol may have an average degree of alkoxylation of from 1 to 50, from 1 to 30, from 1 to 20, or from 1 to 10. In one aspect, the alkyl alkoxylated alcohol may be a C ₈ -i ₈ alkyl ethoxylated alcohol having an average degree of ethoxylation of from 1 to 10, from 1 to 7, more from 1 to 5 or from 3 to 7. The alkyl alkoxylated alcohol can be linear or branched, and substituted or un-substituted. Suitable nonionic surfactants include Lutensol®.

Non-limiting examples of nonionic surfactants include alcohol ethoxylates (AE or AEO), alcohol propoxylates, propoxylated fatty alcohols (PFA), alkoxylated fatty acid alkyl esters, such as ethoxylated and/or propoxylated fatty acid alkyl esters, alkylphenol ethoxylates (APE), nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPE), alkylpolyglycosides (APG), alkoxylated amines, fatty acid monoethanolamides (FAM), fatty acid diethanolamides (FADA), ethoxylated fatty acid monoethanolamides (EFAM), propoxylated fatty acid monoethanolamides (PFAM), polyhydroxyalkyl fatty acid amides, or N- acyl /V-alkyl derivatives of glucosamine (glucamides, GA, or fatty acid glucamides, FAGA), as well as products available under the trade names SPAN and TWEEN, and combinations thereof. Suitable cationic detersive surfactants include alkyl pyridinium compounds, alkyl quaternary ammonium compounds, alkyl quaternary phosphonium compounds, alkyl ternary sulphonium compounds, and mixtures thereof.

Suitable cationic detersive surfactants are quaternary ammonium compounds having the general formula: (R)(R _I )(R ₂ )(R3)N ⁺ X , wherein, R is a linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted C ₆ -18 alkyl or alkenyl moiety, Ri and R ₂ are independently selected from methyl or ethyl moieties, R ₃ is a hydroxyl, hydroxymethyl ora hydroxyethyl moiety, X is an anion which provides charge neutrality, suitable anions include: halides, e.g. chloride; sulphate; and sulphonate. Suitable cationic detersive surfactants are mono-C ₆ -i ₈ alkyl mono-hydroxyethyl di-methyl quaternary ammonium chlorides. Highly suitable cationic detersive surfactants are mono-Cs-io alkyl mono-hydroxyethyl di-methyl quaternary ammonium chloride, mono-Cio-12 alkyl mono-hydroxyethyl di-methyl quaternary ammonium chloride and mono-Cio alkyl mono-hydroxyethyl di-methyl quaternary ammonium chloride.

Non-limiting examples of cationic surfactants include alkyldimethylethanolamine quat (ADMEAQ), cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), dimethyldistearylammonium chloride (DSDMAC), and alkylbenzyldimethylammonium, alkyl quaternary ammonium compounds, alkoxylated quaternary ammonium (AQA) compounds, ester quats, and combinations thereof.

Suitable amphoteric/zwitterionic surfactants include amine oxides and betaines such as alkyldimethylbetaines, sulfobetaines, or combinations thereof. Amine-neutralized anionic surfactants - Anionic surfactants of the present invention and adjunct anionic cosurfactants, may exist in an acid form, and said acid form may be neutralized to form a surfactant salt which is desirable for use in the present detergent compositions. Typical agents for neutralization include the metal counterion base such as hydroxides, eg, NaOH or KOH. Further preferred agents for neutralizing anionic surfactants of the present invention and adjunct anionic surfactants or cosurfactants in their acid forms include ammonia, amines, or alkanolamines. Alkanolamines are preferred. Suitable non-limiting examples including monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, and other linear or branched alkanolamines known in the art; e.g., highly preferred alkanolamines include 2-amino-1 -propanol, 1- aminopropanol, monoisopropanolamine, or 1-amino-3-propanol. Amine neutralization may be done to a full or partial extent, e.g. part of the anionic surfactant mix may be neutralized with sodium or potassium and part of the anionic surfactant mix may be neutralized with amines or alkanolamines.

Non-limiting examples of semipolar surfactants include amine oxides (AO) such as alkyldimethylamineoxide

Surfactant systems comprising mixtures of one or more anionic and in addition one or more nonionic surfactants optionally with an additional surfactant such as a cationic surfactant, may be preferred. Preferred weight ratios of anionic to nonionic surfactant are at least 2:1 , or at least 1 : 1 to 1 :10.

In one aspect a surfactant system may comprise a mixture of isoprenoid surfactants represented by formula A and formula B: where Y is CH ₂ or null, and Z may be chosen such that the resulting surfactant is selected from the following surfactants: an alkyl carboxylate surfactant, an alkyl polyalkoxy surfactant, an alkyl anionic polyalkoxy sulfate surfactant, an alkyl glycerol ester sulfonate surfactant, an alkyl dimethyl amine oxide surfactant, an alkyl polyhydroxy based surfactant, an alkyl phosphate ester surfactant, an alkyl glycerol sulfonate surfactant, an alkyl polygluconate surfactant, an alkyl polyphosphate ester surfactant, an alkyl phosphonate surfactant, an alkyl polyglycoside surfactant, an alkyl monoglycoside surfactant, an alkyl diglycoside surfactant, an alkyl sulfosuccinate surfactant, an alkyl disulfate surfactant, an alkyl disulfonate surfactant, an alkyl sulfosuccinamate surfactant, an alkyl glucamide surfactant, an alkyl taurinate surfactant, an alkyl sarcosinate surfactant, an alkyl glycinate surfactant, an alkyl isethionate surfactant, an alkyl dialkanolamide surfactant, an alkyl monoalkanolamide surfactant, an alkyl monoalkanolamide sulfate surfactant, an alkyl diglycolamide surfactant, an alkyl diglycolamide sulfate surfactant, an alkyl glycerol ester surfactant, an alkyl glycerol ester sulfate surfactant, an alkyl glycerol ether surfactant, an alkyl glycerol ether sulfate surfactant, alkyl methyl ester sulfonate surfactant, an alkyl polyglycerol ether surfactant, an alkyl polyglycerol ether sulfate surfactant, an alkyl sorbitan ester surfactant, an alkyl ammonioalkanesulfonate surfactant, an alkyl amidopropyl betaine surfactant, an alkyl allylated quat based surfactant, an alkyl monohydroxyalkyl-di-alkylated quat based surfactant, an alkyl di- hydroxyalkyl monoalkyl quat based surfactant, an alkylated quat surfactant, an alkyl trimethylammonium quat surfactant, an alkyl polyhydroxalkyl oxypropyl quat based surfactant, an alkyl glycerol ester quat surfactant, an alkyl glycol amine quat surfactant, an alkyl monomethyl dihydroxyethyl quaternary ammonium surfactant, an alkyl dimethyl monohydroxyethyl quaternary ammonium surfactant, an alkyl trimethylammonium surfactant, an alkyl imidazoline-based surfactant, an alken-2-yl- succinate surfactant, an alkyl a-sulfonated carboxylic acid surfactant, an alkyl a- sulfonated carboxylic acid alkyl ester surfactant, an alpha olefin sulfonate surfactant, an alkyl phenol ethoxylate surfactant, an alkyl benzenesulfonate surfactant, an alkyl sulfobetaine surfactant, an alkyl hydroxysulfobetaine surfactant, an alkyl ammoniocarboxylate betaine surfactant, an alkyl sucrose ester surfactant, an alkyl alkanolamide surfactant, an alkyl di(polyoxyethylene) monoalkyl ammonium surfactant, an alkyl mono(polyoxyethylene) dialkyl ammonium surfactant, an alkyl benzyl dimethylammonium surfactant, an alkyl aminopropionate surfactant, an alkyl amidopropyl dimethylamine surfactant, or a mixture thereof; and if Z is a charged moiety, Z is charge-balanced by a suitable metal or organic counter ion. Suitable counter ions include a metal counter ion, an amine, or an alkanolamine, e.g., C1-C6 alkanolammonium. More specifically, suitable counter ions include Na+, Ca+, Li+, K+, Mg+, e.g., monoethanolamine (MEA), diethanolamine (DEA), triethanolamine (TEA), 2- amino-l-propanol, 1-aminopropanol, methyldiethanolamine, dimethylethanolamine, monoisopropanolamine, triisopropanolamine, l-amino-3-propanol, or mixtures thereof. In one embodiment, the compositions contain from 5% to 97% of one or more non- isoprenoid surfactants; and one or more adjunct cleaning additives; wherein the weight ratio of surfactant of formula A to surfactant of formula B is from 50:50 to 95:5.

In a preferred embodiment a composition of the invention comprises a mixture of one or more nonionic surfactants; one or more anionic surfactants; and optionally one or more cationic surfactants. According to the invention, the composition comprises one or more anionic surfactants, in particular linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) and/or alcohol ether sulfate (AEOS); one or more non-ionic surfactants, in particular alcohol ethoxylate (AEO); and optionally one or more cationic surfactants, in particular alkyl quaternary ammonium compounds.

In one embodiment, anionic surfactants constitute from 2-20 wt.%, in particular 5-15 wt.%; non-ionic surfactants constitute from 0.1-10 wt.%, in particular 0.3-5 wt.%; and the optional cationic surfactants constitute less than 1 wt.% of the active components in the composition.

In one embodiment, at least one surfactant comprises an anionic surfactant, such as linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) or alcohol ether sulfate (AEOS).

In another embodiment, the composition comprises one or more nonionic surfactants, such as AEO.

In one embodiment, the at least one surfactant is a mix of two or more surfactants. The surfactant may preferably be a combination of two or more surfactants, such as a mixture of surfactants.

In a particular embodiment, the at least one surfactant is a mix of a first surfactant and a second surfactant.

In a particular embodiment, the first surfactant is a first anionic surfactant and the second surfactant is a second anionic surfactant.

In another particular embodiment, the first surfactant is an anionic surfactant and the second surfactant is a non-ionic surfactant.

In a particular embodiment, the anionic surfactant is linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) or AEOS, and said non-ionic surfactant is alcohol ethoxylate (AEO). The abbreviations AEOS and AES refer to alcohol ether sulfates, which are also known as alcohol ethoxy sulfates or fatty alcohol ether sulfates. In one embodiment, the concentration of the anionic surfactant is between 2 wt% and 14 wt% of the composition, such as between 3 wt% and 13 wt%, such as between 5 wt% and 12 wt% of the composition, and the concentration of the non-ionic surfactant is between 5 wt% and 13 wt%, such as 6 wt% and 12 wt%. In a preferred embodiment, the concentration of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) is between 7 wt% and 12 wt%, alcohol ether sulfate (AEOS) between 3 wt% and 7 wt%, and alcohol ethoxylate (AEO) between 6 wt% and 11 wt%.

In one embodiment, the first surfactant and the second surfactant is present in the composition in a ratio of 3:1 , 2:1 , 1 :1. In an embodiment the ratio between the first and second surfactant may be in the range from 10:1 to 1 :10, such as 5:1 to 1 :5, or 3:1 to 1 :3. In a preferred embodiment, the ratio of the first surfactant and the second surfactant is 2:1. The term “ratio of the first surfactant and the second surfactant” as used herein, refers to the amounts or concentrations of the two surfactants in the composition. Thus, when the ratio is defined, e.g. 2:1 , it in means that the first surfactant is present in an amount or concentration twice the amount or concentration of the second surfactant. Thus, more specifically, the first surfactant may be present in a concentration of 10 wt%, then the second surfactant is present in a concentration of 5 wt% if the ratio of the two surfactants is 2:1.

Sodium Carbonate and Sodium Sulfate

Compositions of the invention comprise sodium carbonate and sodium sulfate. In preferred embodiments the ratio result in improved cleaning and/or wash performance by increasing the percentage of fat removal on the subject, e.g., fabric, garment or textile. Examples 2-4 show that the ratio between sodium carbonate and sodium sulfate significantly impacts the fat removal.

In an embodiment, sodium carbonate constitutes from 5-20 wt.%, preferably 5-18 wt.%, more preferable 5-15 wt.%, such as 5-12 wt.% or 5-10 wt.% of the active components in the composition.

In an embodiment, sodium sulfate constitutes from 45-75 wt.%, preferably 48-75 wt.%, more preferably 50-75 wt.%, even more preferably 52-75 wt.%, in particular 56-75 wt.% of the active components in the composition.

In a preferred embodiment, the ratio, in the composition, between sodium sulfate and sodium carbonate is at least 2:1 , preferably at least 3:1 , preferably at least 4:1 , preferably at least 5:1 , preferably at least6:1 , preferably at least7:1 , preferably at least 8:1 , preferably at least 9:1 , preferably at least 10:1 , preferably at least 11 :1 , preferably at least 12:1 , preferably at least 13:1 , preferably at least 14:1 , preferably at least 15:1.

In a preferred embodiment, the ratio, in the composition, between sodium sulfate and sodium carbonate is in the range between 2:1 and 15:1 , preferably between 3:1 and 14:1 , preferably between 4:1 and 13:1 , preferably between 5:1 and 12:1 , preferably between 6:1 and 11:1, preferably between 7:1 and 10:1. Lipase

The lipase comprised in a composition of the invention may be any lipase. In an embodiment the lipase may be of microbial origin such as fungal or bacterial origin. In an embodiment the lipase may be a wild-type lipase or a variant of a parent (such as wild-type) lipase. In a preferred embodiment the lipase is derived from a strain of Thermomyces, in particular a strain of Thermomyces lanuginosus (e.g., the one shown as SEQ ID NO: 1) or a variant thereof (e.g.,the one shown as SEQ ID NO: 2). The term “variant” means a variant that is modified by the hand of man. The term “modification” is a overall designation of the terms “substitution”, “insertion”, and “deletion” as described herein.

In an embodiment, the lipase may be a variant of the parent lipase shown as SEQ ID NO: 1 , wherein said variant

(a) comprises a modification in at least one position corresponding to positions T231 and/or N233 of SEQ ID NO: 1 ; and optionally further comprises a modification in at least one position corresponding to positions E1 , D27, G38, F51 , G91 , D96, K98, D111 , G163, H198S, Y220, G225, D254, and P256 of SEQ ID NO: 1;

(b) has a sequence identity of at least 50% but less than 100% to SEQ ID NO: 1 ;

(c) has lipase activity.

In an embodiment, the lipase modification is selected from one or more of the substitutions corresponding to: T231 R and N233R/C; and the optional modification is selected from the group of one or more of the following substitutions corresponding to: E1C, D27R, G38A, F51V, G91A, D96E, K98I, D111A, G163K, H198S, Y220F, G225R, D254S, and P256T (using SEQ ID NO: 1 for numbering).

In an embodiment the lipase used in a composition of the invention is a lipase variant comprises substitutions E1C+N233C and optionally one or more additional substitutions.

In a preferred embodiment, the lipase used in a composition of the invention is a variant of the parent lipase shown as SEQ ID NO: 1 comprising substitutions T231 R and/or N233R, in particular T231 R + N233R.

The (parent) lipase used in a composition of the invention has at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, in particular 100% identity to SEQ ID NO: 1.

The lipase variant used in a composition of the invention has at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, such as at least 80%, such as at least 85%, such as at least 90%, such as at least 95%, such as at least 96%, such as at least 97%, such as at least 98%, such as at least 99%, but less than 100% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2.

In specific embodiments, the lipase used in a composition of the invention is a lipase variant comprising or consisting of the substitutions at positions corresponding to the following (using SEQ ID NO: 1 for numbering):

In one embodiment, the lipase variant may further comprise one or more of the substitutions selected from the group of: S54T, S83T, G91A, A150G, I255A, and E239C.

Additional Enzymes The composition of the invention may further comprise one or more additional enzymes which provide cleaning and/or wash performance. Examples of suitable enzymes include, but are not limited to, hemicellulases, peroxidases, proteases, cellulases, xylanases, other lipases, phospholipases, esterases, cutinases, pectinases, mannanases, pectate lyases, keratinases, reductases, oxidases, phenoloxidases, lipoxygenases, ligninases, pullulanases, tannases, pentosanases, malanases, b-glucanases, arabinosidases, hyaluronidase, chondroitinase, laccase, chlorophyllases, amylases, or mixtures thereof. A typical combination is an enzyme cocktail that may comprise e.g. a protease and lipase in conjunction with alpha-amylase. When present in a composition, the aforementioned additional enzymes may be present at levels from 0.00001 to 2wt%, from 0.0001 to 1wt% or from 0.001 to 0.5wt% enzyme protein by weight of the active components in the composition.

In general the properties of the selected enzyme(s) should be compatible with the selected detergent, (i.e., pH-optimum, compatibility with other enzymatic and non-enzymatic ingredients, etc.), and the enzyme(s) should be present in effective amounts.

In one aspect preferred enzymes include a cellulase. Suitable cellulases include those of bacterial or fungal origin. Chemically modified or protein engineered mutants are included. Suitable cellulases include cellulases from the genera Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Humicola, Fusarium, Thielavia, Acremonium, e.g., the fungal cellulases produced from Humicola insolens, Myceliophthora thermophila and Fusarium oxysporum disclosed in US4435307, US5648263, US5691178, US5776757 and WO89/09259.

Especially suitable cellulases are the alkaline or neutral cellulases having colour care benefits. Examples of such cellulases are cellulases described in EP0495257, EP0531372, W096/11262, W096/29397, W098/08940. Other examples are cellulase variants such as those described in WO94/07998, EP0531315, US5457046, US5686593, US5763254, W095/24471 , WO98/12307 and PCT/DK98/00299.

Commercially available cellulases include Celluzyme™, and Carezyme™ (Novozymes A/S), Clazinase™, and Puradax HA™ (Genencor International Inc.), and KAC-500(B)™ (Kao Corporation).

In one aspect, preferred enzymes include a protease. Suitable proteases include those of bacterial, fungal, plant, viral or animal origin e.g. vegetable or microbial origin. Microbial origin is preferred. Chemically modified or protein engineered mutants are included. It may be an alkaline protease, such as a serine protease or a metalloprotease. A serine protease may for example be of the S1 family, such as trypsin, or the S8 family such as subtilisin. A metalloproteases protease may for example be a thermolysin from e.g. family M4 or other metalloprotease such as those from M5, M7 or M8 families.

The term "subtilases" refers to a sub-group of serine protease according to Siezen et al., Protein Engng. 4 (1991) 719-737 and Siezen et al. Protein Science 6 (1997) 501-523. Serine proteases are a subgroup of proteases characterized by having a serine in the active site, which forms a covalent adduct with the substrate. The subtilases may be divided into 6 sub-divisions, i.e. the Subtilisin family, the Thermitase family, the Proteinase K family, the Lantibiotic peptidase family, the Kexin family and the Pyrolysin family.

Examples of subtilases are those derived from Bacillus such as Bacillus lentus, B. alkalophilus, B. subtilis, B. amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus pumilus and Bacillus gibsonii described in; US7262042 and W009/021867, and subtilisin lentus, subtilisin Novo, subtilisin Carlsberg, Bacillus licheniformis, subtilisin BPN’, subtilisin 309, subtilisin 147 and subtilisin 168 described in WO89/06279 and protease PD138 described in (WO93/18140). Other useful proteases may be those described in W092/175177, W001/016285, W002/026024 and W002/016547. Examples of trypsin-like proteases are trypsin (e.g. of porcine or bovine origin) and the Fusarium protease described in W089/06270, W094/25583 and W005/040372, and the chymotrypsin proteases derived from Cellumonas described in W005/052161 and W005/052146.

A further preferred protease is the alkaline protease from Bacillus lentus DSM 5483, as described for example in W095/23221 , and variants thereof which are described in WO92/21760, W095/23221 , EP1921147 and EP1921148

Examples of metalloproteases are the neutral metalloprotease as described in WO07/044993 (Genencor Int.) such as those derived from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens.

Examples of useful proteases are the variants described in: W092/19729, WO96/034946, WO98/20115, WO98/20116, WO99/011768, WO01/44452, W003/006602, W004/03186,

W004/041979, W007/006305, W011/036263, W011/036264, especially the variants with substitutions in one or more of the following positions: 3, 4, 9, 15, 27, 36, 57, 68, 76, 87, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101 , 102, 103, 104, 106, 118, 120, 123, 128, 129, 130, 160, 167, 170, 194, 195, 199, 205, 206, 217, 218, 222, 224, 232, 235, 236, 245, 248, 252 and 274 using the BPN’ numbering. More preferred the subtilase variants may comprise the mutations: S3T, V4I, S9R, A15T, K27R, *36D, V68A, N76D, N87S,R, *97E, A98S, S99G,D,A, S99AD, S101G,M,R S103A, V104I,Y,N, S106A, G118V,R, H120D,N, N123S, S128L, P129Q, S130A, G160D, Y167A, R170S, A194P, G195E, V199M, V205I, L217D, N218D, M222S, A232V, K235L, Q236H, Q245R, N252K, T274A (using BPN’ numbering).

Suitable commercially available protease enzymes include those sold under the trade names Alcalase®, Blaze®; Duralase ^Tm , Durazyrn ^Tm , Relase®, Relase® Ultra, Savinase®, Savinase® Ultra, Primase®, Polarzyme®, Kannase®, Liquanase®, Liquanase® Ultra, Ovozyme®, Coronase®, Coronase® Ultra, Neutrase®, Everlase® and Esperase® all could be sold as Ultra® or Evity® (Novozymes A/S), those sold under the tradename Maxatase®, Maxacal®, Maxapem®, Purafect®, Purafect Prime®, Preferenz ^Tm , Purafect MA®, Purafect Ox®, Purafect OxP®, Puramax®, Properase®, Effectenz ^Tm , FN2®, FN3® , FN4®, Excellase®, , Opticlean® and Optimase® (Danisco/DuPont), Axapem™ (Gist-Brocases N.V.), BI.AP (sequence shown in Figure 29 of US5352604) and variants hereof (Henkel AG) and KAP ( Bacillus alkalophilus subtilisin) from Kao. In one aspect, preferred enzymes include an amylase. Suitable amylases may be an alpha- amylase or a glucoamylase and may be of bacterial or fungal origin. Chemically modified or protein engineered mutants are included. Amylases include, for example, alpha-amylases obtained from Bacillus, e.g., a special strain of Bacillus licheniformis, described in more detail in GB1296839.

Suitable amylases include amylases having SEQ ID NO: 3 in W095/10603 or variants having 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 3 thereof. Preferred variants are described in WO94/02597, W094/18314, W097/43424 and SEQ ID NO: 4 of WO99/019467, such as variants with substitutions in one or more of the following positions: 15, 23, 105, 106, 124, 128, 133, 154, 156, 178, 179, 181 , 188, 190, 197, 201 , 202, 207, 208, 209, 211 , 243, 264, 304, 305, 391, 408, and 444.

Different suitable amylases include amylases having SEQ ID NO: 6 in W002/010355 or variants thereof having 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 6. Preferred variants of SEQ ID NO: 6 are those having a deletion in positions 181 and 182 and a substitution in position 193.

Other amylases which are suitable are hybrid alpha-amylase comprising residues 1-33 of the alpha-amylase derived from B. amyloliquefaciens shown in SEQ ID NO: 6 of W02006/066594 and residues 36-483 of the B. licheniformis alpha-amylase shown in SEQ ID NO: 4 of W02006/066594 or variants having 90% sequence identity thereof. Preferred variants of this hybrid alpha-amylase are those having a substitution, a deletion or an insertion in one of more of the following positions: G48, T49, G107, H156, A181 , N190, M197, 1201 , A209 and Q264. Most preferred variants of the hybrid alpha-amylase comprising residues 1-33 of the alpha-amylase derived from B. amyloliquefaciens shown in SEQ ID NO: 6 of W02006/066594 and residues 36-483 of SEQ ID NO: 4 are those having the substitutions:

M197T;

H 156 Y+A 181 T+ N 190 F+A209 V+Q264S ; or

G48A+T49I+G 107A+H 156Y+A181 T+N 190F+I201 F+A209V+Q264S.

Further amylases which are suitable are amylases having SEQ ID NO: 6 in WO99/019467 or variants thereof having 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 6. Preferred variants of SEQ ID NO: 6 are those having a substitution, a deletion or an insertion in one or more of the following positions: R181 , G182, H183, G184, N195, I206, E212, E216 and K269. Particularly preferred amylases are those having deletion in positions R181 and G182, or positions H183 and G184.

Additional amylases which can be used are those having SEQ ID NO: 1 , SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 2 or SEQ ID NO: 7 of WO96/023873 or variants thereof having 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 7. Preferred variants of SEQ ID NO: 1 , SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 7 are those having a substitution, a deletion or an insertion in one or more of the following positions: 140, 181 , 182, 183, 184, 195, 206, 212, 243, 260, 269, 304 and 476. More preferred variants are those having a deletion in positions 181 and 182 or positions 183 and 184. Most preferred amylase variants of SEQ ID NO: 1 , SEQ ID NO: 2 or SEQ ID NO: 7 are those having a deletion in positions 183 and 184 and a substitution in one or more of positions 140, 195, 206, 243, 260, 304 and 476.

Other amylases which can be used are amylases having SEQ ID NO: 2 of WO08/153815, SEQ ID NO: 10 in WO01/66712 or variants thereof having 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 2 of WO08/153815 or 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 10 in WO01/66712. Preferred variants of SEQ ID NO: 10 in WO01/66712 are those having a substitution, a deletion or an insertion in one of more of the following positions: 176, 177, 178, 179, 190, 201 , 207, 211 and 264.

Further suitable amylases are amylases having SEQ ID NO: 2 of W009/061380 or variants having 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 2 thereof. Preferred variants of SEQ ID NO: 2 are those having a truncation of the C-terminus and/or a substitution, a deletion or an insertion in one of more of the following positions: Q87, Q98, S125, N128, T131 , T165, K178, R180, S181 , T182, G183, M201 , F202, N225, S243, N272, N282, Y305, R309, D319, Q320, Q359, K444 and G475. More preferred variants of SEQ ID NO: 2 are those having the substitution in one of more of the following positions: Q87E,R, Q98R, S125A, N128C, T131 I, T165I, K178L, T182G, M201 L, F202Y, N225E.R, N272E.R, S243Q,A,E,D, Y305R, R309A, Q320R, Q359E, K444E and G475K and/or deletion in position R180 and/or S181 or of T182 and/or G183. Most preferred amylase variants of SEQ ID NO: 2 are those having the substitutions:

N128C+K178L+T182G+Y305R+G475K;

N 128C+K178L+T182G+F202Y+Y305R+D319T+G475K;

S125A+N 128C+K178L+T182G+Y305R+G475K; or

S125A+N 128C+T 1311+T165I+K178L+T 182G+Y305R+G475K wherein the variants are C- terminally truncated and optionally further comprises a substitution at position 243 and/or a deletion at position 180 and/or position 181.

Other suitable amylases are the alpha-amylase having SEQ ID NO: 12 in WO01/66712 or a variant having at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 12. Preferred amylase variants are those having a substitution, a deletion or an insertion in one of more of the following positions of SEQ ID NO: 12 in WO01/66712: R28, R118, N174; R181 , G182, D183, G184, G186, W189, N195, M202, Y298, N299, K302, S303, N306, R310, N314; R320, H324, E345, Y396, R400, W439, R444, N445, K446, Q449, R458, N471 , N484. Particular preferred amylases include variants having a deletion of D183 and G184 and having the substitutions R118K, N195F, R320K and R458K, and a variant additionally having substitutions in one or more position selected from the group: M9, G149, G182, G186, M202, T257, Y295, N299, M323, E345 and A339, most preferred a variant that additionally has substitutions in all these positions.

Other examples are amylase variants such as those described in WO2011/098531 , Commercially available amylases are Duramyl™, Termamyl™, Termamyl Ultra™· Fungamyl™, Ban™, Stainzyme™, Stainzyme Plus™, Amplify®, Supramyl™, Natalase™, Liquozyme X and BAN™ (from Novozymes A/S), KEMZYM® AT 9000 Biozym Biotech Trading GmbH Wehlistrasse 27b A-1200 Wien Austria, and Rapidase™, Purastar™/Effectenz™, Powerase, Preferenz S100, Preferenx S110, ENZYSIZE®, OPTISIZE HT PLUS®, and PURASTAR OXAM® (Danisco/DuPont) and KAM® (Kao).

Suitable additional lipases and cutinases include those of bacterial or fungal origin. Chemically modified or protein engineered mutant enzymes are included. Examples include cutinase from Humicola, e.g. H. insolens (WO96/13580), lipase from strains of Pseudomonas (some of these now renamed to Burkholderia), e.g. P. alcaligenes or P. pseudoalcaligenes (EP218272), P. cepacia (EP331376), P. sp. strain SD705 (W095/06720 & W096/27002), P. wisconsinensis (WO96/12012), GDSL-type Streptomyces lipases (W010/065455), cutinase from Magnaporthe grisea (W010/107560), cutinase from Pseudomonas mendocina (US5,389,536), lipase from Thermobifida fusca (W011/084412, W013/033318), Geobacillus stearothermophilus lipase (W011/084417), lipase from Bacillus subtilis (W011/084599), and lipase from Streptomyces griseus (W011/150157) and S. pristinaespiralis (W012/137147).

Other examples are lipase variants such as those described in EP407225, WO92/05249, WO94/01541, W094/25578, W095/14783, WO95/30744, W095/35381 , W095/22615,

W096/00292, W097/04079, W097/07202, WO00/34450, WO00/60063, W001/92502,

W007/87508 and WO09/109500.

Preferred commercial lipase products include Lipolase™, Lipex™; Lipolex™ and Lipoclean™ (Novozymes A/S), Lumafast (originally from Genencor) and Lipomax (originally from Gist-Brocades).

Still other examples are lipases sometimes referred to as acyltransferases or perhydrolases, e.g. acyltransferases with homology to Candida antarctica lipase A (WO10/111143), acyltransferase from Mycobacterium smegmatis (WO05/56782), perhydrolases from the CE 7 family (WO09/67279), and variants of the M. smegmatis perhydrolase in particular the S54V variant used in the commercial product Gentle Power Bleach from Huntsman Textile Effects Pte Ltd (W010/100028).

In one aspect, other preferred enzymes include microbial-derived endoglucanases exhibiting endo-beta-1 ,4-glucanase activity (EC3.2.1.4), including a bacterial polypeptide endogenous to a member of the genus Bacillus which has a sequence of at least 90%, 94%, 97% or 99% identity to the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:2 in US7141403 and mixtures thereof. Suitable endoglucanases are sold under the tradenames Celluclean® and Whitezyme® (Novozymes). Other preferred enzymes include pectate lyases sold under the tradenames Pectawash®, Pectaway®, Xpect® and mannanases sold under the tradenames Mannaway® (Novozymes), and Purabrite® (Danisco/DuPont).

The detergent enzyme(s) may be included in a detergent composition by adding separate additives containing one or more enzymes, or by adding a combined additive comprising all of these enzymes.

A detergent additive of the invention, i.e., a separate additive or a combined additive, can be formulated, for example, as granulate, liquid, slurry, etc. Preferred detergent additive formulations are granulates, in particular non-dusting granulates, liquids, in particular stabilized liquids, or slurries.

Non-dusting granulates may be produced, e.g. as disclosed in US4106991 and US4661452 and may optionally be coated by methods known in the art. Examples of waxy coating materials are polyethylene oxide) products (polyethyleneglycol, PEG) with mean molar weights of 1000 to 20000; ethoxylated nonylphenols having from 16 to 50 ethylene oxide units; ethoxylated fatty alcohols in which the alcohol contains from 12 to 20 carbon atoms and in which there are 15 to 80 ethylene oxide units; fatty alcohols; fatty acids; and mono- and di- and triglycerides of fatty acids. Examples of film-forming coating materials suitable for application by fluid bed techniques are given in GB1483591. Liquid enzyme preparations may, for instance, be stabilized by adding a polyol such as propylene glycol, a sugar or sugar alcohol, lactic acid or boric acid according to established methods. Protected enzymes may be prepared according to the method disclosed in EP238216.

Soap - The compositions of the present invention may contain soap. Without being limited by theory, it may be desirable to include soap as it acts in part as a surfactant and in part as a builder and may be useful for suppression of foam and may furthermore interact favorably with the various cationic compounds of the composition to enhance softness on textile fabrics treaded with the inventive compositions. Any soap known in the art for use in laundry detergents may be utilized. In one embodiment, the compositions contain from 0wt% to 20wt%, from 0.5wt% to 20wt%, from 4wt% to 10wt%, or from 4wt% to 7wt% of soap.

Examples of soap useful herein include oleic acid soaps, palmitic acid soaps, palm kernel fatty acid soaps, and mixtures thereof. Typical soaps are in the form of mixtures of fatty acid soaps having different chain lengths and degrees of substitution. One such mixture is topped palm kernel fatty acid.

In one embodiment, the soap is selected from free fatty acid. Suitable fatty acids are saturated and/or unsaturated and can be obtained from natural sources such a plant or animal esters (e.g., palm kernel oil, palm oil, coconut oil, babassu oil, safflower oil, tall oil, castor oil, tallow and fish oils, grease, and mixtures thereof), or synthetically prepared (e.g., via the oxidation of petroleum or by hydrogenation of carbon monoxide via the Fisher Tropsch process).

Examples of suitable saturated fatty acids for use in the compositions of this invention include captic, lauric, myristic, palmitic, stearic, arachidic and behenic acid. Suitable unsaturated fatty acid species include: palmitoleic, oleic, linoleic, linolenic and ricinoleic acid. Examples of preferred fatty acids are saturated Cn fatty acid, saturated Ci ₂ -Ci ₄ fatty acids, and saturated or unsaturated Cn to Ci ₈ fatty acids, and mixtures thereof.

When present, the weight ratio of fabric softening cationic cosurfactant to fatty acid is preferably from about 1 :3 to about 3: 1 , more preferably from about 1 :1.5 to about 1.5:1, most preferably about 1 :1.

Levels of soap and of nonsoap anionic surfactants herein are percentages by weight of the detergent composition, specified on an acid form basis. However, as is commonly understood in the art, anionic surfactants and soaps are in practice neutralized using sodium, potassium or alkanolammonium bases, such as sodium hydroxide or monoethanolamine.

Hydrotropes - The compositions of the present invention may comprise one or more hydrotropes. A hydrotrope is a compound that solubilises hydrophobic compounds in aqueous solutions (or oppositely, polar substances in a non-polar environment). Typically, hydrotropes have both hydrophilic and a hydrophobic character (so-called amphiphilic properties as known from surfactants); however the molecular structure of hydrotropes generally do not favor spontaneous self aggregation, see e.g. review by Hodgdon and Kaler (2007), Current Opinion in Colloid & Interface Science 12: 121-128. Hydrotropes do not display a critical concentration above which self aggregation occurs as found for surfactants and lipids forming miceller, lamellar or other well defined meso-phases. Instead, many hydrotropes show a continuous-type aggregation process where the sizes of aggregates grow as concentration increases. However, many hydrotropes alter the phase behavior, stability, and colloidal properties of systems containing substances of polar and non-polar character, including mixtures of water, oil, surfactants, and polymers. Hydrotropes are classically used across industries from pharma, personal care, food, to technical applications. Use of hydrotropes in detergent compositions allow for example more concentrated formulations of surfactants (as in the process of compacting liquid detergents by removing water) without inducing undesired phenomena such as phase separation or high viscosity.

The detergent may contain from 0 to 10wt%, such as from 0 to 5wt%, 0.5 to 5wt%, or from 3% to 5wt%, of a hydrotrope. Any hydrotrope known in the art for use in detergents may be utilized. Non limiting examples of hydrotropes include sodium benzenesulfonate, sodium p-toluene sulfonate (STS), sodium xylene sulfonate (SXS), sodium cumene sulfonate (SCS), sodium cymene sulfonate, amine oxides, alcohols and polyglycolethers, sodium hydroxynaphthoate, sodium hydroxynaphthalene sulfonate, sodium ethylhexyl sulfate, and combinations thereof.

Builders - The compositions of the present invention may comprise one or more builders, co builders, builder systems ora mixture thereof. When a builder is used, the cleaning composition will typically comprise from 0 to 65wt%, at least 1wt%, from 2 to 60wt% or from 5 to 10wt% builder. In a dish wash cleaning composition, the level of builder is typically 40 to 65wt% or 50 to 65wt%. The composition may be substantially free of builder; substantially free means “no deliberately added” zeolite and/or phosphate. Typical zeolite builders include zeolite A, zeolite P and zeolite MAP. A typical phosphate builder is sodium tri-polyphosphate.

The builder and/or co-builder may particularly be a chelating agent that forms water-soluble complexes with Ca and Mg. Any builder and/or co-builder known in the art for use in detergents may be utilized. Non-limiting examples of builders include zeolites, diphosphates (pyrophosphates), triphosphates such as sodium triphosphate (STP or STPP), carbonates such as sodium carbonate, soluble silicates such as sodium metasilicate, layered silicates (e.g., SKS-6 from Hoechst), ethanolamines such as 2-aminoethan-1-ol (MEA), iminodiethanol (DEA) and 2,2’,2”-nitrilotriethanol (TEA), and carboxymethylinulin (CMI), and combinations thereof.

The composition of the invention may include a co-builder alone, or in combination with a builder, e.g. a zeolite builder. Non-limiting examples of co-builders include homopolymers of polyacrylates or copolymers thereof, such as poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) or copoly (acrylic acid/maleic acid) (PAA/PMA). Further non-limiting examples include citrate, chelators such as aminocarboxylates, aminopolycarboxylates and phosphonates, and alkyl- or alkenylsuccinic acid. Additional specific examples include 2,2’,2”-nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), etheylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), diethylenetriaminepentaaceticacid (DTPA), iminodisuccinic acid (IDS), ethylenediamine-N,N’-disuccinic acid (EDDS), methylglycinediacetic acid (MGDA), glutamic acid-N,N-diacetic acid (GLDA), 1- hydroxyethane-1,1-diylbis(phosphonic acid) (HEDP), ethylenediaminetetrakis(methylene)tetrakis(phosphonic acid) (EDTMPA), diethylenetriaminepentakis(methylene)pentakis(phosphonic acid) (DTPMPA), N-(2- hydroxyethyl)iminodiacetic acid (EDG), aspartic acid-N-monoacetic acid (ASMA), aspartic acid- N,N- diacetic acid (ASDA), aspartic acid-N- monopropionic acid (ASMP) , iminodisuccinic acid (IDA), N- (2- sulfomethyl) aspartic acid (SMAS), N- (2-sulfoethyl) aspartic acid (SEAS), N- (2- sulfomethyl) glutamic acid (SMGL), N- (2- sulfoethyl) glutamic acid (SEGL), N- methyliminodiacetic acid (Ml DA), a- alanine- N,N-diacetic acid (a -ALDA) , serine-N,N-diacetic acid (SEDA), isoserine-N,N-diacetic acid (ISDA), phenylalanine-N,N-diacetic acid (PHDA) , anthranilic acid- N ,N - diacetic acid (ANDA), sulfanilic acid- N, N-diacetic acid (SLDA) , taurine-N, N-diacetic acid (TUDA) and sulfomethyl-N,N-diacetic acid (SMDA), N-(hydroxyethyl)-ethylidenediaminetriacetate (HEDTA), diethanolglycine (DEG), Diethylenetriamine Penta (Methylene Phosphonic acid) (DTPMP), aminotris(methylenephosphonic acid) (ATMP), and combinations and salts thereof. Further exemplary builders and/or co-builders are described in, e.g., WO09/102854, US5977053.

Chelating Agents and Crystal Growth Inhibitors - The compositions of the present invention may contain a chelating agent and/or a crystal growth inhibitor. Suitable molecules include copper, iron and/or manganese chelating agents and mixtures thereof. Suitable molecules include DTPA (Diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid), HEDP (Hydroxyethane diphosphonic acid), DTPMP (Diethylene triamine penta(methylene phosphonic acid)), 1 ,2-Dihydroxybenzene-3,5-disulfonic acid disodium salt hydrate, ethylenediamine, diethylene triamine, ethylenediaminedisuccinicacid (EDDS), N-hydroxyethylethylenediaminetri-acetic acid (HEDTA), triethylenetetraaminehexaacetic acid (TTHA), N-hydroxyethyliminodiacetic acid (HEIDA), dihydroxyethylglycine (DHEG), ethylenediaminetetrapropionic acid (EDTP), carboxymethyl inulin and 2-Phosphonobutane 1 ,2,4- tricarboxylic acid (Bayhibit® AM) and derivatives thereof. Typically the composition may comprise from 0.005 to 15wt% or from 3.0 to 10wt% chelating agent or crystal growth inhibitor.

Bleach Component - The bleach component suitable for incorporation into compositions of the invention comprise one or a mixture of more than one bleach component. Suitable bleach components include bleaching catalysts, photobleaches, bleach activators, hydrogen peroxide, sources of hydrogen peroxide, pre-formed peracids and mixtures thereof. In general, when a bleach component is used, the compositions of the present invention may comprise from 0 to 30wt%, from 0.00001 to 90wt%, 0.0001 to 50wt%, from 0.001 to 25wt% or from 1 to 20wt%. Examples of suitable bleach components include:

(1) Pre-formed peracids: Suitable preformed peracids include, but are not limited to, compounds selected from the group consisting of pre-formed peroxyacids or salts thereof, typically either a peroxycarboxylic acid or salt thereof, or a peroxysulphonic acid or salt thereof.

The pre-formed peroxyacid or salt thereof is preferably a peroxycarboxylic acid or salt thereof, typically having a chemical structure corresponding to the following chemical formula: wherein: R ¹⁴ is selected from alkyl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or heterocyclic groups; the R ¹⁴ group can be linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted; and Y is any suitable counter-ion that achieves electric charge neutrality, preferably Y is selected from hydrogen, sodium or potassium. Preferably,

R ¹⁴ is a linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted C ₆ -9 alkyl. Preferably, the peroxyacid or salt thereof is selected from peroxyhexanoic acid, peroxyheptanoic acid, peroxyoctanoic acid, peroxynonanoic acid, peroxydecanoic acid, any salt thereof, or any combination thereof. Particularly preferred peroxyacids are phthalimido-peroxy-alkanoic acids, in particular e-phthahlimido peroxy hexanoic acid (PAP). Preferably, the peroxyacid or salt thereof has a melting point in the range of from 30°C to 60°C.

The pre-formed peroxyacid or salt thereof can also be a peroxysulphonic acid or salt thereof, typically having a chemical structure corresponding to the following chemical formula: wherein: R ¹⁵ is selected from alkyl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or heterocyclic groups; the R ¹⁵ group can be linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted; and Z is any suitable counter-ion that achieves electric charge neutrality, preferably Z is selected from hydrogen, sodium or potassium. Preferably R ¹⁵ is a linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted C alkyl. Preferably such bleach components may be present in the compositions of the invention in an amount from 0.01 to 50wt% or from 0.1 to 20wt%.

(2) Sources of hydrogen peroxide include e.g., inorganic perhydrate salts, including alkali metal salts such as sodium salts of perborate (usually mono- or tetra-hydrate), percarbonate, persulphate, perphosphate, persilicate salts and mixtures thereof. In one aspect of the invention the inorganic perhydrate salts such as those selected from the group consisting of sodium salts of perborate, percarbonate and mixtures thereof. When employed, inorganic perhydrate salts are typically present in amounts of 0.05 to 40wt% or 1 to 30wt% of the overall composition and are typically incorporated into such compositions as a crystalline solid that may be coated. Suitable coatings include: inorganic salts such as alkali metal silicate, carbonate or borate salts or mixtures thereof, or organic materials such as water-soluble or dispersible polymers, waxes, oils or fatty soaps. Preferably such bleach components may be present in the compositions of the invention in an amount of 0.01 to 50wt% or 0.1 to 20wt%.

(3) The term bleach activator is meant herein as a compound which reacts with hydrogen peroxide to form a peracid via perhydrolysis. The peracid thus formed constitutes the activated bleach.

Suitable bleach activators to be used herein include those belonging to the class of esters, amides, imides or anhydrides. Suitable bleach activators are those having R-(C=0)-L wherein R is an alkyl group, optionally branched, having, when the bleach activator is hydrophobic, from 6 to 14 carbon atoms, or from 8 to 12 carbon atoms and, when the bleach activator is hydrophilic, less than 6 carbon atoms or less than 4 carbon atoms; and L is leaving group. Examples of suitable leaving groups are benzoic acid and derivatives thereof - especially benzene sulphonate. Suitable bleach activators include dodecanoyl oxybenzene sulphonate, decanoyl oxybenzene sulphonate, decanoyl oxybenzoic acid or salts thereof, 3,5,5-trimethyl hexanoyloxybenzene sulphonate, tetraacetyl ethylene diamine (TAED), sodium 4-[(3, 5, 5-trimethylhexanoyl)oxy]benzene-1 -sulfonate (ISONOBS), 4- (dodecanoyloxy)benzene-l -sulfonate (LOBS), 4-(decanoyloxy)benzene-1 -sulfonate, 4-

(decanoyloxy)benzoate (DOBS or DOBA), 4-(nonanoyloxy)benzene-1 -sulfonate (NOBS), and/or those disclosed in W098/17767. A family of bleach activators is disclosed in EP624154 and particularly preferred in that family is acetyl triethyl citrate (ATC). ATC or a short chain triglyceride like triacetin has the advantage that it is environmentally friendly. Furthermore acetyl triethyl citrate and triacetin have good hydrolytical stability in the product upon storage and are efficient bleach activators. Finally ATC is multifunctional, as the citrate released in the perhydrolysis reaction may function as a builder. Alternatively, the bleaching system may comprise peroxyacids of, for example, the amide, imide, or sulfone type. The bleaching system may also comprise peracids such as 6-(phthalimido)peroxyhexanoic acid (PAP). Suitable bleach activators are also disclosed in W098/17767. While any suitable bleach activator may be employed, in one aspect of the invention the subject cleaning composition may comprise NOBS, TAED or mixtures thereof. When present, the peracid and/or bleach activator is generally present in the composition in an amount of 0.1 to 60wt%, 0.5 to 40wt% or 0.6 to 10wt% based on the fabric and home care composition. One or more hydrophobic peracids or precursors thereof may be used in combination with one or more hydrophilic peracid or precursor thereof. Preferably such bleach components may be present in the compositions of the invention in an amount of 0.01 to 50wt%, or 0.1 to 20wt%.

The amounts of hydrogen peroxide source and peracid or bleach activator may be selected such that the molar ratio of available oxygen (from the peroxide source) to peracid is from 1 : 1 to 35: 1 , or even 2:1 to 10:1.

(4) Diacyl peroxides - preferred diacyl peroxide bleaching species include those selected from diacyl peroxides of the general formula: R ¹ -C(0)-00-(0)C-R ² , in which R represents a C ₆ -C ₁₈ alkyl, preferably C ₆ -C ₁₂ alkyl group containing a linear chain of at least 5 carbon atoms and optionally containing one or more substituents (e.g. -N ⁺ (CH ₃ ) ₃ , -COOH or-CN) and/or one or more interrupting moieties (e.g. -CONH- or-CH=CH-) interpolated between adjacent carbon atoms of the alkyl radical, and R ² represents an aliphatic group compatible with a peroxide moiety, such that R ¹ and R ² together

1 2 contain a total of 8 to 30 carbon atoms. In one preferred aspect R and R are linear unsubstituted C ₆ -C ₁₂ alkyl chains. Most preferably R ¹ and R ² are identical. Diacyl peroxides, in which both R ¹ and R ² are C ₆ -C ₁₂ alkyl groups, are particularly preferred. Preferably, at least one of, most preferably only one of, the R groups (Ri or R ₂ ), does not contain branching or pendant rings in the alpha position, or preferably neither in the alpha nor beta positions or most preferably in none of the alpha or beta or gamma positions. In one further preferred embodiment the DAP may be asymmetric, such that preferably the hydrolysis of R1 acyl group is rapid to generate peracid, but the hydrolysis of R2 acyl group is slow.

The tetraacyl peroxide bleaching species is preferably selected from tetraacyl peroxides of the general formula: R ³ -C(0)-00-C(0)-(CH2)n-C(0)-00-C(0)-R ³ , in which R ³ represents a C^C _g alkyl, or C -C _v group and n represents an integer from 2 to 12, or 4 to 10 inclusive.

Preferably, the diacyl and/or tetraacyl peroxide bleaching species is present in an amount sufficient to provide at least 0.5ppm, at least 10ppm, or at least 50ppm by weight of the wash liquor. In a preferred embodiment, the bleaching species is present in an amount sufficient to provide from 0.5 to 300ppm, from 30 to 150ppm by weight of the wash liquor.

Preferably the bleach component comprises a bleach catalyst (5 and 6).

(5) Preferred are organic (non-metal) bleach catalysts include bleach catalyst capable of accepting an oxygen atom from a peroxyacid and/or salt thereof, and transferring the oxygen atom to an oxidizeable substrate. Suitable bleach catalysts include, but are not limited to: iminium cations and polyions; iminium zwitterions; modified amines; modified amine oxides; N-sulphonyl imines; N- phosphonyl imines; N-acyl imines; thiadiazole dioxides; perfluoroimines; cyclic sugar ketones and mixtures thereof.

Suitable iminium cations and polyions include, but are not limited to, N-methyl-3,4- dihydroisoquinolinium tetrafluoroborate, prepared as described in Tetrahedron (1992), 49(2), 423-38 (e.g. compound 4, p.433); N-methyl-3,4-dihydroisoquinolinium p-toluene sulphonate, prepared as described in US5360569 (e.g. Column 11 , Example 1); and N-octyl-3,4-dihydroisoquinolinium p- toluene sulphonate, prepared as described in US5360568 (e.g. Column 10, Ex. 3).

Suitable iminium zwitterions include, but are not limited to, N-(3-sulfopropyl)-3,4- dihydroisoquinolinium, inner salt, prepared as described in US5576282 (e.g. Column 31 , Ex. II); N- [2-(sulphooxy)dodecyl]-3,4-dihydroisoquinolinium, inner salt, prepared as described in US5817614 (e.g. Column 32, Ex. V); 2-[3-[(2-ethylhexyl)oxy]-2-(sulphooxy)propyl]-3,4-dihydroiso quinolinium, inner salt, prepared as described in WO05/047264 (e.g. p.18, Ex. 8), and 2-[3-[(2-butyloctyl)oxy]-2- (sulphooxy)propyl]-3,4-dihydroisoquinolinium, inner salt.

Suitable modified amine oxygen transfer catalysts include, but are not limited to, 1 , 2,3,4- tetrahydro-2-methyl-1-isoquinolinol, which can be made according to the procedures described in Tetrahedron Letters (1987), 28(48), 6061-6064. Suitable modified amine oxide oxygen transfer catalysts include, but are not limited to, sodium 1-hydroxy-N-oxy-N-[2-(sulphooxy)decyl]-1 ,2,3,4- tetrahydroisoquinoline. Suitable N-sulphonyl imine oxygen transfer catalysts include, but are not limited to, 3-methyl- 1 ,2-benzisothiazole 1 ,1 -dioxide, prepared according to the procedure described in the Journal of Organic Chemistry (1990), 55(4), 1254-61.

Suitable N-phosphonyl imine oxygen transfer catalysts include, but are not limited to, [R-(E)]- N-[(2-chloro-5-nitrophenyl)methylene]-P-phenyl-P-(2,4,6-trim ethylphenyl)- phosphinic amide, which can be made according to the procedures described in the Journal of the Chemical Society, Chemical Communications (1994), (22), 2569-70.

Suitable N-acyl imine oxygen transfer catalysts include, but are not limited to, [N(E)]-N- (phenylmethylene)acetamide, which can be made according to the procedures described in Polish Journal of Chemistry (2003), 77(5), 577-590.

Suitable thiadiazole dioxide oxygen transfer catalysts include but are not limited to, 3-methyl- 4-phenyl-1 ,2,5-thiadiazole 1,1 -dioxide, which can be made according to the procedures described in US5753599 (Column 9, Ex. 2).

Suitable perfluoroimine oxygen transfer catalysts include, but are not limited to, (Z)- 2,2,3,3,4,4,4-heptafluoro-N-(nonafluorobutyl)butanimidoyl fluoride, which can be made according to the procedures described in Tetrahedron Letters (1994), 35(34), 6329-30.

Suitable cyclic sugar ketone oxygen transfer catalysts include, but are not limited to, 1 ,2:4,5- di-0-isopropylidene-D-erythro-2,3-hexodiuro-2,6-pyranose as prepared in US6649085 (Column 12, Ex. 1).

Preferably, the bleach catalyst comprises an iminium and/or carbonyl functional group and is typically capable of forming an oxaziridinium and/or dioxirane functional group upon acceptance of an oxygen atom, especially upon acceptance of an oxygen atom from a peroxyacid and/or salt thereof. Preferably, the bleach catalyst comprises an oxaziridinium functional group and/or is capable of forming an oxaziridinium functional group upon acceptance of an oxygen atom, especially upon acceptance of an oxygen atom from a peroxyacid and/or salt thereof. Preferably, the bleach catalyst comprises a cyclic iminium functional group, preferably wherein the cyclic moiety has a ring size of from five to eight atoms (including the nitrogen atom), preferably six atoms. Preferably, the bleach catalyst comprises an aryliminium functional group, preferably a bi-cyclic aryliminium functional group, preferably a 3,4-dihydroisoquinolinium functional group. Typically, the imine functional group is a quaternary imine functional group and is typically capable of forming a quaternary oxaziridinium functional group upon acceptance of an oxygen atom, especially upon acceptance of an oxygen atom from a peroxyacid and/or salt thereof. In another aspect, the detergent composition comprises a bleach component having a logP _0/ no greater than 0, no greater than -0.5, no greater than -1.0, no greater than -1.5, no greater than -2.0, no greater than -2.5, no greater than -3.0, or no greater than -3.5. The method for determining logP _0/ is described in more detail below. Typically, the bleach ingredient is capable of generating a bleaching species having a Xso of from 0.01 to 0.30, from 0.05 to 0.25, or from 0.10 to 0.20. The method for determining X _S o is described in more detail below. For example, bleaching ingredients having an isoquinolinium structure are capable of generating a bleaching species that has an oxaziridinium structure. In this example, the Xso is that of the oxaziridinium bleaching species.

Preferably, the bleach catalyst has a chemical structure corresponding to the following chemical formula: wherein: n and m are independently from 0 to 4, preferably n and m are both 0; each R ¹ is independently selected from a substituted or unsubstituted radical selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, fused aryl, heterocyclic ring, fused heterocyclic ring, nitro, halo, cyano, sulphonato, alkoxy, keto, carboxylic, and carboalkoxy radicals; and any two vicinal R ¹ substituents may combine to form a fused aryl, fused carbocyclic or fused heterocyclic ring; each R ² is independently selected from a substituted or unsubstituted radical independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxy, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkaryl, aryl, aralkyl, alkylenes, heterocyclic ring, alkoxys, arylcarbonyl groups, carboxyalkyl groups and amide groups; any R ² may be joined together with any other of R ² to form part of a common ring; any geminal R ² may combine to form a carbonyl; and any two R ² may combine to form a substituted or unsubstituted fused unsaturated moiety; R ³ is a Ci to C ₂ o substituted or unsubstituted alkyl; R ⁴ is hydrogen or the moiety Q _t -A, wherein: Q is a branched or unbranched alkylene, t = 0 or 1 and A is an anionic group selected from the group consisting of 0S0 ₃ , S0 ₃ , C0 ₂ , OC0 ₂ , 0P0 ₃ ² , OP0 ₃ H and OP0 ₂ ; R ⁵ is hydrogen or the moiety - CR ¹¹ R ¹² -Y-G _b -Yc-[(CR ⁹ R ¹⁰ )y-O] _k -R ⁸ , wherein: each Y is independently selected from the group consisting of O, S, N-H, or N-R ⁸ ; and each R ⁸ is independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl and heteroaryl, said moieties being substituted or unsubstituted, and whether substituted or unsubsituted said moieties having less than 21 carbons; each G is independently selected from the group consisting of CO, S0 ₂ , SO, PO and P0 ₂ ; R ⁹ and R ¹⁰ are independently selected from the group consisting of H and Ci-C ₄ alkyl; R ¹¹ and R ¹² are independently selected from the group consisting of H and alkyl, or when taken together may join to form a carbonyl; b = 0 or 1 ; c can = 0 or 1 , but c must = 0 if b = 0; y is an integer from 1 to 6; k is an integer from 0 to 20; R ⁶ is H, or an alkyl, aryl or heteroaryl moiety; said moieties being substituted or unsubstituted; and X, if present, is a suitable charge balancing counterion, preferably X is present when R ⁴ is hydrogen, suitable X, include but are not limited to: chloride, bromide, sulphate, methosulphate, sulphonate, p- toluenesulphonate, borontetraflouride and phosphate.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the bleach catalyst has a structure corresponding to general formula below: wherein R ¹³ is a branched alkyl group containing from three to 24 carbon atoms (including the branching carbon atoms) or a linear alkyl group containing from one to 24 carbon atoms; preferably R ¹³ is a branched alkyl group containing from eight to 18 carbon atoms or linear alkyl group containing from eight to eighteen carbon atoms; preferably R ¹³ is selected from the group consisting of 2- propylheptyl, 2-butyloctyl, 2-pentylnonyl, 2-hexyldecyl, n-dodecyl, n-tetradecyl, n-hexadecyl, n- octadecyl, iso-nonyl, iso-decyl, iso-tridecyl and iso-pentadecyl; preferably R ¹³ is selected from the group consisting of 2-butyloctyl, 2-pentylnonyl, 2-hexyldecyl, iso-tridecyl and iso-pentadecyl.

Preferably the bleach component comprises a source of peracid in addition to bleach catalyst, particularly organic bleach catalyst. The source of peracid may be selected from (a) pre-formed peracid; (b) percarbonate, perborate or persulfate salt (hydrogen peroxide source) preferably in combination with a bleach activator; and (c) perhydrolase enzyme and an ester for forming peracid in situ in the presence of water in a textile or hard surface treatment step.

When present, the peracid and/or bleach activator is generally present in the composition in an amount of from 0.1 to 60wt%, from 0.5 to 40wt% or from 0.6 to 10wt% based on the composition. One or more hydrophobic peracids or precursors thereof may be used in combination with one or more hydrophilic peracid or precursor thereof.

The amounts of hydrogen peroxide source and peracid or bleach activator may be selected such that the molar ratio of available oxygen (from the peroxide source) to peracid is from 1 : 1 to 35: 1 , or 2:1 to 10:1.

(6) Metal-containing Bleach Catalysts - The bleach component may be provided by a catalytic metal complex. One type of metal-containing bleach catalyst is a catalyst system comprising a transition metal cation of defined bleach catalytic activity, such as copper, iron, titanium, ruthenium, tungsten, molybdenum, or manganese cations, an auxiliary metal cation having little or no bleach catalytic activity, such as zinc or aluminum cations, and a sequestrate having defined stability constants for the catalytic and auxiliary metal cations, particularly ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, ethylenediaminetetra(methylenephosphonic acid) and water-soluble salts thereof. Such catalysts are disclosed in US4430243. Preferred catalysts are described in WO09/839406, US6218351 and WO00/012667. Particularly preferred are transition metal catalyst or ligands therefore that are cross- bridged polydentate N-donor ligands.

If desired, the compositions herein can be catalyzed by means of a manganese compound. Such compounds and levels of use are well known in the art and include, e.g., the manganese-based catalysts disclosed in US5576282.

Cobalt bleach catalysts useful herein are known, and are described e.g. in US5597936; US5595967. Such cobalt catalysts are readily prepared by known procedures, such as taught e.g. in US5597936 and US5595967.

Compositions herein may also suitably include a transition metal complex of ligands such as bispidones (US7501389) and/or macropolycyclic rigid ligands - abbreviated as “MRLs”. As a practical matter, and not by way of limitation, the compositions and processes herein can be adjusted to provide on the order of at least one part per hundred million of the active MRL species in the aqueous washing medium, and will typically provide from 0.005 to 25ppm, from 0.05 to 10ppm, or from 0.1 to 5ppm, of the MRL in the wash liquor.

Suitable transition-metals in the instant transition-metal bleach catalyst include e.g. manganese, iron and chromium. Suitable MRLs include 5, 12-diethyl-1 ,5,8,12- tetraazabicyclo[6.6.2]hexadecane. Suitable transition metal MRLs are readily prepared by known procedures, such as taught e.g. in US6225464 and WO00/32601.

(7) Photobleaches - suitable photobleaches include e.g. sulfonated zinc phthalocyanine sulfonated aluminium phthalocyanines, xanthene dyes and mixtures thereof. Preferred bleach components for use in the present compositions of the invention comprise a hydrogen peroxide source, bleach activator and/or organic peroxyacid, optionally generated in situ by the reaction of a hydrogen peroxide source and bleach activator, in combination with a bleach catalyst. Preferred bleach components comprise bleach catalysts, preferably organic bleach catalysts, as described above.

Particularly preferred bleach components are the bleach catalysts in particular the organic bleach catalysts.

Exemplary bleaching systems are also described, e.g. in W02007/087258, W02007/087244, W02007/087259 and W02007/087242.

Fabric Hueinq Agents - The compositions of the invention may comprise a fabric hueing agent. Suitable fabric hueing agents include dyes, dye-clay conjugates, and pigments. Suitable dyes include small molecule dyes and polymeric dyes. Suitable small molecule dyes include small molecule dyes selected from the group consisting of dyes falling into the Color Index (C.l.) classifications of Direct Blue, Direct Red, Direct Violet, Acid Blue, Acid Red, Acid Violet, Basic Blue, Basic Violet and Basic Red, or mixtures thereof.

Suitable small molecule dyes include small molecule dyes selected from the group consisting of Color Index (Society of Dyers and Colorists, Bradford, UK) numbers Direct Violet 9, Direct Violet 35, Direct Violet 48, Direct Violet 51 , Direct Violet 66, Direct Violet 99, Direct Blue 1 , Direct Blue 71 , Direct Blue 80, Direct Blue 279, Acid Red 17, Acid Red 73, Acid Red 88, Acid Red 150, Acid Violet 15, Acid Violet 17, Acid Violet 24, Acid Violet 43, Acid Red 52, Acid Violet 49, Acid Violet 50, Acid Blue 15, Acid Blue 17, Acid Blue 25, Acid Blue 29, Acid Blue 40, Acid Blue 45, Acid Blue 75, Acid Blue 80, Acid Blue 83, Acid Blue 90 and Acid Blue 113, Acid Black 1 , Basic Violet 1 , Basic Violet 3, Basic Violet 4, Basic Violet 10, Basic Violet 35, Basic Blue 3, Basic Blue 16, Basic Blue 22, Basic Blue 47, Basic Blue 66, Basic Blue 75, Basic Blue 159 and mixtures thereof. In another aspect, suitable small molecule dyes include small molecule dyes selected from the group consisting of Color Index (Society of Dyers and Colorists, Bradford, UK) numbers Acid Violet 17, Acid Violet 43, Acid Red 52, Acid Red 73, Acid Red 88, Acid Red 150, Acid Blue 25, Acid Blue 29, Acid Blue 45, Acid Blue 113, Acid Black 1 , Direct Blue 1 , Direct Blue 71 , Direct Violet 51 and mixtures thereof. In another aspect, suitable small molecule dyes include small molecule dyes selected from the group consisting of Color Index (Society of Dyers and Colorists, Bradford, UK) numbers Acid Violet 17, Direct Blue 71 , Direct Violet 51 , Direct Blue 1 , Acid Red 88, Acid Red 150, Acid Blue 29, Acid Blue 113 or mixtures thereof.

Suitable polymeric dyes include polymeric dyes selected from the group consisting of polymers containing conjugated chromogens (dye-polymer conjugates) and polymers with chromogens co-polymerized into the backbone of the polymer and mixtures thereof.

Suitable polymeric dyes include polymeric dyes selected from the group consisting of fabric- substantive colorants sold under the name of Liquitint® (Milliken), dye-polymer conjugates formed from at least one reactive dye and a polymer selected from the group consisting of polymers comprising a moiety selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl moiety, a primary amine moiety, a secondary amine moiety, a thiol moiety and mixtures thereof. In still another aspect, suitable polymeric dyes include polymeric dyes selected from the group consisting of Liquitint® Violet CT, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) conjugated with a reactive blue, reactive violet or reactive red dye such as CMC conjugated with C.l. Reactive Blue 19, sold by Megazyme, Wicklow, Ireland under the product name AZO-CM-CELLULOSE, product code S-ACMC, alkoxylated triphenyl-methane polymeric colorants, alkoxylated thiophene polymeric colorants, and mixtures thereof.

Preferred hueing dyes include the whitening agents found in WO08/87497. These whitening agents may be characterized by the following structure (I):

wherein Ri and R ₂ can independently be selected from: a) [(CH ₂ CR'HO) _x (CH ₂ CR"HO) _y H] wherein R’ is selected from the group consisting of H, CH ₃ , CH ₂ 0(CH ₂ CH ₂ 0) _z H, and mixtures thereof; wherein R” is selected from the group consisting of H, CH ₂ 0(CH ₂ CH ₂ 0) _z H, and mixtures thereof; wherein x + y < 5; wherein y > 1 ; and wherein z = 0 to 5; b) Ri = alkyl, aryl or aryl alkyl and R ₂ = [(CH ₂ CR'HO) _x (CH ₂ CR"HO) _y H] wherein R’ is selected from the group consisting of H, CH ₃ , CH ₂ 0(CH ₂ CH ₂ 0) _z H, and mixtures thereof; wherein R” is selected from the group consisting of H, CH ₂ 0(CH ₂ CH ₂ 0) _z H, and mixtures thereof; wherein x + y < 10; wherein y > 1 ; and wherein z = 0 to 5; c) Ri = [CH ₂ CH ₂ (OR ₃ )CH ₂ OR ₄ ] and R ₂ = [CH ₂ CH ₂ (0 R ₃ )CH ₂ 0 R ₄ ] wherein R ₃ is selected from the group consisting of H, (CH ₂ CH ₂ 0) _z H, and mixtures thereof; and wherein z = 0 to 10; wherein R ₄ is selected from the group consisting of (Ci-Ci ₆ )alkyl , aryl groups, and mixtures thereof; and d) wherein R1 and R2 can independently be selected from the amino addition product of styrene oxide, glycidyl methyl ether, isobutyl glycidyl ether, isopropylglycidyl ether, t-butyl glycidyl ether, 2-ethylhexylgycidyl ether, and glycidylhexadecyl ether, followed by the addition of from 1 to 10 alkylene oxide units. A preferred whitening agent of the present invention may be characterized by the following structure (II):

wherein R’ is selected from the group consisting of H, CH ₃ , CH ₂ 0(CH ₂ CH ₂ 0) _Z H, and mixtures thereof; wherein R” is selected from the group consisting of H, CH ₂ 0(CH ₂ CH ₂ 0) _Z H, and mixtures thereof; wherein x + y < 5; wherein y > 1 ; and wherein z = 0 to 5. A further preferred whitening agent of the present invention may be characterized by the following structure (III): typically comprising a mixture having a total of 5 EO groups. Suitable preferred molecules are those in Structure I having the following pendant groups in “part a” above. TABLE 1

Further whitening agents of use include those described in US2008/34511 (Unilever). A preferred agent is “Violet 13”.

Suitable dye clay conjugates include dye clay conjugates selected from the group comprising at least one cationic/basic dye and a smectite clay, and mixtures thereof. In another aspect, suitable dye clay conjugates include dye clay conjugates selected from the group consisting of one cationic/basic dye selected from the group consisting of C.l. Basic Yellow 1 through 108, C.l. Basic Orange 1 through 69, C.l. Basic Red 1 through 118, C.l. Basic Violet 1 through 51 , C.l. Basic Blue 1 through 164, C.l. Basic Green 1 through 14, C.l. Basic Brown 1 through 23, Cl Basic Black 1 through 11 , and a clay selected from the group consisting of Montmorillonite clay, Hectorite clay, Saponite clay and mixtures thereof. In still another aspect, suitable dye clay conjugates include dye clay conjugates selected from the group consisting of: Montmorillonite Basic Blue B7 C.l. 42595 conjugate, Montmorillonite Basic Blue B9 C.l. 52015 conjugate, Montmorillonite Basic Violet V3 C.l. 42555 conjugate, Montmorillonite Basic Green G1 C.l. 42040 conjugate, Montmorillonite Basic Red R1 C.l. 45160 conjugate, Montmorillonite C.l. Basic Black 2 conjugate, Hectorite Basic Blue B7 C.l. 42595 conjugate, Hectorite Basic Blue B9 C.l. 52015 conjugate, Hectorite Basic Violet V3 C.l. 42555 conjugate, Hectorite Basic Green G1 C.l. 42040 conjugate, Hectorite Basic Red R1 C.l. 45160 conjugate, Hectorite C.l. Basic Black 2 conjugate, Saponite Basic Blue B7 C.l. 42595 conjugate, Saponite Basic Blue B9 C.l. 52015 conjugate, Saponite Basic Violet V3 C.l. 42555 conjugate, Saponite Basic Green G1 C.l. 42040 conjugate, Saponite Basic Red R1 C.l. 45160 conjugate, Saponite C.l. Basic Black 2 conjugate and mixtures thereof.

Suitable pigments include pigments selected from the group consisting of flavanthrone, indanthrone, chlorinated indanthrone containing from 1 to 4 chlorine atoms, pyranthrone, dichloropyranthrone, monobromodichloropyranthrone, dibromodichloropyranthrone, tetrabromopyranthrone, perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic acid diimide, wherein the imide groups may be unsubstituted or substituted by C1-C3 -alkyl or a phenyl or heterocyclic radical, and wherein the phenyl and heterocyclic radicals may additionally carry substituents which do not confer solubility in water, anthrapyrimidinecarboxylic acid amides, violanthrone, isoviolanthrone, dioxazine pigments, copper phthalocyanine which may contain up to 2 chlorine atoms per molecule, polychloro-copper phthalocyanine or polybromochloro-copper phthalocyanine containing up to 14 bromine atoms per molecule and mixtures thereof.

In another aspect, suitable pigments include pigments selected from the group consisting of Ultramarine Blue (C.l. Pigment Blue 29), Ultramarine Violet (C.l. Pigment Violet 15) and mixtures thereof.

The aforementioned fabric hueing agents can be used in combination (any mixture of fabric hueing agents can be used). Suitable hueing agents are described in more detail in US7208459. Preferred levels of dye in compositions of the invention are 0.00001 to 0.5wt%, or 0.0001 to 0.25wt%. The concentration of dyes preferred in water for the treatment and/or cleaning step is from 1ppb to 5ppm, 10ppb to 5ppm or 20ppb to 5ppm. In preferred compositions, the concentration of surfactant will be from 0.2 to 3g/l. Encapsulates - The compositions of the present invention may comprise an encapsulate. In one aspect, an encapsulate comprising a core, a shell having an inner and outer surface, said shell encapsulating said core.

In one embodiment, said encapsulate, said core may comprise a material selected from the group consisting of perfumes; brighteners; dyes; insect repellants; silicones; waxes; flavors; vitamins; fabric softening agents; skin care agents in one aspect, paraffins; enzymes; anti-bacterial agents; bleaches; sensates; and mixtures thereof; and said shell may comprise a material selected from the group consisting of polyethylenes; polyamides; polyvinylalcohols, optionally containing other co monomers; polystyrenes; polyisoprenes; polycarbonates; polyesters; polyacrylates; aminoplasts, in one aspect said aminoplast may comprise a polyureas, polyurethane, and/or polyureaurethane, in one aspect said polyurea may comprise polyoxymethyleneurea and/or melamine formaldehyde; polyolefins; polysaccharides, in one aspect said polysaccharide may comprise alginate and/or chitosan; gelatin; shellac; epoxy resins; vinyl polymers; water insoluble inorganics; silicone; and mixtures thereof.

In one aspect of said encapsulate, said core may comprise perfume.

In one aspect of said encapsulate, said shell may comprise melamine formaldehyde and/or cross linked melamine formaldehyde.

In a one aspect, suitable encapsulates may comprise a core material and a shell, said shell at least partially surrounding said core material, is disclosed. At least 75%, 85% or 90% of said encapsulates may have a fracture strength of from 0.2 to 10 MPa, from 0.4 to 5MPa, from 0.6 to 3.5 MPa, or from 0.7 to 3MPa; and a benefit agent leakage of from 0 to 30%, from 0 to 20%, or from 0 to 5%.

In one aspect, at least 75%, 85% or 90% of said encapsulates may have a particle size from 1 to 80 microns, from 5 to 60 microns, from 10 to 50 microns, or from 15 to 40 microns.

In one aspect, at least 75%, 85% or 90% of said encapsulates may have a particle wall thickness from 30 to 250nm, from 80 to 180nm, or from 100 to 160nm.

In one aspect, said encapsulates’ core material may comprise a material selected from the group consisting of a perfume raw material and/or optionally a material selected from the group consisting of vegetable oil, including neat and/or blended vegetable oils including castor oil, coconut oil, cottonseed oil, grape oil, rapeseed, soybean oil, corn oil, palm oil, linseed oil, safflower oil, olive oil, peanut oil, coconut oil, palm kernel oil, castor oil, lemon oil and mixtures thereof; esters of vegetable oils, esters, including dibutyl adipate, dibutyl phthalate, butyl benzyl adipate, benzyl octyl adipate, tricresyl phosphate, trioctyl phosphate and mixtures thereof; straight or branched chain hydrocarbons, including those straight or branched chain hydrocarbons having a boiling point of greater than about 80°C; partially hydrogenated terphenyls, dialkyl phthalates, alkyl biphenyls, including monoisopropylbiphenyl, alkylated naphthalene, including dipropylnaphthalene, petroleum spirits, including kerosene, mineral oil and mixtures thereof; aromatic solvents, including benzene, toluene and mixtures thereof; silicone oils; and mixtures thereof.

In one aspect, said encapsulates’ wall material may comprise a suitable resin including the reaction product of an aldehyde and an amine, suitable aldehydes include, formaldehyde. Suitable amines include melamine, urea, benzoguanamine, glycoluril, and mixtures thereof. Suitable melamines include methylol melamine, methylated methylol melamine, imino melamine and mixtures thereof. Suitable ureas include dimethylol urea, methylated dimethylol urea, urea-resorcinol, and mixtures thereof.

In one aspect, suitable formaldehyde scavengers may be employed with the encapsulates e.g. in a capsule slurry and/or added to a composition before, during or after the encapsulates are added to such composition. Suitable capsules may be made by the following teaching of US2008/0305982; and/or US2009/0247449.

In a preferred aspect the composition can also comprise a deposition aid, preferably consisting of the group comprising cationic or nonionic polymers. Suitable polymers include cationic starches, cationic hydroxyethylcellulose, polyvinylformaldehyde, locust bean gum, mannans, xyloglucans, tamarind gum, polyethyleneterephthalate and polymers containing dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, optionally with one or monomers selected from the group comprising acrylic acid and acrylamide.

Perfumes - The compositions of the present invention may comprise a perfume that comprises one or more perfume raw materials selected from the group consisting of 1 ,T-oxybis-2- propanol; 1 ,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid, diethyl ester; (ethoxymethoxy)cyclododecane; 1 ,3- nonanediol, monoacetate; (3-methylbutoxy)acetic acid, 2-propenyl ester; beta-methyl cyclododecaneethanol; 2-methyl-3-[(1 ,7,7-trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl)oxy]-1 -propanol; oxacyclohexadecan-2-one; alpha-methyl-benzenemethanol acetate; trans-3-ethoxy-1 ,1 ,5- trimethylcyclohexane; 4-(1 ,1-dimethylethyl)cyclohexanol acetate; dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a- tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan; beta-methyl benzenepropanal; beta-methyl-3-(1- methylethyl)benzenepropanal; 4-phenyl-2-butanone; 2-methylbutanoic acid, ethyl ester; benzaldehyde; 2-methylbutanoic acid, 1-methylethyl ester; dihydro-5-pentyl-2(3H)furanone; (2E)-1- (2,6,6-trimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1-yl)-2-buten-1-one; dodecanal; undecanal; 2-ethyl- alpha, alpha- dimethylbenzenepropanal; decanal; alpha, alpha-dimethylbenzeneethanol acetate; 2- (phenylmethylene)octanal; 2-[[3-[4-(1 ,1-dimethylethyl)phenyl]-2-methylpropylidene]amino]benzoic acid, methyl ester; 1-(2,6,6-trimethyl-3-cyclohexen-1-yl)-2-buten-1-one; 2-pentylcyclopentanone; 3- oxo-2-pentyl cyclopentaneacetic acid, methyl ester; 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde; 3-ethoxy-4- hydroxybenzaldehyde; 2-heptylcyclopentanone; 1-(4-methylphenyl)ethanone; (3E)-4-(2,6,6- trimethyl-1 -cyclohexen-1-yl)-3-buten-2-one; (3E)-4-(2,6,6-trimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1-yl)-3-buten-2- one; benzeneethanol; 2H-1-benzopyran-2-one; 4-methoxybenzaldehyde; 10-undecenal; propanoic acid, phenylmethyl ester; beta-methylbenzenepentanol; 1 ,1 -diethoxy-3, 7-dimethyl-2,6-octadiene; alpha, alpha-dimethylbenzeneethanol; (2E)-1-(2,6,6-trimethyl-1-cyclohexen-1-yl)-2-buten-1-one; acetic acid, phenylmethyl ester; cyclohexanepropanoic acid, 2-propenyl ester; hexanoic acid, 2- propenyl ester; 1 ,2-dimethoxy-4-(2-propenyl)benzene; 1 ,5-dimethyl-bicyclo[3.2.1]octan-8-one oxime; 4-(4-hydroxy-4-methylpentyl)-3-cyclohexene-1-carboxaldehyde; 3-buten-2-ol; 2-[[[2,4(or 3,5)- dimethyl-3-cyclohexen-1-yl]methylene]amino]benzoic acid, methyl ester; 8-cyclohexadecen-1-one; methyl ionone; 2,6-dimethyl-7-octen-2-ol; 2-methoxy-4-(2-propenyl)phenol; (2E)-3,7-dimethyl-2,6- Octadien-1-ol; 2-hydroxy-Benzoic acid, (3Z)-3-hexenyl ester; 2-tridecenenitrile; 4-(2,2-dimethyl-6- methylenecyclohexyl)-3-methyl-3-buten-2-one; tetrahydro-4-methyl-2-(2-methyl-1-propenyl)-2H- pyran; Acetic acid, (2-methylbutoxy)-, 2-propenyl ester; Benzoic acid, 2-hydroxy-, 3-methylbutyl ester; 2-Buten-1-one, 1-(2,6,6-trimethyl-1-cyclohexen-1-yl)-, (Z)-; Cyclopentanecarboxylic acid, 2- hexyl-3-oco-, methyl ester; Benzenepropanal, 4-ethyl-. alpha...alpha. -dimethyl-; 3-Cyclohexene-1- carboxaldehyde, 3-(4-hydroxy-4-methylpentyl)-; Ethanone, 1-(2, 3, 4,7,8, 8a-hexahydro-3, 6,8,8- tetramethyl-1 H-3a,7- methanoazulen-5-yl)-, [3R-(3. alpha. ,3a. beta. ,7. beta. ,8a. alpha.)]-; Undecanal,

2-methyl-2H-Pyran-2-one, 6-butyltetrahydro-; Benzenepropanal, 4-(1 ,1-dimethylethyl)-. alpha. - methyl-; 2(3H)-Furanone, 5-heptyldihydro-; Benzoic acid, 2-[(7-hydroxy-3,7- dimethyloctylidene)amino]-, methyl; Benzoic acid, 2-hydroxy-, phenylmethyl ester; Naphthalene, 2- methoxy-; 2-Cyclopenten-1-one, 2-hexyl-; 2(3H)-Furanone, 5-hexyldihydro-; Oxiranecarboxylic acid,

3-methyl-3-phenyl-, ethyl ester; 2-Oxabicyclo[2.2.2]octane, 1 ,3,3-trimethyl-; Benzenepentanol,

.gamma. -methyl-; 3-Octanol, 3,7-dimethyl-; 3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadienenitrile; 3,7-dimethyl-6-octen- 1 -ol; Terpineol acetate; 2-methyl-6-methylene-7-Octen-2-ol, dihydro derivative; 3a, 4, 5, 6, 7,7a- hexahydro-4,7-Methano-1 H-inden-6-ol propanoate; 3-methyl-2-buten-1-ol acetate; (Z)-3-Hexen-1-ol acetate; 2-ethyl-4-(2,2,3-trimethyl-3-cyclopenten-1-yl)-2-buten-1-ol; 4-(octahydro-4,7-methano-5H- inden-5-ylidene)-butanal; 3-2,4-dimethyl-cyclohexene-1-carboxaldehyde; 1-(1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,7,8- octahydro-2,3,8,8-tetramethyl-2- naphthalenyl)-ethanone; 2-hydroxy-benzoic acid, methyl ester; 2- hydroxy-benzoic acid, hexyl ester; 2-phenoxy-ethanol; 2-hydroxy-benzoic acid, pentyl ester; 2,3- heptanedione; 2-hexen-1-ol; 6-Octen-2-ol, 2,6-dimethyl-; damascone (alpha, beta, gamma or delta or mixtures thereof), 4,7-Methano-1 H-inden-6-ol, 3a,4,5,6,7,7a-hexahydro-, acetate; 9-Undecenal; 8-Undecenal; Isocyclocitral; Ethanone, 1-(1 ,2,3,5,6,7,8,8a-octahydro-2,3,8,8-tetramethyl-2- naphthalenyl)-; 3-Cyclohexene-1-carboxaldehyde, 3,5-dimethyl-; 3-Cyclohexene-1-carboxaldehyde, 2,4-dimethyl-; 1 ,6-Octadien-3-ol, 3,7-dimethyl-; 1 ,6-Octadien-3-ol, 3,7-dimethyl-, acetate; Lilial (p-t- Bucinal), and Cyclopentanone, 2-[2-(4-methyl-3-cyclohexen-1-yl)propyl]- and 1-methyl-4-(1- methylethenyl)cyclohexene and mixtures thereof. In one aspect the composition may comprise an encapsulated perfume particle comprising either a water-soluble hydroxylic compound or melamine-formaldehyde or modified polyvinyl alcohol. In one aspect the encapsulate comprises (a) an at least partially water-soluble solid matrix comprising one or more water-soluble hydroxylic compounds, preferably starch; and (b) a perfume oil encapsulated by the solid matrix.

In a further aspect, the perfume may be pre-complexed with a polyamine, preferably a polyethylenimine so as to form a Schiff base.

Polymers - The composition of the present invention may comprise one or more polymers. Examples are carboxymethylcellulose, poly(vinyl-pyrrolidone), poly (ethylene glycol), poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(vinylpyridine-N-oxide), poly(vinylimidazole), polycarboxylates such as polyacrylates, maleic/acrylic acid copolymers and lauryl methacrylate/acrylic acid co-polymers.

The composition may comprise one or more amphiphilic cleaning polymers such as the compound having the following general structure: bis((C ₂ H ₅ 0)(C ₂ H ₄ 0)n)(CH ₃ )-N ⁺ -C _x H _2x -N ⁺ -(CH ₃ )- bis((C ₂ H ₅ 0)(C ₂ H ₄ 0)n), wherein n = from 20 to 30, and x = from 3 to 8, or sulphated or sulphonated variants thereof.

The composition may comprise amphiphilic alkoxylated grease cleaning polymers which have balanced hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties such that they remove grease particles from fabrics and surfaces. Specific embodiments of the amphiphilic alkoxylated grease cleaning polymers of the present invention comprise a core structure and a plurality of alkoxylate groups attached to that core structure. These may comprise alkoxylated polyalkylenimines, preferably having an inner polyethylene oxide block and an outer polypropylene oxide block.

Alkoxylated polycarboxylates such as those prepared from polyacrylates are useful herein to provide additional grease removal performance. Such materials are described in WO91/08281 and PCT90/01815. Chemically, these materials comprise polyacrylates having one ethoxy side-chain per every 7-8 acrylate units. The side-chains are of the formula -(CH ₂ CH ₂ 0) _m (CH ₂ )nCH ₃ wherein m is 2-3 and n is 6-12. The side-chains are ester-linked to the polyacrylate "backbone" to provide a "comb" polymer type structure. The molecular weight can vary, but is typically in the range of 2000 to 50,000. Such alkoxylated polycarboxylates can comprise from 0.05wt% to 10wt% of the compositions herein.

The isoprenoid-derived surfactants of the present invention, and their mixtures with other cosurfactants and other adjunct ingredients, are particularly suited to be used with an amphilic graft co-polymer, preferably the amphilic graft co-polymer comprises (i) polyethyelene glycol backbone; and (ii) and at least one pendant moiety selected from polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol and mixtures thereof. A preferred amphilic graft co-polymer is Sokalan HP22, supplied from BASF. Suitable polymers include random graft copolymers, preferably a polyvinyl acetate grafted polyethylene oxide copolymer having a polyethylene oxide backbone and multiple polyvinyl acetate side chains. The molecular weight of the polyethylene oxide backbone is preferably 6000 and the weight ratio of the polyethylene oxide to polyvinyl acetate is 40 to 60 and no more than 1 grafting point per 50 ethylene oxide units.

Carboxylate polymer - The compositions of the present invention may also include one or more carboxylate polymers such as a maleate/acrylate random copolymer or polyacrylate homopolymer. In one aspect, the carboxylate polymer is a polyacrylate homopolymer having a molecular weight of from 4,000 to 9,000Da, or from 6,000 to 9,000Da.

Soil release polymer - The compositions of the present invention may also include one or more soil release polymers having a structure as defined by one of the following structures (I), (II) or (III):

(I) -[(OCH R ¹ -CH R ² ) _a -0-0C-Ar-C0-] _d

(II) -[(OCH R ³ -CH R ⁴ ) _b -0-0C-sAr-C0-] _e

(III) -[(OCH R ⁵ -CH R ⁶ ) _c -OR ⁷ ] _f wherein: a, b and c are from 1 to 200; d, e and f are from 1 to 50;

Ar is a 1 ,4-substituted phenylene; sAr is 1 ,3-substituted phenylene substituted in position 5 with S0 ₃ Me;

Me is Li, K, Mg/2, Ca/2, AI/3, ammonium, mono-, di-, tri-, or tetraalkylammonium wherein the alkyl groups are Ci-Ci ₈ alkyl or C ₂ -Ci ₀ hydroxyalkyl, or mixtures thereof;

R ¹ , R ² , R ³ , R ⁴ , R ⁵ and R ⁶ are independently selected from H or Ci-Ci ₈ n- or iso-alkyl; and

R ⁷ is a linear or branched Ci-Ci ₈ alkyl, or a linear or branched C ₂ -C ₃ o alkenyl, or a cycloalkyl group with 5 to 9 carbon atoms, or a C ₈ -C ₃₀ aryl group, or a C ₆ -C ₃ oarylalkyl group.

Suitable soil release polymers are polyester soil release polymers such as Repel-o-tex polymers, including Repel-o-tex, SF-2 and SRP6 supplied by Rhodia. Other suitable soil release polymers include Texcare polymers, including Texcare SRA100, SRA300, SRN100, SRN170, SRN240, SRN300 and SRN325 supplied by Clariant. Other suitable soil release polymers are Marloquest polymers, such as Marloquest SL supplied by Sasol.

Cellulosic polymer - The compositions of the present invention may also include one or more cellulosic polymers including those selected from alkyl cellulose, alkyl alkoxyalkyl cellulose, carboxyalkyl cellulose, alkyl carboxyalkyl cellulose. In one aspect, the cellulosic polymers are selected from the group comprising carboxymethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, methyl hydroxyethyl cellulose, methyl carboxymethyl cellulose, and mixures thereof. In one aspect, the carboxymethyl cellulose has a degree of carboxymethyl substitution from 0.5 to 0.9 and a molecular weight from 100,000 to 300,000Da.

Dye Transfer Inhibiting Agents - The compositions of the present invention may also include one or more dye transfer inhibiting agents. Suitable polymeric dye transfer inhibiting agents include, but are not limited to, polyvinylpyrrolidone polymers, polyamine N-oxide polymers, copolymers of N- vinylpyrrolidone and N-vinylimidazole, polyvinyloxazolidones and polyvinylimidazoles or mixtures thereof. When present in a composition, the dye transfer inhibiting agents may be present at levels from 0.0001 to 10wt%, from 0.01 to 5wt% or from 0.1 to 3wt%.

Briqhteners - The compositions of the present invention can also contain additional components that may tint articles being cleaned, such as fluorescent brighteners.

The composition may comprise C.l. fluorescent brightener 260 in alpha-crystalline form having the following structure:

In one aspect, the brightener is a cold water soluble brightener, such as the C.l. fluorescent brightener 260 in alpha-crystalline form. In one aspect the brightener is predominantly in alpha- crystalline form, which means that typically at least 50wt%, at least 75wt%, at least 90wt%, at least 99wt%, or even substantially all, of the C.l. fluorescent brightener 260 is in alpha-crystalline form.

The brightener is typically in micronized particulate form, having a weight average primary particle size of from 3 to 30 micrometers, from 3 micrometers to 20 micrometers, or from 3 to 10 micrometers.

The composition may comprise C.l. fluorescent brightener 260 in beta-crystalline form, and the weight ratio of: (i) C.l. fluorescent brightener 260 in alpha-crystalline form, to (ii) C.l. fluorescent brightener 260 in beta-crystalline form may be at least 0.1 , or at least 0.6. BE680847 relates to a process for making C.l fluorescent brightener 260 in alpha-crystalline form.

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, dibenzothiophene-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). Specific nonlimiting examples of optical brighteners which are useful in the present compositions are those identified in US4790856 and US3646015.

A further suitable brightener has the structure below:

Suitable fluorescent brightener levels include lower levels of from 0.01wt%, from 0.05wt%, from 0.1 wt% or from 0.2wt% to upper levels of 0.5wt% or 0.75wt%.

In one aspect the brightener may be loaded onto a clay to form a particle. Silicate salts - The compositions of the present invention can also contain silicate salts, such as sodium or potassium silicate. The composition may comprise of from 0wt% to less than 10wt% silicate salt, to 9wt%, or to 8wt%, or to 7wt%, or to 6wt%, or to 5wt%, or to 4wt%, or to 3wt%, or even to 2wt%, and from above 0wt%, or from 0.5wt%, or from 1wt% silicate salt. A suitable silicate salt is sodium silicate.

Dispersants - The compositions of the present invention can also contain dispersants. Suitable water-soluble organic materials include the homo- or co-polymeric acids or their salts, in which the polycarboxylic acid comprises at least two carboxyl radicals separated from each other by not more than two carbon atoms.

Enzyme Stabilizers - Enzymes for use in compositions can be stabilized by various techniques. The enzymes employed herein can be stabilized by the presence of water-soluble sources of calcium and/or magnesium ions. Examples of conventional stabilizing agents are, e.g. a polyol such as propylene glycol or glycerol, a sugar or sugar alcohol, a peptide aldehyde, lactic acid, boric acid, or a boric acid derivative, e.g. an aromatic borate ester, or a phenyl boronic acid derivative such as 4-formylphenyl boronic acid, and the composition may be formulated as described in, for example, WO92/19709 and WO92/19708 In case of aqueous compositions comprising protease, a reversible protease inhibitor, such as a boron compound including borate, 4-formyl phenylboronic acid, phenylboronic acid and derivatives thereof, or compounds such as calcium formate, sodium formate and 1 ,2-propane diol can be added to further improve stability. The peptide aldehyde may be of the formula B ₂ -B _I -B ₀ -R wherein: R is hydrogen, CH ₃ , CX _3, CHX ₂ , or CH ₂ X, wherein X is a halogen atom; B ₀ is a phenylalanine residue with an OH substituent at the p- position and/or at the /reposition; Bi is a single amino acid residue; and B2 consists of one or more amino acid residues, optionally comprising an N-terminal protection group. Preferred peptide aldehydes include but are not limited to: Z-RAY-H, Ac-GAY-H, Z-GAY-H, Z-GAL-H, Z-GAF-H, Z-GAV-H, Z-RVY-H, Z-LVY-H, Ac-LGAY-H, Ac-FGAY-H, Ac-YGAY-H, Ac-FGVY-H or Ac-WLVY-H, where Z is benzyloxycarbonyl and Ac is acetyl.

Solvents - Suitable solvents include water and other solvents such as lipophilic fluids. Examples of suitable lipophilic fluids include siloxanes, other silicones, hydrocarbons, glycol ethers, glycerine derivatives such as glycerine ethers, perfluorinated amines, perfluorinated and hydrofluoroether solvents, low-volatility nonfluorinated organic solvents, diol solvents, other environmentally-friendly solvents and mixtures thereof.

Structurant/Thickeners - Structured liquids can either be internally structured, whereby the structure is formed by primary ingredients (e.g. surfactant material) and/or externally structured by providing a three dimensional matrix structure using secondary ingredients (e.g. polymers, clay and/or silicate material). The composition may comprise a structurant, from 0.01 to 5wt%, or from 0.1 to 2.0wt%. The structurant is typically selected from the group consisting of diglycerides and triglycerides, ethylene glycol distearate, microcrystalline cellulose, cellulose-based materials, microfiber cellulose, hydrophobically modified alkali-swellable emulsions such as Polygel W30 (3VSigma), biopolymers, xanthan gum, gellan gum, and mixtures thereof. A suitable structurant includes hydrogenated castor oil, and non-ethoxylated derivatives thereof. A suitable structurant is disclosed in US6855680. Such structurants have a thread-like structuring system having a range of aspect ratios. Other suitable structurants and the processes for making them are described in W0 10/034736.

Conditioning Agents - The compositions of the present invention may include a high melting point fatty compound. The high melting point fatty compound useful herein has a melting point of 25°C or higher, and is selected from the group consisting of fatty alcohols, fatty acids, fatty alcohol derivatives, fatty acid derivatives, and mixtures thereof. Such compounds of low melting point are not intended to be included in this section. Non-limiting examples of the high melting point compounds are found in International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary, Fifth Edition, 1993, and CTFA Cosmetic Ingredient Handbook, Second Edition, 1992.

The high melting point fatty compound is included in the composition at a level of from 0.1 to 40wt%, from 1 to 30wt%, from 1.5 to 16wt%, from 1.5 to 8wt% in view of providing improved conditioning benefits such as slippery feel during the application to wet hair, softness and moisturized feel on dry hair.

The compositions of the present invention may contain a cationic polymer. Concentrations of the cationic polymer in the composition typically range from 0.05 to 3wt%, from 0.075 to 2.0wt%, or from 0.1 to 1.0wt%. Suitable cationic polymers will have cationic charge densities of at least 0.5 meq/gm, at least 0.9 meq/gm, at least 1 .2 meq/gm, at least 1.5 meq/gm, or less than 7 meq/gm, and less than 5 meq/gm, at the pH of intended use of the composition, which pH will generally range from pH3 to pH9, or between pH4 and pH8. Herein, "cationic charge density" of a polymer refers to the ratio of the number of positive charges on the polymer to the molecular weight of the polymer. The average molecular weight of such suitable cationic polymers will generally be between 10,000 and 10 million, between 50,000 and 5 million, or between 100,000 and 3 million.

Suitable cationic polymers for use in the compositions of the present invention contain cationic nitrogen-containing moieties such as quaternary ammonium or cationic protonated amino moieties. Any anionic counterions can be used in association with the cationic polymers so long as the polymers remain soluble in water, in the composition, or in a coacervate phase of the composition, and so long as the counterions are physically and chemically compatible with the essential components of the composition or do not otherwise unduly impair composition performance, stability or aesthetics. Nonlimiting examples of such counterions include halides (e.g., chloride, fluoride, bromide, iodide), sulfate and methylsulfate.

Nonlimiting examples of such polymers are described in the CTFA Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary, 3rd edition, edited by Estrin, Crosley, and Haynes, (The Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association, Inc., Washington, D.C. (1982)).

Other suitable cationic polymers for use in the composition include polysaccharide polymers, cationic guar gum derivatives, quaternary nitrogen-containing cellulose ethers, synthetic polymers, copolymers of etherified cellulose, guar and starch. When used, the cationic polymers herein are either soluble in the composition or are soluble in a complex coacervate phase in the composition formed by the cationic polymer and the anionic, amphoteric and/or zwitterionic surfactant component described hereinbefore. Complex coacervates of the cationic polymer can also be formed with other charged materials in the composition. Suitable cationic polymers are described in US3962418; US3958581; and US2007/0207109.

The composition of the present invention may include a nonionic polymer as a conditioning agent. Polyalkylene glycols having a molecular weight of more than 1000 are useful herein. Useful are those having the following general formula: wherein R ⁹⁵ is selected from the group consisting of H, methyl, and mixtures thereof. Conditioning agents, and in particular silicones, may be included in the composition. The conditioning agents useful in the compositions of the present invention typically comprise a water insoluble, water dispersible, non-volatile, liquid that forms emulsified, liquid particles. Suitable conditioning agents for use in the composition are those conditioning agents characterized generally as silicones (e.g., silicone oils, cationic silicones, silicone gums, high refractive silicones, and silicone resins), organic conditioning oils (e.g., hydrocarbon oils, polyolefins, and fatty esters) or combinations thereof, or those conditioning agents which otherwise form liquid, dispersed particles in the aqueous surfactant matrix herein. Such conditioning agents should be physically and chemically compatible with the essential components of the composition, and should not otherwise unduly impair composition stability, aesthetics or performance.

The concentration of the conditioning agent in the composition should be sufficient to provide the desired conditioning benefits. Such concentration can vary with the conditioning agent, the conditioning performance desired, the average size of the conditioning agent particles, the type and concentration of other components, and other like factors.

The concentration of the silicone conditioning agent typically ranges from 0.01 to 10wt%. Non-limiting examples of suitable silicone conditioning agents, and optional suspending agents for the silicone, are described in U.S. Reissue Pat. No. 34,584; US5104646; US5106609; US4152416; US2826551 ; US3964500; US4364837; US6607717; US6482969; US5807956; US5981681 ; US6207782; US7465439; US7041767; US7217777; US2007/0286837A1 ; US2005/0048549A1; US2007/0041929A1; GB849433; DE10036533, which are all incorporated herein by reference; Chemistry and Technology of Silicones, New York: Academic Press (1968); General Electric Silicone Rubber Product Data Sheets SE 30, SE 33, SE 54 and SE 76; Silicon Compounds, Petrarch Systems, Inc. (1984); and in Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Engineering, vol. 15, 2d ed., pp 204-308, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (1989).

The compositions of the present invention may also comprise from 0.05 to 3wt% of at least one organic conditioning oil as the conditioning agent, either alone or in combination with other conditioning agents, such as the silicones (described herein). Suitable conditioning oils include hydrocarbon oils, polyolefins, and fatty esters. Also suitable for use in the compositions herein are the conditioning agents described in US5674478 and US5750122 or in US4529586; US4507280; US4663158; US4197865; US4217914; US4381919; and US4422853.

Hygiene and malodour - The compositions of the present invention may also comprise one or more of zinc ricinoleate, thymol, quaternary ammonium salts such as Bardac®, polyethylenimines (such as Lupasol® from BASF) and zinc complexes thereof, silver and silver compounds, especially those designed to slowly release Ag ⁺ or nano-silver dispersions.

Probiotics - The compositions of the present invention may comprise probiotics such as those described in W009/043709.

Suds Boosters - If high sudsing is desired, suds boosters such as the Cio-Ci ₆ alkanolamides or C ₁₀ -C ₁₄ alkyl sulphates can be incorporated into the compositions, typically at 1 to 10wt% levels. The C10-C14 monoethanol and diethanol amides illustrate a typical class of such suds boosters. Use of such suds boosters with high sudsing adjunct surfactants such as the amine oxides, betaines and sultaines noted above is also advantageous. If desired, water-soluble magnesium and/or calcium salts such as MgCI ₂ , MgS0 ₄ , CaCI ₂ , CaS0 ₄ and the like, can be added at levels of, typically, 0.1 to 2wt%, to provide additional suds and to enhance grease removal performance.

Suds Suppressors - Compounds for reducing or suppressing the formation of suds can be incorporated into the compositions of the present invention. Suds suppression can be of particular importance in the so-called "high concentration cleaning process" as described in US4489455 and US4489574, and in front-loading -style washing machines. A wide variety of materials may be used as suds suppressors, and suds suppressors are well known to those skilled in the art. See e.g. Kirk Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, Third Edition, Volume 7, p.430-447 (John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1979). Examples of suds supressors include monocarboxylic fatty acid and soluble salts therein, high molecular weight hydrocarbons such as paraffin, fatty acid esters (e.g., fatty acid triglycerides), fatty acid esters of monovalent alcohols, aliphatic Ci ₈ -C ₄₀ ketones (e.g., stearone), N- alkylated amino triazines, waxy hydrocarbons preferably having a melting point below about 100°C, silicone suds suppressors, and secondary alcohols. Suds supressors are described in US2954347; US4265779; US4265779; US3455839; US3933672; US4652392; US4978471 ; US4983316; US5288431 ; US4639489; US4749740; US4798679; US4075118; EP89307851.9; EP150872; and DOS 2,124,526.

For any detergent compositions to be used in automatic laundry washing machines, suds should not form to the extent that they overflow the washing machine. Suds suppressors, when utilized, are preferably present in a "suds suppressing amount. By "suds suppressing amount" is meant that the formulator of the composition can select an amount of this suds controlling agent that will sufficiently control the suds to result in a low-sudsing laundry detergent for use in automatic laundry washing machines.

The compositions of the present invention may comprise from 0 to 10wt% of suds suppressor. When utilized as suds suppressors, monocarboxylic fatty acids, and salts therein, will be present typically in amounts up to 5wt%. Preferably, from 0.5 to 3wt% of fatty monocarboxylate suds suppressor is utilized. Silicone suds suppressors are typically utilized in amounts up to 2.0wt%, although higher amounts may be used. Monostearyl phosphate suds suppressors are generally utilized in amounts ranging from 0.1 to 2wt%. Hydrocarbon suds suppressors are typically utilized in amounts ranging from 0.01 to 5.0wt%, although higher levels can be used. The alcohol suds suppressors are typically used at 0.2 to 3wt%.

The compositions of the present invention may have a cleaning activity over a broad range of pH. In certain embodiments the compositions have cleaning activity from pH4 to pH11.5. In other embodiments, the compositions are active from pH6 to p H 11 , from pH7 to pH11 , from pH8 to pH 11 , from pH9 to pH11 , or from pH10 to pH11.5.

The compositions of the present invention may have cleaning activity over a wide range of temperatures, e.g., from 10°C or lower to 90°C. Preferably the temperature will be below 50°C or 40°C or even 30°C. In certain embodiments, the optimum temperature range for the compositions is from 10°C to 20°C, from 15°C to 25°C, from 15°C to 30°C, from 20°C to 30°C, from 25°C to 35°C, from 30°C to 40°C, from 35°C to 45°C, or from 40°C to 50°C.

Methods and Uses

In one aspect, the invention relates to the use of compositions of the present invention in laundry or industrial cleaning. In an embodiment the wash cycle is less than 360 minutes, such as less than 280 minutes, such as less than 150 minutes, such as less than 100 minutes, such as less than 50 minutes, such as less than 30 minutes, such as less than 15 minutes, or such as less than 10 minutes. In an embodiment, the temperature is below 50°C or 40°C or even 30°C. In an embodiments, the optimum temperature range for the compositions is from 10°C to 20°C, from 15°C to 25°C, from 15°C to 30°C, from 20°C to 30°C, from 25°C to 35°C, from 30°C to 40°C, from 35°C to 45°C, or from 40°C to 50°C.

In one aspect, the invention relates to a method of pre-treating a fabric with a composition of the invention, comprising the steps of adding said composition to said fabric, and leaving the composition on the fabric for a period of time, and rinsing off said composition from said fabric.ln one aspect the invention relates to use of the composition of the invention in laundry.

In one embodiment, the use of the composition as described herein, is in laundry.

The fabrics and/or garments subjected to cleaning or washing may be conventional washable laundry, for example household laundry. Preferably, the major part of the laundry is garments and fabrics, including knits, woven, denims, non-woven, felts, yarns, and towelling. The fabrics may be cellulose based such as natural cellulosics, including cotton, flax, linen, jute, ramie, sisal or coir or manmade cellulosics (e.g., originating from wood pulp) including viscose/rayon, ramie, cellulose acetate fibers (tricell), lyocell or blends thereof. The fabrics may also be non-cellulose based such as natural polyamides including wool, camel, cashmere, mohair, rabit and silk or synthetic polymer such as nylon, aramid, polyester, acrylic, polypropylen and spandex/elastane, or blends thereof as well as blend of cellulose based and non-cellulose based fibers. Examples of blends are blends of cotton and/or rayon/viscose with one or more companion material such as wool, synthetic fibers (e.g., polyamide fibers, acrylic fibers, polyester fibers, polyvinyl alcohol fibers, polyvinyl chloride fibers, polyurethane fibers, polyurea fibers, aramid fibers), and cellulose-containing fibers (e.g., rayon/viscose, ramie, flax, linen, jute, cellulose acetate fibers, lyocell). The composition according to the invention is ideally suited for use in laundry applications. Thus, in one aspect, the present invention relates to a method of laundering, comprising laundering a garment with a composition as described herein, preferably at a temperature of 50°C or less, such as 40°C or less, or more preferably at a temperature of 30°C or less, or even more preferably at a temperature of 20°C or less. Accordingly, the method of laundering comprises laundering a fabric with a composition of the invention at a temperature of 50°C or less, preferably at a temperature of 40°C or less, or more preferably at a temperature of 30°C or less, or even more preferably at a temperature of 20°C or less.

In one embodiment, the concentration of surfactants during said laundry process is at least 0.005 g/L wash water, such as at least 0.007 g/L, such as at least 0.01 g/L, or such as at least 0.1 g/L.

In one embodiment, the concentration of surfactants during said laundry process is at least 1 g/L wash water, such as at least 2 g/L, such as at least 3 g/L, or such as 4.

In one embodiment, the concentration of surfactants during said laundry process is in the range from between 0.05-10 g/L wash water, such as between 0.1-8 g/L, such as between 0.1-6 g/L, or such as between 0.2-6 g/L wash water.

These methods include a method for laundering a fabric. The method comprises the steps of contacting a fabric to be laundered with a cleaning laundry solution comprising a detergent composition. The fabric may comprise any fabric capable of being laundered in normal consumer use conditions. The solution preferably has a pH from about 5.5 to about 11.5. The compositions may be employed at concentrations from about 100 ppm, preferably 500 ppm to about 15,000 ppm in solution. The water temperatures typically range from about 5°C to about 95°C, including about 10°C, about 15°C, about 20°C, about 25°C, about 30°C, about 35°C, about 40°C, about 45°C, about 50°C, about 55°C, about 60°C, about 65°C, about 70°C, about 75°C, about 80°C, about 85°C and about 90°C. The water to fabric ratio is typically from about 1:1 to about 30:1.

In particular embodiments, the washing method is conducted at a pH from about 5.0 to about

11 .5, or from about 6 to about 10.5, about 5 to about 11 , about 5 to about 10, about 5 to about 9, about 5 to about 8, about 5 to about 7, about 5.5 to about 11 , about 5.5 to about 10, about 5.5 to about 9, about 5.5 to about 8, about 5.5. to about 7, about 6 to about 11 , about 6 to about 10, about 6 to about 9, about 6 to about 8, about 6 to about 7, about 6.5 to about 11 , about 6.5 to about 10, about 6.5 to about 9, about 6.5 to about 8, about 6.5 to about 7, about 7 to about 11 , about 7 to about 10, about 7 to about 9, or about 7 to about 8, about 8 to about 11 , about 8 to about 10, about 8 to about 9, about 9 to about 11 , about 9 to about 10, about 10 to about 11 , preferably about 5.5 to about

11.5. Water hardness in a cleaning process is determined by the water hardness in the water and/or by the presence of chelating agents in the detergent composition.

In particular embodiments, the washing method is conducted at a degree of hardness of from about 0°dH to about 30°dH, such as about 1°dH, about 2°dH, about 3°dH, about 4°dH, about 5°dH, about 6°dH, about 7°dH, about 8°dH, about 9°dH, about 10°dH, about 11°dH, about 12°dH, about 13°dH, about 14°dH, about 15°dH, about 16°dH, about 17°dH, about 18°dH, about 19°dH, about 20°dH, about 21°dH, about 22°dH, about 23°dH, about 24°dH, about 25°dH, about 26°dH, about 27°dH, about 28°dH, about 29°dH, about 30°dH. Under typical European wash conditions, the degree of hardness is about 16°dH, under typical US wash conditions about 6°dH, and under typical Asian wash conditions, about 3°dH, however, the wash conditions may vary locally depending on the source of water.

In one embodiment, the composition according to the invention is for use is in a laundry process where the resulting water hardness is between 0 and 30 °dH, such as between 0 and 15 °dH, such as between 0 and 10 °dH, such as between 3 and 20 °dH, such as between 10 and 20 °dH, or such as above 20 °dH.

In particular embodiments, the washing process is conducted over a certain period of time, from 10 minutes to more than 400 minutes. Thus, in one embodiment, the use is in a laundry process where the wash cycle is less than 360 minutes, such as less than 280 minutes, such as less than 150 minutes, such as less than 100 minutes, such as less than 50 minutes, such as less than 30 minutes, such as less than 15 minutes, or such as less than 10 minutes.

In one embodiment, the method is a method of pre-treating a fabric with a composition according to the invention, comprising the steps of adding said composition to said fabric, and leaving the composition on the fabric for a period of time, and rinsing off said composition from said fabric.

The present invention is further described by the following examples that should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

EXAMPLES Example 1 p-nitrophenyl (pIMP) assay (general lipase activity assay):

The hydrolytic activity of a lipase may be determined by a kinetic assay using p-nitrophenyl acyl esters as substrate.

A 100mM stock solution in DMSO of the substrates: p-Nitrophenyl butyrate (C4), p- Nitrophenyl caproate (C6), p-Nitrophenyl caprate (C10), p-Nitrophenyl laurate (C12) and p- Nitrophenyl palmitate (C16) (all from Sigma-Aldrich Danmark A/S, Kirkebjerg Alle 84, 2605 Brandby; Cat.no.: C4:N-9876, C6: N-0502, C10: N-0252, C12: N-2002, C16: N-2752) may be diluted to a final concentration of 1mM 25 into assay buffer (50mM Tris; pH 7.7; 0.4% TritonX-100).

The lipases in question and appropriate controls e.g. Buffer (negative), Lipolase™ & Lipex™ (positive) in 50mM Hepes; pH 8.0; 10ppm TritonX-100; +/-20mM CaCI ₂ may be added to the substrate solution in the following final concentrations: 0.01 mg/ml; 5x10-3 mg/ml; 2.5x10-4 mg/ml; and 1.25x10-4 mg/ml in 96-well NUNC plates (Cat. No:260836, Kamstrupvej 90, DK-4000, Roskilde). Release of p-nitrophenol by hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl acyl may be monitored at 405nm for 5 minutes in 10 second intervals on a Spectra max 190 (Molecular Devices GmbH, Bismarckring 39, 88400 Biberach an der Riss, GERMANY). The hydrolytic activity towards one or more substrates of a variant may be compared to that of the parent lipase.

Example 2

Fat removal at various sodium sulfate : sodium carbonate ratios with and without Lipase

Cotton fabric swatches 5x5 cm were incubated at 100°C for 20 minutes and after cooling for 60 minutes the swatches were weighed on an analytical balance.

Lard was melted and 100 pL applied on each swatch. The swatches were incubated at 100 °C for 20 minutes and after cooling for 60 minutes the swatches were weighed on an analytical balance.

Four lard soiled swatches were washed in a Terg-O-tometer using 1 L detergent solution containing 5 g detergent Model 1 , Model 2 or Model 3, adding 0 mg or 0.09 mg of the lipase shown as SEQ ID NO: 2 (wild-type Thermomyces lanuginosus lipase with T231 R+N233R substitutions), artificial water hardness with 15 °dH Ca++/Mg++/HC03- (ratio 4:1 :7.5) and including two 5x5 cm soil ballast swatches (C-S-10: Cotton soiled with butter fat and colorant, Center For Testmaterials B.V.) and cotton ballast. The total weight of textiles was 30 g per beaker. The swatches were washed at 25 °C, 120 rpm for 20 minutes and then rinsed under running tap water for 10 minutes. After washing and rinsing the lard soiled swatches were incubated at 100 °C for 20 minutes and after cooling for 60 minutes the swatches were weighed on an analytical balance. The wash test consisted of two external replicates for each treatment described above.

Fat removal is calculated as:

% Fat removal = ((weight of lard soiled swatches before wash) - (weight of lard soiled swatches after wash)) / ((weight of lard soiled swatches before wash) - (weight of swatches before soiling))

Table 1 : Detergent composition a) The balance is mainly water

Table 2: Wash performance results Example 3

Fat removal at various sodium sulfate : sodium carbonate ratios with and without Lipase

Cotton fabric swatches 5x5 cm were incubated at 100 °C for 20 minutes and after cooling for 60 minutes the swatches were weighed on an analytical balance.

Lard was melted and 100 pL applied on each swatch. The swatches were incubated at 100 °C for 20 minutes and after cooling for 60 minutes the swatches were weighed on an analytical balance.

Four lard soiled swatches were washed in a Terg-O-tometer using 1 L detergent solution containing 5 g detergent Model 4, Model 5, Model 6, Model 7 or Model 8, adding 0 mg or 0.045 mg of the lipase shown as SEQ ID NO: 2, artificial water hardness with 10 °dH Ca++/Mg++/HC03- (ratio 4:1 :7.5) and including two 5x5 cm soil ballast swatches (C-S-10: Cotton soiled with butter fat and colorant, Center For Testmaterials B.V.) and cotton ballast and the total weight of textiles was 30 g per beaker. The swatches were washed at 30 °C, 120 rpm for 20 minutes and then rinsed under running tap water for 10 minutes. After washing and rinsing the lard soiled swatches were incubated at 100 °C for 20 minutes and after cooling for 60 minutes the swatches were weighed on an analytical balance. The wash test consisted of two external replicates for each treatment described above. Fat removal is calculated as:

% Fat removal = ((weight of lard soiled swatches before wash) - (weight of lard soiled swatches after wash)) / ((weight of lard soiled swatches before wash) - (weight of swatches before soiling))

Table 3: Detergent composition

a) The balance is mainly water

Table 4: Wash performance results

Example 4

Fat removal at various sodium sulfate : sodium carbonate ratios with and without Lipase

Cotton fabric swatches 5x5 cm were incubated at 100 °C for 20 minutes and after cooling for 60 minutes the swatches were weighed on an analytical balance.

Lard was melted and 100 pL applied on each swatch. The swatches were incubated at 100 °C for 20 minutes and after cooling for 60 minutes the swatches were weighed on an analytical balance.

Four lard soiled swatches were washed in a Terg-O-tometer using 1 L detergent solution containing 5 g detergent Model 9, Model 10, Model 11, Model 12 or Model 13, adding 0 mg or 0.055 mg of the lipase shown as SEQ ID NO: 2, artificial water hardness with 15 °dH Ca++/Mg++/HC03- (ratio 4:1 :7.5) and including two 5x5 cm soil ballast swatches (C-S-10: Cotton soiled with butter fat and colorant, Center For Testmaterials B.V) and cotton ballast. The total weight of textiles was 30 g per beaker. The swatches were washed at 25 °C, 120 rpm for 20 minutes and then rinsed under running tap water for 10 minutes. After washing and rinsing the lard soiled swatches were incubated at 100 °C for 20 minutes and after cooling for 60 minutes the swatches were weighed on an analytical balance. The wash test consisted of two external replicates for each treatment described above.

Fat removal is calculated as: % Fat removal = ((weight of lard soiled swatches before wash) - (weight of lard soiled swatches after wash)) / ((weight of lard soiled swatches before wash) - (weight of swatches before soiling))

Table 5: Detergent composition

a) The balance is mainly water

Table 6 Wash performance results