Laundry Detergent Composition

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to the use of hydroxamic acid and its corresponding salts in laundry detergent compositions with low levels of zeolite and phosphate builder, leading to

improved detergency and stain removal.

Background of the invention

Improvement of stain removal is one of the constant goals of the detergents industry, as this may lead to savings on the use of chemicals in detergent compositions, or may lead to washing at lower temperature, and/or for shorter times, and therewith saving energy. Therefore there is still an interest to improve the detergency effect, especially the primary detergency effect of laundry detergent compositions on textile stains, for example particulate stains, such as stains comprising soils or clay, or plant based stains, such as grass. Especially

particulate stains are difficult to remove during the

laundering process.

Hydroxamic acids are a class of chemical compounds in which a hydroxylamine is inserted into a carboxylic acid. The general structure of a hydroxamic acid is the following:

o (Formula 1) in which R ¹ is an organic residue, for example alkyl or

alkylene groups. The hydroxamic acid may be present as its corresponding alkali metal salt, or hydroxamate . The hydroxamates may conveniently be formed from the

corresponding hydroxamic acid by substitution of the acid hydrogen atom by a cation:

(Formula 2)

L ⁺ is a monovalent cation such as for example the alkali metals (e.g. potassium, sodium), or ammonium or a substituted

ammonium. Hydroxamic acids and hydroxamates are known to be useful as metal chelators. They have also been used in detergent

compositions in order to improve bleaching performance, as well as use as a builder substance. EP 388 389 A2 discloses bleach free under built liquid

detergent compositions containing hydroxamic acids and their derivatives which assist in the removal of bleachable wine stains from fabrics during laundering. Hydroxamic acids as in formula 1 are disclosed, wherein R ¹ represents an optionally substituted straight- or branched chain C5-C2 ₁ alkyl or C5-C2 ₁ alkenyl group or an optionally-substituted phenyl group, and R ^' represents hydrogen, or an optionally substituted C ₁ -C6 alkyl group, or an optionally-substituted phenyl group. One of the examples shows an improved bleaching performance when a

hydroxamate is used in a detergent composition in hard water (20° German hardness, which is about 143 milligram calcium per litre) . The examples use C12 linear, C12 branched, C13 branched and Ci ₈ hydroxamates in detergent formulations comprising mixtures of anionic surfactant and nonionic surfactant. In examples I, II and IV there is an excess of nonionic surfactant of at least 1.25 to 1 and in example III there is 100 ~6 anionic surfactant. The liquids also contain at least 6 wt% ethanol, which assists in solubilising the long chain hydroxamates. EP 384 912 A2 discloses the use of hydroxamic acids and their derivatives as stabilizers for peroxygen bleach compounds in built, mainly granular, detergent compositions. Fully

formulated detergent powder examples with 20 wt% zeolite used C12 , Ci3 and C12 branched hydroxamates. Ci s was also used.

US 4,874,539 discloses polymeric carboxy hydroxamic acids useful as detergent additives, especially as metal ion

chelating agents, and also leading to improved tea stain removal from a test cloth, as compared to a detergent powder without a metal ion chelating agent.

US 4,863,636 discloses liquid detergent compositions comprising one or more detersive surfactants and one or more of N- hydroxyimide or carboxy hydroxamic acid detergent additives. These compounds serve as active metal ion chelants, leading to improved stain removal.

WO 97/48786 discloses a multicomponent system for use with detergent substances, containing an oxidation catalyst, a suitable oxidant, at least one mediator that has been selected from the group of, among others, hydroxamic acids and

hydroxamic acid derivatives, a co-mediator, and optionally a low quantity of at least one free amine of each inserted mediator. This system leads to improved bleach function of the detergent, and less consumption of a mediator.

GB 1317445 discloses detergent compositions comprising an alkali-metal salt of a hydroxamic acid. The function of this salt is to prevent the corrosion of copper and copper alloys that is utilised in the construction of the washing machines.

Copending patent application PCT/EP2009/067193 describes laundry detergent formulations comprising (a) 0.5 to 20% by weight hydroxamic acid or its corresponding hydroxamate, and additionally (b) 3 to 80% by weight of surfactant, whereby the weight ration of (a) to (b) lies in the range of 1:5 to 1:15.

It is also shown in this document that the primary detergent effect, especially on red clay particulate soil, can be

improved when applying these laundry detergent formulations for treating soiled fabric.

It has now surprisingly been found that this beneficial effect can also be obtained when using laundry detergent formulations similar to those of PCT/EP2009/067193 but having a lower weight ratio of hydroxamic acid (or its corresponding hydroxamate) to surfactant . Laundry detergents need to be able to remove everyday dirt and stains that are commonly found in a wash load. Two particular stains that are problematic, especially when children' s wear or sport's wear is being washed, are clay soil stains and grass stains. One type of clay that is particularly resistant to removal by surfactants alone is red clay, such as red pottery clay or Red Georgia clay. This is a particulate soil stain.

Definition of the invention Accordingly, the present invention provides a laundry detergent composition comprising

a) 0.5 to 20, preferably 6, wt% hydroxamic acid or its

corresponding hydroxamate of the structure:

wherein R ¹ is

a straight or branched C4-C20 alkyl, or

a straight or branched substituted C4-C20 alkyl, or

a straight or branched C4-C20 alkenyl, or

a straight or branched substituted C4-C20 alkenyl, or

an alkyl ether group C¾ (C¾)n (EO) _m wherein n is from 2 to 20 and m is from 1 to 12, or a substituted alkyl ether group C¾ (C¾)n (EO) _m wherein n is from 2 to 20 and m is from 1 to 12, and

the types of substitution include one or more of

-NH ₂ , -OH, -S-, -0-, -COOH,

C OH

II I

- C - N - H

and ;

and R ² is selected from hydrogen and a moiety that forms part of a cyclic structure with a branched R ¹ group,

b) 3 to 80 wt% of detersive surfactant system comprising

(i) anionic surfactant; and

(ii) nonionic surfactant,

wherein the ratio of (i) to (ii) lies in the range 1:1.1 to 19:1, and the weight ratio of (a) to (b) lies in the range of less than 1:15 to 1: 160, preferably less than 1: 15 to 1:100, and c) optionally, other ingredients to 100 wt% provided that zeolite and phosphate builders are present at less than 5 wt% and ethanol is present at a level of less than 5 wt%. It should be understood that references to a number of carbon atoms include mixed chain length materials provided that some of the hydroxamate material falls within the ranges specified and the ratios and amounts are determined by excluding any material falling outside of the specified range.

Soap is not included in the calculation of anionic surfactant amounts and ratios.

It is undesirable to have ethanol present at all as it is an explosion hazard during manufacture, and subsequently. If a high level of surfactant is present, it is desirable to seek alternative hydrotrope systems. We prefer a hydrotrope system comprising propylene glycol and glycerol at levels of at least

6 wt%, more preferably at least 10 wt%.

The preferred hydroxamates are those where R ² is Hydrogen and R is C8 to Ci4 alkyl, preferably normal alkyl, most preferably saturated .

The detergent composition is preferably used in aqueous wash liquor, but may comprise one or more solvents suitable for use for domestic laundry purposes. Preferably, the improved stain removal occurs during the main wash of the laundry process, i.e. preferably the laundry detergent composition in which the hydroxamates are used is a main wash product. The wash liquor is preferably free of formate salts. Furthermore, it is preferably free from bleach, especially peroxygen bleach. The composition may comprise from 1 to 15 wt% soap. The

preferred soaps are made from saturated fatty acids.

Especially preferred compositions comprise at least 0.5 wt% of soil release polymer. This improves the multiwash performance of the detergent system for the removal of the clay. Inclusion of at least 0.5 wt% anti redeposition polymer is also

beneficial due to the very high efficiency of primary

detergency soil removal meaning that there is an increased level of soil in the wash liquor, which must then be prevented from redeposition onto the same or a different piece of fabric.

The preferred weight ratio of hydroxamate to detersive

surfactant system for optimum particulate red clay soil removal lies in the range of less than 1:15 to 1:100. An even more preferred range of weight ratios being in the range of 1:20 to

1:50.

The preferred ratio of anionic to nonionic surfactant for particulate red clay soil removal is at least 1:1, more

preferably at least 3:2. Preferably, it is at most 9:1. So a most preferred range is 1:1 to 9:1, or 3:2 to 9:1.

The invention also extends to the use of 0.5 to less than 20 wt% hydroxamic acid or its corresponding hydroxamate of the structure :

o

wherein R ¹ is a Cs normal alkyl group, and R ² is a hydrogen atom, in a laundry detergent composition, for improving the particulate soils stain removal from a textile substrate, wherein the composition further comprises a detersive

surfactant system comprising anionic surfactant and nonionic surfactant at a concentration from 3 to 80 wt%; and optionally other ingredients to 100 wt%, wherein the weight ratio of component (a) to component (b) lies in the range of less than 1:15 to 1:160.

The hydroxamate may be incorporated within the laundry

detergent compositions in any suitable fashion within the knowledge of a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Whenever either the term ^x hydroxamic acid' or ^x hydroxamate' is used in this specification, this encompasses both hydroxamic acid and the corresponding hydroxamate (salt of hydroxamic acid), unless indicated otherwise.

All percentages mentioned herein are by weight calculated on the total composition, unless specified otherwise. The

abbreviation ^x wt%' is to be understood as % by weight of the total composition.

The stained fabric is treated with the laundry detergent composition comprising

hydroxamate according to the invention and the primary

detergency is the measured stain removal by the laundry

composition on the stain. This is a separate process to so- called soil release using a polymer, which is treatment of fabric with a polymer (through a wash or other such treatment) , with subsequent staining of the fabric, the soil release polymer having the effect of the easier removal of the stain. The following definitions pertain to chemical structures, molecular segments and substituents :

Molecular weights of monomers and polymers are expressed as weight average molecular weights, except where otherwise specified.

The textile/fabric substrates used can be any typical

textile/fabric substrate, such as cotton (woven, knitted & denim) , polyester (woven, knitted & micro fibre) , nylon, silk, polycotton (polyester/cotton blends) , polyester elastane, cotton elastane, viscose rayon, acrylic or wool. Particularly suitable textile/fabric substrates are cotton, polycotton and polyester substrates. Particulate stains are stains comprising for example dirt, soil, clay, mud or soot. They are predominately solid in nature and come into contact with fabrics in the course of their regular use. Hydroxamic acid and derivatives

The general structure of a hydroxamic acid in the context of the present invention has been indicated in formula 3, and R ¹ , is as defined above. When R ¹ , is an alkyl ether group C¾ (C¾ ) n (EO) _m wherein n is from 2 to 20 and m is from 1 to 12 then the alkyl moiety terminates this side group. Preferably, R ¹ is chosen from the group consisting of C ₄ , C ₅ , e, C ₇ , Cs, Cg, Cio, On, or Ci2 or Ci ₄ normal alkyl group, most preferably R ¹ is at least a Cg-i4 normal alkyl group. When the Cs material is used this is called octyl hydroxamic acid. The potassium salt is particularly useful.

o eta no h yd ro xa mic acid sa lt

However, other hydroxamic acids, whilst less preferred, are suitable for use in the present invention. Such suitable compounds include, but are not limited to, the following compounds :

Lysine H yd roxam ate*H CI

Meth io nine Hydroxamate N orv aline H d ro xa mate

Such hydroxamic acids are commercially available.

Without wishing to be bound by theory, we believe that the hydroxamate acts by binding to metal ions that are present in the soil on the fabric. This binding action, which is, in effect, the known sequestrant property of the hydroxamate is not, in itself, of any use to remove the soil from the fabric. The key is the "tail" of the hydroxamate i.e. the group R ¹ minus any branching that folds back onto the amate Nitrogen via group R ² . The tail is selected to have an affinity for the surfactant system. This means that the soil removal ability of an already optimised surfactant system is further enhanced by the use of the hydroxamate as it, in effect, labels the

difficult to remove particulate material (clay) as "soil" for removal by the surfactant system acting on the hydroxamate molecules now fixed to the particulates via their binding to the metal ions embedded in the clay type particulates. The detersive surfactants will adhere to the hydroxamate, leading overall to more surfactants interacting with the fabric, leading to better soil release. Therewith the hydroxamic acids act as a linker molecule facilitating the removal and

suspension of the particulate soil from the fabric into a wash liquor and thus boosting the primary detergency. This enhancing of the primary detergency of surfactant systems is especially relevant when using concentrated liquid detergent compositions, as the pH during the laundering process is relatively low (pH 7.5-8) as compared to traditional laundering processes with particulate detergent compositions (pH 9-10.5). The lower pH during the laundering process with liquid

detergent compositions may lead to reduced soil release, as the surface charges of the soils are less negative as compared to the higher pH during the conventional well built and buffered laundering processes, achieved with conventional zeolite or phosphate built powder products. This surface charge of the soil may lead to increased repellence of the surfactants by the soil, possibly leading to reduced release of the soil. Hence, in a preferred embodiment, the hydroxamates are used in liquid detergent compositions, and more preferred the detersive surfactant concentration in said liquid detergent compositions is from 20 to 80 wt%. The hydroxamates have a higher affinity for transition metals, like iron, than for alkaline earth metals like calcium and magnesium, therefore the hydroxamic acid primarily acts to improve the removal of soil on fabric, especially particulate soils, and not additionally as a builder for calcium and magnesium. This selectively is especially beneficial if the laundering composition is underbuilt; especially when it comprises less than 5 wt% zeolite or phosphate builder. Surfactants

The laundry detergent composition in which the hydroxamate is used comprises a detersive surfactant system at a concentration from 3 to 80 wt%. By a detersive surfactant system, we mean that the surfactants therein provide a detersive, i.e. cleaning effect to textile fabrics treated as part of a laundering process. Other surfactants, which are not detersive

surfactants, can be used as part of the composition.

Preferably, the detersive surfactant is present at a level of from 5 to 60 wt%, more preferably from 10 to 50 wt%. Even more preferably, the detersive surfactant system comprises at least 20, or 30 or even 40 wt% of the composition.

In general, any surfactant may be used as detersive

surfactants, including anionic, nonionic, cationic, and

amphoteric or zwitterionic surfactants, or combinations of these, provided that there is anionic and nonionic surfactant present in the range of ratios specified above. Cationic surfactant may optionally be present as part of the detersive surfactant. Anionic surfactant may be present at a level of from 0.1 to 50 wt%, preferably from 1 to 40 wt%, more preferably from 1.5 to 25 wt%. Nonionic surfactant may be incorporated at a level of from 0.1 to 50 wt%, preferably from 1 to 40 wt~6 , more

preferably from 1.5 to 25 wt%. The ratio of anionic surfactant to nonionic surfactant is from 19:1 to 1:1.1, more preferably from 9:1 to 1:1.

In general, the nonionic and anionic surfactants of the

surfactant system may be chosen from the surfactants described in ^x Surface Active Agents' Vol. 1, by Schwartz & Perry,

Interscience 1949, Vol. 2 by Schwartz, Perry & Berch,

Interscience 1958, in the current edition of ^x McCutcheon ' s Emulsifiers and Detergents' published by Manufacturing

Confectioners Company or in ^x Tenside-Taschenbuch' , H. Stache, 2nd Edn., Carl Hauser Verlag, 1981.

Nonionic surfactant

For the purposes of this disclosure, ^x nonionic surfactant' shall be defined as amphiphilic molecules with a molecular weight of less than about 10,000, unless otherwise noted, which are substantially free of any functional groups that exhibit a net charge at the normal wash pH of 6-11. Any type of nonionic surfactant may be used, although preferred materials are further discussed below. Highly preferred are fatty acid alkoxylates, especially ethoxylates, having an alkyl chain of from C8-C35, preferably C8-C30, more preferably C ₁ 0-C24, especially C ₁₀ -C ₁₈ carbon atoms, for example, the Neodol range from Shell (The Hague, The Netherlands) ; ethylene

oxide/propylene oxide block polymers which may have molecular weight from 1,000 to 30,000, for example, Pluronic (trademark) from BASF (Ludwigshafen, Germany) ; and alkylphenol ethoxylates, for example Triton X-100, available from Dow Chemical (Midland, Mich. , USA) .

Other nonionic surfactants should also be considered within the scope of this invention. These include condensates of

alkanolamines with fatty acids, such as cocamide DEA, polyol- fatty acid esters, such as the Span series available from

Uniqema (Gouda, The Netherlands) , ethoxylated polyol-fatty acid esters, such as the Tween series available from Uniqema (Gouda, The Netherlands) , alkylpolyglucosides , such as the APG line available from Cognis (Dusseldorf, Germany) and n- alkylpyrrolidones , such as the Surfadone series of products marketed by ISP (Wayne, N.J., USA) . Furthermore, nonionic surfactants not specifically mentioned above, but within the definition, may also be used.

The more preferred nonionic surfactants are the fatty acid ethoxylates with an average degree of ethoxylation of 7, alkoxylates with one propylene oxide and multiple ethylene oxide units, seed oil based surfactant, such as Ecosurf SA7 or SA9 available from Dow Chemical, APGs, and branched alcohol Guerbet nonionics.

Anionic surfactant

xAnionic surfactants' are defined herein as amphiphilic

molecules comprising one or more functional groups that exhibit a net anionic charge when in aqueous solution at the normal wash pH of between 6 and 11. Preferred anionic surfactants are the alkali metal salts of organic sulphur reaction products having in their molecular structure an alkyl radical containing from about 6 to 24 carbon atoms and a radical selected from the group consisting of sulphonic and sulphuric acid ester radicals.

Although any anionic surfactant hereinafter described can be used, such as alkyl ether sulphates, soaps, fatty acid ester sulphonates, alkyl benzene sulphonates, sulphosuccinate esters, primary alkyl sulphates, olefin sulphonates, paraffin

sulphonates and organic phosphate; preferred anionic

surfactants are the alkali and alkaline earth metal salts of fatty acid carboxylates , fatty alcohol sulphates, preferably primary alkyl sulfates, more preferably they are ethoxylated, for example alkyl ether sulphates; alkylbenzene sulphonates, alkyl ester fatty acid sulphonates, especially methyl ester fatty acid sulphonates and mixtures thereof.

Cationic, amphoteric surfactants and/or zwitterionic

surfactants

Also cationic, amphoteric surfactants and/or zwitterionic surfactants may be present in the laundry detergent

compositions in which the hydroxamate is used as cosurfactant according to the invention.

Preferred cationic surfactants are quaternary ammonium salts of the general formula RiR ₂ R ₃ R ₄ ⁺ X ^~ , for example where Ri is a Ci2 ^_ Ci ₄ alkyl group, R2 and R3 are methyl groups, R4 is a

2-hydroxyethyl group, and X ^~ is a chloride ion. This material is available commercially as Praepagen (Trade Mark) HY from Clariant GmbH, in the form of a 40% by weight aqueous solution. In a preferred embodiment the laundry detergent composition in which the hydroxamate is used according to the invention further comprises an amphoteric or zwitterionic surfactant. Amphoteric surfactants are molecules that contain both acidic and basic groups and will exist as zwitterions at the normal wash pH of between 6 and 11. Preferably an amphoteric or zwitterionic surfactant is present at a level of from 0.1 to 20% by weight, more preferably from 0.25 to 15% by weight, even more preferably from 0.5 to 10% by weight.

Suitable zwitterionic surfactants are exemplified as those which can be broadly described as derivatives of aliphatic quaternary ammonium, sulfonium and phosphonium compounds with one long chain group having about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms and at least one water solubilizing radical selected from the group consisting of sulfate, sulfonate, carboxylate, phosphate or phosphonate. A general formula for these compounds is: Ri (R ₂ ) xY ⁺ R ₃ Z ^"

wherein Ri contains an alkyl, alkenyl or hydroxyalkyl group with 8 to 18 carbon atoms, from 0 to 10 ethylene-oxy groups or from 0 to 2 glyceryl units; Y is a nitrogen, sulphur or

phosphorous atom; R ₂ is an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group with 1 to 3 carbon atoms; x is 1 when Y is a sulphur atom and 2 when Y is a nitrogen or phosphorous atom; R3 is an alkyl or

hydroxyalkyl group with 1 to 5 carbon atoms and Z is radical selected from the group consisting of sulfate, sulfonate, carboxylate, phosphate or phosphonate.

Preferred amphoteric surfactants are amine oxides, for example coco dimethyl amine oxide.

Preferred zwitterionic surfactants are betaines, and especially amidobetaines . Preferred betaines are Cs to Cis alkyl

amidoalkyl betaines, for example coco amido betaine. These may be included as co-surfactants, preferably present in an amount of from 0 to 10 wt %, more preferably 1 to 5 wt %, based on the weight of the total composition. Other betaines that may be employed are sulfatobetaines , such as 3- (dodecyldimethylammonium) -1-propane sulfate; and 2- (cocodimethylammonium) -1-ethane sulfate. Sulfobetaines , such as: 3- (dodecyldimethyl-ammonium) -2-hydroxy-l-propane sulfonate;

3- ( tetradecyl-dimethylammonium) -1-propane sulfonate; 3- (C12-C14 a1ky1-amidopropyldimethylammonium) -2-hydroxy-l-propane

sulfonate; and 3- (cocodimethylammonium) -1-propane sulfonate.

Carboxybetaines , such as (dodecyldimethylammonium) acetate (also known as lauryl betaine) ; ( tetradecyldimethylammonium) acetate (also known as myristyl betaine) ;

(cocodimethylammonium) acetate (also known as coconut betaine) ; (oleyldimethylammonium) acetate (also known as oleyl betaine) ; (dodecyloxymethyldimethylammonium) acetate; and (cocoamido- propyldimethylammonium) acetate (also known as cocoamido-propyl betaine or CAPB) .

The sulfoniumbetaines , such as: (dodecyldimethylsulfonium) acetate; and 3- (cocodimethyl-sulfonium) -1-propane sulfonate. The phosphoniumbetaines , such as 4- (trimethylphosphonium) -1- hexadecane sulfonate; 3- (dodecyldimethylphosphonium) -1- propanesulfonate ; and 2- (dodecyldimethylphosphonium) -1-ethane sulfate .

The laundry detergent compositions preferably comprise

carboxybetaines or sulphobetaines as amphoteric or zwitterionic surfactants, or mixtures thereof. Especially preferred is lauryl betaine. The betaines and hydroxamates may provide even further enhanced particulate soil removal when used together in the compositions according to the invention.

Detergency builders

The laundry detergent compositions in which the hydroxamate is used preferably comprise low levels of detergency builder, based on the weight of the total composition. The amounts of the inorganic builders zeolite and phosphate are less than 5 wt%. These builders are considered to be harmful to the

environment when used in large quantities. Furthermore they need to be used at high levels to have a significant building effect and this is inconsistent with the modern concentrated highly weight efficient laundry detergent formulations.

Preferably the builder is selected from the group of alkali and alkaline earth metal carbonates (e.g. sodium carbonate), silicates (e.g. layered silicate), and organic builders such as citrates (e.g. sodium citrate), succinates, sulphamates and malonates, and any combination of these. The organic builders are preferred. They may be used at levels of 1 wt% or more, up to, say, 50 wt%.

Organic builders that may be present include polycarboxylate polymers such as polyacrylates and acrylic/maleic copolymers; polyaspartates ; monomeric polycarboxylates such as citrates, gluconates, oxydisuccinates , glycerol mono-di- and

trisuccinates , carboxymethyloxysuccinates , carboxy- methyloxymalonates , dipicolinates , hydroxyethyliminodiacetates , alkyl- and alkenylmalonates and succinates; and sulphonated fatty acid salts.

Organic builders may be used in minor amounts Especially preferred organic builders are citrates, suitably used in amounts of from 1 to 30 wt%, preferably from 1.5 to 10 wt%; and acrylic polymers, more especially acrylic/maleic copolymers, suitably used in amounts of from 0.5 to 15 wt%, preferably from 1 to 10 wt%. Builders, both inorganic and organic, are preferably present in alkali metal salt, especially sodium salt, form.

Other optional Ingredients

In addition to the essential components detailed in the claims, the formulation may include one or more optional ingredients to enhance performance and properties. While it is not necessary for these elements to be present in order to practice this invention, the use of such materials is often very helpful in rendering the formulation acceptable for consumer use.

Examples of optional components include, but are not limited to: hydrotropes, fluorescent whitening agents, photobleaches , fibre lubricants, reducing agents,

enzymes, enzyme stabilising agents (such as borates and

polyols) , powder finishing agents, defoamers, bleaches, bleach catalysts, soil release agents, especially soil release

polymers for cotton or polyester or both, antiredeposition agents, especially antiredeposition polymers, dye transfer inhibitors, buffers, colorants, fragrances, pro-fragrances, rheology modifiers, anti-ashing polymers, preservatives, insect repellents, soil repellents, water-resistance agents,

suspending agents, aesthetic agents, structuring agents, sanitisers, solvents, including aqueous and non-aqueous

solvents, fabric finishing agents, dye fixatives, wrinkle- reducing agents, fabric conditioning agents and deodorizers.

These optional ingredients may include, but are not limited to, any one or more of the following: soap, peroxyacid and persalt bleaches, bleach activators, sequestrants , cellulose ethers and esters, other antiredeposition agents, sodium sulphate, sodium silicate, sodium chloride, calcium chloride, sodium

bicarbonate, other inorganic salts, fluorescers, photobleaches, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, other dye transfer inhibiting polymers, foam controllers, foam boosters, acrylic and acrylic/maleic polymers, proteases, lipases, cellulases, amylases, other detergent enzymes, citric acid, soil release polymers, fabric conditioning compounds, coloured speckles, and perfume.

The laundry detergent composition may suitably contain a bleach system based on peroxy bleach compounds, for example, inorganic persalts or organic peroxyacids, capable of yielding hydrogen peroxide in aqueous solution. Suitable peroxy bleach compounds include organic peroxides such as urea peroxide, and inorganic persalts such as the alkali metal perborates, percarbonates , perphosphates , persilicates and persulphates . Preferred

inorganic persalts are sodium perborate monohydrate and

tetrahydrate, and sodium percarbonate . Especially preferred is sodium percarbonate having a protective coating against

destabilisation by moisture. Sodium percarbonate having a protective coating comprising sodium metaborate and sodium silicate is disclosed in GB 2 123 044B (Kao) .

The peroxy bleach compound is suitably present in an amount of from 5 to 35% by weight, preferably from 10 to 25% by weight.

The peroxy bleach compound may be used in conjunction with a bleach activator (bleach precursor) to improve bleaching action at low wash temperatures. The bleach precursor is suitably present in an amount of from 1 to 8% by weight, preferably from 2 to 5% by weight. Preferred bleach precursors are peroxycarboxylic acid

precursors, more especially peracetic acid precursors and peroxybenzoic acid precursors; and peroxycarbonic acid

precursors. An especially preferred bleach precursor suitable for use in the present invention is N, , ' , ' -tetracetyl ethylenediamine (TAED) . Also of interest are peroxybenzoic acid precursors, in particular, N, , -trimethylammonium toluoyloxy benzene sulphonate.

A bleach stabiliser (heavy metal sequestrant) may also be present. Suitable bleach stabilisers include ethylenediamine tetraacetate (EDTA) and the polyphosphonates such as Dequest (Trade Mark), EDTMP .

However, notwithstanding the above it is preferred for the composition to contain no bleach and to rely on the improved clay stain removal derived from the novel hydroxamate and surfactant combination. This is particularly the case for liquid compositions.

The detergent compositions may also contain one or more

enzymes. Suitable enzymes include the proteases, amylases, cellulases, oxidases, peroxidases and lipases usable for incorporation in detergent compositions.

In particulate detergent compositions, detergency enzymes are commonly employed in granular form in amounts of from about 0.1 to about 3.0 wt%. However, any suitable physical form of enzyme may be used in any effective amount.

Antiredeposition agents, for example cellulose esters and ethers, for example sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, may also be present . The compositions may also contain soil release polymers, for example sulphonated and unsulphonated PET/POET polymers, both end-capped and non-end-capped, and polyethylene

glycol/polyvinyl alcohol graft copolymers such as Sokolan (Trade Mark) HP22. Especially preferred soil release polymers are the sulphonated non-end-capped polyesters described and claimed in WO 95 32997A (Rhodia Chimie) . Product form and preparation

A product according to the invention may take any suitable form, such as a solid, liquid or paste composition, for example as particulates (powders, granules), tablets or bars.

Preferably, the product is in a concentrated liquid with a surfactant concentration of at least 30wt%. Such compositions require the presence of hydrotropes to solubilise the

ingredients. Ethanol is preferably avoided. Preferred

hydrotropes are propylene glycol and glycerol. Based on this teaching the skilled person will be able to select other hydrotropes that avoid the use of highly volatile solvents like ethanol without the need for inventive activity.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, the

detergent composition is in particulate form. The ratio of anionic to nonionic surfactant in the detersive surfactant system is then preferably at least 3:2, preferably at least 7:2.

Powders of low to moderate bulk density may be prepared by spray-drying slurry, and optionally post dosing (dry-mixing) further ingredients. Routes available for powder manufacture include spray drying, drum drying, fluid bed drying, and scraped film drying devices such as the wiped film evaporator. A preferred form of scraped film device is a wiped film

evaporator. One such suitable wiped film evaporator is the ^x Dryex system' based on a wiped film evaporator available from Ballestra S.p.A. Alternative equipment would be the Chemithon the ^x Turbo Tube' dryer system wherein a high active surfactant paste is heated and metering to a multi tube, steam-j acketed drying vessel.

^Concentrated' or 'compact' powders may be prepared by mixing and granulating processes, for example, using a high-speed mixer/granulator, or other non-tower processes.

Tablets may be prepared by compacting powders, especially

'concentrated' powders.

The invention will now be further described with reference the following non-limiting examples.

EXAMPLES Measurement of Soil Release Index (SRI)

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

ΔΕ ^* = - L ^' _clean . _cloth f ₊ (a„ _re - a _d ^' _ean . _doth ) ² ₊ (6„ _ore - b _c ^' _lean _ _cloth f

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

SRI = W0 - AE _a ^* _w

A SRI of 100 means complete removal of a stain. ΔΕ after wash is the difference in L a b colour space between the clean (unwashed) fabric and the stain after wash. So a ΔΕ after wash of zero means a stain that is completely removed. Therefore, a SRI _aw (aw: after wash) of 100 is a completely removed stain. The clean (or virgin) fabric is an "absolute standard" which is not washed. For each experiment, it refers to an identical piece of fabric to that which the stain is applied. Therefore, its point in L a b colour space stays constant .

Determination of SRI-values

For the determination of the SRI-values, a standard protocol was used, called the Tergometer wash protocol.

Said Tergometer wash protocol is as follows:

1. Measurement of the colour of the stain on the textile cloth (before washing) .

2. Switch on the Tergometer and set to a temperature of 30 °C.

3. Add water of required hardness, leave to heat to 30°C for 10 minutes .

4. Add formulation to each pot and then agitate at 100 rpm for 1 minute

5. Add the stained swatches and ballast into each pot.

6. Start the wash, agitate at 100 rpm and leave to wash for 12 minutes .

7. Rinse with fresh water (26°FH) for 2 minutes.

8. Repeat rinse.

9. Dry overnight in the dark.

10. Read stains after wash. Example 1 : Removal of a range of red mud on knitted cotton

Five liquid formulations were formulated.

The surfactants were sodium alkyl benzene sulphonate (Na LAS anionic) , alcohol ethoxylate (non-ionic C12 -7EO, Neodol 25-7 ex Shell) and a neutralised saturated soap (coco fatty acid - Prifac-5908 ex Uniqema) , as shown in Table 1 at the indicated concentrations. Also used were standard compounds of a laundry liquid builder (sodium citrate) , buffer and sequestrant

(Dequest 2066 phosphonate) and enzyme (Savinase Ultra 16L protease) , The pH of these formulations was buffered to between 7 and 8. The formulations were made using demineralised water.

Table 1: Formulations used

The liquid formulations shown in Table 1 were used to remove red mud stains on knitted cotton in a Tergometer wash protocol as described hereinabove. In all cases the product dose was 1.3 grams/litre .

The level of surfactants and hydroxamates in the Tergometer protocol are shown in Table 2.

Table 2: Surfactant and Hydroxamate levels in the Tergometer protocol

The results obtained for the removal of red mud stains on knitted cotton are shown in Table 3.

Table 3 Stain removal index (SRI) for Red mud stains on knitted polyester and woven cotton (Tergometer wash protocol)

Formulation Hydroxamate : Surfactant SRI aw

(NaLAS +alcohol Red Mud on knitted ethoxylate) ratio cotton

1 (comparative) not applicable 55.5

2 with octyl 1:25 57.8

hydroxamate at 1.7%

bwt in product

3 with decyl 1 : 70 57.5

hydroxamate at 0.6%

by weight in

product

4 with dodecyl 1 : 70 58.5

hydroxamate at 0.6%

by weight in

product

5 with tetradecyl 1 : 70 57.4

hydroxamate at 0.6%

by weight in

product These results show that the use of the hydroxamate salts included in formulations 2-5 (which are according to the present invention) leads to better removal of red mud from knitted cotton as compared to comparative formulation 1.