EP3892707A1

EP3892707A1 - Liquid detergent composition, kit and dosing system

Info

Publication number: EP3892707A1
Application number: EP20168122.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jürgen Souren; Norbert Kuhl; Jonas WILLMS; Bernd Wolff-Schladitz
Original assignee: Dalli Werke GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Dalli Werke GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2020-04-06
Filing date: 2020-04-06
Publication date: 2021-10-13

Abstract

The present invention refers to a detergent kit or a detergent dosing system comprising at least three different partial compositions A, B and C. The present invention further refers to three different detergent compositions A, B and C representing partial compositions of a detergent kit or detergent dosing system. Composition A comprises protease and optionally further enzymes only selected from the group of amylases and mannanases in combination with a high amount of anionic surfactants. Composition B comprises further enzymes, e.g. selected from the group comprising amylases, mannanases, lipases, pectinases and cellulases, but no proteases. Composition C is the only composition of the detergent kit or detergent dosing system comprising a high amount of organic builder. Furthermore, the present invention refers the use of liquid detergent compositions A, B, and/or C, or of a detergent kit or dosing system comprising said liquid detergent compositions A, B, and C, in a laundry washing process.

Description

The present invention refers to a detergent kit or a detergent dosing system comprising at least three different partial compositions A, B and C.
The present invention further refers to three different liquid detergent compositions A, B and C representing partial compositions of a detergent kit or detergent dosing system. Composition A comprises at least one protease and optionally further enzymes only selected from the group of amylases and mannanases in combination with a high amount of anionic surfactants. Composition B comprises further enzymes, e.g. selected from the group comprising amylases, mannanases, lipases, pectinases and cellulases, but preferably no proteases. Composition C is the only composition of the detergent kit or detergent dosing system comprising an organic builder. The liquid detergent compositions A, B and C may be individually incorporated into one part of the detergent dosing system, wherein each part of the detergent kit or detergent dosing system comprises one of said liquid detergent compositions.
Furthermore, the present invention refers to the use of liquid detergent compositions A, B, and/or C, or of a detergent kit or dosing system comprising said liquid detergent compositions A, B, and C, in a laundry washing process.
Modern laundry detergents are expected to remove a broad variety of soils and stains from natural and artificial textile fibers alike. Over the last couple of decades, laundry detergent compositions were developed to perform improved cleaning at eco-friendly, sustainable and user-friendly conditions, such as washing performance at lower temperatures and lower alkaline content while reducing water consumption and time required for each cleaning cycle.
To achieve the desired performance, detergent compositions comprise surfactants and enzymes in high concentrations. Examples of such compositions are disclosed in DE 10 2012 211 028 A1 and WO 2004/008752 A1 . But said ingredients interfere with each other, as many enzymes are incompatible with particularly high concentrations of anionic surfactants like alkylbenzene sulfonic acids.
Furthermore, some enzymes are also not compatible with each other during storage, as e.g. proteases will decompose any enzymes, including themselves, by cleaving intramolecular peptide bonds. Several approaches to improve enzyme stability have been described for example in US 6,060,441 , US 4,759,876 , US 4,243,546 and DE 10 2016 206 645 A1 .
An often-followed solution to overcome these problems is to decrease the contact of enzymes and other ingredients by means of encapsulating, co-granulating or coating the enzymes e.g. with a mixture of hydrophilic compounds and hydrophobic fillers. The protected enzymes are then released during the washing process by dissolving of the protective layer in the washing water. Examples of such encapsulated enzymes useful for detergent compositions have been described in WO 2011/075556 A1 , US 2014/0249066 A1 , US 5,281,356 and EP 0 672 102 B1 .
Encapsulating, co-granulating or coating enzymes is however mainly useful for solid detergent compositions, as the protective shell would dissolve in a liquid detergent composition over time. Such a protection furthermore leads to the necessity of a further production step, which is undesired from an economical point of view.
Furthermore, an often-disregarded problem is, that detergents are often used in an amount higher than necessary due to customers not adjusting the required amount of detergent relative to the amount of laundry to be cleaned or the local water hardness. This leads to higher amounts of detergent than required being used, which is undesired from an ecological point of view. This problem has been overcome by the provision of washing machines that dose detergents as required from a reservoir. Detergents provided from such reservoirs are generally liquid detergent compositions.
However, as customers demand long intervals between refilling the above-mentioned reservoirs, liquid detergent compositions to be dosed from them need to be storable for a longer time than conventional liquid detergents. This causes the necessity to provide detergents that are stable for such a time period, i.e. that do not gel, precipitate solids or considerably lose cleaning performance.
The problem underlying the present invention therefore was to maintain and preferably improve the cleaning performance and stability of liquid detergent compositions over a prolonged time period in combination with providing a possibility to sufficiently soften the water used for washing without using higher amounts of detergent than necessary. This is achieved by providing a detergent kit or detergent dosing system comprising three separate compositions A, B and C, each of them independently representing a liquid detergent composition A, B and C, respectively, wherein the ingredients of the liquid detergent compositions A, B, C are composed different from each other. The detergent kit or detergent dosing system may comprise, apart from the partial compositions representing the above-described liquid detergent compositions A, B and C, one or more additional partial compositions, e.g. additional liquid (detergent) composition(s) like a fourth or fifth partial liquid (detergent) composition, which may individually provide e.g. bleach-active compounds, perfumes or fabric softeners.
By separating several ingredients, in particular those not compatible with each other, it is possible to achieve much higher concentrations of particular ingredients, like enzymes, surfactants and builders, in the respective detergent compositions compared to conventional detergents. This enables the liquid detergent compositions of the present invention to be added in the particularly required amounts and therefore in lower amounts compared to conventional detergent compositions. A further beneficial aspect of the present invention from an ecological point of view is the possibility to add sufficient amounts of builder substances from one composition to the washing water to yield satisfactory water softening results without adding higher amounts of surfactants than required at the same time.
The present invention is therefore able to provide better storage stability, better washing results and overcomes ecological disadvantages of common detergents.
Each of the partial compositions A, B, C and further partial compositions of the detergent kit or detergent dosing system are described in more detail further below.
Each partial composition may comprise at least one of the following ingredients, wherein some restrictions apply (see below for further details). Any relative amounts of components stated refer to the total weight of the respective liquid detergent composition A, B or C, in which said components are contained, unless otherwise stated.
A skilled person will further acknowledge, that although a (partial) liquid detergent composition according to the present invention may be defined as being "free of" a particular compound or ingredient, it may contain undesired trace amounts of said compound or ingredient. Said undesired trace amounts may be present in a (partial) liquid detergent composition according to the present invention in an amount of less than 0.2 wt.-%, preferably less than 0.1 wt.-%, more preferred 0.01 wt.-% based upon the total weight of the respective (partial) liquid detergent composition, most preferred a (partial) liquid detergent composition according to the present invention does not contain any undesired compounds or ingredients.
In case a (partial) liquid detergent composition is described as "essentially consisting of" one or more ingredients or compounds, this means, that in this context the mentioned ingredients or compounds represent at least 95 wt.-% of the particular (partial) composition, preferably at least 96 wt.-%, more preferred at least 97 wt.-%, even more preferred at least 98 wt.-%, most preferred at least 99 wt.-%.
For the sake of clarity, unless otherwise stated, all amounts given in here referring to enzymes refer to the active enzyme content.
When referring to amounts of anionic surfactants throughout this document, in case of sulfonic acids and/or fatty acids the amounts given refer to their respective acid forms. When referring to anionic surfactants comprising sulfates, e.g. lauryl sulfates, laureth sulfates, (fatty) alcohol sulfates or ether sulfates, any amounts given refer to their respective sodium salts.
This also applies to any given combined or total amounts of the above-mentioned anionic surfactants. This means that a skilled person will acknowledge that a combined or total amount of several anionic surfactants present in a (partial) liquid detergent composition is calculated from the content of sulfonic acids and/or fatty acids in their respective acid forms and the content of anionic surfactants comprising sulfates as their respective sodium salts.

ENZYMES

In general, enzymes are often used to aid the removal of stains. In most cases enzymes catalyze decomposition of the soiling and break it down into smaller pieces that have increased water solubility or are better dispersible in the washing liquor.
Enzyme formulations useful for detergents can generally be in a liquid or solid form. Due to liquid enzyme formulations being easier to dissolve or emulsify in a liquid detergent composition, such formulations are preferred.
Suitable enzymes to be used in a liquid detergent composition according to the present invention are for example, but not limited to, enzymes like proteases, esterases, lipases, amylases, mannanases, cellulases, pectinases and/or mixtures of these enzymes. Such enzymes support in removal of soil, like e.g. protein-, fat- or starch-containing stains as well as in the prevention of laundry graying and/or removal of graying from laundry. Particular cellulases are further able to increase laundry softness by removing pilling and/or microfibrils. Such cellulases are also known as anti-pilling cellulases.
Further, the liquid detergent compositions may include any suitable enzyme supporting the cleaning performance or providing any benefit to the cleaned product.
Particularly suitable are enzymes received from bacteria or fungi, like Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, Streptomyces griseus and Humicola insolens.
Preferred proteases are of the subtilisin-type. Particularly suitable amylases comprise alpha-amylases, iso-amylases and/or pullulanases. Suitable enzymes of these types are e.g. provided by Novozymes A/S. Among the class of cellulases, cellobiohydrolases, endoglucanases and beta-gluosidases or mixtures thereof are suitable enzymes for incorporation into a liquid detergent composition according to the present invention. Non-limiting examples comprise Celluclean 5000 L, available from Novozymes A/S, Biotouch FCL 75 and Biotouch FLX Zero, both available from AB Enzymes, and Revitalenz 200, available from DuPont.
A known disadvantage of proteases is, that these enzymes cleave not only peptide bonds present in their desired target molecules, i.e. protein molecules contained in soil, but also decompose enzymes, including other proteases. This leads to a loss of cleaning performance when the detergent is stored for a longer time period. The present invention overcomes this partial problem by providing enzymes particularly vulnerable to degradation from the proteases in separated partial liquid detergent compositions incorporating enzyme stabilizing compounds into the respective liquid detergent composition (see below for further details). Therefore, proteases are preferably contained in liquid detergent composition A, while the further enzyme-containing liquid detergent composition B is free of proteases.
However, as it has been found that amylases and mannanases are less prone towards such protease-induced degradation, amylases and/or mannanases may optionally be present together with proteases in liquid detergent composition A, while said composition is free from any enzymes different from proteases, amylases and/or mannanases. It is consequently particularly preferred to combine any enzymes different from proteases in liquid detergent composition B, while said liquid detergent composition B is free of proteases.

ENZYME STABILIZING COMPOUNDS

Liquid detergent compositions A and B according to the present invention, which comprise enzymes, further comprise two or more enzyme stabilizing compounds. Such compounds are able to decrease the protease activity. This effect is beneficial during storage, as enzymes are thereby protected from cleavage or degradation by the proteases or from self-degradation, defolding or interaction with enzymes being present in the liquid detergent compositions. A further task of enzyme stabilizing compounds is to prevent enzymes from aggregating, which might result in undesired precipitation of enzymes, thereby affecting homogeneity of the liquid detergent composition and available enzyme activity.
A skilled person will acknowledge, that such enzyme stabilizing compounds are released from the enzymes once a liquid detergent composition is added to the laundry washing water and the composition thereby being diluted. Therefore, active enzymes are being made available once needed during the laundry washing process.
Examples of suitable enzyme stabilizing compounds are polyols, particularly glycerol and 1,2-propylene glycol, benzamidine hydrochloride, mono-, di- or trialkanol amines such as mono-, di- or triethanol amine, boric acid, sodium borate (also known as borax), organoboronic acids, their salts or esters, acetic acid, polycarboxylic acids having 2 to 4 hydroxyl groups and 3 to 8 carbon atoms, and/or salts of the before-mentioned acids, in particular sodium, potassium and/or calcium salts. Such polycarboxylic acids are preferably selected from maleic acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, tartaric acid and malic acid. A further enzyme stabilizing salt is calcium chloride.
Formic acid and its salts, e.g. sodium formate or potassium formate, are also able to prevent undesired precipitation of large amounts of enzymes, in particular of amylases.
In particularly preferred embodiments, liquid detergent compositions according to the present invention comprise at least two, three or four enzyme stabilizing compounds selected from 1,2-propylene glycol, glycerol, boric acid, formic acid, ethanol amines, preferably monoethanol amine.

BUILDERS

The main function of builders is to soften the washing water, to provide pH regulation and a buffering capacity to the washing liquid and to have an antiredeposition or dispersing function in the cleaning composition. The physical properties of the cleaning composition are also depending at least partially on the builders that are used. For controlling the pH of the composition or wash liquor, as well as the mineral hardness of the liquor, inorganic as well as organic builders may be incorporated into the composition. In addition, these builders may assist in the removal of particulate soil.
According to the present invention the composition(s) may comprise an organic detergent builder, including polycarboxylate builders in the form of their acid or a salt, including alkali metal salts such as potassium, sodium and lithium salts.
The group of preferred builders includes in particular the citrates as well as the carbonates and the organic co-builders. The term "citrate" as used herein includes both citric acid as well as its salts, in particular its alkali metal, i.e. sodium, lithium and/or potassium, salts, wherein sodium citrate is particularly preferred.
Further, polycarboxylates/polycarboxylic acids may be used as organic co-builders. These classes of substances are described below.
Suitable organic builder substances are, for example, the polycarboxylic acids usable in the form of the free acid and/or sodium salts thereof, "polycarboxylic acids" being understood as those carboxylic acids that carry more than one acid function. These are, for example, adipic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, sugar acids, aminocarboxylic acids, nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), provided such use is not objectionable for environmental reasons, as well as mixtures thereof. The free acids typically also possess, besides their builder effect, the property of an acidifying component, and thus also serve to establish a lower and/or milder pH for washing agents. To be recited in this context, in particular, citric acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid, gluconic acid, and/or any mixtures thereof are preferred.
Also suitable as builders are polymeric polycarboxylates; these are, for example, the alkali metal salts of polyacrylic acid or of polymethacrylic acid, for example those having a relative molecular weight from 500 to 70.000 g/mol or derivatives thereof. The molecular weight indicated for polymeric polycarboxylates are to be understood as weight-average molecular weights M_w of the respective acid form that being determined in principle by means of gel permeation chromatography (GPC) coupled with a UV detector. The measurement may be performed against an external polyacrylic acid standard that yields realistic molecular weight values because of its structural similarity with the polymers being investigated. Polymers of the according Mw are offered on the market, wherein the Mw is announced by the retailer.
Suitable polymers are, in particular, polyacrylates that preferably have a molecular weight from 2.000 to 20.000 g/mol. Of this group in turn, the short-chain polyacrylates, which have molecular weights from 2.000 to 10.000 g/mol and particularly preferably from 3.000 to 5.000 g/mol, may be preferred because of their superior solubility.
Also suitable are copolymeric polycarboxylates, in particular those of acrylic acid with methacrylic acid and of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid with maleic acid. Copolymers of acrylic acid with maleic acid that contain 50 to 90 wt.-% acrylic acid and 50 to 10 wt.-% maleic acid have been found particularly suitable. Their relative molecular weight, based on free acids, is equal to in general 2.000 to 70.000 g/mol, preferably 20.000 to 50.000 g/mol, and in particular 30.000 to 40.000 g/mol.
Examples of suitable homo- or copolymeric acrylates comprise those sold under the trade name of Sokalan® by BASF, for example Sokalan CP5, Sokalan CP10 or Sokalan PA 25CI, without being limited thereto.
Liquid detergent composition C according to the present invention preferably contains one or more builders selected from the builders described above, preferably a builder or a mixture of builders selected from the group of organic builders. Among organic builders, citric acid and/or salts thereof as well as polymeric builder compounds, such as water-soluble homopolymers comprising acrylic and/or methacrylic monomers, copolymers of two or more monomers, wherein at least one monomer is selected from the group comprising acrylic acid, methacrylic acid and/or maleic acid, mixtures thereof and/or salts thereof, are particularly preferred. Preferably composition C comprises at least a citrate, more preferred sodium citrate as one builder. Liquid detergent compositions A, B and any further liquid detergent compositions are free of builders selected from citric acid and/or salts thereof and are preferably free of any builders.
Despite their ability to form complexes with calcium, magnesium and other metal ions, within the context of the present application, builders as described above are distinguished from complexing or sequestering agents as described below.

COMPLEXING / SEQUESTERING AGENTS

A further optional, but preferred ingredient of the liquid detergent compositions according to the present invention is at least one complexing (or sequestering) agent.
Complexing agents are commonly used to support the performance of the builders. A function of complexing agents is to capture trace metal ions like Cu(II), Fe(II), Fe(III), Mn(II), Cd(II), Co(II), Cr(III), Hg(II), Ni(II), Pb(II), Pd(II), Zn(II), Ca(II), Mg(II). These ions can interfere with or disturb certain ingredients of the detergent compositions in the washing machine, like e.g. denaturate or precipitate enzymes.
Complexing agent(s) suitable to be used in detergent compositions according to the present invention include, but are not limited to, S,S-ethylenediamine-N,N'-disuccinic acid (S,S-EDDS), ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), ethanol diglycine (EDG), imino disuccinic acid (IDS), methylglycine diacetic acid (MGDA), diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA), ethylene diamine dihydroxyphenyl acetic acid (EDDHA), N-(hydroxyethyl) ethylenediamine triacetic acid (HEDTA), hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid (HEDP), phytic acid, diethylene triamine (DETA), triethylene tetramine (TETA), tetraethylene pentamine (TEPA), aminoethyl ethanolamine (AEEA), glutamic acid N,N-diacetic acid (GLDA), 1,3-propylenediamine tetraacetic acid (PDTA), glucoheptonic acid, dipicolinic acid, ethylene diamine tetra (methylene phosphonic acid) (EDTMPA), 2-hydroxyethyliminodiacetic acid (HEIDA), water-soluble salts thereof and/or mixtures thereof.
Further, phosphonates are preferred complexing agents. Useful phosphonates encompass a number of different compounds such as, for example, 1-hydroxyethane-1,1-diphosphonic acid, diethylenetriamine penta (methylene phosphonic acid) (DTPMP), ethylenediamine tetramethylene phosphonate (EDTMP), as well as higher homologs thereof. The aminoalkane phosphonates EDTMP and DTPMP moreover possess a pronounced ability to bind heavy metals.
Among the above-mentioned complexing agents, MGDA and/or salts thereof, commercially available for example from BASF under the trade name of Trilon® M, GLDA, phosphonates, in particular DTPMP, and/or salts thereof are particularly preferred.
Complexing agents can generally be added to any of the liquid detergent compositions in acid form, in a neutralized or in a partly neutralized form. The term (partly) neutralized in this context refers to complexing agents being (partly) present in form of their salts. When used in a partly or fully neutralized form, ammonium or alkali metal salts, like sodium, potassium and lithium salts, of the above-mentioned complexing agents are preferred. Furthermore, phosphonates are used preferably in the form of the neutrally reacting sodium salts, e.g. as a hexasodium salt of EDTMP or as a hepta- or octasodium salt of DTPMP, respectively.

SURFACTANTS

At least some of the partial liquid detergent compositions of the present invention comprise one or more surfactants. Particularly at least compositions A and B comprise at least one type of surfactant. Said surfactants may be selected from anionic, non-ionic, cationic or amphoteric surfactants, however, anionic and/or nonionic surfactants are preferred.
The main functions of surfactants are changing the surface tension, dispersing, foam controlling and surface modification.
Anionic surfactants suitable to be used in detergents, in particular in combination with enzymes are well known in the art and comprise alkyl sulfates, alkyl sulfonates, alkyl aryl sulfonates, alkyl carboxylates and salts thereof, for example alkyl benzene sulfonates, alkyl or alkenyl sulfonates, fatty alcohol sulfates and ethoxylated fatty alcohol sulfates.
The terms "sulfate", "sulfonate" and "carboxylate" as used in this context may throughout the whole content of the description refer to the corresponding acid form, salts thereof and/or mixtures of acid forms and salts. Any organic or inorganic counterions known in the art may be used to form such salts, however, sodium, lithium, potassium and ammonium salts are preferred, whereas sodium salts are particularly preferred.
Particularly suitable anionic surfactants used in liquid detergent compositions are alkylbenzene sulfonates, alkyl sulfonates and salts thereof.
Suitable anionic alkylbenzene sulfonic or alkyl sulfonic acid surfactants include in particular C₅-C₂₀, preferably C₁₀-C₁₆, more preferably C₁₁-C₁₃ alkylbenzene sulfonates, e.g. dodecylbenzene sulfonate (salts), linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS), alkylester sulfonates, primary or secondary alkene sulfonates, sulfonated polycarboxylic acids and any mixtures thereof. Alkylbenzene sulfonates or alkylether sulfates comprising a branched alkyl group may be used as well.
Examples of alkyl or alkenyl sulfates are alkali, preferably sodium, salts of sulfuric acid esters of fatty alcohols with 10 to 18 carbon atoms, e.g. coco or tallow fatty alcohols, lauryl, cetyl, stearyl or myristyl alcohols as well as primary or secondary oxo alcohols with 8 to 20 carbon atoms. Preferred alkyl sulfonates are C₁₀-C₁₈ alkyl sulfonates, more preferred C14-C17 alkyl sulfonates, in particular C14-C17 secondary alkyl sulfonates.
A further type of suitable anionic surfactants are fatty alcohol sulfates, in particular those with C₁₀-C₁₈ alkyl chains, preferably C₁₂-C₁₈ alkyl chains.
Furthermore, sulfates of linear or branched C₇-C₂₁ alcohols ethoxylated with 1 to 6 moles of ethylene oxide (EO) per mole of alcohol, like 2-methyl C₉-C₁₁ alcohols with an average of 3.5 EO or C₁₂-C₁₈ fatty alcohols with 1-4 EO are suitable. One particular example is sodium laureth sulfate.
A skilled person will acknowledge, that as surfactants containing ethoxylated alcohols may comprise different EO amounts, the cited degrees of ethoxylation constitute statistically average values that can be a whole or a fractional number for a specific product.
Further surfactants for use in the present compositions are non-ionic surfactants.
Suitable nonionic surfactants are alkoxylated, advantageously ethoxylated, fatty alcohols. Examples are primary alcohols having preferably 8 to 18 carbon atoms and on average 1 to 12 moles of ethylene oxide (EO) per mole of alcohol in which the alcohol residue can be linear or preferably methyl-branched in the 2-position or may contain linear and methyl-branched residues in the mixture, as usually present in oxo alcohol residues. In particular preferred, however, are alcohol ethoxylates with linear residues of alcohols of natural origin having 12 to 18 carbon atoms, e.g. from coconut, palm, tallow or oleyl alcohol, and on average from 2 to 8 EO per mole of alcohol. The preferred ethoxylated alcohols include, for example, C₁₂-C₁₄ alcohols with 3 EO or 4 EO, C₉-C₁₁ alcohols with 7 EO, C₁₃-C₁₅ alcohols with 3 EO, 5 EO, 7 EO or 8 EO, C₁₂-C₁₈ alcohols with 3 EO, 5 EO or 7 EO and mixtures of these, such as mixtures of C₁₂-C₁₄ alcohols with 3 EO and C₁₂-C₁₈ alcohols with 5 EO. The degrees of ethoxylation given represent statistical means which, for a particular product, may be an integer or a fractional number.
Preferred alcohol ethoxylates have a narrow homolog distribution (narrow range ethoxylates, NRE). In addition to these nonionic surfactants, fatty alcohols with more than 12 EO can also be used. Examples include tallow fatty alcohols with 14 EO to 100 EO, like 14 EO, 25 EO, 30 EO, 40 EO or 100 EO.
In addition, as other nonionic surfactants and alkyl glycosides of the general formula RO(G)x can be used in which R is a primary straight-chain or methyl-branched, especially methyl-branched in the 2-position, aliphatic residue having 8 to 22, preferably 12 to 18 carbon atoms, and G is the symbol which represents a glycose unit having 5 or 6 C atoms, preferably glucose. The degree of oligomerization x, which indicates the distribution of monoglycosides and oligoglycosides, is any integer or fractional number between 1 and 10; preferably x is 1.2 to 1.4.
Another class of suitable nonionic surfactants are alkoxylated, preferably ethoxylated or ethoxylated and propoxylated fatty acid alkyl esters, preferably having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain.
Nonionic surfactants of the amine oxide type, for example N-cocoalkyl-N,N-dimethylamine oxide and N-tallowalkyl-N,N-dihydroxyethylamine oxide, and the fatty acid alkanolamides may also be suitable.
Further suitable surfactants are polyhydroxy fatty acid amides of the formula R-C(O)-N(R¹)[Z], in which R-C(O) is an aliphatic acyl residue having 6 to 22 carbon atoms, R¹ is hydrogen, an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl residue having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and [Z] is a linear or branched polyhydroxyalkyl residue having 3 to 10 carbon atoms and 3 to 10 hydroxyl groups. The polyhydroxy fatty acid amides are known substances which can usually be obtained by reductive amination of a reducing sugar with ammonia, an alkylamine or an alkanolamine and subsequent acylation with a fatty acid, a fatty acid alkyl ester or a fatty acid chloride.
The group of polyhydroxy fatty acid amides also includes compounds of the formula R-C(O)-N(R¹OR²)[Z], in which R is a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl residue having 7 to 12 carbon atoms, R¹ is a linear, branched or cyclic alkyl residue or an aryl residue having 2 to 8 carbon atoms and R² is a linear, branched or cyclic alkyl residue or an aryl residue or a Oxy-alkyl residue having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, wherein C1 is 4-alkyl or phenyl residues are preferred and [Z] is a linear polyhydroxyalkyl residue whose alkyl chain is substituted with at least two hydroxyl groups, or alkoxylated, preferably ethoxylated or propoxylated derivatives of this residue.
[Z] is preferably obtained by reductive amination of a reduced sugar, for example glucose, fructose, maltose, lactose, galactose, mannose or xylose. The N-alkoxy- or N-aryloxy-substituted compounds can be converted into the respective polyhydroxy fatty acid amides by reaction with fatty acid methyl esters in the presence of an alkoxide as catalyst.
Further suitable nonionic surfactants to be used within a liquid detergent composition according to the present invention are surfactants solid at room temperature and are selected from the group of the alkoxylated nonionic surfactants, in particular the ethoxylated primary alcohols and mixtures of these surfactants with structurally complicated surfactants such as polyoxypropylene / polyoxyethylene / polyoxypropylene (PO / EO / PO) surfactants. Such (PO / EO / PO) nonionic surfactants are also characterized by good foam control.
A preferred room temperature solid nonionic surfactant is obtained from a straight chain fatty alcohol having 16 to 20 carbon atoms (C₁₆-C₂₀ alcohol), preferably a C₁₈ alcohol and at least 12 moles, preferably at least 15 moles and especially at least 20 moles of ethylene oxide (EO).
Nonionic surfactants solid at room temperature may additionally have propylene oxide units in the molecule, such nonionic surfactants are ethoxylated monohydroxy alkanols or alkylphenols which additionally have polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block copolymer units. These nonionic surfactants having melting points above room temperature contain from 40 to 70% of a polyoxypropylene / polyoxyethylene / polyoxypropylene block polymer blend containing 75% by weight of a reverse block copolymer of polyoxyethylene and polyoxypropylene with 17 moles of ethylene oxide and 44 moles of propylene oxide and 25% by wt.-% of a block copolymer of polyoxyethylene and polyoxypropylene initiated with trimethylolpropane and containing 24 moles of ethylene oxide and 99 moles of propylene oxide per mole of trimethylolpropane.
Nonionic surfactants of the formula R¹O[CH₂CH(CH₃)O]_xCH₂CH₂O]_y[CH₂CH(OH)R²], in which R¹ is a linear or branched aliphatic hydrocarbon residue having 4 to 18 carbon atoms or mixtures thereof, R² is a linear or branched hydrocarbon residue having 2 to 26 carbon atoms or mixtures thereof and x is between 0.5 and 1.5 and y is at least 15, may also be used.
Other preferred nonionic surfactants are the end-capped poly(oxyalkylated) nonionic surfactants of the formula R¹O[CH₂CH(R³)O]_x[CH₂]_kCH(OH)[CH₂]_jOR², where R¹ and R² are linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon residues having 1 to 30 carbon atoms, R³ is H or a methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, 2-butyl or 2-methyl-2-butyl residue, x has a value of 1 to 30, k and j have values of 1 to 12, preferably between 1 and 5.
If the value is x ≥ 2, any R³ in the above formula may be different. R¹ and R² are preferably linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon residues having 6 to 22 carbon atoms, with residues having 8 to 18 carbon atoms being preferred. For the substituent R³, H, -CH₃ or -CH₂CH₃ are preferred. Preferred values for x are in the range from 1 to 20, more preferred from 6 to 15.

SOLVENTS

The liquid detergent composition according to the present invention and all its partial compositions can be aqueous or non-aqueous compositions, or are compositions comprising both organic solvents and water. Preferably, all of the compositions A, B, C, D and E comprise at least any amount of water. Said compositions may apart from being solutions also be emulsions or dispersions. Preferably, all incorporated ingredients are fully dissolved in liquid detergent compositions according to the present invention.
Suitable organic solvents to be incorporated into liquid detergent compositions according to the present invention comprise ethers, alcohols, diols, polyols, ketones, amides and/or esters. Preferred solvents are monomeric polar compounds like methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, propylene carbonate, acetone, acetonyl acetone, diacetone alcohol, ethyl acetate, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerol, diethylene glycol, diproplylene glycol monomethyl ether and/or mixtures thereof.
It is preferred to incorporate at least one organic solvent selected from the group of linear and/or branched aliphatic mono- and/or di-alcohols, preferably comprising 1-4 carbon atoms, most preferred ethanol into at least one of the partial liquid detergent compositions A, B and/or C.
The different partial liquid detergent compositions may possess equal or different viscosities and pH values. Typical viscosities of partial liquid detergent compositions A, B and/or C may range from0-500, preferably 50-200, measured at 20 °C with a Brookfield viscosimeter at 12 rpm using spindle 1. Typical pH values of liquid detergent compositions A, B and/or C may range from 6-10, preferably 7-9.

PERFORMANCE POLYMER(S)

At least one of the liquid detergent compositions A, B and/or C according to the present invention may additionally comprise one or more "performance polymer(s)". Such polymers enhance removal of particularly persistent stains, e.g. such occurring from grass, clay or certain types of fruit, e.g. red berries, and further prevent soil redeposition and graying of textile fibers. Such performance polymers are therefore also suitable to substitute partial amounts of surfactants. A non-limiting example of a performance polymer is an ethoxylated polyethylene imine, e.g. Sokalan® HP 20, commercially available from BASF.

DYE TRANSFER INHIBITOR(S)

During washing of colored laundry, dye molecules may be washed off from colored fibers. This particularly happens at elevated temperatures or in presence of high amounts of surfactants. Redeposition of such washed off dyes on other pieces of laundry may result in undesired color changes of the washed laundry. A dye transfer inhibitor is able to suppress or avoid said effect.
Dye transfer inhibitor(s) may be selected from polymers. Polymeric dye transfer inhibitors react or form complexes with dye molecules, thereby increasing water solubility and preventing redeposition of the dyes. A nonlimiting example of such a polymeric dye transfer inhibitor is a vinylpyrrolidone / vinylimidazole copolymer, e.g. Sokalan® HP 56 BM commercially available from BASF..
At least one of the liquid detergent compositions A, B and/or C, preferably liquid detergent compositions A and/or B, according to the present invention may additionally comprise one or more dye transfer inhibitors.

OPTICAL BRIGHTENER(S)

Another optional, but preferred, component is at least one optical brightener. An optical brightener is a fluorescent compound having an absorption maximum in the UV range (approx. 290 - 400 nm) and re-emit in the blue region of the visible spectrum. Such compounds normally used make washed laundry to look cleaner and brighter in order to make the washed laundry appear more appealing to the consumer. Laundry washed without an optical brightener looks slightly yellowish, while the optical brightener overcomes this problem by compensating the deficit in blue and purple light reflected by the material.
Examples for optical brighteners are condensed aromatic/heteroaromatic compounds, including condensed thiazoles, pyrazoles, oxadiazoles and triazines, and stilbene or biphenyl derivatives. Common optical brighteners used in laundry detergents are for example DAS1 (Disodium 4,4'-bis[(4-anilino-6-morpholino-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)amino]-stilbene-2,2-disulfonate) and DSBP (Disodium 4,4'-bis(2-sulfostyryl)-biphenyl).

BLEACHING AGENT(S)

To remove certain types of stains which are prone to oxidation (bleachable stains), especially on white clothing, bleaching agents may be added to the washing liquor. Such bleaching agents contain or produce, either by means of a chemical reaction or by release, oxidizing agents such as hydrogen peroxide or a peracid when brought into contact with the washing liquor. Said oxidizing agents react with particular molecules present in bleachable stains, thus increasing water solubility and decomposing chromophores present in said stain molecules.
Bleaching agents suitable for use in a composition according to the present invention include, but are not limited to, active chlorine compounds, inorganic peroxygen compounds and organic peracids. Examples are sodium percarbonate, sodium perborate monohydrate, sodium perborate tetrahydrate, hydrogen peroxide, hydrogen peroxide-based compounds, persulfates, peroxomonosulphate, peroxodisulphate, ε-phthalimido-peroxy-caproic acid, benzoyl peroxide as well as mixtures thereof.
Due to the relatively high temperature (> 60 °C) required to receive the desired bleach performance when using bleaching agents alone, it is preferred to further add bleach activators and/or bleach catalysts as descried below to the washing liquor.
In order to avoid any undesired decomposition of any of the above-mentioned bleach-active compounds, it is preferred to separate bleaching agent(s) from bleach activators and/or bleach catalysts. Therefore, the detergent kit or detergent dosing system according to the present invention may optionally comprise a fourth partial liquid detergent composition D1 comprising bleaching agent(s) and a fifth partial liquid detergent composition D2 comprising bleach activators and/or bleach catalysts as described in further detail below.

BLEACH ACTIVATOR(S)

With bleach activator any compound is meant, which is able to provide the possibility to use a comparatively low temperature to achieve the desired bleaching performance when inorganic peroxygen based bleaching agents are applied. Such a bleach activator reacts with the peroxygen to form an organic peracid. Depending from the used bleach activator these peracids can have a hydrophobic or a hydrophilic character.
Suitable bleach activators yield peracids, particularly those with 1 to 10 carbon atoms, preferably 2-4 carbon atoms, and/or (substituted) perbenzoic acids, under perhydrolysis conditions, i.e. when reacting with the bleaching agent. Suitable bleach activators are compounds carrying O- and/or N-acyl groups comprising the above-mentioned ranges of carbon atoms and/or (substituted) benzoyl groups. Preferred are multiply acylated alkylene diamines, preferably tetraacetylene diamine (TAED), acylated triazine derivatives, preferably 1,5- diacetyl 2,4-hexahydro- 1,3,5-triazine (DADHT), N-acyl imides, preferably N-nonanoyl succinimide (NOSI). Further suitable bleach activators include, but are not limited to, sodium nonanoyloxybenzene sulfonate (NOBS), acetyl caprolactone, N-methyl morpholinium acetonitrile and salts thereof, sodium 4-(2-decanoyl-oxyethoxycarbonyloxy)benzenesulfonate (DECOBS) and salts thereof, lauryloxybenzyl sulfonate (LOBS), iso-lauryloxybenzyl sulfonate (I-LOBS), N-methylmorpholinum-acetonitrile (MMA), pentaacetyl glucose, nitrile quats, benzoyl caprolactam (BzCL), 4-nitrobenzoylcaprolactam, 3-clorobenzoylcaprolactam, benzoyloxybenzyl sulfonate (BOBS), phenyl benzoate (PhBz), decanoyloxybenzyl sulfonate (C10-OBS), benzoyl valerolactam (BZVL), octanoyloxybenzyl sulfonate (C8-OBS), 4-[N-(nonanoyl)aminohezanoyloxy]-benzyl sulfonate sodium salt (NACA-OBS), 10-undecenoyloxybenzylsulfonate (UDOBS), decanoyloxybenzoic acid (DOBA), perhydrolyzable ester, perhydrolytic enzyme combined with an by this enzyme hydrolysable substrate, acetyl caprolactone, acetyl caprolactam (N-acetylhexanelactam) (e.g. Peractive LAC) N-methyl morpholinium acetonitrile and salts thereof (such as Sokalan BMG from BASF).

BLEACH CATALYST(S)

To further lower the activation temperature of bleaching agents, e.g. below 30 °C, a bleach catalyst may be incorporated into a composition according to the present invention. Suitable bleach catalysts comprise metal containing bleach catalyst that are selected from bleach-boosting transition metal salts or transition metal complexes such as, for example, manganese-, iron-, cobalt-, ruthenium- or molybdenum-salen or -carbonyl complexes. Manganese, iron, cobalt, ruthenium, molybdenum, titanium, vanadium and copper complexes with nitrogen-containing tripod ligands, as well as cobalt-, iron-, copper- and ruthenium-ammine complexes may also be employed as the bleach catalysts. Such catalysts are broadly described in the state of the art and well known by skilled artisans.
Complexes of manganese in the valence state II, III, IV or V which preferably comprise one or a plurality of macrocyclic ligands with the donor functions N, NR, PR, O and/or S are particularly preferably employed. Ligands having nitrogen donor functions are preferably employed. In this regard, it is particularly preferred to select the at least one bleach catalyst from such having a group 1,4,7-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane (Me-TACN), 1,4,7-triazacyclononane (TACN), 1,5,9-trimethyl-1,5,9-triazacyclododecane (Me-TACD), 2-methyl-1,4,7-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane (Me/Me-TACN) 1,2,4,7,-tetramethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane and/or 2-methyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane (Me/TACN) as the macromolecular ligands. Preferred manganese complexes are for example [Mn^III ₂(µ-O)₁(µ-OAc)₂(TACN)₂](ClO₄)₂, [Mn^IIIMn^IV(µ-O)₂(µ-OAc)₁(TACN)₂](BPh₄)₂, [Mn^IV4(µ-O)₆(TACN)₄](ClO₄)₄, [Mn^III ₂(µ-O)₁(µ-OAC)₂(Me-TACN)₂](ClO₄)₂, [Mn^IIImn^IV(µ-O)₁(µ-OAc)₂(Me-TACN)₂](ClO₄)₃, [Mn^IV ₂(µ-Oh)₃(Me-TACN)₂](PF₆)₂ (MnTACN), [Mn^IV ₂(µ-O)₃(Me/Me-TACN)₂](PF₆)₂ (OAC=OC(O)CH₃) and the complex of Mn^VI with 1,2,4,7,-tetramethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane.

FABRIC SOFTENER(S)

The detergent kit or detergent dosing system according to the present invention may optionally further comprise a sixth partial composition, represented by composition E. Said composition is related to add fabric softeners when performing the last rinse of the washed laundry.
Machine washing puts great mechanical stress on laundry, particularly natural fibers such as cotton and wool. The fibers at the fabric surface are squashed and frayed, and this condition hardens while drying the laundry in air, giving the laundry a harsh feel, which is undesired by the consumer. Adding a liquid fabric softener to the final rinse of the washing cycle (rinse-cycle softener) results in laundry that feels softer.

MISCELLANEOUS

Liquid detergent compositions according to the present invention may further comprise other ingredients allowing any desired performance as known by the skilled artisan without limiting the invention.
Optional ingredients of the present liquid detergent compositions comprise for example dyes and/or perfumes. A dye is used to color the detergent composition. This might render the product more attractive to the consumer. A perfume is added to the cleaning composition to improve the sensorial properties of the composition or of the laundry after washing.
Other ingredients may also include thickeners, preservatives, UV-absorbers, foam inhibitors, soil repellents, color transfer inhibitors, corrosion inhibitors and/or solvents, without being limited thereto.

LIQUID DETERGENT COMPOSITION A

The first partial composition of the detergent kit or detergent dosing system is represented by liquid detergent composition A.
Said liquid detergent composition A comprises at least one protease, optionally at least one amylase and/or mannanase, two or more enzyme stabilizing compounds selected from the group comprising propylene glycol, boric acid, formic acid and ethanol amines, preferably monoethanol amine, and at least one anionic surfactant comprising alkylbenzene sulfonic acids and/or salts thereof, wherein alkylbenzene sulfonic acid and/or salts thereof are present in an amount of at least 27.5 wt.-%, preferably at least 29 wt.-%, more preferred at least 29.5 wt.-% of the liquid detergent composition A, wherein liquid detergent composition A is free of builders selected from the group of citric acid and/or salts thereof and enzymes different from proteases, amylases or mannanases.
Said composition A comprises essentially the whole content of protease enzyme of the provided liquid detergent and a high amount of alkylbenzene sulfonic acid (salts).
As proteases, amylases and mannanases are less prone towards inactivation by alkylbenzene sulfonic acids compared to other enzymes, it is possible to combine said surfactants with the above-mentioned enzymes in liquid detergent composition A.
Said composition is therefore related to providing a high amount of anionic surfactants, particularly alkylbenzene sulfonic acids, to improve cleaning performance. It is further related to providing proteases in a particularly high amount in combination with at least two enzyme-stabilizing compounds.
Particularly suitable anionic alkylbenzene sulfonic acids are C₅-C₂₀, preferably C₁₀-C₁₆, more preferably C₁₁-C₁₃, most preferred C₁₂ (dodecyl) alkylbenzene sulfonic acids. The alkyl groups present in said alkylbenzene sulfonic acids can be linear and/or branched alkyl groups.
Such alkylbenzene sulfonic acid (salts) may be present in composition A in a minimum amount of at least 27.5 wt.-%, preferably at least 29 wt.-%, more preferred at least 29.5 wt.-% of liquid detergent composition A and in a maximum amount of up to 50 wt.-%, preferably up to 45 wt.-%, more preferred 40 wt.-%, most preferred 36 wt.-% of liquid detergent composition A.
Liquid detergent composition A may additionally comprise one or more of the above-described further anionic surfactants. These are preferably selected from C₁₀-C₂₀, more preferred C₁₄-C₁₈, fatty acids, salts thereof and alkyl polyether sulfates, most preferred from sodium laureth sulfate.
The total amount of anionic surfactants present in composition A may be between 38 wt.-% and 60 wt.-%, preferably between 39.5 wt.-% and 55 wt.-%, more preferred between 40.5 wt.-% and 50 wt.-% of liquid detergent composition A.
Liquid detergent composition A only comprises enzymes compatible with high amounts of alkylbenzene sulfonic acids and/or their salts. It therefore comprises any protease and optionally further only enzymes selected from amylase(s) and/or mannanases(s). Liquid detergent composition A is however free of enzymes different from proteases, amylases and mannanases. Due to not comprising enzymes, which are particularly prone to protease degradation, said composition A contains proteases and, if present, amylases and/or mannanases in a particularly high amount.
Protease(s) may be present in liquid detergent composition A in amounts (of the active enzyme) of between 0.08 wt.-% and 1 wt.-%, preferably 0.1 wt.-% to 0.5 wt.-%, more preferred 0.13 wt.-% to 0.25 wt.-% of liquid detergent composition A. If present, the amount of amylase(s) is between 0.008 wt.-% and 0. 5 wt.-%, preferably 0.01 wt.-% to 0.25 wt.-%, more preferred 0.0125 to 0.1 wt.-% of liquid detergent composition A and, if present, the amount of mannanases(s) is between 0.001 wt.-% and 0.02 wt.-%, preferably 0.0012 wt.-% to 0.018 wt.-%, more preferred 0.00125 to 0.016 wt.-%, most preferred 0.0013 wt.-% to 0.014 wt.-% of liquid detergent composition A.
Activity of the above-mentioned enzymes contained in liquid detergent composition A during storage is decreased by the presence of at least two enzyme stabilizing compounds to avoid undesired enzyme degradation over a longer time period. Such enzyme-stabilizing compounds are selected from the group comprising propylene glycol, glycerol, boric acid, acetic acid, ethanol amines, preferably monoethanol amine, calcium chloride. Other optional enzyme stabilizing compounds are acetic acid and polycarboxylic acids having 2 to 4 hydroxyl groups and 3 to 8 carbon atoms as well as their salts, particularly sodium, potassium and/or calcium salts. Such polycarboxylic acids are preferably selected from maleic acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, tartaric acid and malic acid.
Enzyme stabilizing compounds may be present in liquid detergent composition A in a total amount between 8 wt.-% to 30 wt.-%, preferably 12 wt.-% to 27 wt.-%, more preferred 15 wt.-% to 25 wt.-% of liquid detergent composition A.
In case amylase(s) is/are present in liquid detergent composition A, it is preferred that at least formic acid is present as an enzyme stabilizing compound, alternatively formic acid or boric acid in combination with monoethanol amine are particularly preferred.
In order to further improve enzyme stability over a long time period, liquid detergent composition A is furthermore free of builders comprising citric acid and/or salts thereof and is preferably free of any builder(s). Such builders could otherwise contribute to enzyme unfolding, degradation or deactivation. What is meant by "builders" in this context is defined above.
Another type of ingredient optionally, but preferably, present in liquid detergent composition A is at least one nonionic surfactant. Nonionic surfactants are selected from any nonionic surfactants as defined in this disclosure. Preferred are alkoxylated, advantageously ethoxylated, in particular primary, C₈-C₁₈ alcohols with 1-12 EO, in which the alcohol residue is linear or preferably methyl-branched in the 2-position or contains linear and methyl-branched residues in the mixture. In particular, however, are alcohol ethoxylates with linear residues of C₁₂-C₁₈ alcohols of natural origin, e.g. from coconut, palm, tallow or oleyl alcohol, with 2 to 8 EO, preferably C₁₂-C₁₄ alcohols with 3 EO or 4 EO, C₉-C₁₁ alcohols with 7 EO, C₁₃-C₁₅ alcohols with 3 EO, 5 EO, 7 EO or 8 EO, C₁₂-C₁₈ alcohols with 3 EO, 5 EO or 7 EO and/or mixtures thereof, more preferred mixtures of C₁₂-C₁₄ alcohols with 3 EO and C₁₂-C₁₈ alcohols with 5 or 7 EO, most preferred C₁₂-C₁₈ ethoxylated alcohols with 7 EO. Nonionic surfactants may be present in a maximum amount of 25 wt.-%, preferably and 22 wt.-%, more preferred 20 wt.-% of composition A and in a minimum amount of 5 wt.-%, preferably 10 wt.-%, more preferred 15 wt.-% of liquid detergent composition A.
The ratio of anionic surfactants to nonionic surfactants in liquid detergent composition A may be between 5 to 1 and 1 to 1, preferably between 4 to 1 and 1.5 to 1, more preferred 3.5 to 1 and 1.7 to 1, most preferred 2.15 to 1 and 1.8 to 1, based on weight-percentage amounts of liquid detergent composition A.
Additional optional, but preferred, ingredients of liquid detergent composition A comprise further at least one performance polymer and/or soil release polymer. Such polymers act as supporting agents in order to improve the removal of particular types of soil, like e.g. grass, fruit and clay, prevent graying of fibers and prevent redeposition of soil during the washing cycle. Performance polymers are preferably selected from ethoxylated polyethyleneimines, while soil release polymers are preferably selected from esters of terephthalic acids.
Said performance polymer or said soil release polymer may individually be present in liquid detergent composition A in an amount between 0.5 wt.-% and 5 wt.-%, preferably 1 wt.-% to 4 wt.-%, more preferred 1.3 wt.-% to 3.5 wt.-%, most preferred 1.6 wt.-% to 3.2 wt.-% of liquid detergent composition A.
Additional components which may preferably be incorporated into liquid detergent composition A comprise organic solvents as described above, which are preferably selected from the group of linear and/or branched aliphatic mono-, di- and/or tri-alcohols, preferably comprising 1-4 carbon atoms, more preferably ethanol, mono propylene glycol and/or glycerol, pH regulating compounds, e.g. NaOH, HCI or buffer compounds, and water.

In one particular embodiment of the present invention, liquid detergent composition A is essentially consisting of the above-mentioned ingredients, namely surfactants, organic solvent(s), water, enzyme(s), enzyme stabilizing compounds, soil release and/or performance polymer, and pH regulator(s). An example of a composition of liquid detergent composition A is as follows:

Component	Amount [wt.-%]
enzyme stabilizing compounds	12 - 25
alkylbenzene sulfonic acid(s) (anionic surfactant)	25 - 35
(salts of) fatty acids (anionic surfactant)	1 - 5
sulfates of ethoxylated fatty alcohols (anionic surfactant)	5 - 10
ethoxylated alcohols (nonionic surfactant)	15 - 25
pH regulator(s)	4.5 - 11
protease(s) (active content)	0.08 - 0.25
amylase(s) (active content)	0 - 0.5
performance polymer	0 - 5
solvents (water, ethanol, propylene glycol)	to balance

The aspects of liquid detergent composition A are:

1. A liquid detergent composition comprising
1. (a) at least one protease and optionally at least one amylase and/or mannanase;
2. (b) two or more enzyme stabilizing compounds selected from the group comprising propylene glycol, glycerol, boric acid, formic acid and ethanol amines;
3. (c) at least one anionic surfactant comprising alkylbenzene sulfonic acids and/or salts thereof,
  wherein alkylbenzene sulfonic acid and/or salts thereof are present in an amount of at least 27.5 wt.-%, preferably at least 29 wt.-%, more preferred at least 29.5 wt.-% of the liquid detergent composition;
wherein the liquid detergent composition is free of the following components:
1. (i) builders selected from the group of citric acid and/or salts thereof, and
2. (ii) enzymes different from proteases, amylases or mannanases.
2. The liquid detergent composition according to aspect 1 not containing any builders.
3. The liquid detergent composition according to any preceding aspect, wherein the active amount of protease is between 0.08 wt.-% and 0.25 wt.-%, preferably 0.1 wt.-% to 0.2 wt.-%, more preferred 0.13 wt.-% to 0.15 wt.-% of the liquid detergent composition.
4. The liquid detergent composition according to any preceding aspect, wherein the protease(s) is/are not encapsulated, co-granulated or coated.
5. The liquid detergent composition according to any preceding aspect, wherein, if present, the amount of amylase(s) is between 0.008 wt.-% and 0.05 wt.-%, preferably between 0.01 wt.-% and 0.018 wt.-%, more preferred between 0.0125 wt.-% and 0.015 wt.-% of the liquid detergent composition, and
wherein, if present, the amount of mannanase(s) is between 0.001 wt.-% and 0.002 wt.-%, preferably 0.0012 wt.-% to 0.0018 wt.-%, more preferred 0.00125 to 0.0016 wt.-%, most preferred 0.0013 wt.-% to 0.0014 wt.-% of the liquid detergent composition.
6. The liquid detergent composition according to any preceding aspect further comprising at least one additional anionic surfactant different from alkylbenzene sulfonic acid (salts).
7. The liquid detergent composition according to aspect 6, wherein the anionic surfactant(s) is/are selected from palm kernel acid or salts thereof, salts of alkyl sulfonates with 14 to 17 carbon atoms, sodium laureth sulfate and/or mixtures thereof.
8. The liquid detergent composition according to aspects 6-7, wherein the total amount of anionic surfactants present in the composition is between 38 wt.-% and 60 wt.-%, preferably between 39.5 wt.-% and 55 wt.-%, more preferred between 40.5 wt.-% and 50 wt.-% of the liquid detergent composition.
9. The liquid detergent composition according to any preceding aspect comprising at least one nonionic surfactant.
10. The liquid detergent composition according to aspect 9, wherein nonionic surfactants are present in a maximum amount of 25 wt.-%, preferably 22 wt.-%, more preferred 20 wt.-% of the liquid detergent composition and in a minimum amount of 5 wt.-%, preferably 10 wt.-%, more preferred 15 wt.-% of the liquid detergent composition.
11. The liquid detergent composition according to any preceding aspect,
wherein the alkylbenzene sulfonic acid is selected from C₁₀-C₁₅ alkylbenzene sulfonic acids, preferably from C₁₁-C₁₄ alkylbenzene sulfonic acids, more preferred from dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid and contains a linear or a branched alkyl group.
12. The liquid detergent composition according to aspects 7-11, wherein the ratio of anionic surfactants to nonionic surfactants is between 5 to 1 and 1 to 1, preferably between 4 to 1 and 1.5 to 1, more preferred between 3.5 to 1 and 1.7 to 1, most preferred between 2.15 to 1 and 1.8 to 1, based on weight-percentage amounts of the liquid detergent composition.
13. The liquid detergent composition according to any preceding aspect further comprising at least one of the following ingredients:
1. (i) at least one organic solvent selected from the group of linear and/or branched aliphatic mono-, di- and/or tri-alcohols, preferably comprising 1-4 carbon atoms, more preferably ethanol, mono propylene glycol and/or glycerol;
2. (ii) at least one soil release polymer selected from esters of terephthalic acids;
3. (iii) at least one performance polymer, wherein the performance polymer is preferably an ethoxylated polyethyleneimine;
4. (iv) a pH regulating agent;
5. (v) water.
14. The liquid detergent composition according to any preceding aspect being a partial composition contained in a detergent kit or a detergent dosing system.
15. Use of the detergent composition according to any preceding aspect in a laundry washing process.

LIQUID DETERGENT COMPOSITION B

The second partial composition of the detergent kit or dosing system is represented by liquid detergent composition B.
Said liquid detergent composition B comprises two or more enzymes (except protease(s)), at least one anionic surfactant selected from alkylbenzene sulfonic acid (salts), ethoxylated fatty alcohol sulfates, fatty alcohol sulfates, and/or alkyl sulfonates in an amount between 5 wt.-% and 30 wt.-%, preferably between 12 wt.-% and 25 wt.-%, more preferred between 16 and 22 wt.-% of liquid detergent composition B, at least one enzyme stabilizing compound comprising formic acid and optionally an enzyme stabilizing compound selected from ethanol amines, preferably monoethanol amine, propylene glycol and/or glycerol, wherein liquid detergent composition B is free of citric acid and/or salts thereof and proteases.
Composition B is related to providing a high amount of anionic surfactants, while the amount of alkylbenzene sulfonic acids and/or salts thereof is significantly reduced in this partial composition B, compared to partial composition A, to maintain enzyme-compatibility. Said composition B comprises instead a mixture of anionic surfactants additionally to, or instead of, alkylbenzene sulfonic acids and/or salts thereof. It is further related to providing enzymes different from proteases in combination with at least two enzyme-stabilizing compounds.
The amount of alkylbenzene sulfonic acid (salts) is kept at a particularly low level to retain compatibility with enzymes more prone to inactivation by such surfactants. Thus, in a preferred embodiment composition B comprises alkyl sulfonates, fatty alcohol sulfates and/or ethoxylated fatty alcohol sulfates as anionic surfactants, but no alkyl benzene sulfonates. However, one or more fatty acids may be present as optional anionic surfactants.
Preferred alkyl sulfonates are C₁₀-C₁₈, more preferred C₁₄-C₁₇ alkyl sulfonates.
Alkylbenzene sulfonic acids or salts thereof are preferably selected from C₁₀-C₁₅ alkylbenzene sulfonic acids or salts thereof, more preferred C₁₁-C₁₄ alkylbenzene sulfonic acids or salts thereof, most preferred from dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid or salts thereof and contain a linear or a branched alkyl group.
Liquid detergent composition B further comprises additional anionic surfactants which are different from alkylbenzene sulfonic acid (salts) to compensate for the reduced amount of said surfactants. Such additional anionic surfactants are selected from ethoxylated fatty alcohol sulfates, fatty alcohol sulfates and alkyl sulfates. Liquid detergent composition B may be free of alkylbenzene sulfonic acid (salts) and may further optionally comprise fatty acid (salts) as anionic surfactants. Anionic surfactants different from alkylbenzene sulfonic acid (salts) are preferably selected from the group of sodium laureth sulfate, sodium salts of fatty alcohol sulfates with 12 to 18 carbon atoms, palm kernel acid, salts of palm kernel acid and mixtures thereof.
Among the possible salts, sodium, potassium and/or monoethanol ammonium salts are preferred, in particular sodium salts.
Anionic surfactants are preferably present in a total amount of between 15 wt.-% and 40 wt.-%, preferably between 16 wt.-% and 35 wt.-%, more preferred between 17 wt.-% and 32.5 wt.-%, most preferred between 18 wt.-% and 30 wt.-% of the liquid detergent composition B. This value refers to the total amount of any anionic surfactant as defined above, including optional fatty acid (salts).
Suitable enzymes to be used within liquid detergent composition B are all enzymes as defined above, with the exception of proteases, which liquid detergent composition B is free of. Said composition comprises at least one enzyme selected from mannanases, pectinases, lipases, amylases and cellulases, wherein cellulases may also comprise any anti-pilling cellulases. Mannanases may be present in an amount between 0.001 wt.-% and 0.1 wt.-%, preferably 0.0012 wt.-% to 0.05 wt.-%, more preferred 0.00125 to 0.025 wt.-%, most preferred 0.0013 wt.-% to 0.002 wt.-% of liquid detergent composition B. Pectinases may be present in an amount between 0.001 wt.-% and 0.1 wt.-%, preferably between 0.003 wt.-% and 0.05 wt.-%, more preferred between 0.004 wt.-% and 0.01 wt.-% of liquid detergent composition B. Lipases may be present in an amount between 0.001 wt.-% and 0.1 wt.-%, preferably between 0.01 wt.-% and 0.08 wt.-%, more preferred between 0.015 wt.-% and 0.07 wt.-% of liquid detergent composition B. Amylases may be present in an amount between 0.008 wt.-% and 0.1 wt.-%, preferably between 0.01 wt.-% and 0.05 wt.-%, more preferred between 0.0125 wt.-% and 0.015 wt.-% of liquid detergent composition B. Cellulases may be present in an amount between 0.001 wt.-% and 0.1 wt.-%, preferably between 0.005 wt.-% and 0.05 wt.-%, more preferred between 0.01 wt.-% and 0.02 wt.-% of liquid detergent composition B.
In a preferred embodiment, composition B comprises at least two, more preferred at least three of the above-mentioned enzymes.
Furthermore, in preferred embodiments, the total amount of enzymes being present in liquid detergent composition B is between 0.021 wt.-% and 0.5 wt.-%, preferably 0.025 wt.-% to 0.25 wt.-%, more preferred 0.03 wt.-% to 0.1 wt.-%, most preferred 0.04 wt.-% to 0.05 wt.-% of liquid detergent composition B.
Likelihood of undesired enzyme precipitation is lowered by at least one enzyme stabilizing compound. Liquid detergent composition B therefore comprises at least formic acid as an enzyme stabilizing compound, preferably in an amount between 0.2 wt.-% and 1.5 wt.-%, more preferred between 0.4 wt.-% and 1.2 wt.-%, most preferred between 0.5 wt.-% and 1 wt.-%, of liquid detergent composition B, and optionally a further enzyme stabilizing compound selected from ethanol amines, preferably monoethanol amine, propylene glycol, glycerol and/or calcium chloride. Other optional enzyme stabilizing compounds are acetic acid and polycarboxylic acids having 2 to 4 hydroxyl groups and 3 to 8 carbon atoms as well as their salts, particularly sodium, potassium and/or calcium salts. Such polycarboxylic acids are preferably selected from maleic acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, tartaric acid and malic acid
If additional enzyme stabilizing compounds are present, enzyme stabilizing compounds may be present in liquid detergent composition B in a total amount between 5 wt.-% to 25 wt.-%, preferably 8 wt.-% to 20 wt.-%, more preferred 10 wt.-% to 18 wt.-% of liquid detergent composition B.
In order to further improve enzyme stability over a long time period, liquid detergent composition B is furthermore free of citric acid and/or salts thereof and is preferably free of any builders as defined above. Such said substances could otherwise contribute to enzyme unfolding, degradation or deactivation.
Another type of ingredient optionally, but preferably, present in liquid detergent composition B is at least one nonionic surfactant. Nonionic surfactants are selected from any nonionic surfactants defined in this disclosure. Preferred are alkoxylated, advantageously ethoxylated, in particular primary, C₈-C₁₈ alcohols with 1-12 EO, in which the alcohol residue is linear or preferably methyl-branched in the 2-position or contains linear and methyl-branched residues in the mixture. In particular, however, are alcohol ethoxylates with linear residues of C₁₂-C₁₈ alcohols of natural origin, e.g. from coconut, palm, tallow or oleyl alcohol, with 2 to 8 EO, preferably C₁₂-C₁₄ alcohols with 3 EO or 4 EO, C₉-C₁₁ alcohols with 7 EO, C₁₃-C₁₅ alcohols with 3 EO, 5 EO, 7 EO or 8 EO, C₁₂-C₁₈ alcohols with 3 EO, 5 EO or 7 EO and/or mixtures thereof, more preferred mixtures of C₁₂-C₁₄ alcohols with 3 EO and C₁₂-C₁₈ alcohols with 5 or 7 EO, most preferred C₁₂-C₁₈ ethoxylated alcohols with 7 EO.
Such nonionic surfactants may be present in an amount between 5 and 30 wt.-%, preferably between 10 wt.-% and 25 wt.-%, more preferred between 15 wt.-% and 23 wt.-%, most preferred between 18 wt.-% and 22 wt.-% of liquid detergent composition B.
Furthermore, the ratio of anionic surfactants to nonionic surfactants in liquid detergent composition B may be between 1.9 to 1 and 1 to 1, preferably between 1.8 to 1 and 1.1 to 1, more preferred between 1.75 to 1 and 1.25 to 1, most preferred between 1.65 to 1 and 1.35 to 1, based on weight-percentage amounts of liquid detergent composition B.
Additional components which may preferably be incorporated into liquid detergent composition B comprise organic solvents as described above, which are preferably selected from the group of linear and/or branched aliphatic mono- and/or di-alcohols, preferably comprising 1-4 carbon atoms, more preferably ethanol, pH regulating compounds, e.g. NaOH, HCI or buffer compounds, and water.
Further optional but preferred compounds are chelating agents as defined above, preferably a phosphonate, more preferred diethylenetriamine penta(methylene phosphonic acid) (DTPMP), and/or salts thereof.
Due to the particularly high amounts of surfactants used within liquid detergent compositions A and B it is possible, that small amounts of dye molecules will be washed off from textile fibers. To avoid redeposition of such dyes and consequently undesired color changes of washed laundry, liquid detergent composition B may further comprise a dye transfer inhibitor, which is selected from polymeric compounds, and is preferably a vinylpyrrolidone / vinyl imidazole copolymer. Said inhibitor may be present in liquid detergent composition B in amounts between 0.1 wt.-% and 5 wt.-%, preferably 0.3 wt.-% to 2 wt.-%, more preferred 0.4 wt.-% to 1 wt.-%, most preferred 0.5 wt.-% to 0.8 wt.-% of liquid detergent composition B.

In one particular embodiment of the invention, the liquid detergent composition B is essentially consisting of the above-mentioned ingredients, namely surfactants, organic solvent(s), water, enzyme(s), enzyme stabilizing compound(s), dye transfer inhibitor, chelating agent(s) and pH regulator(s). An example of a composition of liquid detergent composition B is as follows:

Component	Amount [wt.-%]
enzyme stabilizing compound(s)	10 - 18
alkyl sulfonates (anionic surfactant)	4 - 10
fatty alcohol sulfates (anionic surfactant)	5 - 10
sulfates of ethoxylated fatty alcohols (anionic surfactant)	4 - 10
(salts of) fatty acids (anionic surfactant)	3 - 10
ethoxylated alcohols (nonionic surfactant)	15 - 22
pH regulating compound(s)	1 - 5
chelating agent	0.1 - 0.8
lipase(s) (active content)	0.01 - 0.05
cellulase(s) (active content)	0.001 - 0.05
mannanase(s) (active content)	0.001 - 0.06
pectinase(s) (active content)	0.001 - 0.05
anti-pilling cellulase(s) (active content)	0.001 - 0.03
dye transfer inhibitor	0.1 - 1
solvents (water, ethanol, proplylene glycol)	to balance

The aspects of liquid detergent composition B are:

1. A liquid detergent composition comprising
1. (a) two or more enzymes,
2. (b) at least one anionic surfactant selected from alkylbenzene sulfonic acid (salts), ethoxylated fatty alcohol sulfates, fatty alcohol sulfates, and/or alkyl sulfonates in a total amount of these four between 5 wt.-% and 30 wt.-%, preferably between 12 wt.-% and 25 wt.-%, more preferred between 16 and 22 wt.-% of the liquid detergent composition;
3. (c) at least one enzyme stabilizing compound comprising formic acid,
4. (d) optionally an enzyme stabilizing compound selected from ethanol amines, glycerol and/or propylene glycol; and
  wherein the liquid detergent composition is free of the following components:
  1. (i) citric acid and/or salts thereof, and
  2. (ii) proteases.
2. The liquid detergent composition according to aspect 1 being free of any builder.
3. The liquid detergent composition according to any preceding aspect, wherein the enzymes present in the composition comprise at least one of cellulases, lipases, mannanases, amylases and/or pectinases.
4. The liquid detergent composition according to any preceding aspect comprising no alkylbenzene sulfonic acid (salts), but only ethoxylated fatty alcohol sulfates, fatty alcohol sulfates, and/or alkyl sulfonates and optionally further fatty acid (salts) as component (b).
5. The liquid detergent composition according to any preceding aspect comprising at least one anionic surfactant different from those defined as component (b) of aspect 1.
6. The liquid detergent composition according to any preceding aspect comprising at least one nonionic surfactant, wherein nonionic surfactants preferably are present in an amount between 5 and 30 wt.-%, preferably between 10 wt.-% and 25 wt.-%, more preferred between 15 wt.-% and 23 wt.-%, most preferred between 18 wt.-% and 22 wt.-% of the liquid detergent composition.
7. The liquid detergent composition according to any preceding aspect, wherein ethoxylated fatty alcohol sulfates, fatty alcohol sulfates, alkyl sulfonates and/or fatty acid (salts) are selected from the group of sodium laureth sulfate, sodium salts of fatty alcohol sulfates with 12 to 18 carbon atoms, palm kernel acid, salts of palm kernel acid and mixtures thereof.
8. The liquid detergent composition according to any preceding aspect, wherein anionic surfactants are present in a total amount of between 15 wt.-% and 40 wt.-%, preferably between 16 wt.-% and 35 wt.-%, more preferred between 17 wt.-% and 32.5 wt.-%, most preferred between 18 wt.-% and 30 wt.-% of the liquid detergent composition.
9. The liquid detergent composition according to any preceding aspect, wherein alkylbenzene sulfonic acids or salts thereof are preferably selected from C₁₀-C₁₅ alkylbenzene sulfonic acids or salts thereof, more preferred C₁₁-C₁₄ alkylbenzene sulfonic acids or salts thereof, most preferred from dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid or salts thereof and contain a linear or a branched alkyl group.
10. The liquid detergent composition according to any preceding aspect further comprising organic solvents selected from the group comprising linear and/or branched aliphatic mono-, di- and/or tri-alcohols comprising 1-4 carbon atoms, preferably ethanol, mono propylene glycol and/or glycerol.
11. The liquid detergent composition according to any preceding aspect further comprising a dye transfer inhibiting polymer, wherein preferably the dye transfer inhibiting polymer comprises a vinyl pyrrolidone / vinyl imidazole copolymer.
12. The liquid detergent composition according to any preceding aspect further comprising one or more chelating agents.
13. The liquid detergent composition according to aspect 12, wherein chelating agents comprise a phosphonate, preferably diethylenetriamine penta(methylene phosphonic acid) (DTPMP) and/or salts thereof.
14. The liquid detergent composition according to any preceding aspect being a partial composition contained in a detergent kit or a detergent dosing system.
15. Use of the liquid detergent composition according to any preceding aspect in a laundry washing process.

LIQUID DETERGENT COMPOSITION C

The third partial composition of the detergent kit or detergent dosing system is represented by liquid detergent composition C. It is related to control the hardness of the laundry washing water and assist in soil removal.
Said composition therefore comprises an organic builder or a mixture of organic builders and/or at least one chelating agent.
The organic builder or the mixture of organic builders may comprise any corresponding builders described above and is, due to better solubility and for ecological benefits, preferably selected from citric acid, salts thereof and/or polymeric builders. Polymeric builders prevent soil-redeposition, encrustation of builders on fabrics, improve soil dispersion and assist in removal of particular stains and are preferably selected from water-soluble homopolymers comprising acrylic and/or methacrylic monomers as defined above, copolymers of two or more monomers, wherein at least one monomer is selected from the group comprising acrylic acid, methacrylic acid and/or maleic acid, mixtures thereof and/or salts thereof.
Particularly preferred builders are citric acid and/or salts thereof.
Liquid detergent composition C is preferably free of surfactants and/or enzymes. Due to the absence of enzymes in liquid detergent composition C, it is possible to incorporate a builder or a mixture of builders in particularly high amounts into said composition C. The builder or the mixture of builders may be present in liquid detergent composition C in an amount of between 10 wt.-% to 90 wt.-%, preferably from 12.5 wt.-% to 60 wt.-%, more preferred from 15 wt.-% to 50 wt.-%, most preferred from 17.5 wt.-% to 30 wt.-% of liquid detergent composition C.
A further type of ingredient present in liquid detergent composition C is at least one complexing agent as defined above, preferably selected from MGDA, GLDA, DTPMP and/or salts thereof, wherein each complexing agent may be present in liquid detergent composition C in an amount between 0.1 wt.-% and 10 wt.-%, preferably from 0.3 wt.-% to 5 wt.-%, more preferred from 0.5 wt.-% to 2.5 wt.-% of the liquid detergent composition C. The total amount of complexing agent(s) present in liquid detergent composition C may be between 0.1 wt.-% and 25 wt.-%, preferably from 0.3 wt.-% to 18 wt.-%, more preferred from 0.5 wt.-% to 14 wt.-%, most preferred 0.8 wt.-% to 10 wt.-% of the liquid detergent composition C.
Liquid detergent composition C may further comprise a polymeric builder to support the citrate in order to prevent soil-redeposition, encrustation of builders on fabrics, improve soil dispersion and assist in removal of particular stains. Such a polymeric builder preferably comprises a copolymer of acrylic acid and methacrylic acid and/or a salt, preferably a sodium salt, thereof. A preferred example of such a polymeric builder is Sokalan® CP5, available from BASF.
Another ingredient present in liquid detergent composition C is at least one pH controlling agent, preferably comprising sodium hydroxide, monoethanol amine and/or triethanol amine. Said compound(s) is/are added in an amount allowing to balance the final pH in a 10% wt./vol. wash liquor to a desired value.
In one particular embodiment of the invention, the liquid detergent composition C is essentially consisting of the above-mentioned ingredients, namely organic builder(s), organic solvent(s), chelating agent(s), water and pH regulator. An example of a composition of liquid detergent composition C is as follows:

Component Amount [wt.-%]

organic builder(s) 17.5 - 30

pH controlling compound 7 - 20

chelating agent(s) 1 - 8

performance polymer 1 - 6

water to balance

LIQUID COMPOSITIONS D1 AND D2: BLEACHING SYSTEM

The optional fourth and fifth partial compositions of the detergent kit or dosing system is represented by liquid detergent compositions D1 and D2. In order to avoid a loss of bleach performance over a prolonged time period, resulting from decomposition of bleaching agent, bleach activator and/or bleach catalyst when stored together, the bleaching agent(s) are separated from bleach activator(s) and/or bleach catalyst(s) by providing at least two partial compositions D1 and D2, i.e. the bleaching agent(s) are incorporated into composition D1, while the bleach activator(s) and/or bleach catalyst(s) are incorporated into composition D2. Said compositions D1 and D2 are advantageously mixed when required to produce bleach-active composition D, which is consequently added to the washing liquor.
Alternatively, compositions D1 and D2 may be separately dosed into the washing liquor during any desired washing cycle. As these particular compositions are optional parts of the invention, any bleaching agent(s), bleach activator(s) and/or bleach catalyst(s) known in the art may be used within liquid compositions D1 and D2.
Separation of bleaching agent, bleach activator and/or bleach catalyst from ingredients like enzymes, surfactants and builders is further advantageous in order to avoid interactions between said compounds, which would otherwise decrease storage stability of the compositions. For example, enzymes could be decomposed or precipitated by bleaching agents or catalysts, while bleach catalysts could be decomposed or deactivated by complexing agents or builders.
A further advantage of storing bleach active compounds separately from the other partial compositions is the possibility to provide heavy duty or color detergents as required by the consumer.

LIQUID COMPOSITION E: FABRIC SOFTENER

The optional sixths partial composition of the detergent kit or dosing system is represented by liquid detergent composition E. Said composition is related to provide a fabric softener composition.
Composition E may typically comprise (cationic) surfactants, organic solvent(s), water, emulsifiers, electrolytes and pH adjusters.
Cationic surfactants which may be present in liquid detergent composition E comprise surfactants of the quat type. Such surfactants are quaternary ammonium salts containing short (C₁-C₄) and long (C₉-C₂₀) alkyl, alkanol and/or ester residues. Preferred cationic surfactants comprise those of the ester-quat type, i.e. quaternary ammonium salts containing fatty acid esters of di- or triethanolamine.
As this particular composition is not a relevant part of the invention, said composition may further comprise any ingredients suitable for a fabric softener composition known to a skilled person, such as surfactants, polysiloxanes, perfumes, perfume carriers, perfume microcapsules, fluorescent agents, dyes, soil release polymers, optical brighteners, graying inhibitors, anti-shrink agents, anti-crease agents, dye transfer inhibitors, antimicrobial active agents, germicides, fungicides, antioxidants, preservatives, corrosion inhibitors, antistatics, bittering agents, ironing aids, phobing and impregnating agents and UV absorbers, without being limited thereto.

DETERGENT KIT OR DOSING SYSTEM

The detergent kit or detergent dosing system according to the present invention comprises at least three different partial liquid detergent compositions, represented by the above-mentioned liquid detergent compositions A, B and C, and optionally at least one further partial liquid detergent composition(s), represented by the liquid detergent compositions D (which is advantageously separated into compositions D1 and D2) or E, preferably compositions D and E.

EXAM PLES

The following examples are presented in order to illustrate the beneficial effects provided by the present invention and therefore do not limit the scope of the present invention in any way.

Example 1

Four detergent compositions (V1 and E1-E3) were prepared. Composition V1 represents a detergent composition known in the art, while E1 represents detergent composition B and E2-E3 represent embodiments of detergent composition A according to the present invention. The compositions consisted of the following components (amounts given in wt.-% of the respective composition). All enzymes were received from Novozymes AS.

	V1	E1	E2	E3
alkylbenzene sulfonic acid	25	0	31	31
fatty alcohol sulfates	0	6.3	0	0
nonionic surfactants¹	19	19	19	19
further anionic surfactants²	15	20.5	15	15
Liquanase 3.5 L (protease)	0.95	0	2	2
Stainzyme 12L (amylase)	0.5	0	1	1
Lipex 100 L or Lipex Evity 100 L (lipase)	0.6	1	0	0
Mannaway 8.0 (mannanase)	0.15	0.15	0	0
Celluclean 5000L (cellulase)	0.35	0.35	0	0
Xpect 1000L (pectinase)	0.15	0.15	0	0
complexing agent³	0.16	0.16	0	0
pH regulating agents⁴	7	1.74	7.5	7.5
boric acid	1	0	1	0
formic acid	0	0.85	0	0.85
misc. ingedients⁵	0.33	0.66	2	2
solvents⁶	ad 100	ad 100	ad 100	ad 100

1: ethoxylated fatty alcohols
2: ethoxylated fatty alcohol sulfates, fatty acids, secondary alkyl sulfonates
3: diethylenetriamine penta(methylene phosphonic acid), sodium salt
4: monoethanol amine and sodium hydroxide
5: performance polymer and/or dye transfer inhibitor
6: ethanol, propylene glycol and water

Example 2

The residual content of active enzymes was determined for each respective enzyme after compositions V1 and E1 were stored for 4 weeks at 30 °C.

Residual content (% of total content of the respective enzyme)

V1 E1

lipase 67 100

mannanase 93 100

cellulase 43 98

pectinase 0 22
It becomes clear, that a liquid detergent composition according to the present invention yields improved enzyme stability after four weeks of storage at 30 °C.

Example 3

The residual content of active enzymes was determined for each respective enzyme after compositions V1 and E2 were stored for 4 weeks at 30 °C.

Residual content (% of total content of the respective enzyme)

V1 E2

protease 100 100

amylase 92 92

Example 4

The residual content of active amylase enzyme was determined after compositions V1, E2 and E3 were stored for 4 weeks at 30 °C.

Residual amylase content (% of total content of amylase enzyme)

V1 E2 E3

92 92 99
Examples 3 and 4 demonstrate that compositions according to the present invention, despite comprising a significantly higher amount of protease and alkylbenzene sulfonic acid than a typical detergent composition known in the art, show equal or even better enzyme stability.

Claims

A detergent kit or detergent dosing system comprising three or more different partial compositions A, B and C, wherein
I. the first partial composition A of the detergent kit or dosing system comprises:
(a) at least one protease and optionally at least one amylase and/or mannanase,

(b) two or more enzyme stabilizing compounds selected from the group comprising propylene glycol, glycerol, boric acid, formic acid and ethanol amines;

(c) at least one anionic surfactant comprising C₁₀-C₁₅ alkylbenzene sulfonic acids, preferably C₁₁-C₁₄ alkylbenzene sulfonic acids, more preferred dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid, and/or salts thereof, wherein the at least one anionic surfactant is present in an amount of at least 27.5 wt.-%, preferably at least 29 wt.-%, more preferred at least 29.5 wt.-%, of the first partial composition A;
wherein the first partial composition A is free of the following components:
(i) builders selected from the group of citric acid and/or salts thereof, and

(ii) enzymes different from proteases, amylases or mannanases; and wherein

II. the second partial composition B of the detergent kit or detergent dosing system comprises:
(a) two or more enzymes;

(b) one or more anionic surfactants comprising dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid (salts), ethoxylated fatty alcohol sulfates, fatty alcohol sulfates and/or alkyl sulfonates in a total amount of these four between 2 wt.-% and 30 wt.-%, preferably between 6 wt.-% and 22 wt.-%, more preferred between 10 and 20 wt.-% of the second partial composition B;

(c) at least one enzyme stabilizing compound comprising formic acid,

(d) optionally an enzyme stabilizing compound selected from ethanol amines, glycerol and/or propylene glycol;
wherein the second partial composition B is free of the following components:
(i) citric acid and/or salts thereof, and

(ii) proteases; and wherein

III. the third partial composition C of the detergent kit or detergent dosing system comprises:
(a) one or more organic builder(s), and/or

(b) one or more chelating agent(s).
The detergent kit or detergent dosing system according to claim 1, wherein in the third partial composition C organic builders comprise citric acid, water-soluble polymers, mixtures thereof and/or salts thereof.
The detergent kit or detergent dosing system according to claim 2, wherein water-soluble polymers comprise copolymers of two or more monomers selected from the group comprising acrylic acid, methacrylic acid and/or maleic acid, and/or mixtures thereof.
The detergent kit or detergent dosing system according to claims 1-3, wherein in the third partial composition C chelating agents comprise methyl glycine diacetic acid (MGDA), N,N-dicarboxymethyl glutamic acid (GLDA), phosphonic acids, salts thereof and/or mixtures thereof, wherein preferably phosphonic acids are selected from diethylenetriamine penta(methylene phosphonic acid) (DTPMP) and/or salts thereof.
The third partial composition of the detergent kit or detergent dosing system according to claims 1-4 further comprising a pH regulating agent in partial composition C.
The detergent kit or detergent dosing system according to claim 5, wherein the pH regulating agent comprises sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, monoethanol amine and/or triethanol amine.
The detergent kit or dosing system according to any preceding claim optionally comprising a fourth and a fifth partial composition, wherein the fourth partial composition comprises at least one bleaching agent; and wherein
the fifth partial composition comprises
at least one bleach activator and at least one bleach catalyst.
The detergent kit or dosing system according to any preceding claim optionally comprising a sixths partial composition comprising a fabric softener composition.
Use of the detergent kit or detergent dosing system according to any preceding claim in a laundry washing process.
A liquid detergent composition usable as a partial composition in a detergent kit or detergent dosing system according to claims 1-8, wherein the liquid detergent composition comprises:
(a) at least one protease and optionally at least one amylase and/or mannanase;

(b) two or more enzyme stabilizing compounds selected from the group comprising propylene glycol, glycerol, boric acid, formic acid and ethanol amines;

(c) at least one anionic surfactant comprising alkylbenzene sulfonic acids and/or salts thereof,
wherein alkylbenzene sulfonic acid and/or salts thereof are present in an amount of at least 27.5 wt.-%, preferably at least 29 wt.-%, more preferred at least 29.5 wt.-% of the liquid detergent composition;
wherein the liquid detergent composition is free of the following components:
(i) builders selected from the group of citric acid and/or salts thereof, and

(ii) enzymes different from proteases, amylases or mannanases.
A liquid detergent composition usable as a partial composition in a detergent kit or detergent dosing system according to claims 1-8, wherein the liquid detergent composition comprises:
(a) two or more enzymes,

(b) at least one anionic surfactant selected from alkylbenzene sulfonic acid (salts), ethoxylated fatty alcohol sulfates, fatty alcohol sulfates, and/or alkyl sulfonates in a total amount of these four between 2 wt.-% and 30 wt.-%, preferably between 6 wt.-% and 22 wt.-%, more preferred between 10 and 20 wt.-% of the liquid detergent composition;

(c) at least one enzyme stabilizing compound comprising formic acid,

(d) optionally an enzyme stabilizing compound selected from ethanol amines, glycerol and/or propylene glycol; and
wherein the liquid detergent composition is free of the following components:
(i) citric acid and/or salts thereof, and

(ii) proteases.
The liquid detergent composition according to claim 10, or the liquid detergent composition according to claim 11, being free of any builder.
The liquid detergent composition according to claim 10 or 12, as far as claim 12 depends on claim 10, further comprising at least one additional anionic surfactant different from alkylbenzene sulfonic acid (salts).
The liquid detergent composition according to claim 11 or 12, as far as claim 12 depends on claim 11, wherein the enzymes present in the composition comprise at least one of cellulases, lipases, mannanases, amylases and/or pectinases.
The liquid detergent composition according to any of claims 11, 12 or 14, as far as claim 12 depends on claim 11, comprising no alkylbenzene sulfonic acid (salts), but only ethoxylated fatty alcohol sulfates, fatty alcohol sulfates, and/or alkyl sulfonates and optionally further fatty acid (salts) as component (b).