CA2073445A1 - Liquid bleach composition - Google Patents

Abstract

A ready to use liquid detergent composition comprising an aqueous base, a bleach material, from 2-60 % by weight of detergent active materials and an alkali metal silicate material.

Description

- LIOUID BLEACH COMPOSITION

The present invention relates to a liquid detergent composition comprising an aqueous base, detergent active materials and a bleach material.

It has been proposed in EP 293 040 (P&G) to formulate liquid det2rgent compositions comprising a perborate bleach material and a water-soluble solvent system to increase the stability of the bleach ln the aqueous phase. Similar solvents in combina~ion with bleaches are proposed in EP 294 904 tP&G).

In formulating liquid aqueous detergent compositions ; 15 comprising a bleach material, we have noted that bleach instability problems sometimes occur. Although not yet fully understood this instability is believed to be caused by the solubilisation of the bleach materials in the aqueous phase, followed by the decomposition of the dissolved bleach 20 materials.

Surprisingly it has now been found that stable bleach containing liquid aqueous detergent compositions can be formulated, provided that said compositions also comprise a specific silicate stabilising material.

Accordingly, the present invention relates a liquid detergent composition comprising an aqueous base containing from 10-30%
by weight of detergent active materials, from 1-40% by weight of a solid particuIate peroxygen bleach material and from 0.4 to 5 % by weight of alkali metal silicate material, preferably a disillcate mat~rial.
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bleach material Compositions according to the present invention comprise a bleach material, which is preferably a peroxygen bleach. This bleach component may be present in the system in dissolved form, but preferred is that only part of the peroxygen bleach is solubilized, the remaining part preferably being present as solid pero~- gen particles which are suspended _n the system.
i0 Examples of suitable bleach compounds include the perborates, persulfates, peroxy disulfates, perphosphates and the crystalline peroxyhydrates formed by reacting hydrogen peroxide with urea or alkali metal carbonate. Also encapsulated bleaches may be used. Preferred bleaches are only partially soluble in the system. Especially preferred is the use of perborate or percarbonate bleaches.
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The bleach component is preferably added in an amount corresponding to 0.1 to 15% by weight of active oxygen, more preferred from 0.5 to 10% active oxygen, typically from 1.0 to 5.0% active oxygen. Typical amounts of bleach will be between 1 and 40 % by weight of the aqueous composition, more preferred from 7 to 30%, especially preferred from 10 to 25 %
by weight of the composition.

silicate material Compositions of the invention also comprise an alXali metal silicate material. Suitable silicate materials are for example sodium and potassium silicates, for example sodium metasilicate and sodium disilicates. The use of alkali metal disilicates is preferred.

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Although not yet fully understood it is believed that the alkali metal silicate material can have two functions, firstly it prevents the solubilisation of the bleach material, therewith minimizing the amount of instable dissolved bleach and secondly it retards the decomposition of the dissolved bleach materials.

The level of alkali metal silicate material is pre~erably from 0.4 to 5 %.

detergent actlve materials Compositions of the present invention also comprise detergent active materials. Surprisingly it has been ~ound that a combination of bleach materials and alXali metal silicate materials is suitable for use in ready to use aqueous liquid detergent compositions.
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In the widest definition thé detergent active materials in general, may comprise one or more surfactants, and may be selected from anionic, cationic, nonionic, zwitt~rionic and amphoteric species, and (provided mutually compatible) mixtures thereof. For example, they may be chosen from any of the classes, sub-classes and speciric materials described in "Surface Active Agents" Vol. I, by Schwartz & Perry, I~terscience 1949 and "Surface Active Agents" Vol. II by Schwartz, Perry & Berch (Interscience 1958), in the current ; ~ edition of "McCutcheon's Emulsifiers & Detergents" published by the McCutcheon division of Manufacturing Confectioners Company or in Tensid-Taschenburch", H. Stache, 2nd Edn., :

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P~/EP91 /00258 ',~

Carl Hanser Verlag, Munchen & Wien, 1981.

SuitablP nonionic surfactants include, in particular, the raaction ~roducts of compounds having a hydrophobic yroll ~.d a r~a5-'clv~ hydrogen atom, for example aliphaiic alconols, acids, amides or alkyl phenols with alXylen~ oxid2s, especially ethylene oxide either alone or with propylene o~ide. Specific nonionic detergent compounds aro al~yl (C5-cl8) primary or secondary lo linear or ~ranched alcohols with ethylene oxide, and prod1lcts m~de ~y condensation of ethylene oxide with the reaction ~ oducts of propyl2ne oxide and ethylenedi~mineO ~her ~o-called nonionic detergent compounds includQ long chain tertiary amine oxides, long 15 chain tertiary phosphine oxides and dialXyl sulphoxides.

Also possible is the use of salting out resistant active materials, such as for example described in EP 328 177, especially the use of alkyl poly glycoside surfactants, 20 such as for example disclosed in EP 70 074.

Suitable anionic surfactants are usually water-soluble alkali metal salts of organic sulphates and sulphonates having alXyl radicals containing from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms, the term alkyl being used to include the alkyl portion of higher acyl radicals. Examples of suitable synthetic anionic detergent compounds are sodium and potassium alkyl sulphates, especially those o~tained by sulphating higher (C8-C18) alcohols produced for exa~ple from taIlow or coconut oil, sodium and potassiùm alkyl (Cg-C20) henzene sulphonates, particularly sodium linear secondary alky~ (C10-Cl5) benz~ne sulphonates; sodium alkyl glyceryl ether sulphatPs, espPrially those ethers of the higher ~i~ 35 alcohols derived Irom tallow or coconut oil and synthetic alcohols derived from petroleum; sodium coconut oil fatty monoglyceride sulphates and acid esters of higher (C8-Cl8) fatty alcohol-alkylene oxide, particularly ethylene oxide, reaction products; the reaction products of fa-tty acids such as coconut fa~t~ acids esterified with isethionic acid and neutralised with sodium hydroxide;
sodium and potassium salts or fatty acid amides of methyl taurine; alkane monosulphonates such as those derived by reacting alpha-oleIins (C8-C20) with sodium _isulphite and those derived from reacting paraffins with S02 and C12 and then hydrolysing with a base to produce a random sulphonate; and olefin sulphona~es, r~/hich cerm is used to desc_ibe the material made by reacting olefins, particularly C10-C20 alpha-olefins, with S03 and tnen neutralising and hydrolysing the reaction product. The preferred anionic detergent compounds are sodium (C11-C~ 5! alkvl benzene sulphonatQs and sodium or : 15 potassium primary (C10-Cl8) alkyl sulphates.
~: , It is also possible, and sometimes preferred, to include an alkali metal soap of a fatty acid, especially a soap of an acid having from 12 to 18 carbon atoms, for example oleic acid, ricinoleic acid! and fatty acids derived from castor oil, alkylsuccinic acid, rapeseed oil, groundnut.oil, coconut oil, palmkernel oil or mixtures thereof. The sodium or potassium soaps of these acids can be used.

~ 25 The total detergent active material will be present at from ; 10~ to 30~ by weight o~ th- total composition.

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PCT/EP91/00~58 ~J- 6 optional inqradients Composltions of ths in~ention may be un-structured (iso.~ ? ~) o^. s-rlc'u-edO St~lc!ur2d liguids of the invent~on ma-y be inLernally structured whereby the structuro is -o~od by chs detergent active materials in the composltion or ~2xtocnally structured, whereby the struc4urs io pro~id-d by an ext~rnal structurant.
Pr~3~2~a~li CCmpOSi~iOils Ol~ the invention are internally uc~u-~
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SomP 5f th2 d-~f~r~nt ';in1s of active-structuring which ar2 pOooi~12 are descri~2d in the reference H.A. Barnes, ~` 15 "Detergants", Ch.2. in K. ~alters (Ed), "Rheometry:
Indust~ial Applications", J. ~iley & Sons, Letchworth 1980. In general, the degree of ordering of such systems increases with increasing surfactant and/ox electrolyte concentrations. At very low concentrations, the surfactant can exist as a molecular solution, or as a solution of spherical micelles, both of these being ; isotropic. With the addition of further surfactant and/or alectroly~e, ~tructured (antisotropic) systems can form. They are referred to respectively, by various terms such as rod-micelles, planar lamellar structures, lamellar droplets and liquid crystalline phases. Often, different workers have used different terminology to refer to the structures which are really the same. For instance, in European patent specification EP-A-151 884, lamellar droplets are called "spherulites". The presence and identity of a surfactant structuring system in a liquid may be determined by means known to those skilled in the art for example, optical techniques, various rheometrical measurements, x-ray or neutron diffrac,ion, and som2ti~2s, el~ctron microscopy.
; -When the compositions are of lamellar droplet structure then in many cases it is preferred for the aqueous continuous phase to contain dissolved electrolyte. As used herein, the tsrm electrol~te means any ionic water soluble material. However, in lamPllar dispersions, not all the alectrolyte is n~cessa-- ly rl issol-ied '~U~ m2y .'~e suspended as particles of solid becauss the total electrolyte concsntration of the liquid is higher -than the solubility limit of the electrolyt2. '~lixtures of electrolytes also may be used, with one or more of ~he ~lectrolytss ~eing in the dissol~led a~l2ous phas2 and one or more ~eing substantia' y o-li n ~ _ su3per.ded solid phase. Two or more el~ctroly'es may also be distributed approximately proportionally, ~etw~-~n these two phases. In part, this may depend on processing, e.g.
the order of addition of components. On the other hand, the term "salts" includes all organic and inorganic materials which may be included, other than surfactants and water, whether or not they are ionic, and this term encompasses the sub-set of the electrolytes (water soluble materials).

The selection of surfactant types and their proportions, in order to obtain a stable liquid with th~ required structure will be fully within the capability of those skilled in the art. However, it can be mentioned that an important sub-class of useful compositions is those where the detsrgent active material comprises blends of different surfactant types. Typical blends us2ful for fabric washing compositions include those where the primary surfactant(s) comprise nonionic and~or a non-alkoxylated anionic and/or an alkoxylated anionic surfactant.

In the case of blends of surfactants, the precise proportions of each component which will result in such stability and viscosity will de~end on the type(s) and amount(s) of the electrolytes, as is the case with : ~'` ' ~' ' ~", ' .
~ : -7? I j -PCr/EP91/0~?~8 conventional structured liquids.

Prefera~ 7 though, the composltions contain from 1% to S0%, especial'y ~cm 10 t3 ~5`'~' 3f a salting-out ', 5 ~12c~ _, S~ ,7~ s th~ ~aning ascribed to in specification EP-A-79 646, that is salting-out el~c_~o'~yt~s haYe a lyotropic number of less than 9.5. Op~ ionally~ ome saltlng-in electrolyte (as defined in -'_ha lat-t a_ spaci-ic2~-ion) may also be included, p~o~id~d it is o^ a '.r.~.nd and in an amollnt compa b'~-lith -'h_ ~'he- -smpone-.-'s ar.d the composition is still n accordanc~ r,~ ~h ~h~ clefinition of the ~'~, invention clai~ed~he;-~in. S0~2 or all of the ~lectrolyte (whether sal~ing-in o~ salting-out), or any substantially T~atPr insoluble salt which may be present, ' ~ may have detergency builder properties. In any event, it is preferred that compositions according to the present in~ention include detergency ~uilder material, some or all of which may be electrolyte. The builder material is any capable of reducing the level of free calcium ions ,~ in the wash liquor and will preferably provide the composition with other beneficial properties such as the generation of an al~a'ine p~, the ~uspension of soil removed from the fabric and the dispersion of the fabric softening clay matexial. Preferably the salting-out electroIyte comprises citrat~.
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~, ' Examples of phosphorous-containing inorganic detergency builders, ~hen present, include the water-soluble salts, ~'' 30 especially alkali metal pyrophosphates, orthophosphates, polyphosphates and phosphonates. Specific examples of inorganic phosphate builders include sodium and potassium tripolyphosphates, phosphates and hexametaphosphates. Phosphonate sequestrant builders may also be used.

Examples of non-phosphorus-containing inorganic ~ .
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WO91~12307 ~"~ r ~ ;Y~T/EP91/00258 9 - .
detergency builders, when present, include water-soluble alXali metal carbonates, bicarbonates, silicates and crystalline and amorphous aluminosilicates. Specific examples include sodium carbonate (~ith or ~ithout calcite seeds), potassi7l~ c2 ~o~.a~a, ~o~ n,~
potassium bicarbonates and z~olitas.

In the cont2xt of inorganic builders, W2 ora~r to include electrolytes which promote the solubility o~
other ~l~ctrolytes, for example usa or po~a3sium salts to promot_ the solubility of sodlum salts. Th~r~b~I, the amount of dissolved elsctrol~t can b~ inc-eased considPrably (crystal dissolutlon) as dasc~lbed in UK
~; ~ patent specification GB l 302 ~i3.
Examples of organic detergency builders, ~hen present, include the alkaline metal, ammonium and substituted a~monium polyacetates, carboxylates, polycarboxylates, polyacetyl carboxylates and polyhydroxysulphonates.
Specific examples include sodium, potassium, lithium, ammonium and substituted ammonium salts of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, nitrilitriacetic acid, o~ydisuccinic acid, CNOS, TMS, TDS, melitic acid, benzene polycar~oxylic acids and citric acid.
Preferably the l~vel of non-soap builder material is from 0-50% by weight of the composition, more preferred from 5-40%, most preferred lO-35%.

In the context of organic builders, it is also desirable to incorporate polymers which are only partly dissolved, ; in the aqueous continuous phase as described in EP
301.882. This allows a viscosity reduction (due to the polymer which is dissol~ad) ~hilst incorporating a sufficiently high amount to achievs a secondar~ ~enerit, especially building, because the part ~hich is not dissolved does not bring about the instability that .

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WO91/12307 ~ .~,"`~` ~
";~ 5,,~ PCI/EP91/110.~8 would occur if substantially all were dissolved. Typical amounts are rrom 0.5 to 4.5% by weight.

It is furtr.er poss~31~ -to include ln the compositions of S tho ?~-~S~ r~ ~,~ Y~ ldltion to the partly âisio7v~d polym~r, ye~ another polymer which ; is su'3stantially ~otal~ ,olu~l~ in tne aoueous phase -and has an ~l~ct~o'yt~ _~sis~ance or mo:^2 th2n S grams sodium ni_,ilot_iaceta~2 in 100ml of a 5% by ~eight aqueous solution Or r'1e PO1~,r~er~ said serond 301ymer also h2.~ g a ~JaP'`jU p'-eSS-i.'.--'' 'nn ~0~ a~eOU.S 501~1tiOI1~ .
equal to or lesg tnan ';he vapou~ pressure OL a reference 2% by ~ t or ~ 7~ a~7~ 7~s ~o~ 7 on ~r po~ t~ylene glycol having an avs-rage ~oi~cul-tr w2ignl or 6000; said second polymer having a mol~ct~lar weight of at least 1000. Use of such polym2rs is generally described in our EP 301,883. Typical levels are from 0.5 to 4.5% by weight.

~he viscosity of compositions according to the present is preferably less than 1,500 mPa.s, more preferred less ` than 1,000 mPa.s, especially preferred between 30 and 900 mPa.s at 21 5-1, One way of regulating the viscosity and stability of compositions ac~ording to the present invention is to include viscosity regulating polymeric materials.

Viscosity and/or stability regulating polymers which are preferred for incorporation in compositions according to the invention include deflocculating polymers having a hydrophilic bac~bone and at least one hydrophobic side chain. Such polymers are for lnstanc2 described in our copending European applicatlon r~ 89201530 . 6 (EP 346 9g5).

; Deflocculation polymers for use in detergent ,, ' '' ::
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formulations according to the present invention may be of anionic, nonionic or cationic nature. Anionic deflocculating polymers are preferred.

The hydrophilic bac~bon2 of the pol~r~er is typic211l a homo-, co- or ter-polymer containing carboxylic acid groups (or more preferably) salt forms thereof), e.g.
maleat~ or acrylate polymers or co-polymsrs o r ch~s2 together or with other monomer units such as vinyl ethers, styrene atc. The hydropho~ic chain or chains typically are sel2cted from saturated ~rd unsat~tr~'cod alkyl chains, e.g. having from 5 to ~4 ca~bon atoms and are optionally bonded to the bac~bonP via an al'~o.~lene or polyalkoxylene linkage, for example a polyechoxy, polypropoxy or butyloxy (or mixtures of same) linkage having from 1 to 50 alkoxylene groups. Thus, in some forms, the side chain(s) will essentially have the character of a nonionic surfactant. Preferred anionic polymers are disclosed in our copending European patent application EP 89201530.6 (EP 346 995).
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Preferably the amount of viscosity regulating polymer is from 0.1 to S% by weight of the total composition, more preferred from 0.2 to 2%.
Compositions of the invention may also comprise - materials for adjusting the pH. For lowering the pH it is preferred to use wea~ acids, especially the use of organic acids is preferred, more preferred is the use of C 1-8 carboxylic acids, most preferred is the use of citric acid. The use of these pH lowering agents is especially preferred when the compositions of the invention contain enzymes such as amylases, proteases and lipolases.
Apart from the ingredients already mentioned, a number of optional ingredients may also be present, for example ~' .
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lather boosters such as alkanolamides, particularly the monoethanolamides derived from palm kernel fatty acids and coconut fatty acids, fabric softeners such as clays, amines and amine oxides, lather depressants, inorganic salts such as sodium sulphate, and, usuall~ pres2nt in very mlnor amounts, fluorescent agents, perfumes, germicides colourants and enzymes such as proteases, cellulases, amylases and lipases (including Lipolase (Trade. Mar~) ex Novo). Suitable examples of protease enzymes are Savinase~ (ex Novo), Maxacal~ (Gist-Brocades), Opticlean~ (ex MKC) or AP122~ (ex ShoT,7a Denko), Alcalase~, Maxatase~, Esperase~, Optimase3, proteinase K and subtilisin BPN. Suitable lipases are .: for example Lipolase~ (ex Novo), Amano l pases, ~eito lipases, Lipozym~, SP 225, SP 285, Toyo Jozo lipase.
Suitable amylases are for example Termamyl~ (TM of Novo) and Maxamyl~. Suitable cellulases include Celluzym~ (ex : Novo).
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Compositions of the invention preferably comprise from 10 -80 % by weight of water, more preferably-~from 15-60%, most preferably from 20-50 %.

Liquid detergent compositions according to the invention are preferably physically stable in that they show less than 2% by volume phase separation upon storage for 21 days after preparation at 25C.

~ Liquid detergent compositions according to the invention are:preferably volume stable in that they show less than : 25% preferably less than 10%, more preferably less than 5% volume increase during storage at a temperature between 20 and 37C for a period of three months after preparation.
For obtaining good volume stability, preferably the compositions according to the present invention also ~ . comprise a second stabilising agent for the bleach :
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~., . ~ , component. Suitable stabilisers are well-known in art and include EDTA, Magnesium silicates and phosphonates such as for instance the Dequest~ range ex Monsanto and Naphthol~ ex Merck. Preferably the amount of these stabilising agents is from 0.05 to 5 % b~ ~"eight of -the composition, more preferred from 0.05 to 1% of the composition.

Compositions of the present invention may comprise one or more bleach precursor agents. A well-known example o.
such an agent is TAED. Preferably the bleach precursor agent is present in the system in at least partly undissolved form. One way of ensuring that the precursor is present in undissolved form is to increase the amount of electrolyte in the composition, therewith reducing the solubility of the precursor in the system. Suitable eIectrolytes for this purpose are for instance the at least partially water soluble carbonate, sulphate and halogenide salts.
In use the detergent compositions of the inve~tention will be diluted with wash water to form a wash liquor for instance for ùse in a washing machine. The concentration of liquid detergent composition in the ; 25 wash liquor is preferably from 0.05 to 10 %, more preferred from 0.1 to 3% by weight.

To ensure effective detergency, the liquid detergent compositions preferably are alkaline, and it is preferred that they should provide a pH within the range of about 7.0 to 12, preferably about 8 to about 11, when used in aqueous solutions of the composition at the recommended concentration. To meet this requirement, the undiluted liquid composition should preferably be of a pH above 7, for example about pH 3.0 to about 12.5. It should be noted that an excessively high pH, e.g. over about pH 13, is less desirable for domestic safety. If .:
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~: , WO91~12307 ~ 14 PC~/EP91/00~8 hydrogen peroxide is present in the liquid composition, then the pH is generally from 7.5 to lO.5, preferably 8 to lO, and especially 8.5 to lO, to Pnsure th~ combin2d effect of good detergency and good physical and ~hemj~al S sta~iliLy. The ing.odi2n.s -n any saoh h ~:~.", ~.'';~'.-n~
detergent composition should, of cours2, be c~.0~2n for alkaline stability, especially .~or p~-~ensi~_' `i3' materials such as enzymes, ancl a partioula~ uitabl~
proteolytic enzyme. The p~ may be adj~s.2d by addLcio~
of a suitable alXaline or acid ma~ ial.

Compositions according to the invent~on may bQ prQ~ared by any method for the pre3a.ation of 'i~uid d~te-ge~,t compositions. ~ preferred ~athod in-~olve~ e a~A ' t~Ol~
of the alXali metal silicate to water, which optionally comprises one or more of the other ingredients of the formulation. The bleach materials are preferably added as a pre-dispersion .
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The invention will now be illustrated by way of the following Examples. In all Examples, unless stated to the contrary, all percentages are by weight.
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WO91/12307 2~ ~ 3 'i ~1 ~ PCT/EP91/00258 Example I
The following composition was prepared by adding the ingredients in the listed order to water:
-Inqredient (wt ~arts~ _ A B
Na disilicate 0.5 --Na perborate .~ H20 49.5 55 watar 40 40 dissol~red blsach1~ 1.9 2.1 half lif2 time in days at 37C 352) <<1 decompos~d bleach3) 0.027 >1.65 1) wt % of dissolved perborate in isolated electrolyte phase at t=0, and at room temperature 2) extrapolated.

3) in weight-% of the total bleach in the isolated electrolyte phase after 1 day.
Composition A had a pH of about ll and contained about 1.9 % by weight of the bleach matexial in solubilised form, the half-life time of the bleach at 37C was 35 days. Composition B had a pH of about 9.8 and contained about 2.1 ~ by weight of the bleach material in solubilised form. The half-life time of the dissolved bleach was significantly less than 1 day.

This example clearly illustrates that alkali metal disilicates can advantageously be used for the stabilisation oi bleach.

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Example II

The following liquid detergent compositions may be Eormulat2d by addiny the ingredients to water in the listed order:

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Inqredl~nL Basic formulation (~ wt) Na ~OBS 8.5 8.5 7.5 7.5 4.3 Synper3nic~ A7 2.0 2.0 3.0 3.0 6.0 Na oleats 2.7 10.8 8.1 10.8 --Glycerol 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 Na-disilicate . 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 Na-perborate.4H20 15 10 12 10 20 Polymer *) 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.5 2.0 water ------- up to 100 ~

*) Polymer A-2 as described in EP 89201530.6 : (EP 346 995)- ~

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Exam~le III

The following compositions were made by adding the electrolyte together with the minor ingredients except for t~e pe~ me and the enzymes to water o~ elevated temperature, followed by the addition of the deflocculating polymer and then the detergent active materials as a pre-mix under stirring and thereafter ~: cooling the mixture and adding the enzymes and the perfumes.

INGREDIEN~ !~wt) A 3 C D
- NaLas 21 21 21 21 Synperonic~ ~7 9 ~ 9 9 Na-disilicate 1 4 1 4 Na-citrate 2aq 10.3 10.3 10.3 10.3 Dequest~ 2060S(100%) 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 Perborate tetra 20 20 20 20 Alcalase~ 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.75 caC12 2H2 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.15 Tinopal~ CBS-X 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1' .: Silicon DB 100 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25 Perfume 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 `. polymer water <-~ balance ~ ->
' p~ - g 9 11 11 ~ .
The perborate was added-as a 65 % predispersion in water ~ (Proxsol~ ex ICI), the polymer was a deflocculating ; 30 polymer described as A44 in EP 3A6 995, the pH was ' adjusted, if necessary, with citric acid.

The viscosity of the products ~as measured in mPa.s at .~: 215-1; the volume stability was determined by measuring . 35 the maximum volume increase during storage of three months at ambient temperature; the physical stability was determined by checking the phase separation and solid ~3U881rll'lJ~ ~ r7"

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_ PCT/EP~1/0~58 sedimentation upon storage; the Bleach stability indicates the percentage of bleach left after storage of 4 weeks at 37 C. The following results were obtained:

~ a C D
Viscosi~y 1230 4830 1250 4870 Volume staD. o% >14% 0~ 0%
Physical sta~.
-phase sep. <~ stable ------>
-solid sed. <------ stable ------>
Bleach stab. 93% 95% 92% 90%

These results indicate that good bleach stability can be ; obtained -~hen using an alkali metal disilicate in combination with Lleach.

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Claims (5)

1. A liquid detergent composition comprising an aqueous base containing from 10-30% by weight of detergent active materials, from 1-40% by weight of a solid particulate peroxygen bleach material and from 0.4 to 5 % by weight of alkali metal silicate material.

2. A liquid detergent composition according to claim 1, wherein the bleach material is selected from the group consisting of perborate and percarbonate bleaches.

3. A liquid detergent composition according to claim 1, wherein the alkali metal silicate material is an alkali metal disilicate.

4. A liquid detergent composition according to claim 1, comprising from 7-30% by weight of said bleach material.

5. A liquid detergent composition according to claim 1, comprising 5-50% by weight of a non-soap builder material.