CA2233594A1 - Detergent composition containing particulate zeolite builder and lubricant therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

A detergent composition is provided which contains a zeolite builder having a particle size, d50, of less than 1.0 micrometres; and an agent capable of acting as a lubricant for the particulate zeolite builder thereby reducing any abrasive contact of the builder with fabrics when employed in a method of washing laundry.

Description

CA 02233~94 1998-03-30 DETERGENT COMPOSITION CONTAINING PARTICULATE ZEOLITE BUILDER AND
LUBRICANT THEREFOR.
The present invention relates to a detergent composition comprising both a particulate zeolite component having a small particle size as a sequestering agent for water hardness and an agent capable of reducing the abrasive contact of said particulate zeolite with laundry fabrics, when employed in a laundry w~shin~ method.

Detergent compositions for fabric w~hin~ conventionally contain delelge"cy builders which lower the concentration of calcium and magnesium water hardness ions in the wash liquor and thereby provide good detergency effect in both hard and soft water.

Conventionally, inorganic phosphates, such as sodium tripolyphosphate,have been used as builders for laundry detel~ellls. More recently, alkali metal aluminosilicate ion-exchangers, particularly crystalline sodium aluminosilicate zeolite A, have been proposed as replacements for the inorganic phosphates.

For example, EP 21 491A (Procter & Gamble) discloses detergent compositions cont~ining a building system which includes zeolite A, X or P (B) or a mixture thereof. EP 384070A (Unilever) discloses specific zeolite P materials having an especially low silicon to aluminium ratio not greater than 1.33 (hereinafter referred to as zeolite MAP) and describes its use as a detergency builder, optionally with cobuilders.

The Applicants have now surprisingly found that a problem may CA 02233~94 1998-03-30 occur when a water insoluble zeolite having a small particle size, is used as a detergency builder. The problem has been found to be particularly pronounced when the zeolite builder is zeolite MAP.

The choice of a small particle size for a zeolite MAP component, that is to say particles having a particle size, measured as a dso value, of up to 1.0 micrometres has previously been taught to be preferred in the art, as represented, for example, by EP 384070 A. The small particle size can enhance the capacity of the builder to absorb liquid components, which can be advantageous in the preparation of high active zeolite agglomerate particles cont~ining liquid detergent components.

The problem relates to the aforementioned detergent compositions having a marked incompatibility with printed fabrics, particularly printed cotton fabrics. In particular, it has been found that the use of detergent compositions cont~inin~ small particle size zeolite tends to lead to the removal of printed pigment from a printed fabric surface.

The Applicant has surprisingly found that this problem can be ameliorated by the use in the detergent composition of a lubricating agent which is capable of forming a partial or complete lubricant coating on the zeolite particles, thereby reducing their abrasive affect on the surface of the printed cotton fabrics which they come into contact with as the wash proceeds.

The present invention is thus based on the unexpected finding that theprinted fabric care profile of a detergent composition comprising an insoluble zeolite of small particle size and a 'small particle zeolite lubricating agent' is superior to that of comparable compositions not cont~inin~? the zeolite lubricating agent.

This finding allows the formulation of detergent compositions providing both excellent cle~ning and printed fabric care properties on fabrics, especially cotton fabrics.

Whilst the prior art, as represented for example by European Patent CA 02233~94 1998-03-30 Aplications, EP 384070 A, EP 448297 A, EP 522726 A, EP 533392 A, EP
544492 A, EP 552053 A, and EP 552054 A has envisaged the use of various detergent components in combination with zeolite in laundry detergent compositions, none of these prior art documents specifically disclose the use of a lubricating agent with a small particle size zeolite component. Furthermore, none of these prior art documents provides any teaching relating to the small particle size zeolite specific printed fabric care problem addressed by the current invention, nor of any solution thereto involving the use of a zeolite particle lubricating agent.

Thus, the present invention provides a detergent composition suitable for use in a method of w~hin~ soiled fabrics cont~inin~

(a) a surfactant selected from a~ionic, cationic, nonionic, amphoteric and zwitterionic detergent active compounds and mixtiures thereof;

(b) a particulate zeolite builder having a particle size, dso, of less than 1.0 micrometres; and (c) an agent capable of acting as a lubricant for the particulate zeolite builder thereby reducing any abrasive contact of the zeolite builder with said fabrics when employed in said method of w~shin~

In a prefemed embodiment of the invention the zeolite builder compriseszeolite P having a silcon to aluminium ratio of not greater than 1.33 (zeolite MAP).

In a further preferred embodiment the detel~ellt composition according to the invention is formulated to be especially useful in the launderimg of coloured fabrics and preferably is free of bleach. According to another aspect of the invention, the composition is subst~nti~lly free of an optical brightener.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided the use of a detergent composition cont~inin~ a particulate zeolite builder having a particle size, dso, of less than 1.0 micrometres in a method o f CA 02233~94 1998-03-30 W O 97/12953 PCT~US96/14858 washing printed fabrics, particularly printed cotton fabrics, wherein said composition contains an agent capable of acting as a lubricant for said particulate zeolite builder thereby reducing the abrasive contact of the zeolite builder with said printed fabrics.

Surfactant The detergent composition according to the invention contains as an essential component a surfactant selected from anionics, nonionics, zwitterionics, ampholytics and cationics.

The surfactant is preferably present in the detergent compositions at a level of from 1% to 50%, preferably from 3% to 30%, most preferably from 5%
to 20% by weight of the compositions.

Many suitable detergent-active compounds are available and fully described in the literature (for example "Surface Active Agents and Detergents" Volumes I and II by Schwartz, Perry and Berch).

Examples of suitable additional anionic surfactants include anionic slllf~tes, olefin sulphonates, alkyl xylene sulphonates, dialkylsulphosuccinates, and fatty acid ester sulphonates. Sodium salts are generally preferred.

Anionic sulfate surfactant Anionic sulfate surfactants suitable for use herein include the linear and branched primary alkyl sl-lf~tes, alkyl ethoxysulfates, fatty oleoyl glycerol snlf~tes, alkyl phenol ethylene oxide ether sulfates, the Cs-C17 acyl-N-(Cl-C4 alkyl) and -N-(Cl-C2 hydroxyalkyl) gl~lc~mine slllf~tes, and sulfates of alkylpolysaccharides such as the sulfates of alkylpolyglucoside (the nonionic nonsulfated compounds being described herein).

Alkyl ethoxysulfate surfactants are preferably selected from the group consisting of the C6-C 18 alkyl sulfates which have been ethoxylated with CA 02233~94 1998-03-30 W O 97/12953 PCT~US96/14858 from 0.5 to 20 moles of ethylene oxide per molecule. More preferably, the alkyl ethoxysulfate surfactant is a C6-C 18 alkyl sulfate which has been ethoxylated with from O.S to 20, preferably from 0.5 to 5, moles of ethylene oxide per molecule.

Anionic sulfonate surfactant Anionic sulfonate surfactants suitable for use herein include the salts of Cs-C20 linear alkylbenzene sulfonates, alkyl ester sulfonates, C6-C22 primary or secondary alkane sulfonates, C~-C2~ olefin sulfonates, sulfonated polycarboxylic acids, alkyl glycerol sulfonates, fatty acyl glycerol sulfonates, fatty oleyl glycerol sulfonates, and any mixtures thereof.

Nonionic surfactant The nonionic surf~ct~nt is preferably a hydrophobic nonionic surfactant, particularly an alkoxylated nonionic surfactant, having a hydrophilic lipophilic balance (hlb) value of < 9.5, more preferably < 10.5.

Examples of suitable hydrophobic alkoxylated nonionic surfactants include alkoxylated adducts of fatty alcohols cont~inin~ an average of less than S alkylene oxide groups per molecule.

The alkylene oxide residues may, for example, be ethylene oxide residues or mixtures thereof with propylene oxide residues.

Preferred alkylene oxide adducts of fatty alcohols useful in the present invention can suitably be chosen from those of the general formula:

~ R-O-(CnH2nO)yH

wherein R is an alkyl or alkenyl group having at least 10 carbon atoms, most preferably from 10 to 22 carbon atoms, y is from 0.5 to CA 02233~94 1998-03-30 W O 97/12953 PCT~US96/14858 3.5 and n is 2 or 3.

Preferred nonionic surfactants include primary C 11 -C 15 aliphatic alcohols condensed with an average of no more than five ethylene oxide groups per mole of alcohol, having an ethylene oxide content of less than 50% by weight, preferably from 25% to less than 50% by weight.

A particularly preferred aliphatic alcohol ethoxylated is a primary alcohol having an average of 12 to 15 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain condensed with an average of three ethoxy groups per mole of alcohol.

Specific examples of suitable alkoxylated adducts of fatty alcohols are Synperonic A3 (ex ICI), which is a C13-C 15 alcohol with about three ethylene oxide groups per molecule and Empilan KB3 (ex Marchon), which is lauric alcohol 3EO.

Another class of nonionic sufactants comprises alkyl polyglucoside compounds of general formula RO(CnH2nO)tzx wherein Z is a moiety derived from glucose; R is a saturated hydrophobic alkyl group that contains from 12 to 18 carbon atoms; t is from 0 to 10 and n is 2 or 3; x is from 1.1 to 4, the compounds including less than 10% unreacted fatty alcohol and less than 50%
short chain alkyl polyglucosides. Compounds of this type and their use in de~ergent compositions are disclosed in EP-B 0070074, 0070077, 0075996 and 0094118.

Zeolite builder The second essential component of the detergent compositions of the present invention is an aluminosilicate zeolite builder, optionally in CA 02233~94 1998-03-30 W O 97112953 PCT~US9~/14858 conjunction with one or more cobuilders. Such aluminosilicate zeolil:e builders are generally water-insoluble.

The zeolite builder is typically present at a level of from 1% to 80%,more preferably from 15% to 40% by weight ofthe compositions.

Suitable aluminosilicate zeolites have the unit cell fonnula Naz~(A102)z(SiO2)y]. XH2O wherein z and y are at least 6; the molar ratio of z to y is from 1.2 to 0.5 and x is at least 5, preferably from 7.5 to 276, more preferably f~om 10 to 264. ~he aluminosilicate material are in hydrated form and are preferably crystalline, cont~ining f~om 10% to 28%, more preferably from 18% to 22% water in bound form.

The aluminosilicate zeolites can be naturally occurring materials, but are preferably synthetically derived. Synthetic crystalline aluminosilicate ion exchange materials are available under the designations Zeolite A, Zeolite B, Zeolite P, Zeolite X Zeolite MAP, Zeolite HS and mixtures thereof.

Zeolite A has the formula Na 12 ~A1~2) 12 (sio2)l2]. xH2O
wherein x is from 20 to 30, especially 27. Zeolite X has the formula Na86 [(Alo2)86(sio2) 106]- 276 H2O.
Zeolite MAP is described in EP 384070A (Unilever). It is defined as an alkali metal alumino-silicate of the zeolite P type having a silicon to aluminium ratio not greater than 1.33, preferably within the range from 0.9 to 1.33 and more preferably within the range of from 0.9 to 1.2.

Of particular interest is zeolite MAP having a silicon to aluminium ratio not greater than 1.15 and, more particularly, not greater than 1.07.

Zeolite P having a Si:Al ratio of 1.33 or less may be prepared by the CA 02233~94 1998-03-30 W O 97/12953 PCT~US96/14858 following steps:

(i) mixing together a sodium alumin~te having a mole ratio Na2O:A12O3 within the range of from 1.4 to 2.0 and a sodium silicate having a mole ratio SiO2:Na2O within the range of from 0.8 to 3.4 with vigorous stirring at a temperature within the range of from 25~C to boiling point usually 95~C, to give a gel having the following composition; A12O3: (1.75-3.5) SiO2: (2.3-7.5) Na2O :P
(~Q-45Q)H20;
(ii) ageing the gel composition for 0.5 to 10 hours, preferably 2 to 5 hours, at a temperature within the range of from 70~C to boiling point, usually to 95~C, with sufficient stirring to m~int~in any solids present in suspension;

(iii) separating the crystalline sodium aluminosilicate thus formed, w~hing to a pH within the range of from 10 to 12.5, and drying, preferably at a temperature not excee-linp 1 50~C, to a moisture content of not less than S
wt.%.

Preferred drying methods are spray-drying and flash-drying. It appears that oven drying at too high a temperature may adversely affect the calcium binding capacity of the product under certain circum~t~nces.

Commercial sodium metasilicate pentahydrate dissolved in water and commercial sodium silicate solution (waterglass) are both suitable silica sources for the production of zeolite P in accordance with the invention. The reactants may be added together in any order either rapidly or slowly. Rapid addition at ambient temperature, and slow addition at elevated temperature (90-95~C) both give the desired product.

CA 02233~94 1998-03-30 Vigorous stirring of the gel during the addition of the reactants, and at least moderate stirring during the subsequent ageing step, however, appear to be essential for the formation of pure zeolite P. In the absence of stirring, various mixtures of crystalline and amorphous materials may be obtained.

Zeolite MAP generally has a calcium binding capacity of at least 150 mg CaO per g of anhydrous aluminosilcate, as measured by the standard method described in GB 1473201 (Henkel). The calcium binding capaci~y is nor~nally 160 mg CaC~/g and may be 2S high 170 mg CaO/g.

Although zeolite MAP like other zeolites contains water of hydration, for the purposes of the present invention amounts and percentages of zeolite are expressed in terms of the notional anhydrous material.

The amount of water present in hydrated zeolite ~AP at ambient temperature and humidity is generally about 20 wt.%.

The zeolite builder used in the present invention has a particle size dso of less than 1.0 micrometres, preferably from 0.05 to 0.9 micrometres, most preferably from 0.2 to 0.7 micrometres. The dso value indicates that 50%
by weight of the particles have a diameter smaller than that figure. The particle size may be determined by conventional analytical techniques such as, for èxample, microscopic determination utili7in~ a sc~nnin~
electron microscope or by means of a laser granulometer.

Zeolite builder having the required particle size according to the present invention can be prepared by the conventional techniques as described above while adopting one or more of the following steps:-a) decreasing cryst~ tion time;
b) decreasing the size of the seed crystals used to produce the zeolite;
c) screening the zeolite product to remove coarse material.

CA 02233~94 1998-03-30 W O 97/12953 PCTnUS96/14858 '-An article by D. Vucelic, published in Progr Colloid Polymer Science, 1994, Volume 95, pages 14 - 38 describes methods for the synthesis of zeolite particles, and in particular how to influence the particle size characteristics of the zeolites by modification of the synthesis process steps.

~ubricant The detergent compositions contain as an essential component an agent capable 'in use' of acting as a lubricant for the zeolite particles, thereby reducing the abrasive effect associated with the contact of the particles with any fabrics, particularly printed cotton fabrics, in the wash. The agent therefore acts such as to reduce the frictional forces which can arise when the zeolite particles contact any fabric in the wash. One mech~ni~m for such reduction of abrasive frictional contact is for the lubricant 'in use' to partially or completely coat the zeolite particles.

The lubricant should moreover not significantly compromise the ability of the zeolite to provide builder capacity to a wash solution, and is most preferably water soluble. Biodegradable lubricants are preferred.

The zeolite particle lubricant is preferably present at a level of from0.05% to 50%, more preferably from 1% to 20% by weight ofthe detergent composition.

Preferably, the level of incorporation of the lubricant will be selected to be such as to reduce the level of abrasive contact to an acceptable level. A low lubricant to zeolite ratio is preferred from a cost standpoint. In particular, the weight ratio of lubricant to zeolite should be less than 1:3, preferably less than 1:5, more preferably less than 1 :7.

CA 02233~94 1998-03-30 O 97/12953 PCTnJS96/148S8 Suitable zeolite lubricants are preferably polymers which are nonionic in character, particularly those cont~ining a plurality of glycol components.
In particular, fatty alcohol poly(ethylene glycol) ethers of molecular weights of from 400 to 5000 are suitable herein. WO 93/16159 describes particularly suitable fatty alcohol poly (ethylene glycol) ethers which contain from 4 to 7 glycol units. DE ~124247 A similarly describes suitable fatty alcohol poly (ethylene glycol) ethers. DE 3401861 A
describes suitable alkylphenol polyglycol ethers. DE 3444311 A describes suitable isotridecyl polyglycol ethers.

Particulate zeolite colubricants which are based on alcohol ethoxylates, especially those having at least a proportion of branched carbon chains, are also suitable herein, particularly when present in combination with the hereinbefore described glycol cont~ining lubricants. The degree of carbon chain branching is preferably at least 10% by weight, more preferalbly at least 20% by weight. US 5298185 A describes suitable oxo alcohol ethoxylates and their use in detergent compositions in combination with polyethylene glycols.

Additional deter~ent components The detergent composition according to the invention may contain other detergent components such as cobuilders, bleaches, fluorescers, antiredeposition agents, inorganic salts such as sodium sulphate, other enzymes, lather control agents, fabric softening agents, pigments, coloured speckles and perfumes.

Cobuilder In addition to zeolite, the detergent compositions may contain an organic or inorganic cobuilder.

Suitable organic cobuilders can be monomeric or polymeric carboxylates such as citrates or polymers of acrylic, methacrylic CA 02233~94 1998-03-30 W O 97/lZ953 PCT~US96/14858 and/or maleic acids in neutralised forrn. Suitable inorganic cobuilders include carbonates and amorphous and crystalline layered silicates.

Suitable crystalline layered silicates have the composition:

NaMSix02x+l . yH20 where M is sodium or hydrogen, preferably sodium; x is a number from 1.~ to 4; and y is a number ~rom ~ to ~0. Such rnaterials are described in US Patents No.4664839; No.4728443 and No.4820439 (Hoechst AG). Especially preferred are compounds in which x = 2 and y = O. The synthetic material is commercially available from Hoechst AG as ~ -Na2 Si2Os (SKS6) and is described in US Patent No.4664830.

The total amount of detergency builder in the granular composition typically ranges from 10 to 80 wt.%, more preferably from 15 to 60 wt%
and most preferably from 10 to 45 wt.%.

In a highly preferred aspect the level of carbonate builder, that is of inorganic compound capable of releasing carbonate ions into a wash solution, is less than 7% by weight, preferably less than 4% by weight of the detergent composition. High levels of carbonate have been found to further exacerbate the printed cotton fabric abrasion problem. Most preferably the detergent composition is free from carbonate builder.

Bleach Detergent compositions according to the invention may also contain a bleach system. Where present, this preferably comprises one or more peroxy bleach compounds, for example, inorganic persalts or organic peroxyacids, which may be employed in conjunction with bleach precursors to improve bleaching action at low temperatures.

The bleach system preferably comprises a peroxy bleach compound, W O 97/12953 PCTrUS96/14858 preferably an inorganic persalt, optionally in conjunction with a peroxyacid bleach precursor. Suitable persalts include sodium perborate monohydrate and tetrahydrate and sodium percarbonate, with sodium percarbonate being most preferred.

Preferred bleach precursors are peracetic acid precursors, such as tetraacetylethylene ~ mine (TAED); peroxybenzoic acid precursors.

In one preferred aspect, the detergent compositions are free of bleachand of par$icular utili$y in the w~hin~ of loads cont~inin~; brightly coloured fabrics.

CA 02233~94 1998-03-30 W O 97/12953 PCT~US96/14858 Low pH/~lk~linity deter~ent compositions Preferred detergent compositions according to the invention are characterised by having a pH measured as a 1% solution of the detergent composition in distilled water at 25~C of < 10.5, preferably < 10.4, most preferably < 10.3.

It has been found that compositions having a low level of reserve ~lk~linity are advantageous in that they have a further reduced tendency to cause the removal of printed p;gment from printed cotton fabrics. ~eserve ~lk~linity is expressed as g of NaOH per 100 g of composition as deterrnined by acid titration of a sample, as 1% solution in distilled water to a pH of 9.5.
Preferred values of reserve ~lk~linity are ' 8.0 g preferably < 5.0 g, most preferably < 3 .0 g NaOH per 1 00g of composition.

Physical form The detergent composition according to the invention may be of any physical type, for example powders, liquids and gels. However, granular and liquid compositions are preferred.

Makin~ process The detergent compositions of the invention may be prepared by any suitable method. The particulate detergent compositions are suitably prepared by any tower (spray-drying) or non-tower process.

In processes based around a spray-drying tower, a base powder is first prepared by spray-drying a slurry and then other components unsuitable for processing via the slurry can be sprayed on or admixed (postdosed).

The zeolite builder is suitable for inclusion in the slurry, although it may be advantageous for processing reasons for part of the zeolite builder to be incorporated post-tower. The crystalline layered silicate, where this is employed, is also incorporated via a non-tower CA 02233~94 1998-03-30 W O 97/12953 PCTrUS96/14858 process and is preferably postdosed.

Alternatively, particulate detergent compositions in accordance with the invention may be prepared by wholly non-tower processes such as granulation.

The granular detergent compositions of the invention may be prepared to any suitable bulk density. The compositions preferably have a bulk density of at least 400 g/l preferably at least 550 g/l, most preferably at least 700 g/l and, with particular preference at least 800 g/l.

The benefits of the present invention are particularly evident in powders of high bulk density, for example, of 700 g/l or above. Such powders may be prepared either by post-tower densification of spray-dried powder, or by wholly non-tower methods such as dry mixing and granulation; in both cases a high-speed mixer/gr~mll~tor may advantageously be used. Processes using high-speed mixer/gr~n~ tors are disclosed, for example, in EP340 013A, EP 367 339A, EP 390 25 lA and EP 420 317A (Unilever).

The detergent composition of the invention may be formulated as a liquid detergent composition which may be aqueous or anhydrous.
The term "liquid" used herein includes pasty viscous formulations such as gels. The liquid detergent composition generally has a pH of from6.5to 10.5.

The total amount of detergency builder in the liquid composition is preferably from 5 to 70% of the total liquid composition.

Illustrative compositions according to the present invention are presented in the following Examples. In the detergent compositions, the abbreviated component i-len~ifications have the following me~nin~:

24AS : Sodium alkyl sulfate surfactant cont~ining CA 02233~94 1998-03-30 W O 97/12953 PCTAUS96/148~8 predomin~ntly C12 and C14 alkyl chains TAS : Sodium alkyl sulfate surfactant cont~ining predominantly C 16 - C 18 alkyl chains derived from tallow oil.

24AE3S : C12-C14 alkyl ethoxysulfate cont~inin,Q an average of three ethoxy groups per mole 35E3 : A C 13-1 5 alcohol having 10% alkyl chain branching condensed with an average of 3 moles of ethylene oxide 25E3 : A C12-Cls alcohol having 30% alkyl chain branching condensed with an average of 3 moles of ethylene oxide PEG 1 : A C12-C1s primary fatty alcohol condensed with an average of 5 moles of ethylene glycol PEG 2 : A C12-C1s alkylphenol condensed with an average of 5 moles of ethylene glycol Carbonate : Anhydrous sodiumcarbonate Perborate : Sodium perboratetetrahydrate Percarbonate : Sodium percarbonate TAED : Tetra acetyl ethylene ~ mine Silicate : Amorphous Sodium Silicate (SiO2:Na2O ratio norlnally follows) SKS6 : Crystalline layered silicate available from Hoechst AG as SKS6 (tradename) W O 97/12953 PCT~US96/14858 Zeolite MAP : Hydrated sodium aluminosilicate zeolite MAP
having a silicon to aluminium ratio of 1.07 having a particle size, expressed as a dso value, of 0.7 micrometres Zeolite A : Hydrated sodium aluminosilicate zeolite A
having a particle size, expressed as a dso value, of 0.6 micrometres MA/AA : Copolymer of 1:4 maleic/acrylic acid, average molecular weight about 80,000.

Alcalase : Proteolytic enzyme sold under the tradename Alcalase by Novo Industries A/S (approx 1%
enzyme activity by weight) BSA : Amylolytic enzyme sold under the tradename LEl 7 by Novo Industries A/S (approx 1%
enzyme activity) CA 02233~94 1998-03-30 Example 1 The following granular laundry detergent compositions were prepared (parts by weight) in accordance with the invention.

A B C D E

24AS 7.6 6.5 4.8 6.8 TAS - - - - 8.6 24AE3 S 2.4 - 1.2 1.7 25E3 3.26 - - - 6.3 35E3 - 5.0 5.0 5.0 Zeolite MAP 20.0 25.0 25.0 - 16.0 Zeolite A - - - 25.0 15.0 PEG 1 2.0 - 3.0 - 2.0 PEG 2 - 3.0 - 2.0 1.0 SKS6 7.0 5.0 10.0 Carbonate 5.0 3.0 MA/AA 4.25 4.25 4.25 4.25 2.0 Perborate - 16.0 - 16.0 20.0 Percarbonate 20.0 - 20.0 TAED 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 6.7 Alcalase 0.2 0.5 0.3 0.2 0.1 BSA - - 0.1 Protease 0.04 0.08 - 0.05 0.05 Silicate(2.0 4.0 - - 4.0 3.0 ratio) Water and miscellaneous (Including suds suppressor, sodium sulphate, perfume) to balance The detergent compositions A to E according to the invention, which comprise a zeolite particle lubricant ~i.e. PEG 1 or PEG 2), show good results in stain removal and lower printed cotton fabric ~ ge as co~ ed with a composition comprising no zeolite particle lubricant.

Claims (11)

CLAIMS:

1. A detergent composition suitable for use in a method of washing soiled fabrics containing (a) a surfactant selected from anionic, cationic, nonionic, amphoteric and zwitterionic detergent active compounds and mixtures thereof;

(b) a particulate zeolite builder having a particle size, d50, of less than 1.0 micrometers; and (c) an agent capable of acting as a lubricant for the particulate zeolite builder thereby reducing any abrasive contact of the zeolite builder with said fabrics when employed in said method of washing.

2. A detergent composition according to claim 1, wherein the zeolite builder has a particle size d50 of from 0.05 to 0.9 micrometres.

3. A detergent composition according to either of claims 1 or 2, wherein the zeolite builder comprises zeolite P having a silicone to aluminium ratio of not greater than 1.33 (zeolite MAP).

4. A detergent composition according to claim 3, wherein the zeolite MAP has a silicon to aluminium ratio not greater than 1.15.

5. A detergent composition according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which comprises from 1 to 80% by weight of the zeolite builder.

6. A detergent composition according to any of claims 1 to 5, which comprises lubricant at a weight ratio of lubricant to zeolite builder of less than 1:3.

7. A detergent composition according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the lubricant is a nonionic polymeric compound containing a plurality of glycol components.

8. A detergent composition according to any of claim 7, wherein the lubricant comprises a fatty alcohol poly(ethylene glycol) ether having a molecular weight of from 400 to 5000.

9. A detergent composition according to claim 8 wherein the composition comprises a fatty alcohol ethoxylate as a colubricant.

10. A detergent composition according to claim 9, wherein the fatty alcohol ethoxylate has a degree of carbon chain branching of at least 10% by weight.

11. The use of a detergent composition containing a particulate zeolite builder having a particle size, d50, of less than 1.0 micrometres in a method of washing printed fabrics, particularly printed cotton fabrics, wherein said composition contains an agent capable of acting as a lubricant for said particulate zeolite builder thereby reducing the abrasive contact of the zeolite builder with said printed fabrics.