CA2337408C - A multi-phase detergent tablet - Google Patents

Abstract

A multi-phase detergent tablet for use in a washing machine, the tablet comprising: a first phase comprising alkalising agent, and a second phase comprising acidifying agent, and wherein the multi-phase tablet has an initial pH of at least 9, preferably at least 9.5 and a pH rate change index (.DELTA.pH) of no more than about 0.15 units/min.
Preferred are multi-phase detergent tablets wherein the alkalising agent is a silicate or mixture of silicates, especially a sodium silicate of the crystalline layered variety; while the acidifying agent is part of a (bi)carbonate/acid effervescent couple which acts as disrupting agent for the tablet. The multi-phase detergent tablets have improved pH
control, cleaning and enzyme performance together with excellent product strength, integrity and dissolution characteristics.

Description

H MII~TI~pgASB DBTSRf~SNT TAHLCT
The present invention relates to mufti-phase dctecgent tablets. In particular, it relates to mufti-phase detergent tablets having improvtd pH control, cleaning and enzyme performance together with excellent product sh~ength, integrity and dissolutiaa characteristics.
Detergent compositions in tablet form are known in the art. It is u~derscood that detergent compositions in tablet form hold several advarttagcs over detergeti<
compositions in particulate form, such as case of dosing. handling, truosportatia~n and stotagC.
Detergetrt tabkta are most commonhr prepared by pre-mixing compote of a dent composition and forming the pne-mixed detergent components into a tablet using any suitable equipaneut, ptefeisbly a tablet press. 'tablets are typlcaliy formed by compression of the cod of the desargest composition sa fleet the tablets produced are scWciently robust to be abler to withstand handl;rg and traa~porigtioa without sustaining damage. In addition to being robust, tablets must also dissolve sufytcieatly fast so that the detetgcm compote are ieka,sed into the wash water as soon as possible at the beginning of the wash cydc.
How~cvcr, a dichotomy exists is that as compression force is increased, the rate of dissolution of the tablets is slower_ The precast imrentian thetsfore sales to fud a balance between tablet robustness and tablet dissolution.
Solutions to thin problem, as seen in the prior atrt, have inchxled compretsiag the tablets with low compression pressure. However tablets made ip this way, although having a fast relative dissolution rate, tend to crumble, becoming damaged and unacceptable to the consu~r. Other solutions have included preparing tablets using a high relative compression pres~ur, in order to achieve the required level of rodusmcss, and comprising a dissolution aid, such as an effervescent agent.

WO 00/041 ! 7

2 Mufti-phase detergent tablets described in the prior art are prepared by compressing a first composition in a tablet press to form a substantially planar first Layer. A further detergent composition is then delivered to the tablet press on top of the first layer. This second composition is then compressed to form another substantially planar second layer. Thus the first layer is generally subjected to more than one compression as it is also compressed during the compression of the second composition. Typically the first and second compression forces are in the same order of magnitude. The Applicant has found that where this is the case, because the compression. force must be sufficient to bind the first and second compositions together, the force used in both the first and second compression steps must be in the range of from about 4,000 to about 20,000 kg (assuming a tablet cross-section of about 10 cmz). - A consequence of this is a slower rate of tablet dissolution. Other mufti-phase tablets exhibiting differential dissolution are prepared such that the second layer is compressed at a lower force than the first layer.
However, although the dissolution rate of the second layer is improved, the second layer is soft in comparison to the first Layer and is therefore vulnerable to damage caused by handling and transportation.
There is a further aspect of the hardness/dissolution dichotomy that particularly applies to tablet compositions containing acid-based effervescent or disrupting agents.
Thus, improved dissolution can be achieved by incorporating an effervescent (bi)carbonate/acid couple in amounts sufficient to lead to rapid disruption of the detergent tablet, but the higher the level of effervescent agent and the faster the dissolution of the tablet, the worse the pH control, cleaning and enzyme performance during the vital first four or five minutes of the wash. In a fixed cycle washing machine, it is important to achieve the optimum pH for cleaning and enzyme performance as rapidly as possible, especially when the detergent contains enzymes of high specificity.
Applicant has now discovered that this can be achieved by the use of a mufti-phase detergent tablet incorporating certain alkalising and acidifying agents and formulated to provide rapid dissolution in automatic dishwashing or laundry washing machine.
The present invention thus provides a mufti-phase detergent tablet having improved pH
control, cleaning and enzyme performance together with excellent product strength, integrity and dissolution characteristics.

WD 00104117 PCTIUS99l15491

3 Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a mufti-phase detergent tablet for use in a washing machine, the tablet comprising a first phase comprising alkalising agent, and a second phase comprising acidifying agent, and wherein the multi-phase tablet has an initial pH of at least 9, preferably at least 9.3, more preferably at least 9.5 and a pH rate change index (~pH) of no more than about 0.17, preferably no more than about 0.16, more preferably no more than about 0.15 and especially no more than about 0.14 units/min.
Preferred herein are mufti-phase detergent tablets wherein the alkalising agent is a silicate or mixture of silicates, preferably including at least a sodium silicate of the crystalline layered variety; while the acidifying agent (sometimes herein referred to simply as 'acid') is part of a (bi)carbonate/acid effervescent couple which acts as disrupting agent for the tablet.
Thus, according to a another aspect of the invention, there is provided a mufti-phase detergent tablet for use in a washing machine, the tablet comprising a) a first phase comprising silicate alkalising agent includiing at least a crystalline layered sodium silicate of general formula I
NaMSix02x+I ~YH2~
wherein M is sodium or hydrogen, x is a number from 1.9 to 22, preferably from 1.9 to 4 and y is a number from 0 to 30, preferably from 0 to 20, and b) a second phase comprising a (bi)carbonate/acid disrupting agent, and wherein the mufti-phase tablet has an initial pH of at least 9, preferably at least 9.5 and a pH rate change index (apH) of no more than about 0.1? units/min, preferably no more than about O. I S units/min.
In preferred embodiments, the mufti-phase detergent tablets of the invention contain silicate alkalising agent and acid in a weight ratio of at least about 1:1, preferably at least about 5:1, and more preferably in the range from about 8:1 to about 25:1, this being preferred from the viewpoint of optimum pH control and clleaning performance.

wo oo/o4i i 7

4 Thus, according at a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a mufti-phase detcrgent tablet for use in a washing machine, the tablet .comprising a) a first phase comprising silicate alkalising agent including at least a crystalline layered sodium silicate of general formula I
NaMSix02x+1 ~YH2~ I
wherein M is sodium or hydrogen, x is a number from 1.9 to 22, preferably from 1.9 to 4 and y is a number from 0 to 30, preferably from 0 to 20, and b) a second phase comprising a (bi)carbonate/acid disrupting agent, and wherein the tablet contains silicate alkalising agent and acid in a weight ratio of at Least about 1:1, preferably at least about 5:1.
Unless otherwise specified, all proportions and ratios herf;in are on an 'as-used' weight basis, i.e., including any water of hydration if added in hydrate form.
In preferred mufti-phase detergent tablets, the silicate alkalising agent comprises at least about 25%, preferably at least about 50% and more preferably at least about 75% by weight thereof of the crystalline layered sodium silicate oif general formula I and is present in an amount of from about 1% to about 25%, preferably from about 5%
to about 20%, more preferably from about 8% to about 18% by weight of the tablet. The acid, on the other hand, generally comprises from about 0.1 % to about 10%, preferably from about 0.5% to about 5%, more preferably from about 0.8°ro to about 3%
of acid by weight of the tablet. The tablets are preferably essentially free of silicate of the metasilicate variety.
The mufti~phase detergent tablets comprise two or more phases (additional phases sometimes being referred to herein as 'optional subsequent phases'), a first phase comprising an alkalising agent and a second phase comprising an acidifying agent, the compositions, relative proportions and dissolution kinetics of the phases being preferably such as to provide an initial pH of at least about: 9, more preferably at least about 9.3, and especially at least about 9.5, and a pH rate change index (OpH) of no more than about 0.17, preferably no more than about 0.16, more preferably no moe than about 0.15, and especially no more than about 0.14 units/rnin. The pH profile of the detergent tablets herein is generally measured in an automatic washing machine in the presence of a conventional soil load, the initial pH herein being taken to be the pH of the S
wash medium at 1 minute after the start of dissolution and. the pH rate change index being taken to be the average pH change/minute between 1 and S minutes. The multi-phase tablets have generally rapid dissolution kinetics and are preferably formulated such that the second phase dissolves in a washing machine within S minutes.
In preferred embodiments, the first phase of the mufti-phase tablet is composed of a built active detergent composition comprising by weight thereof ( 1 ) from about I % to about 12%, preferably from about S'% to about 10% of the crystalline layered sodium silicate of general formula I, (2) from 0% to about 70%, preferably from about 10% to about 60% of polyphosphate, zeolite, andlor polycarboxylate builders, (3) from 0% to about 30%, preferably from about S% to at>out 20% of carbonate andlor bicarbonate, and (4) from 0% to about 10%, preferably from 0% to about S°,~o of amorphous silicate.
The second phase of the tablet, on the other hand, is preferably a detergent active composition comprising by weight thereof (1) from about 1% to about 90%, preferably from about 10% to about 60%, more preferably from about 2S% to about SO% of one or more enzyme compositions, and (2) from about 10% to about 99%, preferably from about 30% to about 80% and more preferably from about 40% to about 60% by weight of a (bi)carbonate/acid effervescent couple comprising (bi)carbonate and acid in a weight ratio of from about 10:1 to about 1:10, preferably from about 6:1 to about 1:3, more preferalbly from about 4:1 to about 1:1.
Crystalline layered silicates suitable for use herein as alkalising agents and/or builders are disclosed for example, in EP-A-0164514, EP-A-0293640, DE-A-3417649 and DE-A-3742043. Preferred are the crystalline layered sodium silicates of general formula I
wherein M is sodium or hydrogen, x is a number from 1.9 t:o 4 and y is a number from 0 to 20. Crystalline layered sodium silicates of this type preferably have a two dimensional 'sheet' structure, such as the so called 8-layered structure. For the purpose of the present invention, x in the general formula above has a value of 2,3 or 4 and is preferably 2.
The most preferred crystalline layered sodium silicate compound has the formula 8-Na2Si20S, known as NaSKS-6 (trade name), available from Hoechst AG.

Amorphous alkali metal silicates can also be present as alkalising agents herein. A
preferred alkali metal silicate is sodium silicate having an Si02:Na20 ratio of from 1.8 to 3.0, preferably from I .8 to 2.4, most preferably 2Ø Th.e alkali metal silicate may be in the form of either the anhydrous salt or a hydrated salt.
In preferred embodiments, the first phase is a compressed shaped body prepared at an applied compression pressure of at least about 250 kg/cm'', preferably at least about 350 kg/cm2 (3.43 kN/cmz or 34.3 MPa), more preferably from about 400 to about 2000 kg/cm2, and especially from about 600 to about 1200 kg/cm2 (compression pressure herein is the applied force divided by the cross-sectional area of the tablet in a plane transverse to the applied force - in effect, the transverse cross-sectional area of the die of the rotary press). The second phase, on the other hand, is preferably formed at a compression pressure of less than about 350 kg/cm2, preferably in the range from about 40 kg/cmz to about 300 kg/cm2 and more preferably from about 70 to about 270 kg/cm2.
In preferred embodiments, moreover, the first phase is formed by compression at a pressure greater than that applied to the second phase. In tlhese embodiments, the compression pressures applied to the first and second phases will generally be in a ratio of at least about 1.2:1, preferably at least about 2:1, more preferably at least about 4:1.
Although simple multi-layer tablets are envisaged for use herein, preferred from the viewpoint of optimum product integrity, strength (measure:d fox example by the Child Bite Strength [CBS] test) and dissolution characteristics are tablets wherein the first phase is in the form of a shaped body having at least one mould therein; and the second phase is in the form of a particulate solid compressed withiin said mould.
Such embodiments are sometimes referred to herein as 'mould' embodiments. The tablets of the invention, both mould embodiments and otherwise, wil.i preferably have a CBS of at least about 8kg, preferably greater than about l0kg, more preferably greater than about l2kg, and especially greater than about l4kg, CBS being measured per the US
Consumer Product Safety Commission Test Specification.
It is also preferred that the first and second phases herein are in a relatively high weight ratio to one another, for example at least about 6:1, preferably at least about 10:1; also that the tablet composition contain one or more detergent a~;,tives (for example enzymes, bleaches, bleach activators, bleach catalysts, surfactants, chelating agents etc) which is predominantly concentrated in the second phase, for examp~ie, at least about SO%, preferably at least about 60%, especially about 80% by weight of the active (based on the total weight of the active in tablet) is in the second phase of the tablet.
Again, such compositions are optimum for tablet strength, dissolution., cleaning, and pH
regulation characteristics providing, for example, tablet compositions capable of dissolving in the wash liquor so as to deliver at least SO%, preferably at least 60%, and more preferably at least 80% by weight of the detergent active to the wash liquor within 10, 5, 4 or even 3 minutes of the start of the wash process.
Detailed Description of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to provide a detergf;nt tablet that is not only sufficiently robust to withstand handling and transportation, but also at least a significant portion of which dissolves rapidly in the wash water providing rapid delivery of detergent active. It is preferred that at least one phase of t:he tablet dissolves in the wash water within the first ten minutes, preferably five minutes, more preferably four minutes of the wash cycle of an automatic dishwashing or laundry washing machine.
Preferably the washing machine is either an automatic dishwashing or laundry washing machine.
The time within which the mufti-phase tablet or a phase thereof or a detergent active component dissolves is determined according to DIN 4490 using a dishwashing machine available from Bosch on the normal 65°C washing program with water hardness at 18°H using a minimum of six replicates or a sufficient number to ensure reproducibility.
The mufti-phase detergent tablet of the present invention comprises a first phase, a second and optional subsequent phases. The first phase is preferably in the form of a shaped body of detergent composition comprising one or more detergent components (including one or more alkalising agents) as described below. Preferred detergent components include, builder, bleach, enzymes and surfactant. The components of the detergent composition are mixed together by; for example admixing dry components or spraying-on liquid components. The components are then :formed into a first phase using any suitable equipment, but preferably by compression, for example in a tablet press.
Alternatively, the first phase can be prepared by extrusion, casting, etc.
In mould embodiments, the f rst phase is prepared such that it comprises at least one mould in the surface of the shaped body. In a preferred embodiment the mould is created using a specially designed tablet press wherein the surface of the punch that contacts the detergent composition is shaped such that when it contacts .and presses the detergent composition it presses a mould, or multiple moulds into the f rst phase of the mufti-phase dettxge~nt tablet. Preferably, the mould will have an inwardly concave or generally concave surface to provide improved adhesion to the second phase.
She tablets of the invention also include one or more~additional phases prepared from a composition or compositions which comprise one or more detergent components {including at least one acidifying agent) as described below. At least one phase (herein reftired to as a second phase) preferably takes the form of a particulate solid (which tenor encompasses powders, granules. agglomerates, ana other pardcularta solids including mixtures thereof with liquid binders, meltable solids, spray-ones, etc) compressed either as a layer or intolwithin the one or more moulds of the first phase ofthe detergent tablet such that the second phase itself takes the form of a shaped body. Preforned detergem eomponcats include builders, colourants, binders. surfactants, disinlegtsting agents and enzymes, in particular amylase and protease enzymes. Suitable disintegrating agmts include agents that swell on contact with water or facilitate water influx andlor efflux by forming Channels itt the detergent tablet. Any known disintegrating or egerveacing agent suitable for use ie laundry or dishwashing applications is envisaged for use herein.
Suitable disinttgrating agent include starch, starch derivatives such as Atboea~
(tradename), Yivaptu~tradenama) bath available from Restenmaier.
Nyraoe~tradaoarnt) available from Metsa-series , alginates, acetate trihydrate, burkeite, monohydrated carbonate formula NalCO,.H,O, hydrated STPP with a phase I content of at least about 40% , cerboxymethylcellulose (CMC), CMC-based polynxrs, sodium serrate, aluminium oxide. In addition, the second phase preferably also cotuaias a combination of (bi)carbonate and a ware solubk acid which together form an affervetetat couple and act as a disrupting agent far the tablet. Preferred acids include inorganic acids such as sulphamic acid and carboxylic acids such as citric, malic and makic acid and mi7ctuces thereof.
The components of the detergent composition are mixed together by for exatfxplt admixing dry components and adttiixing or spraying-on liquid componalts. The components of the second and optionally subsequent phases are then phases are then compressed to form one or more layers or are fed into and retained within the mould provided by the first phase.
'Ii~e preferred mould embodiments of the present invtntion comprises two phases; a first and a second phase. The first phase will normally comprise one mould and the second phase will normally consist of a single detergent active composition. However, it is WO Op/04117 PCT/US99/15491 envisaged that the first phase may comprise more than one mould and the second phase may be prepared from more than one detergent active composition. Furthermore, it is also envisaged that the second phase may comprise more than one detergent active composition contained within one mould. It is also envisaged that several detergent active compositions are contained in separate moulds. In this way potentially chemically sensitive detergent components can be separated in order to avoid any loss in performance caused by components reacting together and. potentially becoming inactive or exhausted.
In a preferred aspect of the present invention the first, second and/or optional subsequent phases may comprise a binder. Where present the binder is selected from the group consisting of organic polymers, for example polyethylene and/or polypropylene glycols having an average molecular weight of from about I 000 to about 12000, especially those of molecular weight 4000, 6000 and 9000, polyvinyl pyrolindone (PVP), especially PVP
of molecular weight 90 000, polyacrylates, sugars and sugar derivatives, starch and starch derivatives, for example hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) and carboxy methyl cellulose {CMC); and inorganic polymers, such as hexametaphosphate. The polyethyleneglycol binders are highly preferred herein.
In a preferred aspect of the present invention the first phase weighs greater than Sg.
More preferably the first phase weighs from I Og to 30g, even more preferably from 15g to 25g and most preferably form 18g to 24g. The second and optionally subsequent phases weigh less than 4g. More preferably the second and/or optionally subsequent phases weigh between lg and 3.Sg, most preferably from 1.3g to 2.Sg.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a barrier layer comprising a barrier layer composition is located between the first and second phase and/or optionally subsequent phases or indeed between the second and optionally subseduent phases. The barrier layer composition comprises at least one binder selected from the group as described above.
The advantage of the presence of a barrier layer is to prevent or reduce migration of components from one phase to another phase, for example from the first phase into the second and/or optionally subsequent phases and vice versa.
The components of the second and optionally subsequent phases are compressed at a very low compression force relative to compression force normally used to prepare tablets. Thus an advantage of the present invention is that lbecause a low compression PCT/f3S99/15491 force is used heat, force or chemically sensitive detergent components can be incorporated into the detergent tablet without sustaining the consequential loss in performance usually encountered when incorporating such components into tablets.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is the ability to prepare a mufti-phase detergent tablet wherein one phase can be designed to dissolve, preferably significantly before another phase. In the present invention it is preferred that the second and optional subsequent phases) dissolves before the first phase. According to the preferred weight ranges described above, it preferable that the first phase dissolves in from 5 to 20 minutes, more preferably from 10 to 15 minutes and the second and/or optional subsequent phases dissolve in less than 5 minutes, more preferably less than 4.5 minutes, most preferably less than 4 minutes. The time in which the first, second and/or optional subsequent phase dissolve are independent from each other. Thus in a particularly preferred aspect of the present invention differential dissolution of the phases is achieved. A particular benefit of being able to achieve differential dissolution of the mufti-phase detergent tablet is that a component that is chemically inactivated by the presence of another component can be separated into a different phase. In this case the component that is inactivated is preferably located in the second and optional subsequent phase(s).
The mufti-phase detergent tablets are prepared using any :>uitable tabletting equipment.
Preferably the tablets are prepared by compression in a tablet press capable of preparing a tablet comprising a mould. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention the first phase is prepared using a specially desi fined tablet press. The punches) of this tablet press are modified so that the surface of the punch that contacts the detergent composition has a convex surface.
A frst detergent composition is delivered into the die of ttie tablet press and the punch is lowered to contact and then compress the detergent composition to form a f rst phase.
The first detergent composition is compressed using an applied pressure of at least 250 kg/cm2, preferably between 350 and 2000 kg/cm2, more preferably 500 to 1500 kglcmz, most preferably 600 to 1200 kg/cm2. The punch is then elc;vated, exposing the first phase containing a mould. A second and optional subsequent detergent compositions) is then delivered into the mould. The specially designed tablet prcas punch is then lowered a second time to lightly compress the second and optional subsequent detergent compositions) to form the second and optional subsequent: phase(s). In another embodiment of the present invention where an optional subsequent phase is present the optional subsequent phase is prepared in an optional subsequent compression step substantially similar to the second compression step described above. The second and optional subsequent detergent composition{s) is compressed at a pressure of preferably less than 350 kg/cm2, more preferably from 40 to 300 kg~cmz, most preferably from 70 to 270 kg/cmz. After compression of the second detergent composition, the punch is elevated a second time and the mufti-phase detergent tablet is ejected from the tablet press. Mufti-layer tablets without moulds can be prepared in a similar manner except using a tablet punch having a planar surface.
The mufti-phase detergent tablets comprise two or more phases, a first phase comprising an alkalising agent and a second phase comprising an acidifying agent.
Preferred alkalising agents herein have a pH in 1 % aqueous solution or dispersion (25°C) of at least about 9, preferably at least about 10; preferred acidifying agents, on the other hand have a pH under similar conditions of less than about 6.5. Preferred alkalising and acidifying agents are mufti-fimctional, for example they c,an also having building or sequestering functionality.
Each phase of the tablet is in general composed of one or amore compositions comprising detergent active components. Suitably, the compositions used in any of these phases may include a variety of different detergent components including builder compounds, surfactants, enzymes, bleaching agents, alkalinity sources, colourants, perfume, lime soap dispersants, organic polymeric compounds including polymeric dye transfer inhibiting agents, crystal growth inhibitors, heavy metal ion sequestrants, metal ion salts, enzyme stabilisers, corrosion inhibitors, suds suppressers, solvents, fabric softening agents, optical brighteners and hydrotropes. In the following, the proportions of these active components are given by weight of the corresponding composition of active detergent components, unless specified otherwise.
Highly preferred detergent components of the first phase include a builder compound, a surfactant, an enzyme and a bleaching agent. Highly preferred detergent components of the second phase include builder, enzymes and disrupting agent.
Builders suitable for use herein include water-solu>rle builders such as citrates, carbonates and polyphosphates and partially water-soluble or insoluble builders such as crystalline layered silicates (EP-A-0164514 and EP-A-0293640) and aluminosiiicates inclusive of Zeolites A, B, P, X, HS and MAP. The builder is typically present at a level of from about 1 % to about 80% by weight, preferably from about 10% to about 70% by weight, most preferably from about 20% to about 60% by weight of composition.
Surfactants suitable herein include anionic surfactants such as alkyl sulfates, alkyl ether sulfates, alkyl benzene sulfonates, alkyl glyceryl sulfonates, alkyl and alkenyl sulphonates, alkyl ethoxy carboxylates, N-aryl sarcosinates, N-acyl taurates and alkyl succinates and sulfosuccinates, wherein the alkyl, alkenyl or acyl moiety is CS-C20 , preferably C 10-C 1 g linear or branched; cationic surfactants such as choline esters (US-A-4228042, US-A-4239660 and US-A-4260529) and mono C6-C16 N-alkyl or alkenyl ammonium surfactants wherein the remaining N positions are substituted by methyl, hydroxyethyl or hydroxypropyl groups; low and high cloud point nonionic surfactants and mixtures thereof including nonionic alkoxylated surfactants (especially ethoxylates derived from C6-Clg primary alcohols), ethoxylated-propoxylated alcohols (e.g., Olin Corporation's Poly-Tergent~ SLF18), epoxy-capped poly(oxyalkylated) alcohols (e.g., Olin Corporation's Poly-Tergent~ SLF18B - see WO-A-94/22800}, ether-capped poly(oxyalkylated) alcohol surfactants, and block polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene polymeric compounds such as PLURONIC~, REVERSEI) PLURONIC~, and TETRONIC~ by the BASF-Wyandotte Corp., Wyandotte,, Michigan; amphoteric surfactants such as the amine oxides and alkyl amphocarba~xylicc surfactants such as MiranoITM C2M; and zwitterionic surfactants such as the tretaines and sultaines; and mixtures thereof. Surfactants suitable herein are disclosed, far example, in US-A-3,929,678 , US-A- 4,259,217, EP-A-0414 549, WO-A-93/08876 and WO-A-931088?4.
Surfactants are typically present at a level of from about 0.:?% to about 30%
by weight, more preferably from about 0.5% to about 10% by weight, most preferably from about 1% to about 5% by weight of composition.
Enzymes suitable herein include bacterial and fungal cellulases such as Carezyme and Celluzyme (Novo Nordisk A/S); peroxidases; lipases such as Amano-P (Amano Pharmaceutical Co.), M1 LipaseR and LipomaxR (Gist-Brocades) and Lipolase'~
and Lipolase UltraR {Novo); cutinases; proteases such as EsperaseR, AlcalaseR, DurazymR and SavinaseR (Novo) and MaxataseR, MaxacalR, ProperaseR and MaxapemR (Gist-Brocades);
and a and ~i amylases such as Purafect Ox AmR (Genencor) and Termamyl~, Bang, FungamylR, DuramylR, and NatalaseR (Novo); and mixtures thereof. Enzymes are preferably added herein as prills, granulates, or cogranulates at levels typically in the range from about 0.0001 % to about 2% pure enzyme by weiight of composition.

Bleaching agents suitable herein include chloriae and oxygen bleaches, especially inorganic ptrhydrate salts such as sodium perborate mono~and tetrahydrates and sodium percarbonate optionally coated to provide controlled rate of reiease (see, for example, GB~A-1466799 on sulfatelcarbonate coatings}, preformed organic peroxyacids ~d mixtures thertof with organic peroxyacid bkach prxue~sars and/or ttatssition metal-containiag bleach catalysts (especially mangarxse or cobalt). Inorganic perhydrate salts are typically incorporated at levels in the range fionn a6otrt 1 % to about 40% by weight, preferably from about 2% to about 30% by weight and more preferably from abut

5% to about 23% by weight of composition. Peroxyacid bleach precursors preFerrtd for use herein include precursors of perbenzoic acid and substituted perbenzaie acid;
cationic peroxyacid precursors; peracetic acid precursors such as TAED, sodium acetoxyben~ene sulfonate and pentaacetylglucoae; pernonanoic acid precursors such as sodium 3,5,5-trimethythexanoyloxybenzene sulfonate (iso-NOHS) and sodium nonanayloxybestxs'ne sulfonait (NUBS); amidt substituted alkyl peroxyacid precursors (EP-A-0170386): and .
be~oxazia peroxyacid pzscursors (EP-A-U332294 and Ei'-A-4482$07 Bkach p~ursors are typically incorporated si levels in the range from about 0.5°/. to about ZS%, preferably from about 1 % to about 10°/a by weight of composition while the preformed organic pcroxyacids themselves are typically incorporated at. ltvels in the range from 0.5% to 25% by weight, more preferably from I% to 10°l° by weight of composition. Bleach catalysts preferred for use hereat include the manganese tria~cyclononane and related complexes (US-A-4246612, US-A-522084); Co, Cu, Mn and Fe bispyridylamine and related complexes (U$-A-5114511 ); and penmmine a~ste cobalt(III) and related complexes(U5-A-4810410), Other Suitable components herein include organic polymers having dispersant, anti-redeposition, soil release or other detergency properties invention in levels of from about 0.1% to about 30%, prefctably from about O.Sdrb~to about 1S%, most preferably from about 1 % to about 10'/a by weight of composition. Preferred anti-redeposition polymers herein include acrylic acid containing polymers such as Sokalaa~'A30, PA20, PA15, PA10 and Sokalan CP10 (BASF Gmbl~; AcusoI~SN, 480N, 450N (Rohm and Haas), acrylic acidlmaleie acid copolymers such as Sokalan CPS and acrylichnethacrylic copolymers. Preferred soil release polymers herein include alkyl and hydroxyaikyl celluloses (US-A-4,000,093), polyoxyethylenes, polyoxypropylenes and copolymers thereof, and nonionic and anionic polymers based on terephthalate esters of ethylene glycol, propylene glycol and mixtures thet~caof, Heavy metal sequestranis and crystal growth inhibitors are suitable for use herein f to levels getteratly from about 0.005'y6 to about 20%, preferably ftnm about 0.1 % to shunt 14%, mOrt preferably from about 0.25'/. to abotrt 7.5% and roost prefbrably from about O.S% to about 5% by weight of composition, for exampk diethyla~etriamine perrta (methylene phosphcmat~e), ethyknediamine tetra(mtthylme pbosp~tounate) h~rlenediamin~e te<ra(medtylax Phote~ athyleae diphoaphonare. hydrr>xy etliylerre-1,1~dighosphonate, nitrilotriatetata, ethyletaediaminotetracettte, ethylenadiamine~N,N-disuccinate in their salt and free said farms.
?he cotnposiiians heroin. espedally for use in dishwashing, can contain a ion inhibitor such ss organic silver coating agents in levels of from about O.OS%
to about 10%, praf~ably from about o.i% to about s% by weiglrt of composition (espeeisily paraflins such as winof ~0 sold by Wimeraltafl, Salabagr~, Gernmy~
cv>itainiag corrosion inhibitor cosllpounds (for example betsxotriazole and benama~damole~
- see GB-A-1137741) and Mn(~ compounds, particularly Mn(II) salts of argt~nnte li~ands in levels of from about 0.005'/e to about 5%, preferably from about 0.01'J~i to shook !%, moos preferably from about 0.029 to about 0.4% by weight of the co~positloa Other suitable corrrportems herein include oolourants, waiter-soluble bistxttrth contpouads such as bi~nuth acetate and bismuth citrate at levels of from shoat 0.01'!6 to about 5%, eazymo seabtlizars such as calcium ion, boric acid, propylene glycol and chlorirja bleach scavengers at levels of from about 0.01 % to about boo, lime soap disper~utts (see w0-A~
93/08$77), suds suppcrsaors (see w0-93/08876 and EP-A-0705324 polymeric dye tier idubiting agents, opt;cal brigittenas, pefiunes, sliers and day ~d cationic fabric soileners.
Detergent components suitable for ux heroin are described in revere detail in the Appendix to the Description (Ret~ ADwlL) A prefetrzd machine dishwashing method comprises treating soiled articles selected fiam crockery, giaRSwart, silverware, metallic items, cutlery and tnixtnKS tlu~eo~
with an aqueous liquid having ~fissolved or dispensed therein an effective amrnmt ofa the hdtein described compositions. By an effectivt amount is meant from 8g m 60g ofptoduct dissolved or dispersed in a wash solution of volume from 3 to 10 litres, as are typical product dosages and wash solution volumes commonly employed in convernional machine dishwashing methods. Preferably the detergent tablets are from 15g to 40g in weight, more preferably from 20g to 35g in weight.
Machine laundry methods herein typically comprise treating soiled laundry with an aqueous wash solution in a washing machine having dissolved or dispensed therein an effective amount of the herein described compositions. 13y an effective amount is meant from 40g to 3008 of product dissolved or dispersed in a v~rash solution of volume from S
to 65 litres, as are typical product dosages and wash solution volumes commonly employed in conventional machine laundry methods.
In a preferred use aspect .a dispensing device is employed in the washing method. The dispensing device is charged with the detergent product, and is used to introduce the product directly into the drum of the washing machine before the commencement of the wash cycle. Its volume capacity should be such as to be ;~.ble to contain sufficient detergent product as would normally be used in the washing method.
To allow for release of the detergent product during the wash the device may possess a number of openings through which the product may pass. Alternatively, the device may be made of a material which is permeable to liquid but impermeable to the solid product, which will allow release of dissolved product. Preferably, the detergent product will be rapidly released at the start of the wash cycle thereby providing transient localised high concentrations of product in the drum of the washing machine at this stage of the wash cycle.
Preferred dispensing devices are reusable and are designedl in such a way that container integrity is maintained in both the dry state and during the wash cycle.
Alternatively, the dispensing device may be a flexible container, such as a bag or pouch.
The bag may be of fibrous construction coated with a water impermeable protective material so as to retain the contents, such as is disclosed in EP-A-0018678.
Alternatively it may be formed of a water-insoluble synthetic polymeric material provided with an edge seal or closure designed to rupture in aqueous media as disclosed in EP-A-0011500, EP-A-0011501, EP-A-0011502, and EP-A-0011968. A convenient form of water frangible closure comprises a water soluble adhesive disposed along and sealing one edge of a pouch formed of a water impermeable polymeric film such as polyethylene or polypropylene.

Examples Abbreviations used in Examples In the detergent compositions; the abbreviated component identifications have the following meanings:
STPP . Sodium tripolyphosphate Bicarbonate . Sodium hydrogen carbonate Citric Acid . Anhydrous Citric acid Carbonate . Anhydrous sodium carlbonate Silicate , Amorphous Sodium Silicate (Si02:Na20 ratio = 2.0) SKS-6 , Crystalline layered silicate of formula 8-Na~Si205 PB 1 . Anhydrous sodium perborate monohydrate Nonionic . C1~-C15 mixed ethoxylated/propoxylated fatty alcohol with an averagf; degree of ethoxylation of 3.8 and an average degree of propoxyIation of 4.5, sold under the tradename Plurafac by BASF

TAED : Tetraacetyl ethylene di<~mine HEDP . Ethane 1-hydroxy-1,1-diphosphonic acid PAAC . Pentaamine acetate cobalt (III) salt Paraffin . Paraffin oil sold under the tradename Winog 70 by Wintershall.

Protease . Proteolytic enzyme Amylase . AmyloIytic enzyme.

BTA . Benzotriazole Sulphate : Anhydrous sodium sulphate.

PEG 3000 . Polyethylene Glycol molecular weight approximately 3000 available from Hoechst PEG 6000 : Polyethylene Glycol molecular weight approximately 6000 available from Hoechst The pH profile of the compositions was measured in a Hotpoint Delux, using the Economy 50°C cycle and Newcastle City water {average hardness 8-9 grains per gallon) as follows:

1. Preheat the dishwasher using Economy 50°C cycle. After main wash, cool machine using prewash cycles until internal temperature is approximately 25°C.
2. Weigh 70g of food soil . Food soil consists of oat flakes (960g), tea (160g), spinach (640g), full fat milk (200m1}, butter (320g}, mince and onions (440g}, eggs (720g) and Newcastle City water (41).
3. Start machine on cycle Economy 50°C. When arm roti~tion starts, open door and add tablet to bottom of machine and DIN soil to upper basket i.n upturned cup.
Close door and start stop watch.
4. After 1 minute, take sample of water from side of machine and measure pH
{initial pH) 5. After reading pH, pour test solution back into machine.

6. Continue taking test solutions at time intervals: 2, 3, 4, :5, 7, 10, 12 and 15 minutes, replacing solution in machine after pH reading has been taken.

7. Compute OpH: (pHs m,~s -pHt m;"}~4 In the following examples all levels are quoted as parts by weight:
Examples I-IV
The following illustrates examples detergent tablets of the present invention suitable for use in a dishwashing machine.
I II III IV V VI
Phase 1 STPP 9.62 9.62 10.45 9.57 9.57 11.47 Silicate 0.50 0.67 1.60 1.00 1.00 2:40 SKS-6 1.5 1.50 1.5 2.30 2.25 2.3 Carbonate 2.33 2.74 3.5 3.59 4.10 5.25 HEDP 0.18 0.18 0.18 0.28 0.28 0.28 PB 1 2.45 2.45 2.45 3.68 3.68 3.68 PAAC 0.002 0.002 0.002 0.003 0.004 0.004 Amylase 0.148 0.110 0.110 0.252 0.163 0.163 Protease 0.06 0.06 0.06 0.09 0.09 0.09 Nonionic 0.40 0.80 0.80 1.20 1.20 1.20 PEG 6000 0.4 0.26 0.26 0.38 0.39 0.39 BTA 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.06 0.06 ii:

Paraffin 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.15 0.15 0.15 Perfume 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.013 0.013 0.013 Sulphate 0.502 0.05 2.843 Total 17.75g18.55g 21.07g 23.08 23.0g 25.38 Phase 2 Amylase 0.30 0.35 0.25 0.30 0.35 0.25 Protease 0.25 0.22 0.30 0.25 0.22 0.30 Citric acid 0.3 0.30 0.3 0.30 Sulphamic acid 0.3 0.3 Bicarbonate 1.09 0.45 0.45 1.09 0.45 0.45 Carbonate 0.55 0.55 Silicate 0.64 0.64 CaCl2 0.07 0.07 PEG 3000 0.06 0.06 0.06 0.06 0.06 0.06 Total 2.Og 2.Og 2.Og 2.Og 2.Og 2.Og The mufti-phase tablet compositions are prepared as follovvs. The detergent active composition of phase I is prepared by admixing the granular and liquid components and is then passed into the die of a conventional rotary press. '.Che press includes a punch suitably shaped for forming the mould. The cross-section ~of the die is approximately 30x38 mm. The composition is then subjected to to a compression force of 940 kglcm2 and the punch is then elevated exposing the first phase of the tablet containing the mould in its upper surface. The detergent active composition of phase 2 is prepared in similar manner and is passed into the die. The particulate active composition is then subjected to a compression force of 170 kg/cm2, the punch is elevated, and the mufti-phase tablet ejected from the tablet press. The resulting tablets dissolve or disintegrate in a washing machine as described above within 12 minutes, phase 2 of the tablets dissolving within 5 minutes. The initial pH of the compositions is in excess of 9.5 while ~pH is less than 0.14 unitslmin. The tablets provide improved pH control, cleaning and enzyme performance together with excellent product strength, integrity and dissolution characteristics.

WO Op/04117 Appendix to the Descrintiion Builders Water-soluble builder compound Ref ADW1L
Suitable water-soluble builder compounds include the water soluble monomeric polycarboxylates, or their acid forms, homo or copolyme;ric polycarboxylic acids or their salts in which the polycarboxylic acid comprises at least two carboxylic radicals separated from each other by not more that two carbon ai:oms, carbonates, bicarbonates, borates, phosphates, and mixtures of any of the foregoing.
The carboxylate or polycarboxylate builder can be monomeric or oligomeric in type although monomeric polycarboxylates are generally preferred for reasons of cost and performance.
Suitable carboxylates containiing one carboxy group include the water soluble salts of lactic acid, glycolic acid and ether derivatives thereof. Polycarboxylates containing two carboxy groups include the water-soluble salts of succinic: acid, malonic acid, (ethylenedioxy) diacetic acid, ma.leic acid, diglycolic acid, tartaric acid, tartronic acid and fumaric acid, as well as the ether carboxylates and the sul:finyl carboxylates.
Polycarboxylates containing three carboxy groups include;, in particular, water-soluble citrates, aconitrates and citraconates as well as succinate dlerivatives such as the carboxymethyloxysuccinates described in GB-A-1,379,241, lactoxysuccinates described in GB-A-1,389,732, and aminosuccinates described in NL~-A-7205873, and the oxypolycarboxylate materials such as 2-oxa-1,1,3-propane; tricarboxylates described in GB-A-1,387,447.
Polycarboxylate containing four carboxy groups include o:xydisuccinates disclosed in GB-A-1,261,829, I,I,2,2-ethane tetracarboxylates, 1,1,3,3-propane tetracarboxyIates and 1.,1,2,3-propane tetracarboxylates. Polycarboxylates cont~~ining sulfo substituents include the sulfosuccinate derivatives disclosed in GB-A-1,398,421, GB-A-1,398,422 and US-A-3,936,448, and the sulfonated pyrolysed citrates. described in GB-A-1,439,000.
Alicyclic and heterocyclic polycarboXylates include cyclopentane-cis,cis,cis-tetracarboxylates, cyclopentadienide pentacarboxylates, 2,3,4,5-tetrahydrofuran - cis, cis, cis-tetracarboxylates, 2,5-tetrahydrofuran - cis - dicarboxylates; 2,2,5,5-tetrahydrofuran -tetracarboxylates, 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexane - hexacarboxylates and carboxymethyl derivatives of polyhydric alcohols such as sorbitol, mannitol and xylitol. Aromatic polycarboxylates include mellitic acid, pyromellitic acid Fund the phthalic acid derivatives disclosed in GB-A-1,425,343.
Of the above, the preferred polycarboxylates are hydroxycarboxylates containing up to three carboxy groups per molecule, more particularly citrates.
The parent acids of the monomeric or oligomeric polycarboxylate chelating agents or mixtures thereof with their salts, e.g. citric acid or citrate/citric acid mixtures are also contemplated as useful builder components.
Borate builders, as well as builders containing borate-fornning materials that can produce borate under detergent storage or wash conditions can also be used but are not preferred at wash conditions less that SO°C, especially less than 4CI°C.
Examples of carbonate builders are the alkaline earth and alkali metal carbonates, including sodium carbonate and sesqui-carbonate and mixtures thereof with ultra-fine calcium carbonate as disclosed in DE-A-2,321,001.
Highly preferred builder compounds for use in the present compositions are water-soluble phosphate builders. Specific examples of water-soluble phosphate builders are the alkali metal tripolyphosphates, sodium, potassium and ammonium pyrophosphate, sodium and potassium and ammonium pyrophosphate, sodium and potassium orthophosphate, sodium polymeta/phosphate in which the degree of polymerisation ranges from 6 to 21, and salts of phytic acid.
Specific examples of water-soluble phosphate builders are; the alkali metal tripolyphosphates, sodium, potassium and ammonium pyrophosphate, sodium and potassium and ammonium pyrophosphate, sodium and potassium orthophosphate, sodium polymeta/phosphate in which the degree of polymerization ranges from 6 to 21, and salts of phytic acid.
Partially soluble or insoluble builder compound The compositions herein can contain a partially water-soluble or water-insoluble builder compound. Partially soluble and insoluble builder compounds are particularly suitable for use in tablets prepared for use in laundry cleaning methods. Examples of partially water soluble builders include the crystalline layered silicz~tes as disclosed for example, in EP-A-OI64514 and EP-A-0293640. Preferred are the crystalline layered sodium silicates of general formula NaMSix02+1 ~yH20 wherein M is sodium or hydrogen, x is a number from 1.9 to 4 and y is a number from 0 to 20. Crystalline layered sodium silicates of this type preferably have a two dimensional 'sheet' structure, such as the so called $-layered structure, as described in and EP-A-0293640. Methods for preparation of crystalline layered silicates of this type are disclosed in DE-A-3417649 and DE-A-3742043. For the purpose of the present invention, x in the general formula above has a value of 2,3 or 4 and is preferably 2.
The most preferred crystalline layered sodium silicate compound has the formula b-Na2Si205 , known as NaSKS-6 (trade name), available from Hoechst AG.
The crystalline layered sodium silicate material can be added, especially in granular detergent compositions, as a particulate in intimate admixture with a solid, water-soluble ionisable material as described in WO-A-92/18594. The solid, water-soluble ionisable material is selected from organic acids, organic and inorganic acid salts and mixtures thereof, with citric acid being preferred.
Examples of largely water insoluble builders include the sodium alurninosilicates.
Suitable aluminosilicates include the aluminosilicate zeolites having the unit cell formula Naz[(A102)z(Si02)y]. xH20 wherein z and y are at least ~6; the molar ratio of z to y is from 1.0 to 0.5 and x is at least 5, preferably from 7.5 to 276, more preferably from 10 to 264. The aluminosilicate material are in hydrated form and are preferably crystalline, containing from 10% to 28%, more preferably from 18% to 22% water in bound form.
The aluminasilicate 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 HS
and mixtures thereof.

WO 00!04117 PCTNS99115491 A preferred method of synthesizing aluminosilicate zeolitE;s is that described by Schoeman et ai (published in Zeolite (1994) 14(2), 110-116), in which the author describes a method of preparing colloidal aluminosilicate .zeolites. The colloidal aluminosilicate zeolite particles should preferably be such that no more than 5% of the particles are of size greater than 1 ~,m in diameter and not more than 5% of particles are of size less then 0.05 pm in diameter. Preferably the alum~inosiIicate zeolite particles have an average particle size diameter of between 0.01 ~m and 1 p,m, more preferably between 0.05 pm and 0.9 Vim, most preferably between 0.1 pm and 0.6 p,m.
Zeolite A has the formula Na 12 ~A102) 12 (Si02)12~~ xH20 wherein x is from 20 to 30, especially 27. Zeolite X has the formula Nag6 [(A102)g6(Si02)106~~ 276 H20. Zeolite MAP, as disclo,~ed in EP-B-384,070 is a suitable zeolite builder herein.
Preferred aluminosilicate zeolites are the colloidal aluminosilicate zeolites.
When employed as a component of a detergent composition colloidal aluminosilicate zeolites, especially colloidal zeolite A, provide enhanced builder pe>rformance, especially in terms of improved stain removal, reduced fabric encrustation and improved fabric whiteness maintenance. Mixtures of colloidal zeolite A and colloidal zeolite Y are also suitable herein providing excellent calcium ion and magnesium ion sequestration performance.
Surfactant Suitable surfactants are selected from anionic, cationic, nonionic ampholytic and zwitterionic surfactants and mixtures thereof Automatic .dishwashing machine products should be low foaming in character and thus the foaming o~f the surfactant system for use in dishwashing should be suppressed or more preferably bc; low foaming, typically nonionic in character. Sudsing caused by surfactant syste~:ns used in laundry cleaning methods need not be suppressed to the same extent as is necessary for dishwashing.
A typical listing of anionic, nonionic, ampholytic and zwitterionic classes, and species of these surfactants, is given in US-A-3,929,678. A list of suitable cationic surfactants is WO 00104117 ' PCT/US99/15491 given in US-A-4,259,217. A listing of surfactants typically included in automatic dishwashing detergent compositions is given in EP-A-0414549 and WO-A-93/08876 and WO-A-93/08874.
Nonionic surfactants Nonionic ethoxylated alcohol surfactants The alkyl ethoxylate condensation products of aliphatic alc,ohols with from 1 to 25 moles of ethylene oxide are suitable for use herein. The alll~yl chain of the aliphatic alcohol can either be straight or branched, primary or secondary, and generally contains from 6 to 22 carbon atoms. Particularly preferred are the <;ondensation products of alcohols having an alkyl group containing from 8 to 20 carbon atoms with from 2 to 10 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol.
End-capped alkyl alkoxylate surfactants A suitable endcapped alkyl alkoxylate surfactant is the epoxy-capped poly(oxyalkylated) alcohols represented by the formula:
R10[CH2CH(CH3)O]x[CH2CH20]y[CH2CH(OH)R2] (I) wherein Rl is a linear or branched, aliphatic hydrocarbon radical having from 4 to 18 carbon atoms; R2 is a linear or branched aliphatic hydrocarbon radical having from 2 to 26 carbon atoms; x is an integer having an average value o:f from 0.5 to 1.5, more preferably i; and y is an integer having a value of at least 15, more preferably at least 20.
Preferably, the surfactant of formula I, at least 10 carbon atoms in the terminal epoxide unit [CH2CH(OH)R2]. Suitable surfactants of formula I, according to the present invention, are Olin Corporation's POLY-TERGENT~ SLI?-18B nonionic surfactants, as described; for example, in WO-A-94/22800.
Ether-capyed poly(oxyalkylated~ alcohols Other suitable surfactants for use herein include ether-capped poly(oxyalkylated) alcohols having the formula:

R1 O[CH2CH(R3)O]x[CH2IkCH(OH)[CH21jOR2 wherein RI and R2 are linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon radicals having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms; R3 is H, or a linear aliphatic hydrocarbon radical having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; x is an integer having an average value from 1 to 30, wherein when x is 2 or greater R3 ma;y be the same or different and k and j are integers having an average value of from 1 to I2, and more preferably 1 to 5.
RI and R2 are preferably linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon radicals having from 6 to 22 carbon atoms with 8 to 18 carbon atoms being most preferred. H or a linear aliphatic hydrocarbon radical having from I to 2 carbon atoms is most preferred for R3. Preferably, x is an integer having an average value of from 1 to 20, more preferably from 6 to 15.
As described above, when, in the preferred embodiments, and x is greater than 2, R3 may be the same or different. That is, R3 may vary between any of the alkyleneoxy units as described above. For instance, if x is 3, R3rnay be be selected to form ethyleneoxy(EO) or propyleneoxy(PO) and may vary in order of {EO)(PO)(EO), (EO){EO)(PO);
(EO)(EO)(EO); (PO}(EO)(PO); (PO)(PO)(EO) and (PO)(lP0)(PO). Of course, the integer three is chosen for example only and the variation may be much larger with a higher integer value for x and include, for example, mulitple (EO) units and a much small number of (PO) units.
Particularly preferred surfactants as described above include those that have a low cloud point of less than 20°C. These low cloud point surfactants may then be employed in conjunction with a high cloud point surfactant as described in detail below for superior grease cleaning benefits.
Most preferred ether-capped poly(oxyalkylated) alcohol swfactants are those wherein k is I and j is I so that the surfactants have the formula:
Rl O[CH2CH{R3)OJXCH2CH(OH)~CH20R2 where R1, R2 and R3 are defined as above and x is an integer with an average value of from 1 to 30, preferably from 1 to 20, and even more preferably from 6 to 18.
Most preferred are surfactants wherein R1 and R2 range from 9 to 14, R3 is H
forming ethyleneoxy and x ranges from 6 to 15.
The ether-capped poly(oxyalkylated) alcohol surfactants comprise three general components, namely a linear or branched alcohol, an alkylene oxide and an alkyl ether end cap. The alkyl ether end cap and the alcohol serve as a hydrophobic; oil-soluble portion of the molecule while the alkylene oxide group forms the hydrophilic, water-soluble portion of the molecule. .
These surfactants exhibit significant improvements in spotting and filming characteristics and removal of greasy soils, when used in conjunction with high cloud point surfactants, relative to conventional surfactants.
Generally speaking, the ether-capped poly(oxyalkylene) alcohol surfactants may be produced by reacting an aliphatic alcohol with an epoxide to form an ether which is then reacted with a base to form a second epoxide. The second epoxide is then reacted with an alkoxylated alcohol to form the novel compounds of the: present invention.
Nonionic ethox la~propoxylated fatty alcohol surfactants The ethoxylated C6-C 1 g fatty alcohols and C6-C 1 g mixed ethoxylated/propoxylated fatty alcohols are suitable surfactants for use herein, particularly where water soluble.
Preferably the ethoxylated fatty alcohols are the C 10-C 1 g E:thoxylated fatty alcohols with a degree of ethoxylation of from 3 to 50, most preferably these are the C 12-C

ethoxylated fatty alcohols with a degree of ethoxylation from 3 to 40.
Preferably the mixed ethoxylated/propoxylated fatty alcohols have an alkyl chain length of from 10 to 18 carbon atoms, a degree of ethoxylation of from 3 to 30 and a degree of propoxylation of from 1 to 10.
Nonionic EO/PO condensates with propyl_, ene elycol The condensation products of ethylene oxide with a hydrol>hobic base formed by the condensation of propylene oxide with propylene glycol are suitable for use herein. The hydrophobic portion of these compounds preferably has a molecular weight of from 1500 to 1800 and exhibits water insolubility. Examples of compounds of this type WO ~0/04117 include certain of the commercially-available PIuronic3~'M surfactants, marketed by BASF.
Nonionic EO condensation roducts with ro lene oxide/ethylene diamine adducts The condensation products of ethylene oxide with the po~oduct resulting from the reaction of propylene oxide and ethylenediamine are suitable for use herein. The hydrophobic moiety of these products consists of the reaction product of ethylenediamine and excess propylene oxide, and generally has a molecular weight o~f from 2500 to 3000.
Examples of this type of nonionic surfactant include cerl:ain of the commercially available TetronicTM compounds, marketed by BASF:
Mixed Nonionic Surfactant S stems The compositions herein can also include a mixed nonionic surfactant system comprising at least one low cloud point nonionic surfactant and at least one high cloud point nonionic surfactant.
"Cloud point", as used herein, is a well known property of nonionic surfactants which is the result of the surfactant becoming less soluble with increasing temperature, the temperature at which the appearance of a second phase is observable is referred to as the "cloud point" (See Kirk Othmer's Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 3rd Ed.
Vol.
22, pp. 360-379).
As used herein, a "low cloud point" nonionic surfactant is def ned as a nonionic surfactant system ingredient having a cloud point of less tliian 30°C, preferably less than 20°C, and most preferably less than 10°C. Typical low cloud point nonionic surfactants include nonionic alkoxylated surfactants, especially ethox;ylates derived from primary alcohol, and polyoxypropylene/polyoxyethylene/polyoxypropylene (PO/EO/PO) reverse block polymers. Also, such low cloud point nonionic surfactants include, for example, ethoxylated-propoxylated alcohol (e.g., Olin Corporation's Poly-Tergent~
SLF18), epoxy-capped poly(oxyalkylated) alcohols (e.g., Olin Corporation's Poly-Tergent~
SLF18B series of nonionics, as described, for example, in 'WO-A-94/22800) and the ether-capped poly(oxyalkylated) alcohol surfactants.

Nonionic surfactants can optionally contain propylene oxide in an amount up to 15% by weight. Other suitable nonionic surfactams can be prepared by the processes described in US-A-4,223,163.
Low cloud point nonionic surfactants additionally comprise a polyoxyethylene, polyoxypropylene block polymeric compound. Block polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene polymeric compounds include those based on ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerol, trimethylolpropane and ethylenediamine as initiator reactive hydrogen compound. Certain of the block polymer surfactant compounds designated PLURON1C~, REVERSED PLURONIC~, and TETRON1C~ by the BASF-Wyandotte Corp., Wyandotte, Michigan, are also suitable herein. Preferred examples include REVERSED PLURON1C~ ?SR2 and TETRONIC~ 702, Such swfactants are typically useful herein as low cloud point nonionic surfactants.
As used herein, a "high cloud point" nonionic surfactant is defined as a nonionic surfactant system ingredient having a cloud point of greater than 40°C, preferably greater than 50°C, and more preferably greater than 60°C. Preferably the nonionic surfactant system comprises an ethoxylated surfactant derived from the reaction of a monohydroxy alcohol or alkyiphenol containing from 8 to 20 carbon atoms, with from 6 to 15 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol or alkyl phenol on an average basis. Such high cloud point nonionic surfactants include, for example. TergitolTM 1 SS9 (supplied by Union Carbide), RhodasurfrM TMD 8.5 (supplied by Rhone Poulenc). and NeodolTM
91-8 (supplied by Shell).
It is also preferred that the high cloud point nonionic surfactant further have a hydrophile-lipophile balance ("HLB"; see Kirk Othmer hereinbefore) value within the range of from 9 to 15, preferably 1 1 io 15. Sch materials include, for example. TergitolTM
1559 (supplied by Union Carbide). RhodasurfrM TMD 8.5 (supplied by Rhone Poulenc). and NeodolTM 91-8 (supplied by Shell).
Another suitable high cloud point nonionic surfactant is derived from a straight or preferably branched chain or secondary fatty alcohol containing from 6 to 20 carbon atoms (C6-C2p alcohol), including secondary alcohols and branched chain primary alcohols. Preferably, high cloud point nonionic surfactants are branched or secondary alcohol ethoxylates, more preferably mixed C9/11 or Cl 1/IS branched alcohol ethoxylates, condensed with an average of from 6 to 15 moles, preferably from 6 to 12 2$
moles, and most preferably from 6 to 9 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol.
Preferably the ethoxylated nonionic surfactant so derived has a narrow ethoxylate distribution relative to the average.
Anionic surfactants Essentially any anionic surfactants useful for detersive purposes are suitable. These can include salts (including, for example, sodium, potassium, ammonium, and substituted ammonium salts such as mono-, di- and triethanolamine salts) of the anionic sulfate, sulfonate, carboxylate and sarcosinate surfactants. Anionic sulfate surfactants are preferred.
Other anionic surfactants include the isethionates such as the acyl isethionates, N-acyl taurates, fatty acid amides of methyl tauride, alkyl succinates and sulfosuccinates, monoesters of sulfosuccinate (especially saturated and unsaturated C 12-C 1$
monoesters) diesters of sulfosuccinate (especially saturated and unsaturated C6-C 14 diesters), N-acyl sarcosinates. Resin acids and hydrogenated resin acids are also suitable, such as rosin, hydrogenated rosin, and resin acids and hydrogenated resiin acids present in or derived from tallow oil.
Anionic sulfate surfactants Anionic sulfate surfactants suitable for use herein include the linear and branched primary and secondary alkyl sulfates, alkyl ethoxysulfates, fatty oleoyl glycerol sulfates, alkyl phenol ethylene oxide ether sulfates, the CS-C 1 ~ ac;yl-N-(C 1-C4 alkyl) and -N-(C 1-C2 hydroxyalkyl) glucamine sulfates, and sulfates of alkylpolysaccharides such as the sulfates of alkylpolyglucoside (the nonionic nonsulfated compounds being described herein).
Alkyl sulfate surfactants are preferably selected from the linear and branched primary C l 0-C 1 g alkyl sulfates, more preferably the C 11-C 15 branched chain alkyl sulfates and the C 12-C 14 linear chain alkyl sulfates.
Alkyl ethoxysulfate surfactants are preferably selected from the group consisting of the C 1 p-C 1 g alkyl sulfates which have been ethoxylated with. from 0.5 to 20 moles of ethylene oxide per molecule. More preferably, the alkyl e:thoxysulfate surfactant is a C 1 I -C l g, most preferably C I I -C 15 ~kYl sulfate which has been ethoxylated with from 0.5 to 7, preferably from I to 5, males of ethylene oxide per molecule.
Mixtures of alkyl sulfate and alkyl ethoxysulfate surfactants are also suitable herein (WO-A-93/18124).
Anionic sulfanate surfactants Anionic sulfonate surfactants suitable for use herein include the salts of C5-C20 linear alkylbenzene sulfonates, alkyl ester sulfonates, C6-C22 primary or secondary alkane sulfonates, C6-C24 olefin sulfonates, sulfonated polycarbaxylic acids, alkyl glycerol sulfonates, fatty acyl glycerol sulfonates, fatty oleyl glycerol sulfonates, and any mixtures thereof.
Anionic carboxylate surfactant Suitable anionic carboxylate surfactants include the alkyl ethoxy carboxylates, the alkyl polyethoxy polycarboxylate surfactants and the soaps {'all~yl carboxyls'), especially certain secondary soaps as described herein.
Suitable alkyl ethoxy carboxylates include those with the :formula RO(CH~CH20)x CHZC00-M+ wherein R is a C6 to C I g alkyl group, x ranges from 0 to 10, and the ethoxylate distribution is such that, on a weight basis, the amount of material where x is 0 is less than 20 % and M is a catian. Suitable alkyl polye;thoxy polycarbaxylate surfactants include those having the formula RO-(CHRI-CHR2-O)-R3 wherein R is a Cg to C I g alkyl group, x is from I to 25, Rl and R2 are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl acid radical, succinic acid radical, hydraxysuccinic acid radical, and mixtures thereof, and R3 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon having between 1 and 8 cart>on atoms, and mixtures thereof.
Suitable soap surfactants include the secondary soap surfactants which contain a carboxyl unit connected to a secondary carbon. Preferred secondary soap surfactants fox use herein are water-soluble members selected from the group consisting of the water-soluble salts of 2-methyl-1-undecanoic acid, 2-ethyl-I-decanoic acid, 2-propyl-nonanoic acid, 2-butyl-1-octanoic acid and 2-pentyl-I-heptanoic acid: Certain soaps may also be included as suds suppressors.

- . WO 00/04117 Alkali metal sarcosinate surfactants Other suitable anionic surfactants are the alkali metal sarcosinates of formula R-CON
(Rl ) CH2 COOM, wherein R is a CS-C 1 ~ linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group, R 1 is a Cl-Cq, alkyl group and M is an alkali metal ion. Preferred examples are the myristyl and oleoyl methyl sarcosinates in the form of their sodiwm salts.
Amphoteric surfactants Suitable amphoteric surfactants for use herein include the; amine oxide surfactants and the alkyl amphocarboxylic acids.
Suitable amine oxides include those compounds having the formula R3(OR4)xN0(RS)2 wherein R3 is selected from an alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, acyl2unidopropoyl and alkyl phenyl group, or mixtures thereof, containing from 8 to 26 carbon atoms; R4 is an alkylene or hydroxyalkylene group containing from 2 to 3 carbon atoms, or mixtures thereof; x is from 0 to S, preferably from 0 to 3; and each RS is an alkwl or hydroxyalkyl group containing from 1 to 3, or a polyethylene oxide group containing from 1 to 3 ethylene oxide groups. Preferred are C I p-C 1 g alkyl dimethylamine oxide, and C 10_ 1 g acylamido alkyl dimethylamine oxide.
A suitable example of an alkyl amphodicarboxylic acid is Miranol(TM) C2M Conc.
manufactured by Miranol, Inc., Dayton, NJ.
Zwitterionic surfactants Zwitterionic surfactants can be broadly described as deriv2~tives of secondary and tertiary amines, derivatives of heterocyclic secondary and tertiary ;mines, or derivatives of quaternary ammonium, quaternary phosphonium or tertiar,~ sulfonium compounds.
Betaine and sultaine surfactants are exemplary zwitterionic: surfactants for use herein.
Suitable betaines are those compounds having the formula R(R')2N+R2COO-wherein R
is a C6-C I g hydrocarbyl group, each R I is typically C 1-C?; alkyl, and R2 is a C L-CS
hydrocarbyi group. Preferred betaines are C12-18 dimethyl-ammonio hexanoate and the C10-18 acylamidopropane (or ethane) dimethyl (or diethyl) betaines. Complex betaine surfactants are also suitable for use herein.
Cationic surfactants Cationic ester surfactants used in this invention are preferably water dispersible compound having surfactant properties comprising at least one ester (i.e. -COO-) linkage and at least one canonically charged group. Other suitable cationic ester surfactants, including choline ester surfactants, have for example been disclosed in US-A-4228042, US-A-4239660 and US-A-4260529.
Suitable cationic surfactants include the quaternary ammonium surfactants selected from mono C6-C 16, preferably C6-C l 0 N-alkyl or alkenyl ammonium surfactants wherein the remaining N positions are substituted by methyl, hydroxyethyl or hydroxypropyl groups.
Enzymes Enzymes suitable for use herein included cellulases, hemi.cellulases, peroxidases, proteases, gluco-amylases, amylases, xylanases, lipases, phospholipases, esterases, cutinases, pectinases, keratanases, reductases, oxidases, phenoloxidases, lipoxygenases, ligninases, pullulanases, tannases, pentosanases, malanasca, f3-glucanases, arabinosidases, hyaluronidase, chondroitinase, laccase and mixtures thereof.
Preferred enzymes include protease, amylase, lipase, pero~xidases, cutinase andlor cellulase in conjunction with one or more plant cell wall degrading enzymes.
The cellulases usable in the present invention include both bacterial or fungal cellulase.
Preferably, they will have a pH optimum of between 5 and 12 and an activity above 50 CEVU (Cellulose Viscosity Unit). Suitable cellulases are disclosed in US-A-4,435,307, J61078384 and WO-A-96/02653 which disclose fungal cellulases produced respectively from Humicola insolens, Trichoderma, Thielavia and Sporotrichum. EP-A-0739982 describes cellulases isolated from novel Bacillus species. Suitable cellulases are also disclosed in GB-A-2075028; GB-A-2095275, DE-A-2.247.832 and WO-A-95/26398.
Examples of such cellulases are cellulases produced by a strain of Humicola insolens (Humicola grisea var. thermoidea), particularly the Hunnicola strain DSM 1800.
Other suitable cellulases are cellulases originated from Humicola insolens having a molecular weight of SOKDa, an isoelectric point of 5.5 and containing 4I S amino acids;
and a "43kD endoglucanase derived from Humicola insolens, DSM 1800, exhibiting cellulase activity; a preferred endoglucanase component has the amino acid sequence disclosed in WO-A-91/17243. Also suitable cellulases are the EGIII cellulases from Trichoderma longibrachiatum described in WO-A-94/21801. Especially suitable cellulases are the celltilases having color care benefits. Examples of such cellulases are cdllulases (Novo). CarezymeTM and CelluzymeTM (Novo Nordisk A/S) are especially useful.
See also WO-A-91/17244 and WO-A-91/21801. Other suitable cellulases for fabric care and/or cleaning properties are described in WO-A-96/34092, WO=A-96/17994 and WO-A-95/24471:
Said cellulases are normally incorporated in detergent compositions at levels from O.OOOI % to 2% of active enzyme by weight of composition.
Peroxidase enzymes are used in combination with oxygen sources, e.g.
percarbonate, perborate, persulfate; hydrogen peroxide, etc. They are used for "solution bleaching", i.e.
to prevent transfer of dyes or pigments removed from substrates during wash operations to other substrates in the wash solution. Peroxidase enzymes are known in the art, and include, for example, horseradish peroxidase, ligninase and haloperoxidase such as chloro- and bromo-peroxidase. Peroxidase-containing detergent compositions are disclosed, for example, in WO-A-89/099813, WO-A-89/09813 and in European Patent application EP No. 9Y202882.6, filed on November 6, 1991.
. Also suitable is the laccase enzyme.
Preferred enhancers are substitued phenthiazine and phenoxasine 10-Phenothiazinepropionicacid (PPT), 10-ethylphenothiazine-4-carboxylic acid (EPC), 10-phenoxazinepropionic acid (POP) and 10-methylphenoxazine (described in WO.-A-94/12621) and substitued syringates (C3-CS substitued alkyl syringates) and phenols.
Sodium percarbonate or perborate are preferred sources of hydrogen peroxide.
Said cellulases and/or peroxidases are normally incorporated in detergent composition at levels from 0.0001% to 2% of active enzyme by weight of composition.

Other suitable enzymes that can be included in the detergent compositions of the present invention include lipases. Suitable lipase enzymes for detergent usage include those produced by microorganisms of the Pseudomonas group, such as Pseudomonas stutzeri ATCC 19.154, as disclosed in GB-A-1,372,034. Suitable lipases include those which show a positive immunological cross-reaction with the antibody of the lipase, produced by the microorganism Pseudomonas fluorescent IAM 1057. This lipase is available from Amano Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., I~'agoya, Japan, under the trade name Lipase P
"Amano," hereinafter referred to as "Amano-P". Other suitable commercial lipases include Amano-CES, lipases ex Chromobacter viscosum, e.g. Chromabacter viscosum var. lipolyricum NRRLB 3673 from Toyo Jozo Co., Tagata, Japan; Chromobac~er viscosum lipases from U.S. Biochemical Corp., U.S.A. and Disoynth Co., The Netherlands, and lipases ex Pseudomonas gladioli. Especially suitable lipases are lipases such as M 1 LipaseR ~d LipomaxR (Gist-Brocades) and LipolaseR and Lipolase UltraR(Novo) which have found to be very effective when used in combination with the compositions of the present invention. Also suiiables are the lipolytic enzymes described in EP-A-0258068, WO-A-92/05249, WO-A-95/22615, WO-A-94/03578, WO-A-95/35381 and WO-A-96/00292.
Also suitable are cutinases [EC 3.1.1.50] which can be considered as a special kind of lipase, namely lipases which do not require interfacial activation. Addition of cutinases to detergent compositions have been described in e.g. WO-A-88/09367, WO-A-90/09446, WO-A-94/14963 and WO-A-94/14964.
The lipases and/or cutinases are normally incorporated in detergent composition at levels from 0.0001 % to 2% of active enzyme by weight of composition.
Suitable proteases are the subtilisins which are obtained from particular strains of B.
subtilis and B. licheniformis (subtilisin BPN and BPN'). One suitable protease is obtained from a strain of Bacillus, having maximum activity throughout the pH
range of

8-12, developed and sold as ESPERASE~ by Novo Industries A/S of Denmark, hereinafter "Novo". The preparation of this enzyme and analogous enzymes is described in GB 1,243,784 to Novo. Other suitable proteases include ALCALASE~, DURAZYM~ and SAVINASE~ from Novo and MAXATASE~~ MAXACAL~, PROPERASE~ and MAXAPEM~ (protein engineered Maxacal) from Gist-Brocades.
Proteolytic enzymes also encompass modified bacterial serine proteases.;

198? {particularly pages 17, 24 and 98), and which is called herein "Protease B", and in EP-A-0199404 which refers to a modified bacterial serine protealytic enzyme which is called "Protease A" herein. Suitable is what is called herein "Protease C", which is a variant of an alkaline serine protease from Bacillus in which lysine replaced arginine at position 27, tyrosine replaced valine at position 104, serine replaced asparagine at position I23, and alanime replaced threonine at position 274. Protease C is described in WO-A-91/06637. Genetically modified variants, particularly of Protease C, are also included herein.
A suitable protease referred to as "Protease D" is a carbonyl hydrolase variant having an amino acid sequence not found in nature, which is detxved from a precursor carbonyl hydrolase by substituting a different amino acid for a plurality of amino acid residues at a position in said carbonyl hydrolase equivalent to position +76, preferably also in combination with one or more amino acid residue positions equivalent to those selected from the group consisting of +99, +101, +103, +104, +107, +123, +27, +105, +109, +126, +12g, +135, +I56, +166, +195, +197, +204, +206,. +210, +2I6, +217, +218, +222, +260, +265, and/or +274 according to the numbering; of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subtilisin, as described in WO-A-95/10591 and in the patent application of C.
Ghosh, et al, "Bleaching Compositions Comprising Protease Enzymes" having US Serial No.
08/322,677, filed October 13, 1994.
Also suitable are proteases described in EP-A-0251 446 and WO-A-9I/06637, protease BLAP~ described in WO-A-91/02792 and their variants described in WO-A-95/23221.
See also a high pH protease from Bacillus sp. NCIM:B 40338 described in WO-A-93/18140. Enzymatic detergents comprising protease; one or more other enzymes, and a reversible protease inhibitor are described in WO-A-92103529. When desired, a protease having decreased adsorption and increased hydrolysis is available as described in WO-A-95/07791. A recombinant trypsin-like protease for detergents suitable herein is described in WO-A- 94/25583. Other suitable proteases are described in EP-A-0516 200.
Other suitable protease enzymes include protease enzymes which are a carbonyl hydrolase variant having an amino acid sequence not fo~,znd in nature, which is derived by replacement of a plurality of amino acid residues of a precursor carbonyl hydrolase with different amino acids, wherein said plurality of amino acid residues replaced in the precursor enzyme correspond to position +2 2 0 in combination with one or more of the WO U~JU4117 following residues: +33, +62, +67, +76, +100, +101, +103, +104, +107, +128, +129, +130, +132, +I35, +156, +158, +I64, +166, +167, +170, +209, +215, +217, +218 and +222, where the numbered positions correspond to naturally-occurring subtilisin from Bacillus amvloliauefaciens or to equivalent amino acid residues in other carbonyl hydrolases or subtilisins (such as Bacillus lentus subtilisin). Preferred enzymes of this type include those having position changes +210, +76, +103, +I04, +156, and +166.
The proteolytic enzymes are incorporated in detergent compositions at a level of from 0.0001 % to 2%, preferably from 0.001 % to 0.2%, more preferably from 0.005%
to 0.1 pure enzyme by weight of composition.
Amylases (a and/or 13) can be included for removal of c~~rbohydrate-based stains. WO-A-94/02597 describes cleaning compositions which incorporate mutant amylases.
See also WO-A-95/10603. Other amylases known for use in cleaning compositions include both a - and ~3-amylases. a-Amylases are known in the art and include those disclosed in US-A-5,003,257; EP-A-0252,666; WO-A-91/00353; FR-A-2,676,456; EP-A-0285,123; EP-A-525,610; EP-A-0368,341; and GB-A-1,296,839. Other suitable amylases are stability-enhanced amylases described in WO-A-94/18314 and WO-A-96/05295 and amylase variants having additional modification in the immediate parent available from Novo Nordisk A/S, disclosed in WO-A-95/10603. Also suitable are amylases described in EP-A-0277216, WO-A-95/26397 and WO-A-96/23873.
Examples of commercial a-amylases products are Purafect Ox Am~ from Genencor and Terrnamyl~, Ban~ ,Fungamyl~ and Duramyl~; Natalase ~ all available from Novo Nordisk A/S Denmark, W0-A-95/26397 describes other suitable amylases : a-amylases characterised by having a specific activity at least 25% higher than the specific activity of Termamyl~ at a temperature range of 25°C to 55°C and at a pH
value in the range of 8 to 10, measured by ttze Phadebas~ a-amylase activity assay. Suitable are variants of the above enzymes, described in WO-A-96/23873. Other amylolytic enzymes with improved properties with respect to the activity level and the combination of thermostability and a higher activity level are described in WO-A-95135382.
Preferred amylase enzymes include those described in WO-A-95/26397 and in co-pending application by Novo Nordisk PCT/DK96/00056.

The amylolytic enzymes are incorporated in detergent compositions at a level of from O.OOOI% to 2%, preferably from 0.00018% to 0.06%, more preferably from 0.00024% to 0.048% pure enzyme by weight of composition In a particularly preferred embodiment, compositions herein comprise amylase enzymes, particularly those described in WO-A-95/26397 and co-pending application by Novo Nordisk PCT/DK96/00056 in combination with a complementary amylase.
By "complementary" it is meant the addition of one or more amylase suitable for detergency purposes. Examples of complementary amylases (a and/or 1~) are described below. WO-A-94/02597 and WO-A-95/10603 describe cleaning compositions which incorporate mutant amylases. Other amylases known for use in cleaning compositions include both a- and (3-amylases. a-Amylases are known in the art and include those disclosed in US-A-5,003,257; EP-A-0252,666; WO-A-91/00353; FR-A-2,676,456; EP-A-0 285123; EP-A-0525610; EP-A-0368341; and GB-A-11,296,839. Other suitable amylases are stability-enhanced amylases described in WO-A-94118314 and WO-A-96/05295 and amylase variants having additional modification in the immediate parent available from Novo Nordisk A/S, disclosed in WO-A-95/10603. Also suitable are amylases described in EP-A-0277 216. Examples of commercial a-amylases products are Purafect Ox Am~ from Genencor and Termamyl~, Ban~ ,Fungamyl~ and Duramyl~, all available from Novo Nordisk A/S Denmarlk. W095/26397 describes other suitable amylases : a-amylases characterised by having a specific activity at least 25%
higher than the specific activity of Termamyl~ at a temperature range of 25°C to 55°C
and at a pH value in the range of 8 to 10, measured by the Phadebas~ a-amylase activity assay. Suitable are variants of the above enzymes, described in WO-A-96/23873.
Other amylolytic enzymes with improved properties with respect to the activity level and the combination of thermostability and a higher activity level are described in WO-A-95/35382. Preferred complementary amylases for the pre:>ent invention are the amylases sold under the tradename Purafect Ox AmR described in WO-A- 94/18314, WO-A-96/05295 sold by Genencor; Termamyl~, Fungamyl~, Ban~ Natalase~ and Duramyl~, all available from Novo Nordisk A/S and Maxamyl~ by (list-Brocades.
The complementary amylase is generally incorporated in detergent compositions at a level of from 0.0001 % to 2%, preferably from 0.00018% 1:0 0.06%, more preferably from 0.00024% to 0.048% pure enzyme by weight of compositiion. Preferably a weight of pure enzyme ratio of specific amylase to the complementary amylase is comprised between

9:1 to 1:9, more preferably between 4:1 to 1:4, and most preferably between 2:
I and 1:2.
The above-mentioned enzymes may be of any suitable origin, such as vegetable, animal, bacterial, fungal and yeast origin. Origin can further be m~esophilic or extremophilic (psychrophilic, psychrotrophic, thermophilic, barophilic, alkalophilic, acidophilic, halophilic, etc.). Purified or non-purif ed forms of these enzymes may be used. Also included by definition, are mutants of native enzymes. Mutants can be obtained e.g. by protein and/or genetic engineering, chemical andlor physical modifications of native enzymes. Common practice as well is the expression of the enzyme via host organisms in which the genetic material responsible for the production of the enzyme has been cloned.
Enzymes are normally incorporated in detergent composition at levels from 0.0001% to 2% of active enzyme by weight of composition. The enzymes can be added as separate single ingredients (prills, granulates, stabilized liquids, etc... containing one enzyme ) or as mixtures of two or more enzymes ( e.g. cogranulates ).
Other suitable detergent ingredients that can be added are enzyme oxidation scavengers which are described in copending European Patent application 92870018.6 filed on January 31, 1992. Examples of such enzyme oxidation scavengers are ethoxylated tetraethylene polyamines.
A range of enzyme materials and means for their incorporation into synthetic detergent compositions is also disclosed in WO-A-9307263, WO-A-9307260, WO-A-8908694 and US-A-3,553,139. Enzymes are further disclosed in US-A.~-4,101,457 and US-A-4,507,219. Enzyme materials useful for liquid detergent formulations, and their incorporation into such formulations, are disclosed in US-A- 4,261,868.
Enzymes for use in detergents can be stabilised by various techniques. Enzyme stabilisation techniques are disclosed and exemplified in US-A-3,600,319, EP-A-0199405 and EP-A-0200586. Enzyme stabilisation systems are also described, for example, in US-A-3,519,570. A useful Bacillus, sp. AC13 giving proteases, xylanases and cellulases, is described in WO-A-9401532.
Bleaching-agent - wo 00/041 ~ ~

Suitable bleaching agents herein include chlorine and oxygen-releasing bleaching agents.
In one preferred aspect the oxygen-releasing bleaching agent contains a hydrogen peroxide source and an organic peroxyacid bleach precursor compound. The production of the organic peroxyacid occurs by an in situ reaction c>f the precursor with a source of hydrogen peroxide. Preferred sources of hydrogen peroxide include inorganic perhydrate bleaches. In an alternative aspect a preformed organic peroxyacid is incorporated directly into the composition. Compositions containing mixtures of a hydrogen peroxide source and organic peroxyacid precursor in combination with a preformed organic peroxyacid are also envisaged.
Inorganic uerhydrate bleaches Examples of inorganic perhydrate salts include perborate, percarbonate, perphosphate, persulfate and persilicate salts. The inorganic perhydrate; salts are normally the alkali metal salts. The inorganic perhydrate salt can be included as the crystalline solid without additional protection. For certain perhydrate salts however, a coated form of the material is used in order to provide better storage stability.
Sodium perborate can be in the form of the monohydrate of nominal formula NaB02H202 or the tetrahydrate NaBO2H202.3H20. Alkali metal percarbonates, particularly sodium percarbonate are preferred perhydrate;s for inclusion herein. Sodium percarbonate is an addition compound having a formula corresponding to 2Na2C03.3H2O2, and is available commercially as a crystalline solid. Sodium percarbonate, being a hydrogen peroxide addition compound tends on dissolution to release the hydrogen peroxide quite rapidly which can increase the tendency far localised high bleach concentrations to arise. The percarbonate is most preferably incorporated into such compositions in a coated form which provides ire-product stability.
A suitable coating material providing in product stability comprises mixed salt of a water soluble alkali metal sulphate and carbonate. Such coating's together with coating processes have previously been described in GB-A-1,466,',799. The weight ratio of the mixed salt coating material to percarbonate lies in the range from 1 : 200 to I : 4, more preferably from 1 : 99 to I : 9, and most preferably from 1 : 49 to 1 : 19.
Preferably, the mixed salt is of sodium sulphate and sodium carbonate whiich has the general formula Na2S04.n.Na2C03 wherein n is from 0.3 to 3, preferably n is from 0.3 to 1.0 and most preferably n is from 0.2 to 0.5. Another suitable coating material providing in product stability, comprises sodium silicate of Si02 : Na20 ratio from 1.8 : 1 to 3.0 : 1, preferably 1.8:1 to 2.4:1, and/or sodium metasilicate, preferably applied at a level of from 2% to 10%, (normally from 3% to 5%) of Si02 by weight of the inorganic perhydrate salt. Magnesium silicate can also be included in the coating.
Coatings that contain silicate and borate salts or boric acids or other inorganics are also suitable. Other coatings which contain waxes, oils, fatty soaps can also be used herein.
Potassium peroxymonopersulfate is another inorganic perlhydrate salt of utility in the compositions herein.
Peroxyacid bleach precursor Peroxyacid bleach precursors are compounds which react with hydrogen peroxide in a perhydrolysis reaction to produce a peroxyacid. Generally peroxyacid bleach precursors may be represented as O
X-C-L
where L is a leaving group and X is essentially any functi~anality, such that on perhydrolysis the structure of the peroxyacid produced is O
X-C-OOH
Suitable peroxyacid bleach precursor compounds typically contain one or more N-or O-acyl groups, which precursors can be selected from a wid<~ range of classes.
Suitable classes include anhydrides, esters, imides, lactams and ac;ylated derivatives of imidazoles and oximes. Examples of useful materials within these classes are disclosed in GB-A-1586789. Suitable esters are disclosed in GB-A-836988, GB-A-864798, GB-A-1147871, GB-A-2143231 and EP-A-0170386.
Leaving- rg_oups The leaving group, hereinafter L group, must be sufficiently reactive for the perhydrolysis reaction to occur within the optimum time frame (e.g., a wash cycle).

However, if L is too reactive, this activator will be di~cult to stabilise for use in a bleaching composition.
Preferred L groups are selected from the group consisting of Y R3 R sY
-p , -O Y , and O ~ O 4 -N-C-R - ~ -IN-C-CH-R
IR3 Y , Y

I I
-O-C H=C-C H=C H2 -O-C H=C-C H=(: H2 O C H -O 1r II ~ 2 ~ ~ ~NR4 -p-C-R~ -NwC/NRa , _NwC/
' II II
O O

-O-C=CHR4 , and -N-S-CH-R4 and mixtures thereof, wherein R1 is an alkyl, aryl, or alkaryl group containing from 1 to 14 carbon atoms, R3 is an alkyl chain containing from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, R'1 is H or R3, RS is an alkenyl chain containing from 1 to 8 carbon atoms and Y is H or a solubilizing group. Any of R1, R~ and R'1 may be substituted by essentially any functional group including, for example alkyl, hydroxy, alkoxy, halogen, amine, nitrosyl, amide and ammonium or alkyl ammonium groups.

4i The preferred solubilizing groups are -S03-M+, -C02-M+, -S04 M+, -N+{R3)4X and O<--N(R3)3 and most preferably -S03 M+ and -C02 M~~ wherein R3 is an alkyl chain containing from I to 4 carbon atoms, M is a ration which provides solubility to the bleach activator and X is an anion which provides solubility to the bleach activator.
Preferably, M is an alkali metal, ammonium or substituted ammonium ration, with sodium and potassium being most preferred, and X is a h~~lide, hydroxide, methylsulfate or acetate anion.
Perbenzoic acid precursor Perbenzoic acid precursor compounds provide perbenzoic acid on perhydrolysis.
Suitable O-acylated perbenzoic acid precursor compounds include the substituted and unsubstituted benzoyl oxybenzene sulfonates, including jfor example benzoyl oxybenzene sulfonate:

~O ~S03 Also suitable are the benzoylation products of sorbitol, glucose, and all saccharides with benzoylating agents, including for example:
OAc Ac0 \~--p \, OAc / OAc OBz Ac = COChI3; Bz = Benzoyl Perbenzoic acid precursor compounds of the imide typo; include N-benzoyl succinimide, tetrabenzoyl ethylene diamine and the N-benzoyl substituted areas. Suitable imidazole type perbenzoic acid precursors include N-benzoyl imidazole and N-benzoyl benzimidazole and other useful N-acyl group-containing perbenzoic acid precursors include N-benzoyl pyrrolidone, dibenzoyl taurine and b~enzoyl pyroglutamic acid.
Other perbenzoic acid precursors include the benzoyl diiacyl peroxides, the benzoyl tetraacyl peroxides, and the compound having the formula:

o~
~~COOH
Phthalic anhydride is another suitable perbenzoic acid precursor compound herein:
O
O
Suitable N-acylated lactam perbenzoic acid precursors have the formula:
O

O C-CH2-CHz Rs-C-NwC H
2-ECH2 ]n wherein n is from 0 to 8, preferably from 0 to 2, and R~ :is a benzoyl group.
Perbenzoic acid derivative precursors Perbenzoic acid derivative precursors provide substituted perbenzoic acids on perhydrolysis.

Suitable substituted perbenzoic acid derivative precursors include any of the herein disclosed perbenzoic precursors in which the benzoyl group is substituted by essentially any non-positively charged (i.e.; non-cationic} functional group including, for example alkyl, hydroxy, alkoxy, halogen, amine, nitrosyl and arr~ide groups.
A preferred class of substituted perbenzoic acid precursor compounds are the ari~ide substituted compounds of the following general formulae:
R1C_._NR2C~ R1~N.-C-R2-C~
' I
O R5 O or . R;i O OI
wherein Rl is an aryl or alkaryl group with from 1 to 14 carbon atoms, R2 is an arylene, or alkarylene group containing from 1 to 14 carbon atoms, and RS is H or an alkyl, aryl, or alkaryl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms and L can be essentially any leaving group. R1 preferably contains from 6 to 12 carbon ato7ms. R2 preferably contains from 4 to 8 carbon atoms. Rl may be aryl, substituted aryl or alkylaryl containing branching, substitution, or both and may be sourced from either synthetic sources or natural sources including for example, tallow fat. Analogous structural variations are permissible for R2. The substitution can include alkyl, aryl, halogen, nitrogen, sulphur and other typical substituent groups or organic compounds. RS is preferably H or methyl. Rl and RS
should not contain more than 18 carbon atoms in total. Amide substituted bleach activator compounds of this type are described in EP-A-0170386.
Cationic peroxyacid precursors Cationic peroxyacid precursor compounds produce cationic peroxyacids on perhydrolysis.
Typically, cationic peroxyacid precursors are formed by substituting the peroxyacid part of a suitable peroxyacid precursor compound with a positively charged functional group, such as an ammonium or alkyl ammonium group, preferably an ethyl or methyl ammonium group. Cationic peroxyacid precursors are typically present in the compositions as a salt with a suitable anion, such as for example a halide ion or a methylsulfate ion.

The peroxyacid precursor compound to be so cationically substituted may be a perbenzoic acid, or substituted derivative thereof, precursor compound as described hereinbefore. Alternatively, the peroxyacid precursor compound may be an alkyl percarboxylic acid precursor compound or an amide substituted alkyl peraxyacid precursor as described hereinafter Cationic peroxyacid precursors are described in US-A-4,904,406; US-A-4,751,015; US-A-4,988,451; US-A-4,397,757; US-A-5,269,962; US-A-5,127,852; US-A-5,093,022;
US-A-5,106,528; GB-A-1,382,594; EP-A-0475512, EP-A-0458396 and EP-A-0284292;
and in JP87-318,332.
Suitable cationic peroxyacid precursors include any of the ammonium or alkyl ammonium substituted alkyl or benzoyl oxybenzene suifonates, N-acylated caproiactams, and monobenzoyltetraacetyl glucose benzoyl peroxides.
A preferred cationically substituted benzoyl oxybenzene sulfonate is the 4-(trimethyl ammonium) methyl derivative of benzoyl oxybenzene sulfonate:
O
~/ 503 ~+
A preferred cationically substituted alkyl oxybenzene sulfonate has the formula:
SO
N
/ ~O~% 3 Preferred cationic peroxyacid precursors of the N-acylatE:d caprolactam. class include the trialkyl ammonium methylene benzoyl caprolactams, particularly trimethyl ammonium methylene benzoyl caprolactam:

N~

Other preferred cationic peroxyacid precursors of the N-acylated caprolactam class include the trialkyl ammonium methylene alkyl caprolactams:
'--~ {CH2) ~ N
~+ ~/
where n is from 0 to 12, particularly from 1 to 5.
Another preferred cationic peroxyacid precursor is 2-(l~f,N,N-trimethyl ammonium) ethyl sodium 4-sulphophenyl carbonate chloride.
Allc~ perk carboxylic acid bleach precursors Alkyl percarboxylic acid bleach precursors form percarboxylic acids on perhydrolysis.
Preferred precursors of this type provide peracetic acid on perhydrolysis.
Preferred alkyl percarboxylic precursor compounds of the imide type include the N-,N,N1N1 tetra acetylated alkylene diamines wherein the alkylene group contains from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, particularly those compounds in which the alkylene group contains l, 2 and 6 carbon atoms. Tetraacetyl ethylene diamine (TAED) is particularly preferred.
Other preferred alkyl percarboxylic acid precursors include sodium 3,5,5-tri-methyl hexanoyloxybenzene sulfonate {iso-NOBS), sodium nonanoyloxybenzene sulfonate {NOBS), sodium acetoxybenzene sulfonate (ABS) and penta acetyl glucose.
Amide substituted alkyl peroxyacid precursors Amide substituted alkyl peroxyacid precursor compounds are also suitable, including those of the following general formulae:

R1-C-N.-RZ,C-~ RliNi-C~R2,C~~
II I i~ I II !!
O R5 O or R,~ O O
wherein RI is an alkyl group with from 1 to 14 carbon atoms, R2 is an alkylene group containing from 1 to 14 carbon atoms, and RS is H or au~ alkyl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms and L can be essentially any leaving group. RI preferably contains from 6 to I2 carbon atoms. R2 preferably contains fram 4 to 8 carbon atoms. RI may be straight chain or branched alkyl containing branching, substitution, or both and may be sourced from either synthetic sources or natural sources including for example, tallow fat. Analogous structural variations are permissible fo:r R2. The substitution can include alkyl, halogen, nitrogen, sulphur and other typical substituent groups or organic compounds. RS is preferably H or methyl. RI and R~> should not contain more than 18 carbon atoms in total. Amide substituted bleach activator compounds of this type are described in EP-A-OI70386.
Benzoxazin orga~c peroxyacidprecursors Also suitable are precursor compounds of the benzoxazin-type, as disclosed.for exaruple in EP-A-0332294 and EP-A-0482807, particularly those having the formula:
O
II
I
N C-R~
including the substituted benzoxazins of the type ..,o o ,,c_R, Ra N

wherein R1 is H, alkyl, alkaryl, aryl, arylalkyl, and wherein R2, R3, R~, and RS may be the same or different substituents selected from H, halogen, alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, hydroxyl, alkoxyl, amino, alkyl amino, COOR6 (wherein R6 is H or an alkyl group) and carbonyl functions.
An especially preferred precursor of the benzoxazin-type is:
O
p CEO

..~ o N
Preformed or anic peroxyacid A suitable class of organic peroxyacid compounds are the amide substituted compounds of the following general formulae:
R~ -C-N-R2-C-OOH R~ -N-C-RZ-C--OOH
~i ~ ~~ ~ - II
O R~ O or R'~ O O
wherein Rl is an alkyl, aryl or alkaryi group with from 1 to 14 carbon atoms, R2 is an alkylene, arylene, and alkarylene group containing fronry 1 to 14 carbon atoms, and RS is H or an alkyl, aryl, or alkaryl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms. R1 preferably contains from 6 to 12 carbon atoms. R2 preferably contains from 4 to 8 carbon atoms.
Rl may be straight chain or branched alkyl, substituted aryl or alkylaryl containing branching, substitution, or both and may be sourced from either synthetic sources or natural sources including for example, tallow fat. Analogous structural variations are permissible far R2. The substitution can include alkyl, aryl, halogen, nitrogen, sulphur and other typical substituent groups or organic compomds. R5 is preferably H
or methyl. Rl and RS should not contain more than i 8 carbon atoms in total.
Amide substituted organic peroxyacid compounds of this type ~~re described in EP-A-0170386.
Other organic peroxyacids include diacyl and tetraacylperoxides, especially diperoxydodecanedioc acid, diperoxytetradecanedioc acid, and diperoxyhexadecanedioc acid. Dibenzoyl peroxide is a preferred organic peroxyacid herein. Mono- and diperazelaic acid, mono- and diperbrassylic acid, and N-~phthaloylaminoperoxicaproic acid are also suitable herein.
Controlled rate of release - means A means may be provided for controlling the rate of release of bleaching agent, particularly oxygen bleach to the wash solution.
Means for controlling the rate of release of the bleach may provide for controlled release of peroxide species to the wash solution. Such means could, for example, include controlling the release of any inorganic perhydrate salt, acting as a hydrogen peroxide source, to the wash solution.
Suitable controlled release means can include confining, the bleach to one portion of the composition. Another mechanism for controlling the rate of release of bleach may be by coating the bleach with a coating designed to provide the controlled release.
The coating may therefore, for example, comprise a poorly water soluble material, or be a coating of sufficient thickness that the kinetics of dissolution of the thick coating provide the controlled rate of release.
The coating material may be applied using various methods. Any coating material is typically present at a weight ratio of coating material to bleach of from 1:99 to 1:2, preferably from I :49 to I :9. Suitable coating materials include triglycerides (e.g.
partially) hydrogenated vegetable oil, soy bean oil, cotton seed oil) mono or diglycerides, microcrystalline waxes, gelatin, cellulose, fatty acids and any mixtures thereof. Other suitable coating materials can comprise the alkali and alkaline earth metal sulphates, silicates and carbonates, including calcium carbonate and silicas.
A preferred coating material, particularly for an inorgaiuc perhydrate salt bleach source, comprises sodium silicate of Si02 : Na20 ratio from 1 ~8 : 1 to 3.0 : 1, preferably 1.8:1 to 2.4:1, and/or sodium metasilicate, preferably applied at: a level of from 2%
to 10%, (normally from 3% to 5%) of Si02 by weight of the inorganic perhydrate salt.
Magnesium silicate can also be included in the coating.

Any inorganic salt coating materials may be combined with organic binder materials to provide composite inorganic saltlorganic binder coatings. Suitable binders include the C 10-020 alcohol ethoxylates containing from 5 - 100 males of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol and more preferably the C 15-020 primary alcohol ethoxylates containing from 20 - 100 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol.
Other preferred binders include certain polymeric materials.
Polyvinylpyrrolidones with an average molecular weight of from 12,000 to 700,000 and polyethylene glycols (PEG) with an average molecular weight of from 600 to 5 x 106' preferably 1000 to 400,000 most preferably 1000 to 10,000 are examples of such polymeric materials.
Copolymers of malefic anhydride with ethylene, methylvinyl ether or methacrylic acid, the malefic anhydride constituting at least 20 mole percent of the polymer are further examples of polymeric materials useful as binder agents. These polymeric materials may be used as such or in combination with solvents such as water, propylene glycol and the above mentioned 010-020 alcohol ethoxylates containing from 5 - 100 moles of ethylene oxide per mole. Further examples of binders include the C 1 p-~C20 mono- and diglycerol ethers and also the C 10-020 fatty acids.
Cellulose derivatives such as methylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose and hydroxyethylcellulose, and homo- or co-polymeric polycarboxylic acids or their salts are other examples of binders suitable for use herein.
One method for applying the coating material involves al;glomeration.
Preferred agglomeration processes include the use of any of the organic binder materials described hereinabove. Any conventional agglomerator/mixer ma;y be used including, but not limited to pan, rotary drum and vertical blender types. n~Iolten coating compositions may also be applied either by being poured onto, or spray atomized onto a moving bed of bleaching agent.
Other means of providing the required controlled release include mechanical means for altering the physical characteristics of the bleach to control its solubility and rate of release. Suitable protocols could include compression, .mechanical injection, manual injection, and adjustment of the solubility of the bleach compound by selection of particle size of any particulate component.

Whilst the choice of particle size will depend both on the composition of the particulate component, and the desire to meet the desired controlled release kinetics, it is desirable that the particle size should be more than 500 micrometers, preferably having an average particle diameter of from 800 to 1200 micrometers.
Additional protocols for providing the means of controlled release include the suitable choice of any other components of the composition such that when the composition is introduced to the wash solution the ionic strength enviromnent therein provided enables the required controlled release kinetics to be achieved.
Metal-containin~~ bleach catalyst Bleach-cintaining compositions herein can additionally contain a metal containing bleach catalyst. Preferably the metal containing bleach catalyst is a transition metal containing bleach catalyst, more preferably a manganese or cobalt-containing bleach catalyst.
A suitable type of bleach catalyst is a catalyst comprising; a heavy metal cation of defined bleach catalytic activity, such as copper, iron rations, an .auxiliary metal ration having little or no bleach catalytic activity, such as zinc or aluminium rations, and a sequestrant having defined stability constants for the catalytic and auxiliary metal rations, particularly ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, ethylenediarninetetra(methylenephosphonic acid) and water-soluble salts thereof. Such catalysts are disclosed in US-A-4,430,243.
Preferred types of bleach catalysts include the manganese-based complexes disclosed in US-A- 5,246,621 and US-A-5,244,594. Preferred examples of these catalysts include MnIV2(u-O)3(1,4,7-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane)2-(PF6)2, MnIII2(u_O)1(u_ OAcn(1,4,7-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane)2-(C104)2, MnIV4(u-O)6(1,4,7-triazacyclononane)4-(C104)2, MnIIIMnIV4(u-O)1(u-OAc)2-(1,4,7-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane)2-(C104)3, and mixtures thereof. Otluers are described in EP-A-0549,272. Other ligands suitable for use herein include 1,5,9-trimethyl-1,5,9-triazacyclododecane, 2-methyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane, :?-methyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane, 1,2,4,7-tetramethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane, and mixtures thereof.
For other examples of suitable bleach catalysts see US-A-4,246,612 and US-A-5,22?,084. See also US-A-5,194,416 which teaches mononuclear manganese (IV) complexes such as Mn(1,4,7-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane)(OCH3)3-(PF6).

Still another type of bleach catalyst, as disclosed in US-~A-5,114,606, is a water-soluble complex of manganese (III), and/or (IV) with a ligand which is a non-carboxylate polyhydroxy compound having at least three consecutive C-OH groups. Preferred ligands include sorbitoi, iditol, dulsitol, mannitol, xylithol, arabitol, adonitol, meso-erythritol, meso-inositol, lactose, and mixtures thereof.
US-A-5,114,611 teaches a bleach catalyst comprising a complex of transition metals, including Mn, Co, Fe, or Gu, with an non-(macro)-cyclic iigand. Said ligands are of the formula:

R~-N=C-B-C=N-R4~
wherein Rl, R2, R3, and R4 can each be selected from H, substituted alkyl and aryl groups such that each Rl-N=C-R2 and R3-C=N-R4 fo~7n a five or six-membered ring.
Said ring can further be substituted. B is a bridging group selected from O, S. CRSR6, NR~ and C=O, wherein, R5, R6, and R~ can each be H, alkyl, or aryl groups, including substituted or unsubstituted groups. Preferred ligands include pyridine, pyridazine, pyrimidine, pyrazine, imidazole, pyrazole, and triazole rings. Optionally, said rings may be substituted with substituents such as alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, halide, and nitro.
Particularly preferred is the ligand 2,2'-bispyridylamine. Preferred bleach catalysts include Co, Cu, Mn, Fe,-bispyridylmethane and -bispyridylamine complexes.
Highly preferred catalysts include Co(2,2'-bispyridylamine)C12, Di(isothiocyanato}bispyridylamine-cobalt (II), trisdipyridylamine-cobalt(II) perchlorate, Co(2,2-bispyridylamine)2O2C1O4, Bis-(2,2'-bispyridylamine) copper(II) perchlorate, tris{di-2-pyridylamine) iron(II) perchlorate, and mixtwres thereof.
Preferred examples include binuclear Mn complexes r~rith tetra-N-dentate and bi-N-dentate ligands, including N4MnIII{u-O)2MnIVN4)+aund [Bipy2MnIII(u-O)2~IVbipY2l-(C104)3-While the structures of the bleach-catalyzing manganese complexes have not generally been elucidated, it may be speculated that they comprise chelates or other hydrated coordination complexes which result from the interaction of the carboxyl and nitrogen atoms of the ligand with the manganese cation. Likewise, the oxidation state of the WO 00/04117 FCT/US99i15491 manganese cation during the catalytic process is not known with certainty, and may be the (+II}, (+III), (+IV) or (+V} valence state. Due to the ligands' possible six points of attachment to the manganese cation, it may be reasonab:Iy speculated that multi-nuclear species and/or "cage" structures rnay exist in the aqueous bleaching media.
Whatever the form of the active Mn-ligand species which actually exists, it functions in an apparently catalytic manner to provide improved bleaching performances on stubborn stains such as tea, ketchup, coffee, wine, juice, and the like.
Other bleach catalysts are described, for example, in EP-A-0408131 (cobalt complex catalysts), EP-A-0384503, and EP-A-0306089 (metallo-~porphyrin catalysts), US-A-4,728,455 (manganeseJmultidentate ligand catalyst), US-A-4,711,748 and EP-A-0224952, (absorbed manganese on alurninosilicate catalyst), US-A-4,601,845 (aluminosilicate support with manganese and zinc or magnesium salt), US-A-4,626,373 {manganese/ligand catalyst), US-A- 4,119,557 (ferric complex catalyst), DE-A-2,054,019 (cobalt chelant catalyst), CA-A-866,191 (transition metal-containing salts), US-A-4,430,243 (chelants with manganese cations and non-catalytic metal cations), and US-A-4,728,455 {manganese gluconate catalysts).
Other preferred examples include cobalt (III) catalysts having the formula:
Co[(NH3)nM'mB'bT'tQqPpj YY
wherein cobalt is in the +3 oxidation state; n is an integer from 0 to S
(preferably 4 or 5;
most preferably 5}; M' represents a monodentate ligand; m is an integer from 0 to 5 (preferably 1 or 2; most preferably 1 ); B' represents a bi~dentate ligand; b is an integer from 0 to 2; T' represents a tridentate ligand; t is 0 or 1; Q is a tetradentate ligand; q is 0 or l; P is a pentadentate ligand; p is 0 or l; and n + m + 2b + 3t + 4q + Sp =
6; Y is one or more appropriately selected counteranions present in a number y, where y is an integer from 1 to 3 (preferably 2 to 3; most preferably 2 when ~C' is a -1 charged anion), to obtain a charge-balanced salt, preferred Y are selected from the; group consisting of chloride, nitrate, nitrite, sulfate, citrate; acetate, carbonate, and combinations thereof; and wherein further at least one of the coordination sites attached to t:he cobalt is labile under automatic dishwashing use conditions and the remaining; co-ordination sites stabilise the cobalt under automatic dishwashing conditions such that the reduction potential for cobalt (III) to cobalt (II) under alkaline conditions is less than 0.4 volts (preferably less than 0.2 volts) versus a normal hydrogen electrode.

Preferred cobalt catalysts of this type have the formula:
[Co~3)n(M~)mJ YY
wherein n is an integer from 3 to 5 (preferably 4 or 5; rr.~ost preferably 5);
M' is a labile coordinating moiety, preferably selected from the groul> consisting of chlorine, bromine, hydroxide, water, and (when m is greater than 1 ) combinations thereof; m is an integer from 1 to 3 (preferably 1 or 2; most preferably 1 ); m+n = 6; and Y is an appropriately selected counteranion present in a number y, which is an integer from 1 to 3 (preferably 2 to 3; most preferably 2 when Y is a -1 charged anion), to obtain a charge-balanced salt.
The preferred cobalt catalyst of this type useful herein acre cobalt pentaamine chloride salts having the formula [Co(NH3)SCIJ Yy, and especially [Co{NH3)SCIJCl2.
More preferred are the present invention compositions which utilize cobalt (III) bleach catalysts having the formula:
[Co(I'1H3)n(M)m(B)bJ TY
wherein cobalt is in the +3 oxidation state; n is 4 or 5 (preferably 5); M is one or more ligamds coordinated to the cobalt by one site; m is 0, 1 or 2 (preferably I );
B is a ligand co-ordinated to the cobalt by two sites; b is 0 or 1 (preferably 0), and when b=0, then m+n = 6, and when b=1, then m=0 and n=4; and T is one or more appropriately selected counteranions present in a number y, where y is an integer to obtain a charge-balanced salt (preferably y is 1 to 3; most preferably 2 when T is a -1 charged anion);
and wherein further said catalyst has a base hydrolysis rate constant of less than 0.23 M-1 s-1 (25°C).
Preferred T are selected from the group consisting of chloride, iodide, I3-, formate, nitrate, nitrite, sulfate, sulfite, citrate, acetate, carbonate., bromide, PF6-, BF4-, B(Ph)~ , phosphate, phosphite, silicate, tosylate, methanesulfonate, and combinations thereof.
Optionally, T can be protonated if more than one anionic group exists in T, e.g., HP042', HC03-, H2P04 , etc. Further, T may be selected from the group consisting of non-traditional inorganic anions such as anionic surfactants (e.g., linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS), alkyl sulfates (AS), alkylethoxysulfo:nates (AES), etc.) andlor anionic polymers (e.g., polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, etc.).

The M moieties include, but are not limited to, for example, F-, S04-2, NCS-, SCN-, 5203-2, NH3, P043-, and carboxylates (which preferably are mono-carboxylates, but more than one carboxylate may be present in the moiety as long as the binding to the cobalt is by only one carboxylate per moiety, in which case the other carboxylate in the M moiety may be protonated or in its salt form). Optionally, M can be protonated if more than one anionic group exists in M (e.g., HPO42-,1HC03-, H2POq.', HOC(O)CH2C(O)O-, etc.) Preferred M moieties are substituted and unsubstituted C3p carboxylic acids having the formulas:
RC(O)O-wherein R is preferably selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C I-(preferably C1-Clg) unsubstituted and substituted alkyl, C6-C3d (preferably Cg-Clg) unsubstituted and substituted aryl, and C3-C3p (preferably CS-Clg) unsubstituted and substituted heteroaryl, wherein substituents are selected from the group consisting of -NR'3, -NR'4+, -C(O)OR', -OR', -C(O)NR'z, wherein R' is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C1-C6 moieties. Such substituted R therefore include the moieties -(CH2)nOH and -(CH2)nNR'4+, wherein n is an integer from 1 to 1 b, preferably from 2 to 10, and most preferably from 2 to 5.
Most preferred M are carboxylic acids having the formula above wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl, ethyl; propyl, straight or.
branched C4-C 12 alkyl, and benzyl. Most preferred R is methyl. Preferred carboxylic acid M
moieties include formic, benzoic, octanoic, nonanoic, decanoic, dodecanoic, malonic, rnaleic, succinic, adipic, phthalic, 2-ethylhexanoic, naphi:henoic, oleic, pahnitic, triflate, tartrate, stearic, butyric, citric, acrylic, aspartic, fumaric, Iauric, linoleic, lactic, malic, and especially acetic acid.
The B moieties include carbonate, di- and higher carboxylates (e.g., oxalate, rnalonate, malic, succinate, maleate), picolinic acid, and alpha and lbeta amino acids (e.g., glycine, alanine, beta-alanine, phenylalanine).
Cobalt bleach catalysts useful herein are known, being described for example along with their base hydrolysis rates, in M. L. Tobe, "Base Hydrolysis of Transition-Metal Complexes", Adv. Inorg. Bioinor~. Mech., (1983), 2, pages 1-94. For example, Table WO 00!04117 PCTIUS99/15491 1 at page 17, provides the base hydrolysis rates (designated therein as kpH) for cobalt pentaamine catalysts complexed with oxalate (kOH= 2.5 x 10-4 M-1 s-1 {25°C)), NCS-(kOH- 5.0 x 10'4 M-1 s-I (25°C)), formate (kOH= 5.8 x 10-4 M-1 s-1 (25°C)), and acetate (kpH= 9.6 x 10-4 M-1 s-I (25°C)). The most preferred cobalt catalyst useful herein are cobalt pentaamine acetate salts having the fornlula [Co(NH3)50Ac]
Ty, wherein OAc represents an acetate moiety, and especially cobalt pentaamine acetate chloride, [Co{NH3)50Ac]C12; as well as [Co(NH3)50Ac](OAc)2;
[Co(NH3)SOAc](PF6)2; [Co(NH3)SOAc](S04); [Co{NH3)50Ac](BF4)2; and [Co(NH3)SOAc](N03)2 (herein "PAC").
These cobalt catalysts are readily prepared by known procedures, such as taught for example in the Tobe article hereinbefore and the references cited therein, in US-A-4,810,410, to Diakun et al, issued March 7,1989, J. Chem. Ed. (1989}; 66 (12), 45; The Synthesis and Characterization of Inorganic Compounds, W.L. Jolly (Prentice-Hall; 1970), pp. 461-3; Inor~. Chem., 18,1497-1502 (1!979); Inor;~. Chem., 21, 2885 (1982); Inor;g. Chem., 18, 2023-2025 {1979); Inorg;. Synthesis, 173-176 (1960);
and Journal of Physical Chemistry, 56, 22-25 (1952); as ~weli as the synthesis examples provided hereinafter.
Cobalt catalysts suitable for incorporation into the detergent tablets of the present invention may be produced according to the synthetic routes disclosed in US-A-5,559,261, US-A-5,581,005, and US-A-5,597,936.
These catalysts may be co-processed with adjunct materials so as to reduce the colour impact if.desired for the aesthetics of the product, or to be included in enzyme-containing particles as exemplified hereinafter, or the compositions :may be manufactured to contain catalyst "speckles".
Or~polymeric compound Organic polymeric compounds may be added as preferred components of the detergent tablets in accord with the invention. By organic polymeric compound it is meant essentially any polymeric organic compound commonly found in detergent compositions having dispersant, anti-redeposition, soil release agents o~r other detergency properties.

s6 Examples of organic polymeric compounds include the water soluble organic homo-or co-polymeric polycarboxylic acids, modified polycarbox:ylates or their salts in which the polycarboxylic acid comprises at least two carboxyl radicals separated from each other by not more than two carbon atoms. Polymers of the latter type are disclosed in GB-A-1,596,756. Examples of such salts are polyacrylates of ~moiecuiar weight 2000-and their copolymers with any suitable other monomer units including modified acrylic, furnaric, malefic, itaconic, aconitic, mesaconic, citraconic; and methylenemalonic acid or their salts, malefic anhydride, acrylamide, alkylene, vinylmethyl ether, styrene and any mixtures thereof Preferred are the copolymers of acrylic acid and malefic anhydride having a molecular weight of from 20,000 to 100,000.
Preferred commercially available acrylic acid containing polymers having a molecular weight below 15,000 include those sold under the tradename Sokalan PA30, PA20, PA15, PA10 and Sokalan CP10 by BASF GmbH, and those sold under the tradename Acusol 45N, 480N, 460N by Rohm and Haas.
Preferred acrylic acid containing copolymers include those which contain as monomer units: a) from 90% to 10%, preferably from 80% to 20% by weight acrylic acid or its salts and b) from 10% to 90%, preferably from 20% to 80% by weight of a substituted acrylic monomer or its salts having the general formula -[CR2-CRl(CO-O-R3)]-wherein at least one of the substituents Rl, R2 or R3, preferably 1~1 or R2 is a 1 to 4 carbon alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group, Rl or R2 can be a hydrogen and R3 can be a hydrogen or alkali metal salt. Most preferred is a substituted acrylic monomer wherein R1 is methyl, R2 is hydrogen (i.e. a methacrylic acid monomer). The most preferred copolymer of this type has a molecular weight of 3s00 and contains 60% to 80°ro by weight of acrylic acid and 40% to 20% by weight of methacrylic acid.
The polyamine and modified polyamine compounds are useful herein including those derived from aspartic acid such as those disclosed in EP-A-030s282, EP-A-0305283 and EP-A-0351629:
Other optional polymers may polyvinyl alcohols and acetates both modified and non-modified, cellulosics and modified cellulosics, polyoxyethylenes, polyoxypropylenes, and copolymers thereof, both modified and non-modified, terephthalate esters of ethylene or propylene glycol or mixtures thereof with polyoxyalkylene units. Suitable examples are disclosed in US-A-s,591,703, US-A-5,597,789 and L:fS-A-4,490,271.

Soil Release Agents Suitable polymeric soil release agents include those soil release agents having: {a) one or more nonionic hydrophile components consisting essentiallly of (i) polyoxyethylene segments with a degree of polymerization of at least 2, or (ii) oxypropylene or polyoxypropylene segments with a degree of polymerization of from 2 to 10, wherein said hydrophile segment does not encompass any oxypropylene unit unless it is bonded to adjacent moieties at each end by ether linkages, or {iii) ~~ mixture of oxyalkylene units comprising oxyethylene and from 1 to 30 oxypropylene units, said hydrophile segments preferably comprising at least 25% oxyethylene units and more preferably, especially for such components having 20 to 30 oxypropylene units; at lleast 50% oxyethylene units;
or {b) one or more hydrophobe components comprising (i;l C3 oxyalkylene terephthalate segments, wherein, if said hydrophobe components also comprise oxyethylene terephthalate, the ratio of oxyethylene terephthalate:C3 ox:yalkylene terephthalate units is 2:1 or lower, (ii) C4-C6 alkylene or oxy C4-C6 alkylene segments, or mixtures therein, (iii) poly (vinyl ester) segments, preferably polyvinyl acetate, having a degree of polymerization of at least 2, or {iv) C1-C4 alkyl ether or C4 hydroxyalkyl ether substituents, or mixtures therein, wherein said substituents are present in the form of C1-C4 alkyl ether or C4 hydroxyalkyl ether cellulose derivatives, or mixtures therein, or a combination of (a) and (b).
Typically, the polyoxyethylene segments of (a)(i) will have a degree of polymerization of from 200, although higher levels can be used, preferably from 3 to 150, more preferably from 6 to 100. Suitable oxy C4-C6 alkylene hydrophobe segments include, but are not limited to, end-caps of polymeric soil release agents such as M03S(CH2)nOCH2CH20-, where M is sodium and n is an integer from 4-6, as disclosed in US-A-4,721,580.
Polymeric soil release agents useful herein also include cellulosic derivatives such as hydroxyether cellulosic polymers, copolymeric blocks of ethylene terephthalate or propylene terephthalate with polyethylene oxide or polypropylene oxide terephthalate, and the like. Such agents are commercially available and include hydroxyethers of cellulose such as METHOCEL (Dow). Cellulosic soil release agents for use herein also include those selected from the group consisting of C1-C4 alkyl and C4 hydroxyalkyl cellulose; see US-A-4,000,093.

S$
Soil release agents characterized by polyvinyl ester) hydrophobe segments include graft copolymers of polyvinyl ester), e.g., C1-C6 vinyl esters, preferably polyvinyl acetate) grafted onto polyalkylene oxide backbones, such as polyethylene oxide backbones. See EP-A-0219048.
Another suitable soil release agent is a copolymer having random blocks of ethylene terephthalate and polyethylene oxide (PEO} terephthalate. The molecular weight of this polymeric soil release agent is in the range of from 25,000 to 55,000: See US-A-3,959,230 and US-A-3,893,929.
Another suitable polymeric soil release agent is a polyester with repeat units of ethylene terephthalate units contains 10-15% by weight of ethylene terephthalate units together with 90-80% by weight of polyoxyethylene terephthalate nits, derived from a polyoxyethylene glycol of average molecular weight 300-:1,000.
Another suitable polymeric soil release agent is a sulfonatE;d product of a substantially linear ester oligomer comprised of an oligomeric ester backbone of terephthaloyl and oxyalkyleneoxy repeat units and terminal moieties covalently attached to the backbone.
These soil release agents are described fully in US-A-4,968,451. Other suitable polymeric soil release agents include the terephthalate polyesters of US-A-4,711,730, the anionic end-capped oligomeric esters of US-A-4,721,580 and the block polyester oligomeric compounds of US-A-4,702,857. Other polymeric soil release agents also include the soil release agents of US-A-4,877,896 which discloses anionic, especially sulfoarolyl, end-capped terephthalate esters.
Another soil release agent is an oiigomer with repeat units of terephthaloyl units, sulfoisoterephthaloyl units, oxyethyleneoxy and oxy-1,2-propylene units. The repeat units form the backbone of the oligomer and are preferably terminated with modified isethionate end-caps. A particularly preferred soil release agent of this type comprises one sulfoisophthaloyl unit, 5 terephthaloyl units, oxyethyleneoxy and oxy-1,2-propyleneoxy units in a ratio of from 1.7 to I .8, and two end-cap units of sodium 2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)-ethanesulfonate.
Heaw metal ion sequestrant The tablets of the invention preferably contain as an optional component a heavy metal ion sequestrant. By heavy metal ion sequestrant it is meant herein components which act to sequester (chelate) heavy metal ions. These components may also have calcium and magnesium chelation capacity, but preferentially they show selectivity to binding heavy metal ions such as iron, manganese and copper.
Heavy metal ion sequestrants, which are acidic in nature, having for example phosphonic acid or carboxylic acid functionalities, may be present either in their acid form or as a complex/salt with a suitable counter cation such as an alkali or alkaline metal ion, ammonium, or substituted ammonium ion, or any mixtures thereof. Preferably any saltslcomplexes are water soluble. The molar ratio of said counter cation to the heavy metal ion sequestrant is preferably at least 1:1.
Suitable heavy metal ion sequestrants for use herein include organic phosphonates, such as the amino alkylene poly (alkylene phosphonates), alkali metal ethane 1-hydroxy disphosphonates and nitrilo trimethylene phosphonates. Preferred among the above species are diethylenetriamine penta (methylene phosphonate), ethylenediamine tetra(methylene phosphonate) hexamethylenediamine tetra {methylene phosphonate) and hydroxy-ethylene-1,1-diphosphonate.
Other suitable heavy metal ion sequestrant for use herein :include nitrilotriacetic acid and polyaminocarboxylic acids such as ethylenediaminotetracetic acid, ethylenetriamine pentacetic acid, ethylenediamine disuccinic acid, ethylene:diamine diglutaric acid, 2-hydroxypropylenediamine disuccinic acid or any salts thereof.
Especially preferred is ethylenediamine-N,N'-disuccinic acid (EDDS) or the alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, ammonium, or substituted ammonium salts thereof, or mixtures thereof. Preferred EDDS compounds are the free acid form and the sodium or magnesium salt or complex thereof.
Cr~l_;~rowth inhibitor component The detergent tablets preferably contain a crystal growth inhibitor component, preferably an organodiphosphonic acid component, incorporated preferably at a Ievel of from 0.01%
to 5%, more preferably from 0.1% to 2% by weight of the compositions.

By organo diphosphonic acid it is meant herein an organ.o diphosphonic acid which does not contain nitrogen as part of its chemical structure. This def nition therefore excludes the organo aminophosphonates, which however may be :included in compositions of the invention as heavy metal ion sequestrant components.
The organo diphosphonic acid is preferably a C1-C4 diphosphonic acid, more preferably a C2 diphosphonic acid, such as ethylene diphosphonic <~.cid, or most preferably ethane 1-hydroxy-1,1-diphosphonic acid (HEDP) and may be present in partially or fully ionized form, particularly as a salt or complex.
Water-soluble sulfate salt The compositions herein optionally contains a water-soluble sulfate salt.
Where present the water-soluble sulfate salt is at the level of from 0.1 °/. to 40%, more preferably from 1% to 30%, most preferably from 5% to 25% by weight of composition.
The water-soluble sulfate salt may be essentially any salt of sulfate with any counter cation. Preferred salts are selected from the sulfates of the alkali and alkaline earth metals, particularly sodium sulfate.
Alkali Metal Silicate A suitable alkali metal silicate is sodium silicate having an Si02:Na20 ratio of from 1.8 to 3.0, preferably from 1.8 to 2.4, most preferably 2Ø ;indium silicate is preferably present at a level of less than 20%, preferably from 1% to 15%, most preferably from 3%
to 12% by weight of Si02. The alkali metal silicate may be in the form of either the anhydrous salt or a hydrated salt.
The compositions herein can also contain sodium metasilicate, present at a level of at least 0.4% Si02 by weight. Sodium metasilicate has a nominal Si02 : Na20 ratio of 1Ø
The weight ratio of said sodium silicate to said sodium metasilicate, measured as Si02, is preferably from 50:1 to 5:4, more preferably from 15:1 to 2:1, most preferably from 10:1 to 5:2.
Colourant The term 'colourant', as used herein, means any substance that absorbs specific wavelengths of light from the visible light spectrum. Such colourants when added to a detergent composition have the effect of changing the visible colour and thus the appearance of the detergent composition. Colourants may be for example either dyes or pigments. Preferably the colourants are stable in composition in which they are to be incorporated. Thus in a composition of high pH the colourant is preferably alkali stable and in a composition of low pH the colourant is preferably acid stable.
Examples of suitable dyes include reactive dyes, direct dyes, azo dyes.
Preferred dyes include phthalocyanine dyes, anthraquinone dye, quinoline dyes, monoazo, disazo and polyazo. More preferred dyes include anthraquinone, quinoline and monoazo dyes.
Preferred dyes include SANDOLANTM E-HRL l 80%, (tradename), SANDOI,ANTM
MILLING BLUE, TURQUOISE ACID BLUE (tradename) and SANDOLAN TM
BRILLIANT GREEN (tradename) all available from Clariant UK., HEXACOLTM
QUINOLINE YELLOW (trademane) and HEXACOLT"' BRILLIANT BLUE (tradename) both available from Pointings, UK, ULTRA MARINE BLUE (tradPname) available from Nolliday or LEVAFIXTM TURQUISE BLUE EBA (tradename) available from Bayer, USA.
The colourant may be incorporated by any suitable method. Suitable methods include mixing all or selected detergent components with a colourant in a drum or spraying all or selected detergent components with the colourant in a rotating drum.
Colourant is typically added at a level of from 0.001 % to 1.5%, preferably from 0.01 to 1.0%, most preferably from 0.1% to 0.3% by weight of composition.
Corrosion inhibitor compound The compositions herein, especially for use in dishwashing, can contain a corrosion inhibitor preferably selected from organic silver coating agents, particularly paraffin, nitrogen-containing corrosion inhibitor compounds and Mn(Il) compounds, particularly Mn(1I) salts of organic ligands.
Organic silver coating agents are described in WO-A-94/16047 and EP-A-690122.
Nitrogen-containing corrosion inhibitor compounds are disclosed in EP-A-0634478.
Mn(II) compounds for use in corrosion inhibition are described in EP-A-0672 749.

The functional role of the silver coating agent is to form 'in use' a protective coating layer on any silverware components of the washload to which the compositions of the invention are being applied. The silver coating agent should hence have a high affinity for attachment to solid silver surfaces, particularly when present in as a component of ax!
aqueous washing and bleaching solution with which the solid silver surfaces are being treated.
Suitable organic silver coating agents herein include fatty esters of mono- or polyhydric alcohols having from 1 to 40 carbon atoms in the hydrocarbon chain.
The fatty acid portion of the fatty ester can be obtained from mono- or poly-carboxylic acids having from 1 to 40 carbon atoms in the hydrocarbon chain. Suitable examples of monocarboxylic fatty acids include behenic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, myristic acid, lauric acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, isobutyric acid, valeric acid, lactic acid, glycolic acid and (3, j3'- dihydroxyisobutyric acid.
Examples of suitable polycarboxyIic acids include: n-butyl-malonic acid, isocitz~ic acid, citric acid, malefic acid, malic acid and succinic acid.
The fatty alcohol radical in the fatty ester can be represented by mono- or polyhydric alcohols having from 1 to 40 carbon atoms in the hydrocwbon chain. Examples of suitable fatty alcohois include; behenyl, arachidyl, cocoyl, oleyl and lauryl alcohol, ethylene glycol, glycerol, ethanol, isopropanol, vinyl alcohol, diglycerol, xylitoi, sucrose, erythritol, pentaerythritol, sorbitol or sorbitan.
Preferably, the fatty acid and/or fatty alcohol group of the fatty ester adjunct material have from I to 24 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain.
Preferred fatty esters herein are ethylene glycol, glycerol and sorbitan esters wherein the fatty acid portion of the ester normally comprises a species selected from behenic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid or myristic acid.
The glycerol esters are also highly preferred. These are the mono-, di- or tri-esters of glycerol and the fatty acids as defined above.

WO 00/04117 PCTIUS99l15491 Specific examples of fatty alcohol esters for use herein include: stearyl acetate, palmityl di-Lactate, cocoyl isobutyrate, oleyl maleate, oleyl dimaleate , and tallowyl proprionate.
Fatty acid esters useful herein include: xylitol monopalmitate, pentaerythritol monostearate, sucrose monostearate, glycerol monostearat~e, ethylene glycol monostearate, sorbitan esters. Suitable sorbitan esters include sorbitan monostearate, sorbitan palmitate, sorbitan monolaurate, sorbitan monom;yristate, sorbitan monobehenate, sorbitan mono-oleate, sorbitan dilaurate, sorbitan distearate, sorbitan dibehenate, sorbitan dioleate, and also mixed tallowalkyl sorbitan mono- and di-esters.
Glycerol monostearate, glycerol mono-oleate, glycerol rnc~nopalmitate, glycerol monobehenate, and glycerol distearate are preferred glycerol esters herein.
Suitable organic silver coating agents include triglyceride:>, mono or diglycerides, and wholly or partially hydrogenated derivatives thereof, and any mixtures thereof. Suitable sources of fatty acid esters include vegetable and fish oils and animal fats.
Suitable vegetable oils include soy bean oil, cotton seed oil, castor oil, olive oil, peanut oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil, rapeseed oil, grapeseed oil, palm oil and corn oil.
Waxes, including microcrystalline waxes are suitable organic silver coating agents herein. Preferred waxes have a melting point in the range from 35°C to I IO°C and comprise generally from 12 to 70 carbon atoms. Preferred are petroleum waxes of the paraff n and microcrystalline type which are composed of long-chain saturated hydrocarbon compounds.
Alginates and gelatin are suitable organic silver coating agents herein.
Dialkyl amine oxides such as C 12-C20 methylamine oxide, and dialkyl quaternary ammonium compounds and salts, such as the CI2-C20 m~ethylammonium halides are also suitable.
Other suitable organic silver coating agents include certain polymeric materials.
Polyvinylpyrrolidones with an average molecular weight of from 12,000 to 700,000, polyethylene glycols (PEG) with an average molecular weight of from 600 to

10,000, polyamine N-oxide polymers, copolymers of N-vinylpynrolidone and N-vinylimidazole, and cellulose derivatives such as methylcellulose, carbox:ymethylcellulose and hydroxyethy1ce11ulose are examples of such polymeric materials.

Certain perfume materials, particularly those demonstrating a high substantivity for metallic surfaces, are also useful as the organic silver coating agents herein.
Polymeric soil release agents can also be used as an organic silver coating agent.
A preferred organic silver coating agent is a paraffin oil, 'typically a predominantly branched aliphatic hydrocarbon having a number of carbon atoms in the range of from 20 to 50; preferred paraffin oil selected from predominantly branched C25-45 sP~ies with a ratio of cyclic to noncyclic hydrocarbons of from 1:I0 to 2:1, preferably from 1:5 to 1:I.
A paraffin oil meeting these characteristics, having a ratio of cyclic to noncyclic hydrocarbons of 32:68, is sold by Wintershall, Salzbergen, Germany, under the trade name WINOG ?0.
Nitrosen containing corrosion inhibitor compounds Suitable nitrogen-containing corrosion inhibitor compounds include imidazole and derivatives thereof such as benzimidazole, 2-heptadecyl imidazole and those imidazole derivatives described in Czech Patent No. 139, 279 and GB-A-1,137,741, which also discloses a method for making imidazole compounds.
Also suitable as nitrogen-containing corrosion inhibitor compounds are pyrazole compounds and their derivatives, particularly those where the pyrazole is substituted in any of the 1, 3, 4 or 5 positions by substituents RI, R3, R4 and R$ where RI
is any of H, CH20H, CONH3, or COCH3, R3 and RS are any of Cl.-C20 alkyl or hydroxyl, and R4 is any of H, NH2 or N02.
Other suitable nitrogen-containing corrosion inhibitor compounds include benzotriazole, 2-mercaptobenzothiazole, I-phenyl-5-mercapto-1,2,3,4-tetrazole, thionalide, morpholine, melamine, distearylamine, stearoyl stearamide, cyanuric acid, aminotriazole, aminotetrazole and indazole.
Nitrogen-containing compounds such as amines, especially distearylamine and ammonium compounds such as ammonium chloride, ammonium bromide, ammonium sulphate or diammonium hydrogen citrate are also suit~~ble.

Mri(II) corrosion inhibitor compounds The Mn(Ii) compound is preferably incorporated at a level to provide from 0.1 ppm to 250 ppm, more preferably from 0.5 ppm to 50 ppm, mostpreferably from 1 ppm to ppm by weight of Mn(II) ions in bleaching solution.
The Mn (II) compound may be an inorganic salt in anhydrous, or any hydrated forms.
Suitable salts include manganese sulphate, manganese caribonate, manganese phosphate, manganese nitrate, manganese acetate and manganese chloride. The Mn(II) compound may be a salt or complex of an organic fatty acid such as nnanganese acetate or manganese stearate.
The Mn(II) compound may be a salt or complex of an organic ligand. In one preferred aspect the organic ligand is a heavy metal ion sequestrant. In another preferred aspect the organic ligand is a crystal growth inhibitor.
Other corrosion inhibitor compounds Other suitable additional corrosion inhibitor compounds include, mercaptans and diols, especially mercaptans with 4 to 20 carbon atoms including; Iauryl mercaptan, thiophenol, thionapthol, thionalide and thioanthranol. Also suitable are saturated or unsaturated C 10-C20 fatty acids, or their salts, especially aluminium tristearate. T'he C12-C20 hYdroxy fatty acids, or their salts, are also suitable. Phosphonated c>cta-decane and other anti-oxidants such as betahydroxytoluene (BHT) are also suitable.
Copolymers of butadiene and malefic acid, particularly those supplied under the trade reference no. 07787 by Polysciences Inc have been found to be of particular utility as corrosion inhibitor compounds.
Water-soluble bismuth com~oun_d The compositions herein, especially for use in dishwashing;, can contain a water-soluble bismuth compound, preferably present at a level of from 0.005% to 20%, more preferably from 0.01 % to 5%, most preferably from 0.1 % to 1 % by weight of composition.

The water-soluble bismuth compound may be essentially any salt or complex of bismuth with essentially any inorganic or organic counter anion. Preferred inorganic bismuth salts are selected from the bismuth trihalides, bismuth nitrate and bismuth phosphate.
Bismuth acetate and citrate are preferred salts with an organic counter anion.
Enzy-me Stabilizing System Preferred enzyme-containing compositions herein can comprise from 0.001 % to 10%, preferably from 0.005% to 8%, most preferably from 0.01.% to 6%, by weight of an enzyme stabilizing system. The enzyme stabilizing system can be any stabilizing system which is compatible with the detersive enzyme. Such stabilizing systems 'can comprise calcium ion, boric acid, propylene glycol, short chain carboxylic acid, boronic acid, chlorine bleach scavengers and mixtures thereof. Such stabilizing systems can also comprise reversible enzyme inhibitors, such as reversible protease inhibitors.
Lime soap dispersant compound The compositions herein can contain a lime soap dispersant compound, preferably present at a level of from 0.1 % to 40% by weight, more preferably 1 % to 20%
by weight, most preferably from 2% to 10% by weight of composition.
A lime soap dispersant is a material that prevents the precipitation of alkali metal, ammonium or amine salts of fatty acids by calcium or magnesium ions. Preferred lime soap disperant compounds are disclosed in WO-A-93/08877.
Suds suppressingrsystem The compositions herein preferably comprise a suds suppressing system present at a level of from 0.0I% to IS%, preferably from 0.05% to 10%, most preferably from 0.1%
to 5% by weight of composition.
Suitable suds suppressing systems for use herein may comprise essentially any known antifoam compound, including, for example silicone antifbam compounds, 2-alkyl and alcanol antifoam compounds. Preferred suds suppressing systems and antifoam compounds are disclosed in WO-A-93/08876 and EP-A-0705324.

WO 00!04117 Polymeric dye transfer inhibiting agents The compositions herein can also comprise from 0.01% to 10 %, preferably from 0.05%
to 0.5% by weight of polymeric dye transfer inhibiting agents.
The polymeric dye transfer inhibiting agents are preferably selected from polyamine N-oxide polymers, copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone and N-vinylimidazole, polyvinylpyrrolidonepolyrners or combinations thereof.
Optical brightener The compositions can also contain from 0.005% to 5% by weight of certain types of hydrophilic optical brighteners.
Hydrophilic optical brighteners useful herein include those having the structural formula:

Ri H H N--C
N- N
N ~-.- N C ~ ~ CO
N H H "r"~
O~ l ~ N
SO M S03M ~Ri wherein Rl is selected from anilino, N-2-bis-hydroxyeth~yl and NH-2-hydroxyethyl; R2 is selected from N-2-bis-hydroxyethyl, N-2-hydroxyethyl-N-methylamino, morphilino, chloro and amino;.and M is a salt-forming cation such ass sodium or potassium.
When in the above formula, Rl is anilino; R2 is N-2-bis,-hydroxyethyl and M is a cation such as sodium, the brightener is 4,4',-bis[(4-anilino-b-(N-2-bis-hydroxyethyl)-s-triazine-2-yl)amino]-2,2'-stilbenedisulfonic acid and disodium salt. This particular brightener species is commercially marketed under the tradename 'Tinopal-UNPA-GX by Ciba-Geigy Corporation. Tinopal-UNPA-GX is the preferred hydrophilic optical brightener useful in the detergent compositions herein.
When in the above formula, Rl is anilino, R2 is N-2-hydroxyethyl-N-2-methylamino and M is a canon such as sodium, the brightener is 4,4'-bis[:(4-anilino-6-(N-2-hydroxyethyl-N-methylamino)-s-triazine-2-y!)amino]2,2'-stilbenedisulfonic acid disodium salt. This WO 00/04117 PCTlUS99/15491 particular brightener species is commercially marketed under the tradename Tinopal SBM-GX by Ciba-Geigy Corporation.
When in the above formula, Rl is anilino, R2 is morphilino and M is a ration such as sodium, the brightener is 4,4'-bis[{4-anilino-6-morphilino-s-triazine-2-yl)amino]2,2'-stilbenedisulfonic acid, sodium salt. This particular brightener species is commercially marketed under the tradename Tinopal AMS-GX by Ciba~ Geigy Corporation.
Clay softening system The compositions herein can contain a clay softening system comprising a clay mineral compound and optionally a clay flocculating agent.
'The clay mineral compound is preferably a smectite clay compound. Smectite clays are disclosed in the US-A-3,862,058, US-A-3,948,790, US-A-3,954,632 and US-A-4,062,647. EP-A-0299575 and EP-A-0313146 describe suitable organic polymeric clay flocculating agents.
Cationic fabric softening-agents Suitable cationic fabric softening agents include the water insoluble tertiary amines or dilong chain amide materials as disclosed in GB-A-1514:276 and EP-A-0011340.
Cationic fabric softening agents are typically incorporated at total levels of from 0.5% to 15% by weight, normally from 1% to 5% by weight.

Claims (27)

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A multi-phase detergent tablet for use in a washing machine, the tablet comprising:

a) a first phase comprising silicate alkalising agent including at least a crystalline layered sodium silicate of general formula I

NaMSi x O2x+.yH2O I

wherein M is sodium or hydrogen, x is a number from 1.9 to 22 and y is a number from 0 to 30, and b) a second phase comprising a (bi)carbonate/acid disrupting agent, and wherein the tablet contains silicate alkalising agent and acid in a weight ratio of at least about 1:1, and wherein the alkalizing agent has an initial pH of at least 9 in a 1% aqueous solution or dispersion at 25°C and the (bi)carbonate/acid disrupting agent has an initial pH of less than about 6.5 in a 1% aqueous solution or dispersion at 24°C.

2. A multi-phase detergent tablet according to claim 1 wherein x is a number from 1.9 to 4.

3. A multi-phase detergent tablet according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein y is a number from 0 to 20.

4. A multi-phase detergent tablet according to any one of claims 1-3 wherein the weight ratio is at least about 5:1.

5. A multi-phase detergent tablet according to any one of claims 1-4 wherein the silicate alkalising agent comprises at least 25% by weight thereof of the crystalline layered sodium silicate of general formula I.

6. A multi-phase detergent tablet according to any one of claims 1-4 wherein the silicate alkalising agent comprises at least 50% by weight thereof of the crystalline layered sodium silicate of general formula I.

7. A multi-phase detergent tablet according to any one of claims 1-4 wherein the silicate alkalising agent comprises at least 75% by weight thereof of the crystalline layered sodium silicate of general formula I.

8. A multi-phase detergent tablet according to any one of claims 1-7 comprising from 1% to 25% of silicate alkalising agent by weight of the tablet.

9. A multi-phase detergent tablet according to any one of claims 1-7 comprising from 5% to 20% of silicate alkalising agent by weight of the tablet.

10. A multi-phase detergent tablet according to any one of claims 1-7 comprising from 8% to 18% of silicate alkalising agent by weight of the tablet.

11. A multi-phase detergent tablet according to any one of claims 1 to 10 comprising from 0.1 % to 10% of acid by weight of the tablet.

12. A multi-phase detergent tablet according to any one of claims 1 to 10 comprising from 0.5% to 5% of acid by weight of the tablet.

13. A multi-phase detergent tablet according to any one of claims 1 to 10 comprising from 0.8% to 3% of acid by weight of the tablet.

14. A multi-phase detergent tablet according to any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein the first phase is composed of a built active detergent composition comprising by weight thereof:

(1) from 1% to 12% of the crystalline layered sodium silicate of general formula I, (2) from 0% to 70% of at least one of polyphosphate, zeolite, and polycarboxylate builders, (3) from 0% to 30%, of one of carbonate and bicarbonate and carbonate or bicarbonate, and (4) from 0% to 10%, of amorphous silicate.

15. A multi-phase detergent tablet according to claim 14 wherein the composition comprises by weight thereof from 5% to 10% of the crystalline layered sodium silicate of general formula I.

16. A multi-phase detergent tablet according to claim 14 wherein the composition comprises by weight thereof from 10% to 60% of at least one of polyphosphate, zeolite, and polycarboxylate builders.

17. A multi-phase detergent tablet according to claim 14 wherein the composition comprises by weight thereof from 5% to 20% of carbonate or bicarbonate.

18. A multi-phase detergent tablet according to claim 14 wherein the composition comprises by weight thereof from 5% to 20% of carbonate and bicarbonate.

19. A multi-phase detergent tablet according to claim 14 wherein the composition comprises by weight thereof from 0% to 5% of amorphous silicate.

20. A multi-phase detergent tablet according to any one of claims 1 to 19 wherein the second phase comprises a compound that is chemically inactivated by a component of the first phase.

21. A multi-phase tablet according to any one of claims 1 to 20 having a child bite strength (CBS) of at least about 10 kg.

22. A multi-phase tablet according to any one of claims 1 to 20 having a child bite strength (CBS) of at least 14 kg.

23. A multi-phase detergent tablet according to any one of claims 1 to 22 wherein the second phase comprises a component that is chemically inactivated by a component of the first phase and wherein the first phase is in the form of a shaped body formed by compression at a pressure greater than that of the second phase.

24. A multi-phase detergent tablet according to any one of claims 1 to 23 wherein the second phase is compressed at a pressure of less than about 350 kg/cm2.

25. A multi-phase detergent tablet according to any one of claims 1 to 24 wherein the first phase is compressed at a pressure of at least about 350 kg/cm2.

26. A multi-phase detergent tablet according to any one of claims 1 to 25 wherein a) the first phase is in the form of a shaped body having at least one mould therein; and b) the second phase is in the form of a particulate solid compressed within said mould.

27. A multi-phase detergent tablet according to any one of claims 1 to 26 wherein one of the first and second phases and first or second phases additionally comprises a binder selected from the group consisting of sugar and sugar derivatives, starch and starch derivatives, inorganic and organic polymers.