Definitions

• a detergent composition comprising two cellulase components.
• the present invention relates to a detergent composition comprising cellulases which is capable of providing improved particulate soil removal as well as colour clarification when used for washing cellulose containing fabrics.
• WO 89/09259 Novartiase preparation to be used for reducing the harshness of cotton-containing fabrics has been described.
• WO 89/09259 is disclosed a cellulase fraction enriched in endoglucanase activity.
• cellulolytic enzymes i.e. cellulases
• GB-A-2,075,028, GB-A-2,095,275 and GB-A-2,094,826, disclose detergent compo ⁇ sitions with cellulase for improved cleaning performance
• GB-A-1,368,599 discloses the use of cellulase for reducing the harshness of cotton-containing fabrics
• U.S. 4,435,307 teaches the use of a cellulolytic enzyme derived from Humicola insolens as well as a fraction thereof, designated ACXI, as a harshness-reducing detergent additive.
• EP-A-0 269 168 discloses optimized detergent compositions containing cellulase, which are formulated at a mild alka ⁇ line pH range and provide combined fabric cleaning, fabric softening, and fabric care performance.
• novel enzymatic detergent compositions capable of providing both sufficient colour clarification and particulate soil removal which, after a limited number of washing cycles, neither damage nor partly degrade the cellulose-containing fabric, e.g. the cotton.
• the present invention relates to detergent compositions com ⁇ prising a first cellulase component having retaining-type activity and being capable of particulate soil removal and a second cellulase component having multiple domains compris- ing at least one non-catalytic domain attached to a catalyt ⁇ ic domain and being capable of colour clarification wherein at least one of the cellulase components is a single (recom ⁇ binant) component.
• compositions are particularly useful as laundry deter ⁇ gents, both granular as well as liquid detergents.
• the cellulase component which is active in respect of colour clarification when used for washing cellulose-containing fabrics preferably has multiple domains, i.e. one or more catalytic domains attached to one or more non-catalytic domains, e.g. cellu ⁇ lose binding domains, and that the component may have retaining-type activity or inverting-type activity; and that the cellulase component which is active in respect of particulate soil removal when used for washing cellulose- containing fabrics, has retaining-type activity.
• the retaining-type activity of the first cellulase component may be demonstrated by the capability of the component to exhibit catalytic activity on low molecular weight carbohydrate substrates; and that the multiple domain architecture of the second cellulase component capable of colour clarification may be demonstrated by the capability of the component to exhibit high catalytic activity on cellodextrins, especially cellodextrins having 6 glucose units (DP6) , e.g. dyed microcrystalline cellulose, and essentially no catalytic activity on low molecular weight carbohydrate substrates.
• DP6 6 glucose units
• a cellulase composition consist ⁇ ing of at least two cellulolytic components, the first com- ponent exhibiting a low degree of activity towards dyed microcrystalline cellulose and a high degree of activity towards short cellooligosaccharides and the second component exhibiting a high degree of activity towards dyed microcry ⁇ stalline cellulose, may be used complementary in detergent compositions for the improvement of the performance of det ⁇ ergents used for washing cellulose-containing fabrics, e.g. cotton, in particular for achieving particulate soil removal (first component) and better colour clarification (second component) without inducing fabric damage.
• first component particulate soil removal
• second component better colour clarification
• the invention further relates to detergent compositions hav ⁇ ing said first and second cellulase components with above- mentioned benefits together with improved stability in heavy duty liquids in the presence of proteases. It has previously been observed that cellulases are sensitive to the action of proteases, i.e. that in the presence of proteases commonly employed in detergents, cellulases are degraded to lower molecular weight polypeptides resulting in inactivation of the cellulase enzymes in question.
• the first cellulase component of the composition according to the invention exhibits surprisingly and totally unex ⁇ pected a high stability of the performance activity in a neutral pH of heavy duty liquid detergent compositions with high level of detergent protease.
• the performance stability of this cellulase component has been found to be less sus ⁇ ceptible to degradation by protease in a heavy duty liquid composition with conventional boric acid based reversible protease inhibitors.
• composition of the neutral pH heavy duty liquid can be widely varied in terms of surfactant composition, levels of the protease and protease reversible inhibitors without los ⁇ ing the primary advantage of the invention.
• Typical examples of detergent compositions according to the invention which comprise the mentioned first and second cellulase components are described in the Example Section of this Application.
• Another object of the present invention is to provide a detergent additive comprising a first cellulase component capable of particulate soil removal and a second cellulase component capable of colour clarification wherein at least one of the cellulase components is a single component.
• Figure 1 shows the mechanism of a retaining glycosidase
• FIG. 2 shows the mechanism of an inverting glycosidase. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
• cellulase component denotes an enzyme that hydrolyses cellulose.
• the cellulase component may be a component occurring in a cellu ⁇ lase system produced by a given microorganism, such a cellu ⁇ lase system mostly comprising several different cellulase enzyme components including those usually identified as e.g. cellobiohydrolases, exo-cellobiohydrolases, endoglucanases, /3-glucosidases.
• the cellulase component may be a single com ⁇ ponent, i.e. a component essentially free of other cellulase components usually occurring in a cellulase system produced by a given microorganism, the single component being a recombinant component, i.e. produced by cloning of a DNA sequence encoding the single component and subsequent cell transformed with the DNA sequence and expressed in a host, cf. e.g. International Patent Applications WO 91/17243 and WO 91/17244 which are hereby incorporated by reference.
• the host is preferably a heterologous host, but the host may under certain conditions also be the homologous host.
• weight of cellulase protein deno- tes the weight of the protein constituting a cellulase com ⁇ ponent.
• colour clarification refers to preservation of the initial colours throughout multiple washing cycles by removing fuzz and pills from the surface of garment and/or fabric.
• retaining-type activity is intended to mean the stereochemical course of hydrolysis catalysed by a (first) cellulase component wherein the mech ⁇ anism (of a retaining glycosidase) is as shown in Figure 1, 5 cf. Chem . Rev. , 90, p. 1171-1202 (1990) (Sinott, M.L. : Cata ⁇ lytic mechanism of enzymatic glycosyl transfer) .
• Both the cleavage product leaving the active site of the cellulase having retaining-type activity as well as the substrate is in /3-configuration, cf. Eur. J. Biochem, 217, p. 947-953 10 (1993) .
• inverting-type activity is intended to mean the stereochemical course of hydrolysis catalysed by a cellulase component wherein the mechanism (of 15 an inverting glycosidase) is as shown in Figure 2, cf. Chem . Rev. , 90, p. 1171-1202 (1990) (Sinott, M.L. : Catalytic mech ⁇ anism of enzymatic glycosyl transfer) and Eur. J. Biochem, 217, p. 947-953 (1993) .
• the first cellulase component may have an exo- ode of action, the term "exo-mode of action” being intended to mean initiating degradation of 35 cellulose from the non-reducing chain ends by removing cellobiose units.
• the second cellulase component may have an endo-mode of action, the "endo- ode of action” being intended to mean hydrolysing amorphous regions of low crystallinity in cellulose fibres.
• domain is intended to indicate an amino acid sequence capable of effecting a specific task.
• carbohydrate binding domain or “cellulose binding domain” (“CBD) intended to indicate an amino acid sequence capable of effecting binding of the enzyme to a carbohydrate substrate, in particular cellulose
• catalytic active domain (“CAD”) is intended to indicate an amino sequence capable of effecting catalytic cleavage and having one or more active sites.
• a CBD is an example of a non-catalytic domain.
• CAD's and CBD's may be linked or attached by linking regions. Cf. Trends Biotechnol . , 5, p. 255-261 (1987) and Microbiol . Rev. , 55, p. 303-315 (1991) .
• core enzyme is intended to indi ⁇ cate an enzyme consisting essentially of a single domain, i.e. a catalytic active domain, the core enzyme having no "tail".
• the term "activity towards dyed microcrystalline cellulose” as used herein refers to a hydrolytic activity towards mi ⁇ crocrystalline cellulose covalently labelled with a light absorbing/fluorogenic compound, e.g. a reactive dye, deter ⁇ mined spectroscopically by measuring the liberation of la- belled products resulting from hydrolysis under conditions simulating washing conditions with respect to alkaline pH, temperature, duration, agitation and detergent concentra ⁇ tions. The assay is described below under "Methods”.
• a cellulase component exhibiting catalytic act ⁇ ivity towards dyed microcrystalline cellulose must be active in releasing labelled soluble products from modified micro ⁇ crystalline cellulose under simulated washing conditions.
• activity towards short cellooligosaccharides refers to an activity towards cellooligosaccha ⁇ rides containing two glucose units and an additional leaving group, such as e.g.
• a glucose unit or a modified glucose unit, or a chromogenic/fluorogenic group, or other groups, resulting in splitting the glycosidic bond and measured as reducing end recovery or chromogenic or fluorogenic label compound liberation under hydrolysis under conditions simu ⁇ lating washing conditions with respect to alkaline pH, tem- perature, duration, agitation and detergent concentrations.
• the assay is described below under "Methods”.
• a cellulase component exhibiting a catalytic activity towards short cellooligosaccharides must be active in hydrolysis of short cellooligosaccharides under washing conditions, the cellooligosaccharides containing two glucose units and an additional leaving group, such as e.g. a glu ⁇ cose unit, or a modified glucose unit, or a chromogenic/fluorogenic group, or other groups.
• the term "immunoreactive" is in ⁇ tended to indicate that the produced protein is reactive with an antibody raised against a native cellulose- or hemi- cellulose-degrading enzyme.
• the term "homologue” is intended to indicate a polypeptide encoded by DNA which hybridizes to the same probe as the DNA coding for the cellulase component with the amino acid sequence in question under certain spe- cified conditions (such as presoaking in 5xSSC and prehybri- dising for 1 h at -40°C in a solution of 20% forma ide, 5xDenhard”t , s solution, 50 mM sodium phosphate, pH 6.8, and 50 ⁇ g of denatured sonicated calf thymus DNA, followed by hybridization in the same solution supplemented with 100 ⁇ M ATP for 18 h at ⁇ 40°C) .
• spe- cified conditions such as presoaking in 5xSSC and prehybri- dising for 1 h at -40°C in a solution of 20% forma ide, 5xDenhard”t , s solution, 50 mM sodium phosphate, pH 6.8, and 50 ⁇ g of denatured sonicated
• the term is intended to include de ⁇ rivatives of the sequence in question obtained by addition of one or more amino acid residues to either or both the C- and N-terminal of the native sequence substitution of one or more amino acid residues at one or more sites in the native sequence, deletion of one or more amino acid residues at either or both ends of the native amino acid sequence or at one or more sites within the native sequence, or insertion of one or more amino acid residues at one or more sites in the native sequence. It is to be understood that any deriva ⁇ tive also hybridizes to the same probe as mentioned above which indicates that the cellulase enzyme derivatives within the scope of the present invention all have the same advan- tageous activity and effect as the cellulase component hav ⁇ ing the amino acid sequence in question.
• any additions or substitutions or deletions or insertions may preferably relate to a relatively limited number of amino acids of the sequence in question, i.e. minor additions, substitutions, deletions or insertions, since it is to be expected that major additions, substitutions, deletions or insertions may result in cellulase components (polypeptides) which do not fulfil the above-mentioned hybridizing requirement.
• the present invention relates to a detergent composition
• a detergent composition comprising a first cellulase component having retaining-type activity and being capable of particulate soil removal and a second cellulase component having multiple domains compris ⁇ ing at least one non-catalytic domain attached to a catalyt- ic domain and being capable of colour clarification wherein at least one of the cellulase components is a single (recom ⁇ binant) component.
• the cellulase components may be obtained from the micro- organism in question by use of any suitable technique.
• a cellulase preparation may be obtained by fermen ⁇ tation of a microorganism and subsequent isolation of a cel ⁇ lulase containing preparation from the fermented broth or microorganism by methods known in the art, but more prefer- ably by use of recombinant DNA techniques as known in the art.
• Such method normally comprises cultivation of a host cell transformed with a recombinant DNA vector capable of expressing and carrying a DNA sequence encoding the eel- lulase component in question, in a culture medium under con ⁇ ditions permitting the expression of the enzyme and recover ⁇ ing the enzyme from the culture.
• the DNA sequence encoding a parent cellulase may be isolated from any cell or microorganism producing the cellulase in question by various methods, well known in the art. First a genomic DNA and/or cDNA library should be constructed using chromosomal DNA or messenger RNA from the organism that pro ⁇ prises the cellulase to be studied. Then, if the amino acid sequence of the cellulase is known, homologous, labelled oligonucleotide probes may be synthesized and used to ident ⁇ ify cellulase-encoding clones from a genomic library of bac ⁇ terial DNA, or from a fungal cDNA library.
• a labelled oligonucleotide probe containing sequences homolo ⁇ gous to cellulase from another strain of bacteria or fungus could be used as a probe to identify cellulase-encoding clones, using hybridization and washing conditions of lower stringency.
• Yet another method for identifying cellulase-producing clones would involve inserting fragments of genomic DNA into an expression vector, such as a plasmid, transforming cellulase-negative bacteria with the resulting genomic DNA library, and then plating the transformed bacteria onto agar containing a substrate for cellulase.
• an expression vector such as a plasmid
• transforming cellulase-negative bacteria with the resulting genomic DNA library
• plating the transformed bacteria onto agar containing a substrate for cellulase Those bacteria con- taining cellulase-bearing plasmid will produce colonies sur ⁇ rounded by a halo of clear agar, due to digestion of the substrate by secreted cellulase.
• the DNA sequence encoding the enzyme may be prepared synthetically by established standard methods, e.g. the phosphoamidite method described by S.L. Beaucage and M.H.
• oligonucleotides are synthesized, e.g. in an automatic DNA synthesizer, purified, annealed, ligated and cloned in appropriate vectors.
• the DNA sequence may be of mixed genomic and syn ⁇ thetic, mixed synthetic and cDNA or mixed genomic and cDNA origin prepared by ligating fragments of synthetic, genomic or cDNA origin (as appropriate) , the fragments corresponding to various parts of the entire DNA sequence, in accordance with standard techniques.
• the DNA sequence may also be pre ⁇ pared by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using specific primers, for instance as described in US 4,683,202 or R.K. Saiki et al., Science 239. 1988, pp. 487-491.
• a mutated cellulase-coding sequence produced by methods described above, or any alter ⁇ native methods known in the art can be expressed, in enzyme form, using an expression vector which typically includes control sequences encoding a promoter, operator, ribosome binding site, translation initiation signal, and, optional- ly, a repressor gene or various activator genes.
• an expression vector typically includes control sequences encoding a promoter, operator, ribosome binding site, translation initiation signal, and, optional- ly, a repressor gene or various activator genes.
• nucleotides encoding a "signal sequence” may be inserted prior to the cellulase- coding sequence.
• a target gene to be treated according to the invention is operably linked to the control sequences in the proper reading frame.
• Promoter sequences that can be incor ⁇ porated into plasmid vectors, and which can support the transcription of the mutant cellulase gene include but are not limited to the prokaryotic ⁇ -lactamase promoter (Villa- Kamaroff, et al., 1978, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 7_5_:3727-3731) and the tac promoter (DeBoer, et al., 1983, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 80.21-25). Further references can also be found in "Useful proteins from recombinant bacteria" in Scientific American, 1980, 242:74-94.
• B. subtilis is transformed by an expression vector carrying the mutated DNA. If expression is to take place in a secreting microorganism such as B. subti ⁇ lis a signal sequence may follow the translation initiation signal and precede the DNA sequence of interest. The signal sequence acts to transport the expression product to the cell wall where it is cleaved from the product upon secre- tion.
• control sequences as defined above is intended to include a signal sequence, when is present.
• a filamentous fungus is used as the host organism.
• the filamentous fungus host organism may con ⁇ veniently be one which has previously been used as a host for producing recombinant proteins, e.g. a strain of Asper ⁇ qillus sp. , such as A__. niger, A ⁇ . nidulans or A ⁇ . orvzae.
• Aj. oryzae in the production of recombinant proteins is extensively described in, e.g. EP 238 023.
• the DNA sequence coding for the cellulase variant is preceded by a promoter.
• the promoter may be any DNA sequence exhibiting a strong transcriptional activity in Asperqillus and may be derived from a gene encoding an extracellular or intracel- lular protein such as an amylase, a glucoamylase, a protease, a lipase, a cellulase or a glycolytic enzyme.
• suitable promoters are those derived from the gene encoding A ⁇ . orvzae TAKA amylase, Rhizomucor iehei aspartic proteinase, Aj_ niger neutral ⁇ -amylase, A ⁇ _ niger acid stable ⁇ -amylase, A_j_ niger glucoamylase, Rhizomucor miehei lipase, A ⁇ _ oryzae alkaline protease or A ⁇ _ oryzae triose phosphate isomerase.
• a prefer- red promoter for use in the process of the present invention is the A;, orvzae TAKA amylase promoter as it exhibits a strong transcriptional activity in A_j_ oryzae.
• the sequence of the TAKA amylase promoter appears from EP 238 023.
• Termination and polyadenylation sequences may suitably be derived from the same sources as the promoter.
• the techniques used to transform a fungal host cell may suitably be as described in EP 238 023.
• the DNA sequence encoding the cellulase variant may be preceded by a signal sequence which may be a naturally occurring signal sequence or a functional part thereof or a synthetic sequence providing secretion of the protein from the cell.
• the signal sequence may be derived from a gene encoding an Aspergillus sp. amylase or glucoamy ⁇ lase, a gene encoding a Rhizomucor miehei lipase or protease, or a gene encoding a Humicola cellulase, xylanase or lipase.
• the signal sequence is preferably derived from the gene encoding A ⁇ . orvzae TAKA amylase, j_ niger neutral ⁇ -amylase, A ⁇ _ niger acid-stable ⁇ -amylase or A ⁇ . niger gluco ⁇ amylase.
• the medium used to culture the transformed host cells may be any conventional medium suitable for growing Aspergillus cells.
• the transformants are usually stable and may be cul ⁇ tured in the absence of selection pressure. However, if the transformants are found to be unstable, a selection marker introduced into the cells may be used for selection.
• the mature cellulase protein secreted from the host cells may conveniently be recovered from the culture medium by well-known procedures including separating the cells from the medium by centrifugation or filtration, and precipitat ⁇ ing proteinaceous components of the medium by means of a salt such as ammonium sulphate, followed by chromatographic procedures such as ion exchange chromatography, affinity chromatography, or the like.
• the component comprised by the detergent composition of the invention which is not a single recombinant component may be a component produced by conventional techniques such as pro ⁇ pokerd by a given microorganism as a part of a cellulase sys ⁇ tem.
• the single com- ponent produced by cloning and expression in a heterologous host is present in the detergent composition in an amount of at least 5%, preferably at least 10%, especially at least 20%, based on the total weight of cellulase protein in the composition.
• Both the first and the second component may be recombinant (single) components, respectively, i.e. produced by cloning of the DNA sequence encoding the single component and cell transformation with the DNA sequence and expression in a host which may be heterologous or homologous.
• the first and second component may also be cloned and expressed in the same heterologous or homologous host.
• the first and the second cellulase component are present in the detergent composition in a weight ratio of cellulase protein preferab ⁇ ly in the range from about 30:1 to about 1:30, more prefer ⁇ ably in the range from about 10:1 to about 1:10, especially in the range from about 2:1 to 1:2.
• the detergent composition claimed in the pre ⁇ sent invention should preferably comprise the first and the second cellulase component, respectively, in a concentration corresponding to a concentration in the resulting washing liquor of 0.001 - 100 g of cellulase protein per litre of washing liquor.
• the first and the second cellulase component are a fungal or bacterial cellulase component, i.e. of fungal or bacterial origin.
• first and second cellulase compo- nents may be derived or isolated and purified from microorganisms which are known to be capable of produc ⁇ ing cellulolytic enzymes, e.g. species of Humicola, Bacil ⁇ lus. Trichoderma, Fusarium, Myceliophthora, Phanerochaete. Schizophyllum. Penicillium. Aspergillus. and Geotricum.
• the derived components may be either homologous or heterologous components. Preferably, the components are homologous.
• heterologous component which is immunoreactive with an antibody raised against a highly purified cellulase com ⁇ ponent possessing the desired property or properties and which heterologous component is derived from a specific mi ⁇ croorganism is also preferred.
• the first cellulase exhibits catalytic activity on low molecular weight carbohydrate substrates, especially a catalytic activity on cellotriose at pH 8.5 corresponding to k ⁇ , of at least 0.01 s
• the first cellulase component may be inadequate or unable of providing colour clarification, thus exhibiting low catalyt- ic activity on dyed microcrystalline cellulose.
• the first cellulase component is a core enzyme, i.e. a cellulase hav ⁇ ing no "tail" or being a single domain protein.
• a convenient first cellulase component useful in the deter ⁇ gent composition of the present invention may be a cellobio- hydrolase component which is immunoreactive with an antibody raised against a highly purified ⁇ 70kD cellobiohydrolase (EC 3.2.1.91) derived from Humicola in ⁇ olen ⁇ , DSM 1800, or which is a homologue or derivative of the ⁇ 70kD cellobiohydrolase exhibiting cellulase activity.
• a preferred cellobiohydrolase 5 component has the amino acid sequence disclosed in Nucleic Acid Research, vol . 18 (1990) , page 668 (De Oliviera, Alzevedo, M. and Radford, A.
• the cellobiohydrolase compo ⁇ nent is referred to as CBH I.
• Another preferred cellobiohydrolase component is a core enzyme ("core CBH I") having an amino acid sequence consist ⁇ ing of 449 amino acids corresponding to the (partial) amino acid sequence numbered 1-449 of the appended SEQ ID NO:l.
• the core CBH I has an apparant molecular weight of -48 kD.
• the first cellulase component may be an endo ⁇ glucanase component which is immunoreactive with an antibody raised against a highly purified ⁇ 50kD endoglucanase derived from Humicola insolens, DSM 1800, or which is a homologue or
• a preferred endoglucanase component has the amino acid sequence disclosed in PCT Patent Application No. W091/17244, Fig. 14A-E, which is shown in the appended SEQ ID NO:2, or a variant of said endoglucanase having an amino acid sequence disclosed in PCT Patent Application No. W091/17244, Fig. 14A-E, which is shown in the appended SEQ ID NO:2, or a variant of said endoglucanase having an amino
• the endoglucanase component is referred to as EG I.
• the first cellulase component may be an endo ⁇ glucanase component which is immunoreactive with an antibody raised against a highly purified ⁇ 50kD (apparant molecular weight, the amino acid composition corresponds to 45kD with 2n glycosylation sites) endoglucanase derived from Fusarium oxysporum , DSM 2672, or which is a homologue or derivative of the ⁇ 50kD endoglucanase exhibiting cellulase activity.
• ⁇ 50kD apparent molecular weight, the amino acid composition corresponds to 45kD with 2n glycosylation sites
• a 5 preferred endoglucanase component has the amino acid sequence disclosed in PCT Patent Application No. W091/17244, Fig.
• endoglucanase component is referred to as EG I-F.
• the EG I-F cellulase component is producible by Aspergillus oryzae after transformation with a plasmid containing the DNA sequence corresponding to the amino acid sequence of the appended SEQ ID NO:3 and using the conventional Taka promotor and AMG terminator.
• the EG I-F may be purified to
• the calculated pi is 9 based on the amino acid composition using the PHKa values from Adv. Protein Chem . 17, p. 69-165 (1962) (C. Tanford) .
• the molar exctinction coefficient is calculated to be 58180.
• Yet another preferred first cellulase component may be any of the cellulases disclosed in the published European Patent Application No. EP-A2-271 004, the cellulase having a non- degrading index (NDI) of not less than 500 and being an
• alkalophilic cellulase having an optimum pH not less than 7 or whose relative activity at a pH of not less than 8 is 50% or over of the activity under optimum conditions when carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC) is used as a substrate; the cellulase preferably being selected from the group consist-
• alkaline cellulase K (produced by Bacillus sp. KSM- 635, FERM BP 1485); alkaline cellulase K-534 (produced by Bacillus sp. KSM-534, FERM BP 1508); alkaline cellulase K- 539 (produced by Bacillus sp. KSM-539, FERM BP 1509); alka- line cellulase K-577 (produced by Bacillus sp. KSM-577, FERM BP 1510) ; alkaline cellulase K-521 (produced by Bacillus sp.
• alkaline cellulase K-580 produced by Bacill
• the second cellulase component being capable of colour clarification has multiple domains, i.e. one or more catalytic domains attached to one or more non-catalytic domains, e.g. cellulose binding domains, since the activity in respect of colour clarification is enhanced by the pres ⁇ ence of e.g. a cellulose binding domain.
• the second cellulase component may have retaining-type activity or inverting-type activity.
• the second cellulase component exhibits high catalytic activity on cellodextrin(s) , more preferably on relatively long-chained cellodextrin(s) , especially on reduced longer-chained cellodextrin(s) .
• the second cellulase component exhibits high catalytic activity on dyed microcrystalline cellulose, especially a catalytic activity on Red Avicel per 1 mg of cellulase protein higher than 10 ⁇ IU, see below under "Methods" for the definitions of 1 IU of enzyme activity.
• Cellulase components useful as colour clarifying components in the detergent composition of the present in ⁇ vention usually exhibits essentially no catalytic activity on low molecular weight carbohydrate substrates.
• the second cellulase component has a catalytic activity on low molecular weight carbohydrate substrates, especially on cellotriose, at pH 8.5 corresponding to k ⁇ . of below 0.01 s "1 ; more preferably the second cellulase component exhibits essentially no catalytic activity on cellotriose, i.e. the component is not capable of hydrolysing cellotriose but capable of hydrolysing higher oligomers of jS-1,4-glucose units.
• the catalytic activity on Red Avicel may be measured as de ⁇ scribed below under "Methods”.
• the second cel ⁇ lulase component may often also be capable of particu ⁇ late soil removal.
• a convenient second cellulase component useful in the deter- gent composition of the present invention may be an endoglu ⁇ canase component which is immunoreactive with an antibody raised against a highly purified ⁇ 43kD endoglucanase derived from Humicola insolen ⁇ , DSM 1800, or which is a homologue or derivative of the ⁇ 43kD endoglucanase exhibiting cellulase activity.
• a preferred endoglucanase component has the amino acid sequence disclosed in PCT Patent Application No.
• WO 91/17243 SEQ ID#2, which is shown in the appended SEQ ID NO:4, or a variant of said endoglucanase having an amino acid sequence being at least 60%, preferably at least 70%, more preferably 75%, more preferably at least 80%, more pre ⁇ ferably 85%, especially at least 90% homologous with said sequence.
• the endoglucanase component is referred to as EG V.
• Another preferred endoglucanase component comprises an amino acid sequence encoded by the partial DNA sequence disclosed in PCT Patent Application No. W093/11249; SEQ ID#11, which is shown in the appended SEQ ID NO:5, or a variant of said endoglucanase having an amino acid sequence being at least 60%, preferably at least 70%, more preferably 75%, more pre ⁇ ferably at least 80%, more preferably 85%, especially at least 90% homologous with said sequence.
• the endoglucanase component is referred to as EG VI.
• Yet another preferred endoglucanase component comprises an amino acid sequence encoded by the partial DNA sequence dis ⁇ closed in PCT Patent Application No. WO 93/11249, SEQ ID#9, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
• the endoglucanase component is referred to as EG II.
• Yet another preferred endoglucanase component comprises an amino acid sequence encoded by the partial DNA sequence dis- closed in PCT Patent Application No. W093/11249, SEQ ID#7, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
• the endoglucanase component is referred to as EG III.
• the second cellulase component may be an en- doglucanase component which is immunoreactive with an anti ⁇ body raised against a highly purified ⁇ 60kD endoglucanase derived from Bacillus lautu ⁇ , NCIMB 40250, or which is a homologue or derivative of the ⁇ 60kD endoglucanase exhibiting cellulase activity.
• a preferred endoglucanase component has the amino acid sequence disclosed in PCT Patent Application No.
• WO 91/10732 SEQ ID#7, which is shown in the appended SEQ ID NO:6, or a variant of said endoglucanase having an amino acid sequence being at least 60%, preferably at least 70%, more preferably 75%, more preferably at least 80%, more preferably 85%, especially at least 90% homologous with said sequence.
• the ⁇ 60kD endoglucanase compo ⁇ nent is referred to as EG C.
• the invention provides a detergent additive.
• the enzymes may be included in a detergent compo ⁇ sition by adding separate additives containing one or more enzymes, or by adding a combined additive comprising all of these enzymes.
• a detergent additive of the invention i.e. a separated additive or a combined additive, can be formulated e.g. as granulates, liquids, slurries, etc.
• Preferred deter ⁇ gent additive formulations are granulates, in particular non-dusting granulates, liquids, in particular stabilized liquids, slurries, or protected enzymes.
• Dust free granulates may be produced, e.g. as disclosed in US 4,106,991 and US 4,661,452, and may optionally be coated by methods known in the art.
• the detergent enzymes may be mixed before or after granulation.
• Liquid enzyme preparations may, for instance, be stabilized by adding a polyol such as propylene glycol, a sugar or sugar alcohol, lactic acid, boric acid or a boric acid derivative, e.g. an aromatic borate ester, and the prepara ⁇ tion may be formulated according to established methods.
• a polyol such as propylene glycol, a sugar or sugar alcohol, lactic acid, boric acid or a boric acid derivative, e.g. an aromatic borate ester
• Other enzyme stabilizers are well known in the art.
• Pro ⁇ tected enzymes may be prepared according to the method dis ⁇ closed in EP 238 216.
• the detergent composition of the invention may be formulated in any convenient form, e.g. as a powder or liquid.
• Deter ⁇ gent compositions of the invention may contain other deter ⁇ gent ingredients known in the art as e.g. builders, bleach ⁇ ing agents, bleach activators, anti soil redeposition agents, perfumes, etc. as shown in the examples.
• detergent compositions comprise surfactants which may be of the anionic, non-ionic,amphoteric, cationic or zwitterionic type as well as mixtures of these types.
• sulphonates include alkyl benzene sulphonates having from 9 to 15, especially 11 to 13 carbon atoms in the alkyl rad ⁇ ical, and alpha-sulphonated methyl fatty acid esters in which the fatty acid is derived from a C ⁇ 2 -C 18 fatty source preferably from a C ]6 -C 18 fatty source.
• the cation is an alkali metal, preferably sodium.
• Preferred sulphate surfactants are alkyl sulphates having from 12 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical, optionally in admix ⁇ ture with ethoxy sulphates having from 10 to 20, preferably 10 to 16 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical and an average degree of ethoxylation of 1 to 6.
• Examples of preferred alkyl sulphates herein are tallow alkyl sulphate, coconut alkyl sulphate, and C 14 . 15 alkyl sulphates.
• the cation in each instance is again an alkali metal cation, preferably sodium. Also preferred for use herein are mixtures of sul- phates and/or ethoxysulphates.
• One class of nonionic surfactants useful in the present invention are condensates of ethylene oxide with a hydrophobic moiety to provide a surfactant having an average hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) in the range from 8 to 17, preferably from 9.5 to 13.5, more preferably from 10 to 12.5.
• HLB hydrophilic-lipophilic balance
• the hydrophobic (lipophilic) moiety may be aliphatic or aromatic in nature and the length of the polyoxyethylene group which is condensed with any particular hydrophobic group can be readily adjusted to yield a water-soluble com ⁇ pound having the desired degree of balance between hydrophilic and hydrophobic elements.
• Especially preferred nonionic surfactants of this type are the C 9 -C, 5 primary alcohol ethoxylates containing 3-8 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol, particularly the C, 4 - C 15 primary alcohols containing 6-8 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol and the C 12 -C ⁇ 4 primary alcohols contain ⁇ ing 3-5 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol.
• Another class of nonionic surfactants comprises alkyl poly- glucoside compounds of general formula
• Z is a moiety derived from glucose; R is a saturated hydrophobic alkyl group that contains from 12 to 18 carbon atoms; t is from 0 to 10 and n is 2 or 3; x is from 1.3 to 4, the compounds including less than 10% unreacted fatty alcohol and less than 50% short chain alkyl polyglucosides.
• Compounds of this type and their use in detergent are dis- closed in EP-B 0 070 077, 0 075 996 and 0 094 118.
• nonionic surfactants are poly hydroxy fatty acid amide surfactants of the formula R 2 - C - N - Z,
• R 1 is H, C M hydrocarbyl, 2-hydroxy ethyl, 2-hydroxy propyl or a mixture thereof
• R 2 is C 5 . 31 hydrocarbyl
• Z is a polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl having a linear hydrocarbyl chain with at least 3 hydroxyIs directly connected to the chain, or an alkoxylated derivative thereof.
• R is methyl
• R 2 is a straight C n . 15 alkyl or alkenyl chain such as coconut alkyl or mixtures thereof
• Z is derived from a reducing sugar such as glucose, fructose, maltose, lactose, in a reductive amination reaction.
• a further class of surfactants are the semi-polar surfactants such as amine oxides.
• Suitable amine oxides are selected from mono C 8 -C 20 , preferably C 10 -C 14 N-alkyl or alkenyl amine oxides and propylene-l,3-diamine dioxides wherein the remaining N positions are substituted by methyl, hydroxyethyl or hydroxypropyl groups.
• Another class of surfactants are amphoteric surfactants, such as polyamine-based species.
• Cationic surfactants can also be used in the detergent co - positions herein and suitable quaternary ammonium surfactants are selected from mono C 8 -C ⁇ 6 , preferably C, 0 -C 14 N-alkyl or alkenyl ammonium surfactants wherein remaining N positions are substituted by methyl, hydroxyethyl or hydroxypropyl groups.
• the detergent compositions can comprise from l%-70% by weight of surfactant, but usually the surfactant is present in the compositions herein an amount of from 1% to 30%, more preferably from 10-25% by weight.
• Builder materials will typically be present at from 5% to 80% of the detergent compositions herein.
• the compositions herein are free or substantially free of phosphate-contain- ing builders (substantially free being herein defined to constitute less than 1% of the total detergent builder sys ⁇ tem) , and the builder system herein consists of water-sol ⁇ uble builders, water-insoluble builders, or mixtures there ⁇ of.
• Water insoluble builders can be an inorganic ion exchange material,commonly an inorganic hydrated aluminosilicate material, more particularly a hydrated synthetic zeolite such as hydrated Zeolite A, X, B, MAP or HS.
• Preferred aluminosilicate ion-exchange materials have the unit cell formula
• M is a calcium-exchange cation
• z and y are at least 6
• the molar ratio of z to y is from 1.0 to 0.5
• x is at least 5, preferably from 7.5 to 276, more preferably from 10 to 264.
• the aluminosilicate materials are in hydrated form and are preferably crystalline containing from 10% to 28%, more preferably from 18% to 22% water.
• the above aluminosilicate ion exchange materials are further characterized by a particle size diameter of from 0.1 to 10 micrometers, preferably from 0.2 to 4 micrometers.
• particle size diameter herein represents the average par ⁇ ticle size diameter of a given ion exchange material as determined by conventional analytical techniques such as, for example, microscopic determination utilizing a scanning electron microscope.
• the aluminosilicate ion exchange materials are further characterized by their calcium ion exchange capacity, which is at least 200 mg equivalent of CaC0 3 water hardness/g of aluminosilicate, calculated on an anhydrous basis, and which generally is in the range of from 300 mg eq./g to 352 mg eq./g.
• the aluminosilicate ion exchange materials herein are still further characterized by their calcium ion exchange rate which is described in detail in GB-1,429,143.
• Aluminosilicate ion exchange materials useful in the prac- tice of this invention are commercially available and can be naturally occurring materials, but are preferably syntheti ⁇ cally derived.
• a method for producing aluminosilicate ion exchange materials is discussed in US Patent No. 3,985,669.
• Preferred synthetic crystalline aluminosilicate ion exchange materials useful herein are available under the designation Zeolite A, Zeolite B, Zeolite X, Zeolite MAP, Zeolite HS and mixtures thereof.
• the crystalline aluminosilicate ion exchange material is Zeolite A and has the formula
• Zeolite X of for- mula Na 86 [ (A10 2 ) 86 (SiO 2 ) 106 ]-10.276H 2 O is also suitable, as well as Zeolite HS of formula Na 6 [ (A10 2 ) 6 (SiO 2 ) 6 ] 7.5 H 2 0.
• SKS-6 Hoechst
• SKS-6 is a cry- stalline layered silicate consisting of sodium silicate (Na 2 Si 2 0 5 ) .
• the high Ca ⁇ /Mg "1"1" binding capacity is mainly a cation exchange mechanism. In hot water, the material becomes more soluble.
• the water-soluble builder can be a monomeric or oligomeric carboxylate chelating agent.
• Suitable carboxylates containing one carboxy group include lactic acid, glycollic acid and ether derivatives thereof as disclosed in Belgian Patent Nos. 831,368, 821,369 and 821,370.
• Polycarboxylates containing two carboxy groups include the water-soluble salts of succinic acid, malonic acid, (ethylenedioxy) diacetic acid, maleic acid, diglycolic acid, tartaric acid, tartronic acid and fumaric acid, as well as the ether carboxylates described in German
• Polycarboxylates containing three carboxy groups include, in particular, water-soluble citrates, aconitrates and citraconates as well as succinate derivatives such as the carboxymethyloxysuccinates described in British Patent No. 1,379,241, lactoxysuccinates described in Netherlands Application 7205873, and the oxypolycarboxylate materials such as 2-oxa-l,1,3-propane tricarboxylates described in British Patent No. 1,387,447.
• Polycarboxylates containing four carboxy groups include oxydisuccinates disclosed in British Patent No. 1,261,829, 1,1,2,2-ethane tetracarboxylates, 1,1,3,3-propane tetracarboxylates and 1,1,2,3-propane tetracarboxylates.
• Polycarboxylates containing sulfo substituents include the sulfosuccinate derivatives disclosed in British Patent Nos. 1,398,421 and 1,398,422 and in U.S. Patent No. 3,936,448, and the sulfonated pyrolysed citrates described in British Patent No. 1,082,179, while polycarboxylates containing phosphone substituents are disclosed in British Patent No. 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 and the phtalic acid derivatives disclosed in British Patent No. 1,425,343.
• the preferred polycarboxylates are hydroxycarboxylates containing up to three carboxy groups per molecule, more particularly citrates.
• Preferred builder systems for use in the present composi ⁇ tions include a mixture of a water-insoluble aluminosilicate builder such as zeolite A, and a water-soluble carboxylate chelating agent such as citric acid.
• builder materials that can form part of the builder system for the purposes of the invention include inorganic materials such as alkali metal carbonates, bicarbonates, silicates, and organic materials such as the organic phosphonates, amino polyalkylene phosphonates and amino polycarboxylates.
• inorganic materials such as alkali metal carbonates, bicarbonates, silicates
• organic materials such as the organic phosphonates, amino polyalkylene phosphonates and amino polycarboxylates.
• suitable water-soluble organic salts are the homo- or co-polymeric acids 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 this type are disclosed in GB-A-1,596,756.
• Examples of such salts are polyacrylates of MW 2000-5000 and their copolymers with maleic anhydride, such copolymers hav ⁇ ing a molecular weight of from 20,000 to 70,000, especially about 40,000.
• compositions will typically include optional ingredients that normally form part of detergent composi ⁇ tions.
• optional ingredients that normally form part of detergent composi ⁇ tions.
• Antiredeposition and soil suspension agents, optical brighteners, bleaches, bleach activators, suds suppressors, anticaking agents, dyes and pigments are examples of such optional ingredients and can be added in varying amounts as desired.
• Antiredeposition and soil suspension agents suitable herein include cellulose derivatives such as methylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose and hydroxyethylcellulose, and homo- or co-polymeric polycarboxylic acids or their salts.
• Poly ⁇ mers of this type include the polyacrylates and maleic anhydride-acrylic acid copolymers previously mentioned as builders, as well as copolymers of maleic anhydride with ethylene, methylvinyl ether or methacrylic acid, the maleic anhydride constituting at least 20 mole percent of the copolymer. These materials are normally used at levels of from 0.5% to 10% by weight, more preferably from 0.75% to 8%, most preferably from 1% to 6% by weight of the composi- tion.
• Preferred optical brighteners are anionic in character, examples of which are disodium 4,4 1 -bis-(2-diethanolamino-4- anilino -s- triazin-6-ylamino)stilbene-2:2 1 disulphonate, disodium 4, - 4 1 -bis-(2-morpholino-4-anilino-s-triazin-6- ylaminostilbene-2:2 1 - disulphonate, disodium 4,4 1 - bis-(2,4-dianilino-s-triazin-6-ylamino)stilbene-2:2 !
• any particulate inorganic perhydrate bleach can be used, in an amount of from 3% to 40% by weight, more preferably from 8% to 25% by weight and most preferably from 12% to 20% by weight of the compositions.
• Preferred examples of such bleaches are sodium perborate monohydrate and tetrahydrate, percarbonate, and mixtures thereof.
• Percarbonate particles for instance are dry-mixed with the other granular components of the detergent powder.
• compositions herein contain from 1 % to 40 %, preferably from 3 % to 30 % by weight, most preferably from 5 % to 25 % by weight of an alkali metal percarbonate bleach ; in the form of particles having a mean size from 250 to 900 micro ⁇ meters, preferably 500 to 700 micrometers.
• the level of percarbonate is typically in the range of 20 % to 80 % by weight.
• the alkali metal percarbonate bleach is usually in the form of the sodium salt.
• Sodium percarbonate is an addition com ⁇ pound having a formula corresponding to 2Na 2 C0 3 3H 2 0 2 .
• the percarbonate bleach can be coated with a further mixed salt of an alkali metal sulphate and carbonate.
• Such coatings together with coating processes have previously been described in GB-1, 466, 799, granted to Interox on 9th March 1977.
• the weight ratio of the mixed salt coating material to percarbonate lies in the range from 1:2000 to 1:4, more preferably from 1:99 to 1:9, and most preferably from 1:49 to 1:19.
• the mixed salt is of sodium sulphate and sodium carbonate which has the gen ⁇ eral formula Na 2 S0 4 .n.Na 2 C0 3 wherein n is from 0.1 to 3, pre- ferably n is from 0.3 to 1.0 and most preferably n is from 0.2 to 0.5.
• Suitable coating materials are sodium silicate, of SiO2:Na20 ratio from 1.6:1 to 2.8:1, and magnesium silicate.
• carbonate/sulphate coated percarbonate bleach may include a low level of a heavy metal sequestrant such as EDTA, 1-hydroxyethylidene 1,1- diphosphonic acid (HEDP) or an aminophosphonate, that is incorporated during the manufacturing process.
• a heavy metal sequestrant such as EDTA, 1-hydroxyethylidene 1,1- diphosphonic acid (HEDP) or an aminophosphonate
• Preferred heavy metal sequestrants for incorporation as described herein above include the organic phosphonates and amino alkylene poly(alkylene phosphonates) such as the alkali metal ethane 1-hydroxy diphosphonates, the nitrilo trimethylene phosphonates, the ethylene diamine tetra methylene phosphonates and the diethylene triamine penta methylene phosphonates.
• organic phosphonates and amino alkylene poly(alkylene phosphonates) such as the alkali metal ethane 1-hydroxy diphosphonates, the nitrilo trimethylene phosphonates, the ethylene diamine tetra methylene phosphonates and the diethylene triamine penta methylene phosphonates.
• the percarbonate-containing detergent powder preferably has a bulk density above 650 g/1.
• Another preferred separately mixed ingredient is a peroxy carboxylic acid bleach percursor, commonly referred to as a bleach activator, which is preferably added in a prilled or agglomerated form.
• a peroxy carboxylic acid bleach percursor commonly referred to as a bleach activator
• suitable compounds of this type are disclosed in British Patent Nos. 1586769 and 2143231 and a method for their formation into a prilled form is described in European Published Patent Application No. 0 062 523.
• Preferred examples of such compounds are tetracetyl ethylene diamine and sodium 3, 5, 5 trimethyl hexanoyloxybenzene sulphonate.
• Bleach activators are normally employed at levels of from 0.5% to 10% by weight, more frequently from 1% to 8% and preferably from 2% to 6% by weight of the composition.
• a suds suppressor exemp ⁇ lified by silicones, and silica-silicone mixtures.
• Sili- cones can be generally represented by alkylated polysiloxane materials while silica is normally used in finely divided forms exemplified by silica aerogels and xerogels and hydrophobic silicas of various types. These materials can be incorporated as particulates in which the suds suppressor is advantageously releasably incorporated in a water-soluble or water-dispersible, substantially non-surface-active detergent impermeable carrier.
• the suds sup- pressor can be dissolved or dispersed in a liquid carrier and applied by spraying on to one or more of the other com ⁇ ponents.
• useful silicone suds controlling agents can comprise a mixture of an alkylated siloxane, of the type referred to hereinbefore, and solid silica. Such mixtures are prepared by affixing the silicone to the surface of the solid silica.
• a preferred silicone suds controlling agent is represented by a hydrophobic silanated (most preferably trimethyl-silanated) silica having a particle size in the range from 10 millimicrons to 20 millimicrons and a specific surface area above 50 m 2 /g intimately admixed with dimethyl silicone fluid having a molecular weight in the range from about 500 to about 200,000 at a weight ratio of silicone to silanated silica of from about 1:1 to about 1:2.
• a preferred silicone suds controlling agent is disclosed in Bartollota et al. U.S. Patent 3,933,672.
• Other particularly useful suds suppressors are the self-emulsifying silicone suds suppressors, described in German Patent Application DTOS 2,646,126 published April 28, 1977.
• An example of such a compound is DC-544, commercially availably from Dow Corn- ing, which is a siloxane/glycol copolymer.
• the suds suppressors described above are normally employed at levels of from 0.001% to 2% by weight of the composition, preferably from 0.01% to 1% by weight.
• the incorporation of the suds modifiers is preferably made as separate particulates, and this permits the inclusion therein of other suds controlling materials such as C20-C24 fatty acids, microcrystalline waxes and high MW copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide which would otherwise adversely affect the dispersibility of the matrix.
• Tech ⁇ niques for forming such suds modifying particulates are dis ⁇ closed in the previously mentioned Bartolotta et al U.S. Patent No. 3,933,672.
• polyethylene glycols particularly those of molecular weight 1000-10000, more particularly 2000 to 8000 and most preferably about 4000. These are used at levels of from 0.20% to 5% more preferably from 0.25% to 2.5% by weight. These polymers and the previously mentioned homo- or co-polymeric polycarboxylate salts are valuable for improving whiteness maintenance, fabric ash deposition, and cleaning performance on clay, proteinaceous and oxidizable soils in the presence of transition metal impurities.
• Soil release agents useful in compositions of the present invention are conventionally copolymers or terpolymers of terephthalic acid with ethylene glycol and/or propylene gly- col units in various arrangements. Examples of such poly ⁇ mers are disclosed in the commonly assigned US Patent Nos. 4116885 and 4711730 and European Published Patent Applica ⁇ tion No. 0 272 033.
• a particular preferred polymer in accordance with EP-A-0 272 033 has the formula (CH 3 (PEG) «)o. 75 (POH) 0 . 25 [T-PO) 2 . g (T-PEG) 0 . 4 ]T(PO-H) 025 ( (PEG) 43 CH 3 ) 0 . 75
• PEG is -(OC 2 H 4 )0-
• PO is (OC 3 H 6 0)
• T is (pcOC 6 H 4 CO) .
• modified polyesters as random copolymers of dimethyl terephtalate, dimethyl sulfoisophtalate, ethylene glycol and 1-2 propane diol, the end groups consisting primarily of sulphobenzoate and sec ⁇ ondarily of mono esters of ethylene glycol and/or propane- diol.
• the target is to obtain a polymer capped at both ends by sulphobenzoate groups, "primarily", in the present con ⁇ text most of said copolymers herein will be end-capped by sulphobenzoate groups.
• some copolymers will be less than fully capped and therefore their end groups may consist of monoester of ethylene glycol and/or propane 1-2 diol, thereof consist “secondarily” of such species.
• the selected polyesters herein contain about 46 % by weight of dimethyl terephtalic acid, about 16 % by weight of pro- pane -1.2 diol, about 10 % by weight ethylene glycol, about 13 % by weight of dimethyl sulfobenzoid acid and about 15 % by weight of sulfoisophtalic acid, and have a molecular weight of about 3.000.
• the polyesters and their method of preparation are described in EPA 311 342.
• Certain polymeric materials such as polyvinyl pyrrolidones typically of MW 5000-20000, preferably 10000-15000, also form useful agents in preventing the transfer of labile dye- stuffs between fabrics during the washing process.
• Especially preferred detergent ingredients are combinations with technologies which also provide a type of colour care benefit. Examples of these technologies are polyamide-N- oxide containing polymers such as disclosed in co-pending European Patent Application nr 92.202.168.6 (shortly dis- closed hereunder) . These polymers contain units having the following structural formula I
• P is a polymerizable unit, whereto the N-0 group can be attached to or wherein the N-0 group forms part of the polymerisable unit or a combination of both;
• I I I I I I t I I I A is NC, CO, C, -0-, -S-, -N-;
• x is O or 1;
• R are aliphatic, ethoxylated aliphatics, aromatic, heterocyclic or alicyclic groups or any combination thereof whereto the nitrogen of the N-0 group can be attached or wherein the nitrogen of the N-0 group is part of these groups.
• the N-0 group can be represented by the following gener ⁇ il structures:
• Rl, R2, and R3 are aliphatic groups, aromatic, heterocyclic or alicyclic groups or combinations thereof, x or/and y or/and z is 0 or 1 and wherein the nitrogen of the N-0 group can be attached or wherein the nitrogen of the N-0 group forms part of these groups.
• the N-0 group can be part of the polymerisable unit (P) or can be attached to the polymeric backbone or a combination of both.
• Suitable polyamine N-oxides wherein the N-0 group forms part of the polymerisable unit comprise polyamine N-oxides where ⁇ in R is selected from aliphatic, aromatic, alicyclic or heterocyclic groups.
• One class of said polyamine N-oxides comprises the group of polyamine N-oxides wherein the nitro- gen of the N-0 group forms part of the R-group.
• Preferred polyamine N-oxides are those wherein R is a heterocyclic group such as pyrridine, pyrrole, imidazole, pyrrolidine, piperidine, quinoline, acridine and derivatives thereof.
• Another class of said polyamine N-oxides comprises the group of polyamine N-oxides wherein the nitrogen of the N-0 group is attached to the R-group.
• polyamine N-oxides are the polyamine oxides whereto the N-0 group is attached to the polymerisable unit.
• Preferred class of these polyamine N-oxides are the polyamine N-oxides having the general formula (I) wherein R is an aromatic, heterocyclic or alicyclic groups wherein the nitrogen of the N-0 functional group is part of said R group.
• R is a heterocyclic compound such as pyrridine, pyrrole, imidazole and derivatives thereof.
• polyamine N-oxides are the polyamine oxides having the general formula (I) wherein R are aromatic, heterocyclic or alicyclic groups wherein the nitrogen of the N-0 functional group is attached to said R groups.
• polyamine oxides wherein R groups can be aromatic such as phenyl.
• Any polymer backbone can be used as long as the amine oxide polymer formed is water-soluble and has dye transfer inhibiting properties.
• suitable polymeric back ⁇ bones are polyvinyls, polyalkylenes, polyesters, polyethers, polyamide, polyi ides, polyacrylates and mixtures thereof.
• the amine N-oxide polymers of the present invention typical ⁇ ly have a ratio of amine to the amine N-oxide of 10:1 to 1:1000000.
• the amount of amine oxide groups present in the polyamine N-oxide containing polymer can be varied by appropriate copolymerization or by appropriate degree of N- oxidation.
• the ratio of amine to amine N-oxide is from 2:3 to 1:1000000. More preferably from 1:4 to 1:1000000, most preferably from 1:7 to 1:1000000.
• the poly ⁇ mers encompass random or block copolymers where one monomer type is an amine N-oxide and the other monomer type is either an amine N-oxide or not.
• the amine oxide unit of the polyamine N-oxides has a pKa ⁇ 10, preferably pKa ⁇ 7, more preferred pKa ⁇ 6.
• the polyamine N-oxide containing polymer can be obtained in almost any degree of polymerisation.
• the degree of polymerisation is not critical provided the material has the desired water-solubility and dye-suspending power.
• the average molecular weight of the polyamine N- oxide containing polymer is within the range of 500 to
• the polyamine N-oxide containing polymers are typically present from 0.001 to 10%, more preferably from 0.01 to 2%, most preferred from 0.05 to 1% by weight of the detergent composition.
• Fabric softening agents can also be incorporated into deter ⁇ gent compositions in accordance with the present invention. These agents may be inorganic or organic in type. Inorganic softening agents are exemplified by the smectite clays dis ⁇ closed in GB-A-1,400,898.
• Organic fabric softening agents include the water-insoluble tertiary amines as disclosed in GB-A-1514276 and EP-B-0 Oil 340 and their combination with mono C12-C14 quaternary ammonium salts are disclosed in EP- B-0 026 527 and EP-B-0 026 528 and di-long-chain amides as disclosed in EP-B-0 242 919.
• Other useful organic ingredi ⁇ ents of fabric softening systems include high molecular weight polyethylene oxide materials as disclosed in EP-A-0 299 575 and 0 313 146.
• Levels of smectite clay are normally in the range from 5% to 20%, more preferably from 8% to 15% by weight with the material being added as a dry mixed component to the remain ⁇ der of the formulation.
• Organic fabric softening agents such as the water-insoluble tertiary amines or di-long-chain amide materials are incorporated at levels of from 0.5% to 5% by weight, normally from 1% to 3% by weight whilst the high molecular weight polyethylene oxide materials and the water-soluble cationic materials are added at levels of from 0.1% to 2%, normally from 0.15% to 1.5% by weight.
• These materials are normally added to the spray dried portion of the composition, although in some instances it may be more convenient to add them as a dry mixed particulate, or spray them as a molten liquid on to other solid components of the composition.
• Enzymes other than the specific cellulase components com- prised by the detergent compositions of the present inven ⁇ tion can be present in the composition, such as proteases, Upases, esterases, peroxidases, oxidases, amylases and other classes of cellulases as well.
• compositions according to the present invention can be made via a variety of methods including dry mixing, spray drying, agglomeration and granulation and combinations of any of these techniques.
• a preferred method of making the compositions herein involves a combination of spray drying, agglomeration in a high speed mixer and dry mixing.
• a first granular component containing a relatively insoluble anionic surfactant is spray dried and part of the spray dried product is diverted and subjected to a low level of nonionic surfactant spray on before being reblended with the remainder.
• a second granular component is made by dry neutralisation of an anionic surfactant acid using sodium carbonate as the neutralising agent in a continuous high speed blender such as a Lodige KM mixer.
• the first and sec ⁇ ond components together with other dry mix ingredients such as the carboxylate chelating agent, inorganic peroxygen bleach, bleach activator, soil suspension agent, silicate and enzyme are then fed to a conveyor belt from which they are transferred to a horizontally rotating drum in which perfume and silicone suds suppressor are sprayed on to the product.
• a further drum mixing step is employed in which a low (approx. 2%) level of finely divided crystalline aluminosilicate is introduced to increase density and improve granular flow characteristics.
• the present detergent compositions are in granular form and are characterized by their density, which is higher than the density of conventional detergent compositions.
• the density of the compositions herein ranges from 550 to 950g/liter, preferably 650 to 850 g/liter of composition, measured at 20°C.
• the "compact" form of the compositions herein is best reflected, in terms of composition, by the amount of inor ⁇ ganic filler salt; inorganic filler salts are conventional ingredients of detergent compositions in powder form; In conventional detergent compositions, the filler salts are present in substantial amounts, typically 17-35% by weight of the total composition.
• the filler salt is present in amounts not exceeding 15% of the total composition, prefer ⁇ ably not exceeding 10%, most preferably not exceeding 5% by weight of the composition.
• Inorganic filler salts such as meant in the present compo- sitions are selected from the alkali and alkaline-earth- metal salts of sulphates and chlorides.
• a preferred filler salt is sodium sulphate.
• the compact detergent compositions herein have the ability to achieve the same efficiency than conventional detergent compositions, when a considerably lesser amount of composi ⁇ tion herein, is used in the main wash cycle of a washing machine.
• the recommended usage is from 80 to 140 g of detergent composition for the main wash cycle, without the need of a pre-wash.
• the detergent compositions herein are preferably delivered directly to the drum and not indirectly via the outer casing of the machine. This can most easily be achieved by incor ⁇ poration of the composition in a bag or container from which it can be released at the start of the wash cycle in response to agitation, a rise in temperature or immersion in the wash water in the drum. Such a container will be placed in the drum, together with the fabrics to be washed.
• the washing machine itself may be adapted to permit direct addition of the composition to the drum e.g. by a dispensing arrangement in the access door.
• Products comprising a detergent composition enclosed in a bag or container are usually designed in such a way that container integrity is maintained in the dry state to pre ⁇ vent egress of the contents when dry, but are adapted for release of the container contents on exposure to a washing environment, normally on immersion in an aqueous solution.
• the container will be flexible, 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 European published Patent Application No. 0 018 678.
• 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 European published Patent Application Nos. 0 Oil 500, 0 011 501, 0 011 502, and 0 011 968.
• a con ⁇ venient 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.
• laminated sheet products can be employed in which a central flexible layer is impregnated and/or coated with a composition and then one or more outer layers are applied to produce a fab ⁇ ric-like aesthetic effect.
• the layers may be sealed together so as to remain attached during use or may separate on contact with water to facilitate the release of the coated or impregnated material.
• An alternative laminate form comprises one layer embossed or deformed to provide a series of pouch-like containers into each of which the detergent components are deposited in measured amounts, with a second layer overlying the first layer and sealed thereto in those areas between the pouch- like containers where the two layers are in contact.
• the components may be deposited in particulate, paste or molten form and the laminate layers should prevent egress of the contents of the pouch-like containers prior to their addi ⁇ tion to water.
• the layers may separate or may remain attached together on contact with water, the only require ⁇ ment being that the structure should permit rapid release of the contents of the pouch-like containers into solution.
• the number of pouch-like containers per unit area of substrate is a matter of choice but will normally vary between 500 and 25,000 per square metre.
• Suitable materials which can be used for the flexible lami ⁇ nate layers in this aspect of the invention include, among others, sponges, paper and woven and non-woven fabrics.
• the preferred means of carrying out the washing pro ⁇ cess according to the present invention includes the use of a reusable dispensing device having walls that are permeable to liquid but impermeable to the solid composition.
• the support ring is provided with a masking arrangement to prevent egress of wetted, undissolved, prod ⁇ uct, this arrangement typically comprising radially extend- ing walls extending from a central boss in a spoked wheel configuration, or a similar structure in which the walls have a helical form.
• the Red Avicel substrate was prepared as follows:
• Avicel® is a microcrystalline cellulose product which is manufactured by Asahi Chemical Co. Ltd., Japan. 162 g of Avicel® corresponds to 1 mole of the glucose units forming the cellulose polymeric chains of Avicel.
• the reactive dye was used the dye Procion® Red H-E3B which is manufactured by Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd. , (ICI) , U.K.
• the reactive dye was covalently bound to Avicel® in accord ⁇ ance with the directions for use with cotton which were pro- vided by the dye manufacturer.
• a solution of 10 g/1 of Procion® Red H-E3B in distilled water was prepared and stirred overnight at 20°C.
• the sol ⁇ ution was centrifuged at 5000 rpm for 20 min. and the sedi- ment was removed.
• the mixture was centrifuged at 4000 rpm at 25°C for 15 min. The supernatant was removed and 60 ml of water was added to the sediment. The mixture was stirred for 30 min. on a mag ⁇ netic stirrer, followed by centrifugation for 15 min. This
• the enzyme sample to be determined was dissolved in the same buffer.
• the total dye load of Red Avicel prepared as described above was estimated by monitoring the absorbance at a wave length of 536 nm of a solution of the dyed substrate in 85% phos ⁇ phoric acid. Correction was made for the difference in ab- 10 sorbance measured in the phosphoric acid and the buffer, respectively.
• ABSORBANCE ( 536 nm) 85% phosphoric acid 0.1 M Tris-HCl buffer
• the concentration of coloured product released from the sub ⁇ strate may be calculated from the total dye load per 1 mole of glucose units in the substrate (Red Avicel), i.e. 5 g of red dye per 162 g of dry Avicel®, under the assumption that the dyeing process did proceed uniformly along the profile
• the measured optical density (O.D.) minus corresponding blank was plotted versus the enzyme concentration (mg enzyme protein/ml). The initial region of the curve up to 0.2 O.D. 35 above blank was used for calculations. Accordingly, 1 IU of enzyme activity towards Red Avicel, i.e. Avicel® dyed with Procion® Red H-E3B, is defined as the amount of enzyme capable of solubilising 1 mmole/min. of coloured product as glucose units corresponding to 0.046 O.D./min. of Red Avicel in a total volume of 1 litre.
• the cellulase enzymes hydrolyse CMC, thereby increasing the viscosity of the incubation mixture.
• Determination of the cellulase activity was determined according to the analysis method AF 302/2-GB which is available from the Applicant upon re ⁇ quest.
• the S-CEVU assay quantifies the amount of catalytic activity present in the sample by measuring the ability of the sample to reduce the viscosity of a solution of carboxymethylcellu ⁇ lose (CMC).
• the assay is carried out at 40°C, pH 7.5 using a relative enzyme standard for reducing the viscosity of the CMC substrate.
• the GOD-Perid Test Kit (available from Boehringer Mannheim, art. 124 036) was used.
• the buffer-enzyme solution in the test kit was dissolved in 500 ml milli Q water. pH of the solution was adjusted to 8.5 (NaOH) .
• ABTS R available from Boehringer Mannheim, art. 756 407
• 10 ml GOD-Perid corresponding to a total concentration of ABTS R of 10 mg/ml.
• a substrate stock solution of 5 mmole (2.52 mg/ml) of cello ⁇ triose (available from Merck art. 24741) in water was pre ⁇ pared. Diluted solutions in water corresponding to 1000 ⁇ - mole, 500 ⁇ mole, 376 ⁇ mole, 250 ⁇ mole, lOO ⁇ mole and 60 ⁇ mole were prepared.
• the reaction mixture was prepared by mixing 1 part of sub ⁇ strate solution with 1 part of GOD-Perid.
• a solution of the cellulase enzyme to be determined in a concentration of 1.0 - 3.0 ⁇ mole was prepared.
• the measurements were carried out on a HP 8452A Diode Array Spectrophotometer thermostated at 40°C, 1 cm cuvette, at a wavelength of 418 nm. The reaction was followed by measuring the oxidation of ABTS every 20 sec for 600 sec in total.
• the cellulase activity on cellotriose in terms of k cat (s" 1 ) , was calculated from a Lineweaver-Burk plot (a plot of 1/V versus 1/[S]): the slope and the intersection were deter ⁇ mined by linear regression analysis.
• the cellulase components denoted CBH I, EG I and EG I-F have a very low catalytic activity on Red Avicel as compared to the cellulase components EG II, EG III, EG V EG V core, EG VI and EG C, which all exhibit a catalytic activity on Red Avicel at pH 7.5 per 1 mg of cellulase protein corresponding to an adsorption higher than 10" 4 at a wavelength of 536 nm.
• the cellulase components EG II, EG III, EG V EG V core, EG VI and EG C are capable and effective of colour clarification when used for washing cellulose-containing fabrics.
• the mentioned cellulase components are also capable of particulate soil removal but their capability of particulate soil removal is combined with a moderate fabric damage which is in contrast to the particulate soil removal capability of the cellulase components CBH I and EG I, see below.
• the cellulase components CBH I, EG I and EG I-F exhibit a catalytic activity on cellotriose at pH 8.5, whereas EG II, EG III, EG V EG V core, EG VI and EG C do not exhibit any activity on cellotriose. Accordingly, the cellulase components CBH I, EG I-F and EG I, when used in a dosage range of 0.001 - 100 mg are capable of performing particulate soil removal without damaging the fabric and without performing colour clarifica ⁇ tion.
• the reference detergent is a European-type with comprising no enzymes, and no dye transfer inhibitor polymer + citric acid to pH 7. Stain removal vs. an unwashed carbon black stained swatch was measured by spectrophotometric reflectance using a Spectraflash 500 after 2 wash cycles. Percentage stain removal was expressed as the percentage difference in 5 reflectance versus the unwashed swatch. The result of the measurements is shown in the table below. The figures are mean values of 4 carbon black stained swatches.
• the reference detergent is a European-type detergent compo ⁇ sition with no enzymes and no dye transfer inhibitor polymer + citric acid to pH 7.
• compositions are made wherein or to which the first and second cellulase components may be present or added.
• liquid detergent compositions of the present invention comprise an effective amount of the first and second cellulase component, preferably from 0.0001% to 10%, more preferably from 0.001% to 1% and most preferably from 0.001% to 0.1% by weight of cellulase enzyme protein in the compo ⁇ sition.
• Example VII VIII
• the granular detergent compositions of the present invention contain an effective amount of the first and second cellulase component, preferably from 0.001% to 10%, more preferably from 0.005% to 5%, and most preferably from 0.01% to 1% by weight of total cellulase enzyme protein in the composition.
• a laundry bar suitable for hand-washing soiled fabrics is prepared by standard extrusion processes.
• the bars contain an effective amount of the first and second cellulase compo ⁇ nent, preferably from 0.001% to 10%, more preferably from 0.01% to 1% by weight of the composition and comprises the following:
• Zeolite A (0.1-10 micron) 5 Carboxymethylcellulose 0.2
• MOLECULE TYPE protein
• ORGANISM Humicola griseus
• ORGANISM Humicola insolens
• ORGANISM Fusarium oxysporum

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• 1994
  • 1994-07-07 EP EP94919578A patent/EP0708819A1/de not_active Withdrawn

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