EP0960188B1 - Procede pour laver la vaisselle - Google Patents

Procede pour laver la vaisselle Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0960188B1
EP0960188B1 EP98961773A EP98961773A EP0960188B1 EP 0960188 B1 EP0960188 B1 EP 0960188B1 EP 98961773 A EP98961773 A EP 98961773A EP 98961773 A EP98961773 A EP 98961773A EP 0960188 B1 EP0960188 B1 EP 0960188B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
compressed portion
acid
preferred
detergent
compressed
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP98961773A
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German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0960188A1 (fr
Inventor
Lynda Anne Speed
Jeffrey Donald Painter
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Procter and Gamble Co
Original Assignee
Procter and Gamble Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Procter and Gamble Co filed Critical Procter and Gamble Co
Priority to EP01127422A priority Critical patent/EP1184450B1/fr
Priority to DE29823750U priority patent/DE29823750U1/de
Priority to DK01127422T priority patent/DK1184450T3/da
Publication of EP0960188A1 publication Critical patent/EP0960188A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0960188B1 publication Critical patent/EP0960188B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
    • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
    • C11D3/00—Other compounding ingredients of detergent compositions covered in group C11D1/00
    • C11D3/16—Organic compounds
    • C11D3/18—Hydrocarbons
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
    • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
    • C11D17/00—Detergent materials or soaps characterised by their shape or physical properties
    • C11D17/0047—Detergents in the form of bars or tablets
    • C11D17/0065—Solid detergents containing builders
    • C11D17/0073—Tablets
    • C11D17/0078—Multilayered tablets

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to methods of machine dishwashing using a detergent tablet comprising a compressed portion and a non-compressed portion wherein the compressed portion dissolves at a faster rate than the non-compressed portion and the non-compressed portion comprises a finishing additive.
  • detergent compositions in tablet form are known in the art. It is understood that detergent compositions in tablet form hold several advantages over detergent compositions in particulate form, such as ease of handling, transportation and storage.
  • Detergent tablets are most commonly prepared by pre-mixing components of a detergent composition and forming the pre-mixed detergent components into a tablet using a tablet press. Tablets are typically formed by compression of the detergent components into a tablet. However, the Applicant has found that some components of a detergent composition are adversely affected by the compression pressure used to form the tablets. These components could not previously be included in a detergent tablet composition without sustaining a loss in performance. In some cases the components may even have become unstable or inactive as a result of the compression.
  • EP-A 0,224,135 describes a dishwashing detergent in a form which comprises a warm water-soluble melt, into which is pressed a cold water-soluble tablet.
  • the document teaches a detergent composition that consists of two parts, the first part dissolving in the pre-rinse and the second part dissolving in the main wash of the dishwasher.
  • EP-B-0,055,100 describes a lavatory block formed by combining a slow dissolving shaped body with a tablet.
  • the lavatory block is designed to be placed in the cistern of a lavatory and dissolves over a period of days, preferably weeks.
  • solubility control agents are paradichlorobenzene, waxes, long chain fatty acids and alcohols and esters thereof and fatty alkylamides.
  • WO99/06522 not published before the priority date of the present application, includes examples of tablets which comprise non-ionic surfactant. When subjected to a standard dishwashing cycle the non-compressed portion dissolves fully in the main wash cycle. The application does not include any disclosure about delivery of rinse aid to the rinsing cycle.
  • the Applicant has found that by providing a detergent tablet comprising a compressed portion and a non-compressed portion detergent components previously considered to be unacceptable for detergent tablets, can be incorporated into a detergent tablet. In addition, potentially reactive components of the detergent composition can be effectively separated.
  • a further advantage of using a detergent tablet as described herein, is the performance benefits which may be achieved in being able to prepare a detergent tablet where the compressed portion has a faster rate of dissolution than the non-compressed portion
  • a machine dishwashing method using detergent tablet comprising a compressed portion and a non-compressed portion wherein:
  • the invention also provides use of the detergent tablets defined above in a method of machine dishwashing whereby the rinse aid is delivered into the rinse cycle of the dishwashing machine. Drainage benefits, in particular spotting and filming benefits, are provided.
  • the density of the non-compressed portion is at least 0.2 g/cm 3 less than the density of the compressed portion.
  • the non-compressed portion is metasilicate-free.
  • the non-compressed portion comprises a finishing additive which is selected from the group consisting of organic polymeric compound, co-builder, enzyme, oxygen releasing bleach, bleach precursor or catalyst, crystal growth inhibitor, bleachdestroying agent.
  • the compressed portion of the tablet used in the present invention dissolves at a faster rate than the non-compressed portion on a weight by weight basis as measured by the Sotax dissolution test method outlined below.
  • This difference in rate of dissolution means that components of the compressed and non-compressed portions can be delivered to the wash water at different points in the washing or rinsing cycle of the washing machine.
  • the compressed portion has a faster dissolution rate than the non-compressed portion meaning that the components of the compressed portion will be delivered to the was water before the components of the non-compressed portion.
  • the non-compressed portion dissolves at a temperature of less than 30°C.
  • the compressed portion of the detergent tablet will begin to dissolve immediately on contact with water.
  • at least 60%, more preferably at least 80%, most preferably at least 95% of the compressed portion dissolves in deionised water at 50°C within 12 minutes.
  • the non-compressed portion comprises at least one finishing additive as described later.
  • Finishing additives are components that provide either a cleaning benefit e.g. enzyme, a soil anti-redeposition benefit e.g. organic polymeric compound or drainage benefit e.g. nonionic surfactant.
  • the non-compressed portion also begins to dissolve on contact with water, although the slower dissolution rate of the non-compressed portion is such that less than 40%, preferably less than 20%, most preferably less than 10% or even 5% of the non-compressed portion dissolves in deionised water at 50°C within 12 minutes.
  • the non-compressed portion dissolves in the rinsing cycle of the washing machine.
  • the finishing additive is a rinse aid.
  • the rinse aid is delivered into the rinsing cycle of the dishwashing and improves water drainage from the dishware and provides reduced spotting and filming benefits.
  • the non-compressed portion does not begin to dissolve during the first 12 minutes of the washing cycle or that it begins to dissolve in the rinsing cycle.
  • the compressed portion of the detergent tablet comprises at least one detergent component but preferably comprise a mixture of more than one detergent component, which are then compressed to form a tablet.
  • Any detergent tablet component conventionally used in known detergent tablets is suitable for incorporation into the compressed portion of the detergent tablets of this invention.
  • Suitable active detergent components are described hereinafter.
  • Preferred active detergent components include builder compound, surfactant, bleaching agent, bleach activator, bleach catalyst, enzyme and an alkalinity source.
  • Detergent component(s) present in the compressed layer may optionally be prepared in combination with a carrier and/or a binder for example water, polymer (e.g. PEG), liquid silicate.
  • a carrier and/or a binder for example water, polymer (e.g. PEG), liquid silicate.
  • the detergent components are preferably prepared in particulate form (i.e. powder or granular form) and may be prepared by any known method, for example conventional spray drying, granulation or agglomeration.
  • the particulate detergent component(s) are compressed using any equipment suitable for forming compressed tablets, blocks, bricks or briquettes; described in more detail hereafter.
  • the compressed portions additionally comprise a disrupting agent.
  • the disrupting agent may be a disintegrating or effervescing agent.
  • Suitable disintegrating agents include agents that swell on contact with water or facilitated water influx and/or efflux by forming channels in compressed and/or non-compressed portions . Any known disintegrating or effervescing agent suitable for use in laundry or dishwashing applications is envisaged for use herein.
  • Suitable disintegrating agent include starch, starch derivatives, alginates, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), CMC-based polymers, sodium acetate, aluminium oxide.
  • Suitable effervescing agents are those that produce a gas on contact with water.
  • Suitable effervesing agents may be oxygen, nitrogen dioxide or carbon dioxide evolving species. Examples of preferred effervesing agents may be selected from the group consisting of perborate, percarbonate, carbonate, bicarbonate and carboxylic acids such as citric or maleic acid.
  • the density of the compressed portion is generally in the range of from 1.3g/cm 3 to 1.9g/cm 3 , more preferably from 1.4g/cm 3 to 1.8g/cm 3 , most preferably from 1.4g/cm 3 to 1.7g/cm 3 .
  • Density is calculated by dividing the weight (mass) of the compressed portion by the volume of the compressed portion.
  • the volume is calculated by multiplying the length by the width by the breadth of the compressed portion.
  • the non-compressed portion comprises a finishing additive but may also comprise one or more detergent components.
  • Detergent components suitable for incorporation in the non-compressed portion include components that interact with one or more detergent components present in the compressed portion. Where further detergent components are present in the non-compressed portion, preferred components include those that that are adversely affected by compression pressure of, for example a compression tablet press. Examples of such detergent components include, but are not limited to, enzyme, corrosion inhibitor and perfume. These components are described in more detail below.
  • finishing additives and optional detergent component(s) may be in any form for example particulate (i.e. powder or granular), gel or liquid form.
  • the non-compressed portion may also optionally comprise a carrier component.
  • the detergent component may be present in the form of a solid, gel or liquid, prior to combination with a carrier component.
  • the non-compressed portion of the detergent tablet may be in solid, gel or liquid form.
  • the detergent tablet of the present invention requires that the non-compressed portion be delivered to the compressed portion such that the compressed portion and non-compressed portion contact each other.
  • the non-compressed portion may be delivered to the compressed portion in solid or flowable form. Where the non-compressed portion is in solid form, it is pre-prepared, optionally shaped and then delivered to the compressed portion.
  • the non-compressed portion is then affixed to a pre-formed compressed portion, for example by adhesion or by insertion of the non-compressed portion to a co-operating surface of the compressed portion.
  • the compressed portion comprises a pre-prepared depression or mould into which the non-compressed portion is delivered.
  • the non-compressed portion is preferably delivered to the compressed portion in flowable form.
  • the non-compressed portion is then affixed to the compressed portion for example by adhesion, by forming a coating over the non-compressed layer to secure it to the compressed portion, or by hardening, for example (i) by cooling to below the melting point where the flowable composition becomes a solidified melt; (ii) by evaporation of a solvent; (iii) by crystallisation; (iv) by polymerisation of a polymeric component of the flowable non-compressed portion; (v) through pseudoplastic properties where the flowable non-compressed portion comprises a polymer and shear forces are applied to the non-compressed portion; (vi) combining a binding agent with the flowable non-compressed portion.
  • the flowable non-compressed portion may be an extrudate that is affixed to the compressed portion by for example any of the mechanism described above or by expansion of the extrudate to the parameters of a mould provided by the compressed portion.
  • the compressed portion comprises a pre-prepared depression or mould (hereafter referred to as 'mould') into which the non-compressed portion is delivered.
  • the surface of the compressed portion comprises more than one mould into which the non-compressed portion may be delivered.
  • the mould(s) preferably at least partially accommodates one or more non-compressed portions. The non-compressed portion(s) is then delivered into the mould and affixed to the compressed portion as described above.
  • the non-compressed portion may comprise particulates.
  • the particulates may be prepared by any known method, for example conventional spray drying, granulation, encapsulation or agglomeration. Particulates may be affixed to the compressed portion by incorporating a binding agent or by forming a coating layer over the non-compressed portion.
  • the melt is prepared by heating a composition comprising the finishing additive and any optional detergent and/or carrier component(s) to above its melting point to form a flowable melt.
  • the flowable melt is then poured into a mould and allowed to cool. As the melt cools it becomes solid, taking the shape of the mould at ambient temperature.
  • the composition comprises one or more carrier components
  • the carrier component(s) may be heated to above their melting point, and then an active detergent component may be added.
  • Carrier components suitable for preparing a solidified melt are typically non-active components that can be heated to above melting point to form a liquid and cooled to form an intermolecular matrix that can effectively trap the finishing additive and optional detergent components.
  • a preferred carrier component is an organic polymer that is solid at ambient temperature.
  • the carrier component is polyethylene glycol (PEG).
  • PEG polyethylene glycol
  • the flowable non-compressed portion may be in a form comprising a dissolved or suspended finishing additive and optional detergent component.
  • the flowable non-compressed portion may harden over time to form a solid, semi solid or highly viscous liquid by any of the methods described above.
  • the flowable non-compressed portion may harden by evaporation of a solvent.
  • Solvents suitable for use herein may include any known solvent in which a binding or gelling agent is soluble.
  • Preferred solvents may be polar, non-polar, non-aqueous or anhydrous and may include for example water, glycerine, alcohol, (for example ethanol, acetone) and alcohol derivatives. In an alternative embodiment more than one solvent may be used.
  • the flowable non-compressed portion may comprise one or more binding or gelling agents.
  • Any binding or gelling agent that has the effect of causing the composition to become solid, semi-solid or highly viscous over time is envisaged for use herein.
  • mechanisms by which the binding or gelling agent causes a non-solid composition to become solid, semi-solid or highly viscous include: chemical reaction (such as chemical cross linking), or effect interaction between two or more components of the flowable compositions either; chemical or physical interaction of the binding agent with a component of the composition.
  • the non-compressed portion comprises a gel.
  • the gel is delivered to the mould provided by the compressed portion.
  • the gel comprises a thickening system in addition to the finishing additive and other optional detergent components.
  • the gel may also comprise solid ingredients to aid in the control of the viscosity of the gel in conjunction with the thickening system. Solid ingredients may also act to optionally disrupt the gel thereby aiding dissolution of the gel.
  • the gel portion typically comprises at least 15% solid ingredients, more preferably at least 30% solid ingredients and most preferably at least 40% solid ingredients. However, due to the need to be able to pump and otherwise process the gel, the gel typically does not include more than 90% solid ingredients.
  • the gel comprises a thickening system to provide the required viscosity or thickness of the gel.
  • the thickening system typically comprises a non-aqueous liquid diluent and an organic or polymeric gelling additive:
  • the preferred gelling agents for use in the present invention are selected from castor oil derivatives, polyethylene glycol, sorbitols and related organic thixatropes, organoclays, cellulose and cellulose derivatives, pluronics, stearates and stearate derivatives, sugar/gelatin combination, starches, glycerol and derivatives thereof, organic acid amides such as N-lauryl-L-glutamic acid di-n-butyl amide, polyvinyl pyrrolidone and mixtures thereof.
  • the preferred gelling agents include castor oil derivatives.
  • Castor oil is a naturally occurring triglyceride obtained from the seeds of Ricinus Communis, a plant which grows in most tropical or subtropical areas.
  • the primary fatty acid moiety in the castor oil triglyceride is ricinoleic acid (12-hydroxy oleic acid). It accounts for 90% of the fatty acid moieties.
  • the balance consists of dihydroxystearic, palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, linolenic and eicosanoic moieties.
  • Hydrogenation of the oil e.g., by hydrogen under pressure converts the double bonds in the fatty acid moieties to single bonds, thus "hardening" the oil.
  • the hydroxyl groups are unaffected by this reaction.
  • the resulting hydrogenated castor oil therefore, has an average of about three hydroxyl groups per molecule. It is believed that the presence of these hydroxyl groups accounts in large part for the outstanding structuring properties which are imparted to the gel portion compared to similar liquid detergent compositions which do not contain castor oil with hydroxyl groups in their fatty acid chains.
  • the castor oil should be hydrogenated to an iodine value of less than 20, and preferably less than 10. Iodine value is a measure of the degree of unsaturation of the oil and is measured by the "Wijis Method," which is well-known in the art. Unhydrogenated castor oil has an iodine value of from 80 to 90.
  • Hydrogenated castor oil is a commercially available commodity being sold, for example, in various grades under the trademark CASTORWAX.RTM. by NL Industries, Inc., Highstown, New Jersey.
  • Other Suitable hydrogenated castor oil derivatives are Thixcin R, Thixcin E, Thixatrol ST, Perchem R and Perchem ST, made by Rheox, Laporte. Especially preferred is Thixatrol ST.
  • Polyethylene glycols when employed as gelling agents, rather than solvents, are low molecular weight materials, having a molecular weight range of from 1000 to 10,000, with 3,000 to 8,000 being the most preferred.
  • Cellulose and cellulose derivatives when employed in the present invention preferably include: i) Cellulose acetate and Cellulose acetate phthalate (CAP); ii) Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose (HPMC); iii)Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC); and mixtures thereof.
  • the hydroxypropyl methylcellulose polymer preferably has a number average molecular weight of 50,000 to 125,000 and a viscosity of a 2 wt.% aqueous solution at 25°C (ADTMD2363) of 50,000 to 100,000 cps.
  • An especially preferred hydroxypropyl cellulose polymer is Methocel® J75MS-N wherein a 2.0 wt.% aqueous solution at 25°C. has a viscosity of about 75,000 cps.
  • the sugar may be any monosaccharide (e.g. glucose), disaccharide (e.g. sucrose or maltose) or polysaccharide.
  • the most preferred sugar is commonly available sucrose.
  • type A or B gelatin may be used, available from for example Sigma.
  • Type A gelatin is preferred since it has greater stability in alkaline conditions in comparison to type B.
  • Preferred gelatin also has a bloom strength of between 65 and 300, most preferably between 75 and 100.
  • the gel may include a variety of other ingredients in addition to the thickening agent as herein before described and the finishing additive described in more detail below.
  • Ingredients such as dyes may be included as well as structure modifying agents.
  • Structure modifying agents include various polymers and mixtures of polymers included polycarboxylates, carboxymethylcelluloses and starches to aid in adsorption of excess solvent and/or reduce or prevent "bleeding" or leaking of the solvent from the gel portion, reduce shrinkage or cracking of the gel portion or aid in the dissolution or breakup of the gel portion in the wash.
  • hardness modifying agents may incorporated into the thickening system to adjust the hardness of the gel if desired.
  • hardness control agents are typically selected from various polymers, such as polyethylene glycol's, polyethylene oxide, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, hydroxystearic acid and polyacetic acid and when included are typically employed in levels of less than 20% and more preferably less than 10% by weight of the solvent in the thickening system.
  • the gel is formulated so that it is a pumpable, flowable gel at slightly elevated temperatures of around 30°C or greater to allow increased flexibility in producing the detergent tablet, but becomes highly viscous or hardens at ambient temperatures so that the gel is maintained in position on the compressed portion of the detergent tablet through shipping and handling of the detergent tablet.
  • Such hardening of the gel may achieved, for example, by (i) cooling to below the flowable temperature of the gel or the removal of shear; (ii) by solvent transfer, for example either to the atmosphere of the compressed body portion; or by (iii) by polymerisation of the gelling agent.
  • the gel is formulated such that it hardens sufficiently so that the maximum force needed to push a probe into the non-compressed portion preferably ranges from 0.5N to 40N.
  • This force may be characterised by measuring the maximum force needed to push a probe, fitted with a strain gauge, a set distance into the gel. The set distance may be between 40% and 80% of the total gel depth. This force can be measured on a QTS 25 tester, using a probe of 5 mm diameter. Typical forces measured are in the range of 1N to 25N.
  • the extrudate is prepared by premixing detergent components of the non-compressed portion with optional carrier components to form a viscous paste.
  • the viscous paste is then extruded using any suitable commonly available extrusion equipment such as for example a single or twin screw extruder available from for example APV Baker, Peterborough, U.K.
  • the extrudate is then cut to size either after delivery to the compressed portion, or prior to delivery to the compressed portion of the detergent tablet.
  • the compressed portion of the tablet comprises a mould into which the extruded non-compressed portion may be delivered.
  • the non-compressed portion is coated with a coating layer.
  • the coating may be used to affix a non-compressed portion to the compressed portion. This may be particularly advantageous where the non-compressed portion comprises flowable particulates, gels or liquids.
  • the coating layer preferably comprises a material that becomes solid on contacting the compressed and/or the non-compressed portions within preferably less than 15 minutes, more preferably less than 10 minutes, even more preferably less than 5 minutes, most preferably less than 60 seconds.
  • the coating layer is water-soluble.
  • Preferred coating layers comprise materials selected from the group consisting of fatty acids, alcohols, diols, esters and ethers, adipic acid, carboxylic acid, dicarboxylic acid, polyvinyl acetate (PVA), polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), polyacetic acid (PLA), polyethylene glycol (PEG) and mixtures thereof.
  • Preferred carboxylic or dicarboxylic acids preferably comprise an even number of carbon atoms.
  • carboxylic or dicarboxylic acids comprise at least 4, more preferably at least 6, even more preferably at least 8 carbon atoms, most preferably between 8 and 13 carbon atoms.
  • Preferred dicarboxylic acids include adipic acid, suberic acid, azelaic acid, subacic acid, undecanedioic acid, dodecandioic acid, tridecanedioic and mixtures thereof.
  • Preferred fatty acids are those having a carbon chain length of from C12 to C22, most preferably from C18 to C22.
  • the coating layer may also preferably comprise a disrupting agent. Where present the coating layer generally present at a level of at least 0.05%, preferably at least 0.1%, more preferably at least 1%, most preferably at least 2% or even at least 5% of the detergent tablet.
  • the coating layer may encapsulate the detergent tablet.
  • the coating layer is present at a level of at least 4%, more preferably at least 5%, most preferably at least 10% of the detergent tablet.
  • the density of the non-compressed portion is generally from 0.7g/cm 3 to 1.2g/cm 3 , more preferably from 0.8g/cm 3 to 1.2g/cm 3 , most preferably from 0.9g/cm 3 to 1.1g/cm 3 .
  • the density of the non-compressed portion is preferably at least 0.2g/cm 3 , more preferably at least 0.3g/cm 3 , most preferably at least 0.4g/cm 3 less than the density of the compressed portion.
  • the density of the non-compressed portion is measured using a simple funnel and cup device consisting of a conical funnel moulded rigidly on a base and provided with a flap valve at its lower extremity to allow the contents of the funnel to be emptied into an axially aligned cylindrical cup of known volume disposed below the funnel.
  • the funnel is 130 mm high and has internal diameters of 130 mm and 40 mm at its respective upper and lower extremities. It is mounted so that the lower extremity is 140 mm above the upper surface of the base.
  • the cup has an overall height of 90 mm, an internal height of 87 mm and an internal diameter of 84 mm. Its nominal volume is 500 ml.
  • a density measurement is taken by hand pouring the non-compressed into the funnel. Once the funnel is filled, the flap valve is opened and powder allowed to run through the funnel, overfilling the cup. The filled cup is removed from the frame and excess non-compressed portion removed from the cup by passing a straight edged implement e.g. a knife, across its upper edge. The filled cup is then weighed. The weight of the non-compressed portion is calculated by subtracting the weight of the cup from the weight of the cup plus the non-compressed portion. Density is then calculated by dividing the weight (mass) of the non-compressed portion by the volume of the cup. Replicate measurements are made as required.
  • the detergent tablet of the present invention is manufactured in according to a process described herein.
  • Delayed dissolution of the non-compressed portion may be achieved by, for example selecting particulate detergent components for use as components of the non-compressed portion that are encapsulated with a component which is slow dissolving or partially soluble in water.
  • encapsulating materials include cellulose and cellulose derivativese.g. cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate phthalate (CAP), hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose (HPMC), carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and mixtures thereof.
  • the hydroxypropyl methylcellulose polymer preferably has a number average molecular weight of 50,000 to200,000 and a viscosity of a 2 wt.% aqueous solution at 25°C (ADTMD2363) of 50,000 to 120,000 cps.
  • An especially preferred hydroxypropyl cellulose polymer is Methocel® J75MS-N wherein a 2.0 wt.% aqueous solution at 25°C has a viscosity of about 75,000 cps.
  • Other preferred encapsulating materials include gelatine of bloom strength in the range of from 30 to 200, preferably from 75 to 200.
  • the thickness of the encapsulating material will determine the dissolution rate of the encapsulated detergent component and thus the delivery rate of the detergent component to the wash water.
  • the encapsulated detergent components are then delivered to the compressed portion or are preferably suspended in a matrix of liquid or preferably gel that is delivered to the compressed portion.
  • the non-compressed portion is adhered to the compressed portion by the methods described above.
  • a particularly preferred matrix is a gel or viscous liquid as described above.
  • the gel matrix preferably comprises organic or inorganic polymers. Preferred polymers include polyethylene glycol of molecular weight from 1,000 to 20,000, more preferably from 4,000 to 10,000 or even 12,000.
  • Yet another example of a means by which the dissolution of the non-compressed portion may be delayed is preparing a non-compressed portion as described above, then delivering the non-compressed portion to the compressed portion and coating the non-compressed portion with a coating layer as described above.
  • the non-compressed portion is such that it comprises at least one component which react with an outside stimulus, such as temperature or pH, to initiate dissolution.
  • an outside stimulus such as temperature or pH
  • a component that would initiate dissolution on reaction to a change in temperature is a wax.
  • a suitable wax will have a melting temperature above room temperature, preferably above 40°C, most preferably above 50°C.
  • the SOTAX machine consists of a temperature controlled waterbath with lid. 7 pots are suspended in the water bath. 7 electric stirring rods are suspended from the underside of the lid, in positions corresponding to the position of the pots in the waterbath. The lid of the waterbath also serves as a lid on the pots.
  • the SOTAX waterbath is filled with water and the temperature gauge set to 50°C. Each pot is then filled with 1 litre of deionised water and the stirrer set to revolve at 250rpm. The lid of the waterbath is closed, allowing the temperature of the deionised water in the pots to equilibrate with the water in the waterbath for 1 hour.
  • Equal weight of the compressed and non-compressed portions are weighed out.
  • the compressed portion is placed in a first pot and the non-compressed portion is placed in a second pot.
  • the lid is then closed.
  • the compressed and non-compressed portions are visually monitored until they completely dissolves. The time is noted when the compressed portion and the non-compressed portions have completely dissolved.
  • the dissolution rate of the compressed portion or non-compressed portion is calculated as the average weight (g) of each portion dissolved in deionised water per minute.
  • the non-compressed portion of the present invention comprises a finishing additive which is a rinse aid.
  • finishing additive it is meant an additive which is released into the rinsing cycle of a dishwashing machine.
  • Optional finishing additives suitable for use herein are selected from the group consisting of organic polymeric compound, enzymes, perfume component, oxygen releasing bleaching agent, precursor or catalyst, bleach destroying agent, co-builder and crystal growth inhibitor.
  • Suitable bleaching agents for incorporation into the compressed portion include both oxygen releasing and chlorine bleaching agents.
  • Bleaching agents suitable for use as finishing additive are oxygen-releasing bleaching agents.
  • 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 of the precursor with a source of hydrogen peroxide.
  • Preferred sources of hydrogen peroxide include inorganic perhydrate bleaches.
  • 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.
  • the oxygen-releasing bleach preferably is a hydrogen peroxide source.
  • Suitable hydrogen peroxide sources include the inorganic perhydrate salts.
  • the inorganic perhydrate salts are normally incorporated in the form of the sodium salt at a level of from 1% to 40% by weight, more preferably from 2% to 30% by weight and most preferably from 5% to 25% by weight of the compositions.
  • 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 may be included as the crystalline solid without additional protection.
  • the preferred executions of such granular compositions utilize a coated form of the material which provides better storage stability for the perhydrate salt in the granular product.
  • Sodium perborate can be in the form of the monohydrate of nominal formula NaBO 2 H 2 O 2 or the tetrahydrate NaBO 2 H 2 O 2 .3H 2 O.
  • Alkali metal percarbonates, particularly sodium percarbonate are preferred perhydrates for inclusion in compositions in accordance with the invention.
  • Sodium percarbonate is an addition compound having a formula corresponding to 2Na 2 CO 3 .3H 2 O 2 , 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 for localised high bleach concentrations to arise.
  • the percarbonate is most preferably incorporated into such compositions in a coated form which provides in-product stability.
  • a suitable coating material providing in product stability comprises mixed salt of a water soluble alkali metal sulphate and carbonate.
  • the weight ratio of the mixed salt coating material to percarbonate lies in the range from 1 : 200 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 general formula Na 2 SO 4 .n.Na 2 CO 3 wherein n is from 0.1 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 SiO 2 : Na 2 O 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 SiO 2 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.
  • Potassium peroxymonopersulfate is another inorganic perhydrate salt of utility in the compositions herein.
  • Peroxyacid bleach precursors are compounds which react with hydrogen peroxide in a perhydrolysis reaction to produce a peroxyacid.
  • peroxyacid bleach precursors may be represented as where L is a leaving group and X is essentially any functionality, such that on perhydrolysis the structure of the peroxyacid produced is
  • Peroxyacid bleach precursor compounds are preferably incorporated at a level of from 0.5% to 20% by weight, more preferably from 1% to 10% by weight, most preferably from 1.5% to 5% by weight of the compositions.
  • Suitable peroxyacid bleach precursor compounds typically contain one or more N- or O-acyl groups, which precursors can be selected from a wide range of classes.
  • Suitable classes include anhydrides, esters, imides, lactams and acylated 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, 864798, 1147871, 2143231 and EP-A-0170386.
  • L group 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 difficult to stabilise for use in a bleaching composition.
  • Preferred L groups are selected from the group consisting of: and mixtures thereof, wherein R 1 is an alkyl, aryl, or alkaryl group containing from 1 to 14 carbon atoms, R 3 is an alkyl chain containing from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, R 4 is H or R 3 , R 5 is an alkenyl chain containing from 1 to 8 carbon atoms and Y is H or a solubilizing group. Any of R 1 , R 3 and R 4 may be substituted by essentially any functional group including, for example alkyl, hydroxy, alkoxy, halogen, amine, nitrosyl, amide and ammonium or alkyl ammonium groups.
  • the preferred solubilizing groups are -SO 3 - M + , -CO 2 - M + , -SO 4 - M + , -N + (R 3 ) 4 X - and O ⁇ --N(R 3 ) 3 and most preferably -SO 3 - M + and -CO 2 - M + wherein R 3 is an alkyl chain containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, M is a cation which provides solubility to the bleach activator and X is an anion which provides solubility to the bleach activator.
  • M is an alkali metal, ammonium or substituted ammonium cation, with sodium and potassium being most preferred, and X is a halide, hydroxide, methylsulfate or acetate anion.
  • 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 for example benzoyl oxybenzene sulfonate:
  • benzoylation products of sorbitol, glucose, and all saccharides with benzoylating agents including for example:
  • Perbenzoic acid precursor compounds of the imide type include N-benzoyl succinimide, tetrabenzoyl ethylene diamine and the N-benzoyl substituted ureas.
  • 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 benzoyl pyroglutamic acid.
  • perbenzoic acid precursors include the benzoyl diacyl peroxides, the benzoyl tetraacyl peroxides, and the compound having the formula:
  • Phthalic anhydride is another suitable perbenzoic acid precursor compound herein:
  • Suitable N-acylated lactam perbenzoic acid precursors have the formula: wherein n is from 0 to 8, preferably from 0 to 2, and R 6 is a benzoyl group.
  • 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 amide groups.
  • a preferred class of substituted perbenzoic acid precursor compounds are the amide substituted compounds of the following general formulae: wherein R 1 is an aryl or alkaryl group with from 6 to 14 carbon atoms, R 2 is an arylene, or alkarylene group containing from 6 to 14 carbon atoms, and R 5 is H or an alkyl, aryl, or alkaryl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms and L can be essentially any leaving group.
  • R 1 preferably contains from 6 to 12 carbon atoms.
  • R 2 preferably contains from 6 to 8 carbon atoms.
  • R 1 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.
  • R 2 Analogous structural variations are permissible for R 2 .
  • the substitution can include alkyl, aryl, halogen, nitrogen, sulphur and other typical substituent groups or organic compounds.
  • R 5 is preferably H or methyl.
  • R 1 and R 5 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 precursor compounds produce cationic peroxyacids on perhydrolysis.
  • 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.
  • the peroxyacid precursor compound may be an alkyl percarboxylic acid precursor compound or an amide substituted alkyl peroxyacid precursor as described hereinafter
  • Cationic peroxyacid precursors are described in U.S. Patents 4,904,406; 4,751,015; 4,988,451; 4,397,757; 5,269,962; 5,127,852; 5,093,022; 5,106,528; U.K. 1,382,594; EP 475,512, 458,396 and 284,292; and in JP 87-318,332.
  • Suitable cationic peroxyacid precursors include any of the ammonium or alkyl ammonium substituted alkyl or benzoyl oxybenzene sulfonates, N-acylated caprolactams, and monobenzoyltetraacetyl glucose benzoyl peroxides.
  • a preferred cationically substituted benzoyl oxybenzene sulfonate is the 4-(trimethyl ammonium) methyl derivative of benzoyl oxybenzene sulfonate:
  • a preferred cationically substituted alkyl oxybenzene sulfonate has the formula:
  • Preferred cationic peroxyacid precursors of the N-acylated caprolactam class include the trialkyl ammonium methylene benzoyl caprolactams, particularly trimethyl ammonium methylene benzoyl caprolactam:
  • N-acylated caprolactam class examples include the trialkyl ammonium methylene alkyl caprolactams: where n is from 0 to 12, particularly from 1 to 5.
  • Another preferred cationic peroxyacid precursor is 2-(N,N,N-trimethyl ammonium) ethyl sodium 4-sulphophenyl carbonate chloride.
  • 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,N 1 N 1 tetra acetylated alkylene diamines wherein the alkylene group contains from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, particularly those compounds in which the alkylene group contains 1, 2 and 6 carbon atoms. Tetraacetyl ethylene diamine (TAED) is particularly preferred.
  • TAED Tetraacetyl ethylene diamine
  • 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 precursor compounds are also suitable, including those of the following general formulae: wherein R 1 is an alkyl group with from 1 to 14 carbon atoms, R 2 is an alkylene group containing from 1 to 14 carbon atoms, and R 5 is H or an alkyl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms and L can be essentially any leaving group.
  • R 1 preferably contains from 6 to 12 carbon atoms.
  • R 2 preferably contains from 4 to 8 carbon atoms.
  • R 1 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 for R 2 .
  • substitution can include alkyl, halogen, nitrogen, sulphur and other typical substituent groups or organic compounds.
  • R 5 is preferably H or methyl.
  • R 1 and R 5 should not contain more than 18 carbon atoms in total. Amide substituted bleach activator compounds of this type are described in EP-A-0170386.
  • precursor compounds of the benzoxazin-type as disclosed for example in EP-A-332,294 and EP-A-482,807, particularly those having the formula: including the substituted benzoxazins of the type wherein R 1 is H, alkyl, alkaryl, aryl, arylalkyl, and wherein R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , and R 5 may be the same or different substituents selected from H, halogen, alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, hydroxyl, alkoxyl, amino, alkyl amino, COOR 6 (wherein R 6 is H or an alkyl group) and carbonyl functions.
  • An especially preferred precursor of the benzoxazin-type is:
  • the organic peroxyacid bleaching system may contain, in addition to, or as an alternative to, an organic peroxyacid bleach precursor compound, a preformed organic peroxyacid , typically at a level of from 0.5% to 25% by weight, more preferably from 1% to 10% by weight of the composition.
  • a preferred class of organic peroxyacid compounds are the amide substituted compounds of the following general formulae: wherein R 1 is an alkyl, aryl or alkaryl group with from 1 to 14 carbon atoms, R 2 is an alkylene, arylene, and alkarylene group containing from 1 to 14 carbon atoms, and R 5 is H or an alkyl, aryl, or alkaryl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms. R 1 preferably contains from 6 to 12 carbon atoms. R 2 preferably contains from 4 to 8 carbon atoms.
  • R 1 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 for R 2 . The substitution can include alkyl, aryl, halogen, nitrogen; sulphur and other typical substituent groups or organic compounds.
  • R 5 is preferably H or methyl. R 1 and R 5 should not contain more than 18 carbon atoms in total. Amide substituted organic peroxyacid compounds of this type are described in EP-A-0170386.
  • 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.
  • a preferred additional component is a metal containing bleach catalyst.
  • 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 cations, an auxiliary metal cation having little or no bleach catalytic activity, such as zinc or aluminium cations, and a sequestrant having defined stability constants for the catalytic and auxiliary metal cations, particularly ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, ethylenediaminetetra(methylenephosphonic acid) and water-soluble salts thereof.
  • a heavy metal cation of defined bleach catalytic activity such as copper, iron cations
  • an auxiliary metal cation having little or no bleach catalytic activity such as zinc or aluminium cations
  • a sequestrant having defined stability constants for the catalytic and auxiliary metal cations, particularly ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, ethylenediaminetetra(methylenephosphonic acid) and water-soluble salts thereof.
  • Preferred types of bleach catalysts include the manganese-based complexes disclosed in U.S. Pat. 5,246,621 and U.S. Pat. 5,244,594. Preferred examples of these catalysts include Mn IV 2 (u-O) 3 (1,4,7-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane) 2 -(PF 6 ) 2 , Mn III 2 (u-O) 1 (u-OAc) 2 (1,4,7-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane) 2 -(ClO 4 ) 2 , Mn IV 4 (u-O) 6 (1,4,7-triazacyclononane) 4 -(ClO 4 ) 2 , Mn III Mn IV 4 (u-O) 1 (u-OAc) 2 (1,4,7-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane) 2 -(ClO 4 ) 3 , and mixtures thereof.
  • ligands suitable for use herein include 1,5,9-trimethyl-1,5,9-triazacyclododecane, 2-methyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane, 2-methyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane, 1,2,4,7-tetramethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane, and mixtures thereof.
  • bleach catalysts useful in the compositions herein may also be selected as appropriate for the present invention.
  • suitable bleach catalysts see U.S. Pat. 4,246,612 and U.S. Pat. 5,227,084. See also U.S. Pat. 5,194,416 which teaches mononuclear manganese (IV) complexes such as Mn(1,4,7-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane)(OCH 3 ) 3- (PF 6 ).
  • Still another type of bleach catalyst 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 sorbitol, iditol, dulsitol, mannitol, xylithol, arabitol, adonitol, meso-erythritol, meso-inositol, lactose, and mixtures thereof.
  • U.S. Pat. 5,114,611 teaches a bleach catalyst comprising a complex of transition metals, including Mn, Co, Fe, or Cu, with an non-(macro)-cyclic ligand.
  • B is a bridging group selected from O, S.
  • R 5 , R 6 , and R 7 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.
  • said rings may be substituted with substituents such as alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, halide, and nitro.
  • 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)Cl 2 , Di(isothiocyanato)bispyridylamine-cobalt (II), trisdipyridylamine-cobalt(II) perchlorate, Co(2,2-bispyridylamine) 2 O 2 ClO 4 , Bis-(2,2'-bispyridylamine) copper(II) perchlorate, tris(di-2-pyridylamine) iron(II) perchlorate, and mixtures thereof.
  • Preferred examples include binuclear Mn complexes with tetra-N-dentate and bi-N-dentate ligands, including N 4 Mn III (u-O) 2 Mn IV N 4 ) + and [Bipy 2 Mn III (u-O) 2 Mn IV bipy 2 ]-(ClO 4 ) 3 .
  • the bleach-catalyzing manganese complexes for use in the present invention have not 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.
  • the oxidation state of the 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 reasonably speculated that multi-nuclear species and/or "cage" structures may 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.
  • bleach catalysts are described, for example, in European patent application, publication no. 408,131 (cobalt complex catalysts), European patent applications, publication nos. 384,503, and 306,089 (metallo-porphyrin catalysts), U.S. 4,728,455 (manganese/multidentate ligand catalyst), U.S. 4,711,748 and European patent application, publication no. 224,952, (absorbed manganese on aluminosilicate catalyst), U.S. 4,601,845 (aluminosilicate support with manganese and zinc or magnesium salt), U.S. 4,626,373 (manganese/ligand catalyst), U.S. 4,119,557 (ferric complex catalyst), German Pat.
  • the preferred cobalt catalyst of this type useful herein are cobalt pentaamine chloride salts having the formula [Co(NH 3 ) 5 Cl] Y y , and especially [Co(NH 3 ) 5 Cl]Cl 2 .
  • T are selected from the group consisting of chloride, iodide, I 3 - , formate, nitrate, nitrite, sulfate, sulfite, citrate, acetate, carbonate, bromide, PF 6 - , BF 4 - , B(Ph) 4 - , phosphate, phosphite, silicate, tosylate, methanesulfonate, and combinations thereof.
  • T can be protonated if more than one anionic group exists in T, e.g., HPO 4 2- , HCO 3 - , H 2 PO 4 - , etc.
  • 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), alkylethoxysulfonates (AES), etc.) and/or anionic polymers (e.g., polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, etc.).
  • anionic surfactants e.g., linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS), alkyl sulfates (AS), alkylethoxysulfonates (AES), etc.
  • anionic polymers e.g., polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, etc.
  • the M moieties include, but are not limited to, for example, F - , SO 4 -2 , NCS - , SCN - , S 2 O 3 -2 , NH 3 , PO 4 3- , 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).
  • 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).
  • M can be protonated if more than one anionic group exists in M (e.g., HPO 4 2- , HCO 3 - , H 2 PO 4 - , HOC(O)CH 2 C(O)O-, etc.)
  • Preferred M moieties are substituted and unsubstituted C 1 -C 30 carboxylic acids having the formulas: RC(O)O- wherein R is preferably selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C 1 -C 30 (preferably C 1 -C 18 ) unsubstituted and substituted alkyl, C 6 -C 30 (preferably C 6 -C 18 ) unsubstituted and substituted aryl, and C 3 -C 30 (preferably C 5 -C 18 ) unsubstituted and substituted heteroaryl, wherein substituents are selected from the group consisting of-NR' 3 , -NR' 4 + , -C(O)OR', -OR', -C(O)NR' 2
  • M are carboxylic acids having the formula above wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, propyl, straight or branched C 4 -C 12 alkyl, and benzyl. Most preferred R is methyl.
  • Preferred carboxylic acid M moieties include formic, benzoic, octanoic, nonanoic, decanoic, dodecanoic, malonic, maleic, succinic, adipic, phthalic, 2-ethylhexanoic, naphthenoic, oleic, palmitic, triflate, tartrate, stearic, butyric, citric, acrylic, aspartic, fumaric, lauric, linoleic, lactic, malic, and especially acetic acid.
  • the B moieties include carbonate, di- and higher carboxylates (e.g., oxalate, malonate, malic, succinate, maleate), picolinic acid, and alpha and beta amino acids (e.g., glycine, alanine, beta-alanine, phenylalanine).
  • carboxylates e.g., oxalate, malonate, malic, succinate, maleate
  • picolinic acid 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. Bioinorg. Mech., (1983), 2, pages 1-94.
  • cobalt pentaamine acetate salts having the formula [Co(NH 3 ) 5 OAc] T y , wherein OAc represents an acetate moiety, and especially cobalt pentaamine acetate chloride, [Co(NH 3 ) 5 OAc]Cl 2 ; as well as [Co(NH 3 ) 5 OAc](OAc) 2 ; [Co(NH 3 ) 5 OAc](PF 6 ) 2 ; [Co(NH 3 ) 5 OAc](SO 4 ); [Co (NH 3 ) 5 OAc](BF 4 ) 2 ; and [Co(NH 3 ) 5 OAc](NO 3 ) 2 (herein "PAC").
  • PAC cobalt pentaamine acetate salts having the formula [Co(NH 3 ) 5 OAc] T y , wherein OAc represents an acetate moiety, and especially cobalt pentaamine acetate chloride, [Co(NH 3 ) 5
  • Cobalt catalysts suitable for incorporation into the detergent tablets of the present invention may be produced according to the synthetic routes disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,559,261, 5,581,005, and 5,597,936.
  • 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".
  • Suitable enzymes for incorporation into the compressed portion or the non-compressed portion as a finishing additive are selected from the group consisting of cellulases, hemicellulases, peroxidases, proteases, gluco-amylases, amylases, xylanases, lipases, phospholipases, esterases, cutinases, pectinases, keratanases, reductases, oxidases, phenoloxidases, lipoxygenases, ligninases, pullulanases, tannases, pentosanases, malanases, ⁇ -glucanases, arabinosidases, hyaluronidase, chondroitinase, laccase or mixtures thereof.
  • Preferred enzymes include protease, amylase, lipase, peroxidases, cutinase and/or 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).
  • CEVU Cellulose Viscosity Unit
  • Suitable cellulases are disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,435,307, Barbesgoard et al, J61078384 and WO96/02653 which disclose fungal cellulases produced respectively from Humicola insolens, Trichoderma, Thielavia and Sporotrichum.
  • EP 739 982 describes cellulases isolated from novel Bacillus species. Suitable cellulases are also disclosed in GB-A-2.075.028; GB-A-2.095.275; DE-OS-2.247.832 and WO95/26398.
  • cellulases examples include cellulases produced by a strain of Humicola insolens (Humicola grisea var. thermoidea), particularly the Humicola strain DSM 1800.
  • Other suitable cellulases are cellulases originated from Humicola insolens having a molecular weight of 50KDa, an isoelectric point of 5.5 and containing 415 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 PCT Patent Application No. WO 91/17243.
  • suitable cellulases are the EGIII cellulases from Trichoderma longibrachiatum described in WO94/21801, Genencor, published September 29, 1994. Especially suitable cellulases are the cellulases having color care benefits. Examples of such cellulases are cellulases described in EP-A-495257. Carezyme and Celluzyme (Novo Nordisk A/S) are especially useful. See also WO91/17244 and WO91/21801. Other suitable cellulases for fabric care and/or cleaning properties are described in WO96/34092, WO96/17994 and WO95/24471.
  • Said cellulases are normally incorporated in the detergent composition at levels from 0.0001% to 2% of active enzyme by weight of the detergent 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 PCT International Application WO 89/099813, WO89/09813 and in EP-A-540784 EP and EP-A-927242. 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 94/12621) and substitued syringates (C3-C5 substitued alkyl syringates) and phenols.
  • Sodium percarbonate or perborate are preferred sources of hydrogen peroxide.
  • Said cellulases and/or peroxidases are normally incorporated in the detergent composition at levels from 0.0001% to 2% of active enzyme by weight of the detergent composition.
  • 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 British Patent 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., Nagoya, Japan, under the trade name Lipase P "Amano,” hereinafter referred to as "Amano-P".
  • lipases include Amano-CES, lipases ex Chromobacter viscosum, e.g. Chromobacter viscosum var. lipolyticum NRRLB 3673 from Toyo Jozo Co., Tagata, Japan; Chromobacter viscosum lipases from U.S. Biochemical Corp., U.SA. and Disoynth Co., The Netherlands, and lipases ex Pseudomonas gladioli.
  • lipases such as M1 Lipase R and Lipomax R (Gist-Brocades) and Lipolase R and Lipolase Ultra R (Novo) which have found to be very effective when used in combination with the compositions of the present invention.
  • lipolytic enzymes described in EP 258 068, WO 92/05249 and WO 95/22615 by Novo Nordisk and in WO 94/03578, WO 95/35381 and WO 96/00292 by Unilever.
  • 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 (Genencor); WO 90/09446 (Plant Genetic System) and WO 94/14963 and WO 94/14964 (Unilever).
  • the lipases and/or cutinases are normally incorporated in the detergent composition at levels from 0.0001% to 2% of active enzyme by weight of the detergent 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, such as those described in European Patent Application Serial Number 87 303761.8, filed April 28, 1987 (particularly pages 17, 24 and 98), and which is called herein "Protease B", and in European Patent Application 199,404, Venegas, published October 29,1986, which refers to a modified bacterial serine protealytic enzyme which is called "Protease A” herein.
  • Protease C 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 123, and alanine replaced threonine at position 274.
  • Protease C is described in WO 91/06637, Published May 16, 1991. Genetically modified variants, particularly of Protease C, are also included herein.
  • a preferred protease referred to as "Protease D” is a carbonyl hydrolase variant having an amino acid sequence not found in nature, which is derived 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, +128, +135, +156, +166, +195, +197, +204, +206, +210, +216, +217, +218, +222, +260, +265, and/or +274 according to the numbering of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subtilisin, as described in WO95/10591 and in the patent application of C. Ghosh, et al, "Bleaching Compositions Comprising Protease Enzymes
  • proteases described in patent applications EP 251 446 and WO 91/06637, protease BLAP® described in WO91/02792 and their variants described in WO 95/23221.
  • protease from Bacillus sp. NCIMB 40338 described in WO 93/18140 A to Novo.
  • Enzymatic detergents comprising protease, one or more other enzymes, and a reversible protease inhibitor are described in WO 92/03529 A to Novo.
  • a protease having decreased adsorption and increased hydrolysis is available as described in WO 95/07791 to Procter & Gamble.
  • a recombinant trypsin-like protease for detergents suitable herein is described in WO 94/25583 to Novo.
  • Other suitable proteases are described in EP 516 200 by Unilever.
  • protease enzymes which are a carbonyl hydrolase variant having an amino acid sequence not found 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 +210 in combination with one or more of the following residues: +33, +62, +67, +76, +100, +101, +103, +104, +107, +128, +129, +130, +132, +135, +156, +158, +164, +166, +167, +170, +209, +215, +217, +218 and +222, where the numbered positions correspond to naturally-occurring subtilisin from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens 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,
  • the proteolytic enzymes are incorporated in the detergent compositions of the present invention 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 the composition.
  • Amylases can be included for removal of carbohydrate-based stains.
  • WO94/02597 Novo Nordisk A/S published February 03, 1994, describes cleaning compositions which incorporate mutant amylases. See also WO95/10603, Novo Nordisk A/S, published April 20, 1995.
  • Other amylases known for use in cleaning compositions include both ⁇ - and ⁇ -amylases.
  • ⁇ -Amylases are known in the art and include those disclosed in US Pat. no. 5,003,257; EP 252,666; WO/91/00353; FR 2,676,456; EP 285,123; EP 525,610; EP 368,341; and British Patent specification no. 1,296,839 (Novo).
  • amylases are stability-enhanced amylases described in WO94/18314, published August 18, 1994 and WO96/05295, Genencor, published February 22, 1996 and amylase variants having additional modification in the immediate parent available from Novo Nordisk A/S, disclosed in WO 95/10603, published April 95. Also suitable are amylases described in EP 277 216, WO95/26397 and WO96/23873 (all by Novo Nordisk).
  • ⁇ -amylases examples are Purafect Ox Am® from Genencor and Termamyl®, Ban® ,Fungamyl® and Duramyl®, all available from Novo Nordisk A/S Denmark.
  • WO95/26397 describes other suitable amylases : ⁇ -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® ⁇ -amylase activity assay. Suitable are variants of the above enzymes, described in WO96/23873 (Novo Nordisk). 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 WO95/35382.
  • Preferred amylase enzymes include those described in WO95/26397 and in WO 96/23873.
  • amylolytic enzymes are incorporated in the detergent compositions of the present invention a level of from 0.0001% to 2%, preferably from 0.00018% to 0.05%, more preferably from 0.00024% to 0.048% pure enzyme by weight of the composition
  • detergent tablets of the present invention comprise amylase enzymes, particularly those described in WO95/26397 and co-pending application WO 96/23873 in combination with a complementary amylase.
  • complementary it is meant the addition of one or more amylase suitable for detergency purposes.
  • Examples of complementary amylases ( ⁇ and/or ⁇ ) are described below.
  • WO94/02597 and WO95/10603, Novo Nordisk A/S describe cleaning compositions which incorporate mutant amylases.
  • Other amylases known for use in cleaning compositions include both ⁇ - and ⁇ -amylases.
  • ⁇ -Amylases are known in the art and include those disclosed in US Pat. no. 5,003,257; EP 252,666; WO/91/00353; FR 2,676,456; EP 285,123; EP 525,610; EP 368,341; and British Patent specification no. 1,296,839 (Novo).
  • amylases are stability-enhanced amylases described in WO94/18314, and WO96/05295, Genencor and amylase variants having additional modification in the immediate parent available from Novo Nordisk A/S, disclosed in WO 95/10603. Also suitable are amylases described in EP 277 216 (Novo Nordisk). Examples of commercial ⁇ -amylases products are Purafect Ox Am® from Genencor and Termamyl®, Ban® ,Fungamyl® and Duramyl®, all available from Novo Nordisk A/S Denmark.
  • WO95/26397 describes other suitable amylases : ⁇ -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® ⁇ -amylase activity assay. Suitable are variants of the above enzymes, described in WO96/23873 (Novo Nordisk). 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 WO95/35382.
  • Preferred complementary amylases for the present invention are the amylases sold under the tradename Purafect Ox Am R described in WO 94/18314, WO96/05295 sold by Genencor; Termamyl®, Fungamyl ®, Ban® and Duramyl®, all available from Novo Nordisk A/S and Maxamyl® by Gist-Brocades.
  • Said complementary amylase is generally incorporated in the detergent compositions of the present invention a level of from 0.0001% to 2%, preferably from 0.00018% to 0.06%, more preferably from 0.00024% to 0.048% pure enzyme by weight of the composition.
  • 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 2:1 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 mesophilic or extremophilic (psychrophilic, psychrotrophic, thermophilic, barophilic, alkalophilic, acidophilic, halophilic, etc.). Purified or non-purified 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 and/or 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.
  • Said enzymes are normally incorporated in the detergent composition at levels from 0.0001% to 2% of active enzyme by weight of the detergent 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 ).
  • enzyme oxidation scavengers which are described in EP-A-553607.
  • 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 9307263 A and WO 9307260 A to Genencor International, WO 8908694 A to Novo, and U.S. 3,553,139, January 5, 1971 to McCarty et al. Enzymes are further disclosed in U.S. 4,101,457, Place et al, July 18, 1978, and in U.S. 4,507,219, Hughes, March 26, 1985. Enzyme materials useful for liquid detergent formulations, and their incorporation into such formulations, are disclosed in U.S. 4,261,868, Hora et al, April 14, 1981. Enzymes for use in detergents can be stabilised by various techniques.
  • Enzyme stabilisation techniques are disclosed and exemplified in U.S. 3,600,319, August 17,1971, Gedge et al, EP 199,405 and EP 200,586, October 29, 1986, Venegas. Enzyme stabilisation systems are also described, for example, in U.S. 3,519,570. A useful Bacillus, sp. AC13 giving proteases, xylanases and cellulases, is described in WO 9401532 A to Novo.
  • a bleach destroying agent is a preferred finishing additive of the non-compressed portion of detergent tablets suitable for use in automatic dishwashing.
  • Bleach destroying agents are delivered to the later stages of the washing cycle of a dishwashing machine and serve to destroy any remaining bleach present at the end of the washing cycle. It is believed that bleaching agent carried over from the washing cycle to the rinsing cycle causes corrosion of silverware as described in EP-A-636 888.
  • the bleach destroying agent consists of one or more encapsulated additives.
  • Suitable encapsulated additives include encapsulated enzymes suitable for oxygen destruction for example peroxidases, e.g. catalase, encapsulated reducing agents, e.g. thiosulphate, encapsulated heavy metals or compounds thereof e.g. copper, iron, manganese, zinc or titanium.
  • Suitable methods of encapsulation are those already known in the art.
  • the preferred encapsulation dissolve gradually e.g. paraffin.
  • perfume component it is meant perfume oil, encapsulated perfumes, perfumes wich have been applied to a porous carrier and then optionally encapsulated, pro-perfumes and mixtures thereof.
  • Suitable perfumes include those commonly available in the art and especially those described in WO 99/27069.
  • Organic polymeric compounds may be incorporated into the compressed portion, but are preferably finishing additives of the non-compressed portion in accord with the invention.
  • organic polymeric compound it is meant essentially any polymeric organic compound commonly found in detergent compositions having dispersant, anti-redeposition, soil release agents or other detergency properties.
  • Organic polymeric compound is typically incorporated in the detergent compositions of the invention at a level of from 0.1% to 30%, preferably from 0.5% to 15%, most preferably from 1% to 10% by weight of the compositions.
  • organic polymeric compounds include the water soluble organic homo- or co-polymeric polycarboxylic acids, modified polycarboxylates 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.
  • salts are polyacrylates of molecular weight from 500 to 200,000, more preferably from 1,000 to 100,000 and their copolymers with any suitable other monomer units including modified acrylic, fumaric, maleic, itaconic, aconitic, mesaconic, citraconic and methylenemalonic acid or their salts, maleic anhydride, acrylamide, alkylene, vinylmethyl ether, styrene and any mixtures thereof.
  • 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 -[CR 2 -CR 1 (CO-O-R 3 )]- wherein at least one of the substituents R 1 , R 2 or R 3 , preferably R 1 or R 2 is a 1 to 4 carbon alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group, R 1 or R 2 can be a hydrogen and R 3 can be a hydrogen or alkali metal salt.
  • the most preferred copolymer of this type has a molecular weight of 3500 and contains 60% to 80% by weight of acrylic acid and 40% to 20% by weight of methacrylic acid.
  • polyamine and modified polyamine compounds are useful herein including those derived from aspartic acid such as those disclosed in EP-A-305282, EP-A-305283 and EP-A-351629.
  • Other optional polymers may include polyethylene immines (described in US 5968893 and WO 97/40817, polyethylene or polypropylene glycol, 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.
  • polyethylene immines described in US 5968893 and WO 97/40817
  • polyethylene or polypropylene glycol 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.
  • polymeric soil release agents include those soil release agents having: (a) one or more nonionic hydrophile components consisting essentially 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) a 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 least 50% oxyethylene units; or (b) one or more hydrophobe components comprising (i) C 3 oxyalkylene terephthalate segments, wherein, if said hydrophobe components also comprise oxyethylene terephthalate, the ratio of oxyethylene tere
  • 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 C 4 -C 6 alkylene hydrophobe segments include, but are not limited to, end-caps of polymeric soil release agents such as MO 3 S(CH 2 ) n OCH 2 CH 2 O-, where M is sodium and n is an integer from 4-6, as disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,721,580, issued January 26, 1988 to Gosselink.
  • 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 C 1 -C 4 alkyl and C 4 hydroxyalkyl cellulose; see U.S. Patent 4,000,093, issued December 28, 1976 to Nicol, et al.
  • Soil release agents characterized by poly(vinyl ester) hydrophobe segments include graft copolymers of poly(vinyl ester), e.g., C 1 -C 6 vinyl esters, preferably poly(vinyl acetate) grafted onto polyalkylene oxide backbones, such as polyethylene oxide backbones.
  • poly(vinyl ester) e.g., C 1 -C 6 vinyl esters
  • poly(vinyl acetate) grafted onto polyalkylene oxide backbones such as polyethylene oxide backbones.
  • 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 U.S. Patent 3,959,230 to Hays, issued May 25, 1976 and U.S. Patent 3,893,929 to Basadur issued July 8, 1975.
  • 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 units, derived from a polyoxyethylene glycol of average molecular weight 300-5,000.
  • Another suitable polymeric soil release agent is a sulfonated 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 U.S. Patent 4,968,451, issued November 6, 1990 to J.J. Scheibel and E.P. Gosselink.
  • Other suitable polymeric soil release agents include the terephthalate polyesters of U.S. Patent 4,711,730, issued December 8, 1987 to Gosselink et al, the anionic end-capped oligomeric esters of U.S.
  • Patent 4,721,580 issued January 26, 1988 to Gosselink
  • block polyester oligomeric compounds of U.S. Patent 4,702,857 issued October 27, 1987 to Gosselink.
  • Other polymeric soil release agents also include the soil release agents of U.S. Patent 4,877,896, issued October 31, 1989 to Maldonado et al, which discloses anionic, especially sulfoarolyl, end-capped terephthalate esters.
  • Another soil release agent is an oligomer 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 1.8, and two end-cap units of sodium 2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)-ethanesulfonate.
  • Suitable soil release agents include water-soluble cationic ethoxylated amine compounds with particulate soil/clay-soil removal and/or anti-redeposition properties. These cationic compounds are described in more detail in EP-B-111965, US 4659802 and US 4664848. Particularly preferred of these cationic compounds are ethoxylated cationic monoamines, diamines or triamines.
  • These compounds where present in the composition are generally present in an amount of from 0.01 to 30% by weight, preferably 0.05 to 10% by weight.
  • Co-builders can be incorporated into the compressed portion, but are preferably incorporated as finishing additive of the non-compressed portion.
  • co-builder it is meant a compound which acts in addition to a builder compound (as described below) 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.
  • Co-builders are generally present at a level of from 0.005% to 20%, preferably from 0.1% to 10%, more preferably from 0.25% to 7.5% and most preferably from 0.5% to 5% by weight of the compositions.
  • Co-builders 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.
  • a suitable counter cation such as an alkali or alkaline metal ion, ammonium, or substituted ammonium ion, or any mixtures thereof.
  • any salts/complexes are water soluble.
  • the molar ratio of said counter cation to the co-builder is preferably at least 1:1.
  • Suitable co-builders for use herein include organic phosphonates, such as the amino alkylene poly (alkylene phosphonates), alkali metal ethane 1-hydroxy disphosphonates and nitrilo trimethylene phosphonates.
  • 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 diethylene triamine penta (methylene phosphonate), ethylene diamine tri (methylene phosphonate) hexamethylene diamine tetra (methylene phosphonate) and hydroxy-ethylene 1,1 diphosphonate.
  • Suitable co-builders for use herein include nitrilotriacetic acid and polyaminocarboxylic acids such as ethylenediaminotetracetic acid, ethylenetriamine pentacetic acid, ethylenediamine disuccinic acid, ethylenediamine diglutaric acid, 2-hydroxypropylenediamine disuccinic acid or any salts thereof.
  • Preferred EDDS compounds are the free acid form and the sodium or magnesium salt or complex thereof.
  • Cationic fabric softening agents are suitable finishing additives in detergent tablets which are suitable for use in methods of laundry washing.
  • the cationic softening agents can be delivered to the wash in the later stages of the wash cycle but are preferably delivered in the rinse cycle of the washing.
  • Suitable cationic fabric softening agents include the water insoluble tertiary amines or dilong chain amide materials as disclosed in GB-A-1 514 276 and EP-B-0 011 340.
  • 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.
  • the non-compressed portion preferably contains a crystal growth inhibitor, preferably an organodiphosphonic acid component, incorporated preferably at a level of from 0.01% to 5%, more preferably from 0.1% to 2% by weight of the compositions.
  • a crystal growth inhibitor preferably an organodiphosphonic acid component
  • organo diphosphonic acid it is meant herein an organo diphosphonic acid which does not contain nitrogen as part of its chemical structure. This definition 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 C 1 -C 4 diphosphonic acid, more preferably a C 2 diphosphonic acid, such as ethylene diphosphonic acid, 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.
  • HEDP ethane 1-hydroxy-1,1-diphosphonic acid
  • any nonionic surfactants can be included in either the compresed or non-compressed portions of the detergent tablet.
  • Preferred, non-limiting classes of useful nonionic surfactants are listed below.
  • Preferred nonionic surfactant incorpoarated into the compressed portion provide a suds suppression benefit.
  • the finishing additive is a rinse aid composition (described later) comprising nonionic surfactant and a source of acidity.
  • alkyl ethoxylate condensation products of aliphatic alcohols with from 1 to 25 moles of ethylene oxide are suitable for use herein.
  • the alkyl 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 condensation 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.
  • a suitable endcapped alkyl alkoxylate surfactant is the epoxy-capped poly(oxyalkylated) alcohols represented by the formula: R 1 O[CH 2 CH(CH 3 )O] x [CH 2 CH 2 O] y [CH 2 CH(OH)R 2 ] wherein R 1 is a linear or branched, aliphatic hydrocarbon radical having from 4 to 18 carbon atoms; R 2 is a linear or branched aliphatic hydrocarbon radical having from 2 to 26 carbon atoms; x is an integer having an average value of from 0.5 to 1.5, more preferably 1; and y is an integer having a value of at least 15, more preferably at least 20.
  • the surfactant of formula I at least 10 carbon atoms in the terminal epoxide unit [CH 2 CH(OH)R 2 ].
  • Suitable surfactants of formula I are Olin Corporation's POLY-TERGENT® SLF-18B nonionic surfactants, as described, for example, in WO 94/22800, published October 13, 1994 by Olin Corporation.
  • Preferred surfactants for use herein include ether-capped poly(oxyalkylated) alcohols having the formula: R 1 O[CH 2 CH(R 3 )O] x [CH 2 ] k CH(OH)[CH 2 ] j OR 2 wherein R 1 and R 2 are linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon radicals having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms; R 3 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 R 3 may be the same or different and k and j are integers having an average value of from 1 to 12, and more preferably 1 to 5.
  • R 1 and R 2 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 1 to 2 carbon atoms is most preferred for R 3 .
  • x is an integer having an average value of from 1 to 20, more preferably from 6 to 15.
  • R 3 may be the same or different. That is, R 3 may vary between any of the alklyeneoxy units as described above. For instance, if x is 3, R 3 may be be selected to form ethlyeneoxy(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)(PO)(PO).
  • 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.
  • ether-capped poly(oxyalkylated) alcohol surfactants are those wherein k is 1 and j is 1 so that the surfactants have the formula: R 1 O[CH 2 CH(R 3 )O] x CH 2 CH(OH)CH 2 OR 2 where R 1 , R 2 and R 3 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 R 1 and R 2 range from 9 to 14, R 3 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.
  • 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.
  • the ether-capped poly(oxyalkylene) alcohol surfactants of the present invention 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. Examples of methods of preparing the ether-capped poly(oxyalkylated) alcohol surfactants are described below:
  • a C 12/14 fatty alcohol (100.00 g, 0.515 mol.) and tin (IV) chloride (0.58 g, 2.23 mmol, available from Aldrich) are combined in a 500 mL three-necked round-bottomed flask fitted with a condenser, argon inlet, addition funnel, magnetic stirrer and internal temperature probe. The mixture is heated to 60 °C. Epichlorhydrin (47.70 g, 0.515 mol, available from Aldrich) is added dropwise so as to keep the temperature between 60-65 °C. After stirring an additional hour at 60 °C, the mixture is cooled to room temperature.
  • the mixture is treated with a 50% solution of sodium hydroxide (61.80 g, 0.773 mol, 50%) while being stirred mechanically. After addition is completed, the mixture is heated to 90 °C for 1.5 h, cooled, and filtered with the aid of ethanol. The filtrate is separated and the organic phase is washed with water (100 mL), dried over MgSO 4 , filtered, and concentrated. Distillation of the oil at 100-120 °C (0.1 mm Hg) providing the glycidyl ether as an oil.
  • Neodol® 91-8 (20.60 g, 0.0393 mol ethoxylated alcohol available from the Shell chemical Co.) and tin (IV) chloride (0.58 g, 2.23 mmol) are combined in a 250 mL three-necked round-bottomed flask fitted with a condenser, argon inlet, addition funnel, magnetic stirrer and internal temperature probe. The mixture is heated to 60 ° C at which point C 12/14 alkyl glycidyl ether (11.00 g, 0.0393 mol) is added dropwise over 15 min. After stirring for 18 h at 60 °C, the mixture is cooled to room temperature and dissolved in an equal portion of dichloromethane.
  • the solution is passed through a 1 inch pad of silica gel while eluting with dichloromethane.
  • the filtrate is concentrated by rotary evaporation and then stripped in a kugelrohr oven (100 °C, 66.661Pa [0.5 mm Hg]) to yield the surfactant as an oil.
  • the ethoxylated C 6 -C 18 fatty alcohols and C 6 -C 18 mixed ethoxylated/propoxylated fatty alcohols are suitable surfactants for use herein, particularly where water soluble.
  • the ethoxylated fatty alcohols are the C 10 -C 18 ethoxylated fatty alcohols with a degree of ethoxylation of from 3 to 50, most preferably these are the C 12 -C 18 ethoxylated fatty alcohols with a degree of ethoxylation from 3 to 40.
  • 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.
  • the condensation products of ethylene oxide with a hydrophobic 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 include certain of the commercially-available PluronicTM surfactants, marketed by BASF.
  • condensation products of ethylene oxide with the product 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 of from 2500 to 3000.
  • this type of nonionic surfactant include certain of the commercially available TetronicTM compounds, marketed by BASF.
  • the detergent tablet comprises a mixed nonionic surfactant system comprising at least one low cloud point nonionic surfactant and at least one high cloud point nonionic surfactant as described in US 5483664.
  • the detergent tablet comprising such a mixed surfactant system also comprises an amount of water-soluble salt to provide conductivity in deionised water measured at 25°C greater than 3 milli Siemens/cm, preferably greater than 4 milli Siemens/cm, most preferably greater than 4.5 milli Siemens/cm as described in GB-A-2327948.
  • the mixed surfactant system dissolves in water having a hardness of 1.246mmol/L in any suitable cold-fill automatic dishwasher to provide a solution with a surface tension of less than 4 Dynes/cm 2 at less than 45°C, preferably less than 40°C, most preferably less than 35°C as described in co-pending U.S. 5483664.
  • the high cloud point and low cloud point surfactants of the mixed surfactant system are separated such that one of either the high cloud point or low cloud point surfactants is present in a first matrix and the other is present in a second matrix as described in US 5483664.
  • the first matrix may be a first particulate and the second matrix may be a second particulate.
  • a surfactant may be applied to a particulate by any suitable known method, preferably the surfactant is sprayed onto the particulate.
  • the first matrix is the compressed portion and the second matrix is the non-compressed portion of the detergent tablet of the present invention.
  • the low cloud point surfactant is present in the compressed portion and the high cloud point surfactant is present in the non-compressed portion of the detergent tablet of the present invention.
  • the non-compressed portion comprises a rinse aid.
  • rinse aid it is meant a composition that is delivered in the rinse cycle of the automatic dishwasher and provide improved drainage of water and reduced spot and film formation on dishware.
  • the rinse aid composition for use herein may comprise any of the components commonly found as components of rinse aid compositions, for example nonionic surfactants (described above), hydrotropes, solvent and a source of acidity.
  • Suitable hydrotropes include sodium, potassium and ammonium xylene sulfonates, toluene sulfonate, cumene sulfonates and mixtures thereof. Hydrotrope is typically present at a level of from 0.5% to 20% by weight, preferably 1% to 10% by weight of the rinse aid composition.
  • the rinse aid composition may contain one or more solvent at levels of from 1% to 30% by weight, preferably from 3% to 25% by weight, more preferably from 5% to 20% by weight of the rinse aid composition, particularly when in liquid or gel form.
  • Suitable solvents for use herein include the organic solvent having the general formula RO(CH 2 C(Me)HO) n H, wherein R is an alkyl, alkenyl, or alkyl aryl group having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, and n is an integer from 1 to 4.
  • R is an alkyl group containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and n is 1 or 2.
  • Especially preferred R groups are n-butyl or isobutyl.
  • Water-soluble CARBITOL solvents are compounds of the 2-(2 alkoxyethoxy)ethanol class wherein the alkoxy group is derived from ethyl, propyl or butyl; a preferred water-soluble carbitol is 2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol also known as butyl carbitol.
  • Water-soluble CELLOSOLVE solvents are compounds of the 2-alkoxyethoxy ethanol class, with 2-butoxyethoxyethanol being preferred.
  • Suitable solvents are benzyl alcohol, and diols such as 2-ethyl-1,3-hexanediol and 2,2,4-trimethl-1,3-pentanediol.
  • the low molecular weight, water-soluble, liquid polyethylene glycols are also suitable solvents for use herein.
  • the alkane mono and diols especially the C 1 -C 6 alkane mono and diols are suitable for use herein.
  • C 1 -C 4 monohydric alcohols eg: ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanol and mixtures thereof
  • ethanol particularly preferred.
  • the C1-C4 dihydric alcohols, including propylene glycol, are also preferred.
  • the pH of the rinse aid composition is preferably less than 7.
  • the pH is adjusted by incorporating a source of acidity for example inorganic or organic acids including for example carboxylate acids (e.g. citric acid or succinic acid), polycarboxylate acids (e.g. polyacrylic acid), acetic acid, boric acid, malonic acid, adipic acid, fumaric acid, lactic acid, glycolic aicd, tartaric acid, tartronic acid, maleic acid, derivatives and mixtures thereof.
  • a preferred acidity source is citric acid.
  • the rinse aid composition may also comprise other components such as builders, co-builders and other polymeric compounds (described above), especially polyethylene glycol (PEG), polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyacrylate (especially those described in US 5 240 632), polymethacrylate and copolymers thereof, acrylonitrile.
  • PEG polyethylene glycol
  • PVP polyvinyl pyrrolidone
  • polyacrylate especially those described in US 5 240 632
  • copolymers thereof acrylonitrile
  • the detergent tablets described and used herein are prepared by separately preparing the composition of finishing additives and/or detergent components forming the respective compressed portion and the non-compressed portion, then delivering or adhering the composition of the non-compressed portion to the compressed portion.
  • the compressed portion comprises at least one, but preferably more than one detergent component.
  • the compressed portion is prepared by pre-mixing at least one, but preferably a mixture of detergent components and/or optional carrier components to form a composition. Any pre-mixing will be carried out in a suitable mixer; for example a pan mixer, rotary drum, vertical blender or high shear mixer.
  • a suitable mixer for example a pan mixer, rotary drum, vertical blender or high shear mixer.
  • dry particulate components are admixed in a mixer, as described above, and liquid components are applied to the dry particulate components, for example by spraying the liquid components directly onto the dry particulate components.
  • the resulting composition is then formed into a compressed portion in a compression step using any known suitable equipment.
  • the composition is formed into a compressed portion using a tablet press, wherein the tablet is prepared by compression of the composition between an upper and a lower punch.
  • the composition is delivered into a punch cavity of a tablet press and compressed to form a compressed portion using a pressure of preferably greater than 6.3KN/cm 2 , more preferably greater than 9KN/cm 2 , most preferably greater than 14.4KN/cm 2 .
  • the compressed portion provides a mould to receive the non-compressed portion
  • the compressed portion is prepared using a modified tablet press comprising modified upper and/or lower punches.
  • the upper and lower punches of the modified tablet press are modified such that the compressed portion provides one or more indentations which form a mould(s) to which the non-compressed portion is delivered.
  • the non-compressed portion comprises a finishing additive (rinse aid), but may also optionally comprise one or more detergent components.
  • the components of the non-compressed portion are pre-mixed using any known suitable mixing equipment.
  • the non-compressed portion may optionally comprise a carrier with which the finishing additive and optional detergent components are combined.
  • the non-compressed portion may be prepared in solid or flowable form. Once prepared the composition is delivered to the compressed portion.
  • the non-compressed portion may be delivered to the compressed portion by manual delivery or using a nozzle feeder or extruder.
  • the compressed portion comprises a mould and the non-compressed portion is preferably delivered to the mould using accurate delivery equipment, for example a nozzle feeder, such as a loss in weight screw feeder available from Optima, Germany or an extruder.
  • the process comprises delivering a flowable non-compressed portion to the compressed portion in a delivery step and then coating at least a portion of the non-compressed portion with a coating layer such that the coating layer has the effect of substantially adhering the non-compressed portion to the compressed portion.
  • the process comprises a delivery step in which the flowable non-compressed portion is delivered to the compressed portion and a subsequent conditioning step, wherein the non-compressed portion hardens.
  • a conditioning step may comprise drying, cooling, binding, polymerisation etc. of the non-compressed portion, during which the non-compressed portion becomes solid, semi-solid or highly viscous.
  • Heat may be used in a drying step. Heat, or exposure to radiation may be used to effect polymerisation in a polymerisation step.
  • the compressed portion may be prepared having a plurality of moulds.
  • the plurality of moulds are then filled with a non-compressed portion.
  • each mould can be filled with a different non-compressed portion or alternatively, each mould can be filled with a plurality of different non-compressed portions.
  • the compressed portion of the detergent tablets described and used herein are prepared by compression composition of at least one, but preferably a mixture of detergent components.
  • a suitable pre-mixed composition may include a variety of different detergent active components including builder compounds, surfactants, enzymes, bleaching agents (both oxygen releasing and chlorine), alkalinity sources, colourants, perfume, lime soap dispersants, organic polymeric compounds including polymeric dye transfer inhibiting agents, crystal growth inhibitors, co-builders, metal ion salts, enzyme stabilisers, corrosion inhibitors, suds suppressers, solvents, fabric softening agents, optical brighteners and hydrotropes.
  • Highly preferred detergent components of the compressed portion include a builder compound, a surfactant, enzyme and bleaching agent.
  • the detergent tablets of the present invention preferably contain a builder compound, typically present at a level of from 1% to 80% by weight, preferably from 10% to 70% by weight, most preferably from 20% to 60% by weight of the composition of active detergent components.
  • Suitable water-soluble builder compounds include the water soluble monomeric polycarboxylates, or their acid forms, homo or copolymeric 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 atoms, 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 containing 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, maleic acid, diglycolic acid, tartaric acid, tartronic acid and fumaric acid, as well as the ether carboxylates and the sulfinyl carboxylates.
  • 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.
  • 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. 1,439,000.
  • 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 phthalic 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.
  • 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-forming materials that can produce borate under detergent storage or wash conditions can also be used but are not preferred at wash conditions less that 50°C, especially less than 40°C.
  • 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 German Patent Application No. 2,321,001 published on November 15, 1973.
  • Highly preferred builder compounds for use in the present invention are water-soluble phosphate builders.
  • 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.
  • 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 Partially soluble or insoluble builder compound
  • the detergent tablets for use in the present invention may contain a partially soluble or insoluble builder compound.
  • Partially soluble and insoluble builder compounds are particularly suitable for use in tablets prepared for use in laundry cleaning methods.
  • partially water soluble builders include the crystalline layered silicates as disclosed for example, in EP-A-0164514, DE-A-3417649 and DE-A-3742043.
  • Preferred are the crystalline layered sodium silicates of general formula NaMSi x O 2+1 .yH 2 O 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 8-layered structure, as described in EP 0 164514 and EP 0 293640.
  • Methods for preparation of crystalline layered silicates of this type are disclosed in DE-A-3417649 and DE-A-3742043.
  • 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 ⁇ -Na 2 Si 2 O 5 , known as NaSKS-6 (trade name), available from Hoechst AG.
  • the crystalline layered sodium silicate material is preferably present in granular detergent compositions as a particulate in intimate admixture with a solid, water-soluble ionisable material as described in PCT Patent Application No. WO92/18594.
  • 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 aluminosilicates.
  • Suitable aluminosilicates include the aluminosilicate zeolites having the unit cell formula Na z [(AlO 2 ) z (SiO 2 )y]. xH 2 O 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 aluminosilicate zeolites can be naturally occurring materials, but are preferably synthetically derived. Synthetic crystalline aluminosilicate ion exchange materials are available under the designations Zeolite A, Zeolite B, Zeolite P, Zeolite X, Zeolite HS and mixtures thereof.
  • a preferred method of synthesizing aluminosilicate zeolites is that described by Schoeman et al (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 ⁇ m in diameter.
  • the aluminosilicate zeolite particles have an average particle size diameter of between 0.01 ⁇ m and 1 ⁇ m, more preferably between 0.05 ⁇ m and 0.9 ⁇ m, most preferably between 0.1 ⁇ m and 0.6 ⁇ m.
  • Zeolite A has the formula Na 12 [AlO 2 ) 12 (SiO 2 ) 12 ]. xH 2 O wherein x is from 20 to 30, especially 27.
  • Zeolite X has the formula Na 86 [(AlO 2 ) 86 (SiO 2 ) 106 ). 276 H 2 O.
  • Zeolite MAP as disclosed in EP-B-384,070 is a preferred zeolite builder herein.
  • Preferred aluminosilicate zeolites are the colloidal aluminosilicate zeolites.
  • colloidal aluminosilicate zeolites especially colloidal zeolite A, provide enhanced builder performance in terms of providing improved stain removal.
  • Enhanced builder performance is also seen in terms of reduced fabric encrustation and improved fabric whiteness maintenance; problems believed to be associated with poorly built detergent compositions.
  • mixed aluminosilicate zeolite detergent compositions comprising colloidal zeolite A and colloidal zeolite Y provide equal calcium ion sequestration performance versus an equal weight of commercially available zeolite A.
  • Another surprising finding is that mixed aluminosilicate zeolite detergent compositions, described above, provide improved magnesium ion sequestration performance versus an equal weight of commercially available zeolite A.
  • Surfactants are preferred detergent active components of the compositions described herein. 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 of the surfactant system for use in dishwashing methods must be suppressed or more preferably be low foaming, typically nonionic in character. Sudsing caused by surfactant systems used in laundry cleaning methods need not be suppressed to the same extent as is necessary for dishwashing. The surfactant is typically present at a level of from 0.2% to 30% by weight, more preferably from 0.5% to 10% by weight, most preferably from 1% to 5% by weight of the composition of active detergent components.
  • Suitable nonionic surfactants are described above.
  • 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.
  • 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 18 monoesters) diesters of sulfosuccinate (especially saturated and unsaturated C 6 -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 resin acids present in or derived from tallow oil.
  • 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 C 5 -C 17 acyl-N-(C 1 -C 4 alkyl) and -N-(C 1 -C 2 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 10 -C 18 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 10 -C 18 alkyl sulfates which have been ethoxylated with from 0.5 to 20 moles of ethylene oxide per molecule. More preferably, the alkyl ethoxysulfate surfactant is a C 11 -C 18 , most preferably C 11 -C 15 alkyl sulfate which has been ethoxylated with from 0.5 to 7, preferably from 1 to 5, moles of ethylene oxide per molecule.
  • a particularly preferred aspect of the invention employs mixtures of the preferred alkyl sulfate and alkyl ethoxysulfate surfactants. Such mixtures have been disclosed in PCT Patent Application No. WO 93/18124.
  • Anionic sulfonate surfactant Anionic sulfonate surfactant
  • Anionic sulfonate surfactants suitable for use herein include the salts of C 5 -C 20 linear alkylbenzene sulfonates, alkyl ester sulfonates, C 6 -C 22 primary or secondary alkane sulfonates, C 6 -C 24 olefin sulfonates, sulfonated polycarboxylic acids, alkyl glycerol sulfonates, fatty acyl glycerol sulfonates, fatty oleyl glycerol sulfonates, and any mixtures thereof.
  • Suitable anionic carboxylate surfactants include the alkyl ethoxy carboxylates, the alkyl polyethoxy polycarboxylate surfactants and the soaps ('alkyl carboxyls'), especially certain secondary soaps as described herein.
  • Suitable alkyl ethoxy carboxylates include those with the formula RO(CH 2 CH 2 O) x CH 2 COO - M + wherein R is a C 6 to C 18 alkyl group, x ranges from O 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 cation.
  • Suitable alkyl polyethoxy polycarboxylate surfactants include those having the formula RO-(CHR 1 -CHR 2 -O)-R 3 wherein R is a C 6 to C 18 alkyl group, x is from 1 to 25, R 1 and R 2 are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl acid radical, succinic acid radical, hydroxysuccinic acid radical, and mixtures thereof, and R 3 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon having between 1 and 8 carbon 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 for use herein are water-soluble members selected from the group consisting of the water-soluble salts of 2-methyl-1-undecanoic acid, 2-ethyl-1-decanoic acid, 2-propyl-1-nonanoic acid, 2-butyl-1-octanoic acid and 2-pentyl-1-heptanoic acid. Certain soaps may also be included as suds suppressors.
  • alkali metal sarcosinates of formula R-CON (R 1 )CH 2 COOM, wherein R is a C 5 -C 17 linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group, R 1 is a C 1 -C 4 alkyl group and M is an alkali metal ion.
  • R is a C 5 -C 17 linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group
  • R 1 is a C 1 -C 4 alkyl group
  • M is an alkali metal ion.
  • 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 R 3 (OR 4 ) x N 0 (R 5 ) 2 wherein R 3 is selected from an alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, acylamidopropoyl and alkyl phenyl group, or mixtures thereof, containing from 8 to 26 carbon atoms; R 4 is an alkylene or hydroxyalkylene group containing from 2 to 3 carbon atoms, or mixtures thereof; x is from 0 to 5, preferably from 0 to 3; and each R 5 is an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group containing from 1 to 3, or a polyethylene oxide group containing from 1 to 3 ethylene oxide groups.
  • Preferred are C 10 -C 18 alkyl dimethylamine oxide, and C 10-18 acylamido alkyl dimethylamine oxide.
  • a suitable example of an alkyl aphodicarboxylic acid is Miranol(TM) C2M Conc. manufactured by Miranol, Inc., Dayton, NJ.
  • Zwitterionic surfactants can also be incorporated into the detergent compositions hereof. These surfactants can be broadly described as derivatives of secondary and tertiary amines, derivatives of heterocyclic secondary and tertiary amines, or derivatives of quaternary ammonium, quaternary phosphonium or tertiary sulfonium compounds. Betaine and sultaine surfactants are exemplary zwitterionic surfactants for use herein.
  • Suitable betaines are those compounds having the formula R(R') 2 N + R 2 COO - wherein R is a C 6 -C 18 hydrocarbyl group, each R 1 is typically C 1 -C 3 alkyl, and R 2 is a C 1 -C 5 hydrocarbyl group.
  • Preferred betaines are C 12-18 dimethyl-ammonio hexanoate and the C 10-18 acylamidopropane (or ethane) dimethyl (or diethyl) betaines.
  • Complex betaine surfactants are also suitable for use herein.
  • 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 cationically charged group.
  • Other suitable cationic ester surfactants, including choline ester surfactants, have for example been disclosed in US Patents No.s 4228042, 4239660 and 4260529.
  • Suitable cationic surfactants include the quaternary ammonium surfactants selected from mono C 6 -C 16 , preferably C 6 -C 10 N-alkyl or alkenyl ammonium surfactants wherein the remaining N positions are substituted by methyl, hydroxyethyl or hydroxypropyl groups.
  • the detergent tablet optionally contains a water-soluble sulfate salt.
  • 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 the compositions.
  • 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.
  • an alkali metal silicate is an essential component of the detergent tablet.
  • the presence of an alkali metal silicate is optional.
  • a preferred alkali metal silicate is sodium silicate having an SiO 2 :Na 2 O ratio of from 1.8 to 3.0, preferably from 1.8 to 2.4, most preferably 2.0.
  • Sodium 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 SiO 2 .
  • the alkali metal silicate may be in the form of either the anhydrous salt or a hydrated salt.
  • Alkali metal silicate may also be present as a component of an alkalinity system.
  • the alkalinity system also preferably contains sodium metasilicate, present at a level of at least 0.4% SiO 2 by weight.
  • Sodium metasilicate has a nominal SiO 2 : Na 2 O ratio of 1.0.
  • the weight ratio of said sodium silicate to said sodium metasilicate, measured as SiO 2 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 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.
  • the colourants are stable in composition in which they are to be incorported. 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.
  • the compressed portion and/or non compressed may contain a colourant, a mixture of colourants, coloured particles or mixture of coloured particles such that the compressed portion and the non-compressed portion have different visual appearances.
  • a colourant a mixture of colourants, coloured particles or mixture of coloured particles such that the compressed portion and the non-compressed portion have different visual appearances.
  • one of either the compressed portion or the non-compressed comprises a colourant.
  • the non-compressed portion comprises two or more compositions of active detergent components, preferably at least one of either the first and second and/or subsequent compositions comprises a colourant. Where both the first and second and/or subsequent compositions comprise a colourant it is preferred that the colourants have a different visual appearance.
  • the coating layer preferably comprises a colourant.
  • the compressed portion and the coating layer comprise a colourant, it is preferred that the colourants provide a different visual effect.
  • 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 SANDOLAN E-HRL 180% (tradename), SANDOLAN MILLING BLUE (tradename), TURQUOISE ACID BLUE (tradename) and SANDOLAN BRILLIANT GREEN (tradename) all available from Clariant UK, HEXACOL QUINOLINE YELLOW (tradename) and HEXACOL BRILLIANT BLUE (tradename) both available from Pointings, UK, ULTRA MARINE BLUE (tradename) available from Holliday or LEVAFIX TURQUISE BLUE EBA (tradename) available from Bayer, USA.
  • the colourant may be incorporated into the compressed and/or non-compressed portion by any suitable method. Suitable methods include mixing all or selected active detergent components with a colourant in a drum or spraying all or selected active detergent components with the colourant in a rotating drum.
  • Colourant when present as a component of the compressed portion is present 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%.
  • colourant is generally present at a level of from 0.001% to 0.1%, more preferably from 0.005% to 0.05%, most preferably from 0.007% to 0.02%.
  • colourant is present at a level of from 0.01% to 0.5%, more preferably from 0.02% to 0.1%, most preferably from 0.03% to 0.06%.
  • the detergent tablets of the present invention suitable for use in dishwashing methods may contain corrosion inhibitors preferably selected from organic silver coating agents, particularly paraffin, nitrogen-containing corrosion inhibitor compounds and Mn(II) compounds, particularly Mn(II) salts of organic ligands.
  • corrosion inhibitors preferably selected from organic silver coating agents, particularly paraffin, nitrogen-containing corrosion inhibitor compounds and Mn(II) compounds, particularly Mn(II) salts of organic ligands.
  • Organic silver coating agents are described in PCT Publication No. WO94/16047 and copending European application No. EP-A-690122.
  • Nitrogen-containing corrosion inhibitor compounds are disclosed in copending European Application no. EP-A-634,478.
  • Mn(II) compounds for use in corrosion inhibition are described in copending European Application No. EP-A-672 749.
  • Organic silver coating agent may be incorporated at a level of from 0.05% to 10%, preferably from 0.1% to 5% by weight of the total composition.
  • 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 an 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 polycarboxylic acids having from 1 to 40 carbon atoms in the hydrocarbon chain.
  • monocarboxylic fatty acids include behenic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, myristic acid, lauric acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, isobutyric acid, Valerie acid, lactic acid, glycolic acid and ⁇ , ⁇ '-dihydroxyisobutyric acid.
  • suitable polycarboxylic acids include: n-butyl-malonic acid, isocitric acid, citric acid, maleic 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 hydrocarbon chain.
  • suitable fatty alcohols include; behenyl, arachidyl, cocoyl, oleyl and lauryl alcohol, ethylene glycol, glycerol, ethanol, isopropanol, vinyl alcohol, diglycerol, xylitol, sucrose, erythritol, pentaerythritol, sorbitol or sorbitan.
  • the fatty acid and/or fatty alcohol group of the fatty ester adjunct material have from 1 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.
  • glycerol esters are also highly preferred. These are the mono-, di- or tri-esters of glycerol and the fatty acids as defined above.
  • 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 monostearate, ethylene glycol monostearate, sorbitan esters.
  • Suitable sorbitan esters include sorbitan monostearate, sorbitan palmitate, sorbitan monolaurate, sorbitan monomyristate, 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 monopalmitate, glycerol monobehenate, and glycerol distearate are preferred glycerol esters herein.
  • Suitable organic silver coating agents include triglycerides, 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 110°C and comprise generally from 12 to 70 carbon atoms.
  • Preferred are petroleum waxes of the paraffin 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 -C 20 methylamine oxide, and dialkyl quaternary ammonium compounds and salts, such as the C 12 -C 20 methylammonium halides are also suitable.
  • suitable organic silver coating agents include certain polymeric materials.
  • 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 C 25-45 species with a ratio of cyclic to noncyclic hydrocarbons of from 1:10 to 2:1, preferably from 1:5 to 1:1.
  • 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 British Patent GB-A-1,137,741, which also discloses a method for making imidazole compounds.
  • 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 R 1 , R 3 , R 4 and R 5 where R 1 is any of H, CH 2 OH, CONH 3 , or COCH 3 , R 3 and R 5 are any of C 1 -C 20 alkyl or hydroxyl, and R 4 is any of H, NH 2 or NO 2 .
  • nitrogen-containing corrosion inhibitor compounds include benzotriazole, 2-mercaptobenzothiazole, 1-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 suitable.
  • the detergent tablets may contain an Mn(II) corrosion inhibitor compound.
  • the Mn(II) compound is preferably incorporated at a level of from 0.005% to 5% by weight, more preferably from 0.01% to 1%, most preferably from 0.02% to 0.4% by weight of the compositions.
  • the Mn(II) compound is incorporated at a level to provide from 0.1 ppm to 250 ppm, more preferably from 0.5 ppm to 50 ppm, most preferably from 1 ppm to 20 ppm by weight of Mn(II) ions in any bleaching solution.
  • the Mn (II) compound may be an inorganic salt in anhydrous, or any hydrated forms. Suitable salts include manganese sulphate, manganese carbonate, 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 manganese acetate or manganese stearate.
  • the Mn(II) compound may be a salt or complex of an organic ligand.
  • the organic ligand is a heavy metal ion sequestrant.
  • the organic ligand is a crystal growth inhibitor.
  • additional corrosion inhibitor compounds include, mercaptans and diols, especially mercaptans with 4 to 20 carbon atoms including lauryl mercaptan, thiophenol, thionapthol, thionalide and thioanthranol. Also suitable are saturated or unsaturated C 10 -C 20 fatty acids, or their salts, especially aluminium tristearate. The C 12 -C 20 hydroxy fatty acids, or their salts, are also suitable. Phosphonated octadecane and other anti-oxidants such as betahydroxytoluene (BHT) are also suitable.
  • BHT betahydroxytoluene
  • Copolymers of butadiene and maleic 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.
  • Another preferred active detergent component for use in the present invention is a hydrocarbon oil, typically a predominantly long chain, aliphatic hydrocarbons having a number of carbon atoms in the range of from 20 to 50; preferred hydrocarbons are saturated and/or branched; preferred hydrocarbon oil selected from predominantly branched C 25-45 species with a ratio of cyclic to noncyclic hydrocarbons of from 1:10 to 2:1, preferably from 1:5 to 1:1.
  • a preferred hydrocarbon oil is paraffin.
  • a paraffin oil meeting the characteristics as outlined above, having a ratio of cyclic to noncyclic hydrocarbons of 32:68, is sold by Wintershall, Salzbergen, Germany, under the trade name WINOG 70.
  • the detergent tablets suitable for use in dishwashing methods of the present invention may 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 the compositions.
  • 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.
  • Preferred enzyme-containing compositions herein may 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.
  • compositions of active detergent components may 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 the compositions.
  • 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 PCT Application No. WO93/08877.
  • the detergent tablets when formulated for use in machine washing methods of the present invention preferably comprise a suds suppressing system present at a level of from 0.01% to 15%, preferably from 0.05% to 10%, most preferably from 0.1% to 5% by weight of the composition.
  • Suitable suds suppressing systems for use herein may comprise essentially any known antifoam compound, including, for example silicone antifoam compounds, 2-alkyl and alcanol antifoam compounds.
  • Preferred suds suppressing systems and antifoam compounds are disclosed in PCT Application No. WO93/08876 and EP-A-705 324.
  • the detergent tablets herein may 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, polyvinylpyrrolidonepolymers or combinations thereof.
  • compositions of the invention include perfumes and filler salts, with sodium sulfate being a preferred filler salt.
  • the detergent tablets of the present invention are preferably not formulated to have an unduly high pH, in preference having a pH measured as a 1% solution in distilled water of from 8.0 to 12.5, more preferably from 9.0 to 11.8, most preferably from 9.5 to 11.5.
  • the compressed and non-compressed portions are formulated to deliver different pH.
  • the compressed portion is formulated to deliver an alkaline pH whereas the non-compressed portion is formulated to deliver an acidic pH of less than 7, preferably between 0.5 and 6.5, most preferably between 1.0 and 5.0.
  • a preferred machine dishwashing method comprises treating soiled articles selected from crockery, glassware, silverware, metallic items, cutlery and mixtures thereof, with an aqueous liquid having dissolved or dispensed therein an effective amount of a detergent tablet in accord with the invention.
  • an effective amount of the detergent tablet it is meant from 8g to 60g of product 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 conventional machine dishwashing methods.
  • the detergent tablets are from 15g to 40g in weight, more preferably from 20g to 35g in weight.
  • the compressed portion is prepared by delivering the composition of detergent components to a punch cavity of a modified 12 head rotary tablet press and compressing the composition at a pressure of 13KN/cm 2 .
  • the modified tablet press provides a tablet wherein the compressed portion has a mould.
  • the non-compressed portion is poured into the mould of the compressed portion.
  • the non-compressed portion comprises a gelling agent.

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Claims (21)

  1. Procédé pour laver la vaisselle en machine d'articles salis selon un procédé comprenant un cycle de lavage et un cycle de rinçage comprenant le traitement des articles salis avec un liquide aqueux ayant dissous ou dispersé dans celui-ci une tablette de détergent comprenant une partie comprimée et une partie non comprimée et
    a) la partie comprimée se dissout à une vitesse plus rapide que la partie non comprimée sur une base poids en poids mesurée en utilisant la méthode de test de dissolution SOTAX décrite ici,
    b) la partie comprimée comprend un moule pré-préparé,
    c) la partie non comprimée est sous forme d'un gel ou d'un produit fondu solidifié,
    d) la partie non comprimée est au moins partiellement retenue dans le moule, et
    e) la partie non comprimée comprend un additif de finition qui est un auxiliaire de rinçage et qui est délivré dans le cycle de rinçage du lave-vaisselle.
  2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel les articles salis sont choisis parmi la vaisselle, la verrerie, l'argenterie, les objets métalliques, les couverts de table et leurs mélanges.
  3. Procédé selon la revendication 1 ou la revendication 2, dans lequel la partie non comprimée est fixée à la partie comprimée par adhésion ou durcissement.
  4. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la partie non comprimée est sous forme d'un produit fondu solidifié.
  5. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la partie non comprimée comprend une cire.
  6. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel l'auxiliaire de rinçage comprend un tensioactif non ionique.
  7. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la partie non comprimée commence à se dissoudre dans le cycle de rinçage du lave-vaisselle de manière qu'un auxiliaire de rinçage soit délivré dans le cycle de rinçage du lave-vaisselle.
  8. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la densité de la partie non comprimée est d'au moins 0,2 g/cm3 inférieure à la densité de la partie comprimée.
  9. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la tablette est telle qu'au moins 60% de la partie comprimée se dissout dans de l'eau déminéralisée à 50°C en 12 minutes.
  10. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la tablette est telle qu'au moins 80% de la partie comprimée se dissout dans de l'eau déminéralisée à 50°C en 12 minutes.
  11. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la tablette est telle que moins de 40% de la partie non-comprimée se dissout dans de l'eau déminéralisée à 50°C en 12 minutes.
  12. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la tablette est telle que moins de 20% de la partie non-comprimée se dissout dans de l'eau déminéralisée à 50°C en 12 minutes.
  13. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la tablette est telle que la partie non comprimée commence à se dissoudre après que la quasi-totalité de la partie comprimée se soit dissoute.
  14. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel la partie non comprimée comprend au moins un composant qui réagit à une température externe ou par un stimulus de pH pour initier la dissolution de la partie non comprimée.
  15. Procédé selon la revendication 14, dans lequel le composant est une cire ayant une température de fusion au-dessus de 40°C, de préférence au-dessus de 50°C.
  16. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la partie comprimée comprend en outre un agent de fragmentation.
  17. Procédé selon la revendication 16, dans lequel l'agent de fragmentation est choisi dans le groupe constitué par l'amidon, des dérivés d'amidon, des alginates, la carboxyméthylcellulose (CMC), des polymères à base de CMC, l'acétate de sodium, l'oxyde d'aluminium, un perborate, un percarbonate, un carbonate, un bicarbonate, des acides carboxyliques et leurs mélanges.
  18. Utilisation d'une tablette détergente pour fournir des avantages de drainage dans un procédé de lavage de vaisselle en machine dans un lave-vaisselle ayant un cycle de lavage et un cycle de rinçage, dans laquelle la tablette détergente comprend une partie comprimée et une partie non comprimée et
    a) la partie comprimée se dissout à une vitesse plus rapide que la partie non comprimée sur une base poids en poids mesurée en utilisant la méthode de test de dissolution SOTAX décrite ici,
    b) la partie comprimée comprend un moule pré-préparé,
    c) la partie non comprimée est sous forme d'un gel ou d'un produit fondu solidifié,
    d) la partie non comprimée est au moins partiellement retenue dans le moule, et
    e) la partie non comprimée comprend un additif de finition qui est un auxiliaire de rinçage et qui est délivré dans le cycle de rinçage du lave-vaisselle.
  19. Utilisation selon la revendication 18 pour fournir des avantages de réduction de taches et de films.
  20. Utilisation selon la revendication 18 ou la revendication 19, dans laquelle plus de 60% de la partie non comprimée se dissout dans le cycle de rinçage.
  21. Utilisation selon l'une quelconque des revendications 18 à 20 dans laquelle la tablette détergente présente l'une quelconque des caractéristiques additionnelles mentionnées dans les revendications 2 à 17.
EP98961773A 1997-11-26 1998-11-24 Procede pour laver la vaisselle Expired - Lifetime EP0960188B1 (fr)

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EP01127422A EP1184450B1 (fr) 1997-11-26 1998-11-24 Tablette détergente
DE29823750U DE29823750U1 (de) 1997-11-26 1998-11-24 Reinigungsmittel-Tablette
DK01127422T DK1184450T3 (da) 1997-11-26 1998-11-24 Detergenttablet

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US6690397P 1997-11-26 1997-11-26
US66903P 1997-11-26
PCT/US1998/025074 WO1999027067A1 (fr) 1997-11-26 1998-11-24 Pastille de detergent

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EP0960188B1 true EP0960188B1 (fr) 2002-06-05

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JP (1) JP2001524593A (fr)
AT (2) ATE218612T1 (fr)
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DE (2) DE69805758T2 (fr)
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CA2311517A1 (fr) 1999-06-03
WO1999027067A1 (fr) 1999-06-03
CA2311517C (fr) 2004-10-12
EP0960188A1 (fr) 1999-12-01
ES2257375T3 (es) 2006-08-01
ES2142784T3 (es) 2003-01-16
PT1184450E (pt) 2006-06-30
ATE317002T1 (de) 2006-02-15
DE69805758D1 (de) 2002-07-11
DE69833335D1 (de) 2006-04-13
DE69833335T2 (de) 2006-09-28
BR9814742A (pt) 2002-02-05
ATE218612T1 (de) 2002-06-15
PT960188E (pt) 2002-10-31
ES2142784T1 (es) 2000-05-01
DE69805758T2 (de) 2003-01-30

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