EP1007617A1 - Compositions detergentes comprenant une mannanase et du percarbonate - Google Patents

Compositions detergentes comprenant une mannanase et du percarbonate

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Publication number
EP1007617A1
EP1007617A1 EP98926514A EP98926514A EP1007617A1 EP 1007617 A1 EP1007617 A1 EP 1007617A1 EP 98926514 A EP98926514 A EP 98926514A EP 98926514 A EP98926514 A EP 98926514A EP 1007617 A1 EP1007617 A1 EP 1007617A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
mannanase
alkyl
enzyme
bacillus
dna
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP98926514A
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German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1007617B1 (fr
Inventor
Jean-Luc Philippe Bettiol
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Procter and Gamble Co
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Procter and Gamble Co
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Publication date
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Priority claimed from EP97870120A external-priority patent/EP0896998A1/fr
Application filed by Procter and Gamble Co filed Critical Procter and Gamble Co
Priority to EP98926514A priority Critical patent/EP1007617B1/fr
Priority to DE29825084U priority patent/DE29825084U1/de
Publication of EP1007617A1 publication Critical patent/EP1007617A1/fr
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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
    • C11D3/0005—Other compounding ingredients characterised by their effect
    • C11D3/0036—Soil deposition preventing compositions; Antiredeposition agents
    • 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
    • C11D3/37—Polymers
    • C11D3/3703—Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
    • C11D3/3723—Polyamines or polyalkyleneimines
    • 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
    • C11D3/38—Products with no well-defined composition, e.g. natural products
    • C11D3/386—Preparations containing enzymes, e.g. protease or amylase
    • 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
    • C11D3/38—Products with no well-defined composition, e.g. natural products
    • C11D3/386—Preparations containing enzymes, e.g. protease or amylase
    • C11D3/38609—Protease or amylase in solid compositions only
    • 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
    • C11D3/38—Products with no well-defined composition, e.g. natural products
    • C11D3/386—Preparations containing enzymes, e.g. protease or amylase
    • C11D3/38636—Preparations containing enzymes, e.g. protease or amylase containing enzymes other than protease, amylase, lipase, cellulase, oxidase or reductase
    • 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
    • C11D3/38—Products with no well-defined composition, e.g. natural products
    • C11D3/386—Preparations containing enzymes, e.g. protease or amylase
    • C11D3/38645—Preparations containing enzymes, e.g. protease or amylase containing cellulase
    • 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
    • C11D3/39—Organic or inorganic per-compounds
    • C11D3/3942—Inorganic per-compounds

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to detergent compositions comprising a mannanase and percarbonate.
  • Perborate is well-known in the art as a laundry or dish additive that provide available oxygen via a hydrogen peroxide release mechanism. Perborate is broadly used in laundry or dish detergent due to its high performance and its attractive cost.
  • stains/soils represent the majority of consumer relevant stains/soils and often comprise food additives such as thickener / stabiliser agents.
  • hydrocolloids gums and emulsifiers are commonly used food additives.
  • the term "gum” denotes a group of industrially useful polysaccharides (long chain polymer) or their derivatives that hydrate in hot or cold water to from viscous solutions, dispersions or gels. Gums are classified as natural and modified. Natural gums include seaweed extracts, plant extrudates, gums from seed or root, and gums obtained by microbial fermentation.
  • Modified (semisynthetic) gums include cellulose and starch derivatives and certain synthetic gums such as low methoxyl pectin, propylene glycol alginate, and carboxymethyl and hydropropyl guar gum (Gums in Encyclopedia Chemical Technology 4 th Ed. Vol. 12, pp842-862, J. Baird, Kelco division of Merck). See also Carbohydrate Chemistry for Food Engineers (Eagan Press - 1997) by R. L. Whistler and J.N. BeMiller, Chap 4, pp63-89 and Direct Food Additives in Fruit Processing by P. Laslo, Bioprinciples and Applications, VoM , Chapter II, pp313- 325 (1996) Technomie publishing. Some of these gums such as guar gum
  • locust bean (E410) are widely used alone or in combinations in many ffoooodd aapppplliiccaattiioonnss (Gums in ECT 4 th Ed., Vol. 12 pp842-862, J. Baird, Kelco division of Merck).
  • the guar gum used in these food and cosmetic stains is obtained from the seed endosperm of the leguminous plant Cyamopsis tetragonoloba.
  • the guar gum (also called guaran) extracted from the dicotyledonous seed is composed of a 1- 4, b-D-mannopyranosyl unit backbone and is used as a thickening agent in dressing and frozen products and cosmetics (H.-D. Belitz, Food Chemistry pp 243, English version of the second edition, Springer-verlag, 1987, ISBN 0-387- 15043-9 (US)) & (Carbohydrate Chemistry for Food Principles, R.L.
  • the locus bean gum (also called carob bean gum or St Jon's bread) is also used in the food industry and is extracted from the seed of an evergreen cultivated in the Mediterranean area.
  • the locus bean gum probably differs from the structure of guar gum only in smaller number of D-galactosyl side chains and have the same 1-4, b-D-mannopyranosyl backbone.
  • water-soluble galactomanann is the main storage carbohydrate, comprising up to 20% of the total dry weight in some cases.
  • Galactomannan has a -galactose linked to O-6 of mannose residues and it can also be acetylated to various degree on O-2 and O-3 of the mannose residues.
  • percarbonate on bleacheable stains is broadly known in the art.
  • the active ingredient released from percarbonate i.e. H 2 O 2
  • the active ingredient released from perborate is identical to the active ingredient released from perborate, but without the release of borate material. It has now been surprisingly discovered that the combined use of percarbonate and mannanase, especially at specific levels, provides a synergetic removal of difficult stains such as food and cosmetic stains comprising mannans, in particular at low temperatures.
  • Mannanases have been identified in several Bacillus organisms. For example, Talbot et al., Appl. Environ. Microbiol., vol. 56, No. 1 1 , pp. 3505-3510 (1990) describes a ⁇ -mannanase derived from Bacillus stearothermophilus in dimer form having a MW of 162 kDa and an optimum pH of 5.5-7.5. Mendoza et al., World J. Micobio. Boitech., vol. 10, no. 5, pp.
  • J0304706 discloses a ⁇ -mannanase derived from Bacillus sp. having a MW of 37+/- 3kDa measured by gel filtration, an optimum pH of 8-10 and a pi of 5.3-5.4.
  • J63056289 describes the production of an alkaline, thermostable ⁇ -mannase, which hydrolyses ⁇ -1 ,4-D-mannopyranoside bonds of e.g. mannans and produces manno:oligo:saccharides.
  • J63036774 relates to a Bacillus micro-organism FERM P-8856 which produces ⁇ - mannanase and ⁇ -mannosidase, at an alkaline pH.
  • WO91/18974 describes an hemicellulase such as a glucanase, xylanase or mannanase, active at extreme pH and temperature and the production thereof.
  • WO94/25576 describes an enzyme exhibiting a mannanase activity derived from Aspergillus aculeatus CBS 101.43, that might be used for various purposes for which degradation or modification of plant or algae cell wall material is desired.
  • WO93/24622 discloses a mannanase isolated from Trichoderma reesie for bleaching lignocellulosic pulps.
  • the present invention relates to detergent compositions comprising a mannanase and percarbonate. These compositions provide superior cleaning performance, i.e. superior stain removal, especially on mannans-containing cosmetic and food stains, dingy cleaning and whiteness maintenance.
  • An essential element of the detergent composition of the present invention is a mannanase enzyme.
  • mannanase provides significant stain removal benefits on stains such as cosmetic and food stains containing hydrocolloid gums such as Guar Gum.
  • the present invention relates to the use of the mannanase enzyme in combination with percarbonate.
  • This combination provides outstanding synergistic whitening and/or stain removal benefits on food and cosmetic stains that contain mannanase sensitive hydrocolloid gums such as Guar gum or Locus bean gum.
  • mannanase sensitive hydrocolloid gums such as Guar gum or Locus bean gum.
  • the percarbonate bleaching agent does not complex with the gums present in the stains and therefore facilitate the access of the enzyme and/or of the bleaching agent to said stains.
  • this synergistic effect is due to a) the use of percarbonate that bleach the chromophore of the gum containing stains without cross linking and b) the action of the mannanase on the hydrocolloid polymer to form more soluble small residues and providing provide high removal of the hydrocolloid residues known to have a high affinity for the cotton surface of the garments. Additionally, it is believed that the synergy is due to the absence of borate ions that are known to act as crossiinking agent with hydrated guar gum (see Industrial Gum, second editions, R.L. Whistler pp 317, Academic Press, 1973, ISBN, 0-12-74-6252-x).
  • An essential element of the detergent compositions of the present invention is a mannanase enzyme.
  • mannans- degrading enzymes EC 3.2.1.25 : ⁇ -mannosidase, EC 3.2.1.78 : Endo-1 ,4- ⁇ - mannosidase, referred therein after as "mannanase” and EC 3.2.1.100 : 1 ,4- ⁇ - mannobiosidase (IUPAC Classification- Enzyme nomenclature, 1992 ISBN 0-12- 227165-3 Academic Press).
  • the detergent compositions of the present invention comprise a ⁇ -1 ,4-Mannosidase (E.C. 3.2.1.78) referred to as Mannanase.
  • Mannanase or "galactomannanase” denotes a mannanase enzyme defined according to the art as officially being named mannan endo-1 ,4-beta- mannosidase and having the alternative names beta-mannanase and endo-1 ,4- mannanase and catalysing the reaction: random hydrolysis of 1 ,4-beta-D- mannosidic linkages in mannans, galactomannans, glucomannans, and galactoglucomannans.
  • Mannanases (EC 3.2.1.78) constitute a group of poiysaccharases which degrade mannans and denote enzymes which are capable of cleaving polyose chains contaning mannose units, i.e. are capable of cleaving glycosidic bonds in mannans, glucomannans, galactomannans and galactogluco-mannans.
  • Mannans are polysaccharides having a backbone composed of ⁇ -1 ,4- linked mannose; glucomannans are polysaccharides having a backbone or more or less regularly alternating ⁇ -1 ,4 linked mannose and glucose; galactomannans and galactoglucomannans are mannans and glucomannans with -1 ,6 linked galactose sidebranches. These compounds may be acetylated.
  • the degradation of galactomannans and galactoglucomannans is facilitated by full or partial removal of the galactose sidebranches. Further the degradation of the acetylated mannans, glucomannans, galactomannans and galactoglucomannans is facilitated by full or partial deacetylation. Acetyl groups can be removed by alkali or by mannan acetylesterases.
  • the oligomers which are released from the mannanases or by a combination of mannanases and ⁇ - galactosidase and/or mannan acetyl esterases can be further degraded to release free maltose by ⁇ -mannosidase and/or ⁇ -glucosidase.
  • Mannanases have been identified in several Bacillus organisms. For example, Talbot et al., Appl. Environ. Microbiol., Vol.56, No. 11 , pp. 3505-3510 (1990) describes a beta-mannanase derived from Bacillus stearothermophilus in dimer form having molecular weight of 162 kDa and an optimum pH of 5.5-7.5. Mendoza et al., World J. Microbiol. Biotech., Vol. 10, No. 5, pp.
  • JP- 0304706 discloses a beta-mannanase derived from Bacillus sp., having a molecular weight of 373 kDa measured by gel filtration, an optimum pH of 8-10 and a pi of 5.3-5.4.
  • JP-63056289 describes the production of an alkaline, thermostable beta-mannanase which hydrolyses beta-1 ,4-D-mannopyranoside bonds of e.g. mannans and produces manno-oligosaccharides.
  • JP-63036774 relates to the Bacillus microorganism FERM P-8856 which produces beta- mannanse and beta-mannosidase at an alkaline pH.
  • JP-08051975 discloses alkaline beta-mannanases from alkalophilic Bacillus sp. AM-001.
  • a purified mannanase from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens useful in the bleaching of pulp and paper and a method of preparation thereof is disclosed in WO 97/11164.
  • WO 91/18974 describes a hemicellulase such as a glucanase, xylanase or mannanase active at an extreme pH and temperature.
  • WO 94/25576 discloses an enzyme from Aspergillus aculeatus, CBS 101.43, exhibiting mannanase activity which may be useful for degradation or modification of plant or algae cell wall material.
  • WO 93/24622 discloses a mannanase isolated from Trichoderma reseei useful for bleaching lignocellulosic pulps.
  • An hemicellulase capable of degrading mannan-containing hemicellulose is described in WO91/18974 and a purified mannanase from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens is described in WO97/11164.
  • this mannanase enzyme will be an alkaline mannanase as defined below, most preferably, a mannanase originating from a bacterial source.
  • the laundry detergent composition of the present invention will comprise an alkaline mannanase selected from the mannanase from the strain Bacillus agaradherens and/or Bacillus subtilisis strain 168, gene yght
  • alkaline mannanase enzyme is meant to encompass an enzyme having an enzymatic activity of at least 10%, preferably at least 25%, more preferably at least 40% of its maximum activity at a given pH ranging from 7 to 12, preferably 7.5 to 10.5.
  • the Idetergent composition of the present invention will comprise the alkaline mannanase from Bacillus agaradherens.
  • Said mannanase is i) a polypeptide produced by Bacillus agaradherens, NCIMB 40482, or ii) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence as shown in positions 32-343 of SEQ ID NO:2 or iii) an analogue of the polypeptide defined in i) or ii) which is at least 70% homologous with said polypeptide, or is derived from said polypeptide by substitution, deletion or addition of one or several amino acids, or is immunologically reactive with a polyclonal antibody raised against said polypeptide in purified form.
  • the present invention also encompasses an isolated polypeptide having mannanase activity selected from the group consisting of
  • polynucleotide molecules encoding a polypeptide having mannanase activity and comprising a sequence of nucleotides as shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 from nucleotide 97 to nucleotide 1029;
  • the plasmid pSJ1678 comprising the polynucleotide molecule (the DNA sequence) encoding a mannanase of the present invention has been transformed into a strain of the Escherichia coli which was deposited by the inventors according to the Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure at the Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen GmbH, Mascheroder Weg 1 b, D-38124 Braunschweig, Federal Republic of Germany, on 18 May 1998 under the deposition number DSM 12180.
  • a second most preferred enzyme is the mannanase from the Bacillus subtilisis strain 168, which mannanase: i) is encoded by the coding part of the DNA sequence shown in SED ID No. 5 or an analogue of said sequence and/or ii) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence as shown SEQ ID NO:6 or iii) an analogue of the polypeptide defined in ii) which is at least 70% homologous with said polypeptide, or is derived from said polypeptide by substitution, deletion or addition of one or several amino acids, or is immunologically reactive with a polyclonal antibody raised against said polypeptide in purified form.
  • the present invention also encompasses an isolated polypeptide having mannanase activity selected from the group consisting of (a) polynucleotide molecules encoding a polypeptide having mannanase activity and comprising a sequence of nucleotides as shown in SEQ ID NO:5
  • polynucleotide molecules that encode a polypeptide having mannanase activity that is at least 70% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6;
  • ortholog denotes a polypeptide or protein obtained from one species that has homology to an analogous polypeptide or protein from a different species.
  • polypeptide or protein obtained from a given species that has homology to a distinct polypeptide or protein from that same species.
  • expression vector denotes a DNA molecule, linear or circular, that comprises a segment encoding a polypeptide of interest operably linked to additional segments that provide for its transcription. Such additional segments may include promoter and terminator sequences, and may optionally include one or more origins of replication, one or more selectable markers, an enhancer, a polyadenylation signal, and the like. Expression vectors are generally derived from plasmid or viral DNA, or may contain elements of both.
  • the expression vector of the invention may be any expression vector that is conveniently subjected to recombinant DNA procedures, and the choice of vector will often depend on the host cell into which the vector it is to be introduced. Thus, the vector may be an autonomously replicating vector, i.e.
  • the vector which exists as an extra chromosomal entity, the replication of which is independent of chromosomal replication, e.g. a plasmid.
  • the vector may be one which, when introduced into a host cell, is integrated into the host cell genome and replicated together with the chromosome(s) into which it has been integrated.
  • recombinant expressed or “recombinantly expressed” used herein in connection with expression of a polypeptide or protein is defined according to the standard definition in the art. Recombinantly expression of a protein is generally performed by using an expression vector as described immediately above.
  • isolated when applied to a polynucleotide molecule, denotes that the polynucleotide has been removed from its natural genetic milieu and is thus free of other extraneous or unwanted coding sequences, and is in a form suitable for use within genetically engineered protein production systems. Such isolated molecules are those that are separated from their natural environment and include cDNA and genomic clones.
  • Isolated DNA molecules of the present invention are free of other genes with which they are ordinarily associated, but may include naturally occurring 5' and 3' untranslated regions such as promoters and terminators. The identification of associated regions will be evident to one of ordinary skill in the art (see for example, Dynan and Tijan, Nature 316:774-78, 1985).
  • an isolated polynucleotide may alternatively be termed "a cloned polynucleotide".
  • isolated indicates that the protein is found in a condition other than its native environment.
  • the isolated protein is substantially free of other proteins, particularly other homologous proteins (i.e. "homologous impurities” (see below)).
  • homologous impurities i.e. "homologous impurities” (see below)).
  • isolated protein/polypeptide may alternatively be termed "purified protein/polypeptide".
  • homologous impurities means any impurity (e.g., another polypeptide than the polypeptide of the invention) which originates from the homologous cell where the polypeptide of the invention is originally obtained from.
  • obtained from as used herein in connection with a specific microbial source, means that the polynucleotide and/or polypeptide produced by the specific source, or by a cell in which a gene from the source has been inserted.
  • polynucleotide denotes a single- or double- stranded polymer of deoxyribonucleotide or ribonucleotide bases read from the 5' to the 3' end.
  • Polynucleotides include RNA and DNA, and may be isolated from natural sources, synthesized in vitro, or prepared from a combination of natural and synthetic molecules.
  • complements of polynucleotide molecules denotes polynucleotide molecules having a complementary base sequence and reverse orientation as compared to a reference sequence. For example, the sequence 5' ATGCACGGG 3' is complementary to 5' CCCGTGCAT 3'.
  • degenerate nucleotide sequence denotes a sequence of nucleotides that includes one or more degenerate codons (as compared to a reference polynucleotide molecule that encodes a polypeptide).
  • Degenerate codons contain different triplets of nucleotides, but encode the same amino acid residue (i.e., GAU and GAC triplets each encode Asp).
  • promoter denotes a portion of a gene containing DNA sequences that provide for the binding of RNA polymerase and initiation of transcription. Promoter sequences are commonly, but not always, found in the 5' non-coding regions of genes.
  • secretory signal sequence denotes a DNA sequence that encodes a polypeptide (a "secretory peptide") that, as a component of a larger polypeptide, directs the larger polypeptide through a secretory pathway of a cell in which it is synthesized.
  • secretory peptide a polypeptide that, as a component of a larger polypeptide, directs the larger polypeptide through a secretory pathway of a cell in which it is synthesized.
  • the larger peptide is commonly cleaved to remove the secretory peptide during transit through the secretory pathway.
  • sequence information herein relating to a polynucleotide sequence encoding a mannanase of the invention can be used as a tool to identify other homologous mannanases.
  • polymerase chain reaction PCR
  • PCR polymerase chain reaction
  • a polypeptide of the invention having mannanase activity may be tested for mannanase activity according to standard test procedures known in the art, such as by applying a solution to be tested to 4 mm diameter holes punched out in agar plates containing 0.2% AZCL galactomannan (carob), i.e. substrate for the assay of endo-1 ,4-beta-D-mannanase available as CatNo.l- AZGMA from the company Megazyme for US$110.00 per 3 grams (Megazyme's Internet address: http://www.megazyme.com/Purchase/index.html).
  • An isolated polynucleotide of the invention will hybridize to similar sized regions of SEQ ID No. 1 , or a sequence complementary thereto, under at least medium stringency conditions.
  • polynucleotides of the invention will hybridize to a denatured double- stranded DNA probe comprising either the full sequence shown in positions 97- 1029 of SEQ ID NO:1 or any probe comprising a subsequence of SEQ ID NO:1 having a length of at least about 100 base pairs under at least medium stringency conditions, but preferably at high stringency conditions as described in detail below.
  • Suitable experimental conditions for determining hybridization at medium, or high stringency between a nucleotide probe and a homologous DNA or RNA sequence involves presoaking of the filter containing the DNA fragments or RNA to hybridize in 5 x SSC (Sodium chloride/Sodium citrate, Sambrook et al.
  • the filter is then washed twice for 30 minutes in 2 x SSC, 0.5 % SDS at least 60°C (medium stringency), still more preferably at least 65°C (medium/high stringency), even more preferably at least 70°C (high stringency), and even more preferably at least 75°C (very high stringency).
  • Molecules to which the oligonucleotide probe hybridizes under these conditions are detected using a x-ray film.
  • the isolated polynucleotides of the present invention include DNA and RNA. Methods for isolating DNA and RNA are well-known in the art. DNA and RNA encoding genes of interest can be cloned in Gene Banks or DNA libraries by means of methods known in the art. Polynucleotides encoding polypeptides having mannanase activity of the invention are then identified and isolated by, for example, hybridization or PCR. The present invention further provides counterpart polypeptides and polynucleotides from different bacterial strains (orthologs or paralogs). Of particular interest are mannanase polypeptides from gram-positive alkalophilic strains, including species of Bacillus.
  • Species homologues of a polypeptide with mannanase activity of the invention can be cloned using information and compositions provided by the present invention in combination with conventional cloning techniques.
  • a DNA sequence of the present invention can be cloned using chromosomal DNA obtained from a cell type that expresses the protein. Suitable sources of DNA can be identified by probing Northern blots with probes designed from the sequences disclosed herein. A library is then prepared from chromosomal DNA of a positive cell line.
  • a DNA sequence of the invention encoding an polypeptide having mannanase activity can then be isolated by a variety of methods, such as by probing with probes designed from the sequences disclosed in the present specification and claims or with one or more sets of degenerate probes based on the disclosed sequences.
  • a DNA sequence of the invention can also be cloned using the polymerase chain reaction, or PCR (Mullis, U.S. Patent 4,683,202), using primers designed from the sequences disclosed herein.
  • the DNA library can be used to transform or transfect host cells, and expression of the DNA of interest can be detected with an antibody (mono-clonal or polyclonal) raised against the mannanase cloned from B. agaradherens, NCIMB 40482, expressed and purified as described in Materials and Methods and Example 1 , or by an activity test relating to a polypeptide having mannanase activity.
  • the mannanase encoding part of the DNA sequence cloned into plasmid pSJ1678 present in Escherichia coli DSM 12180 and/or an analogue DNA sequence of the invention may be cloned from a strain of the bacterial species Bacillus agaradherens, preferably the strain NCIMB 40482, producing the enzyme with mannan degrading activity, or another or related organism as described herein.
  • the analogous sequence may be constructed on the basis of the DNA sequence obtainable from the plasmid present in Escherichia coli DSM 12180 (which is believed to be identical to the attached SEQ ID NO:1), e.g be a sub-sequence thereof, and/or by introduction of nucleotide substitutions which do not give rise to another amino acid sequence of the mannanase encoded by the DNA sequence, but which corresponds to the codon usage of the host organism intended for production of the enzyme, or by introduction of nucleotide substitutions which may give rise to a different amino acid sequence (i.e., a variant of the mannan degrading enzyme of the invention).
  • POLYPEPTIDES The sequence of amino acids nos. 32-343 of SEQ ID NO: 2 is a mature mannanase sequence.
  • the present invention also provides mannanase polypeptides that are substantially homologous to the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2 and species homologs (paralogs or orthologs) thereof.
  • substantially homologous is used herein to denote polypeptides having 70%, preferably at least 80%, more preferably at least 85%, and even more preferably at least 90%, sequence identity to the sequence shown in amino acids nos. 32-343 of SEQ ID NO:2 or their orthologs or paralogs.
  • Such polypeptides will more preferably be at least 95% identical, and most preferably 98% or more identical to the sequence shown in amino acids nos. 32-343 of SEQ ID NO:2 or its orthologs or paralogs.
  • Percent sequence identity is determined by conventional methods, by means of computer programs known in the art such as GAP provided in the GCG program package (Program Manual for the Wisconsin Package, Version 8, August 1994, Genetics Computer Group, 575 Science Drive, Madison, Wisconsin, USA 53711) as disclosed in Needleman, S.B. and Wunsch, CD., (1970), Journal of Molecular Biology, 48, 443-453, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
  • GAP is used with the following settings for polypeptide sequence comparison: GAP creation penalty of 3.0 and GAP extension penalty of 0.1.
  • Sequence identity of polynucleotide molecules is determined by similar methods using GAP with the following settings for DNA sequence comparison: GAP creation penalty of 5.0 and GAP extension penalty of 0.3.
  • the enzyme preparation of the invention is preferably derived from a microorganism, preferably from a bacterium, an archea or a fungus, especially from a bacterium such as a bacterium belonging to Bacillus, preferably to an alkalophilic Bacillus strain which may be selected from the group consisting of the species Bacillus agaradherens and highly related Bacillus species in which all species preferably are at least 95%, even more preferably at least 98%, homologous to Bacillus agaradherens based on aligned 16S rDNA sequences.
  • Substantially homologous proteins and polypeptides are characterized as having one or more amino acid substitutions, deletions or additions.
  • non-standard amino acids such as 4- hydroxyproline, 6- ⁇ /-methyl lysine, 2-aminoisobutyric acid, isovaline and a-methyl serine
  • a limited number of non-conservative amino acids, amino acids that are not encoded by the genetic code, and unnatural amino acids may be substituted for amino acid residues.
  • "Unnatural amino acids” have been modified after protein synthesis, and/or have a chemical structure in their side chain(s) different from that of the standard amino acids.
  • Unnatural amino acids can be chemically synthesized, or preferably, are commercially available, and include pipecolic acid, thiazolidine carboxylic acid, dehydroproline, 3- and 4- methylproline, and 3,3-dimethylproline.
  • Essential amino acids in the mannanase polypeptides of the present invention can be identified according to procedures known in the art, such as site-directed mutagenesis or alanine-scanning mutagenesis (Cunningham and Wells, Science 244: 1081-1085, 1989). In the latter technique, single alanine mutations are introduced at every residue in the molecule, and the resultant mutant molecules are tested for biological activity (i.e mannanase activity) to identify amino acid residues that are critical to the activity of the molecule. See also, Hilton et al., .1 Biol. Chem. 271:4699-4708, 1996.
  • the active site of the enzyme or other biological interaction can also be determined by physical analysis of structure, as determined by such techniques as nuclear magnetic resonance, crystallography, electron diffraction or photoaffinity labeling, in conjunction with mutation of putative contact site amino acids. See, for example, de Vos et al., Science 255:306-312, 1992; Smith et al.. J. Mol. Biol. 224:899-904. 1992; Wlodaver et al., FEBS Lett. 309:59-64, 1992.
  • the identities of essential amino acids can also be inferred from analysis of homologies with polypeptides which are related to a polypeptide according to the invention.
  • Mutagenesis/shuffling methods as disclosed above can be combined with high- throughput, automated screening methods to detect activity of cloned, mutagenized polypeptides in host cells. Mutagenized DNA molecules that encode active polypeptides can be recovered from the host cells and rapidly sequenced using modern equipment. These methods allow the rapid determination of the importance of individual amino acid residues in a polypeptide of interest, and can be applied to polypeptides of unknown structure.
  • the proteins and polypeptides of the present invention can be produced in genetically engineered host cells according to conventional techniques.
  • Suitable host cells are those cell types that can be transformed or transfected with exogenous DNA and grown in culture, and include bacteria, fungal cells, and cultured higher eukaryotic cells.
  • Bacterial cells, particularly cultured cells of gram-positive organisms, are preferred.
  • Gram-positive cells from the genus of Bacillus are especially preferred, such as from the group consisting of Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus lentus, Bacillus brevis, Bacillus stearothermophilus, Bacillus alkalophilus, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus circulans, Bacillus lautus, Bacillus thuringiensis, Bacillus licheniformis, and Bacillus agaradherens, in particular Bacillus agaradherens.
  • a DNA sequence encoding a mannanase of the present invention is operably linked to other genetic elements required for its expression, generally including a transcription promoter and terminator within an expression vector.
  • the vector will also commonly contain one or more selectable markers and one or more origins of replication, although those skilled in the art will recognize that within certain systems selectable markers may be provided on separate vectors, and replication of the exogenous DNA may be provided by integration into the host cell genome. Selection of promoters, terminators, selectable markers, vectors and other elements is a matter of routine design within the level of ordinary skill in the art. Many such elements are described in the literature and are available through commercial suppliers.
  • a secretory signal sequence (also known as a leader sequence, prepro sequence or pre sequence) is provided in the expression vector.
  • the secretory signal sequence may be that of the polypeptide, or may be derived from another secreted protein or synthesized de novo. Numerous suitable secretory signal sequences are known in the art and reference is made to "Bacillus subtilis and Other Gram- Positive Bacteria", Sonensheim et al., 1993, American Society for Microbiology, Washington D.C; and Cutting, S.
  • secretory signal sequence is joined to the DNA sequence in the correct reading frame.
  • Secretory signal sequences are commonly positioned 5' to the DNA sequence encoding the polypeptide of interest, although certain signal sequences may be positioned elsewhere in the DNA sequence of interest (see, e.g., Welch et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,037,743; Holland et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,143,830).
  • Transformed or transfected host cells are cultured according to conventional procedures in a culture medium containing nutrients and other components required for the growth of the chosen host cells.
  • suitable media including defined media and complex media, are known in the art and generally include a carbon source, a nitrogen source, essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals. Media may also contain such components as growth factors or serum, as required.
  • the growth medium will generally select for cells containing the exogenously added DNA by, for example, drug selection or deficiency in an essential nutrient which is complemented by the selectable marker carried on the expression vector or co-transfected into the host cell.
  • PROTEIN ISOLATION When the expressed recombinant polypeptide is secreted the polypeptide may be purified from the growth media. Preferably the expression host cells are removed from the media before purification of the polypeptide (e.g. by centrifugation).
  • the host cell When the expressed recombinant polypeptide is not secreted from the host cell, the host cell are preferably disrupted and the polypeptide released into an aqueous "extract" which is the first stage of such purification techniques.
  • the expression host cells are collected from the media before the cell disruption (e.g. by centrifugation).
  • the cell disruption may be performed by conventional techniques such as by lysozyme digestion or by forcing the cells through high pressure. See (Robert K. Scobes, Protein Purification, Second edition, Springer-Verlag) for further description of such cell disruption techniques.
  • the expressed recombinant polypeptides (or chimeric polypeptides) is secreted or not it can be purified using fractionation and/or conventional purification methods and media.
  • Ammonium sulfate precipitation and acid or chaotrope extraction may be used for fractionation of samples.
  • Exemplary purification steps may include hydroxyapatite, size exclusion, FPLC and reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography.
  • Suitable anion exchange media include derivatized dextrans, agarose, cellulose, polyacrylamide, specialty silicas, and the like. PEI, DEAE, QAE and Q derivatives are preferred, with DEAE Fast-Flow Sepharose (Pharmacia, Piscataway, NJ) being particularly preferred.
  • Exemplary chromatographic media include those media derivatized with phenyl, butyl, or octyl groups, such as Phenyl-Sepharose FF (Pharmacia), Toyopearl butyl 650 (Toso Haas, Montgomeryville, PA), Octyl-Sepharose (Pharmacia) and the like; or polyacrylic resins, such as Amberchrom CG 71 (Toso Haas) and the like.
  • Suitable solid supports include glass beads, silica-based resins, cellulosic resins, agarose beads, cross-linked agarose beads, polystyrene beads, cross-linked polyacrylamide resins and the like that are insoluble under the conditions in which they are to be used.
  • These supports may be modified with reactive groups that allow attachment of proteins by amino groups, carboxyl groups, sulfhydryl groups, hydroxyl groups and/or carbohydrate moieties.
  • Examples of coupling chemistries include cyanogen bromide activation, N-hydroxysuccinimide activation, epoxide activation, sulfhydryl activation, hydrazide activation, and carboxyl and amino derivatives for carbodiimide coupling chemistries.
  • These and other solid media are well-known and widely used in the art, and are available from commercial suppliers. Selection of a particular method is a matter of routine design and is determined in part by the properties of the chosen support.
  • Polypeptides of the invention or fragments thereof may also be prepared through chemical synthesis.
  • Polypeptides of the invention may be monomers or multimers; glycosylated or non-glycosylated; pegylated or non-pegylated; and may or may not include an initial methionine amino acid residue.
  • a full length DNA sequence encoding a mannanase of the invention and comprising the DNA sequence shown in SEQ ID No 1 , at least the DNA sequence from position 97 to position 1029, may be cloned. Cloning is performed by standard procedures known in the art such as by, ⁇ preparing a genomic library from a Bacillus strain, especially the strain B. agaradherens, NCIMB 40482;
  • SEQ ID No 2 Based on the sequence information disclosed herein (SEQ ID No 1 , SEQ ID No 2) is it routine work for a person skilled in the art to isolate homologous polynucleotide sequences encoding homologous mannanase of the invention by a similar strategy using genomic libraries from related microbial organisms, in particular from genomic libraries from other strains of the genus Bacillus such as alkalophilic species of Bacillus.
  • the DNA encoding the mannan or galactomannan-degrading enzyme of the invention may, in accordance with well-known procedures, conveniently be cloned from a suitable source, such as any of the above mentioned organisms, by use of synthetic oligonucleotide probes prepared on the basis of the DNA sequence obtainable from the plasmid present in Escherichia coli DSM 12180.
  • the polynucleotide molecule of the invention may be isolated from Escherichia coli, DSM 12180, in which the plasmid obtained by cloning such as described above is deposited.
  • the present invention relates to an isolated substantially pure biological culture of the strain Escherichia coli, DSM 12180.
  • the term "enzyme preparation” is intended to mean either a conventional enzymatic fermentation product, possibly isolated and purified, from a single species of a microorganism, such preparation usually comprising a number of different enzymatic activities; or a mixture of monocomponent enzymes, preferably enzymes derived from bacterial or fungal species by using conventional recombinant techniques, which enzymes have been fermented and possibly isolated and purified separately and which may originate from different species, preferably fungal or bacterial species; or the fermentation product of a microorganism which acts as a host cell for expression of a recombinant mannanase, but which microorganism simultaneously produces other enzymes, e.g. pectin degrading enzymes, proteases, or cellulases, being naturally occurring fermentation products of the microorganism, i.e. the enzyme complex conventionally produced by the corresponding naturally occurring microorganism.
  • enzymes e.g. pectin degrading enzymes, proteases, or
  • a method of producing the enzyme preparation of the invention comprising culturing a microorganism, eg a wild-type strain, capable of producing the mannanase under conditions permitting the production of the enzyme, and recovering the enzyme from the culture.
  • Culturing may be carried out using conventional fermentation techniques, e.g. culturing in shake flasks or fermentors with agitation to ensure sufficient aeration on a growth medium inducing production of the mannanase enzyme.
  • the growth medium may contain a conventional N-source such as peptone, yeast extract or casamino acids, a reduced amount of a conventional C-source such as dextrose or sucrose, and an inducer such as guar gum or locust bean gum.
  • the recovery may be carried out using conventional techniques, e.g. separation of bio-mass and supernatant by centrifugation or filtration, recovery of the supernatant or disruption of cells if the enzyme of interest is intracellular, perhaps followed by further purification as described in EP 0 406 314 or by crystallization as described in WO 97/15660.
  • IMMUNOLOGICAL CROSS-REACTIVITY Polyclonal antibodies to be used in determining immunological cross-reactivity may be prepared by use of a purified mannanase enzyme. More specifically, antiserum against the mannanase of the invention may be raised by immunizing rabbits (or other rodents) according to the procedure described by N. Axelsen et al. in: A Manual of Quantitative Immunoelectrophoresis, Blackwell Scientific Publications, 1973, Chapter 23, or A. Johnstone and R. Thorpe, Immunochemistry in Practice, Blackwell Scientific Publications, 1982 (more specifically p. 27-31).
  • Purified immunoglobulins may be obtained from the antisera, for example by salt precipitation ((NH 4 ) 2 S0 4 ), followed by dialysis and ion exchange chromatography, e.g. on DEAE-Sephadex.
  • Immunochemical characterization of proteins may be done either by Outcherlony double-diffusion analysis (O. Ouchterlony in: Handbook of Experimental Immunology (D.M. Weir, Ed.), Blackwell Scientific Publications, 1967, pp. 655-706), by crossed immunoelectrophoresis (N. Axelsen et al., supra, Chapters 3 and 4), or by rocket immunoelectrophoresis (N. Axelsen et al., Chapter 2).
  • useful bacteria producing the enzyme or the enzyme preparation of the invention are Gram positive bacteria, preferably from the Bacillus/Lactobacillus subdivision, preferably a strain from the genus Bacillus, more preferably a strain of Bacillus agaradherens, especially the strain Bacillus agaradherens, NCIMB 40482.
  • the present invention includes an isolated mannanase having the properties described above and which is free from homologous impurities, and is produced using conventional recombinant techniques.
  • Bacillus agaradherens NCIMB 40482 comprises the mannanase enzyme encoding DNA sequence.
  • E. coli strain Cells of E. coli SJ2 (Diderichsen, B., Wedsted, U., Hedegaard, L., Jensen, B. R., Sj ⁇ holm, C. (1990) Cloning of aldB, which encodes alpha- acetolactate decarboxylase, an exoenzyme from Bacillus brevis. J. Bacteriol., 172, 4315-4321), were prepared for and transformed by electroporation using a Gene PulserTM electroporator from BIO-RAD as described by the supplier. B. subtilis PL2306. This strain is the B.
  • subtilis DN1885 with disrupted apr and npr genes (Diderichsen, B., Wedsted, U., Hedegaard, L., Jensen, B. R., Sj ⁇ holm, C. (1990) Cloning of aldB, which encodes alpha-acetolactate decarboxylase, an exoenzyme from Bacillus brevis. J. Bacteriol., 172, 4315-4321) disrupted in the transc ptional unit of the known Bacillus subtilis cellulase gene, resulting in cellulase negative cells. The disruption was performed essentially as described in ( Eds. A.L. Sonenshein, J.A.
  • pMOL944 This plasmid is a pUB110 derivative essentially containing elements making the plasmid propagatable in Bacillus subtilis, kanamycin resistance gene and having a strong promoter and signal peptide cloned from the amyL gene of B. licheniformis ATCC14580.
  • the signal peptide contains a Sad I site making it convenient to clone the DNA encoding the mature part of a protein in-fusion with the signal peptide. This results in the expression of a Pre-protein which is directed towards the exterior of the cell.
  • the plasmid was constructed by means of conventional genetic engineering techniques which are briefly described in the following.
  • pMOL944 The pUB110 plasmid (McKenzie, T. et al., 1986, Plasmid 15:93-103) was digested with the unique restriction enzyme Neil. A PCR fragment amplified from the amyL promoter encoded on the plasmid pDN1981 (P.L. J ⁇ rgensen et al.,1990, Gene, 96, p37-41.) was digested with Neil and inserted in the Neil digested pUB110 to give the plasmid pSJ2624.
  • the two PCR primers used have the following sequences:
  • the primer #LWN5494 inserts a Notl site in the plasmid.
  • the plasmid pSJ2624 was then digested with Sad and Notl and a new PCR fragment amplified on amyL promoter encoded on the pDN1981 was digested with Sad and Notl and this DNA fragment was inserted in the Sad-Notl digested pSJ2624 to give the plasmid pSJ2670.
  • This cloning replaces the first amyL promoter cloning with the same promoter but in the opposite direction.
  • the two primers used for PCR amplification have the following sequences:
  • the plasmid pSJ2670 was digested with the restriction enzymes Pstl and Bell and a PCR fragment amplified from a cloned DNA sequence encoding the alkaline amylase SP722 (disclosed in the International Patent Application published as W095/26397 which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety) was digested with Pstl and Bell and inserted to give the plasmid pMOL944.
  • the two primers used for PCR amplification have the following sequence:
  • Genomic library construction Genomic DNA was partially digested with restriction enzyme Sau3A, and size- fractionated by electrophoresis on a 0.7 % agarose gel. Fragments between 2 and 7 kb in size was isolated by electrophoresis onto DEAE-cellulose paper (Dretzen, G., Bellard, M., Sassone-Corsi, P., Chambon, P. (1981) A reliable method for the recovery of DNA fragments from agarose and acrylamide gels. Anal. Biochem., 112, 295-298).
  • Isolated DNA fragments were ligated to BamHl digested pSJ1678 plasmid DNA, and the ligation mixture was used to transform E. coli SJ2.
  • This clone (MB525) was further characterized by DNA sequencing of the cloned Sau3A DNA fragment. DNA sequencing was carried out by primerwalking, using the Taq deoxy-terminal cycle sequencing kit (Perkin-Elmer, USA), fluorescent labelled terminators and approp ⁇ ate oligonucleotides as primers. Analysis of the sequence data was performed according to Devereux et al. (1984) Nucleic Acids Res. 12, 387-395. The sequence encoding the mannanase is shown in SEQ ID No 1. The derived protein sequence is shown in SEQ ID No.2. Subcloning and expression of mannanase in B. subtilis: The mannanase encoding DNA sequence of the invention was PCR amplified using the PCR primer set consisting of these two oligo nucleotides: Mannanase. upper.Sacll
  • Chromosomal DNA isolated from B. agaradherens NCIMB 40482 as described above was used as template in a PCR reaction using Amplitaq DNA Polymerase (Perkin Elmer) according to manufacturers instructions.
  • the PCR reaction was set up in PCR buffer (10 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.3, 50 mM KCI, 1.5 mM MgCI 2 , 0.01 % (w/v) gelatin) containing 200 ⁇ M of each dNTP, 2.5 units of AmpliTaq polymerase (Perkin-Elmer, Cetus, USA) and 100 pmol of each primer.
  • the PCR reaction was performed using a DNA thermal cycler (Landgraf, Germany). One incubation at 94°C for 1 min followed by thirty cycles of PCR performed using a cycle profile of denaturation at 94°C for 30 sec, annealing at 60°C for 1 min, and extension at 72°C for 2 min. Five- ⁇ l aliquots of the amplification product was analysed by electrophoresis in 0.7 % agarose gels (NuSieve, FMC). The appearance of a DNA fragment size 1.4 kb indicated proper amplification of the gene segment. Subcloning of PCR fragment.
  • the ligation mixture was used to transform competent B. subtilis PL2306.
  • the transformed cells were plated onto LBPG-10 ⁇ g/ml of Kanamycin plates. After 18 hours incubation at 37°C colonies were seen on plates.
  • Several clones were analysed by isolating plasmid DNA from overnight culture broth. One such positive clone was restreaked several times on agar plates as used above, this clone was called MB594.
  • the clone MB594 was grown overnight in TY-10 ⁇ g/ml kanamycin at 37°C, and next day 1 ml of cells were used to isolate plasmid from the cells using the Qiaprep Spin Plasmid Miniprep Kit #27106 according to the manufacturers recommendations for B.
  • subtilis plasmid preparations This DNA was DNA sequenced and revealed the DNA sequence corresponding to the mature part of the mannanase, i.e. positions 94-1404 of the appended SEQ ID NO:3. The derived mature protein is shown in SEQ ID NO:4. It will appear that the 3' end of the mannanse encoded by the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 was changed to the one shown in SEQ ID NO:3 due to the design of the lower primer used in the PCR.
  • SHHVREIGVQFSAADNSSGQTALYVDNVTLR C terminus of SEQ ID NO:4
  • IIMLGK C terminus of SEQ ID NO:4
  • LB agar (as described in Ausubel, F. M. et al. (eds.) "Current protocols in Molecular Biology”. John Wiley and Sons, 1995).
  • LBPG is LB agar (see above) supplemented with 0.5% Glucose and 0.05 M potassium phosphate, pH 7.0
  • BPX media is described in EP 0 506 780 (WO 91/09129).
  • mannanase from Bacillus agaradherens
  • the clone MB 594 obtained as described above under Materials and Methods was grown in 25 x 200ml BPX media with 10 ⁇ g/ml of Kanamycin in 500ml two baffled shakeflasks for 5 days at 37°C at 300 rpm.
  • the pure enzyme gave a single band in SDS-PAGE with a molecular weight of
  • Substrate Locust bean gum (carob) and reducing sugar analysis (PHBAH).
  • the temperature optimum of the mannanase was found to be 60°C
  • the pH activity profile showed maximum activity between pH 8 and 10.
  • Detergent compatibility using 0.2% AZCL-Galactomannan from carob as substrate and incubation as described above at 40°C shows excellent compatibility with conventional liquid detergents and good compatibility with conventional powder detergents.
  • the Bacillus subtilisis ⁇ -mannanase was characterised and purified as follows : The Bacillus subtilis genome was searched for homology with a known Bacillus sp ⁇ -Mannanase gene sequence (Mendoza et al., Biochemica et Biophvsica Acta 1243:552-554, 1995). The coding region of ydh T, whose product was unknown, showed a 58% similarity to the known Bacillus ⁇ -Mannanase.
  • oligonucleotides were designed to amplify the sequences coding for the mature portion of the putative ⁇ -Mannanase: 5'-GCT CAA TTG GCG CAT ACT GTG TCG CCT GTG-3' and 5'-GAC GGA TCC CGG ATT CAC TCA ACG ATT GGC G-3'.
  • Total genomic DNA from Bacillus subtilis strain 1A95 was used as a template to amplify the ydhT mature region using the aforementioned primers.
  • PCR is performed using the GENE-AMP PCR Kit with AMPLITAQ DNA Polymerase (Perkin Elmer, Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA).
  • Plasmid pPG3200 contains the mature region of the ydhT gene. Plasmid pPG3200 was then used to transform competent Bacillus subtilis strain PG 632 (Saunders et al., 1992).
  • a 10 I fermentation of Bacillus subtilis ydhT clone 7 was performed in a B.Braun Biostat C fermentator. Fermentation conditions were as follows. Cells were grown for 18h in a rich media similar to 20/20/5 at 37°C At the end of the fermentation run, the cells were removed and the supernatant concentrated to 1 liter using a tangential flow filtration system. The final yield of ⁇ -Mannanase in the concentrated supernatant was determined to be 3 g/l. The purification of the ⁇ -Mannanase from the fermentation supernatant was performed as follows: 500ml of supernatant was centrifuged at 10,000 rpm for 10 min at 4°C.
  • the centrifuged supernatant was then dialyzed overnight at 4°C in two 4 I changes of 10 mM potassium phosphate (pH 7.2) through Spectrapor 12,000-14,000 mol.wt. cutoff membrane (Spectrum).
  • the dialyzed supernatant was centrifuged at 10,000 rpm for 10 min at 4°C
  • a 200 ml Q Sepharose fast flow (Pharmacia) anion exchange column was equilibrated with 1 liter of 10 mM potassium phosphate (pH 7.2) at 20°C and 300ml of supernatant was loaded on column. Two flow through fractions of 210 ml (sample A) and 175 ml (sample B) were collected.
  • the two fractions were assayed as before, except that the samples were diluted with 199 ⁇ l of 50 mM sodium acetate (pH 6.0), and they showed Absorbance of .38 and .52 respectively.
  • Two ⁇ l of each sample was added to 8 ⁇ l of Tris-glycine SDS sample buffer (Novex, CA) and boiled for 5 min.
  • the resulting samples were electrophoresed on a 10-20% Tris-Glycine gel (Novex, Ca) at 30 mA for 90minutes.
  • a major band corresponding to 38kDa was present in each sample and comprised greater than 95% of the total protein.
  • a BCA protein assay (Pierce) was performed on both samples according to the manufacturers instructions, using bovine serum albumin as standard. Samples A and B contained 1.3 mg/ml and 1.6 mg/ml of ⁇ -Mannanase respectively. The identity of the protein was confirmed by ion spray mass spectrometry and amino terminal amino acid sequence analysis
  • the purified ⁇ -Mannanase samples were used to characterize the enzymes activity as follows. All assays used endo-1 ,4- ⁇ -Mannanase Beta-Mannazyme Tabs (Megazyme, Ireland) as described earlier. Activity at pH range 3.0-9.0 were performed in 50 mM citrate phosphate buffer, for activity determination at pH 9.5, 50 mM CAPSO (Sigma), and for pH 10.0-11.0 range 50 mM CAPS buffer was employed. The optimum pH for the Bacillus subtilis ⁇ -Mannanase was found to be pH 6.0-6.5. Temperature activity profiles were performed in 50mM citrate phosphate buffer (pH 6.5).
  • the enzyme showed optimum activity at 40-45°C
  • the Bacillus subtilis ⁇ -Mannanase retained significant activity at less than 15°C and greater than 80°C Specific activity against ⁇ -1 ,4-Galactomannan was determined to be 160,000 ⁇ mol/min»mg ⁇ -Mannanase using endo-1 ,4- ⁇ - Mannanase Beta-Mannazyme Tabs (Megazyme, Ireland) according to the manufacturers directions.
  • the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the Bacillus subtilisis ⁇ -mannanase are shown in SEQ. ID. No. 5 and 6.
  • the mannanase is incorporated into the compositions of the invention preferably at a level of from 0.0001 % to 2%, more preferably from 0.0005% to 0.1%, most preferred from 0.001% to 0.02% pure enzyme by weight of the composition.
  • the enzyme of the invention in addition to the enzyme core comprising the catalytically domain, also comprise a cellulose binding domain (CBD), the cellulose binding domain and enzyme core (the catalytically active domain) of the enzyme being operably linked.
  • the cellulose binding domain (CBD) may exist as an integral part of the encoded enzyme, or a CBD from another origin may be introduced into the enzyme thus creating an enzyme hybrid.
  • CBD cellulose binding domain
  • the term "cellulose-binding domain” is intended to be understood as defined by Peter Tomme et al. "Cellulose-Binding Domains: Classification and Properties" in "Enzymatic Degradation of Insoluble Carbohydrates", John N. Saddler and Michael H. Penner (Eds.), ACS Symposium Series, No. 618, 1996.
  • CBDs are found in various enzymes such as cellulases, xylanases, mannanases, arabinofuranosidases, acetyl esterases and chitinases.
  • CBDs have also been found in algae, e.g. the red alga Porphyra purpurea as a non-hydrolytic polysaccharide-binding protein, see Tomme et al., op.cit.
  • most of the CBDs are from cellulases and xylanases, CBDs are found at the N and C termini of proteins or are internal.
  • Enzyme hybrids are known in the art, see e.g. WO 90/00609 and WO 95/16782, and may be prepared by transforming into a host cell a DNA construct comprising at least a fragment of DNA encoding the cellulose- binding domain ligated, with or without a linker, to a DNA sequence encoding the mannanase enzyme and growing the host cell to express the fused gene.
  • Enzyme hybrids may be described by the following formula: CBD - MR - X wherein CBD is the N-terminal or the C-terminal region of an amino acid sequence corresponding to at least the cellulose- binding domain; MR is the middle region (the linker), and may be a bond, or a short linking group preferably of from about 2 to about 100 carbon atoms, more preferably of from 2 to 40 carbon atoms; or is preferably from about 2 to to about 100 amino acids, more preferably of from 2 to 40 amino acids; and X is an N-terminal or C-terminal region of the enzyme of the invention.
  • 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.
  • the variants may be designed such that the compatibility of the enzyme to commonly encountered ingredients of such compositions is increased.
  • the variant may be designed such that the optimal pH, bleach or chelant stability, catalytic activity and the like, of the enzyme variant is tailored to suit the particular cleaning application.
  • the isoelectric point of such enzymes may be modified by the substitution of some charged amino acids, e.g. an increase in isoelectric point may help to improve compatibility with anionic surfactants.
  • the stability of the enzymes may be further enhanced by the creation of e.g. additional salt bridges and enforcing metal binding sites to increase chelant stability.
  • the detergent compositions herein typically contain from 0.1 % to 50%, preferably from 0.5% to 35% by weight, most preferably from 1% to 25% by weight of an alkali metal percarbonate bleach in the form of particles having a mean size from 250 to 900 micrometers, preferably 500 to 700 micrometers.
  • Laundry additives typically contain from 20% to 80% of said percarbonate particles.
  • Preferred detergent compositions according to the present invention comprise a level of mannanase (pure enzyme by weight of total composition) of from 0.0001% to 2% and a level of percarbonate of from 0.1 % to 50% by weight of the total composition, preferably a mannanase level of from 0.0005% to 0.5% and a percarbonate level of from 0.5 % to 35%, more preferably a level of mannanase of from 0.001% to 0.1% and a percarbonate level of from 1 % to 25%
  • the alkali metal percarbonate bleach is usually in the form of the sodium salt.
  • Sodium percarbonate is an addition compound having a formula corresponding to 2Na2C ⁇ 3 3H2O2.
  • the percarbonate bleach can be coated with e.g. a further mixed salt of an alkali metal sulphate and carbonate.
  • a further mixed salt of an alkali metal sulphate and carbonate Such coatings together with coating processes have previously been described in GB-1 ,466,799, granted to Interox on 9th March 1977.
  • the weight ratio of the mixed salt coating material to percarbonate lies in the range from 1 :2000 to 1 :4, more preferably from 1 :99 to 1 :9, and most preferably from 1 :49 to 1 :19.
  • the mixed salt is of sodium sulphate and sodium carbonate which has the general formula Na2S04.n.Na2C03 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.
  • Suitable percarbonate for the purpose of the present invention is the sodium percarbonate described in W097/35591 being characterised by an intrinsic mean particle size of 500 to 100 mu m, not more than 20% below 350 mu m and a moisture pick-up of no more than 30g per 1000g sample at 80% relative humidity and 32°C in 24h or characterised by a mean particle size of 500 to 1200 mu m and a 7-days aged heat emission at 40°C of below 3 mu W/g in 16h.
  • Suitable coating materials are sodium silicate, of Si ⁇ 2:Na2 ⁇ ratio from 1.6:1 to 2.8:1 , and magnesium silicate.
  • Commercially available carbonate/sulphate coated percarbonate bleach may include a low level of a heavy metal sequestrant such as EDTA, 1- hydroxyethylidene 1 ,1-diphosphonic acid (HEDP) or an aminophosphonate, that is incorporated during the manufacturing process.
  • Preferred heavy metal sequestrants for incorporation as described herein above include the organic phosphonates and amino alkylene poly(alkylene phosphonates) such as the alkali metal ethane 1 -hydroxy diphosphonates, the nitrilo trimethylene phsphonates, the ethylene diamine tetra methylene phosphonates and the diethylene triamine penta methylene phosphonates.
  • organic phosphonates and amino alkylene poly(alkylene phosphonates) such as the alkali metal ethane 1 -hydroxy diphosphonates, the nitrilo trimethylene phsphonates, the ethylene diamine tetra methylene phosphonates and the diethylene triamine penta methylene phosphonates.
  • the detergent compositions of the invention must contain at least one additional detergent component.
  • additional detergent component and levels of incorporation thereof will depend on the physical form of the composition, and the nature of the cleaning operation for which it is to be used.
  • the detergent compositions according to the invention can be liquid, paste, gels, bars, tablets, spray, foam, powder or granular.
  • Granular compositions can also be in "compact” form and the liquid compositions can also be in a "concentrated” form.
  • the present invention relates to a laundry composition comprising a mannanase and percarbonate.
  • the present invention relates to dishwashing compositions.
  • compositions of the invention may for example, be formulated as hand and machine dishwashing compositions, hand and machine laundry detergent compositions including laundry additive compositions and compositions suitable for use in the soaking and/or pretreatment of stained fabrics, rinse added fabric softener compositions.
  • compositions of the invention When formulated as compositions for use in manual dishwashing methods the compositions of the invention preferably contain a surfactant and preferably other detergent compounds selected from organic polymeric compounds, suds enhancing agents, group II metal ions, solvents, hydrotropes and additional enzymes.
  • a surfactant preferably other detergent compounds selected from organic polymeric compounds, suds enhancing agents, group II metal ions, solvents, hydrotropes and additional enzymes.
  • compositions suitable for use in a laundry machine washing method preferably contain both a surfactant and a builder compound and additionally one or more detergent components preferably selected from organic polymeric compounds, bleaching agents, additional enzymes, suds suppressors, dispersants, lime-soap dispersants, soil suspension and anti-redeposition agents and corrosion inhibitors.
  • Laundry compositions can also contain softening agents, as additional detergent components.
  • Such compositions containing mannanase and percarbonate can provide fabric cleaning, stain removal, whiteness maintenance, color appearance, dye transfer inhibition and sanitisation when formulated as laundry detergent compositions.
  • compositions of the invention can also be used as detergent additive products in solid or liquid form.
  • Such additive products are intended to supplement or boost the performance of conventional detergent compositions and can be added at any stage of the cleaning process.
  • the density of the laundry detergent compositions herein ranges from
  • compositions herein are best reflected by density and, in terms of composition, by the amount of inorganic filler salt; inorganic filler salts are conventional ingredients of detergent compositions in powder form; in conventional detergent compositions, the filler salts are present in substantial amounts, typically 17-35% by weight of the total composition. In the compact compositions, the filler salt is present in amounts not exceeding 15% of the total composition, preferably not exceeding 10%, most preferably not exceeding 5% by weight of the composition.
  • the inorganic filler salts, such as meant in the present compositions are selected from the alkali and alkaline-earth-metal salts of sulphates and chlorides. A preferred filler salt is sodium sulphate.
  • Liquid detergent compositions according to the present invention can also be in a "concentrated form", in such case, the liquid detergent compositions according the present invention will contain a lower amount of water, compared to conventional liquid detergents.
  • the water content of the concentrated liquid detergent is preferably less than 40%, more preferably less than 30%, most preferably less than 20% by weight of the detergent composition.
  • Suitable detergent compounds for use herein are selected from the group consisting of the below described compounds.
  • the detergent compositions according to the present invention generally comprise a surfactant system wherein the surfactant can be selected from nonionic and/or anionic and/or cationic and/or ampholytic and/or zwitterionic and/or semi-polar surfactants.
  • the surfactant is typically present at a level of from 0.1 % to 60% by weight. More preferred levels of incorporation are 1 % to 35% by weight, most preferably from 1% to 30% by weight of detergent compositions in accord with the invention.
  • the surfactant is preferably formulated to be compatible with enzyme components present in the composition.
  • the surfactant is most preferably formulated such that it promotes, or at least does not degrade, the stability of any enzyme in these compositions.
  • Preferred surfactant systems to be used according to the present invention comprise as a surfactant one or more of the nonionic and/or anionic surfactants described herein.
  • Polyethylene, polypropylene, and polybutylene oxide condensates of alkyl phenols are suitable for use as the nonionic surfactant of the surfactant systems of the present invention, with the polyethylene oxide condensates being preferred.
  • These compounds include the condensation products of alkyl phenols having an alkyl group containing from about 6 to about 14 carbon atoms, preferably from about 8 to about 14 carbon atoms, in either a straight-chain or branched-chain configuration with the alkylene oxide.
  • the ethylene oxide is present in an amount equal to from about 2 to about 25 moles, more preferably from about 3 to about 15 moles, of ethylene oxide per mole of alkyl phenol.
  • nonionic surfactants of this type include IgepalTM CO-630, marketed by the GAF Corporation; and TritonTM X- 45, X-114, X-100 and X-102, all marketed by the Rohm & Haas Company. These surfactants are commonly referred to as alkylphenol alkoxylates (e.g., alkyl phenol ethoxyiates).
  • alkylphenol alkoxylates e.g., alkyl phenol ethoxyiates.
  • the condensation products of primary and secondary aliphatic alcohols with from about 1 to about 25 moles of ethylene oxide are suitable for use as the nonionic surfactant of the nonionic surfactant systems of the present invention.
  • the alkyl chain of the aliphatic alcohol can either be straight or branched, primary or secondary, and generally contains from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms.
  • About 2 to about 7 moles of ethylene oxide and most preferably from 2 to 5 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol are present in said condensation products.
  • nonionic surfactants of this type include Tergitol ⁇ M 15-S-9 (the condensation product of C ⁇
  • nonionic surfactant of the surfactant systems of the present invention are the alkylpolysaccharides disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,565,647, Llenado, issued January 21 , 1986, having a hydrophobic group containing from about 6 to about 30 carbon atoms, preferably from about 10 to about 16 carbon atoms and a polysaccharide, e.g. a polyglycoside, hydrophilic group containing from about 1.3 to about 10, preferably from about 1.3 to about 3, most preferably from about 1.3 to about 2.7 saccharide units.
  • a hydrophobic group containing from about 6 to about 30 carbon atoms, preferably from about 10 to about 16 carbon atoms and a polysaccharide, e.g. a polyglycoside, hydrophilic group containing from about 1.3 to about 10, preferably from about 1.3 to about 3, most preferably from about 1.3 to about 2.7 saccharide units.
  • Any reducing saccharide containing 5 or 6 carbon atoms can be used, e.g., glucose, galactose and galactosyl moieties can be substituted for the glucosyl moieties (optionally the hydrophobic group is attached at the 2-, 3-, 4-, etc. positions thus giving a glucose or galactose as opposed to a glucoside or galactoside).
  • the intersaccharide bonds can be, e.g., between the one position of the additional saccharide units and the 2-, 3-, 4-, and/or 6- positions on the preceding saccharide units.
  • the preferred alkylpolyglycosides have the formula
  • R 2 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkylphenyl, hydroxyalkyl, hydroxyalkylphenyl, and mixtures thereof in which the alkyl groups contain from about 10 to about 18, preferably from about 12 to about 14, carbon atoms; n is 2 or 3, preferably 2; t is from 0 to about 10, preferably 0; and x is from about 1.3 to about 10, preferably from about 1.3 to about 3, most preferably from about 1.3 to about 2.7.
  • the glycosyl is preferably derived from glucose. To prepare these compounds, the alcohol or alkylpolyethoxy alcohol is formed first and then reacted with glucose, or a source of glucose, to form the glucoside (attachment at the 1 -position). The additional glycosyl units can then be attached between their 1 -position and the preceding glycosyl units 2-, 3-, 4- and/or 6- position, preferably predominately the 2-position.
  • the condensation products of ethylene oxide with a hydrophobic base formed by the condensation of propylene oxide with propylene glycol are also suitable for use as the additional nonionic surfactant systems of the present invention.
  • the hydrophobic portion of these compounds will preferably have a molecular weight of from about 1500 to about 1800 and will exhibit water insolubility.
  • the addition of polyoxyethylene moieties to this hydrophobic portion tends to increase the water solubility of the molecule as a whole, and the liquid character of the product is retained up to the point where the polyoxyethylene content is about 50% of the total weight of the condensation product, which corresponds to condensation with up to about 40 moles of ethylene oxide.
  • Examples of compounds of this type include certain of the commercially-available PlurafacTM LF404 and PluronicTM surfactants, marketed by BASF.
  • nonionic surfactant of the nonionic surfactant system of the present invention are the condensation products of ethylene oxide with the product resulting from the reaction of propylene oxide and ethylenediamine.
  • 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 about 2500 to about 3000.
  • This hydrophobic moiety is condensed with ethylene oxide to the extent that the condensation product contains from about 40% to about 80% by weight of polyoxyethylene and has a molecular weight of from about 5,000 to about 11 ,000.
  • this type of nonionic surfactant include certain of the commercially available Tetronic T M compounds, marketed by BASF.
  • Preferred for use as the nonionic surfactant of the surfactant systems of the present invention are polyethylene oxide condensates of alkyl phenols, condensation products of primary and secondary aliphatic alcohols with from about 1 to about 25 moles of ethylene oxide, alkylpolysaccharides, and mixtures thereof. Most preferred are C8-C14 alkyl phenol ethoxylates having from 3 to 15 ethoxy groups and C8-C-
  • Highly preferred nonionic surfactants are polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactants of the formula.
  • R1 is H, or R 1 is C-1.4 hydrocarbyl, 2-hydroxy ethyl, 2-hydroxy propyl or a mixture thereof
  • R 2 is C5.31 hydrocarbyl
  • Z is a polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl having a linear hydrocarbyl chain with at least 3 hydroxyls directly connected to the chain, or an alkoxylated derivative thereof.
  • R 1 is methyl
  • R 2 is a straight C11_-
  • Z is derived from a reducing sugar such as glucose, fructose, maltose, lactose, in a reductive amination reaction.
  • Suitable anionic surfactants to be used are linear alkyl benzene sulfonate, alkyl ester sulfonate surfactants including linear esters of C8-C20 carboxylic acids (i.e., fatty acids) which are sulfonated with gaseous SO3 according to "The
  • Suitable starting materials would include natural fatty substances as derived from tallow, palm oil, etc.
  • alkyl ester sulfonate surfactant especially for laundry applications, comprise alkyl ester sulfonate surfactants of the structural formula:
  • R ⁇ is a C8-C20 hydrocarbyl, preferably an alkyl, or combination thereof
  • R 4 is a C-i-C ⁇ hydrocarbyl, preferably an alkyl, or combination thereof, and M is a cation which forms a water soluble salt with the alkyl ester sulfonate.
  • Suitable salt-forming cations include metals such as sodium, potassium, and lithium, and substituted or unsubstituted ammonium cations, such as monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, and triethanolamine.
  • R3 is C10- 16 alkyl
  • R 4 is methyl, ethyl or isopropyl.
  • the methyl ester sulfonates wherein R3 is C10- 16 alkyl.
  • alkyl sulfate surfactants which are water soluble salts or acids of the formula ROSO3M wherein R preferably is a C10- 24 hydrocarbyl, preferably an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl having a C10- 20 al y! component, more preferably a C12-C18 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl, and M is H or a cation, e.g., an alkali metal cation (e.g. sodium, potassium, lithium), or ammonium or substituted ammonium (e.g.
  • R preferably is a C10- 24 hydrocarbyl, preferably an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl having a C10- 20 al y! component, more preferably a C12-C18 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl
  • M is H or a cation, e.g., an alkali metal cation (e.g. sodium, potassium, lithium), or ammonium or substituted ammonium (e.g.
  • alkylamines such as ethylamine, diethylamine, triethylamine, and mixtures thereof, and the like.
  • alkyl chains of C12-C-16 are preferred for lower wash temperatures (e.g. below about 50°C) and C-
  • anionic surfactants useful for detersive purposes can also be included in the detergent compositions of the present invention. These can include salts (including, for example, sodium, potassium, ammonium, and substituted ammonium salts such as mono-, di- and triethanolamine salts) of soap, C8-C22 primary of secondary alkanesulfonates, C8-C24 olefinsulfonates, sulfonated polycarboxylic acids prepared by sulfonation of the pyrolyzed product of alkaline earth metal citrates, e.g., as described in British patent specification No.
  • salts including, for example, sodium, potassium, ammonium, and substituted ammonium salts such as mono-, di- and triethanolamine salts
  • C8-C22 primary of secondary alkanesulfonates C8-C24 olefinsulfonates
  • sulfonated polycarboxylic acids prepared by sulfonation of the pyrolyzed product of
  • alkylpolyglycolethersulfates (containing up to 10 moles of ethylene oxide); alkyl glycerol sulfonates, fatty acyl glycerol sulfonates, fatty oleyl glycerol sulfates, alkyl phenol ethylene oxide ether sulfates, paraffin sulfonates, alkyl phosphates, isethionates such as the acyl isethionates, N-acyl taurates, alkyl succinamates and sulfosuccinates, monoesters of sulfosuccinates (especially saturated and unsaturated C12-C18 monoesters) and diesters of sulfosuccinates (especially saturated and unsaturated Cg-C ⁇ diesters), acyl sarcosinates, sulfates of alkylpolysaccharides such as the sulf
  • laundry detergent compositions of the present invention typically comprise from about 1% to about 40%, preferably from about
  • alkyl alkoxylated sulfate surfactants hereof are water soluble salts or acids of the formula RO(A) m S03M wherein R is an unsubstituted C10- 24 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group having a C-10- 24 alkyl component, preferably a C12-C20 a 'kyl or hydroxyalkyl, more preferably C12- C-
  • R is an unsubstituted C10- 24 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group having a C-10- 24 alkyl component, preferably a C12-
  • Alkyl ethoxylated sulfates as well as alkyl propoxylated sulfates are contemplated herein.
  • Specific examples of substituted ammonium cations include methyl-, dimethyl, trimethyl-ammonium cations and quaternary ammonium cations such as tetramethyl-ammonium and dimethyl piperdinium cations and those derived from alkylamines such as ethylamine, diethylamine, triethylamine, mixtures thereof, and the like.
  • Exemplary surfactants are C12-C18 alkyl polyethoxylate (1.0) sulfate (Ci2-Ci8E(1.0)M), C12-C-18 alkyl polyethoxylate (2.25) sulfate (C ⁇
  • the detergent compositions of the present invention may also contain cationic, ampholytic, zwitterionic, and semi-polar surfactants, as well as the nonionic and/or anionic surfactants other than those already described herein.
  • Cationic detersive surfactants suitable for use in the detergent compositions of the present invention are those having one long-chain hydrocarbyl group.
  • cationic surfactants include the ammonium surfactants such as alkyltrimethylammonium halogenides, and those surfactants having the formula : [R2(OR3) V ][R4(OR3) V ] 2 R5N+X-
  • R is an alkyl or alkyl benzyl group having from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain
  • each R3 is selected from the group consisting of -CH 2 CH 2 -, -CH 2 CH(CH 3 )-, -CH 2 CH(CH 2 OH)-, -CH 2 CH 2 CH2-, and mixtures thereof
  • each R 4 is selected from the group consisting of C1-C4 alkyl, C1-C4 hydroxyalkyl, benzyl ring structures formed by joining the two R 4 groups, - CH2CHOH-CHOHCOR 6 CHOHCH2 ⁇ H wherein R 6 is any hexose or hexose polymer having a molecular weight less than about 1000, and hydrogen when y is not 0
  • R ⁇ is the same as R 4 or is an alkyl chain wherein the total number of carbon atoms of R2 plus R 5 is not more than about 18
  • each y is from 0 to about 10 and the
  • Quaternary ammonium surfactant suitable for the present invention has the formula (I):
  • R1 is a short chainlength alkyl (C6-C10) or alkylamidoalkyl of the formula (II) :
  • y is 2-4, preferably 3. whereby R2 is H or a C1-C3 alkyl, whereby x is 0-4, preferably 0-2, most preferably 0, whereby R3, R4 and R5 are either the same or different and can be either a short chain alkyl (C1-C3) or alkoxylated alkyl of the formula III,
  • X " is a counterion, preferably a halide, e.g. chloride or methylsulfate.
  • R6 is C1-C4 and z is 1 or 2.
  • Highly preferred cationic surfactants are the water-soluble quaternary ammonium compounds useful in the present composition having the formula : R-l R 2 R3R4N + X- (i)
  • R ⁇ is C8-C16 alkyl
  • each of R2, R3 and R4 is independently C1-C4 alkyl, C1-C4 hydroxy alkyl, benzyl, and -(C2H4Q) X H where x has a value from 2 to 5, and X is an anion.
  • R2, R3 or R4 should be benzyl.
  • is C12-C15 particularly where the alkyl group is a mixture of chain lengths derived from coconut or palm kernel fat or is derived synthetically by olefin build up or OXO alcohols synthesis.
  • Preferred groups for R2R3 and R4 are methyl and hydroxyethyl groups and the anion X may be selected from halide, methosulphate, acetate and phosphate ions.
  • quaternary ammonium compounds of formulae (i) for use herein are : coconut trimethyl ammonium chloride or bromide; coconut methyl di hydroxyethyl ammonium chloride or bromide; decyl triethyl ammonium chloride; decyl dimethyl hydroxyethyl ammonium chloride or bromide;
  • Typical cationic fabric softening components include the water-insoluble quaternary-ammonium fabric softening actives or thei corresponding amine precursor, the most commonly used having been di-long alkyl chain ammonium chloride or methyl sulfate.
  • Preferred cationic softeners among these include the following:
  • DTDMAC ditallow dimethylammonium chloride
  • DSOEDMAC di(stearoyloxyethyl) dimethylammonium chloride
  • Biodegradable quaternary ammonium compounds have been presented as alternatives to the traditionally used di-long alkyl chain ammonium chlorides and methyl sulfates. Such quaternary ammonium compounds contain long chain alk(en)yl groups interrupted by functional groups such as carboxy groups. Said materials and fabric softening compositions containing them are disclosed in numerous publications such as EP-A-0, 040,562, and EP-A-0,239,910.
  • the quaternary ammonium compounds and amine precursors herein have the formula (I) or (II), below :
  • Q is selected from -O-C(O)-, -C(0)-0-, -0-C(0)-0-, -NR4-C(O)-, -C(0)- NR4-; R2 s (CH 2 ) m -Q-T 4 or T5 or R 3 ; R3 s C1-C4 alkyl or C-1-C4 hydroxyalkyl or H; R4 s H or C-1-C4 alkyl or C-1-C4 hydroxyalkyl;
  • T1 , T 2 , T3, T 4 , T ⁇ are independently C-
  • X" is a softener-compatible anion.
  • softener-compatible anions include chloride or methyl sulfate.
  • the alkyl, or alkenyl, chain T " l , T 2 , ⁇ 3, T 4 , T 5 must contain at least 11 carbon atoms, preferably at least 16 carbon atoms.
  • the chain may be straight or branched.
  • Tallow is a convenient and inexpensive source of long chain alkyl and alkenyl material.
  • the compounds wherein ⁇ 1 , T 2 , ⁇ 3, ⁇ 4 , T ⁇ represents the mixture of long chain materials typical for tallow are particularly preferred.
  • quaternary ammonium compounds suitable for use in the aqueous fabric softening compositions herein include :
  • the detergent compositions of the present invention typically comprise from 0.2% to about 25%, preferably from about 1 % to about 8% by weight of such cationic surfactants.
  • Ampholytic surfactants are also suitable for use in the detergent compositions of the present invention. These surfactants can be broadly described as aliphatic derivatives of secondary or tertiary amines, or aliphatic derivatives of heterocyclic secondary and tertiary amines in which the aliphatic radical can be straight- or branched-chain.
  • One of the aliphatic substituents contains at least about 8 carbon atoms, typically from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms, and at least one contains an anionic water-solubilizing group, e.g. carboxy, sulfonate, sulfate. See U.S. Patent No. 3,929,678 to Laughlin et al., issued December 30, 1975 at column 19, lines 18-35, for examples of ampholytic surfactants.
  • the detergent compositions of the present invention typically comprise from 0.2% to about 15%, preferably from about 1% to about 10% by weight of such ampholytic surfactants.
  • Zwitterionic surfactants are also suitable for use in detergent compositions.
  • 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. See U.S. Patent No. 3,929,678 to Laughlin et al., issued
  • the detergent compositions of the present invention typically comprise from 0.2% to about 15%, preferably from about 1 % to about
  • Semi-polar nonionic surfactants are a special category of nonionic surfactants which include water-soluble amine oxides containing one alkyl moiety of from about 10 to about 18 carbon atoms and 2 moieties selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups and hydroxyalkyl groups containing from about 1 to about 3 carbon atoms; water-soluble phosphine oxides containing one alkyl moiety of from about 10 to about 18 carbon atoms and 2 moieties selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups and hydroxyalkyl groups containing from about 1 to about 3 carbon atoms; and water-soluble sulfoxides containing one alkyl moiety of from about 10 to about 18 carbon atoms and a moiety selected from the group consisting of alkyl and hydroxyalkyl moieties of from about 1 to about 3 carbon atoms.
  • Semi-polar nonionic detergent surfactants include the amine oxide surfactants having the formula
  • R3(OR 4 )XN(R5)2 wherein R3 is an alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, or alkyl phenyl group or mixtures therof containing from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms; R 4 is an alkylene or hydroxyalkylene group containing from about 2 to about 3 carbon atoms or mixtures thereof; x is from 0 to about 3; and each R 5 is an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group containing from about 1 to about 3 carbon atoms or a polyethylene oxide group containing from about 1 to about 3 ethylene oxide groups.
  • the R 5 groups can be attached to each other, e.g., through an oxygen or nitrogen atom, to form a ring structure.
  • amine oxide surfactants in particular include C10- 18 alkyl dimethyl amine oxides and C8-C12 alkoxy ethyl dihydroxy ethyl amine oxides.
  • the cleaning compositions of the present invention typically comprise from 0.2% to about 15%, preferably from about 1% to about 10% by weight of such semi-polar nonionic surfactants.
  • the detergent composition of the present invention may further comprise a cosurfactant selected from the group of primary or tertiary amines.
  • Suitable primary amines for use herein include amines according to the formula R1 NH2 wherein R-
  • alkyl chains may be straight or branched and may be interrupted with up to 12, preferably less than 5 ethylene oxide moieties.
  • Preferred amines according to the formula herein above are n-alkyl amines.
  • Suitable amines for use herein may be selected from 1-hexylamine, 1- octylamine, 1-decylamine and laurylamine.
  • Other preferred primary amines include C8-C10 oxypropylamine, octyloxypropylamine, 2-ethylhexyl- oxypropylamine, lauryl amido propylamine and amido propylamine.
  • Suitable tertiary amines for use herein include tertiary amines having the formula R1 R2R3N wherein R1 and R2 are C1-C8 alkylchains or
  • R3 is either a C ⁇ -C ⁇ , preferably C ⁇ -C-io alkyl chain, or R3 is R4X(CH2) n - whereby X is -0-, -C(0)NH- or -NH- R4 is a C4-C12, n is between 1 to 5, preferably 2-3.
  • R5 is H or C1-C2 alkyl and x is between 1 to 6 .
  • R3 and R4 may be linear or branched ; R3 alkyl chains may be interrupted with up to 12, preferably less than 5, ethylene oxide moieties.
  • Preferred tertiary amines are R1 R2R3N where R1 is a C6-C12 alkyl chain, R2 and R3 are C1-C3 alkyl or
  • R l C-NH — ( CH 2 )— N— ( R 2 ) n 2 wherein R ⁇ is C ⁇ -C ⁇ alkyl; n is 2-4, preferably n is 3; R2 and R3 is C-
  • Most preferred amines of the present invention include 1-octylamine, 1- hexylamine, 1-decylamine, 1-dodecylamine, C8-10oxypropylamine, N coco 1- 3diaminopropane, coconutalkyldimethylamine, lauryldimethylamine, lauryl bis(hydroxyethyl)amine, coco bis(hydroxyehtyl)amine, lauryl amine 2 moles propoxylated, octyl amine 2 moles propoxylated, lauryl amidopropyl- dimethylamine, C8-10 amidopropyldimethylamine and C10 amidopropyl- dimethylamine.
  • the most preferred amines for use in the compositions herein are 1-hexylamine, 1-octylamine, 1-decylamine, 1-dodecylamine. Especially desirable are n- dodecyldimethylamine and bishydroxyethylcoconutalkylamine and oieylamine 7 times ethoxylated, lauryl amido propylamine and cocoamido propylamine.
  • the detergent compositions can in addition to mannanase enzyme and percarbonate further comprise one or more enzymes which provide cleaning performance, fabric care and/or sanitisation benefits.
  • the detergent composition of the present invention will comprise a protease. It has been contemporaningly found that the compositions of the present invention further comprising a protease enzyme, provide better whitening and stain removal benefits.
  • Suitable proteases are the proteases from the IUPAC classification EC 3.4.-.-, preferably the Endo-serine protease from the IUPAC classification EC 3.4.21.-, more preferably the Subtilisin proteases from the IUPAC classification EC 3.4.21.62.
  • proteases are the subtilisins which are obtained from particular strains of ⁇ . subtilis and B. licheniformis (subtilisin BPN and BPN').
  • 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.
  • proteases include ALCALASE®, DURAZYM® and SAVINASE® from Novo and MAXATASE®, MAXACAL®, PROPERASE® and MAXAPEM® (protein engineered Maxacal) from Gist-Brocades.
  • proteases include ALCALASE®, DURAZYM® and SAVINASE® from Novo and MAXATASE®, MAXACAL®, PROPERASE® and MAXAPEM® (protein engineered Maxacal) from Gist-Brocades.
  • proteases also encompass modified bacterial serine proteases, such as those described in European Patent Application Serial Number 87 303761.8, filed April
  • Protease A a modified bacterial serine protealytic enzyme which is called "Protease A” herein.
  • Suitable is the protease called herein "Protease C”, which is a variant of an alkaline serine protease from Bacillus in which lysine replaced arginine at position 27, tyrosine replaced valine at position 104, serine replaced asparagine at position 123, and alanine replaced threonine at position 274.
  • Protease C is described in EP 90915958:4, corresponding to 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.
  • a carbonyl hydrolase variant of the protease described in WO95/10591 having an amino acid sequence derived by replacement of a plurality of amino acid residues replaced in the precursor enzyme corresponding 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 position corresponds to naturally- occurring subtilisin from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens or to equivalent amino acid residues in other carbonyl hydroiases or subtilisins, such as Bacillus lentus subtilis
  • 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. See also a high pH 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. When desired, 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.
  • 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.
  • Said enzymes include enzymes selected from cellulases, hemicellulases, peroxidases, gluco-amylases, amylases, xylanases, lipases, phospholipases, esterases, cutinases, pectinases, keratanases, reductases, oxidases, phenoioxidases, lipoxygenases, ligninases, pullulanases, tannases, pentosanases, malanases, ⁇ -glucanases, arabinosidases, hyaluronidase, chondroitinase, laccase or mixtures thereof.
  • a preferred combination is a detergent composition having cocktail of conventional applicable enzymes like protease, amylase, lipase, 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 cellulases. Preferably, they will have a pH optimum of between 5 and 12 and a specific activity above 50 CEVU/mg (Cellulose Viscosity Unit). Suitable cellulases are disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,435,307, Barbesgoard et al, J61078384 and WO96/02653 which discloses fungal cellulase 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 W095/26398.
  • Examples of such cellulases are cellulases produced by a strain of Humicola insolens (Humicola grisea var. thermoidea), particularly the Humicola strain DSM 1800.
  • Suitable cellulases are cellulases originated from Humicola insolens having a molecular weight of about 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.
  • cellulases examples include cellulases described in European patent application No. 91202879.2, filed November 6, 1991 (Novo). Carezyme and Celluzyme (Novo Nordisk A/S) are especially useful. See also W091/17244 and WO91/21801. Other suitable cellulases for fabric care and/or cleaning properties are desc ⁇ bed in WO96/34092, W096/17994 and W095/24471. Said cellulases are normally incorporated in the detergent composition at levels from 0.0001% to 2% of pure enzyme by weight of the detergent composition.
  • Peroxidase enzymes are used in combination with oxygen sources, e.g. percarbonate, perborate, persulfate, hydrogen peroxide, etc and with a phenolic substrate as bleach enhancing molecule. 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 European Patent application EP No. 91202882.6, filed on November 6, 1991 and EP No. 96870013.8, filed February 20, 1996. Also suitable is the laccase enzyme.
  • Enhancers are generally comprised at a level of from 0.1% to 5% by weight of total composition.
  • 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 peroxidases are normally incorporated in the detergent composition at levels from 0.0001 % to 2% of pure enzyme by weight of the detergent composition.
  • Suitable Iipase 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 Iipase, produced by the microorganism Pseudomonas fluorescent IAM 1057. This Iipase 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.S.A. and Disoynth Co., The Netherlands, and lipases ex Pseudomonas gladioli.
  • lipases such as M1 Lipase ⁇ ar, d Lipoma ⁇ R (Gist-Brocades) and Lipolase ⁇ and Lipolase UltraR(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 Iipase, 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 pure enzyme by weight of the detergent composition.
  • Amylases can be included for removal of carbohydrate-based stains.
  • WO94/02597 Novo Nordisk A/S published February 03, 1994, describes detergent compositions which incorporate mutant amylases. See also WO95/10603, Novo Nordisk A/S, published April 20, 1995.
  • Other amylases known for use in detergent 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 W094/18314, 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, W095/26397 and W096/23873 (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.
  • W095/26397 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 W096/23873 (Novo Nordisk).
  • amylolytic enzymes with improved properties with respect to the activity level and the combination of thermostability and a higher activity level are described in W095/35382.
  • the 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 0.06%, more preferably from 0.00024% to 0.048% pure enzyme by weight of the composition.
  • 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.
  • the variants may be designed such that the compatibility of the enzyme to commonly encountered ingredients of such compositions is increased.
  • the variant may be designed such that the optimal pH, bleach or chelant stability, catalytic activity and the like, of the enzyme variant is tailored to suit the particular cleaning application.
  • the isoelectric point of such enzymes may be modified by the substitution of some charged amino acids, e.g. an increase in isoelectric point may help to improve compatibility with anionic surfactants.
  • the stability of the enzymes may be further enhanced by the creation of e.g. additional salt bridges and enforcing calcium binding sites to increase chelant stability. Special attention must be paid to the cellulases as most of the cellulases have separate binding domains (CBD). Properties of such enzymes can be altered by modifications in these domains.
  • Said enzymes are normally incorporated in the detergent composition at levels from 0.0001% to 2% of pure 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 ).
  • Other suitable detergent ingredients that can be added are enzyme oxidation scavengers which are described in co-pending European Patent application 92870018.6 filed on January 31 , 1992. Examples of such enzyme oxidation scavengers are ethoxylated tetraethylene polyamines.
  • a range of enzyme materials and means for their incorporation into synthetic detergent compositions is also disclosed in WO 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.
  • Fabric softening agents can also be incorporated into detergent compositions in accordance with the present invention. These agents may be inorganic or organic in type. Inorganic softening agents are exemplified by the smectite clays disclosed in GB-A-1 400 898 and in USP 5,019,292. Organic fabric softening agents include the water insoluble tertiary amines as disclosed in GB-A1 514 276 and EP-B0 011 340 and their combination with mono C12-C14 quaternary ammonium salts are disclosed in EP-B-0 026 527 and EP-B-0 026 528 and di- long-chain amides as disclosed in EP-B-0 242 919. Other useful organic ingredients of fabric softening systems include high molecular weight polyethylene oxide materials as disclosed in EP-A-0 299 575 and 0 313 146.
  • Levels of smectite clay are normally in the range from 2% to 20%, more preferably from 5% to 15% by weight, with the material being added as a dry mixed component to the remainder of the formulation.
  • Organic fabric softening agents such as the water-insoluble tertiary amines or dilong chain amide materials are incorporated at levels of from 0.5% to 5% by weight, normally from 1% to 3% by weight whilst the high molecular weight polyethylene oxide materials and the water soluble cationic materials are added at levels of from 0.1% to 2%, normally from 0.15% to 1.5% by weight.
  • These materials are normally added to the spray dried portion of the composition, although in some instances it may be more convenient to add them as a dry mixed particulate, or spray them as molten liquid on to other solid components of the composition.
  • composition of the present invention may comprise optionally other bleaching agents such as bleach activators, photoactivated bleach, enzyme generating bleach species and bleach catalysts.
  • Alternative source of available oxygen encompasses percarboxylic acid bleaching agents and salts thereof.
  • Suitable examples of this class of agents include magnesium monoperoxyphthalate hexahydrate, the magnesium salt of meta-chloro perbenzoic acid, 4-nonylamino-4-oxoperoxybutyric acid and diperoxydodecanedioic acid.
  • Such bleaching agents are disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,483,781 , U.S. Patent Application 740,446, European Patent Application 0,133,354 and U.S. Patent 4,412,934.
  • Highly preferred bleaching agents also include 6-nonylamino-6-oxoperoxycaproic acid as described in U.S. Patent 4,634,551.
  • bleaching agents that can be used encompasses the halogen bleaching agents.
  • hypohalite bleaching agents include trichloro isocyanuric acid and the sodium and potassium dichloroisocyanurates and N-chloro and N-bromo alkane sulphonamides. Such materials are normally added at 0.5-10% by weight of the finished product, preferably 1-5% by weight.
  • the hydrogen peroxide releasing agents can be used in combination with bleach activators such as tetraacetylethylenediamine (TAED), nonanoyloxybenzene- sulfonate (NOBS, described in US 4,412,934), 3,5,- trimethylhexanoloxybenzenesulfonate (ISONOBS, described in EP 120,591) or pentaacetylglucose (PAG)or Phenolsulfonate ester of N-nonanoyl-6- aminocaproic acid (NACA-OBS, described in WO94/28106), which are perhydrolyzed to form a peracid as the active bleaching species, leading to improved bleaching effect.
  • bleach activators such as tetraacetylethylenediamine (TAED), nonanoyloxybenzene- sulfonate (NOBS, described in US 4,412,934), 3,5,- trimethylhexanoloxybenzenesulf
  • acylated citrate esters such as disclosed in Co-pending European Patent Application No. 91870207.7 and unsymetrical acyclic imide bleach activator of the following formula as disclosed in the Procter & Gamble co-pending patent applications US serial No. 60/022,786 (filed July 30, 1996) and No. 60/028,122 (filed October 15, 1996) :
  • is a C7-C-13 linear or branched chain saturated or unsaturated alkyl group
  • R2 is a C-]-C8 ) linear or branched chain saturated or unsaturated alkyl group
  • R3 is a C1-C4 linear or branched chain saturated or unsaturated alkyl group.
  • bleaching agents including peroxyacids and bleaching systems comprising bleach activators and peroxygen bleaching compounds for use in detergent compositions according to the invention are described in our co- pending applications USSN 08/136,626, PCT/US95/07823, W095/27772, W095/27773, W095/27774 and W095/27775.
  • the hydrogen peroxide may also be present by adding an enzymatic system (i.e. an enzyme and a substrate therefore) which is capable of generating hydrogen peroxide at the beginning or during the washing and/or rinsing process.
  • an enzymatic system i.e. an enzyme and a substrate therefore
  • metal-containing catalysts for use in bleach compositions include cobalt- containing catalysts such as Pentaamine acetate cobalt(lll) salts and manganese-containing catalysts such as those described in EPA 549 271 ; EPA 549 272; EPA 458 397; US 5,246,621 ; EPA 458 398; US 5,194,416 and US 5,114,611.
  • Bleaching composition comprising a peroxy compound, a manganese-containing bleach catalyst and a chelating agent is described in the patent application No 94870206.3.
  • Bleaching agents other than oxygen bleaching agents are also known in the art and can be utilized herein.
  • One type of non-oxygen bleaching agent of particular interest includes photoactivated bleaching agents such as the sulfonated zinc and/or aluminum phthalocyanines. These materials can be deposited upon the substrate during the washing process. Upon irradiation with light, in the presence of oxygen, such as by hanging clothes out to dry in the daylight, the sulfonated zinc phthalocyanine is activated and, consequently, the substrate is bleached.
  • Preferred zinc phthalocyanine and a photoactivated bleaching process are described in U.S. Patent 4,033,718.
  • detergent compositions will contain about 0.025% to about 1.25%, by weight, of sulfonated zinc phthalocyanine.
  • compositions according to the present invention may further comprise a builder system.
  • a builder system Any conventional builder system is suitable for use herein including aluminosilicate materials, silicates, polycarboxylates, alkyl- or alkenyl- succinic acid and fatty acids, materials such as ethylenediamine tetraacetate, diethylene triamine pentamethyleneacetate, metal ion sequestrants such as aminopolyphosphonates, particularly ethylenediamine tetramethylene phosphonic acid and diethylene triamine pentamethylenephosphonic acid.
  • Phosphate builders can also be used herein.
  • Suitable builders can be an inorganic ion exchange material, commonly an inorganic hydrated aluminosilicate material, more particularly a hydrated synthetic zeolite such as hydrated zeolite A, X, B, HS or MAP.
  • Another suitable inorganic builder material is layered silicate, e.g. SKS-6 (Hoechst). SKS-6 is a crystalline layered silicate consisting of sodium silicate (Na 2 Si 2 0 5 ).
  • Suitable polycarboxylates containing one carboxy group include lactic acid, glycolic acid and ether derivatives thereof as disclosed in Belgian Patent Nos. 831 ,368, 821 ,369 and 821 ,370.
  • Polycarboxylates containing two carboxy groups include the water-soluble salts of succinic acid, malonic acid, (ethylenedioxy) diacetic acid, maleic acid, diglycollic acid, tartaric acid, tartronic acid and fumaric acid, as well as the ether carboxylates described in German Offenlegenschrift 2,446,686, and 2,446,687 and U.S. Patent No. 3,935,257 and the sulfinyl carboxylates described in Belgian Patent No. 840,623.
  • Polycarboxylates containing three carboxy groups include, in particular, water-soluble citrates, aconitrates and citraconates as well as succinate derivatives such as the carboxymethyloxysuccinates described in British Patent No. 1 ,379,241 , lactoxysuccinates described in Netherlands Application 7205873, and the oxypolycarboxylate materials such as 2-oxa-1 ,1 ,3-propane tricarboxylates described in British Patent No. 1 ,387,447.
  • Polycarboxylates containing four carboxy groups include oxydisuccinates disclosed in British Patent No. 1 ,261 ,829, 1 ,1 ,2,2-ethane tetracarboxylates,
  • Polycarboxylates containing sulfo substituents include the sulfosuccinate derivatives disclosed in British Patent Nos. 1 ,398,421 and 1 ,398,422 and in U.S.
  • Alicyclic and heterocyclic polycarboxylates include cyclopentane-cis,cis,cis- tetracarboxylates, cyclopentadienide pentacarboxylates, 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-furan - cis, cis, cis-tetracarboxylates, 2,5-tetrahydro-furan -cis - dicarboxylates, 2,2,5,5- tetrahydrofuran - tetracarboxylates, 1 ,2,3,4,5,6-hexane -hexacar-boxylates and and carboxymethyl derivatives of polyhydric alcohols such as sorbitol, mannitol and xylitol.
  • Aromatic poly-carboxylates 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.
  • Preferred builder systems for use in the present compositions include a mixture of a water-insoluble aluminosilicate builder such as zeolite A or of a layered silicate (SKS-6), and a water-soluble carboxylate chelating agent such as citric acid.
  • Suitable builder systems include a mixture of a water-insoluble aluminosilicate builder such as zeolite A, and a watersoluble carboxylate chelating agent such as citric acid.
  • Preferred builder systems for use in liquid detergent compositions of the present invention are soaps and polycarboxylates.
  • builder materials that can form part of the builder system for use in granular compositions include inorganic materials such as alkali metal carbonates, bicarbonates, silicates, and organic materials such as the organic phosphonates, amino polyalkylene phosphonates and amino polycarboxylates.
  • suitable water-soluble organic salts are the homo- or co-polymeric acids or their salts, in which the polycarboxylic acid comprises at least two carboxyl radicals separated from each other by not more than two carbon atoms. Polymers of this type are disclosed in GB-A-1 ,596,756. Examples of such salts are polyacrylates of MW 2000-5000 and their copolymers with maleic anhydride, such copolymers having a molecular weight of from 20,000 to 70,000, especially about 40,000.
  • Detergency builder salts are normally included in amounts of from 5% to 80% by weight of the composition preferably from 10% to 70% and most usually from 30% to 60% by weight.
  • the detergent compositions herein may also optionally contain one or more iron and/or manganese chelating agents.
  • chelating agents can be selected from the group consisting of amino carboxylates, amino phosphonates, polyfunctionally-substituted aromatic chelating agents and mixtures therein, all as hereinafter defined. Without intending to be bound by theory, it is believed that the benefit of these materials is due in part to their exceptional ability to remove iron and manganese ions from washing solutions by formation of soluble chelates.
  • Amino carboxylates useful as optional chelating agents include ethylenediaminetetracetates, N-hydroxyethylethylenediaminetriacetates, nitrilo- triacetates, ethylenediamine tetraproprionates, triethylenetetraamine- hexacetates, diethylenetriaminepentaacetates, and ethanoldiglycines, alkali metal, ammonium, and substituted ammonium salts therein and mixtures therein.
  • Amino phosphonates are also suitable for use as chelating agents in the compositions of the invention when at lease low levels of total phosphorus are permitted in detergent compositions, and include ethylenediaminetetrakis (methylenephosphonates) as DEQUEST.
  • these amino phosphonates do not contain alkyl or alkenyl groups with more than about 6 carbon atoms.
  • Polyfunctionally-substituted aromatic chelating agents are also useful in the compositions herein. See U.S. Patent 3,812,044, issued May 21 , 1974, to Connor et al.
  • Preferred compounds of this type in acid form are dihydroxydisulfobenzenes such as 1 ,2-dihydroxy-3,5-disulfobenzene.
  • EDDS ethylenediamine disuccinate
  • [S,S] isomer as described in U.S. Patent 4,704,233, November 3, 1987, to Hartman and Perkins.
  • compositions herein may also contain water-soluble methyl glycine diacetic acid (MGDA) salts (or acid form) as a chelant or co-builder useful with, for example, insoluble builders such as zeolites, layered silicates and the like.
  • MGDA water-soluble methyl glycine diacetic acid
  • these chelating agents will generally comprise from about 0.1 % to about 15% by weight of the detergent compositions herein. More preferably, if utilized, the chelating agents will comprise from about 0.1 % to about 3.0% by weight of such compositions.
  • a suds suppressor exemplified by silicones, and silica-silicone mixtures.
  • Silicones can be generally represented by alkylated polysiloxane materials while silica is normally used in finely divided forms exemplified by silica aerogels and xerogels and hydrophobic silicas of various types. These materials can be incorporated as particulates in which the suds suppressor is advantageously releasably incorporated in a water-soluble or water-dispersible, substantially non-surface-active detergent impermeable carrier.
  • the suds suppressor can be dissolved or dispersed in a liquid carrier and applied by spraying on to one or more of the other components.
  • a preferred silicone suds controlling agent is disclosed in Bartollota et al. U.S. Patent 3 933 672.
  • Other particularly useful suds suppressors are the self- emulsifying silicone suds suppressors, described in German Patent Application DTOS 2 646 126 published April 28, 1977.
  • An example of such a compound is DC-544, commercially available from Dow Corning, which is a siloxane-glycol copolymer.
  • Especially preferred suds controlling agent are the suds suppressor system comprising a mixture of silicone oils and 2-alkyl-alcanols. Suitable 2-alkyl- alkanols are 2-butyl-octanol which are commercially available under the trade name Isofol 12 R.
  • Such suds suppressor system are described in Co-pending European Patent application N 92870174.7 filed 10 November, 1992.
  • compositions can comprise a silicone/silica mixture in combination with fumed nonporous silica such as AerosilR.
  • the suds suppressors described above are normally employed at levels of from 0.001% to 2% by weight of the composition, preferably from 0.01 % to 1% by weight.
  • detergent compositions may be employed, such as soil-suspending agents, soil-release agents, optical brighteners, abrasives, bactericides, tarnish inhibitors, coloring agents, and/or encapsulated or non- encapsulated perfumes.
  • suitable encapsulating materials are water soluble capsules which consist of a matrix of polysaccharide and polyhydroxy compounds such as described in GB 1 ,464,616.
  • Other suitable water soluble encapsulating materials comprise dextrins derived from ungelatinized starch acid-esters of substituted dicarboxyiic acids such as described in US 3,455,838. These acid-ester dextrins are, preferably, prepared from such starches as waxy maize, waxy sorghum, sago, tapioca and potato.
  • Suitable examples of said encapsulating materials include N-Lok manufactured by National Starch.
  • the N-Lok encapsulating material consists of a modified maize starch and glucose.
  • the starch is modified by adding monofunctional substituted groups such as octenyl succinic acid anhydride.
  • Antiredeposition and soil suspension agents suitable herein include cellulose derivatives such as methylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose and hydroxyethyl- cellulose, and homo- or co-polymeric polycarboxylic acids or their salts.
  • Polymers of this type include the polyacrylates and maleic anhydride-acrylic acid copolymers previously mentioned as builders, as well as copolymers of maleic anhydride with ethylene, methylvinyl ether or methacrylic acid, the maleic anhydride constituting at least 20 mole percent of the copolymer. These materials are normally used at levels of from 0.5% to 10% by weight, more preferably from 0.75% to 8%, most preferably from 1 % to 6% by weight of the composition.
  • Preferred optical brighteners are anionic in character, examples of which are disodium 4,4'-bis-(2-diethanolamino-4-anilino -s- triazin-6-ylamino)stilbene-2:2' disulphonate, disodium 4, - 4'-bis-(2-morpholino-4-anilino-s-triazin-6-ylamino- stilbene-2:2' - disulphonate, disodium 4,4' - bis-(2,4-dianilino-s-triazin-6- ylamino)stilbene-2:2' - disulphonate, monosodium 4', 4" -bis-(2,4-dianilino-s-tri- azin-6 ylamino)stilbene-2-sulphonate, disodium 4,4' -bis-(2-anilino-4-(N-methyl-N- 2-hydroxyethylamino)-s-triazin-6-ylamino)stilbene-2,2
  • polyethylene glycols particularly those of molecular weight 1000-10000, more particularly 2000 to 8000 and most preferably about 4000. These are used at levels of from 0.20% to 5% more preferably from 0.25% to 2.5% by weight. These polymers and the previously mentioned homo- or co-polymeric polycarboxylate salts are valuable for improving whiteness maintenance, fabric ash deposition, and cleaning performance on clay, proteinaceous and oxidizabie soils in the presence of transition metal impurities.
  • Soil release agents useful in compositions of the present invention are conventionally copolymers or terpolymers of terephthalic acid with ethylene glycol and/or propylene glycol units in various arrangements. Examples of such polymers are disclosed in the commonly assigned US Patent Nos. 4116885 and 4711730 and European Published Patent Application No. 0 272 033. A particular preferred polymer in accordance with EP-A-0 272 033 has the formula
  • PEG is -(OC2H4)0-,PO is (OC3H6O) and T is (PCOC6H4CO).
  • modified polyesters as random copolymers of dimethyl terephthalate, dimethyl sulfoisophthalate, ethylene glycol and 1-2 propane diol, the end groups consisting primarily of sulphobenzoate and secondarily of mono esters of ethylene glycol and/or propane-diol.
  • the target is to obtain a polymer capped at both end by sulphobenzoate groups, "primarily", in the present context most of said copolymers herein will be end-capped by sulphobenzoate groups.
  • some copolymers will be less than fully capped, and therefore their end groups may consist of monoester of ethylene glycol and/or propane 1-2 diol, thereof consist “secondarily” of such species.
  • the selected polyesters herein contain about 46% by weight of dimethyl terephthalic acid, about 16% by weight of propane -1.2 diol, about 10% by weight ethylene glycol about 13% by weight of dimethyl sulfobenzoic acid and about 15% by weight of sulfoisophthalic acid, and have a molecular weight of about 3.000.
  • the polyesters and their method of preparation are desc ⁇ bed in detail in EPA 311 342.
  • chlorine scavenger such as perborate, ammonium sulfate, sodium sulphite or polyethyleneimine at a level above 0.1% by weight of total composition, in the formulas will provide improved through the wash stability of the detergent enzymes.
  • Compositions comprising chlorine scavenger are desc ⁇ bed in the European patent application 92870018.6 filed January 31 , 1992.
  • Alkoxylated polycarboxylates such as those prepared from polyacrylates are useful herein to provide additional grease removal performance. Such materials are described in WO 91/08281 and PCT 90/01815 at p. 4 et seq., incorporated herein by reference. Chemically, these materials comprise polyacrylates having one ethoxy side-chain per every 7-8 acrylate units. The side-chains are of the formula -(CH2CH2 ⁇ ) m (CH2) n CH3 wherein m is 2-3 and n is 6-12. The side- chains are ester-linked to the polyacrylate "backbone” to provide a "comb" polymer type structure. The molecular weight can vary, but is typically in the range of about 2000 to about 50,000. Such alkoxylated polycarboxylates can comprise from about 0.05% to about 10%, by weight, of the compositions herein.
  • the detergent compositions of the present invention can also contain dispersants : Suitable water-soluble organic salts are the homo- or co-polymeric acids or their salts, in which the polycarboxylic acid comprises at least two carboxyl radicals separated from each other by not more than two carbon atoms. Polymers of this type are disclosed in GB-A-1 ,596,756. Examples of such salts are polyacrylates of MW 2000-5000 and their copolymers with maleic anhydride, such copolymers having a molecular weight of from 1 ,000 to 100,000. Especially, copolymer of acrylate and methylacrylate such as the 480N having a molecular weight of 4000, at a level from 0.5-20% by weight of composition can be added in the detergent compositions of the present invention.
  • compositions of the invention may contain a lime soap peptiser compound, which has preferably a lime soap dispersing power (LSDP), as defined hereinafter of no more than 8, preferably no more than 7, most preferably no more than 6.
  • LSDP lime soap dispersing power
  • the lime soap peptiser compound is preferably present at a level from 0% to 20% by weight.
  • LSDP lime soap dispersant power
  • Surfactants having good lime soap peptiser capability will include certain amine oxides, betaines, sulfobetaines, alkyl ethoxysulfates and ethoxylated alcohols.
  • Polymeric lime soap peptisers suitable for use herein are described in the article by M.K. Nagarajan, W.F. Masler, to be found in Cosmetics and Toiletries, volume 104, pages 71-73, (1989).
  • Hydrophobic bleaches such as 4-[N-octanoyl-6-aminohexanoyl]benzene sulfonate, 4-[N-nonanoyl-6-aminohexanoyl]benzene sulfonate, 4-[N-decanoyl-6- aminohexanoyljbenzene sulfonate and mixtures thereof; and nonanoyloxy benzene sulfonate together with hydrophilic / hydrophobic bleach formulations can also be used as lime soap peptisers compounds.
  • the detergent compositions of the present invention can also include compounds for inhibiting dye transfer from one fabric to another of solubilized and suspended dyes encountered during fabric laundering operations involving colored fabrics.
  • the detergent compositions according to the present invention also comprise from 0.001% to 10 %, preferably from 0.01 % to 2%, more preferably from 0.05% to 1% by weight of polymeric dye transfer inhibiting agents.
  • Said polymeric dye transfer inhibiting agents are normally incorporated into detergent compositions in order to inhibit the transfer of dyes from colored fabrics onto fabrics washed therewith. These polymers have the ability to complex or adsorb the fugitive dyes washed out of dyed fabrics before the dyes have the opportunity to become attached to other articles in the wash.
  • polymeric dye transfer inhibiting agents are polyamine N-oxide polymers, copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone and N-vinylimidazole, polyvinylpyrrolidone polymers, polyvinyloxazolidones and polyvinylimidazoles or mixtures thereof. Addition of such polymers also enhances the performance of the enzymes according the invention.
  • polyamine N-oxide polymers suitable for use contain units having the following structure formula : P
  • R wherein P is a polymerisable unit, whereto the R-N-0 group can be attached to or wherein the R-N-0 group forms part of the polymerisable unit or a combination of both.
  • A is NC, CO, C, -0-,-S-, -N- ; x is O or 1 ; R are aliphatic, ethoxylated aliphatics, aromatic, heterocyclic or alicyclic groups or any combination thereof whereto the nitrogen of the N-0 group can be attached or wherein the nitrogen of the N-0 group is part of these groups.
  • the N-0 group can be represented by the following general structures :
  • R1 , R2, and R3 are aliphatic groups, aromatic, heterocyclic or alicyclic groups or combinations thereof, x or/and y or/and z is 0 or 1 and wherein the nitrogen of the N-0 group can be attached or wherein the nitrogen of the N-0 group forms part of these groups.
  • the N-0 group can be part of the polymerisable unit (P) or can be attached to the polymeric backbone or a combination of both.
  • Suitable polyamine N-oxides wherein the N-0 group forms part of the polymerisable unit comprise polyamine N-oxides wherein R is selected from aliphatic, aromatic, alicyclic or heterocyclic groups.
  • polyamine N-oxides comprises the group of polyamine N- oxides wherein the nitrogen of the N-0 group forms part of the R-group.
  • Preferred polyamine N-oxides are those wherein R is a heterocyclic group such as pyrridine, pyrrole, imidazole, pyrrolidine, piperidine, quinoline, acridine and derivatives thereof.
  • Another class of said polyamine N-oxides comprises the group of polyamine N- oxides wherein the nitrogen of the N-0 group is attached to the R-group.
  • polyamine N-oxides are the polyamine oxides whereto the N-0 group is attached to the polymerisable unit.
  • Preferred class of these polyamine N-oxides are the polyamine N-oxides having the general formula (I) wherein R is an aromatic, heterocyclic or alicyclic groups wherein the nitrogen of the N-0 functional group is part of said R group.
  • examples of these classes are polyamine oxides wherein R is a heterocyclic compound such as pyrridine, pyrrole, imidazole and derivatives thereof.
  • Another preferred class of polyamine N-oxides are the polyamine oxides having the general formula (I) wherein R are aromatic, heterocyclic or alicyclic groups wherein the nitrogen of the N-0 functional group is attached to said R groups. Examples of these classes are polyamine oxides wherein R groups can be aromatic such as phenyl.
  • Any polymer backbone can be used as long as the amine oxide polymer formed is water-soluble and has dye transfer inhibiting properties.
  • suitable polymeric backbones are polyvinyls, polyalkylenes, polyesters, polyethers, polyamide, polyimides, polyacrylates and mixtures thereof.
  • the amine N-oxide polymers of the present invention typically have a ratio of amine to the amine N-oxide of 10:1 to 1 :1000000.
  • the amount of amine oxide groups present in the polyamine oxide polymer can be varied by appropriate copolymerization or by appropriate degree of N-oxidation.
  • the ratio of amine to amine N-oxide is from 2:3 to 1 :1000000. More preferably from 1 :4 to 1 :1000000, most preferably from 1 :7 to 1 :1000000.
  • the polymers of the present invention actually encompass random or block copolymers where one monomer type is an amine N-oxide and the other monomer type is either an amine N-oxide or not.
  • the amine oxide unit of the polyamine N-oxides has a PKa
  • PKa ⁇ 7 preferably PKa ⁇ 7, more preferred PKa ⁇ 6.
  • the polyamine oxides can be obtained in almost any degree of polymerisation.
  • the degree of polymerisation is not critical provided the material has the desired water-solubility and dye-suspending power.
  • the average molecular weight is within the range of 500 to 1000,000; preferably from 1 ,000 to 50,000, more preferably from 2,000 to 30,000, most preferably from 3,000 to 20,000.
  • N-vinylimidazole N-vinylpyrrolidone polymers used in the present invention have an average molecular weight range from 5,000-1 ,000,000, preferably from
  • Highly preferred polymers for use in detergent compositions according to the present invention comprise a polymer selected from N-vinylimidazole N- vinylpyrrolidone copolymers wherein said polymer has an average molecular weight range from 5,000 to 50,000 more preferably from 8,000 to 30,000, most preferably from 10,000 to 20,000.
  • the average molecular weight range was determined by light scattering as described in Barth H.G. and Mays J.W. Chemical Analysis Vol 113, "Modern
  • N-vinylimidazole N-vinyipyrrolidone copolymers have an average molecular weight range from 5,000 to 50,000; more preferably from
  • the N-vinylimidazole N-vinylpyrrolidone copolymers characterized by having said average molecular weight range provide excellent dye transfer inhibiting properties while not adversely affecting the cleaning performance of detergent compositions formulated therewith.
  • the N-vinylimidazole N-vinylpyrrolidone copolymer of the present invention has a molar ratio of N-vinylimidazole to N-vinylpyrrolidone from 1 to 0.2, more preferably from 0.8 to 0.3, most preferably from 0.6 to 0.4 .
  • polyvinylpyrrolidone having an average molecular weight of from about 2,500 to about 400,000, preferably from about 5,000 to about 200,000, more preferably from about 5,000 to about 50,000, and most preferably from about 5,000 to about 15,000.
  • PVP polyvinylpyrrolidone
  • Suitable polyvinylpyrrolidones are commercially available from ISP Corporation, New York, NY and Montreal, Canada under the product names PVP K-15 (viscosity molecular weight of 10,000), PVP K-30 (average molecular weight of 40,000), PVP K-60 (average molecular weight of 160,000), and PVP K-90 (average molecular weight of 360,000).
  • polyvinylpyrrolidones which are commercially available from BASF Cooperation include Sokalan HP 165 and Sokalan HP 12; polyvinylpyrrolidones known to persons skilled in the detergent field (see for example EP-A-262,897 and EP-A- 256,696).
  • Polyvinyloxazolidone The detergent compositions of the present invention may also utilize polyvinyloxazolidone as a polymeric dye transfer inhibiting agent.
  • Said polyvinyloxazolidones have an average molecular weight of from about 2,500 to about 400,000, preferably from about 5,000 to about 200,000, more preferably from about 5,000 to about 50,000, and most preferably from about 5,000 to about 15,000.
  • the detergent compositions of the present invention may also utilize polyvinylimidazole as polymeric dye transfer inhibiting agent.
  • Said polyvinylimidazoles have an average about 2,500 to about 400,000, preferably from about 5,000 to about 200,000, more preferably from about 5,000 to about 50,000, and most preferably from about 5,000 to about 15,000.
  • Cross-linked polymers are polymers whose backbone are interconnected to a certain degree; these links can be of chemical or physical nature, possibly with active groups n the backbone or on branches; cross-linked polymers have been described in the Journal of Polymer Science, volume 22, pages 1035-1039.
  • the cross-linked polymers are made in such a way that they form a three-dimensional rigid structure, which can entrap dyes in the pores formed by the three-dimensional structure.
  • the cross- linked polymers entrap the dyes by swelling.
  • Such cross-linked polymers are described in the co-pending patent application 94870213.9
  • compositions of the invention may be used in essentially any washing or cleaning methods, including soaking methods, pretreatment methods and methods with rinsing steps for which a separate rinse aid composition may be added.
  • the process desc ⁇ bed herein comprises contacting fabrics or dishware with a cleaning solution in the usual manner and exemplified hereunder.
  • the process of the invention is conveniently carried out in the course of the cleaning process.
  • the method of cleaning is preferably carried out at 5°C to 95°C, especially between 10°C and 60°C
  • the pH of the treatment solution is preferably from 7 to 12.
  • a preferred machine dishwashing method comprises treating soiled articles with an aqueous liquid having dissolved or dispensed therein an effective amount of the machine diswashing or rinsing composition.
  • a conventional effective amount of the machine dishwashing composition means from 8-60 g of product dissolved or dispersed in a wash volume from 3-10 litres.
  • soiled dishes are contacted with an effective amount of the diswashing composition, typically from 0.5-20g (per 25 dishes being treated).
  • Preferred manual dishwashing methods include the application of a concentrated solution to the surfaces of the dishes or the soaking in large volume of dilute solution of the detergent composition.
  • the enzymes levels are expressed by pure enzyme by weight of the total composition and unless otherwise specified, the detergent ingredients are expressed by weight of the total compositions.
  • the abbreviated component identifications therein have the following meanings:
  • Neodol 45-13 C14-C15 linear primary alcohol ethoxylate sold by Shell
  • 2(A1 ⁇ 2Si ⁇ 2)i2- 27H20 having a primary particle size in the range from 0.1 to 10 micrometers (Weight expressed on an anhydrous basis).
  • Citric Anhydrous citric acid Citric Anhydrous citric acid.
  • Carbonate Anhydrous sodium carbonate with a particle size between 200 and 900 micrometres.
  • Bicarbonate Anhydrous sodium hydrogen carbonate with a particle size distribution between 400 and 1200 micrometres.
  • MA/AA 1 Random copolymer of 6:4 acrylate/maleate, average molecular weight about 10,000.
  • PA30 Polyacrylic acid of average molecular weight of between about 4,500 - 8,000.
  • PB1 Anhydrous sodium perborate monohydrate of nominal formula NaB ⁇ 2-H2 ⁇ 2.
  • NOBS Nonanoyloxybenzene sulfonate in the form of the sodium salt.
  • NACA-OBS (6-nonamidocaproyl) oxybenzene sulfonate.
  • DTPA Diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid.
  • MnTACN Manganese 1 ,4,7-trimethyl-1 ,4,7-triazacyclononane.
  • PAAC Pentaamine acetate cobalt(lll) salt PAAC Pentaamine acetate cobalt(lll) salt.
  • Lipase Lipolytic enzyme sold under the tradename Lipolase
  • PVNO Polyvinylpyridine-N-Oxide with an average molecular weight of 50,000.
  • PVPVI Copolymer of vinylimidazole and vinylpyrrolidone with an average molecular weight of 20,000.
  • Brightener 1 Disodium 4,4'-bis(2-sulphostyryl)biphenyl.
  • Brightener 2 Disodium 4,4'-bis(4-anilino-6-morpholino-1.3.5-triazin-2- yl) stilbene-2:2'-disulfonate.
  • Opacifier Water based monostyrene latex mixture, sold by BASF
  • SRP 1 Anionically end capped poly esters.
  • SRP 2 Diethoxylated poly (1 ,2 propylene terephthalate) short block polymer.
  • HMWPEO High molecular weight polyethylene oxide.
  • PEGx Polyethylene glycol, of a molecular weight of x .
  • Brightener 1 0.09 0.09 0.09 - 0.09 0.09
  • Brightener 1 0.08 0.2 - - 0.09 0.15
  • Brightener 1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2
  • Brightener 1 0.05 - - 0.05 is and minors Up to 100%
  • Zeolite A 10.0 18.0 14.0 12.0 10.0 10.0
  • Brightener 2 0.3 0.2 0.3 - 0.1 0.3
  • Brightener 1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2
  • Photoactivated bleach 30 ppm 20 ppm - 10 ppm
  • Nonionic 1.2 1.0 0.7 0.8 0.7
  • the following tablet detergent compositions were prepared according to the present invention by compression of a granular dishwashing detergent composition at a pressure of 13KN/cm 2 using a standard 12 head rotary press:
  • GENERAL INFORMATION APPLICANT: NAME: The Procter & Gamble Company STREET: One Procter & Gamble Plaza CITY: Cincinnati, OHIO COUNTRY: USA POSTAL CODE: 45202
  • MEDIUM TYPE Diskette COMPUTER: IBM PC compatible OPERATING SYSTEM: PC-DOS/MS-DOS SOFTWARE: Patentln Release # 1.0 Version 1.25 (EPO)
  • MOLECULE TYPE genomic DNA ORIGINAL SOURCE
  • MOLECULE TYPE protein SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 2
  • MOLECULE TYPE genomic DNA
  • MOLECULE TYPE genomic DNA

Abstract

La présente invention concerne des compositions détergentes comprenant une mannanase et du percarbonate. Ces agents confèrent un pouvoir lavant accru, avec notamment une plus grande efficacité pour l'élimination des taches et le maintien de la blancheur.
EP98926514A 1997-08-14 1998-06-10 Compositions detergentes comprenant une mannanase et du percarbonate Revoked EP1007617B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP98926514A EP1007617B1 (fr) 1997-08-14 1998-06-10 Compositions detergentes comprenant une mannanase et du percarbonate
DE29825084U DE29825084U1 (de) 1997-08-14 1998-06-10 Detergenszusammensetzung umfassen eine Mannanase und Percarbonat

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP97870120 1997-08-14
EP97870120A EP0896998A1 (fr) 1997-08-14 1997-08-14 Compositions détergentes pour le linge contenant une enzyme dégradant la gomme de polysaccharide
EP98926514A EP1007617B1 (fr) 1997-08-14 1998-06-10 Compositions detergentes comprenant une mannanase et du percarbonate
PCT/US1998/012023 WO1999009130A1 (fr) 1997-08-14 1998-06-10 Compositions detergentes comprenant une mannanase et du percarbonate

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1007617A1 true EP1007617A1 (fr) 2000-06-14
EP1007617B1 EP1007617B1 (fr) 2002-12-18

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP98926514A Revoked EP1007617B1 (fr) 1997-08-14 1998-06-10 Compositions detergentes comprenant une mannanase et du percarbonate

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Country Link
EP (1) EP1007617B1 (fr)
DE (1) DE29825084U1 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3224366A1 (de) 1982-06-30 1984-01-19 Telefunken electronic GmbH, 7100 Heilbronn Steuerschaltung fuer einen elektrischen motor
EP3075832A1 (fr) 2015-03-30 2016-10-05 Dalli-Werke GmbH & Co. KG Composés d'acide aminé de manganèse dans des compositions de nettoyage

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO9909130A1 *

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3224366A1 (de) 1982-06-30 1984-01-19 Telefunken electronic GmbH, 7100 Heilbronn Steuerschaltung fuer einen elektrischen motor
EP3075832A1 (fr) 2015-03-30 2016-10-05 Dalli-Werke GmbH & Co. KG Composés d'acide aminé de manganèse dans des compositions de nettoyage

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE29825084U1 (de) 2004-09-16
EP1007617B1 (fr) 2002-12-18

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