EP4655369A1

EP4655369A1 - Laundry composition

Info

Publication number: EP4655369A1
Application number: EP23838000.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Sarah Louise Hosking; Susanne Henning Rogers
Original assignee: Unilever Global IP Ltd; Unilever IP Holdings BV
Current assignee: Unilever Global IP Ltd; Unilever IP Holdings BV
Priority date: 2023-01-25
Filing date: 2023-12-21
Publication date: 2025-12-03
Also published as: WO2024156449A1; CN120530185A

Abstract

A laundry composition comprising pectin from 0.1 to 15wt%, wherein the pectins have a degree of methylation of 55% or greater and wherein the pectins have a molecular weight of between 75kDa and 900kDa; the invention further relates to a method or use of said composition to achieve the removal of soil or minimisation of greying of fabrics during a laundry process.

Description

LAUNDRY COMPOSITION

Field of invention

The present invention is concerned with improvements related to fabric cleaning in a laundry process.

Background of Invention

Laundry processes are often carried out to remove soil, dirt and other stains from fabrics. One or more laundry compositions are typically used as part of this process. The exact nature of the process can be quite complex, as differences in stains, fabric composition I construction, laundry compositions and washing environments all have an impact on how successfully a given stain is removed.

A particular challenge encountered in a typical laundry process is that of avoiding the redeposition of stains. Redeposition of stains is a problem if after successful removal of a stain from a fabric it is then not maintained in the wash liquor but is instead redeposited onto other areas of fabric being laundered simultaneously. Typically such unwanted redeposition manifests itself as a slight ‘greying’ or ‘dulling’ or the fabric.

Therefore despite the prior art on laundry compositions there remains the need for products which solve of the aforementioned problem.

We have found that by including pectins with a particular degree of methylation and molecular weight such a problem can be addressed.

Summary of the Invention

In a first aspect of the invention a laundry composition is provided comprising one or more pectins at a level of from 0.1 to 15wt%, more preferably 0.5 to 10wt% and most preferably 1 to 5wt%, wherein the pectins have a degree of methylation of 55% or greater and most preferably 60% or greater, wherein the laundry composition comprises pectins with a molecular weight of between 50kDa and 1000kDa, more preferably between 75kDa and 900kDa and most preferably between 100kDa and 800kDa.

Preferably the laundry composition comprises pectins with a galacturonic acid content of greater than 60wt%, more preferably greater than 65wt% more preferably greater than 70wt% and most preferably greater than 80wt%.

Preferably the laundry composition comprises pectins, wherein the pectin is sourced from apples, citrus peel, gooseberries, quince, pears, plums and sugar beet, more preferably from citrus peel, apple, sugar beet, or mixtures thereof and most preferably from citrus peel

Preferably the laundry composition comprises one or more surfactants selected from anionic, nonionic and/or amphoteric surfactants, wherein if present, then the anionic surfactant is present at a level of from 0.1 to 80 wt.%, preferably from 2 to 50 wt.%, more preferably from 3 to 30 wt.% and is preferably selected from linear alkyl benzenesulphonate, secondary alkane sulphonate, sodium laureth ether sulphate, sodium lauryl sulphate, sodium oleyl sulphate and sodium oleyl ether sulphate, methyl ester sulphonate, secondary alkyl sulphate (SALS), cardanol ether sulphate and a rhamnolipid; wherein if present, then the nonionic surfactant is present at a level of from 1 to 80 wt.%, preferably from 2 to 50 wt.%, more preferably from 3 to 30 wt.% and is preferably selected from an alcohol ethoxylate, an alcohol propoxylate, a methyl ester ethoxylate and an alkyl poly glycoside; wherein if present, then the amphoteric surfactant is present at a level of from 0.1 to 15 wt.%, preferably from 0.5 to 10 wt.%, more preferably from 1 to 5 wt.% and is preferably selected from alkylbetaines and the alkyl sulphobetaines, more preferably carbobetaines and lauramine oxide.

Preferably the laundry composition additionally comprises an enzyme, preferably comprising from 0.05 to 5 wt.%, more preferably from 0.1 to 4 wt.%, more preferably from 0.5 to 3 wt.% of an enzyme, wherein the enzyme is preferably selected from one or more of a protease, amylase, mannanase, lipase, pectate lyase, laccase, phosphodiesterase and mixtures thereof.

Preferably the laundry composition comprises a rheology modifier, preferably comprising from 0.1 to 10 wt.% of a rheology modifier, wherein the rheology modifier is preferably selected from polyacrylate polymers, polycarboxylate polymers, hydrogenated castor oil derivatives, polysaccharides, microfibrous cellulose, polymeric gums, and mixtures thereof.

Preferably the laundry composition comprises from 0.05 to 8 wt.%, preferably from 0.1 to 5 wt.%, more preferably from 0.5 to 2 wt.% of a sequestrant, preferably the sequestrant is selected from HEDP, DTPMP, EDTA, MGDA, GLDA or citric acid.

Preferably the laundry composition comprises a fragrance, preferably comprising from 0.001 and 2.0wt% of a fragrance, more preferably 0.01 and 1.5wt% and most preferably 0.1 and 1.0wt%. Preferably the fragrance comprises greater than 50wt% biodegradable materials, more preferably greater than 60wt% biodegradable materials, more preferably greater than 70wt% biodegradable materials, more preferably greater than 80wt% biodegradable materials, more preferably greater than 90% biodegradable materials and most preferably the fragrance consists of 100wt% biodegradable materials.

Preferably the laundry composition is in the form of a liquid, solid, powder, pastille, bead or paste.

In a second aspect of the invention a method is provided for the removal of soil from fabrics during a laundry process, the method comprising laundering fabrics with a composition comprising pectins as defined in the first aspect of the invention.

In a third aspect of the invention the use of a laundry composition as described herein for the purpose of minimising fabric greying or dulling during a laundry process is provided.

A method is further provided for the minimisation of greying or dulling of fabrics when laundered in the presence of soiled garments, wherein the method comprises laundering fabrics with a composition comprising pectins as defined in the first aspect of the invention.

Preferably according to the second or third aspect of the invention, the laundry process is carried out in water of hardness degree of 20 French Hard units or greater.

Preferably according to the second or third aspect of the invention, the laundry process is carried out on a wash load comprising cotton fabrics.

Detailed description of the invention

These and other aspects, features and advantages will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from a reading of the following detailed description and the appended claims. For the avoidance of doubt, any feature of one aspect of the present invention may be utilised in any other aspect of the invention. The word “comprising” is intended to mean “including” but not necessarily “consisting of” or “composed of.” In other words, the listed steps or options need not be exhaustive. It is noted that the examples given in the description below are intended to clarify the invention and are not intended to limit the invention to those examples per se. Similarly, all percentages are weight/weight percentages unless otherwise indicated. Except in the operating and comparative examples, or where otherwise explicitly indicated, all numbers in this description indicating amounts of material or conditions of reaction, physical properties of materials and/or use are to be understood as modified by the word “about”. Numerical ranges expressed in the format "from x to y" are understood to include x and y. When for a specific feature multiple preferred ranges are described in the format "from x to y", it is understood that all ranges combining the different endpoints are also contemplated.

Pectins

Pectin is a common polysaccharide found in many plants in nature. Various sources of pectin are available, including apples, citrus peel, gooseberries, quince, pears and plums. Pectin consists predominantly of a-D galacturonic acid units, but also contains some amount of neutral sugars such as rhamnose, xylose, arabinose, galactose and glucose. The percentage of galacturonic acid units is therefore the amount of galacturonic acid groups present relative to the total amount of the pectin. The galacturonic acid content of a sample can be determined by methods known in the art, such as for example the Saeman hydrolysis method (Englyst and Cummings (Analyst, 109(7), 937-942 (1984), Filisetti-Cozzi and Carpita (Analytical Biochemistry, 197, 157-162 (1991)).

Galacturonic acid typically has the following repeat unit structure:

It is possible to esterify galacturonic acids on the carboxylic acid group. The percentage of esterified units is called the degree of esterification (DE). The degree of esterification can be determined according to methods known in the art, such as the base titration method (Shultz, 1965) as proposed by the Food Chemical Codex (FCC (1981). 3rd ed., (1981) National Academy of Science, Washington, DC), quantification of methanol released during de-esterification using gas chromatography (GC) (Walter et al. (1983), Journal of Food Science, 48: 1006-10070), colorimetry (Hou et al. (1999), Botanical Bulletin of Academia Sincia, 40:115-119), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) (Levigne S., et al. (2002), Food Hydrocolloids 16: 547-550), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) (Rosenbohm et al. (2003) Carbohydrate Research, 338: 637-649) and capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) (Williams et al. (2003), Journal of Agricultural Food and Chemistry, 51 : 1777-1781).

A method to separate pectin into fractions with different DE is described, for example, by Strom, et al. (2005), Carbohydrate Polymers, Volume 60, Issue 4, 20 June 2005, Pages 467-473.

In nature the carboxylic groups are typically methylated to varying degrees to provide pectin methyl esters. The number fraction of carboxylic acid groups methylated is known as the degree of methylation. The pectin used according to the invention has a degree of methylation of 55% or greater, more preferably 57.5% or greater and most preferably 60% or greater.

The pectin used according to the invention has a molecular weight of greater than 50kDa, more preferably greater than 60kDa, more preferably greater than 70kDa, more preferably greater than 80kDa, more preferably greater than 90kDa and most preferably greater than 100kDa. Typical upper limits of pectin molecular are of the order of 1000kDa, more preferably 900kDa and most preferably 800kDa.

Preferred molecular weight ranges for use in the invention are between 50kDa and 1000kDa, more preferably between 75kDa and 900kDa and most preferably between 100kDa and 800kDa.

Molecular weight determination

The Pectin molecular weight was determined using Triple Detection Size Exclusion Chromatography (TD-SEC).

The analysis was conducted using a Malvern OMNISEC system. The complete OMNISEC system consists of OMNISEC RESOLVE (chromatography module) and OMNISEC REVEAL (detectors module). Using multi-detector technologies, it combines refractive index, absorbance, light scattering and viscometer detectors to measure concentration, molecular weight and other parameters. The data are analysed using the OMNISEC software.

Depending on the molecular weight of the polysaccharide, appropriate aqueous columns such as the A6000 and A7000 set of columns plus the corresponding guard columns are used. Depending on the nature of the polysaccharide to be analysed (whether they have anionic, neutral or cationic functional groups), routinely used eluents of choice are demineralised water containing 0.02wt% Na azide as the preservative or buffer solutions such as Na or Li nitrate (0.05-0.1 M), buffered to the appropriate pH range using NaOH or acetic acid. Polysaccharides with hydrophobic functionality can be analysed using 10- 20% MeOH. Depending on the molecular weight range of the polysaccharides, typical sample solutions are prepared at 0.5mg/ml and then filtered using 0.45pm Nylon filters prior to dispensing into sample vials. The eluent is filtered using a 0.2 pm Nylon filter. The flow rate throughout all runs is typically at 1ml/min; the detector and column oven temperatures are set to 40oC. For the data disclosed herein an eluent system of deminerliased water containing 0.02wt% sodium azide was used.

The detector calibration is carried out using a narrow molecular weight standard to calculate the detector offsets, the detector constants for all detectors and the band broadening and tailing corrections. The calibration is performed using a standard of known concentration, molecular weight, dispersity and intrinsic viscosity; in this case the narrow Mwt standard of choice usually is a Pullulan standard material.

A verification standard is also run with every sequence. This standard is usually a broad (polydisperse) standard, whose properties are known and can be measured. This independently verifies that the calculation method has been correctly calibrated. For polysaccharide analyses, a Dextran 73KDa material is chosen.

For accuracy (and also to allow for the possibility of sample impurities being present), a fixed dn/dc method is used to calculate the molecular weight data for all samples assuming a dn/dc of 0.147.

Laundry Composition

The laundry composition is suitable for use in laundry, for example for use in laundering clothes in a washing machine or for laundering clothes by hand in a bowl, bucket or other receptacle.

The laundry composition may be in the form of a liquid, solid, powder, pastille, bead or paste. Preferably it is in the form of a liquid.

If the laundry composition is a liquid, then it may be either aqueous or non-aqueous. Furthermore, if it is non-aqueous it may preferably be in the form a single unit dose product. Examples of liquid laundry detergents include heavy-duty liquid laundry detergents for use in the wash cycle of automatic washing machines, as well as liquid fine wash and liquid colour care detergents such as those suitable for washing delicate garments (e.g. those made of silk or wool) either by hand or in the wash cycle of automatic washing machines.

The laundry composition comprises pectin, wherein the level of pectin is from 0.1 to 15wt%, more preferably 0.2 to 12wt%, more preferably 0.5 to 10wt%, more preferably 0.7 to 8wt% and most preferably from 1 to 5wt%.

Anionic surfactants

Anionic Surfactant are described in Anionic Surfactants Organic Chemistry (Surfactant Science Series Volume 56) edited By H.W.Stache (Marcel Dekker 1996).

Preferably, the composition comprises from 1 to 80% wt. anionic surfactant based on the total weight of composition. Non-soap anionic surfactants for use in the invention are typically salts of organic sulphates and sulphonates having alkyl radicals containing from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms, the term “alkyl” being used to include the alkyl portion of higher acyl radicals. Examples of such materials include alkyl sulphates, alkyl ether sulphates, alkaryl sulfonates, alphaolefin sulfonates and mixtures thereof. The alkyl radicals preferably contain from 10 to 18 carbon atoms and may be unsaturated. The alkyl ether sulphates may contain from one to ten ethylene oxide or propylene oxide units per molecule, and preferably contain one to three ethylene oxide units per molecule. The counterion for anionic surfactants is generally an alkali metal such as sodium or potassium; or an ammoniacal counterion such as monoethanolamine, (MEA) diethanolamine (DEA) or triethanolamine (TEA).

Mixtures of such counterions may also be employed.

The compositions according to the invention may include alkylbenzene sulfonates, particularly linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS) with an alkyl chain length of from 10 to 18 carbon atoms. Commercial LAS is a mixture of closely related isomers and homologues alkyl chain homologues, each containing an aromatic ring sulphonated at the “para" position and attached to a linear alkyl chain at any position except the terminal carbons. The linear alkyl chain typically has a chain length of from 11 to 15 carbon atoms, with the predominant materials having a chain length of about C12. Each alkyl chain homologue consists of a mixture of all the possible sulphophenyl isomers except for the 1 -phenyl isomer. LAS is normally formulated into compositions in acid (i.e. HLAS) form and then at least partially neutralized in-situ.

Some alkyl sulphate surfactant (PAS) may be used, such as non-ethoxylated primary and secondary alkyl sulphates with an alkyl chain length of from 10 to 18.

Also commonly used in laundry liquid compositions are alkyl ether sulfates having a straight or branched chain alkyl group having 10 to 18, more preferably 12 to 14 carbon 30 atoms and containing an average of 1 to 3EO units per molecule. A preferred example is sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES) in which the predominantly C12 lauryl alkyl group has been ethoxylated with an average of 3EO units per molecule.

The alkyl ether sulphate may be provided in a single raw material component or by way of a mixture of components.

Preferred anionic surfactants also include the C16/18 alkyl ether sulphates

Preferred anionic surfactants also include rhamnolipids.

Mixtures of any of the above described materials may also be used.

Non-ionic surfactants

Preferably, the composition comprises from 1 to 80% wt. non-ionic surfactant based on the total weight of composition. Suitable non-ionic surfactants include polyoxyalkylene compounds, i.e. the reaction product of alkylene oxides (such as ethylene oxide or propylene oxide or mixtures thereof) with starter molecules having a hydrophobic group and a reactive hydrogen atom which is reactive with the alkylene oxide. Such starter molecules include alcohols, acids, amides or alkyl phenols. Where the starter molecule is an alcohol, the reaction product is known as an alcohol alkoxylate. The polyoxyalkylene compounds can have a variety of block and heteric (random) structures. For example, they can comprise a single block of alkylene oxide, or they can be diblock alkoxylates or triblock alkoxylates. Within the block structures, the blocks can be all ethylene oxide or all propylene oxide, or the blocks can contain a heteric mixture of alkylene oxides. Examples of such materials include Cs to C22 alkyl phenol ethoxylates with an average of from 5 to 25 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alkyl phenol; and aliphatic alcohol ethoxylates such as Cs to Cis primary or secondary linear or branched alcohol ethoxylates with an average of from 2 to 40 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol.

A preferred class of additional nonionic surfactant for use in the invention includes aliphatic Cs to Cis, more preferably C12 to C15 primary linear alcohol ethoxylates with an average of from 3 to 20, more preferably from 5 to 10 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol.

The alcohol ethoxylate may be provided in a single raw material component or by way of a mixture of components.

A further preferred non-ionic surfactant class are the C /is Alcohol ethoxylates.

A further preferred non-ionic surfactant class is the methyl ester ethoxylates, wherein the alkyl chain preferably comprises C to Cis aliphatic hydrocarbons, with an average of from 6 to 14 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol, more preferably 8 to 12 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol.

A further class of non-ionic surfactants are the alkyl poly glycosides.

Mixtures of any of the above described materials may also be used.

Preferably, the selection and amount of total surfactant is such that the composition is isotropic in nature.

Amphoteric surfactants

A composition of the invention may contain one or more amphoteric (such as zwitterionic surfactants), preferably wherein if present, the amphoteric surfactant is present at a level of from 0.1 to 15 wt.%, preferably from 0.5 to 10 wt.%, more preferably from 1 to 5 wt.% and is preferably selected from alkyl betaines and the alkyl sulphobetaines (sultaines), more preferably carbobetaines and lauramine oxide.

Further specific amphoteric surfactants include alkyl amine oxides, alkyl amidopropyl betaines, alkyl glycinates, alkyl carboxyglycinates, alkyl amphoacetates, alkyl amphopropionates, alkylamphoglycinates, alkyl amidopropyl hydroxysultaines, acyl taurates and acyl glutamates.

The amphoteric surfactant preferably comprises alkyl radicals containing from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms preferably selected from C12, C14, C16, C18 and C18:1 , the term “alkyl” being used to include the alkyl portion of higher acyl radicals.

Mixtures of any of the above described materials may also be used.

Enzymes

A composition of the invention may comprise an effective amount of one or more enzyme preferably selected from the group comprising, peroxidases, proteases, xylanases, xantanase, lipases, phospholipases, esterases, cutinases, carrageenases, mannanases, pectate lyases, keratinases, reductases, oxidases, phenoloxidases, lipoxygenases, ligninases, pullulanases, tannases, pentosanases, malanases, p-glucanases, arabinosidases, hyaluronidase, chondroitinase, laccase, tannases, amylases, nucleases (such as deoxyribonuclease and/or ribonuclease), phosphodiesterases, or mixtures thereof.

Preferably the composition comprises from 0.05 to 5 wt.%, more preferably from 0.1 to 4 wt.%, more preferably from 0.5 to 3 wt.% of an enzyme, wherein the enzyme is preferably selected from one or more of a protease, amylase, mannanase, lipase, pectate lyase, laccase, phosphodiesterase and mixtures thereof.

Examples of preferred enzymes are sold under the following trade names Purafect Prime®, Purafect®, Preferenz® (IFF), Savinase®, Progress® Uno, Pectawash®, Mannaway®, Lipex ®, Lipoclean ®, Stainzyme®, Stainzyme Plus®, Natalase ®, Mannaway ®, Amplify ® Xpect ®, (Novozymes), Biotouch (AB Enzymes), Lavergy ® (BASF). Rheology Modifier

Compositions of the invention preferably comprises from 0.1 to 10 wt.% of a rheology modifier.

A composition of the invention may comprise one or more polymeric thickeners. Suitable polymeric thickeners for use in the invention include polymeric gums, polycarboxylate polymers, more preferably polyacrylate polymers, more preferably hydrophobically modified alkali swellable emulsion (HASE) copolymers. Exemplary HASE copolymers for use in the invention include linear or crosslinked copolymers that are prepared by the addition polymerization of a monomer mixture including at least one acidic vinyl monomer, such as (meth)acrylic acid (i.e. methacrylic acid and/or acrylic acid); and at least one associative monomer. The term “associative monomer” in the context of this invention denotes a monomer having an ethylenically unsaturated section (for addition polymerization with the other monomers in the mixture) and a hydrophobic section. A preferred type of associative monomer includes a polyoxyalkylene section between the ethylenically unsaturated section and the hydrophobic section. Preferred HASE copolymers for use in the invention include linear or crosslinked copolymers that are prepared by the addition polymerization of (meth)acrylic acid with (i) at least one associative monomer selected from linear or branched C8-C40 alkyl (preferably linear C12- C22 alkyl) polyethoxylated (meth)acrylates; and (ii) at least one further monomer selected from C1-C4 alkyl (meth) acrylates, polyacidic vinyl monomers (such as maleic acid, maleic anhydride and/or salts thereof) and mixtures thereof. The polyethoxylated portion of the associative monomer (i) generally comprises about 5 to about 100, preferably about 10 to about 80, and more preferably about 12 to about 60 oxyethylene repeating units.

Compositions of the invention may have their rheology further modified by use of one or more external structurants which form a structuring network within the composition. Examples of such materials include hydrogenated castor oil, polysaccharides, microfibrous cellulose and citrus pulp fibre. The presence of an external structurant may provide shear thinning rheology and may also enable materials such as encapsulates and visual cues to be suspended stably in the liquid.

Mixtures of the above described materials may also be used. The claimed rheology modifier is preferably selected from polyacrylate polymers, polycarboxylate polymers, hydrogenated castor oil derivatives, polycarboxylate polymers, polysaccharides, microfibrous cellulose, polymeric gums, and mixtures thereof.

Sequestrant

Compositions of the invention preferably comprise from 0.05 to 8 wt.%, more preferably from 0.1 to 5 wt.%, more preferably from 0.5 to 2 wt.% of a sequestrant.

Compositions of the invention may also optionally contain organic detergent builder or sequestrant material. Examples include the alkali metal, citrates, succinates, malonates, carboxymethyl succinates, carboxylates, polycarboxylates and polyacetyl carboxylates. Specific examples include sodium, potassium and lithium salts of oxydisuccinic acid, mellitic acid, benzene polycarboxylic acids, and citric acid. Other examples are DEQUEST™, organic phosphonate type sequestering agents sold by Monsanto and alkanehydroxy phosphonates.

Preferably the sequestrant is selected from HEDP, DTPMP, EDTA, MGDA, GLDA or citric acid.

Fragrances

As used herein the terms fragrance and perfume are used interchangeably.

Preferably the laundry composition comprises a fragrance, preferably wherein the fragrance is included between 0.001 and 2.0wt%, more preferably 0.01 and 1.5wt% and most preferably 0.1 and 1.0wt%. Preferably the fragrance comprises greater than 50wt% biodegradable materials, more preferably greater than 60wt% biodegradable materials, more preferably greater than 70wt% biodegradable materials, more preferably greater than 80wt% biodegradable materials, more preferably greater than 90% biodegradable materials and most preferably the fragrance consists of 100wt% biodegradable materials.

Preferably the fragrance comprises at least one note (compound) from: alpha-isomethyl ionone, benzyl salicylate; citronellol; coumarin; hexyl cinnamal; linalool; pentanoic acid, 2- methyl-, ethyl ester; octanal; benzyl acetate; 1,6-octadien-3-ol, 3,7-dimethyl-, 3-acetate; cyclohexanol, 2-(1 ,1 -dimethylethyl)-, 1-acetate; delta-damascone; beta-ionone; verdyl acetate; dodecanal; hexyl cinnamic aldehyde; cyclopentadecanolide; benzeneacetic acid, 2-phenylethyl ester; amyl salicylate; beta-caryophyllene; ethyl undecylenate; geranyl anthranilate; alpha-irone; beta-phenyl ethyl benzoate; alpa-santalol; cedrol; cedryl acetate; cedry formate; cyclohexyl salicyate; gamma-dodecalactone; and, beta phenylethyl phenyl acetate.

Optional Ingredients

A composition of the invention may contain optional ingredients to enhance performance and I or consumer acceptability. Examples of such ingredients include anti-foams, fluorescers, shading dyes, preservatives, anti-microbials (e.g. bactericides), foam boosting agents, polyelectrolytes, anti-shrinking agents, anti-wrinkle agents, anti-oxidants, sunscreens, anti-corrosion agents, drape imparting agents, anti-static agents, ironing aids, dyes I colorants, pearlisers and/or opacifiers and microcapsules. Each of these ingredients will be present in an amount effective to accomplish its purpose. Generally, these optional ingredients are included individually at an amount of up to 5% (by weight based on the total weight of the composition).

If an anti-foam is included it is preferably a fatty acid soap. Suitable fatty acids in the context of this invention include aliphatic carboxylic acids of formula RCOOH, where R is a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl chain containing from 6 to 24, more preferably 10 to 22, most preferably from 12 to 18 carbon atoms and 0 or 1 double bond. Preferred examples of such materials include saturated C12-18 fatty acids such as lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid or stearic acid; and fatty acid mixtures in which 50 to 100% (by weight based on the total weight of the mixture) consists of saturated C12-18 fatty acids. Such mixtures may typically be derived from natural fats and/or optionally hydrogenated natural oils (such as coconut oil, palm kernel oil or tallow).

Method of soil removal

In the second aspect of the present invention, the method of removal of soil from a fabric is provided. The laundry composition of the first aspect is to launder fabrics.

A preferred embodiment is herein described. The laundry composition is added to a wash liquor, for example via the dispensing drawer of a washing machine, via a dosing ‘ball’ / ‘cap’ or simply by adding directly to the wash liquor. Fabrics to be laundered are also added to the wash liquor and the resulting combination of wash liquor and fabrics agitated. The wash liquor is subsequently drained and one or more rinsing steps undertaken, wherein clean water (i.e. water substantially free from a laundry composition) is then added to the fabrics. A final rinse step whereby a fabric conditioning composition is added to the rinse liquor may optionally be undertaken. After the final rinse the fabrics are drained of rinse liquor and drained in a conventional manner, for example by line drying or trying in a tumble dryer.

The fabrics used in the method may comprise any type of fabric used for the manufacture of garments, for example cotton, polyester, nylon, rayon or linen. Mixed fabrics may also be used, for example polycottons. Preferably the fabric used in the method comprises cotton.

Method / Use of the composition to minimise fabric greying or dulling

In the third aspect of the invention, fabrics are treated with the laundry composition of the first aspect of the invention to minimise fabric greying or dulling during a laundry process. Redeposition of removed soil back onto fabrics causes greying or dulling and it is the reduction of the redeposition which can be realised using this method or use. The method or use can involve the steps as described for the second aspect. Preferably the laundry composition is used in the washing stage of the laundry process.

The method of the second aspect of the invention or the use or method of the third aspect of the invention may be carried in water of a particular hardness. “Hard water” is typically water which has a degree of 20 or greater French Hard units. In some instances, the water hardness can be much greater, for example 30 or 40 French Hard units. A usual upper limit is 50 degrees French Hard units in typical laundry processes. Common ranges for Hard Water are 20 - 40 or 30 - 40 degrees French Hard.

The invention will be further described with the following non-limiting examples. Examples

Test formulations were prepared according to standard means of preparing laundry compositions as known to the skilled in the art. Table 1 : Test formulations list of ingredients (laundry “base”):

Various pectins were then added to make up various “Pectin formulations” as per table 1. The list of pectins used is provided in table 2. Hence, when a composition is referred to as Example X in tables 3 to 7, what is meant is that the respective pectin sample from table 2 is used to make a laundry composition as per table 1.

Table 2: List of pectin samples n/a = not analysed

DM = degree of methylation

Method of stain preparation:

Red Pottery Clay (RPC) and Indian Red Soil (IRS) stains were sourced on 10 x 10 cm knitted polyester fabrics from Warwick Equest and prepared using the standard Laundry Appraisal clay staining protocol CS904. This method prepares 4 x 1cm diameter circular stains per fabric; the ratio of water to clay used for the RPC and the IRS stain preparation were 2:1 and 1:1, respectively.

Cleaning Trials

The whiteness maintenance of knitted cotton fabrics (also known as anti-redeposition (ARD) testing) was performed using a 6 pot Tergotometer.

The Tergotometer is model wash system comprising multiple open metal beakers that can be stirred via the use of a mechanical stirring arm. During an experiment each beaker can be setup to contain a specific combination of laundry ingredients. Since the fabrics used in each beaker are known specific liquor : cloth ratios can be achieved. Furthermore, the water used for the laundry process can also be controlled. Such a system provides for good testing of laundry compositions that is representative of performance in full scale washing machines.

The standard experimental protocol for all the cleaning experiments can be summarised as follows: a) An X-Rite Color i7 was set with D65 on, a 10° observation, specular included, 420nm filter included. b) The intensities of the 4 x RPC and the 4 x IRS stains on knitted polyester fabrics were measured using the X-Rite Color i7 instrument to determine the pre-wash DE and R460 reflectance values and 95% confidence intervals, the fabrics being folded twice to give 4 layers of cloth underneath each measurement point. c) 500ml of water was added to each Tergotometer pot. d) 2.5ml of each test formulation was added to a separate Tergotometer pot. e) The wash temperature was set at 25°C. f) Standard water hardness was considered to be 12°FH by using municipal water both for the washes and the rinses. 36°FH experiments were carried out using demineralised water + 5 ml of 36°FH solution (made up with 0.24mol CaCfe.fW + 0.12 mol MgCl2.H2O, Ca:Mg = 2:1) both in the wash and the rinse cycles. g) The Tergotometer stirrer speed was set at ~100rpm. h) The wash cycle time was 30mins. i) The liquor to cloth ratio was 25:1; the total weight of all the fabrics, i.e. , the stained cloths plus 50/50 split by weight of 10x10cm knitted polyester and knitted cotton ballast cloths (supplied by Pressing Matters Laundry Services, Birkenhead) were taken into account, which resulted in a total of 4 x pieces of knitted cotton and 6 x pieces of knitted polyester pieces plus the 2 x stained polyester fabrics per Tergotometer pot. j) After the wash, all the cloths were rinsed twice in 500ml of clean water (adjusted to the appropriate hardness), then hand squeezed to remove excess water and allowed to dry naturally in a drying cabinet overnight. k) The intensity of the backgrounds of the knitted cotton ballast fabrics (using a 25mm aperture, UV light excluded) were measured using the X-rite instrument to determine the after-wash R460 values. The control fabrics were clean knitted polyester and knitted cotton fabrics. For each experimental point, eight repeats in total (4 x clay stains of each type + 4 x knitted cotton fabrics per Tergotometer pot; repeated in separate pots) were performed and the experimental sequence randomised to obtain good quality statistical data. Control experiments were also routinely performed; i.e. no pectin polymer and a commercial benchmark product.

Results - redeposition testing:

The delta (A) in reflectance values (measured at R460nm) recorded shows the difference in reflectance for areas of fabric that were initially clean prior to washing with their postwash reflectance. If the fabric remains perfectly clean then the AR460 value will be zero. However, in all cases some soil redeposition occurs. Hence a greater loss of whiteness is demonstrated by a lower negative number, thus indicating a worse anti-redeposition performance.

The values were measured according to point k) in the method above (by measuring the intensity of the background knitted cotton ballast fabrics) and the following values were recorded:

Table 3: Redeposition data recorded in soft water (12°FH) - inventive and comparative examples: n/a = not analysed

%GA = % Galacturonic acid Table 4: Further comparative data recorded in soft water (12°FH):

Table 5: Redeposition data recorded in hard water (36°FH) - inventive and comparative examples: n/a = not analysed

%GA = % Galacturonic acid

Table 6: Further comparative data recorded in hard water (36°FH):

Discussion of results

It is clear that some pectins offer a considerable performance benefit when compared with a laundry composition free from pectin. Examples 1-6 according to the invention all perform better than a composition free from pectin, these samples all have a degree of methylation greater than 50% and a molecular weight of between 50 and 1000kDa. Exemplary performance is exhibited by Examples 1 , 2 and 3. These samples have a degree of methylation of above 60% and a molecular weight in the range of 100 to

800kDa. The performance differential of compositions according to the invention increases when the testing is carried out in 36°FH water.

Claims

1. A laundry composition comprising one or more pectins, wherein the level of pectin is from 0.1 to 15wt%, more preferably from 0.5 to 10wt% and most preferably from 1 to 5wt%, wherein the pectins have a degree of methylation of 55% or greater and most preferably 60% or greater, wherein the pectins have a molecular weight of between 75kDa and 900kDa and most preferably between 100kDa and 800kDa, when measured according to the Triple Detection Size Exclusion Chromatography method.

2. A laundry composition according to claim 1 , wherein the pectins have a galacturonic acid content of greater than 60wt%, more preferably greater than 65wt%, more preferably greater than 70wt% and most preferably greater than 80wt%.

3. A laundry composition according to any preceding claim, wherein the pectin is sourced from apples, citrus peel, gooseberries, quince, pears, plums and sugar beet, more preferably from citrus peel, apple or sugar beet, or mixtures thereof.

4. A laundry composition according to any preceding claim, wherein the composition comprises one or more surfactants selected from anionic, nonionic and/or amphoteric surfactants, wherein if present, then the anionic surfactant is present at a level of from 0.1 to 80 wt.%, preferably from 2 to 50 wt.%, more preferably from 3 to 30 wt.% and is preferably selected from linear alkyl benzenesulphonate, secondary alkane sulphonate, sodium laureth ether sulphate, sodium lauryl sulphate, sodium oleyl sulphate and sodium oleyl ether sulphate, methyl ester sulphonate, secondary alkyl sulphate (SALS), cardanol ether sulphate and a rhamnolipid; wherein if present, then the nonionic surfactant is present at a level of from 1 to 80 wt.%, preferably from 2 to 50 wt.%, more preferably from 3 to 30 wt.% and is preferably selected from an alcohol ethoxylate, an alcohol propoxylate, a methyl ester ethoxylate and an alkyl poly glycoside; wherein if present, then the amphoteric surfactant is present at a level of from 0.1 to 15 wt.%, preferably from 0.5 to 10 wt.%, more preferably from 1 to 5 wt.% and is preferably selected from alkylbetaines and the alkyl sulphobetaines, more preferably carbobetaines and lauramine oxide.

5. A laundry composition according to any preceding claim, additionally comprising an enzyme, preferably comprising from 0.05 to 5 wt.%, more preferably from 0.1 to 4 wt.%, more preferably from 0.5 to 3 wt.% of an enzyme, wherein the enzyme is preferably selected from one or more of a protease, amylase, mannanase, lipase, pectate lyase, laccase, phosphodiesterase and mixtures thereof.

6. A laundry composition according to any preceding claim comprising a rheology modifier, preferably comprising from 0.1 to 10 wt.% of a rheology modifier, wherein the rheology modifier is preferably selected from polyacrylate polymers, polycarboxylate polymers, hydrogenated castor oil derivatives, polysaccharides, microfibrous cellulose, polymeric gums, and mixtures thereof.

7. A laundry composition according to any preceding claim comprising from 0.05 to 8 wt.%, preferably from 0.1 to 5 wt.%, more preferably from 0.5 to 2 wt.% of a sequestrant, preferably the sequestrant is selected from HEDP, DTPMP, EDTA, MGDA, GLDA or citric acid.

8. A laundry composition according to any preceding claim comprising a fragrance, preferably comprising from 0.001 and 2.0wt% of a fragrance, more preferably 0.01 and 1.5wt% and most preferably 0.1 and 1.0wt%. Preferably the fragrance comprises greater than 50wt% biodegradable materials, more preferably greater than 60wt% biodegradable materials, more preferably greater than 70wt% biodegradable materials, more preferably greater than 80wt% biodegradable materials, more preferably greater than 90% biodegradable materials and most preferably the fragrance consists of 100wt% biodegradable materials.

9. A laundry composition according to any preceding claim in the form of a liquid, solid, powder, pastille, bead or paste.

10. A method for the removal of soil from fabrics during a laundry process, wherein the composition of any of claims 1 to 9 is used to launder fabrics.

11. A method for the minimisation of greying or dulling of fabrics when laundered in the presence of soiled garments, wherein the composition of any one of claims 1 to 9 is used to launder fabrics.

12. The use of the composition of any of claims 1 to 9 for the purpose of minimising fabric greying or dulling during a laundry process.

13. A method according to claims 10 or 11 or a use according to claim 12, wherein the laundry process is carried out in water of hardness degree of 20 or greater French Hard units.

14. A method according to claim 10, 11 or 13 a use according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the fabrics laundered comprise cotton fabrics.