IE57606B1 - Detergent compositions - Google Patents

Abstract

Detergent compositions comprising from about 5% to about 60% organic surfactant, from about 7% to about 80% detergency builder essentially free of phosphate and a bleach system. The detergency builder has defined calcium builder capacity and defined magnesium: calcium selectivity and is preferably a mixture of an aluminosilicate and a polycarboxylate. The bleach system comprises peroxy bleaching agent, heavy metal scavenging agent and preferably a bleach activator. The compositions combine excellent bleach stability, fabric damage characteristics and detergency performance.

Description

The present invention relates to detergent compositions. In particular, it relates to built laundry detergent compositions which are essentially free of phosphate and have excellent ' cleaning, whiteness maintenance and stain-removal performance together with improved bleach stability and fabric-care Λ * characteristics.

The role of phosphate detergency builders as adjuncts for organic, water-soluble, synthetic detergents and their value in improving the overall performance of such detergents are well-known. In recent years, however, the use of high levels of phosphate builders, such as the tripolyphosphates, has come under scrutiny because of the suspicion that soluble phosphate species accelerate the eutrophication or ageing process of water bodies.

The need exists, therefore for a built laundry detergent composition which is free of phosphate but which is comparable to a conventional tripolyphosphate-built composition in overall detergency effectiveness.

The mechanism whereby detergency builders function to improve the detergency action of water-soluble organic detergent compounds is not precisely known, but appears to depend on a combination of such factors as water-softening action, soil suspension and anti-redeposition effects, clay swelling and peptization and pH adjustment. However, present theory does not allow the prediction of which compounds will serve as effective detergency builders. Sodium aluminosilicates, commonly known as zeolites * have been proposed for use as phosphate builder substitutes since they are able to soften water by removing calcium ions (see, for w example, BE-A-814,874 and BE-A-813581). Zeolites are unable to duplicate the full range of builder functions demonstrated by phosphates, however, and in practice, they have been restricted to the role of a partial phosphate substitute.

One way of boosting the overall detergency of zero-phosphate formulations is through the use of bleaching auxiliaries such as the inorganic or organic peroxy bleaches and organic bleach activators. Although careful rebalancing of builder and bleach types and levels can indeed provide some improvement in performance, such formulations remain fundamentally weak in three areas, firstly bleach stability, secondly fabric damage characteristics, and thirdly, greasy and particulate soil removal especially at low wash temperatures.

Applicants have now found, however, that a zero phosphate builder system having defined building capacity and defined selectivity for magnesium versus calcium, in combination with certain heavy-metal scavenging agents results in excellent through-the-wash bleach stability and fabric damage characteristics. Moreover, applicants have further discovered that certain organic peroxy acid bleach precursors of defined chain length are operable in combination with the zero-phosphate builder system to provide at least phosphate-equivalent cleaning performance across the range of wash temperatures with particularly outstanding performance on greasy and particulate soils at low wash temperatures.

According to the invention, therefore, there is provided a detergent composition comprising a) from 5% to 60% by weight of organic surfactant selected from anionic, nonionic, zwitterionic, ampholytic and cationic surfactants and mixtures thereof, b) from 7% to 80% by weight of a detergency builder containing less than 2% phosphate on a compositional basis and having a calcium builder capacity at pH 10 and 25°C of at least 1.5 iroles/kg and a magnesium:calcium selectivity factor of at least 0.2 and comprising (i)from 2% to 30% by weight of polycarboxylate polymer selected from compounds having the empirical formula I -( X - CR ) co2m c) wherein X is CH_, Y is a comonomer or mixture Z1 2 of comonomers, R and R are bleach and 3 alkali-stable polymer-end groups, R is H or CT_4 alkyl, M is H, alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, ammonium or substituted ammonium groups, p is from O to 2, and n is at least 10, and mixtures thereof (ii) from 5% to 50% by weight of a water insoluble ion-exchange material having the formula II mz[aio2)z (SiO2)yj xH2O II wherein M is a calcium-exchange cation, z and y are at least 6; the molar ratio of z to y is in the range from 1.0 to 0.5; and x is from to 264; the aluminosilicate having a calcium ion exchange capacity of at least 200 milligrams equivalent of CaCO^/gram, a calcium ion exchange rate of at least 130 mg equivalent of CaCO_/ 2+ J litre/minute/(gram/litre)[2 grains of Ca /gallon/minute/ (gram/gallon)] and a particle size diameter of from 0.1 to 10 μκι, and a bleach system comprising (i) from 5% to 35% by weight of inorganic or organic peroxy bleaching agent, (ii) from 0% to 10% by weight of organic peroxy acid bleach precursor, and (iii) a heavy metal scavenging agent.

All percentage herein are by weight of total composition unless otherwise specified.

In a preferred aspect of the invention, the bleach system comprises from 0.5% to 10% of organic peroxy acid bleach precursor having the general formula IV, O 4 » R-C-L IV . wherein R is an alkyl group containing 6 to 12 carbon atoms wherein the longest linear alkyl chain extending from and including the carboxyl carbon contains from 5 to 10 carbon atoms and L is a leaving group, the conjugate acid of which has a pK in the range from 6 to 13. cl The compositions of the invention contain an organic surfactant, an essentially non-phosphate detergent builder and a bleach system. The detergent builder has defined calcium building capacity and defined magnesium:calcium building selectivity. The compositions can be liquid or solid, granular spray-dried compositions being preferred.

The compositions of the invention contain from 7% to 80%, preferably from 10% to 60%, more preferably from 15% to 50% of a detergency builder which is essentially free of phosphate, i.e. which contains less than 2%, preferably less than about 1/2% phosphate on a compositional basis. In preferred embodiments, the, compositions of the invention have a phosphorus content of no more than 1%, preferably no more than 0.1% by weight.

The detergency builder herein has a calcium building 10 capacity at pH 10 and 25°C of at least 1.5, preferably at least 2.0, more preferably at least 3.5 moles Ca /kg of builder and a magnesium:calcium selectivity factor of at least 0.2, preferably at least 0.25, more preferably at least 0.3.

The building capacity and selectivity factor are measured as follows.

Calcium building capacity (CQ) is measured using a Corning calcium ion selective electrode (from Scientific Products, Corning Medical, Corning Ltd., Halstead, Essex, England) with an Orion Double Junction Reference Electrode Model 90-02 (Orion Research Inc., Cambridge, Mass., U.S.A.) as reference. A calcium ion solution (0.05 M) is titrated into a solution (0,4%) containing the builder under test at pH 10 and 25°C. The free calcium ion concentration is determined as a function of added calcium ions using the calcium electrode precalibrated against a number of standard calcium solutions. The calcium ion _3 solution is added until free calcium reaches 5 x 10 M.

Calcium building capacity is calculated graphically from the molar quantity of added calcium ions corresponding to the intercept at zero free calcium ion concentration of the gradient through 5 x 10 M and is reported in moles Ca /kg of builder.

Magnesium:calcium selectivity factor is again determined using the calcium ion selective electrode. In this case, however, the hardness solution contains both calcium and 35 magnesium ions (0.03 M each) and the calcium building capacity so measured (C^), or more accurately the reduction in calcium building capacity (C " C^), correlates with the selectivity of the builder for magnesium as compared with calcium, selectivity factor herein is defined by the quotient.

O - CJ/C,.

The The essentially zero-phosphate detergency builder preferablycomprises a mixture of a polycarboxylate polymer and a water-insoluble, ion-exchangeable aluminosilicate. The polycarboxylate is preferably selected to have a magnesium building capacity of at least 2.0 preferably at least 3.0, more preferably at least 3.5 moles/kg as measured at both 25°C and 90°C? in other words, the builder should have substantial magnesium building capacity across the range of wash temperatures. Magnesium building capacity can be measured as for calcium building capacity above but using an Orion Divalent Cation Electrode. Alternatively, magnesium building capacity can be measured on the basis of a turbidity method as follows.

A solution of magnesium ions (0.4M) is titrated into a solution of the polycarboxylate (1%) at pH 10.3 and at the specified temperature. The solution additionally contains 1.6:1 ratio sodium silicate (0.5%) as indicator. Precipitation of magnesium silicate above the building limit of the polycarboxylate is monitored using a Mettler phototitrator. Magnesium building capacity is calculated from the molar quantity of added magnesium corresponding to the point of maximum change in gradient in the turbidity vs added magnesium plot and is reported here in moles Mg /kg of polycarboxylate.

Preferred polycarboxylates fall into several categories. A first category belongs to the class of copolymeric polycarboxylates which, formally at least, are formed from an unsaturated polycarboxylic acid such as maleic acid, citraconic acid, itaconic acid and mesaconic acid as first monomer, and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid such as acrylic acid or an alpha -c^_4 alkyl acrylic acid as second monomer. Referring to formula I, therefore, preferred polycarboxylates of this type are those especially from 0.2 in which R methyl, p is to 1.5, is H or _ 4 alkyl, from 0.1 to 1.9, preferably n averages from 10 to 50 to 1000, more preferably from 100 to 800, especially from 120 to 400 and Y comprises monomer units of formula III 1500, preferably from A second category belongs to the class of homopolymeric polyacrylates in which referring to formula I, .

R is H or c-j__4 alkyl, p is 0 and n averages from 10 to 1500, preferably from 500 to 1000.

A third category of polycarboxylate has the formula I in which R is H or C3 _ 4 alkyl, especially methyl, p is from 0.01 to 0.09, preferably from 0.02 to 0.06, n averages from 10 to 1500, preferably from to 300 and Y is. a polycarboxylate formed from maleic acid, citraconic acid, itaconic acid or mesaconic acid, highly preferred being maleic acid-derived comonomers of formula Ill above.

The alkali-stable polymer end groups in formula I suitably include alkyl groups, oxyalkyl groups and alkyl carboxylic acid groups and salts and esters thereof.

In the above, n, the degree of polymerization of the polymer can be determined from the weight average polymer molecular weight by dividing the latter by the average monomer molecular weight. Thus, for a maleic-acrylic copolymer having a weight average molecular weight of 15,500 and comprising 30 mole % of maleic acid derived units, n is 182 (i.e. 15,500 / (116 x 0.3 + 72 x 0.7).

In case of doubt, weight-average polymer molecular weights can be determined herein by gel permeation * 2 chromotography using Waters yuPorasil GPC 60 A and yuUondagel* E - 125, E - 500 and E - 1000 in series, temperature-controlled columns at 40°C against sodium polystyrene sulphonate polymer standards, available from Polymer Laboratories Ltd., Shropshire, UK, the polymer standards being calibrated as their sodium salts, and the eluant being 0.15M sodium dihydrogen phosphate and 0.02M tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide at pH 7.0 in 80/20 water/acetonitrile.

Mixtures of polycarboxylates are also suitable herein, especially mixtures comprising a high molecular weight component having an n value of at least 100, preferably at least 120, and a low molecular weight component having an n value of less than 100, preferably from 10 to 90, more preferably from 20 to 80. Such mixtures are optimum from the viewpoint of providing excellent bleach stability and anti-incrustation performance in the context of a zero-phosphate detergent formula.

In mixtures of this type, the weight ratio of high molecular weight component to low molecular weight component is generally at least 1:1, preferably from 1.1:1 to 20:1, more preferably from 1.5:1 to 10.1, especially from 2.:1 to 8:1. Preferred polycarboxylates of the low molecular weight type are polycarboxylates of the second category (homopolyacrylates) listed above.

Of all the above, highly preferred polycarboxylates herein are those of the first category in which n averages from 100 to 800, preferably from 120 to 400 and mixtures thereof with polycarboxylates of the fourth category in which n averages from 10 to 90, preferably from 20 to 80.

According to a further aspect of the invention, therefore, there is provided a detergent composition wherein the polycarboxylate polymer comprises a mixture of:* Trade Mark (i) a copolymeric polycarboxylate having the general formula X: Y -( X - CR3) p I co2M wherein X is CEL, Y is a maleic-acid derived unit, 2 z R and R are bleach and alkali stable polymer-end groups, R is Η, M is H, alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, ammonium or substituted ammonium, p is from 0.1 to 1.9 and n averages from 120 to 400, and (ii) a homopolymeric polyacrylate having the general 12 3 formula.I in which X, R , R , R and M-are each as defined in (i) above, p is 0 and n averages from 10 to 90, preferably from 20 to 80, the weight ratio of copolymeric polycarboxylate to homopolymeric polyacrylate being at least 1:1. 1 The aluminosilicate ion-exchange materials herein are preferably those having the unit cell formula Mz [(A1O2)Z (SiO2)y3 xh2o wherein M is a calcium-exchange cation, z and y are at least 6 ; the molar ratio of z to y is from 1.0 to 0.5 and x is at least 5, preferably from 7.5 to 276, more preferably from 10 to 264. The aluminosilicate materials are in hydrated from and are preferably crystalline containing from 10% to 28% , more preferably from 18% to 22% water.

The aluminosilicate ion exchange materials are further characterized by a particle size diameter of from 0.1 to 10 pm, preferably from 0.2 to 4 ym. The term particle size diameter herein represents the average particle size diameter of a given ion exchange material as determined by conventional analytical techniques such as, for example, microscopic determination utilizing a scanning electron microscope. The aluminosilicate ion exchange materials herein are usually further characterised by their calcium ion exchange capacity, which is at least 200 mg equilavent of CaCO^ water hardness/g of aluminosilicate, calculated on an anhydrous basis, and which generally is in the range of from 300 mg eq./σ to 352 mg eq./g. The aluminosilicate ion exchange materials herein are still further characterized by their calcium ion exchange rate which is at least 13P mg equilavent of CaCO^/litre/minute/(gram/litre) [2 grains Ca++/ gallon/minute/(gram/gallon)] of aluminosilicate (anhydrous basis), and generally lies within the range of from 130 mg equilavent of CaCO^/litre/minute/(gram/litre)[2 grains/gallon/ minute/(gram/gallon)] to 390 mg equilavent of CaCO^/litre/minute/ (gram/litre)[6 grains/gallon/minute/(gram/gallon)], based on calcium ion hardness. Optimum aluminosilicates for builder purposes exhibit a calcium ion exchange rate of at least 260 mg equilavent of CaCOg/litre/minute/(gram/litre)[4 grains/gallon/minute/(gram/ gallon)]. 2 Aluminosilicate ion exchange materials useful in the practice of this invention are commercially available and can be naturally occurring aluminosilicates or synthetically derived. A method for producing aluminosilicate ion exchange materials is discussed in U.S.-A-3,985,669. Preferred synthetic crystalline aluminosilicate ion exchange materials useful herein are available under the designations Zeolite A, , Zeolite B, Zeolite X, Zeolite HS and mixtures thereof. In an especially preferred embodiment, the crystalline t aluminosilicate ion exchange material is Zeolite A and has the formula Ha12[A102)12 (SiO2)12] XH2O wherein x is from 20 to 30, especially 27.

Zeolite X of formula Νβθθ C(A1O2)θθ(SiO2^106^ *216 H2O is also suitable, as well as Zeolite HS of formula Nag [(AlO2)6(SiO2)63 7.5 H2O).

The polycarboxylate and aluminosilicate components constitute from 2% to 30% and from 5% to 50% by weight of composition respectively, preferably from 3% to 10% and from 10% to 25% respectively. As a percentage of the builder, polycarboxylate and aluminosilicate preferably constitute from 5% to 60% and from 20% to 95% respectively, more preferably from 10% to 40% and from 25% to 75% respectively. Importantly, the selection of polycarboxylate and the relative amounts of polycarboxylate and aluminosilicate should be such as to meet the critical magnesium:calcium selectivity factor. Usually, the weight ratio of polycarboxylate:aluminosilicate is from 2:1 to 1:20, preferably from 1:1 to 1:5. Preferred mixtures herein are such, however, that at a 1:1 ratio, the builder displays a magnesium:calcium selectivity factor of at least 0.3, preferably at least 0.35, more preferably at least 0.4.

The polycarboxylate and aluminosilicate components of the present compositions can be replaced at least in part by other non-phosphate builder materials provided that the total builder system meets the constraints of calcium builder capacity and magnesium:calcium selectivity factor specified earlier. 3 Specific examples of non-phosphorus, inorganic builders are sodium and potassium carbonate, bicarbonate, sesquicarbonate, tetraborate dfecahydrate, and silicate having a molar ratio of SiO^ to alkali preferably from 1.6 to 2.4. metal oxide of from 0.5 to 4.0, 1.0 to 3.2, more preferably from Seeded carbonate builders as disclosed in Be-A-798,856 are also suitable. Water-soluble, non-phosphorus organic builders useful herein include the various alkali metal, ammonium and substituted ammonium carboxylates, monomeric polycarboxylates, polyhydroxysulfonates and nitrilotriacetates. Examples of monomeric polycarboxylate builders are the sodium, potassium, lithium, ammonium and substituted ammonium salts of oxydisuccinic acid, mellitic acid, benzene polycarboxylic acids, and citric acid.

Other useful builders herein are sodium and potassium carboxymethyloxymalonate, carboxymethyloxysuccinate, nitrilotriacetate, cis-eyelohexanehexacarboxylate, cis-cyclopentanetetracarboxylate, and phloroglucinol trisulfonate. Such additional non-phosphorus inorganic builders can be included in levels of from 0.5% to 8%, preferably from 1% to 4% by weight of composition.

The detergent compositions herein contain from 5% to 60% by weight of an organic surfactant selected from anionic, nonionic, zwitterionic, ampholytic and cationic surfactants, and mixtures thereof. The surfactant preferably represents frem 8% to 30%, more preferably from 10% to 20% by weight in the case of solid compositions and from 10%. to 50%, more preferably from 15% to 4C% in the case of liquid compositions.

Surfactants useful herein are listed in US-A-4,222,905 and US-A-4,239,659.

The anionic surfactant can be any one or more of the materials used conventionally in laundry detergents. Suitable synthetic anionic surfactants are water-soluble salts of alkyl benzene sulphonates, alkyl sulphates, alkyl polyethoxy ether sulphates, paraffin sulphonates, alpha-olefin sulphonates, 4 alpha-sulpho-carboxylates and their esters, alkyl glyceryl ether -sulphonates, fatty acid monoglyceride sulphates and sulphonates, alkyl phenol polyethoxy ether sulphates, 2-acyloxy alkane-l-sulphonate, and beta-alkyloxy alkane sulphonate.

A particularly suitable class of anionic surfactants includes water-soluble salts, particularly the alkali metal, ammonium and alkanolammonium salts or organic sulphuric reaction products having in their molecular structure an alkyl or alkaryl group containing from 8 to 22, especially from to 20 carbon atoms and a sulphonic acid or sulphuric acid ester group. (Included in the term "alkyl is the alkyl portion of acyl groups). Examples of this group of synthetic detergents which form part of the detergent compositions of the present invention are the sodium and potassium alkyl sulphates, especially those obtained by sulphating the higher alcohols (Cg_^g) carbon atoms produced by reducing the glycerides of tallow or coconut oil and sodium and potassium alkyl benzene sulphonates, in which the alkyl group contains from 9 to 15, especially 11 to 13, carbon atoms, in straight chain or branched chain configuration, e.g. those of the type described in U.S-A- 2,220,099 and U.S-A- 2,477,383 and those prepared from alkylbenzenes obtained by alkylation with straight chain chloroparaffins (using aluminium trichloride catalysis) or straight chain olefins (using hydrogen fluoride catalysis). Especially valuable are linear straight chain alkyl benzene sulphonates in which the average of the alkyl group is about 11.8 carbon atoms, abbreviated as θ LAS, and methyl branched alkyl sulphates.

Other anionic detergent compounds herein include the sodium cio-18 glyceryl ether sulphonates, especially those ethers of higher alcohols derived from tallow and coconut oil? sodium coconut oil fatty acid monoglyceride sulphonates and sulphates; and sodium or potassium salts of alkyl phenol ethylene oxide ether sulphate containing 1 to io units of ethylene oxide per molecule and wherein the alkyl groups contain 8 to 12 carbon atoms.

Other useful anionic detergent compounds herein include the water-soluble salts or esters of alpha-sulphonated fatty acids containing from 5 to 20 carbon atoms in the fatty acids group and from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the ester group; water-soluble salts of 2-acyloxy-alkane-l-sulphonic acids containing from 2 to 9 carbon atoms in the acyl group and from 9 to 23 carbon atoms in the alkane moiety; alkyl ether sulphates containing from 10 to 18, especially 12 to 16, carbon atoms in the alkyl group and from 1 to 12, especially 1 to 6, more especially 1 to 4 moles of ethylene oxide; water-soluble salts of olefin sulphonates containing from 12 to 24, preferably 14 to 16, carbon atoms, especially those made by reaction with sulphur trioxide followed by neutralization under conditions such that any sultones present are hydrolysed to the corresponding hydroxy alkane sulphonates; water-soluble salts of paraffin sulphonates containing- from 8 to 24, especially 14 to 18 carbon atoms, and beta-alkyloxy alkane sulphonates containing from 1 to 3 carbon atoms in the alkyl group and from 8 to 20 carbon atoms in the alkane moiety.

The alkane chains of the foregoing non-soap anionic surfactants can be derived from natural sources such as coconut oil or tallow, or can be made synthetically as for example using the Ziegler or Oxo processes. Water solubility can be achieved by using alkali metal, ammonium or alkanolammonium cations; sodium is preferred. Suitable fatty acid soaps can be selected from the ordinary alkali metal (sodium, potassium), ammonium, and alkylolammonium salts of higher fatty acids containing from 8 to 24, preferably from 10- to 22 and especially from 16 to 22 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain. Suitable fatty acids can be obtained from natural sources such as, for instance, from soybean oil, castor oil, tallow, whale and fish oils, grease, lard and mixtures thereof). The fatty acids also can be synthetically prepared (e.g., by the oxidation of petroleum, or by hydrogenation of carbon monoxide by the Fischer-Tropsch process). Resin acids are suitable such as rosin and those resin acids in tall oil.

Napthenic acids are also suitable. Sodium and potassium soaps can be made by direct saponification of the fats and oils or by the neutralization of the free fatty acids which are prepared in a separate manufacturing process. Particularly useful are the sodium and potassium salts of the mixtures of fatty acids derived from tallow and hydrogenated fish oil.

Mixtures of anionic surfactants are particularly suitable herein, especially mixtures of sulfonate and sulfate surfactants in a weight ratio of from 5:1 to 1:5, preferably from 5:1 to 1:1, more preferably from 5:1 to 1.5:1. Especially preferred is a mixture of an alkyl benzene sulfonate having from 9 to 15, especially 11 to 13 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical, the cation being an alkali metal, preferably sodium; and either an alkyl sulfate having from 10 to 20, preferably 12 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical or an ethoxy sulfate having from 10 to 20, preferably 10 to 16 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical and an average degree of ethoxylation of 1 to 6, having an alkali metal cation, preferably sodium.

The nonionic surfactants useful in the present invention are condensates of ethylene oxide with a hydrophobic moiety to provide a surfactant having an average hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) in the range from about 8 to 17, preferably from about 9.5 to 13.5, more preferably from about 10 to about 12.5. The hydrophobic moiety may be aliphatic or aromatic in nature and the length of the polyoxyethylene group which is condensed with any particular hydrophobic group can be readily adjusted to yield a water-soluble compound having the desired degree of balance between hydrophilic and hydrophobic elements.

Examples of suitable nonionic surfactants include: 1. The polyethylene oxide condensates of alkyl phenol, e.g. the condensation products of alkyl phenols having an alkyl group containing from 6 to 12 carbon atoms in either a straight chain or branched chain configuration, with ethylene oxide, the said ethylene oxide being present in amounts equal to 3 to 30, preferably 5 to 14 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alkyl phenol. The alkyl substituent in such compounds may be derived, for example, from polymerised propylene, di-isobutylene, octene and nonene. Other examples include dodecylphenol condensed with 9 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of phenol; dinonylphenol condensed with 11 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of phenol; nonylphenol and di-isooctylphenol condensed with 13 moles of ethylene oxide. 2. The condensation product of primary or secondary aliphatic alcohols having from 8 to 24 carbon atoms, in either straight chain or branched chain configuration, with from 2 to about 40 moles, preferably 2 to about 9 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol. Preferably, the aliphatic alcohol comprises between 9 and 18 carbon atoms and is ethoxylated with between 2 and 9, desirably between 3 and 8 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of aliphatic alcohol. The preferred surfactants are prepared from primary alcohols which are either linear (such as those derived from natural fats or, prepared by the Ziegler process from ethylene, e.g. myristyl, cetyl, stearyl alcohols), or partly branched such as the Lutensols, Dobanols and Neodols which have about 25% 2-methyl branching (Lutensoi being a Trade Name of BASF, Dobanol*and Neodol* being Trade Names of Shell), or Synperonics* which are understood to have about 50% 2-methyl branching (Synperonic*is a Trade Name of I.C.l.) or the primary alcohols having more than 50% branched chain structure sold under the Trade Name Lial by Liquichimica. Specific examples of nonionic surfactants falling within the scope of the invention include Dobanol 45-4, Dobanol 45-7, Dobanol 45-9, Dobanol 91-2.5, Dobanol 91-3, Dobanol 91-4, Dobanol 91-6, Dobanol 91-8, Dobanol 23-6.5, Synperonic 6, Synperonic 14, the condensation products of coconut alcohol with an average of between 5 and 12 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol, the coconut alkyl portion having from 10 to 14 carbon atoms, and the condensation products of tallow alcohol with an average of between 7 and 12 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol, the tallow portion comprising essentially between 16 and 22 carbon atoms. Secondary linear alkyl ethoxylates are also suitable in the present compositions, especially those ethoxylates of the Tergitol series having from about 9 to 15 carbon atoms in the alkyl group and up to about 11, especially from about 3 to 9, ethoxy residues per molecule.

* Trade Mark 8 The compounds formed by condensing ethylene oxide with a hydrophobic base formed by the condensation of propylene oxide with propylene glycol. The molecular weight of the hydrophobic portion generally falls in the range of about 1500 to 1800. Such synthetic nonionic detergents are available on the market under the Trade Name of Pluronic*supplied by Wyandotte Chemicals Corporation.

Especially preferred nonionic surfactants for use herein are the Cg-C^g primary alcohol ethoxylates containing 3-8 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol, particularly the C12*’C15 primary alcohols containing 6-8 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol.

Cationic surfactants suitable for use herein include quaternary ammonium surfactants and surfactants of a semi-polar nature, for example amine oxides.

Suitable surfactants of the amine oxide class have the general formula V R -l· I o -R wherein R5 is a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group having g to 20 carbon atoms, each R is independently selected from C^_4 alkyl and -(C^H^O)^ where i is an integer from 1 to 6, j is 0 or 1, n is 2 or 3 and m is from 1 to 7, the sum total of CnH2n® 9rouPs a molecule being no more than 7.

In a preferred embodiment R3 has from 10 to 14 carbon atoms g and each R is independently selected from methyl and —(C KL 0) H wherein m is from 1 to 3 and the sum total of n xn m ^ηΕ2ηθ 9rouPs in a molecule is no more than 5, preferably no more than 3. In a highly preferred embodiment, j is O and each 6 5 R is methyl, and R is C^2~C14 alkYle Another suitable class of amine oxide species is represented by bis-amine oxides having the following substituents.

* Trade Mark 9 j ·· 1 R : tallow C^g-C^g alkyl; palmityl; oleyl; stearyl Rg: hydroxyethyl i : 2 or 3 A specific example of this preferred class of bis-amine oxides is: N-hydrogenated C^g-C^g tallow alkyl-Ν,Ν*,N*tri-(2-hydroxyethyl) -propylene-1,3-diamine oxide. Suitable quaternary ammonium surfactants for use in the present composition can be defined by the general formula VI: -N (CH2).- N R -R VI wherein R is a linear or branched alkyl, alkenyl or alkaryl β group having 8 to 16 carbon atoms and each R is independently selected from alkyl, cj__4 alkaryl and "icnH2n°^m wherein i is an integer from 1 to 6, j is 0 or 1, n is 2 or 3 and m is from 1 to 7, the sum total of cnH2n° groups in a molecule being no more than 7, and wherein Z represents counteranion in number to give electrical neutrality.

In a preferred embodiment, R has from 10 to 14 carbon β atoms and each R is independently selected from methyl and (C H„ 0) H wherein m is from 1 to 3 and the sum total of n zn m cnH2n® groups in a molecule is no more than 5, preferably no more than 3. In a highly preferred embodiment j is 0, R® is 7 . selected from methyl, hydroxyethyl and hydroxypropyl and R is C^2~C14 alkyl. Particularly preferred surfactants of this class include C^2 alkyl trimethylammonium salts, C^4 alkyltrimethylammonium salts, coconutalkyltrimethylammonium salts, coconutalkyldimethyl-hydroxyethylammonium salts, coconutalkyldimethylhydroxy-propylammonium salts, and C^2 alkyldihydroxyethylmethyl ammonium salts.

Another group of useful cationic compounds are the diammonium 7 salts of formula VI in which j is 1, R is Cj2~C14 alkyl, each R8 is methyl', hydr oxyethyl or hydroxypropyl and i is 2 or 3. In a particularly preferred surfactant of this type, Rz is g coconut alkyl, R is methyl and i is 3.

The detergent compositions of the invention also include a bleach system comprising an inorganic or organic peroxy bleaching agent, a heavy metal scavenging agent and in preferred compositions, an organic peroxy acid bleach precursor.

Suitable inorganic peroxygen bleaches include sodium perborate mono- and tetrahydrate, sodium percarbonate, sodium persilicate and urea-hydrogen peroxide addition products and the clathrate 4Na2SC>4:2Η2θ2:INaCl. Suitable organic bleaches include peroxylauric acid, peroxyoctanoic acid, peroxynonanoic acid, peroxydecanoic acid, diperoxydodecanedioic acid, diperoxyazelaic acid, mono- and diperoxyphthalic acid and monoand diperoxyisophthalic acid. The bleaching agent is present in the compositions of the invention at a level of from 5% to 35% preferably from 10% to 25% by weight.

The heavy metal scavenging agent is preferably a water-soluble chelating agent. Preferred are aminopolyacids having four or more acidic protons per molecule. Suitable chelating agents include aminocarboxylate chelating agents such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), hydroxyethylethylenediaminetriacetic acid (HEEDTA), dihydroxyethylethylenediaminediacetic acid (DHEEDDA), diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DETPA), 1,2-diaminocyclohexane-N,N,N*,Ν’-tetraacetic acid (DCTA) and water-soluble salts thereof, and aminopolyphosphonate chelating agents such as ethylenediaminetetra(methylenephosphonic acid) (EDTMP), diethylenetriaminepenta(methylenephosphonic acid) (DETPMP), nitrilotri(methylenephosphonic acid) (NTMP), hexamethylenediaminetetramethylenephosphonic acid (HMTPM) and water-soluble salts thereof. The above water-soluble sequestrants are generally at a level of from 0.05% to 4% preferably from 0:1% to .1.0% by weight.. In any event the total content of phosphorus in the present compositions is preferably no more than 1%, more preferably no more than 0.1% by weight of total composition. 1 The heavy metal scavenging agent herein can also be represented by water-eoluble smectite-type clays selected from saponites, hectorites and sodium and calcium montmorillorites (sodium and calcium here designating the principal inorganic cation of the clay).

While any of the above smectite-type clays can be incorporated in the compositions of the invention, particularly preferred smectite-type clays have ion-exchange capacities of at least 50 meq/lOOg clay, more preferably at least 70 meq/lOOg (measured, for instance, as described in The Chemistry and Physics of Clays, p.p. 264-265, Interscience (1979)). Especially preferred materials are as follows:Sodium MontmorilIonite Brock Volclay BC Gelwhite GP Thixo-Jel Ben-A-Gel Imvite Sodium Hectorite Veegum F Laponite SP Sodium Saponite Barasym NAS 100 Calcium Montmorillonite Soft Clark Gelwhite L Lithium Hectorite Barasym LIH 200 2 When, present, the above clays are generally added at a level of from 1% to 20%, more preferably from 2% to 10% by weight of composition. Such clays also provide a fabric softening benefit to the compositions.

Another suitable heavy metal scavenging agent is water-insoluble, preferably colloidal magnesium silicate or a water-soluble magnesium salt forming magnesium silicate in the aqueous slurry crutcher mix prior to spray-drying. The magnesium silicate or salt is generally added at a level in the range from 0.015%’ to C.2%, preferably from 0.03% to 0.15% , more preferably from 0.05% to 0.12% by weight (magnesium basis). Suitable magnesium salts include magnesium sulfate, magnesium sulfate hepatydrate, magnesium chloride and magnesium chloride hexahydrate.

The compositions of the invention preferably also contain an organic peroxy acid bleach precursor at a level of from to 10%, preferably from 1% to 6% by weight. Suitable bleach precursors are disclosed in GB-A-2040983, and include for example, the peracetic acid bleach precursors such as tetraacetylethylenediamine, tetraacetylmethylenediamine, tetraacetylhexylenediamine, sodium p-acetoxybenzene sulphonate, tetraacetylglycouril, pentaacetylglucose, octaacetyllactose, and methyl o-acetoxy benzoate. Highly preferred bleach precursors, however, have the general formula IV O 4 *1 R -C-L IV wherein is an alkyl group containing from 6 to 12 carbon atoms wherein the longest linear alkyl chain extending from and including the carboxyl carbon contains from 5 to 10 carbon atoms and L is a leaving group, the conjugate acid of which has a pK cl in the range from 6 to 13.

The alkyl group, R^, can be either linear or branched and, in preferred embodiments, it contains from 7 to 9 carbon atoms. Preferred leaving groups L have a pK in the range from 7 cl to 11, more preferably from 8 to 10. Examples of leaving groups are those having the formula. 3 and b) f fi 4 -N-C-R* CH, t z Y 9 wherein Z is H, R or halogen, R is an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, x is 0 or an integer of from 1 to 4 and Y is selected from SO^M, OSO^M, CO2M, N+(R^)gQ and N+(r9)2~0 wherein M is H, alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, ammonium or substituted ammonium, and Q is halide or methosulfate.

The preferred leaving group L has the formula (a) in which Z is H, x is 0 and Y is sulfonate, carboxylate or dimethylamine oxide radical. Highly preferred materials are sodium 3,5,5,-trimethylhexanoyloxybenzene sulfonate, sodium 3,5,5-trimethylhexanoyloxybenzoate, sodium 2-ethylhexanoyl oxybenzenesulfonate, sodium nonanoyl oxybenzene sulfonate and sodium octanoyl oxybenzenesulfonate, the acyloxy group in each instance preferably being p-substituted.

The bleach activator herein will normally be added in the form of particles comprising finely-divided bleach activator and a binder The binder is generally selected from nonionic surfactants such as the ethoxylated tallow alcohols, polyethylene glycols, anionic surfactants, film forming polymers, fatty acids and mixtures thereof. Highly preferred are nonionic surfactant binders, the bleach activator being admixed with the binder and extruded in the form of elongated particles through a radial extruder as described in EP-A-62523.

The compositions of the invention can be supplemented by all manner of detergent and laundering components, inclusive of suds suppressors, enzymes, fluorescers, photoactivators, bleach catalysts, soil suspending agents, anti-caking agents, pigments, perfumes, fabric conditioning agents etc.

Suds suppressors are represented by materials of the silicone, wax, vegetable and hydrocarbon oil and phosphate ester varieties. Suitable silicone suds controlling agents include polydimethylsiloxanes having a molecular weight in the range from about 200 to about 200,000 and a kinematic viscosity in the range 2 from about 20 to about 2,000,000 mm /s, preferably from about O' 3000 to about 30,000 ram /s, and mixtures of siloxanes and hydrophobic silanated (preferably trimethylsilanated) silica having a particule size in the' range from 10 to 20 nm and a specific surface area above about 50 m/g. Suitable waxes include microcrystailine waxes having a melting point in the range from about 65°C to about 100°C, a molecular weight in the range from about 400-1000, and a penetration value of at least 6, measured at 25°C (77°F) by ASTM-D1321 and also paraffin waxes, synthetic waxes and natural waxes. Suitable phosphate esters include mono- and/or di-C^g-C^ alkyl or alkenyl phosphate esters, and the corresponding monoand/or di alkyl or alkenyl ether phosphates containing up to 6 ethoxy groups per molecule.

Enzymes suitable for use herein include those discussed in US-A-3,519,570 and US-A-3,533,139 to McCarty and McCarty et al issued July 7, 1970 and January 5, 1971, respectively. Suitable fluorescers include Blankophor MBBH (Bayer AG) and Tinopal CBS and EMS (Ciba Geigy). Photoactivators are discussed in EP-A-57088, highly preferred materials being zinc phthalocyanine tri- and tetra-sulfonates. Suitable fabric conditioning agents include di-C^2~C24 alkyl or alkenyl amines and ammonium and quaternary ammonium salts. Suitable bleach catalysts are discussed in EP-A-72166 and EP-A-125103.

Antiredeposition and soil suspension agents suitable herein include cellulose derivatives such as methylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose and hydroxyethylcellulose.

Liquid detergent compositions of the invention can additionally be supplemented by pH regulators such as potassium hydroxide, potassium carbonate, potassium bicarbonate, sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, and mono-, diand triethanolamine; solvents such as ethyl alcohol, isopropanol, propylene glycol, propane-1, 2-diol, hexyleneglycol; and hydrotopes such as urea.

* Granular detergent compositions of the invention are preferably prepared by spray-drying an aqueous slurry comprising the anionic surfactant and detergency builder. The aqueous slurry is mixed at a temperature in the range from about 70-90°C and the water-content of the slurry adjusted to a range of about 25% Spray drying is undertaken with a drying gas inlet temperature of from about 250-350°C, preferably about 275-330°C, providing a final moisture content in the range of from about 8% to 14% by weight.

In the Examples which follow, the abbreviations used have the following designations:C22LAS : Sodium linear Cj2 benzene sulphonate TAS : Sodium tallow alcohol sulphate C12/14as TAEn ^12/14 alcohol sulphate, sodium salt Hardened tallow alcohol ethoxylated with n moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol c12tmab Dobanol 45E7 TAED PAG AOBS Cjl2 alkyl trimethyl ammonium bromide A primary alcohol condensed with 7 moles of ethylene oxide. Tetraacetyl ethylene diamine Penta acetyl glucose Sodium p-acetoxy benzene sulphonate NOBS • Sodium nonanoyl oxybenzenesulphonate I NOBS Sodium 3,5,5 trimethyl hexanoyl oxybenzene sulphonate INOBA • Sodium 3,5,5 trimethyl hexanoyl oxybenzoic acid EHOBS • • Sodium 2-ethyl hexanoyl oxybenzene sulphonate Silicate • Sodium silicate having an SiO2:Na20 ratio of 1.6 Sulphate • Anhydrous sodium sulphate Carbonate : Anhydrous sodium carbonate CMC * Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose Silicone • Comprising 0.14 parts by weight of an 85:15 by weight mixture of silanated silica and silicone, granulated with 1.3 parts of sodium tripolyphosphate, and 0.56 parts of tallow alcohol condensed with 25 molar proportions of ethylene oxide NTA Sodium nitrilotriacetate PCI • Copolymer of 3:7 maleic/acrylic acid, average molecular weight about 70,000 sodium salt PC2 • Copolymer of 1:20 maleic/acrylic acid average molecular weight about 12,000 sodium salt PC3 : Polyacrylic acid, molecular weight about 70,000, as sodium salt PC4 J Copolymer of 3:7 maleic/acrylic acid, average molecular weight about 15,500 sodium salt PC5 • Polyacrylic acid, average molecular weight about 4,500, as sodium salt Perborate • » Sodium perborate tetrahydrate of nominal formula NaBO2.3H2O.H2O2 Enzyme Protease EDTA • Sodium ethylene diamine tetra acetate Brightener DETPMP EDTMP Clay Disodium 4,4'-bis(2-morpholino-4anilino-s-triazin-6-ylamino) stilbene-2:21-disulphonate.

Diethylene triamine penta(methylene phosphonic acid), marketed by Monsanto under the Trade name Dequest 2060 Ethylenediamine tetra (methylene phosphonic acid), marketed by Monsanto, under the Trade name Dequest 2041 Sodium montmorillonite Examples I to VIII Granular detergent compositions are prepared as follows. A base powder composition is first prepared by mixing all components except Dobanol 45E7, bleach, bleach activator, enzyme and suds suppressor in a crutcher as an aqueous slurry at a temperature of about 80°C and containing about 35% water. The slurry is then spray dried at a gas inlet temperature of about 300°C to form base powder granules. The bleach activator, where present, is then admixed with ΤΑΕθθ as binder and extruded in the form of elongate particles through a radial extruder as described in EP-A- 62523. The bleach activator noodles, bleach, enzyme and suds suppressor are then dry-mixed with the base powder composition and finally Dobanol 45E7 is sprayed into the final mixture.

EXAMPLES II III IV V VI VII VIII ci2las TAS C12/14 TAE80 TAEn Dobanol 45E7 AS 0.5 0.6 0.8 0.3 0.5 0.8 0.2 0.6 --1 c12tmab NOBS INOBS EXAMPLES (Contd) INOBA — — 5 - - — — - EHOBS - - - 2 - - - - TAED - - - - 3 - - - PAG - - - - - 4 - - AOBS - - - - - - 1 - Perborate 25 18 10 24 20 18 24 28 EDTMP - 0.4 0.3 - - -. 1.0 - ' DETPMP 0.4 - ·- - 0.5 - - 0.1 EDTA 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.3 Clay - - - 6 - 4 - Magnesium (ppm) - - 750 - - - - 800 PCI 1.5 4 2 - 1 7 1 2 PC2 5 9 - 10 4 - 15 8 PC3 - - 12 5 - - - - Zeolite A* 9 16 12 6 13 24 9 14 Soap 1 3 - 2 - 3 3 2 Carbonate 8 12 10 8 7 13 6 11 Silicate 6 4 7 3 7 5 8 3 Silicone 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.4 0.5 0.2 Enzyme 0.1 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.7 1.0 Brightener 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 Sulphate, Moisture & Miscellaneous -----------------To 100------------------------* Zeolite A of 4 A pore size.

The above compositions are zero phosphate detergent compositions displaying excellent bleach stability, fabric care and detergency performance across the range of wash temperatures with particularly outstanding performance in the case of Examples I to IV on greasy and particulate soils at low wash temperatures.

Examples IX to XII The following granular detergent compositions are prepared as described in Examples I to VIII above. IX X XI XII c12las 5 8 4 8 TAS - 3 2 -C12/14AS 5 - - 8TAEftO 0.3 0.8 0.3 0.3 Dobanol 45E7 2 4 6 2 c12tmab 2 - - - NOBS - - - 3 INOBS 2 - - - INOBA * - 5 - - TAED 0.5 - 2.5 - PAG - 1 - - AOBS - - - 0.8 Perborate 25 10 17 24 EDTMP - 0.3 0.3 - DETPMP 0.4 - - 0.4 EDTA 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 Clay - - - 6 Magnesium (ppm) - 800 750 - PC4 7 5 8 5 PC5 2 I. 1 0.5 Zeolite A (4 A pore size) 11 16 13 5 Zeolite X (10 A pore size) - - - 15 Soap 1 - - 2 Carbonate 8 10 12 12 Silicate 6 5 4 8 Silicone 0.2 0.5 0.3 0.2 Enzyme 0.1 0.3 0.4 0.3 Brightener 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 Sulphate, Moisture & Miscellaneous ----------To 100----------30 The above compositions are zero phosphate detergent compositions displaying excellent bleach stability, fabric care and detergency performance across the range of wash temperatures with outstanding whiteness maintenance performance and low wash temperature detergency performance on greasy and particulate soils.

Examples XIII to XV The following granular detergent compositions are prepared as described in Examples I to VIII above.

XIII XIV XV c12las 4 8 14C12/14AS 4 8 - TAS - - 3TAE80 0.3 0.3 0.4 Dobanol 45E7 6 2 - I NOBS 3 3 4 TAED 0.5 - 2 Perborate 18 10 6 EDTMP 0.3 - - DETPMP - 0.4 - EDTA 0.2 0.2 0.2 Magnesium (ppm) 1000 - - PCI 2 0.5 1 PC4 5 4 8 PC5 1 0.5 1 Zeolite A (4 A pore size) 16 25 15 Carbonate 18 8 10 Silicate 1 6 5 NTA 4 3 7 Silicone 0.2 0.5 0.3 Enzyme 0.1 0.3 0.4 Brightener 0.2 0.2 0.2 Sulphate, Moisture & Miscellaneous ----To 100--- The above compositions are zero phosphate detergent compositions displaying excellent bleach stability, fabric care and detergency performance across the range of wash temperatures with outstanding whiteness maintenance performance 5 and low wash temperature detergency performance on greasy and particulate soils.

Claims (12)

1. A detergent composition comprising: a) from 5% to 60% by weight of organic b) surfactant selected from anionic, nonionic, zwitterionic, ampholytic and cationic surfactants and mixtures thereof, from 7% to 80% by weight of a detergency builder containing less than 2% phosphate an a ocnpositional basis and having a calcium builder capacity at pH 10 and 25°C of at least 1.5 moles/kg and a magnesium:calcium selectivity factor of at least 0.2 and comprising (i) from 2% to 30% of polycarboxylate polymer selected from compounds having the empirical formula I Y -( X - CR 3 ) P I co 2 M wherein x is CH„, Y is a comonomer or 2 1 2 comonomer mixture, R and R are bleach and alkali-stable polymer-end groups, R is H or alkyl, M is H, alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, ammonium or substituted ammonium, p is from 0 to 2, and n is at least 10, and mixtures thereof (ii) from 5% to 50% by weight of a water insoluble ion-exchange material having the fonnula II m z L(aio 2 ) z (SiO 2 ) y )] xH 2 0 II wherein M is a calcium-exchange cation, z and y are at least 6; the molar ratio of z to y is in the range from 1.0 to 0.5; and x is from 10 to 264; the aluminosilicate having a calcium ion exchange capacity of at least 200 mg equilavent of CaCO^/gram, a calcium ion exchange rate of at least 130 mg equilavent of CaCO-/litre/minute/(gram/litre)[2 grains 2+ J of Ca /gallon/minute/(gram/gallon)] and a particle size diameter of from 0.1 to 10 pm, and c) a bleach system comprising (i) from 5% to 35% by weight of inorganic or organic peroxy bleaching agent, (ii) from 0% to 10% by weight of organic peroxy acid bleach precursor, and (iii) a heavy metal scavenging agent.

2. A composition according to claim 1, wherein in formula I, Y comprises monomer units having formula III - CH - CH I I 111 CO 2 M CO 2 M

3. A composition according to claim 1 or 2, wherein in formula I, R is H or C ^alkyl, p is from 0.1 to 1.9 and n averages from 10 to 1500, preferably from 100 to 800, more preferably from 120 to 400.

4. . A composition according to claim 1 or 2, wherein 3 in formula I, R is H or C ^alkyl, p is 0, and n averages from 10 to 1500.

5. A composition according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein ( 5 in formula I, R is H or C ^alkyl, p is from 0.01 to 0.09, and n averages from 10 to 1500, preferably * from 15 to 300. n

6. A composition according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising from 3% to 10% by weight of polycarboxylate and 10 from 10% to 25% by weight of water-insoluble aluminosilicate.

7. A composition according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the polycarboxylate polymer is a mixture comprising a high molecular weight component having an n value averaging at least 100, preferably at least 120, and a low 15 molecular weight component having an n value averaging less than 100, preferably from 10 to 90, more preferably from 20 to 80, the weight ratio of high molecular weight component to low molecular weight component being at least 1:1, preferably from 1.1:1 to 10:1. 20

8. A composition according to Claim 1, wherein the polycarboxylate polymer comprises a mixture of (i)a copolymeric polycarboxylate having the general formula r I: -( X - CR ) co 2 m wherein X is CH_, Y is a maleic-acid derived unit, 1 2 Z R and R are bleach and alkali stable polymer-end 3 groups, R is Η, M is H, alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, ammonium or substituted ammonium, p is from 0.1 to 1.9 and n averages from 120 to 400, and (ii) a homopolymeric polyacrylate having the general 1 ’ 2 3 formula I in which X, R , R , R and M are each as defined in (i) above, p is 0 and n averages from 10 to 90, the weight ratio of copolymeric polycarboxylate to homopolyneric polyacrylate being at least 1:1.

9. A composition according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the heavy metal scavenging agent is a chelating agent selected from water-soluble 15 aminopolycarboxylates and aminopolyphosphonates having at least four acidic protons per molecule or a water-insoluble smectite-type clay selected from saponites, hectorites and sodium and calcium montmorillonites.

10. A composition according to any one of claims 1 to 9, 20 wherein the organic peroxy acid bleach precursor has the general formula IV: IV wherein R is an alkyl group containing from 6 to 12 carbon atoms wherein the longest linear alkyl chain extending from 25 and including the carboxyl carbon contains from 5 to 10 carbon atoms and L is a leaving group, the conjugate acid of which has a pK in the range from 6 to 13. cl t

11. A composition according to any one of claims 1 to 10, having a phosphorus content of no more than 1%, / preferably no more than 0.1% by weight.

12. A detergent composition according to claim 1, substan5 tially as hereinbefore described with reference to the Examples.