MXPA00011753A - Liquid bleaching compositions - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a liquid bleaching composition comprising a peroxygen bleach, a zwitterionic betaine surfactant, a sulphonated hydrotrope, and a nonionic surfactant. This composition is suitable to deliver excellent stain removal performance andbleaching performance on various surfaces including fabrics and hard-surfaces, with improved physical stability, especially at low temperatures.

Description

LIQUID COMPOSITIONS OF WHITENING TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to liquid bleaching compositions with high phase stability at low temperatures. More particularly, the compositions herein are suitable for use on various surfaces including hard surfaces and fabrics to provide bleaching performance and stain removal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Aqueous liquid peroxygen compositions containing bleach have been extensively described in the art, especially in laundry applications such as laundry detergents, laundry additives or even laundry pre-treaters. For example, it is known that bleach-containing peroxygen compositions comprising nonionic surfactants in laundry applications show good removal performance of embedded stains / soils, which would otherwise be particularly difficult to remove, such as grease. , coffee, tea, grass, solids containing iodine / clay, and the like. However, it has been found that a drawback associated with such bleach-containing peroxygen compositions comprising non-ionic surfactants is that said compositions exhibit poor physical stability, especially at low temperatures, eg, typically less than + 5 ° C. . In addition, the nonionic surfactants tend to separate from the aqueous phase, and form a film of surfactant on top of the peroxygen composition containing bleach, and this effect is accelerated at low temperatures, and is irreversible even when said composition returns to room temperature. Thus, an object of the present invention is to formulate a peroxygen composition containing bleach comprising a nonionic surfactant, said composition being physically stable during prolonged storage periods, especially at low temperatures. It has now been found that improved physical stability, especially at low temperatures, i.e., typically less than + 5 ° C, can be achieved by adding a sulphonated hydrotrope and a zwitterionic betaine surfactant to a liquid peroxygen composition containing bleach which comprises at least one nonionic surfactant. In addition, it is by adding these ingredients to said peroxygen composition containing bleach, that the tendency of the nonionic surfactants to separate from the aqueous phase and form a film of surfactant on top of the peroxygen composition that contains bleach, is reduced or even prevented.

In addition, phase separation, which occurs at low temperatures, is irreversible, that is, it is possible to recover an individual phase solution when it recovers from said low temperatures. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the zwitterionic betaine surfactants used herein are free of salts. Furthermore, it has been found that the use of a zwitterionic surfactant of betaine free of salts in the compositions according to the present invention, reduces or even prevents damage to the fabrics and / or colors, which would otherwise occur when the fabrics are treated with a liquid bleaching composition comprising a peroxygen bleach, especially when said fabrics are pretreated, i.e. by applying a composition in its pure form on the fabrics for prolonged periods before rinsing said fabrics. Advantageously, the present compositions also provide excellent stain removal performance over various spots including greasy stains, and excellent bleaching performance. Furthermore, it has been found that the compositions according to the present invention comprising a peroxygen bleach and as a surfactant system a nonionic surfactant, preferably an ethoxylated nonionic surfactant, together with a zwitterionic betaine surfactant, preferably a salt-free zwitterionic betaine surfactant, enhances the removal of various types of stains including oily stains such as mayonnaise, vegetable oil , sebum, makeup, and more softeningly intensify bleaching performance. More particularly, the compositions of the present invention provide excellent stain removal performance over a wide range of stains and soils, and excellent bleaching performance when used in any washing application, for example, as a laundry detergent or laundry additive. , and especially when used as a laundry pre-cleaner, or even in other domestic applications such as in hard surface cleaning applications. Another advantage is that the compositions herein are chemically stable after prolonged storage periods. Yet another advantage of the compositions according to the present invention is that they are capable of good performance under various conditions, i.e. in hard and soft water, as well as when they are used in pure or diluted form.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND EP-A-0 351 772 discloses peroxygen-containing stabilized hydrogen compositions. However, peroxygen-containing hydrogen compositions comprising a non-ionic surfactant, together with a betaine surfactant and a sulphonated hydrotrope, are not exemplified. US 5,714,454 discloses liquid dishwashing compositions comprising a betaine surfactant, a nonionic surfactant and a solubilizing agent. However, peroxygen compositions containing bleach are not disclosed. WO 96/30484 discloses alkaline liquid detergent compositions comprising a mixture of nonionic and anionic surfactants, hydrogen peroxide and a sulphonated hydrotrope. Compositions containing betaine are not disclosed. WO 97/25397 discloses liquid dishwashing detergent compositions comprising a surfactant, a rinsing ability and skin feel enhancing system and a protease enzyme. Peroxygen compositions containing bleach are not disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention encompasses a liquid composition comprising a nonionic surfactant, a zwitterionic betaine surfactant, a sulfonated hydrotrope and a peroxygen bleach.

The present invention further encompasses methods for treating a surface, for example, a fabric or a hard surface, starting from a liquid composition as defined herein. For example, methods for treating fabrics include the steps of contacting said fabrics with the liquid composition herein in pure or diluted form, and subsequently rinsing said fabrics. In the preferred embodiment, when the fabrics are "pre-treated", the composition is applied in pure form on the fabrics, and the fabrics are subsequently washed in a normal washing cycle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Liquid cleaning composition The compositions according to the present invention are liquid compositions, as opposed to a solid or a gas. As used herein, the term "liquid" includes "pasty" compositions. The liquid compositions herein are preferably aqueous compositions. The liquid compositions according to the present invention preferably have a pH of up to 9, more preferably from 2 to 7, and most preferably from 2 to 6. In a preferred embodiment, the compositions according to the present invention are formulated in the scale from neutral pH to acid, which contributes to the chemical stability of the chemical compositions and the performance of removing stains from them. The pH of the compositions can be adjusted by any acidifying agent known to those skilled in the art. Examples of acidifying agents are organic acids such as citric acid and inorganic acids such as sulfuric acid.

Peroxygen bleach As a first essential element, the compositions according to the present invention comprise a peroxygen bleach or a mixture thereof. In addition, the presence of the peroxygen bleach contributes to the excellent bleaching benefits of said compositions. Peroxygen bleaches suitable for use herein are hydrogen peroxide, water-soluble sources thereof, or mixtures thereof. As used herein, a source of hydrogen peroxide refers to any compound that produces perhydroxyl ions when said compound is in contact with water. Suitable water-soluble hydrogen peroxide sources for use herein include percarbonates, persilicates, persulfates such as monopersulfates, perborates, peroxyacids such as diperoxydecandioic acid (DPDA), magnesium perphthalic acid, perluric acid, perbenzoic and alkylperbenzoic acids., hydroperoxides, aliphatic and aromatic diacyl peroxide, and mixtures thereof. Preferred peroxygen bleaches herein are hydrogen peroxide, hydroperoxide and / or diacyl peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is the most preferred peroxygen bleach herein. Suitable hydroperoxides for use herein are tert-butyl hydroperoxide, cumyl hydroperoxide, 2,4,4-trimethylpentyl 2-hydroperoxide, di-isopropylbenzene monohydroperoxide, ter-amyl hydroperoxide and 2,5-dihydroperoxide 2, 5-dimethyl-hexane. Said hydroperoxides have the advantage of being particularly safe for fabrics and colors, while providing excellent bleaching performance when used in any washing application. Suitable aliphatic diacyl peroxides for use herein are dilauroyl peroxide, didecanoyl peroxide, dimyristoyl peroxide, or mixtures thereof. The aromatic diacyl peroxide suitable for use herein is, for example, benzoyl peroxide. Said diacyl peroxides have the advantage of being particularly safe for fabrics and colors, while providing excellent bleaching performance when used in any washing application. Typically, the compositions herein comprise from 0.01% to 20% by weight of the total composition, of said peroxygen bleach or mixtures thereof, preferably from 1% to 15%, and more preferably from 1.5% to 10%.

Nonionic surfactant As a second essential ingredient, the compositions according to the present invention comprise a nonionic surfactant, or a mixture thereof. Typically, the compositions according to the present invention comprise from 0.01% to 60% by weight of the total composition, of a nonionic surfactant, or a mixture thereof, preferably from 0.1% to 25%, and more preferably from 0.5% to 20%. Particularly preferred nonionic surfactants are the alkoxylated nonionic surfactants. The alkoxylated nonionic surfactants preferred herein are the ethoxylated nonionic surfactants according to the formula RO- (C2H4O) nH, wherein R is an alkyl chain of Ce to C22, or an alkyl benzene chain of C6 to C2s, wherein n is from 0 to 20, preferably from 1 to 15 and more preferably from 2 to 15, and most preferably from 2 to 12. Preferred R chains for use herein are the alkyl chains of Cs to C22- The propoxylated and ethoxy / propoxylated nonionic surfactants may also be used herein in place of the ethoxylated nonionic surfactants, as defined hereinabove, or together with said surfactants. Preferred ethoxylated nonionic surfactants are according to the above formula, and have a HLB (hydrophilic-lipophilic balance) less than 16, preferably less than 15, and more preferably less than 14. It has been found that said surfactants do not Ethoxylated ionics provide good fat-cutting properties. Accordingly, ethoxylated nonionic surfactants suitable for use herein are Dobanol® 91-2.5 (HLB = 8.1, R is a mixture of Cg and Cu alkyl chains, n is 2.5), Lutensol® TO3 (HLB = 8, R is an alkyl chain of C13> n is 3), Lutensol® AO3 (HLB = 8, R is a mixture of alkyl chains of C13 and C15, n is 3), Tergitol® 25L3 (HLB = 7.7 R is on the alkyl chain length scale of C12 to C15, n is 3), Dobanol® 23-3 (HBL = 8.1, R is a mixture of C ?2 and C13 alkyl chains, n is 3 ), Dobanol® 23-2 (HBL = 6.2, R is a mixture of C12 and C13 alkyl chains, n is 2), Dobanol® 45-7 (HBL = 11.6, R is a mixture of C1 alkyl chains) and C15, n is 7), Dobanol® 23-6.5 (HBL = 11.9, R is a mixture of C ?2 and C13 alkyl chains, n is 6.5), Dobanol® 25-7 (HBL = 12; R is a mixture of alkyl chains of C-? 2 and C-is, n is 7), Dobanol® 91-5 (HBL = 11.6, R is a mixture of alkyl chains of Cg and Cu, n is 5), Dobanol ® 91-6 (HBL = 12.5, R is a mixture of C9 and Cu alkyl chains, n is 6), Dobanol® 91-8 (HBL = 13.7; R is a mixture of alkyl chains of Cg and Cu, n is 8), Dobanol® 91-10 (HBL = 14.2, R is a mixture of alkyl chains from Cg to Cu, n is 10), Dobanol® 91- 12 (HBL = 14.5, R is a mixture of alkyl chains from Cg to Cn, n is 12), or mixtures thereof. Preferred herein are Dobanol® 91-2.5, Lutensol® TO3, Lutensol® AO3, Tergitol® 25L3, Dobanol® 23-3, Dobanol® 23-2, Dobanol® 45-7, Dobanol® 91-8, Dobanol® 91 -10, Dobanol® 91-12, or mixtures thereof. These Dobanol® surfactants are commercially available from SHELL. These Lutensol® surfactants are commercially available from BASF, and these Tergitol® surfactants are commercially available from UNION CARBIDE. Suitable chemical processes for preparing the alkoxylated nonionic surfactants for use herein include condensation of corresponding alcohols with alkylene oxide, in the desired proportions. Said methods are well known to those skilled in the art, and have been exhaustively described in the art. The compositions herein may desirably comprise one of said ethoxylated nonionic surfactants, or a mixture of said ethoxylated nonionic surfactants having different HLBs (hydrophilic-lipophilic balance). In a preferred embodiment, the compositions herein comprise an ethoxylated nonionic surfactant according to the above formula, and having an HLB of up to 10 (ie, a so-called non-ionic hydrophobic ethoxylated surfactant), preferably less than 10, more preferably less than 9, and a non-ionic ethoxylated surfactant according to the above formula, and having an HLB of 10 to 16 (ie, a so-called ethoxylated hydrophilic ethoxylated surfactant), preferably 11 to 14 Furthermore, in this preferred embodiment, the compositions of the present invention typically comprise from 0.01% to 15% by weight of the total composition, of said hydrophobic ethoxylated nonionic surfactant, preferably from 0.5% to 10%, and from 0.01 % to 15% by weight of said hydrophilic ethoxylated nonionic surfactant, preferably from 0.5% to 10%. Such mixtures of ethoxylated nonionic surfactants with different HLBs may be desirable, since they allow an optimal removal performance of grease cleaning over a wider range of greasy soils, and have different hydrophobic / hydrophilic characteristics. Other suitable nonionic surfactants for use herein include polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactants, or mixtures thereof according to the formula: R2-C (O) -N (R1) -Z, wherein R1 is H, or C 1 -C 4 alkyl, CrC, 2-hydroxyethyl, 2-hydroxypropyl hydrocarbyl, or a mixture thereof, R 2 is C 5 -C 3 hydrocarbyl, and Z is a polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl having a linear hydrocarbyl chain with at least 3 hydroxyls directly attached to the chain, or an alkoxylated derivative thereof. Preferably, R1 is C? -C alkyl, more preferably Ci or C2 alkyl, and most preferably methyl, R2 is a straight chain C7-C19 alkyl or alkenyl, preferably an alkyl or alkenyl of Cg-C? 8 straight chain, more preferably straight chain Cn-Ciß alkyl or alkenyl, and most preferably straight chain Cn-C alkyl or alkenyl, or mixtures thereof. Preferably, Z will be derived from a reducing sugar in a reductive amination reaction; more preferably, Z is a glycityl. Suitable reducing sugars include glucose, fructose, maltose, lactose, galactose, mannose and xylose. As raw materials, high dextrose corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup and high maltose corn syrup can be used, as well as the individual sugars mentioned above. These corn syrups can produce a mixture of sugar components for Z. It should be understood that in no way is it intended to exclude other suitable raw materials. Preferably, Z will be selected from the group consisting of -CH2- (CHOH) n -CH2OH, -CH (CH2OH) - (CHOH) n.1-CH2OH > -CH2- (CHOH) 2- (CHOR ') (CHOH) -CH2OH, wherein n is an integer from 3 to 5, inclusive, and R' is H or a cyclic or aliphatic monosaccharide, and alkoxylated derivatives thereof. More preferred are glycityls wherein n is 4, particularly CH2- (CHOH) 4-CH2OH. In the formula R2-C (0) -N (R1) -Z, R1 can be, for example, N-methyl, N-ethyl, N-propyl, N-isopropyl, N-butyl, N-2-hydroxyethyl or N-2-hydroxypropyl. R2-C (O) -N < it can be, for example, cocoamide, stearamide, oleamide, lauramide, myristamide, capricamide, palmitamide, seboamide, and the like. Z can be 1-deoxyglucityl, 2-deoxyfructityl, 1-deoxymaltityl, 1-deoxylactityl, 1-deoxygalactityl, 1-deoxyanityl, 1-deoxymalototriotityl, and the like.

Suitable polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactants for use herein may be commercially available under the tradename HOE® from Hoechst. Methods for obtaining polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactants are known in the art. In general, they can be obtained by reacting an alkylamine with a reducing sugar in a reductive amination reaction to form a corresponding N-alkoxy polyhydroxyamine, and then reacting the N-alkyl polyhydroxyamine with a triglyceride or fatty aliphatic ester in a condensation / amidation step to form the N-alkyl, N-polyhydroxylic acid amide product. Methods for obtaining compositions containing polyhydroxy fatty acid amides are described, for example, in Great Britain Patent Specification 809,060, published February 18, 1959, by Thomas Hedley & Co., Ltd., patent of E.U.A. 2,965,576, issued December 20, 1960 to E. R. Wilson, patent of E.U.A. 2,703,798, Anthony M. Schwartz, issued March 8, 1955, patent of E.U.A. 1, 985,424, issued December 25, 1934 to Piggott, and WO92 / 06070, each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Zwitterionic Betaine Surfactant As a third essential element, the compositions according to the present invention comprise a zwitterionic betaine surfactant, or a mixture thereof. Typically, the compositions of the present invention comprise from 0.001% to 50% by weight of the total composition, of a zwitterionic betaine surfactant, or a mixture thereof, preferably from 0.01% to 10% by weight, more preferably from 0.5% to 8%, and most preferably 0.5% to 5%. The zwitterionic betaine surfactants suitable for use herein contain a cationic hydrophilic group, ie, a quaternary ammonium group, and an anionic hydrophilic group in the same molecule at a relatively broad pH scale. Typical anionic hydrophilic groups are carboxylates and sulfonates, although other groups such as sulfates, phosphonates, and the like can be used. A generic formula for the zwitterionic betaine surfactant for use herein is: RrN + (R2) (R3) R4X "wherein Ri is a hydrophobic group; R2 is hydrogen, C-Cß alkyl, hydroxyalkyl or other C-alkyl group; -C6 substituted, R3 is C Cß alkyl, hydroxyalkyl or another substituted CrC6 alkyl group, which may also be linked to R2 to form ring structures with nitrogen, or a C Cß sulfonate group; which joins the cationic nitrogen atom to the hydrophilic group, and is typically an alkylene, hydroxyalkylene or polyalkoxy group containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and X is the hydrophilic group, which is a carboxylate or sulfonate group. Preferred hydrophobes are aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon chains, saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted, which may contain linking groups such as amido groups or ester groups The most preferred Ri is an alkyl group containing from 1 to 24 carbon atoms, preferably from 8 to 18, and more preferably from 10 to 16. These simple alkyl groups are preferred for reasons of cost and stability. However, the hydrophobic group Ri can also be an amido radical of the formula Ra-C (0) -NH- (C (Rb) 2)? T ?, wherein Ra is an aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon chain, saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted, preferably an alkyl group containing from 8 to 20 carbon atoms, preferably up to 18, more preferably up to 16, R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and hydroxy groups, and m is from 1 to 4, preferably 2 to 3, more preferably 3, with no more than one hydroxy group in any portion (C (Rb) 2). Preferred R2 is hydrogen, or a CrC3 alkyl, and more preferably methyl. Preferred R 3 is C 1 -C sulfonate group, or C 1 -C 3 alkyl, and more preferably methyl. The preferred R 4 is (CH 2) n, wherein n is an integer from 1 to 10, preferably from 1 to 6, more preferably from 1 to 3.

Some common examples of betaine / sulfobetaine are described in the patents of E.U.A. Nos. 2,082,275, 2,702,279 and 2,255,082, hereby incorporated by reference. Examples of particularly suitable alkyldimethyl betaines include coconut dimethyl betaine, lauryl dimethyl betaine, decyl dimethyl betaine, 2- (N-decyl-N, N-dimethyl-ammonia) acetate, 2- (N-coco N, N-dimethylammonium acetate. ), myristyl dimethyl betaine, palmityl dimethyl betaine, cetyl dimethyl betaine and stearyl dimethyl betaine. For example, coconut dimethyl betaine is commercially available from Seppic under the trade name of Amonyl 265®. Lauryl betaine is commercially available from Albright & Wilson under the trade name Empigen BB / L®. Examples of amidobetaines include cocoamidoethylbetaine, cocoamidopropylbetaine or acylamidopropylene (hydropropylene) sulfobetaine C10-C14 fat. For example, acylamidopropylene (hydropropylene) sulfobetaine C10-C14 fat is commercially available from Sherex Company under the tradename "Varion CAS® Sulfobetaine7. A further example of betaine is lauryl imino-dipropionate, commercially available from Rhone-Poulenc under the trade name of Mirataine H2C-HA® In a preferred embodiment, the zwitterionic surfactants of betaine used herein are free of salts. By "zwitterionic surfactants of betaine free of salts" is meant herein, that the surfactant Zwitterionic betaine (raw material) of the present invention contains less than 5% by weight of salts, preferably less than 3%, more preferably less than 2%, even more preferably less than 1%, and most preferably from 0.01% to 0.5 % By "salts", it is understood herein any material having as a base unit a pair formed of positive on (or positive molecular ion) and negative ion (or Molecular negative) containing one or more halogen atoms. Said salts include sodium chloride, potassium chloride, sodium bromide, and the like. Said salt-free zwitterionic betaine surfactants are obtained by conventional manufacturing processes such as inverted osmosis, electrodialysis or fractionated precipitation. For example, inverted osmosis is based on the principle of contacting the raw material of zwitterionic surfactant of betaine (commercially available) with a polar solvent (it will be understood that said polar solvent is free of salts) separated by a semipermeable membrane, for example cellulose acetate. Appropriate pressure is applied to the system to allow the salts to migrate from the surfactant feedstock to the polar solvent phase. By this process, the raw material of zwitterionic surfactant of betaine is purified, ie the salts are extracted from the raw material. Preferred free alkyl alkyldimethyl betaines include coconut dimethyl betaine, lauryl dimethyl betaine, decyl dimethyl betaine, 2- (N-decyl-N, N-dimethylammonic acetate), 2- (N-coco N, N-dimethylammonium) acetate. , myristyl dimethyl betaine, palmityl dimethyl betaine, cetyl dimethyl betaine and stearyl dimethyl betaine, and these salt-free zwitterionic betaine surfactants contain less than 5% salts. Preferred salt-free amidobetaines include cocoamidoethyl betaine, cocoamidopropyl betaine or C10-C14 fatty acid acyl amidopropylene (hydropropylene) sulfobetaine, and these salt-free zwitterionic betaine surfactants contain less than 5% salts. It has now been found that these salt-free zwitterionic betaine surfactants reduce the loss of tensile strength when used in place of the conventional zwitterionic betaine surfactants in a liquid peroxygen composition containing bleach for bleaching fabrics. It has further been found that these salts-free zwitterionic betaine surfactants reduce color damage (i.e., color change and / or discoloration), when used in place of conventional zwitterionic betaine surfactants in a liquid peroxygen composition containing bleach to whiten fabrics. The reduced loss of tensile strength and reduced damage to colors are observed even if the composition is left on the colored fabrics soiled after prolonged periods before rinsing or washing, and then rinsing the fabrics, for example, 24 hours.

In fact, the presence of these salt-free zwitterionic betaine surfactants in a peroxygen composition containing bleach, prevents the decomposition (oxidation) of the colorants generally present on the surface of the colored fabrics, such as bleach-sensitive dyes and / or metallized dyes including formazan-copper dyes and / or azo-metal dyes. It is speculated that the presence of salts in zwitterionic surfactants of betaine, i.e., halides such as Cl-, Br- and the like, catalyzes the decomposition of peroxygen bleach radicals such as hydrogen peroxide and oxidation. In this way, it is thought that a radical reaction occurs on the surface of the fabrics with the generation of free radicals, which results in loss of the tensile strength and / or damage to the colors. The use of salt-free zwitterionic betaine surfactants reduces the oxidative and radical decomposition of the peroxygen bleach, and thus results in reduced loss of tensile strength and reduced color damage. The tensile strength in a fabric can be measured by stretching said fabric until it breaks. The force required to break the fabric is the "ultimate tensile stress", and can be measured with an INSTRON® stress-stretch machine available from INSTRON. The loss of tensile strength is the difference between the tensile strength of a fabric, taken as a reference, for example, a fabric that has not been bleached, and the tensile strength of the same fabric after being bleached with a composition of the present invention. A loss of tensile strength of zero means no damage to the fabric is observed. Color security can be evaluated visually by comparing, from side to side, fabrics pretreated with a composition of the present invention and the reference composition. The differences and graduations in color can be evaluated visually and classified according to units of punctuation by a panel (PSU) using any suitable scale. The PSU data can be managed statistically using conventional techniques. Alternatively, various types of optical methods and apparatus may be used to evaluate the improvement in color security produced by the present invention. For example, when evaluating color security on fabrics, measurements can be used with the Quest 45/0 Hunterlab. The combination of zwitterionic betaine surfactants, preferably salt-free zwitterionic betaine surfactants and nonionic surfactants, preferably ethoxylated nonionic surfactants, provides in the present excellent greasy stain removal performance, while providing performance excellent bleaching to liquid peroxygen compositions containing bleach of the present invention comprising them.

In addition, significant cooperation between these ingredients has been observed to obtain optimum stain removal performance on a variety of soils, from particulate to non-particulate soils and from hydrophobic to hydrophilic soils under any domestic application, and especially washing application on fabrics hydrophobic and hydrophilic. More particularly, the use of zwitterionic betaine surfactants, preferably salt-free zwitterionic betaine surfactants, on top of nonionic surfactants, preferably ethoxylated nonionic surfactants in an aqueous liquid composition comprising a bleach of Peroxygen, intensifies bleaching performance and the removal of various types of stains including oily stains (eg, lipstick, olive oil, mayonnaise, vegetable oil, sebum, makeup), comparatively with the bleaching and stain removal performance supplied by the same composition based solely on one of these ingredients (ie, nonionic surfactant or zwitterionic betaine surfactant). The stain removal performance can be evaluated by the following test methods on various types of stains. A suitable test method for evaluating the stain removal performance in a soiled fabric, for example, under a pretreatment condition, is as follows: a composition according to the present invention is applied pure to a fabric, preferably to the The soiled portion of the fabric is allowed to act for 1 to 10 minutes, and said pretreated fabric is then washed in accordance with common washing conditions, at a temperature of 30 ° C to 70 ° C for 10 to 100 minutes. The stain removal is then evaluated by comparing, from side to side, the soiled fabric pretreated with the composition of the present invention, with the one pretreated with the reference, for example, the same composition but comprising only a nonionic surfactant or just one zwitterionic surfactant of betaine as the sole surfactant. A visual classification can be used to assign differences in the panel units (psu) on a scale of 0 to 4. The bleaching performance can be evaluated as in the case of stain removal performance, but the stains used are bleach stains such as coffee, tea, and the like.

Sulfonated Hydrotrope As a fourth essential ingredient, the compositions according to the present invention comprise a sulfonated hydrotrope, or a mixture thereof. Any sulfonated hydrothope known to those skilled in the art is suitable for use herein. In a preferred embodiment, alkyl aryl sulfonates or alkyl aryl sulphonic acids are used. Preferably, the alkyl aryl sulfonates include sodium, potassium, calcium and ammonium xylene sulphonates, sodium, potassium, calcium and ammonium toluenesulfonates, sodium, potassium, calcium and ammonium cumenesulfonates, sodium or potassium, calcium and substituted ammonium naphthalenesulfonates. replaced, and mixtures thereof. Preferred alkyl aryl sulfonic acids include xylene sulfonic acid, toluene sulfonic acid, cumenesulfonic acid, substituted or unsubstituted naphthalenesulfonic acid, and mixtures thereof. More preferably, xylene sulfonic acid or p-toluenesulfonate, or mixtures thereof, are used. Typically, the compositions herein comprise from 0.01% to 20% by weight of the total composition, of a sulfonated hydrotrope, or a mixture thereof, preferably from 0.05% to 10%, and more preferably from 0.1% to 5% . In an aqueous solution, nonionic surfactants such as ethoxylated nonionic surfactants tend to separate from water, and form a film of surfactant on top of the solution. This phenomenon is mostly accelerated at low temperatures, that is, typically less than 5 ° C, and is irreversible when the solution returns to room temperature. The advantage of this development is to increase the physical stability, that is, the stability of the phase, by adding a zwitterionic surfactant that ensures complete solubility, and a sulphonated hydrotrope that allows to recover the isotropy when recovery occurs from very low temperatures.

By "physically stable" it is meant herein that phase separation does not occur in the compositions for a period of one month at 0 ° C. Physical stability at low temperature after prolonged storage periods of the compositions herein can be Evaluate by the following visual classification test method: From the compositions to be tested, 100 ml samples are prepared in a clear plastic container (at least 3 replicates) .The samples are placed at the appropriate temperature, using a climatic chamber, and they are verified after several periods, for example, 1, 2, 3, 7, 15 and 30 days, and are evaluated according to a visual classification system.For optimal physical stability, it has been found that the composition according to the present invention has a weight ratio of zwitterionic surfactant of betaine: sulphonated hydrotrope, from 0.1: 1 to 100: 1, more preferably from 1: 1 to 10: 1, even more preferably from 2: 1 to 5: 1, and most preferably 3: 1. An advantage of the liquid compositions of the present invention is that they are chemically stable after prolonged storage periods. The chemical stability of the compositions herein can be assessed by measuring the concentration of available oxygen (often abbreviated as AvO2) at a given storage time after the compositions have been manufactured. The concentration of available oxygen can be measured by chemical titration methods known in the art, such as the iodometric method, the thiosulfatimetric method, the permanganometric method and the cerimetric method. Such methods and the criteria for choosing the appropriate method are described, for example, in? Ydrogen Peroxide7 WC Schumb, CN Satterfield and RL Wentworth, Reinhold Publishing Corporation, New York, 1955 and Organic Peroxides, "Daniel Swem, Editor, Wiley Int. Science, 1970 Optional ingredients The compositions herein may further comprise various other ingredients such as bleaching agents, enhancers of "detergent, other surface active agents, stabilizers, bleach activators, soil suspending agents, polyamine polymers, soil suspending agents, polymeric agents for the release of dirt, foam reducing systems, radical scavengers, catalysts, dye transfer agents, solvents , brighteners, perfumes, pigments and dyes.

Surfactants The compositions of the present invention may further comprise other surfactants than those mentioned hereinabove, including anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants and / or amphoteric surfactants.

Typically, the compositions according to the present invention may comprise from 0.01% to 30% by weight of the total composition, of another surfactant on top of the zwitterionic surfactant of betaine and the nonionic surfactant, preferably 0.1 % to 25%, and more preferably from 0.5% to 20%. Suitable anionic surfactants for use in the compositions herein include water-soluble salts or acids of the formula ROSO 3M, wherein R is preferably a C 1 or C 2 hydrocarbyl, preferably an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl having an alkyl component of C10-C20, more preferably an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl of C2-Ci8, and M is H or a cation, for example, an alkali metal cation (eg, sodium, potassium, lithium), or ammonium or substituted ammonium (by example, methyl-, dimethyl- and trimethylammonium cations and quaternary ammonium cations, such as tetramethyl ammonium and dimethyl piperidinium cations, and quaternary ammonium cations derived from alkylamines such as ethylamine, diethylamine, triethylamine, and mixtures thereof , and similar). Typically, C? 2-C? 6 alkyl chains are preferred for lower wash temperatures (eg, less than about 50 ° C), and Ciß-Ciß alkyl chains are preferred for higher wash temperatures (eg example, greater than about 50 ° C). Other suitable anionic surfactants for use herein are water-soluble salts or acids of the formula RO (A) mSO 3 M, wherein R is an unsubstituted C 1 or C 24 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group having an alkyl component of C 1 or -C24, preferably an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl of C2-C2o, more preferably alkyl or hydroxyalkyl of C2-C8, A is an ethoxy or propoxy unit, m is greater than zero, typically between about 0.5 and about 6, more preferably between about 0.5 and about 3, and M is H or a cation which may be, for example, a metal cation (eg, sodium, potassium, lithium, calcium, magnesium, etc.), ammonium cation or substituted ammonium cation. Ethoxylated alkyl sulphates, as well as propoxylated alkyl sulphates are contemplated herein. Specific examples of substituted ammonium cations include methyl-, dimethyl- and trimethyl-ammonium cations and quaternary ammonium cations, such as tetramethyl ammonium, dimethyl piperidinium, and cations derived from alkanolamines such as ethylamine, diethylamine, triethylamine, and mixtures thereof. same, and similar. Examples of surfactants are alkyl polyethoxylate (1.0) C? 2-C18 sulfate, C? 2-C?? E (1.0) M), alkyl polyethoxylate (2.25) C12-C18 sulfate, C12-C18E (2.25) M) , alkyl polyethoxylate (3.0) sulfate C12-C18, C-? 2-C? 8E (3.0) and alkyl polyethoxylate (4.0) C12-C? 8 sulfate, C12-C? SE (4.0) M), wherein M is conveniently selected from sodium and potassium . Other anionic surfactants useful for detersive purposes may also be used herein. These may include salts (including, for example, sodium, potassium, ammonium and substituted ammonium salts such as mono-, di- and tri- ethanolamine salts) of soap, linear Cg-C2o alkylbenzene sulphonates, primary or secondary alkanesulfonates of Cs. -C ^, Cs-C24 olefinsulfonates, sulfonated polycarboxylic acids prepared by sulfonation of the pyrolyzed product of alkaline earth metal citrates, for example, as described in British Patent Specification No. 1, 082,179, alkyl polyglycol ether sulfates of Ca-C2 ( containing up to 10 moles of ethylene oxide); alkyl ester sulfonates such as Cu-iß methyl ester sulfonates; acyl glycerol sulfonates, oleyl glycerol fatty sulfates, alkyl phenol ether sulfates of ethylene oxide, paraffin sulphonates, alkyl phosphates, isethionates such as acyl isethionates, N-acyl taurates, alkyl succinamates and sulfosuccinates, monoesters of sulfosuccinates (especially monoesters of C? 2 -C? Saturated and unsaturated), sulfosuccinate diesters (especially saturated and unsaturated Cβ-C? 4 diesters), alkylpolysaccharide sulfates such as alkylpolyglucoside sulfates (the non-sulfated nonionic compounds being described below), alkyl sulfates branched primary, alkyl polyethoxy carboxylates such as those of the formula RO (CH2CH2O) kCH2COO-M +, wherein R is a C8-C22 alkyl, k is an integer from 0 to 10, and M is a soluble salt-forming cation. Resin acids and hydrogenated resin acids are also suitable, such as pitch, hydrogenated pitch, and hydrogenated resin acids and resin acids present in, or derived from, tallow oil. Other examples are given in "Surface Active Agents and Detergents" (Vols. I and II by Schwartz, Perry and Berch). A variety of such surfactants are also generally described in the US patent. 3,929,678, issued December 30, 1975 to Laughlin, et al., In column 23, line 58 to column 29, line 23 (incorporated herein by reference). Other suitable anionic surfactants for use herein also include acyl sarcosinates or mixtures thereof, in their acid and / or salt form, preferably long chain acyl sarcosinates having the following formula: wherein M is hydrogen or a cationic portion wherein R is an alkyl group of 11 to 15 carbon atoms, preferably 11 to 13 carbon atoms. Preferred M are hydrogen and alkali metal salts, especially sodium and potassium said acrylic sarcosinate surfactants are derived from natural fatty acids and the amino acid sarcosine (N-methylglycine). They are suitable for use as an aqueous function of the salt or the acid form as a powder. Being derivatives of natural fatty acids, said acyl sarcosinates are rapidly and completely biodegradable and have good compatibility with the skin. Accordingly, long chain acyl sarcosinates suitable for use herein include C ?2 acyl sarcosinate (ie, an acylsacorsinate according to the above formula wherein M is hydrogen and R is an alkyl group of 11 carbon atoms) and C acyl sarcosinate (ie, an acyl sarcosinate according to the above formula wherein M is hydrogen and R is an alkyl group of 13 carbon atoms). C 2 acyl sarcosinate is commercially available, for example, as Hamposyl L-30® supplied by Hampshire. C? 4 acyl sarcosinate is commercially available, for example, as Hamposyl M-30? Supplied by Hampshire. Suitable amphoteric surfactants for use herein include amine oxides having the following formula R? R2R3NO wherein each of R1, R2 and R3 is independently a straight or branched, substituted or unsubstituted, saturated hydrocarbon chain from 1 to 30 carbon atoms. Preferred amine oxide surfactants for use in accordance with the present invention are amine oxides having the following formula R1R2R3NO wherein R1 is a hydrocarbon chain comprising from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, preferably from 6 to 20 carbon atoms. , more preferably from 8 to 16, most preferably from 8 to 12, and wherein R2 and R3 are straight or branched hydrocarbon chains, independently substituted or unsubstituted, comprising from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, preferably from 1 to 3 carbon atoms and more preferably are methyl groups. R1 can be a straight or branched hydrocarbon chain, substituted or unsubstituted, saturated. Amine oxides suitable for use herein are for example the C8-C10 amine oxides in natural combination as well as the C12-C16 amine oxides commercially available from Hoechst.

Chelating Agents The compositions of the present invention may comprise a chelating agent or a mixture thereof as a preferred optional ingredient. Suitable chelating agents can be any of those known to those skilled in the art, such as those selected from the group comprising phosphonate chelating agents, carboxylate chelating agents, other carboxylate chelating agents, polyfunctionally-substituted aromatic chelating agents, ethylenediamine- N.N'-disuccinic s, or mixtures thereof. A chelating agent may be desired in the compositions of the present invention, since it allows to increase the ionic concentration of the compositions herein and therefore their performance of stain removal and bleaching on various surfaces. The presence of chelating agents can also contribute to reducing the loss of tensile strength of the fabrics and / or damage to color, especially in a laundry pre-treatment application. Indeed, the chelating agents inactivate the metal ions present on the surface of the fabrics and / or in the cleaning compositions (pure or diluted) that would otherwise contribute to the radical decomposition of the peroxygen bleach. Phosphonates chelating agents suitable for use herein may include alkali metal ethan-1-hydroxy diphosphonates (HEDP) also known as etildronic acid alkylene poly (alkylene phosphonate), as well as aminophosphonate compounds, including aminoaminotri (methylene phosphonic acid) (ATMP), nrtrilotrimethylenephosphonates (NTP), ethylenediaminetetramethylenephosphonates, and diethylenetriaminepentamethylenephosphonates (DTPMP). The phosphonate compounds may be present in their acid form as salts of different cations in some or all of their acid functionalities. Preferred phosphonate chelating agents to be used herein are diethylenetriaminepentamethylenephosphonate (DTPMP) and ethane-1-hydroxy diphosphonate. (HEDP or etidronic acid). Such phosphonate chelating agents are commercially available from Monsanto under the trade name DEQUEST®. Polyfunctionally substituted aromatic chelating agents may also be useful in the compositions herein. See the patent of E.U.A. such as 3,812,044, issued May 21, 1974, to Connor et al. Preferred compounds of this type in acid form are those of dihydroxydisulfobenzenes such as 1,2-dihydroxy-3,5-disulfobenzene. A preferred biodegradable chelating agent for use herein is ethylene diamine-N'-disuccinic acid, or alkali metal, or alkaline earth, ammonium or substitute salts thereof or mixtures thereof. Ethylene diamine-N'-disuccinic acids, especially the (S, S) isomer, have been extensively described in the US patent. 4,704,233, issued November 3, 1987, to Hartman and Perkins. Ethylenediamine-N, N'-disuccinic acid, for example, is commercially available under the trade name ssEDDS® from Palmer Research Laboratories. Suitable amino carboxylates to be used herein include etilendiamintetraacetatos, dietilentriaminpentaacetatos, diethylenetriaminepentaacetate (DTPA), N-hidroxietiletilendiamintriacetatos, nitrilotri-acetates, etilendiamintetrapropionatos, triacetos, nitrilotri-acetates, etilendiamintetrapropionatos, trietilenetetraaminehexa-acetates, ethanol-diglicines, propilendiamintracético acid (PDTA) and methylglycliciacetic acid (MGDA), both in its acid form and in its alkali metal, ammonium and substituted ammonium salt form. Particularly suitable aminocarboxylates to be used herein are diethylenetriaminpentaacetic acid, propylenediaminetetraacetic acid (PDTA) which is, for example, commercially obtainable from BASF under the trade name Trilon FS® and methyl glycine-acetic acid (MGDA). Other carboxylate chelating agents to be used herein include salicylic acid, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine, malonic acid or mixtures thereof. Another chelating agent for use herein is of the formula: R2R3R4 wherein Ri, R2, R3, and R are independently selected from the group consisting of -H, alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, aryloxy, -Cl, -Br, -N02, -C (O) R 'and -SO2R " wherein R 'is selected from the group consisting of -H, -OH, alkyl, alkoxy, aryl and aryloxy; R "is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkoxy, aryl and aryloxy; and R5, Re »R7 and Rs are independently selected from the group consisting of -H and alkyl. Particularly preferred chelating agents to be used herein are aminoaminotri (methylene phosphonic) acid, di-ethylene-triamino-pentaacetic acid, diethylenetriaminpentamethylenephosphonate acid, 1-hydroxy-ethanediphosphonate, ethylene diamine-N'-disuccinic acid and mixtures thereof. . Typically, the compositions according to the present invention comprise up to 5% by weight of the total composition of a chelating agent or mixtures thereof, preferably from 0.01% to 1.5% by weight and more preferably from 0.01% to 0.5%.

Foaming reducing system The compositions according to the present invention may further comprise a foam reducing agent or a mixture thereof. Any foam reducing agents known to those skilled in the art are suitable for use herein. In a preferred embodiment, a foam reducing system comprising a fatty acid is used in conjunction with an alkoxylated nonionic surfactant written as hereinafter defined and / or a silicone. Typically, the compositions herein may comprise from 1.10"*% to 10% by weight of the total composition of a fatty acid or a mixture thereof, preferably from 1.10'3% to 5% and more preferably 1.10" 2 % to 5%. Typically, the compositions herein may comprise from 1.10"3% to 20% by weight of the total composition of a capped alkoxylated nonionic surfactant as defined herein or a mixture thereof, preferably 1.10" 2% to 10% and more preferably from 5.10"2% to 5%. Typically, the compositions herein may comprise from 1.10" 5% to 5% by weight of the total composition of a silicone or a mixture thereof, preferably of 1.10"5% to 1% or more preferably from 1.10" *% to 0.5%. Suitable fatty acids for use herein are the alkaline salts of a C8-C2 fatty acid. Such alkali salts include the fully saturated metal salts such as sodium, potassium and / or lithium salts, as well as the ammonium and / or aikammonium salts of fatty acids, preferably the sodium salt. Preferred fatty acids for use herein contain from 8 to 22 carbon atoms, preferably from 8 to 20 and more preferably from 8 to 18.

Suitable fatty acids may be selected from caprylic acid, capric acid, lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, and mixtures of suitably hardened fatty acids, derived from natural sources such as vegetable or animal esters (e.g., palm oil , coconut oil, soy oil, castor oil, bait, peanut oil, whale and fish oils and / or babassu oil For example, coconut fatty acid is commercially available from UNICHEMA under the factory name PRiFAC 5900. The non-ionic alkoxylated surfactants capped for use herein are according to the formula: R1 (O-CH2-CH2) n- (OR2) m-0-R3 wherein Ri is an alkyl or alkenyl group linear or branched, aryl group, C 8 -C 24 alkaryl group, preferably R is an alkyl or alkenyl group of Ca-Cis, more preferably a C10-C15 alkyl or alkenyl group, more preferably a C? 0-C15 alkyl group; wherein R 2 is a linear or branched C 1 -C 10 alkyl group, preferably a linear or branched C 2 -C 6 alkyl group, or preferably a C 3 group; wherein R3 is a C1-C10 alkyl or alkenyl group, preferably a C1-C5 alkyl group, more preferably methyl; and where n and m are integers that vary independently on the scale from 1 to 20, preferably from 1 to 10, more preferably from 1 to 5; or mixtures thereof.

These surfactants are commercially available from BASF under the trade name Plurafac®, from HOECHST by the factory name Genapol® or from ICI under the trade name Symperonic®. The capped alkoxylated nonionic surfactants of the above formula are those commercially available under the factory name Genapol® L 2.5 NR from Hoechst, and Plurafac® from BASF. Silicones suitable for use herein include any silicone and silica-silicone blends. The silicones may be represented generally by alkylated polysiloxane materials while silica is typically used in finely divided forms exemplified by silica aerogels and xerogels and hydrophobic silicas of various types. These materials can be incorporated as particulate materials in which the silicone is advantageously incorporated in a releasable manner in a detergent impermeable carrier that is substantially non-active on the surface, soluble in water or dispersible in water. Alternatively, the silicone can be dissolved and dispersed in a liquid carrier and applied by spraying on one or more of the other components. Currently in industrial practice, the term "silicone" has become a generic term encompassing a variety of relatively high molecular weight polymers containing siloxane units and hydrocarbyl groups of various types. Certainly, silicone compounds have been described extensively in the art, see for example US 4 076 648, US 4 021 365, US 4 749 740, US 4 983 316, EP 150 872, EP 217 501 and EP 499 364. Silicone compounds disclosed therein are suitable in the context of the present invention. Generally, silicone compounds can be described as siloxanes having the general structure: wherein n is from 20 to 2000 and wherein each R can independently be an alkyl or an aryl radical. Some examples of such substituents are methyl, ethyl, propyl, isobutyl and phenyl. Preferred polydiorganosiloxanes are polydimethylsiloxanes having trimethylsilyl end blocking units and have a viscosity at 25 ° C of 5 x 10"5 m2 / s to 0.1 m2 / s, ie a value of n on the scale of 40 to 1500. Preferred these because of their rapid availability and relatively low cost A preferred type of silicone compounds useful in the compositions herein comprises a mixture of an alkylated siloxane of the type discussed hereinabove and solid silica. One silica, one precipitated silica or one silica made by the technique of gel formation The silica particles can be hydrophobic by treating them with diakylsilyl group and / or alkylsilane groups either directly adhered on the silica or by means of resin. silicone A preferred silicone compound comprises a hydrophobic silica silanada, most likely trimethylsilanada, having a particle size on the scale of 10 mm to 20 mm and a specific surface area greater than 50 m2 / g. The silicone compounds used in the compositions according to the present invention suitably have an amount of silica on the scale of 1 to 30% (more preferably 2.0 to 15%) by weight of the total weight of the silicone compounds resulting in silicone compounds having an average viscosity on the scale from 2 x 10"4 m2 / s to 1 m2 / s Preferred silicone compounds can have a viscosity in the scale of 5 x 10" 3 m2 / s to 0.1 m2 / s . Particularly suitable are silicone compounds with a viscosity of 2 x 10"2 m2 / s to 4.5 x 10_2 m2 / s The silicone compounds suitable for use herein are commercially available from various companies including Rhone Poulec, Fueller and Dow Corning Some examples of silicone compounds for use herein are DB® 100 silicone and 2-3597® silicone emulsion, both commercially available from Dow Corning.Another silicone compound is disclosed in Bartollota et al., US patent 3 933 672. Other particularly useful silicone compounds are the self-emulsifying silicone compounds, described in the German patent application DTOS 2 646 126 published on April 28, 1977. An example of such a compound is DC-544® , commercially obtainable from Dow Coming, which is a siloxane-glycol copolymer. The silicone compounds typically preferred are described in the European patent application EP-A-573699. Said compositions may comprise a mixture of silicone / silica in combination with non-porous fume silica such as Aerosil®. Other foam reducing agents suitable for use herein include 2-alkylalcanol, or mixtures thereof, having an alkyl chain comprising from 6 to 16 carbon atoms, preferably from 8 to 12 and a terminal hydroxy group, said alkyl chain being substituted at position a by an alkyl chain comprising from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, preferably from 2 to 8 and more preferably from 3 to 6. Such suitable compounds are commercially obtainable, for example, in the Isofol® series such as Isofol® (2-butyloctanol) or Isofol® 16 (2-hexyldecanol). Typically, the compositions herein may comprise from 0.05% to 2% by weight of the total composition of a 2-alkylalcanol, or mixtures thereof, preferably from 0.1% to 1.5% and most preferably from 0.1% to 0.8%.

Radical scavenger The compositions of the present invention may comprise a radical scavenger or a mixture thereof. Radical scavengers suitable for use herein include the well-known substituted mono-dihydroxybenzenes and their analogs, alkyl- and arylcarboxylates and mixtures thereof. Preferred radical scavengers of this type for use herein include di-tert-butylhydroxytoluene (BHT), hydroquinone, di-tert-butylhydroquinone, mono-tert-butylhydroquinone, tert-butyl-hydroxyanisole, benzoic acid, toluic acid, catechol, t-butylcatechol, benzylamine, 1,1,3-tris (2-methyI-4-hydroxy-5-t-butylphenyl) butane, n-propyl-gallate or mixtures thereof and is highly preferred di- tert-butylhydroxytoluene. Radical scavengers such as N-propylgalate can be commercially available from Nipa Laboratories under the trade name Nipanox S1®. Radical scavengers, when used, are typically present herein in amounts ranging up to 10% by weight of the total composition and preferably from 0.001% to 0.5% by weight. The presence of radical scavengers can contribute to reducing the loss of tensile strength of the fabrics and / or damage to color when the compositions of the present invention are used in any laundry application, especially in a pre-treatment application. laundry.

Antioxidant The compositions according to the present invention may further comprise an antioxidant or mixtures thereof. Typically, the compositions herein comprise up to 10% by weight of the total composition of an antioxidant or mixtures thereof, preferably from 0.002% to 5%, more preferably from 0.005% to 2% and most preferably from 0.01% to 1%. %. Suitable antioxidants for use herein include organic acids such as citric acid, ascorbic acid, tartaric acid, adipic acid and sorbic acid, or amines such as lecithin, or amino acids such as glutamine, methionine and cysteine, or esters such as ascorbyl palmitate, stearate of ascorbyl and triethyl citrate, or mixtures thereof. Preferred antioxidants for use herein are citric acid, ascorbic acid, ascorbyl palmitate, lecithin or mixtures thereof.

Bleach activator As an optional ingredient, the compositions of the present invention may comprise a bleach activator or mixtures thereof. By "bleach activator", a compound which reacts with hydrogen peroxide to form a peracid is to be understood herein. The peracid thus formed constitutes an activated bleach. Bleach activators suitable for use herein include those belonging to the class of esters, amides, imides or anhydrides. Some examples of suitable compounds of this type are set forth in British patents GB 1 586 769 and GB 2 143 231 and a method for forming them into pellets is described in European published patent application EP-A-62 523. Suitable examples of such compounds to be used herein are tetracetylethylenediamine (TAED), sodium 3,5,5-trimethylhexanoyloxybenzenesulfonate, diperoxydodecanoic acid as described for example in US 4 818 425 and peroxyadipic acid nonyl amide as described for example in US 4 259 201 and n-nonanoyloxybenzenesulfonate (NOBS). Also suitable are N-acylaprolactams selected from the group consisting of benzoylcaprolactam, octanolcaprolactam, nonanoylcaprolactam, hexanoylcaprolactam, decanoylcaprolactam, undecenoylcaprolactam, formylcaprolactam, acetylcaprolactam, propanoylcaprolactam, butanoylcaprolactam, substituted or unsubstituted pentanoylcaprolactam, or mixtures thereof. A particular family of bleach activators of interest was exposed in EP 624 154 and acetyltriethyl citrate (ATC) is particularly preferred in that family. Acetyltriethyl citrate has the advantage that it is phylo-ecological since it is finally degraded to citric acid and alcohol. further, acetyltriethyl citrate has good hydrolytic stability in the product with storage and is an efficient bleach activator. Finally, it provides good capacity for detergency improvement to the composition. The compositions according to the present invention may comprise from 0.01% to 20% by weight of the total composition of said bleach activator, or mixtures thereof, preferably from 1% to 10% and more preferably from 3% to 7% .

PROCESSING PROCESSES In the present invention, it is necessary to contact the liquid aqueous composition of the present invention with the surface to be treated. By "surfaces" is meant in the present any inanimate surface. These inanimate surfaces include, but are not limited to, hard surfaces typically found in homes, such as kitchens, bathrooms or interiors of automobiles, such as tiles, walls, floors, chrome, smooth vinyl glass, any plastic, laminated wood, table surface, sinks, stove tops, tableware, sanitary facilities such as dumps, showers, shower curtains, sinks, toilets and the like, as well as fabrics including clothes, curtains, bedding, laundry bathroom, tablecloths, sleeping bags, tents, upholstered furniture and the like, and rugs. The inanimate surfaces also include household appliances including, but not limited to, refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, automatic dryers, ovens, microwave ovens, dishwashers, etc. Thus, the present invention also encompasses a method of treating a fabric, such as the inanimate surface. In such a process, a composition, as defined herein, is contacted with the fabrics to be treated. This can be done either in a so-called "pre-treatment mode", in which a composition, as defined herein, is applied purely to said fabrics before the fabrics are rinsed, or washed and then rinsed, or in a "soaking mode" in which a composition is first diluted, as defined herein, in a water bath and the fabrics are soaked and soaked in the bath, before they are rinsed, or in a through washing ", in which a composition is added, as defined herein, in addition to a washing solution formed by dissolving or dispersing a typical laundry detergent. It is also essential in both cases, that the fabrics be rinsed after they have been contacted with said composition, before said composition has completely dried. By "treating" is meant herein, since the composition according to the present invention provides excellent stain removal performance over a wide variety of stains and soils and on various surfaces mainly due to the presence of the surfactant system in present as well as bleaching, since the composition according to the present invention provides excellent bleaching performance due mainly to the presence of peroxygen bleach and the surfactant system herein. present that the fabrics are contacted with a conventional detergent composition comprising at least one active agent on the surface in an aqueous bath.This washing can occur by means of a washing machine or simply by hand.For "in its pure form" , it is to be understood that the liquid compositions are applied directly on the fabrics that have to be previously treated without experimenting. There is no dilution, ie the liquid compositions are applied herein on the fabrics as described herein. It has certainly been found that the evaporation of water contributes to increasing the concentration of free radicals on the surface of the fabrics and, consequently, the rate of chain reaction. It is also speculated that an autooxidation reaction occurs with the evaporation of water, when the liquid compositions are allowed to dry on the fabrics. Said autooxidation reaction generates peroxiradicals that contribute to the degradation of cellulose. Thus, not allowing the liquid compositions, as described herein, to dry on the fabric, in a process of previously treating soiled fabrics, contributes to reducing the loss of resistance to addition and / or damage to the color., when fabrics are pretreated with liquid compositions containing peroxygen bleach. In the pretreatment mode, the method comprises the steps of applying said liquid composition in its pure form or at least on soiled portions thereof, and subsequently rinsing, or washing, and then rinsing said fabrics. In this mode, they can optionally leave the pure compositions on said fabrics for a period ranging from 1 minute to 1 hour, before the fabrics are rinsed, or washed, and then rinsed, as long as it is not allowed to dry the composition on said fabrics. For particularly difficult stains, it may be appropriate to further rub or brush said fabrics by means of a sponge or brush, or by rubbing two pieces of fabrics against each other. In another way, which is usually referred to as "soaking", the method comprises the steps of diluting said liquid composition in its pure form in an aqueous bath so as to form a dilute composition. The level of dilution of liquid composition in an aqueous bath is typically up to 1: 85, preferably up to 1: 50 and more preferably about 1:25 (composition: water). The fabrics are then contacted with the aqueous bath comprising the liquid composition and the fabrics are finally formed, or washed and then rinsed. Preferably in that embodiment, the fabrics are immersed in an aqueous bath comprising the liquid composition, and preferably, the fabrics are allowed to soak therein for a period ranging from 1 minute to 48 hours, preferably from 1 hour to 24 hours. In another embodiment that can still be considered a "soaking" submodality, which is generally referred to as "blanching through washing", the liquid composition is used as a so-called laundry additive. And in that embodiment, the aqueous bath is formed by dissolving or dispersing a conventional laundry detergent in water. The liquid composition in its pure form is contacted with the aqueous bath and the fabrics are then contacted with the aqueous bath containing the liquid composition. Finally, the fabrics are rinsed. In another embodiment, the present invention also encompasses a method of treating a hard surface, such as the inanimate surface. In such a process, a composition, as defined herein, is contacted with the hard surfaces to be treated. Thus, the present invention also encompasses a method of treating a hard surface with a composition, as defined herein, wherein said method comprises the step of applying said composition to said hard surface preferably only dirty portions thereof, and optionally wiping said hard surface. In the process of treating hard surfaces according to the present invention, the composition, as defined herein, may be applied to the surface to be treated in its pure form or in its diluted form typically up to 200 times its weight of water, preferably 80 to 2 times its weight of water and more preferably 60 to 2 times. When used as hard surface cleaners, the compositions of the present invention are easy to rinse and provide gloss characteristics on the treated surfaces. Depending on the intended end use, the compositions herein can be packaged in a variety of containers, including conventional bottles, bottles equipped with applicator roller, sponge, brushes or sprinklers. The invention is illustrated further by the following examples.

EXAMPLES The following compositions were made by mixing the ingredients listed in the prepositions listed (% by weight unless otherwise specified).

Compositions I II III IV V VI VII VIII Dobanol® 23-3 1.0 2.0 1.0 2.0 2.0 1.0 2.0 1.0 Dobanol® 45-7 3.0 1.5 3.0 1.5 - 3.0 1.5 3.0 Dobanol® 91-8 - - - - 1.0 - - - Dobanol® - - - - 1.0 - - - 91-10 Betaine * Free 2.0 2.5 2.0 2.5 1.0 - - -sal Alkylbetaine - - - - - 2.5 2.5 2.0 H2O2 7.0 7.0 8.0 9.0 7.0 7.0 8.0 6.0 Etidronic acid 0.16 0.16 0.16 0.16 0.16 0.16 0.16 0.16 Silicon 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 Alcohol 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 blocked Sulfonic acid 0.8 1.0 0.8 1.0 - 1.5 1.0 0.5 p-toluensulf onate - - - - 1.0 - - 0.5 BHT 0.1 0.1 -0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 Water and ingredient - up to 1 f) O% secondary All examples have a pH less than? Compositions IX XI XII Dobanol® 23-3 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 Dobanol® 45-7 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 Free Betaine 2.0 2.5 2.0 2.0 H2O2 salt 6.8 6.8 6.8 7.5 Ethidronic acid 0.16 0.16 0.16 0.16 Silicone 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 Alcohol 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 blocked Fatty acid 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 coconut acid 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 xylene sulfonic BHT 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 citric acid 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 Water and secondary ingredients All examples have a pH less than 9 Dobanol® 23-3 is a non-ionic surfactant E03 of C12-C13 commercially obtainable from SHELL. Dobanol® 45-7 is a non-ionic surfactant E07 of C14-C15 commercially available from SHELL. Dobanol® 91-8 is a non-ionic surfactant E08 of C9-C11 commercially available from SHELL. BHT is di-tert-butylhydroxytoluene. Betaine * salt-free is lauryldimethylbetaine containing 0.3 wt% sodium chloride. This betaine is obtainable by purification of commercially available laurayl dimethylbetaine GENAGEN. LAB® (Hoechst) (containing 7.5% sodium chloride).

Alkylbetaine is lauryl dimethylbetaine commercially available from Hoechst under the trade name GENEGEN. LAB®. Blocked alcohol is PLURAFAC LF-231® by BASF. The coconut fatty acid is commercially available from UNICHEMA under the name PRIFAC 5900®. All the examples set forth herein are physically stable, that is, they resist more than 1 month at 0 ° C without exhibiting phase separation or perceptible turbidity. All of the above compositions exhibit good stain removal and bleaching performance. Surprisingly, compositions comprising zwitterionic surfactants of salt free betaines (examples I to V and IX to XII) provide improved security to fabrics and / or colors.

Claims (17)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - A liquid composition comprising a nonionic surfactant, a zwitterionic betaine surfactant, a sulfonated hydrotrope and a peroxygen bleach.

2. A composition according to claim 1, further characterized in that said composition comprises from 0.01% to 60% by weight of the total composition of a nonionic surfactant, or mixtures thereof, preferably from 0.1% to 25% and more preferably from 0.5% to 20%.

3. A composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that said nonionic surfactant is an ethoxylated nonionic surfactant, preferably an ethoxylated nonionic surfactant according to the formula RO- (C2H40) nH , wherein R is an alkyl chain of C6 to Q22 or an alkylbenzene chain of C6 to C28 and wherein n is an integer from 0 to 20, preferably from 1 to 15, more preferably from 2 to 15 and most preferably from 2 to 12, or mixtures thereof.

4. A composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that said composition comprises from 0.001% to 50% by weight of the total zwitterionic surfactant composition of betaine or a mixture thereof, preferably 0.01% by weight. 10% by weight, more preferably from 0.5% to 8% and most preferably from 0.5% to 5%.

5. A composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that said zwitterionic surfactant of betaine is according to the formula: wherein Ri is an aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon chain, saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted. , which may contain linking groups such as amido groups, ester groups, preferably an alkyl group containing from 1 to 24 carbon atoms, preferably from 8 to 12 and more preferably from 10 to 16, or an amido radical of the formula Ra -C (0) -NH- (C (Rb) 2) m. wherein Ra is an aliphatic or aromatic, saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon chain, preferably an alkyl group containing from 8 to 20 carbon atoms, preferably up to 18, more preferably up to 16, R is selected from the group it consists of the hydrogen and hydroxy groups, and m is 1 to 4, preferably 2 to 3, more preferably 3, with no more than one hydroxy group in any portion (C (Rb) 2); R 2 is hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, or another substituted Ci-Cß alkyl group; R3 is CrC6 alkyl, hydroxyalkyl or another substituted Ci-Cd alkyl group which can also be attached to R2 to form ring structures with the N, or a C6-C6 sulfonate group; R is a moiety joining the cationic nitrogen atom to the hydrophilic group and is typically an alkylene, hydroxyalkylene or polyalkoxy group containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms; and X is a carboxylate or sulfonate group.

6. A composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that said zwitterionic betaine surfactant is a zwitterionic surfactant of salt free betaine containing less than 5% by weight of salts, preferably less than 3%, more preferably less than 2%, more preferably still less than 1% and most preferably from 0.01% to 0.5%.

7. A composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that said composition comprises 0.01% to 20% by weight of the total composition of a sulphonated hydrotrope, or a mixture thereof, preferably of 0. 05% to 10% and more preferably from 0.1% to 5%.

8. A composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that said sulfonated hydrotrope is an alkylarylsulfonate or an alkylarylsulfonic acid, preferably xylenesulfonic acid, or a salt thereof, or p-toluenesulfonic acid, or a salt thereof, or a mixture of them.

9. A composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that it comprises 0. 01% to 20% by weight of the total composition of said peroxygen bleach or mixture thereof, preferably from 1% to 15% and more preferably from 1.5% to 10%.

10. - A composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that said peroxygen bleach is hydrogen peroxide or a water soluble source thereof typically selected from the group consisting of percarbonates, persilicates, persulfates, perborates, peroxyacids, hydroperoxides, aromatic and aliphatic diacylperoxides, and mixtures thereof, is preferably hydrogen peroxide, tert-butyl hydroperoxide, cumyl hydroperoxide, 2,4,4-trimethylpentyl-2-hydroperoxide, di-isopropylbenzenehydroperoxide, tert-amyl hydroperoxide, , 5-dimethylhexane-2,5-dihydroperoxide, dilauroyl peroxide, didecanoyl peroxide, dimyristoyl peroxide, benzoyl peroxide or a mixture thereof, and more preferably is hydrogen peroxide.

11. A composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the weight ratio of the zwitterionic surfactant of betaine to the sulfonated hydrotrope is from 0.1: 1 to 100: 1, more preferably from 1: 1 to 10: 1 , more preferably from 2: 1 to 5: 1 and most preferably from 3: 1.

12. A composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that said composition is aqueous and has a pH of up to 9, preferably from 2 to 7 and most preferably from 2 to 6. 13.- A process of treating fabrics which include the steps of diluting in a water bath a liquid composition according to any of the preceding claims, in its pure form, contacting said fabrics with said aqueous bath comprising said liquid composition and subsequently rinsing, or washing and then rinsing said fabrics. 14. A method according to claim 13, further characterized in that the fabrics are allowed to soak in said aqueous bath comprising said liquid composition for a period ranging from 1 minute to 48 hours, preferably from 1 hour to 24 hours. 15. A method according to claim 13 or 14, further characterized in that said aqueous bath is formed by dissolving or dispersing a conventional laundry detergent in water. 16. A method of pretreating fabrics comprising the steps of applying a liquid composition according to any of claims 1 to 12, in its pure form, on said fabrics, preferably only dirty portions thereof, before rinsing said fabrics, or washing and then rinsing said fabrics. 17. A method of treating a hard surface with a composition according to any of claims 1 to 12, further characterized in that said method comprises the step of applying said composition to said hard surface and optionally rinsing said hard surface.