MXPA02000106A - Bleaching compositions. - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a bleaching composition comprising a preformed mono peroxy carboxylic acid and an optical brightener wherein both the preformed mono peroxy acid and the insoluble optical brightener are stable.

Description

BLEACHING COMPOSITIONS TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a bleaching composition comprising a preformed monoperoxycarboxylic acid and an optical brightener, which is suitable for use in bleaching fabrics, clothing, carpets and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The liquid aqueous bleach compositions commonly found, suitable for bleaching stains on fabrics and hard surfaces, are based on halogen bleaches, especially hypochlorite bleaches. Halogen bleaches are extremely effective bleaching agents; however, they also have several drawbacks that sometimes discourage the consumer from choosing the halogen-containing product. For example, halogen bleaches, especially chlorine bleaches, emit a pungent odor during and after use (for example, on the consumer's hands and / or the surfaces treated with them), which some consumers find unpleasant .

Furthermore, it is known in the art that compositions containing halogen bleach (typically hypochlorite) are relatively aggressive to fabrics, and can cause damage when used at a relatively high concentration and / or used repeatedly. In particular, the consumer may perceive damage to the fabric itself (for example, loss of tensile strength), or damage to the intensity of the color of the fabric. Although damage to color and fabric can be minimized by using milder oxygen bleaches such as hydrogen peroxide, the bleach performance characteristics of such peroxygen bleaches are much less desirable than those of halogen bleaching agents. Therefore, liquid aqueous activated peroxygen bleach-containing compositions containing activators, i.e., compounds that enhance peroxygen bleaching performance, have been developed. An object of the present invention is to provide a bleaching composition that not only gives effective bleaching performance when used in washing applications, but also is safe for the treated surface, for example, the fabrics per se and / or the colors of the fabrics. fabrics In addition, manufacturers of detergents with bleaching agents, especially those that make solid or particulate detergent compositions, often include optical brighteners in the detergent composition to improve the appearance of whiteness of the fabric. Traditionally, it has been difficult to incorporate optical brighteners in liquid bleaching compositions, since the bleach and optical brightener can potentially react. The result of said reaction is that the optical brightener is oxidized, and therefore inactivated, and the active bleaching capacity of the bleach is eliminated. Therefore, another object of the present invention is to provide a liquid bleaching composition further comprising an optical brightener. The compositions in accordance with the present invention may be useful in any laundry application, for example, as a laundry detergent or laundry additive, or when used as a laundry pre-cleaner. A particular advantage of the compositions of the present invention is that they are suitable for bleaching different types of fabrics including natural fabrics (for example, fabrics made of cotton and linen), synthetic fabrics such as those made of polymeric fibers. of synthetic origin (for example, polyamide-elastane), as well as those made of natural and synthetic fibers. For example, the bleaching compositions of the present invention can be used on synthetic fabrics despite the long-lasting prejudice to the use of bleaching agents on synthetic fabrics, as evidenced by advertisements on clothing labels and commercially available bleaching compositions, such as as the compositions containing hypochlorite.

Another advantage of the bleaching compositions according to the present invention is that they can be used in various conditions, ie in hard and soft water, as well as when they are used in pure or diluted form. More particularly, it has been found that the aqueous liquid compositions of the present invention find a preferred application when used in their diluted form in any application, and especially in any conventional laundry application. Of course, after dilution (typically at a dilution level of 20 ml / 1 or more composition: water), the compositions of the present invention become less acidic, for example, from a pH of about 1.5 to about 6.5. or more. The compositions according to the present invention, while providing effective bleaching performance in their pure form, exhibit surprisingly improved further bleaching performance in their diluted form. In fact, this "pH leap" effect makes it possible to formulate liquid aqueous acidic compositions (ie pH less than 7, preferably less than 5), which are physically and chemically stable after prolonged periods of storage, and which provide outstanding bleaching performance under diluted conditions of use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a bleaching composition comprising a substantially insoluble optical brightener, and a preformed monoperoxycarboxylic acid having the general formula: XRC (O) OOH wherein R is a linear or branched alkyl chain having at least 2 carbon atoms, and X is hydrogen or a substituent group selected from the group consisting of alkyl, especially alkyl chains of 1 to 24 carbon atoms, aryl, halogen, ester, ether, amine, amide, substituted phthalic amino , imide, hydroxide, sulfide, sulfate, sulfonate, carboxylic, heterocyclic, nitrate, aldehyde, phosphonate, phosphonic, or mixtures thereof. The present invention also encompasses a method for bleaching a surface, and the use of said composition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The bleaching composition The compositions according to the present invention are preferably liquid compositions, as opposed to a solid or a gas. As used herein, the term "liquids" includes suspensions of solid particles in liquid compositions and "pasty" compositions. The liquid compositions herein are preferably aqueous compositions comprising water at a level of preferably 10% to 99%, more preferably 50% to 98% by weight of the bleaching composition. The liquid compositions according to the present invention preferably have a pH of less than 7. Preferably, the pH of the compositions according to the present invention is from 0.1 to 6.5, more preferably from 0.5 to 5, even more preferably from 2 to 5. 4. The formulation of the compositions according to the present invention in the acid pH scale is critical to the chemical stability of the compositions according to the present invention. The pH of the composition is preferably lower than the pKa of the peracid used. The pH of the compositions can be adjusted by any acid or alkaline species known to those skilled in the art. Examples of acid species suitable for use herein are organic acids such as citric acid, and inorganic acids such as sulfuric acid, sulfonic acid and / or methanesulfonic acid. Examples of alkaline species are sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide and / or sodium carbonate. Other pH adjusting agents include the alkanolamines. It may be advantageous to use alkanolamines, in particular monoethanolamine, although they have the additional effect of regulating the viscosity of the emulsion, without compromising its physical stability.

The bleaching performance of the present composition can be evaluated by the following test methods on various types of bleaching spots. A suitable test method for evaluating the bleaching performance on a soiled fabric under diluted conditions is as follows: a composition according to the present invention is diluted with water typically at a dilution level of 1 to 100 ml / l, preferably 20 ml / l, more preferably 5 ml / l (composition: water), and then the soiled fabrics are soaked therein for 20 minutes to 6 hours, and then rinsed. Alternatively, the bleaching composition can be used in a washing machine at a dilution level typically of 1 to 100 ml / l (composition: water). In the washing machine, the soiled fabrics are washed at a temperature of 5 to 90 ° C for 10 to 100 minutes, and then rinsed. The reference composition in this comparative test undergoes the same treatment. Fabrics / samples soiled with, for example, tea, coffee, and the like, may be commercially available from E.M.C. Co. Inc .. The bleaching performance is then evaluated by comparing, side by side, the soiled fabrics treated with a composition according to the present invention, with those treated with the reference, for example, the same composition, but not comprising bleach. or a different bleach. A visual classification can be used to assign differences in panel units (psu) on a scale of 0 to 4.

An advantage of the compositions of the present invention is that they are physically and chemically stable after prolonged storage periods. The chemical stability of the compositions herein can be evaluated by measuring the concentration of available oxygen at a given storage time after the compositions have been manufactured. By "chemically stable", it is meant herein that the compositions of the present invention comprising a peracid do not suffer more than 30% loss of AvO in 10 days at 35 ° C, and preferably no more than 20% of loss of AvO. The available oxygen loss (AvO) of a composition containing peracid over time, can be measured with the iodometric titration method in which the peracid is reduced by the excess of potassium iodide, and the iodine formed is determined by titration with sodium thiosulfate. This method is well known in the art and is reported, for example, in A Bleachers Handbook, by and available from Interox. Alternatively, the peracid concentration can also be measured using a chromatography method described in the literature for peracids (F. Di Furia et al., Gas-liquid Chromatography Method for Determination of Peracids, Analyst, Vol. 113, May 1988, P. 793-795). By "physically stable", it is meant herein that phase separation does not occur in the compositions according to the present invention for a period of 7 days at 35 ° C, meaning that there is no separation of two liquid phases and equally there is no precipitation or flocculation of a solid phase from a liquid phase, i.e., a solid particle remains homogeneously distributed throughout the liquid composition.

Optical brightener The present invention requires an optical brightener as an essential component thereof, preferably at a level of 0.005% to 5%, more preferably 0.01% to 1%, most preferably 0.01% to 0.2%. Optical brighteners suitable for use in the present invention are substantially insoluble in water, where substantially insoluble means that less than 1 gram of the brightener will dissolve in 1 liter of distilled water at pH 7. Non-ionic brighteners mean those brighteners that do not they have some permanently charged group, or a selected group of sulphonic, sulfate, carboxylic, phosphonate, phosphate and quaternary ammonium. In a preferred embodiment, the optical brightener is a substantially insoluble compound selected from compounds comprising stilbene, pyrazoline, coumarin, carboxylic acids, methinocyanines, dibenzothiophene 5,5-dioxide, azoles, 5- and 6-membered ring heterocyclic, benzene , or derivatives thereof, and mixtures thereof. More preferably, the brightener comprises a benzoxasol, pyrazole, triazole, triazine, imidazole or furan group, or mixtures thereof. Examples of preferred commercially available optical brighteners include those selected from the group consisting of benzoxasol, 2,2 '- (2,5-thiophendiyl) bis- (7CI, 8CI, 9CI), marketed under the trademark Tinopal SOP (from Ciba -Geigy), Cl fluorescent brightener 140 (9CI), 7- (dimethylamino) -4-methyl-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one (9CI) marketed under the trademark Tinopal SWN (ex Ciba-Geigy), benzoxasol, 2,2 '- (1 , 2-etenediyl) bis [5-methyl- (9CI) marketed under the trademark Tinopal K (from Ciba-Geigy), optical brightener Cl 352 (9CI) 1 H-benzimidazole, 2,2 '- (2,5-furandul) bis [1 -methyl- (9CI), marketed under the trademark Uvitex AT (from Ciba-Geigy).

Preformed monoperoxycarboxylic acid The bleaching composition of the present invention comprises a preformed monoperoxycarboxylic acid (hereinafter referred to as peracid). In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the peracid has the general formula: X-R-C (O) OOH wherein R is a linear or branched alkyl chain having at least 2 carbon atoms, and X is hydrogen or a substituent group selected from the group consisting of alkyl, especially alkyl chains of 1 to 24 carbon atoms, aryl, halogen, ester, ether, amine, amide, substituted phthalic amino, imide, hydroxide, sulfide , sulfate, sulfonate, carboxylic, heterocyclic, nitrate, aldehyde, phosphonate, phosphonic, or mixtures thereof. More particularly, the R group comprises from 2 to 24 carbon atoms. Alternatively, the R group can be a branched alkyl chain comprising one or more side chains comprising substituent groups selected from the group consisting of aryl, halogen, ester, ether, amine, amide, substituted phthalic amino, imide, hydroxide , sulfur, sulfate, sulfonate, carboxylic, heterocyclic, nitrate, aldehyde, ketone, or mixtures thereof. In a preferred peracid, the group X according to the above general formula is a phthalimido group. Thus, particularly preferred peracids are those having the general formula: wherein R is C1-20, and wherein A, B, C and D are independently hydrogen or substituent groups selected individually from the group consisting of alkyl, hydroxyl, nitro, halogen, amine, ammonium, cyanide, carboxylic, sulfate, sulfonate, aldehydes, or mixtures thereof.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, R is an alkyl group having from 3 to 12 carbon atoms, more preferably from 5 to 9 carbon atoms. Preferred substituent groups A, B, C and D are linear or branched alkyl groups having from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, but more preferably hydrogen. The preferred peracids are selected from the group consisting of phthaloylamidoperoxyhexanoic acid, phthaloylamidoperoxyheptanoic acid, phthaloylamidoperoxyoctanoic acid, phthaloylamidoperoxynanoic acid, phthaloylamidoperoxydecanoic acid, and mixtures thereof. In a particularly preferred aspect of the present invention, the peracid has the formula such that R is C5H10, ie, phthaloylamidoperoxyhexanoic acid or PAP. This peracid is preferably used as a wet or solid cake substantially insoluble in water, and is available from Ausimont under the trademark Euroco. The peracid is preferably used at a level of from 0.1% to 30%, more preferably from 0.5% to 18%, and most preferably from 1% to 12% by weight of the composition.

Optional Ingredients The compositions herein may further comprise various other optional ingredients such as surfactants, chelating agents, radical scavengers, antioxidants, stabilizers, builders, soil suspension polymers, polymeric soil removal agents, soil control agents, pH, dye transfer inhibitor, solvents, suds control agents, suds enhancer, perfumes, pigments, dyes, and the like.

Surfactants The compositions of the present invention may optionally, but preferably, comprise a surfactant. The surfactants are selected from the group consisting of nonionic surfactants, anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, zwitterionic surfactants, and / or amphoteric surfactants. Suitable anionic surfactants for use in the compositions herein include salts or water-soluble acids of the formula ROSO3M, wherein R is preferably a hydrocarbyl of C- | Q-C24, preferably an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl having an alkyl component of C 20 or m, preferably an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl of C 12 -C 8). and M is H or a cation, for example, an alkali metal cation (eg, sodium, potassium, lithium), or ammonium or substituted ammonium (eg, methyl-, dimethyl- and trimethyl-ammonium cations and cations of quaternary ammonium such as tetramethylammonium and dimethylpiperidinium cations and quaternary ammonium cations derived from alkylamines such as ethylamine, diethylamine, triethylamine, and mixtures thereof, and the like). Typically, the C-12-C16 alkyl chains are preferred for lower wash temperatures (eg, below about 50 ° C) and the alkyl chains of C- \ Q_ < \ Q are preferred for higher wash temperatures (eg, about 50 ° C). Other anionic surfactants suitable for use herein are water soluble salts or acids of the formula RO (A) mS03M, wherein R is an unsubstituted C10-C24 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group having an alkyl component of C- J0-C24. preferably an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl of C-J2-C2O 'more preferably alkyl or hydroxyalkyl of C-12-C18. 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 ( for example, sodium, potassium, lithium, calcium, magnesium, etc.) or an ammonium or substituted ammonium cation. The ethoxylated alkyl sulphates as well as the propoxylated alkyl sulphates are also contemplated herein. Specific examples of substituted ammonium cations include methyl-, dimethyl- and trimethyl-ammonium cations and quaternary ammonium cations such as tetramethylammonium and dimethylpiperidinium cations and those derivatives of aquilamines such as ethylamine, diethylamine, triethylamine, mixtures thereof, and Similar. Examples of surfactants are polyethoxylated alkylsulfate of C-12-C-I8 0 -0) (C12-Ci 8E (1.0) M), polyethoxylated alkyl sulfate of C12-C18 (2-25) (C12-C- | 8E (2.25 ) M), C12-C18 polyethoxylated alkyl sulfate (3-0) (C- | 2-C- | 8E (3.0) M), and C12-C18 polyethoxylated alkyl sulfate (4.0) C-i2-C- | 8 ( 4.0) M), where M is conveniently selected from sodium and potassium. Other anionic surfactants particularly suitable for use herein are alkylsulfonates including acids to water soluble salts of the formula RSO3M, wherein R is a saturated or unsaturated, straight or branched alkyl group of C6-C22, preferably a group C 2 -C 8 alkyl, and more preferably an alkyl group of Cu-C iβ, and M is H or a cation, for example, an alkali metal cation (eg, sodium, potassium or lithium) , or ammonium or substituted ammonium (e.g., methyl-, dimethyl- and trimethyl ammonium cations and quaternary ammonium cations, such as tetramethylammonium and dimethylpiperdinium cations, and quaternary ammonium cations derived from alkylamines such as ethylamine, diethylamine, triethylamine, and mixtures thereof, and the like). Alkylarylsulfonates suitable for use herein include salts or water-soluble acids of the formula ROSO3M, wherein R is an aryl, preferably a benzyl, substituted by a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated C6-C22 alkyl group, preferably a C12-C18 alkyl group, and more preferably a C14-C16 alkyl group, and M is H or a cation, for example, an alkali metal cation (e.g., sodium, potassium, lithium, calcium, magnesium, etc.), or ammonium or substituted ammonium (eg, methyl-, dimethyl- and trimethylammonium cations and quaternary ammonium cations such as tetramethylammonium and dimethylpiperidinium cations and quaternary ammonium cations derived from alkylamines such as ethylamine, diethylamine , triethylamine and mixtures thereof, and the like). Alkylsulfonates and alkylarylsulfonates for use herein include primary and secondary alkylsulfonates and primary and secondary alkylarylsulfonates. By "C6-C22 alkylsulfonates or secondary C6-C22 alkylarylsulfonates", it is understood herein that in the formula described above, the SO3OM or aryl-SO3M group is bonded to a carbon atom of the alkyl chain, being located among other two carbons of said alkyl chain (secondary carbon atoms). For example, the C14-C16 alkylsulfonate salt is commercially available under the trademark Hostapur® SAS from Hoechst, and the sodium salt of C8 alkylsulfonate is commercially available under the trademark Witconate ÑAS 8® from Witco SA. An example of commercially available alkylarylsulfonate is laurylarylsulfonate from Su.Ma. Particularly preferred alkyl aryl sulphonates are alkyl benzene sulphonates commercially available under the trademark Nansa®, available from Albright & amp;; Wilson. Other anionic surfactants useful for detersive purposes may also be used in the present invention. These may include salts (including, for example, sodium, potassium, ammonium and substituted ammonium salts such as mono-, di- and tri- ethanolamine salts) of soap, C8-C24 olefinsulfonates, sulfonated polycarboxylic acids prepared by sulfonation of the pyrolyzed product of alkaline earth metal citrates, for example, such as those described in British patent specification No. 1, 082,179, alkyl polyglycol ether polymers of C 8 -C 24 (containing up to 10 moles of ethylene oxide); alkyl ether sulfonates such as methylstersulfonates of Cu-cißi acylglycerolsulfonates, oleyl glycerol sulfates, ethylene oxide sulfates of alkylphenol, parafin sulfonates, alkyl phosphates, isethionates such as acyl setionates, N-acyl taurates, alkyl succinamates and sulfosuccinates, monoesters of sulfosuccinates ( especially saturated and unsaturated C12- 8 monoesters), sulfosuccinate diesters (especially saturated and unsaturated C6-C12 diesters), alkylpolyacharide sulfates such as alkyl polyglucoside sulfates (the non-sulphonated nonionic compounds being described below), branched primary alkyl sulfates and alkyl polyethoxycarboxylates such as those of the formula RO (CH2CH2?) | < -CH2COO- M +, wherein R is a C8-C22 alkyl. k is an integer from 1 to 10, and M is a soluble salt formation cation. Resin acids and hydrogenated resin acids are also suitable, such as rosin, hydrogenated rosin and rosin acids, as well as hydrogenated rosin acids present in or derived from tallow oil. Additional examples are described 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 U.S.A. No. 3,929,678, issued December 30, 1975 to Laughiin, and others, in column 23, line 58 to column 29, line 23 (incorporated herein by reference).

Other anionic surfactants particularly suitable for use herein are alkylcarboxylates and alkylalkoxycarboxylates having from 4 to 24 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain, preferably from 8 to 18 carbon atoms, and more preferably from 8 to 16 carbon atoms. carbon, wherein the alkoxy is propoxy and / or ethoxy, and preferably is ethoxy at a degree of alkoxylation of 0.5 to 20, preferably 5 to 15. The preferred alkylalkoxycarboxylate for use herein is laureth 11 sodium carboxylate (i.e., RO (C2H4O)? o-CH2COONa, with R = Ci2-C), commercially available under the trademark Akyposoft® 100NV from Kao Chemical Gbmh. Amphoteric surfactants suitable for use herein include amine oxides having the formula R? R2R3NO below, wherein each of Ri, R2 and R3 is independently a straight or branched hydrocarbon chain, substituted or unsubstituted and saturated, from 1 to 30 carbon atoms. Preferred amine oxide surfactants for use in accordance with the present invention are the amine oxides having the formula R? R2R3NO below, wherein is a hydrocarbon chain comprising from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, preferably from 6 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably from 8 to 16 carbon atoms, most preferably from 8 to 12 carbon atoms, and wherein R2 and R3 are independently linear or branched, unsubstituted or substituted hydrocarbon chains, which it comprises from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, preferably from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and more preferably are methyl groups. Ri can be a linear or branched hydrocarbon chain, substituted or unsubstituted and saturated. Suitable amine oxides for use herein are, for example, natural mixtures of C8-C? Amine oxides, as well as C12-C16 amine oxides commercially available from Hoechst. Zwitterionic 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 surfactants to be used herein is: wherein RI is a hydrophobic group; R 2 is hydrogen, C 1 -C 2 alkyl, hydroxyalkyl or another substituted C 1 -C 6 alkyl group; R3 is C-? -C6 alkyl, hydroxyalkyl or another substituted C? -C6 alkyl group, which can also be attached to R2 to form ring structures with the nitrogen, or a Ci-C? Carboxylic acid group or a CI-CT 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 the hydrophilic group which is a carboxylate or sulfonate group.

Preferred hydrophobic R groups are aliphatic or aromatic, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon chains, substituted or unsubstituted, which may contain linking groups such as amido groups or ester groups. The most preferred Ri group is an alkyl group containing from 1 to 24 carbon atoms, preferably from 8 to 18 carbon atoms, and more preferably from 10 to 16 carbon atoms. These simple alkyl groups are preferred for reasons of cost and stability. However, the hydrophobic Ri group can also be an amido radical of the formula Ra-C (O) -NH- (C (Rb) 2) m, where 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 carbon atoms, more preferably up to 16 carbon atoms, Rb is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen or hydroxy groups, and m is from 1 to 4, preferably from 2 to 3, more preferably 3, with no more than one hydroxy group in any portion (C (RD) 2) - The preferred R2 group is hydrogen, or an alkyl group of C ? -C3, and more preferably methyl. The preferred R3 group is a C1-C4 carboxylic acid group, or CrC sulfonate group, or a CrC3 alkyl, and more preferably methyl. The preferred R 4 group 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 betaines / sulfobetaines are described in the U.S. Patents. Nos. 2,082,275, 2,702,279 and 2,255,082, incorporated herein by reference.

Examples of particularly suitable alkyldimethylbetaines include cocodimethylbetaine, lauryldimethylbetaine, decyl dimethylbetaine, 2- (N-decyl-N, N-dimethyl-ammonium) acetate, 2- (N-coco-N, N-dimethylammonium) acetate, myristyldimethylbetaine, palmityldimethylbetaine, cetyldimethylbetaine and stearyldimethylbetaine. For example, cocodimethylbetaine is commercially available from Seppic under the trademark Amonyl 265®. Laurylbetaine is commercially available from Albright & Wilson under the Empigen BB / L® trademark. Examples of amidobetaines include cocoamidoethylbetaine, cocoamidopropylbetaine or acylamidopropylene (hydropropylene) sulfobetaine C10-C14 fat. For example, acylamidopropylene (hydropropylene) sulfobetaine C? O-C14 fat is commercially available from the Sherex Company under the trademark sulfobetaine "Varion CAS.RTM." Another example of betaine is lauryl minodipropionate, commercially available from Rhone-Poulenc under the trademark Mirataine H2C-HA®. Cationic surfactants suitable for use herein include derivatives of quaternary ammonium, phosphonium, imidazolium and sulfonium compounds. Preferred cationic surfactants for use herein are quaternary ammonium compounds, wherein one or two of the hydrocarbon groups bonded to the nitrogen, is a straight or branched, saturated alkyl group of 6 to 30 carbon atoms, preferably from 10 to 25 carbon atoms, and more preferably from 12 to 20 carbon atoms, and wherein the other hydrocarbon groups (i.e., three when a hydrocarbon group is a long chain hydrocarbon group as mentioned above, or two when two hydrocarbon groups are long chain hydrocarbon groups as mentioned above) bonded to the nitrogen are independently linear or branched alkyl chain, substituted or unsubstituted, of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, preferably of 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and more preferably they are methyl groups. Preferred quaternary ammonium compounds suitable for use herein, are non-chloride / non-halogen quaternary ammonium compounds. The counterions used in said quaternary ammonium compounds are compatible with any peracid, and are selected from the group consisting of methylisulfate or methylsulfonate, and the like. Particularly preferred for use in the compositions of the present invention are quaternary trimethylammonium compounds, such as myristyl trimethyl sulfate, cetyl trimethyl sulfate and / or tallow trimethyl sulfate. Said quaternary trimethylammonium compounds are commercially available from Hoechst, or from Albright & Wilson under the trademark EMPIGEN CM®. Among the nonionic surfactants, alkoxylated nonionic surfactants, and especially ethoxylated nonionic surfactants, are suitable for use herein. The blocked alkoxylated nonionic surfactants suitable for use herein are in accordance with the formula: Ri (O-CH2-CH2) n- (OR2) mO-R3 wherein R ^ is an alkenyl or straight or branched alkyl group of C8-C24, aryl group, alkaryl group, preferably Ri is an alkenyl or alkyl group of C8-C18) more preferably an alkenyl or C10-C5 alkyl group, even more preferably a C10-C15 alkyl group; wherein R 2 is a linear or branched alkyl group of C 1 -C 10, preferably a linear or branched C 2 -C 10 alkyl group; wherein R 3 is an alkenyl or C C 0 alkyl group, preferably a C 1 -C 5 alkyl group, more preferably methyl; and wherein 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 trademark Plurafac®, from HOECHST under the trademark Genapol®, or from ICI under the trademark Symperonic®. Preferred blocked nonionic alkoxylated surfactants of the above formula, are those commercially available under the trademark Genapol® L 2.5 NR from Hoechst, and Plurafac® from BASF. Particularly preferred surfactants are those selected from the group consisting of alkylsulfate, alkylsulfonate, alkyl ethoxysulfate, alkylbenzenesulfonate, alkylcarboxylate, alkylethyloxycarboxylate, amine oxides, and mixtures thereof. More preferably, the surfactant system comprises an alkylsulfonate and an amine oxide.

Typically, the compositions according to the present invention preferably comprise the surfactant system at a level of from 0.01% to 30%, preferably from 0.1% to 15%, and more preferably less than 10%, and most preferably 0.2. % to 5% by weight of the composition.

Suspension agent The composition of the present invention may preferably comprise a suspending agent. A suspending agent is an ingredient that is specifically added to the composition of the present invention, to suspend a solid particulate ingredient of the composition. With respect to the present invention, a suspending agent is particularly useful for suspending the peracid, wherein the peracid is present as a solid, and the optical brightener is substantially insoluble. Suitable suspending agents are those known in the art. Examples of suspending agents include gum-type polymers (eg, xanthan gum), polyvinyl alcohol and derivatives thereof, cellulose and derivatives thereof, and polycarboxylate polymers. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the suspending agent comprises a gum-type polymer or a polycarboxylate polymer. Particularly preferred examples of these suspending agents are xanthan gum and interlaced polycarboxylate polymer, respectively. The gum-like polymer can be selected from the group consisting of polysaccharide hydrocolloids, xanthan gum, guar gum, succinoglycan gum, cellulose, derivatives of any of the foregoing, and mixtures thereof. In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the gum-like polymer is a xanthan gum or derivative thereof. The rubber-like polymer is preferably present at a level of from 0.01% to 10%, more preferably from 0.1% to 3%. The polycarboxylate polymer can be a homopolymer or copolymer of monomer units selected from acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, maleic acid, malic acid and maleic anhydride. Preferred polycarboxylate polymers are Carbopol from BF Goodrich. Suitable polymers have a molecular weight in the range of 10,000 to 100,000,000, more preferably 1,000,000 to 10,000,000. The crosslinked polycarboxylate polymer is preferably present at a level of from 0.01% to 2%, more preferably from 0.01% to 1%, most preferably from 0.1% to 0.8%. In an alternative embodiment, the suspending agent comprises a combination of at least two polymers. In this embodiment, the first polymer is a rubber-like polymer, and the second polymer is an interlaced polycarboxylate polymer. The composition may additionally comprise other polymers.

The ratio of gum-like polymer to interlaced polycarboxylate polymer is from 100: 1 to 1: 100, more preferably from 1: 10 to 10: 1.

Chelating Agents The compositions of the present invention may comprise a chelating agent 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 consisting of phosphonate chelating agents, aminocarboxylate chelating agents, other carboxylate chelating agents, polyfunctionally substituted aromatic chelating agents, ethylenediamine acids -N, N'-disuccinic, or mixtures thereof. The presence of the chelating agents contributes to further improve the chemical stability of the compositions. A chelating agent may also be desired in the compositions of the present invention, since it allows to increase the ionic strength of the compositions herein, and thus their bleaching and stain removal performance on various surfaces. Phosphonate chelating agents suitable for use herein may include alkali metal ethanl-hydroxydiphosphonates (HEDP) and alkylene poly (alkylene phosphonate), as well as aminophosphonate compounds, including aminoaminotri (methylene phosphonic acid) (ATMP), nitrilotrimethylenephosphonates (NTP), ethylene diamine tetramethylene phosphonates, and diethylenetriaminepentamethylenephosphonates (DTPMP). The phosphonate compounds may be present in their acid form or as salts of different cations in their acid functionalities, or some of them. Preferred phosphonate chelating agents for use herein, include diethylenetriaminepentamethylenephosphonate (DTPMP) and ethanylhydroxy diphosphonate (HEDP). Said phosphonate chelating agents are commercially available from Monsanto under the trademark DEQUEST®. Polyfunctionally substituted aromatic chelating agents may also be useful in the compositions herein. See the patent of E.U.A. 3,812,044, issued May 21, 1974 to Connor and other preferred compounds of this type in acid form are 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, alkaline earth metal, ammonium or substituted ammonium salts thereof, or mixtures thereof. EthylenediaminoN.N'-disuccinic acids, especially the (S, S) isomer, have been exhaustively described in the patent of E.U.A. 4,704,233, November 3, 1987 to Hartman and Perkins. EthylenediaminoN.N'-disuccinic acid is commercially available, for example, under the trademark ssEDDS® from Palmer Research Laboratories. Suitable aminocarboxylates for use herein include ethylenediaminetetraacetates, diethylenetriaminepentaacetates, diethylenetriaminepentaacetates (DTPA), N-hydroxyethylenediaminetriacetates, nitrilotriacetates, ethylenediaminetetrapropionates, triethylenetetramine-hexaacetates, ethanol-diglycine, propylenediaminetetraacetic acid (PDTA) and methyl glycine diacetic acid (MGDA), both in its acid form, or in its alkali metal, ammonium and substituted ammonium salt forms. Particularly suitable aminocarboxylates for use herein include diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, propylene diamine tetraacetic acid (PDTA) which is commercially available, for example, from BASF under the trademark Trilon FS®, and methyl glycine diacetic acid (MGDA). Other carboxylate chelating agents for use herein include salicylic acid, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine, malonic acid, or mixtures thereof. Another chelating agent for use herein is of the formula: wherein Ri, R2, R3 and R4 are independently selected from the group consisting of -H, alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, aryloxy, -Cl, -Br, -NO2, -C (O) R 'and -SO2R ", in where R1 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, R6, R and R8 are independently selected from the group consisting of -H and alkyl. Particularly preferred chelating agents for use herein are aminoaminotri (methylene phosphonic) acid, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, diethylenetriaminepentamethylenephosphonate, 1-hydroxyethanediphosphonate, ethylene diamine N, N'-disuccinic acid, and mixtures thereof. Typically, the compositions according to the present invention comprise up to about 15%, more preferably up to about 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%.

Radical scavengers The compositions of the present invention may comprise a radical scavenger, or a mixture thereof. Radical sweepers suitable for use herein include the well known substituted mono- and dihydroxybenzenes and their analogs, alkyl and arylcarboxylates, and mixtures thereof. Such radical scavengers preferred for use herein include diterbutylhydroxytoluene (BHT), hydroquinone, di-tert-butylhydroquinone, mono-tert-butylhydroquinone, tert-butylhydroxyanisole, benzoic acid, toluic acid, catechol, t-butylcatechol, benzylamine, 1, 1, 3 -tris (2-methyl-4-hydroxy-5-t-butylphenyl) butane, n-propyl gallate, or mixtures thereof, and highly preferred is di-tert-butylhydroxytoluene. Such radical scavengers, such as n-propyl gallate, may be commercially available from Nipa Laboratories under the trademark Nipanox S1®. When used, radical scavengers are typically present herein in amounts of up to about 10% by weight of the total composition, and preferably from about 0.001% to about 0.5% by weight. The presence of radical scavengers can contribute to the chemical stability of the bleaching compositions of the present invention, as well as to the safety profile of the compositions of the present invention.

Soap control agents The compositions according to the present invention may further comprise a suds control agent such as 2-alkylalcanol, or mixtures thereof, as a preferred optional ingredient. Particularly suitable for use in the present invention are 2-alkylalkanols having an alkyl chain comprising from 6 to 16 carbon atoms, preferably from 8 to 12 carbon atoms, and a terminal hydroxy group, said alkyl chain being substituted at the alpha position by an alkyl chain comprising from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, preferably from 2 to 8 carbon atoms, and more preferably from 3 to 6 carbon atoms. Such suitable compounds are commercially available, for example, in the Isofol® series, such as Isofol® 12 (2-butyloctanol) or Isofol® 16 (2-hexyldecanol). Other suds control agents may include alkali metal fatty acids (eg, sodium or potassium), or soaps thereof, containing from about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms, preferably from about 10 to about 20 atoms. of carbon. Fatty acids, including those used to make soaps, can be obtained from natural sources such as, for example, glycerides derived from plants or animals (for example, palm oil, coconut oil, babassu oil, soybean oil). , castor oil, tallow, whale oil, fish oil, tallow, fat, lard, and mixtures thereof). Fatty acids can also be prepared synthetically (for example, by oxidation of oil supply materials, or by the Fischer-Tropsch process). Alkali metal soaps can be obtained by direct saponification of fats and oils, or by neutralization of the free fatty acids that are prepared in a separate manufacturing process. Particularly useful are the sodium and potassium salts of the fatty acid mixtures derived from coconut oil and tallow, ie coconut soaps and sodium and potassium tallow.

The term "tallow" is used herein in relation to mixtures of fatty acids typically having a carbon chain length distribution of approximately 2.5% Cu, 29% C? 6, 23% C18, 2% palmitoleic, 41.5% oleic and 3% linoleic (the first three indicated fatty acids are saturated). Other mixtures with similar distribution, such as fatty acids derived from tallow and lard from several animals, are also included within the term tallow. The tallow may also be hardened (i.e., hydrogenated) to convert all portions of unsaturated fatty acid, or part thereof, into portions of saturated fatty acid. When the term "coco" is used herein, it refers to mixtures of fatty acids typically having an approximate carbon chain length distribution of about 8% C8, 7% C, 48%, C-? 2, 17% C1, 9% C16, 2% C-is, 7% oleic and 2% linoleic (the first 6 fatty acids indicated being saturated). Other sources that have a similar carbon chain length distribution, such as palm kernel oil and babassu oil, are included with the term coconut oil. Other suitable agents for suds control are exemplified by silicones and silica-silicone blends. The silicones can generally be represented by the alkylated polysiloxane materials while the silicas are normally used in finely divided forms exemplified by silica aerogels and xerogels and hydrophobic silicas of various types. These materials can be incorporated as particles in which the suds control agent is advantageously and releasably incorporated in a detergent impermeable vehicle substantially non-surfactant, dispersible or water soluble. Alternatively, the suds control agent can be dissolved or dispersed in a liquid vehicle and applied by spraying on one or more of the other components. A preferred agent for silicone suds control is described in Bartollota et al., U.S. No. 3,933,672. Other particularly useful soaping control agents are the self-emulsifiable silicone suds control agents described in the German patent application DTOS 2 646 126, published on April 28, 1977. An example of said compound is DC-544, commercially available from Dow Corning, which is a siloxane-glycol copolymer. Especially preferred silicone suds control agents are described in co-pending European patent application No. 92201649.8. Said compositions may comprise a mixture of silica / silicone in combination with fumed non-porous silica such as ® Aerosil. A preferred type of agent for suds control is an alkyl-blocked alkoxylate alcohol. The alkyl chain of the alcohol can be C3-C30, the alkoxylate is preferably ethoxylate preferably comprising from 1 to 30 moles thereof, and the block is preferably a linear or branched alkyl group of C6-C6.

Especially preferred suds control agents are the suds control system comprising a mixture of silicone oils and 2-alkyl alkanols. Typically, the compositions herein may comprise up to 4% by weight of the total composition, of a suds control agent, or mixtures thereof, preferably from 0.1% to 1.5%, and more preferably from 0.1% to 0.8% .

Stabilizers The compositions of the present invention may further comprise up to 10%, preferably from 2% to 4% by weight of the total composition, of an alcohol according to the formula HO-CR'R "-OH, wherein R ' and R "are independently H or a C2-C-io and / or cyclo hydrocarbon chain. The preferred alcohol according to said formula is propanediol. Of course, it has been observed that these alcohols in general and propanediol in particular, also improve the chemical stability of the compositions. Other stabilizers, such as inorganic stabilizers, may be used herein. Examples of inorganic stabilizers include sodium stannate and various alkali metal phosphates, such as the well-known sodium tripolyphosphates, sodium pyrophosphate and sodium orthophosphate.

Dirt suspension polymer The compositions according to the present invention may further comprise a soil removal polymer. Any polyamine polymer for soil suspension known to those skilled in the art can be used herein. Polyamine polymers particularly suitable for use herein are polyalkoxylated polyamines. These materials can be conveniently represented as molecules of the empirical structures with repetitive units: [N R] Amine (alkoxy) form and R1 I [N + R] n nX "Quaternized form (alkoxy) and wherein R is a hydrocarbyl group, usually from 2 to 6 carbon atoms; R may be a C1-C20 hydrocarbon, the alkoxy groups are ethoxy, propoxy, and the like, and is from 2 to 30, more preferably from 10 to 20; n is an integer of at least 2, preferably from 2 to 20, more preferably from 3 to 5; and X "is an anion such as halide or methylisulfate resulting from the quaternization reaction.The most highly preferred polyamines for use herein are the so-called ethoxylated polyethylene amines, i.e. the polymerized reaction product of ethylene oxide with ethyleneimine, which has the general formula: (EtO). JN CH5 CH5 N _ (EtO) and (EtO) y (EtO) and wherein y = 2 to 30. Particularly preferred for use herein is an ethoxylated polyethyleneamine, in particular ethoxylated tetraethylenepentamine and quaternized ethoxylated hexamethylenediamine. Polyamine polymers for soil suspension contribute to the benefits of the present invention, that is, when added above said diacyl peroxide, they further improve the stain removal performance of a composition comprising them, especially under of pretreatment for washing as described herein. Of course, they allow to improve the performance of stain removal on a variety of stains including greasy stains, enzymatic stains, clay / mud stains, as well as on bleaching spots. Typically, the compositions comprise up to 10% by weight of the total composition, of said polyamine polymer for soil suspension, or mixtures thereof, preferably from 0.1% to 5%, and more preferably from 0.3% to 2%. The compositions herein may also comprise other polymeric soil removal agents known to those skilled in the art. Such polymeric soil removal agents are characterized by having hydrophilic segments to hydrophilize the surface of hydrophobic fibers, such as polyester and nylon, and hydrophobic segments that are deposited on the hydrophobic fibers and remain adhered thereto until the end of the wash cycle and rinse and, in this way, function as an anchor for the hydrophilic segments. This may allow stains that appear after treatment with the soil removal agent to be more easily removed in subsequent washing procedures. The soil-removing polymeric agents useful herein include especially those soil removal agents having: (a) one or more non-ionic hydrophilic components consisting essentially of (i) polyoxyethylene segments with a degree of polymerization of at least 2 , or (ii) oxypropylene or polyoxypropylene segments with a degree of polymerization of 2 to 10, wherein said hydrophilic segment does not encompass any oxypropylene unit, unless it is attached to adjacent portions at each end by ether linkages, or ( iii) a mixture of oxyalkylene units comprising oxyethylene and from 1 to about 30 oxypropylene units, wherein said mixture contains a sufficient amount of oxyethylene units, so that the hydrophilic component has a sufficiently large hydrophilic character to increase the character hydrophilic surface of conventional synthetic polyester fibers after depositing The soil removal agent is applied to said surface, said hydrophilic segments preferably comprising at least about 25% oxyethylene units, and more preferably, especially for said components having from about 20 to 30 oxypropylene units, so less approximately 50% oxyethylene units; or (b) one or more hydrophobic components comprising (i) segments of C3 oxyalkylene terephthalate, wherein, if said hydrophobic components also comprise oxyethylene terephthalate, the ratio of oxyethylene terephthalate: units of C3 oxyalkylene terephthalate, is about 2: 1 or less, (ii) C-C6 alkylene segments or C-C6-oxyalkylene or mixtures thereof, (iii) polyvinyl ester segments, preferably polyvinyl acetate), having a degree of polymerization of at least 2, or (v) C 1 -C 4 alkyl ether or C 4 hydroxyalkyl ether substituents, or mixtures thereof, wherein said substituents are present in the form of alkyl ether of CrC4 or C4 hydroxyalkyl cellulose ether derivatives, or mixtures thereof, and said cellulose derivatives are amphiphilic, whereby they have a sufficient level of C 1 -C 4 alkyl ether and / or C 4 hydroxyalkyl ether units for deposit on the surface of conventional synthetic polyester fibers, and retain a sufficient level of hydroxyl, once adhered to the surface of conventional synthetic fibers, to increase the hydrophilic character of the surface of the fibers, or a combination of (a ) and (b).

Typically, the polyoxyethylene segments of (a) (i) will have a degree of polymerization of from about 1 to about 200, although higher levels, preferably from 3 to about 150, more preferably from 6 to about 100, may be used. Segments Suitable C4-C6 oxyalkylene hydrophobes include, but are not limited to, end blocks (lids) of polymeric soil removal agents, such as M03S (CH2) nOCH2CH20-, where M is sodium and n is an integer of 4 to 6, as described in the US patent 4,721, 580, issued on January 26, 1998 to Gosselink. Polymeric soil removal agents useful in the present invention also include cellulosic derivatives such as hydroxyether cellulosic polymers, polymer blocks of ethylene terephthalate or propylene terephthalate with polyethylene oxide terephthalate or polypropylene oxide, and the like. Such agents are commercially available and include cellulose hydroxyethers such as METHOCEL (Dow). Cellulosic soil removal agents for use herein also include those selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 4 alkyl cellulose and C 4 hydroxyalkyl cellulose; see the patent of E.U.A. 4,000,093, issued December 28, 1976 to Nicol, et al. Soil removal agents characterized by hydrophobic polyvinyl ester segments, include polyvinyl ester graft copolymers, for example, C-Cß vinyl esters, preferably polyvinyl acetate grafted on polyalkylene oxide base structures, such as polyethylene oxide base structures. See European Patent Application 0 219 048, published on April 22, 1987 by Kud, and other commercially available soil removal agents of this type include SOKALAN material type, eg, SOKALAN HP-22, available from BASF (Germany). Western). One type of preferred soil remover is a copolymer having random blocks of ethylene terephthalate and polyethylene oxide terephthalate (PEO). The molecular weight of this polymeric soil removal agent is in the range of about 25,000 to about 55,000. See the patent of E.U.A. 3,959,230 to Hays, issued May 25, 1976, and the patent of E.U.A. 3,893,929 to Basadur, issued July 8, 1975. Another preferred polymeric soil remover is a polyester with repeating units of ethylene terephthalate containing 10 to 15% by weight of ethylene terephthalate units together with 90 to 80% by weight of polyoxyethylene terephthalate units, derived from a polyoxyethylene glycol of average molecular weight of 300-5,000. Examples of this polymer include the commercially available material ZELCON 5126 (ex DuPont) and MILEASE T (de ICI). See also the patent of E.U.A. 4,702,857, issued on October 27, 1987 to Gosselink. Another preferred soil remover polymer is a sulfonated product of a substantially linear ester oligomer formed from an oligomeric terephthaloyl ester base structure and oxyalkylenoxy repeating units and terminal portions covalently attached to the base structure. These soil removal agents are described in detail in the U.S. patent. 4,968,451, issued November 6, 1990 to J. J. Scheibel and E. P. Gosselink. Other suitable polymeric soil removal agents include the terephthalate polyesters of the U.S. Patent. 4,711, 730, issued December 8, 1987 to Gosselink et al., The oligomeric anionic esters of blocked ends of the U.S. patent. 4,721, 580, issued on January 26, 1988 to Gosselink, and the oligomeric polyester block compounds of the U.S.A. 4,702,857, issued on October 27, 1987 to Gosselink. Preferred polymeric soil removal agents also include the soil removal agents of the U.S.A. 4,877,896, issued on October 31, 1989 to Maldonado et al., Which describes anionic terephthalate esters of blocked ends, especially sulfoaroyl. Another preferred soil remover is an oligomer with repeating units of terephthaloyl units, sulfoisoterephthaloyl units, oxyethyleneoxy units and oxy-1,2-propylene units. The repeating units form the base structure of the oligomer, and end preferably with blocked ends of modified isethionate. A preferred particulate soil remover of this type comprises about 1 unit of sulfoisophthaloyl, 5 units of terephthaloyl, oxyethyleneoxy and units of oxy-1,2-propyleneoxy at a ratio of about 1.7 to about 1.8, and two end units. blocked from sodium 2- (2-hydroxyethoxy) -ethansulfonate. Said soil removal agent also comprises from about 0.5% to about 20%, by weight of the oligomer, of a crystalline reducing stabilizer preferably selected from the group consisting of xylene sulfonate, cumenesulfonate, toluene sulfonate, and mixtures thereof. See the patent of E.U.A. No. 5,415,807, issued May 16, 1995 to Gosselink et al. If used, the soil removal agents will generally comprise from 0.01% to 10.0% by weight, of the detergent compositions herein, typically from 0.1% to 5%, preferably from 0.2% to 3.0%.

Dye transfer inhibitor The compositions of the present invention may further include one or more materials effective to inhibit the transfer of dyes from one colored surface to another during the cleaning process. Typically, such inhibitors dye transfer polymers include polyvinyl pyrrolidone polymers, polyamine N-oxide, copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone and N-vinylimidazole, manganese phthalocyanine, peroxidases, and mixtures thereof. If used, these agents typically comprise from 0.01% to 10% by weight of the composition, preferably from 0.01% to 5%, and more preferably from 0.05% to 2%.

More specifically, the preferred polyamine N-oxide polymers for use herein contain units having the following structural formula: R-Ax-P, wherein P is a polymerizable unit to which a group can be attached NO, or the group can NOT be part of the polymerizable unit, or the group can NOT be attached to both units; A is one of the following structures: -NC (O) -, -C (O) O-, -S-, -O-, -N =; x is 0 or 1; and R represents aliphatic, aliphatic, ethoxylated, aromatic, heterocyclic or alicyclic groups, or any combination thereof, to which the nitrogen of the N-O group can be attached, or the N-O group forms part of these groups. Preferred polyamine N-oxides are those wherein R is a heterocyclic group such as pyridine, pyrrole, imidazole, pyrrolidine, piperidine, and derivatives thereof. The N-O group can be represented by the following general structures: wherein Ri, R2 and R3 are aliphatic, aromatic, heterocyclic or alicyclic groups, or combinations thereof; x, y e z are 0 or 1; and the nitrogen of the N-O group can be attached or can be part of any of the groups mentioned above. The amine oxide unit of the polyamine N-oxides has a pKa < 10, preferably a pKa < 7, more preferably a pKa < 6 Any polymer base structure can be used as long as the amine oxide polymer formed is soluble in water and has dye transfer inhibiting properties. Examples of suitable polymeric base structures are polyvinyls, polyalkylenes, polyesters, polyethers, polyamides, polyimides, polyacrylates, and mixtures of the same. These polymers include random or block copolymers, wherein one type of monomer is an amine N-oxide, and the other type of monomer is an N-oxide. The amine N-oxide polymers typically have a ratio of amine: amine N-oxide from 10: 1 to 1: 1,000,000. However, the number of amine oxide groups present in the polyamine oxide polymer can be varied by appropriate copolymerization, or by an appropriate degree of N-oxidation. Polyamine oxides can be obtained in almost any degree of polymerization. Typically, the average molecular weight is within the range of 500 to 1,000,000, more preferably 1,000,000 to 500,000, most preferably 5,000 to 100,000. This preferred class of materials can be referred to as "PVNO". The most preferred polyamine N-oxide useful in the detergent compositions herein is poly (4-vinylpyridine) N-oxide, which has an average molecular weight of about 50,000, and a ratio of amine: N-amine oxide of about 1: 4. Copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone and N-vinylimidazole polymers (referred to as "PVPVI") are also preferred for use herein. Preferably, the PVPVI has an average molecular weight scale of about 5,000 to 1,000,000, more preferably 5,000 to 200,000, and most preferably 10,000 to 20,000 (the average molecular weight scale is determined by light scattering as describes in Barth, et al., Chemical Analvsis, Vol. 113. "Modern Methods of Psymer Characterization", the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference). PVPVI copolymers typically have a molar ratio of N-vinylimidazole to N-vinylpyrrolidone from 1: 1 to 0.2: 1, more preferably from 0.8: 1 to 0.3: 1, most preferably from 0.6: 1 to 0.4: 1. These copolymers can be linear or branched. The compositions of the present invention may also use a polyvinylpyrrolidone ("PVP"), having an average molecular weight of 5,000 to 400,000, preferably 5,000 to 200,000 and more preferably 5,000 to 50,000. PVP's are well known by experts in the field of detergents; see, for example, EP-A-262,897 and EP-A-256,696, incorporated herein by reference. The PVP-containing compositions may also contain polyethylene glycol ("PEG") having an average molecular weight of 500 to 100,000, preferably 1,000 to 10,000. Preferably, the ratio of PEG to PVP on a base in ppm released in the wash solutions is from 2: 1 to 50: 1, and more preferably from 3: 1 to 10: 1.

Squeeze Intensifier If high sudsing is desired, suds intensifiers such as C10-C16 alkanolamides can be incorporated into the compositions, typically at levels of 1% -10%. Cio-Cu monoethanolamides and diethanolamides illustrate a typical class of such suds intensifiers. The use of said suds intensifiers with adjunct high sudsing surfactants, such as the amine oxides, betaines and sultaines described above, is also advantageous. If desired, soluble magnesium salts such as MgCl 2, MgSO 4, and the like can be added, at levels, for example, of 0.1% -2%, to provide additional sudsing, and to improve the fat removal performance.

Minor Ingredients The composition described herein may also comprise minor ingredients such as pigments or dyes and perfumes.

Surface treatment methods In the present invention, the surface to be cleaned is treated with a liquid composition of the present invention. 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 automobile interiors, for example, tiles, walls, floors, chrome, glass, smooth vinyl, any plastic, wood plasticised, table tops, sinks, kitchen surfaces, tableware, sanitary accessories such as dumps, countertops, bathroom curtains, sinks, toilets, and the like, as well as fabrics that include clothes, curtains, draperies, bedding, swimwear, tablecloths, sleeping bags, awnings, upholstered furniture, and the like, and rugs. The inanimate surfaces also include household appliances that include, but are not limited to, refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, automatic dryers, ovens, microwave ovens, dishwashers, etc. By "treating a surface", it is meant in the present to bleach said surfaces, since the compositions of the present invention comprise a bleaching system based on a peracid compound, or a mixture thereof, and optionally cleaning said surface, since said compositions may comprise a surfactant, or any other conventional cleaning agent. In this way, the present invention also encompasses a treatment method, especially the bleaching of a fabric, such as the inanimate surface. In said process, a composition according to the present invention is brought into contact with the fabric to be treated. This can be done in a so-called "pretreatment mode", wherein a liquid bleaching composition, as defined herein, is applied in pure form on said fabrics before the fabrics are rinsed, or washed and then rinsed , or in a "soaking mode", wherein a liquid whitening composition, as defined herein, is first diluted in an aqueous solution, and the fabrics are immersed and soaked in the aqueous solution before they are rinsed, or in a "washing mode", wherein a liquid bleaching composition, as defined herein, is added on top of 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 put in contact with said composition, before said composition has completely dried. The surface bleaching processes in accordance with the present invention, especially fabrics, provide effective whiteness performance, as well as effective stain removal performance. The compositions according to the present invention can be used in pure or diluted form. Nevertheless, the compositions herein are typically used in diluted form in a washing operation. By "in diluted form", it is hereby meant that the compositions for bleaching fabrics according to the present invention can be diluted by the user, preferably with water. Said dilution may occur, for example, in laundry applications by hand, as well as by other means such as in a washing machine. Said compositions can be diluted up to 500 times, preferably 5 to 200 times, and more preferably 10 to 80 times. More specifically, the fabric bleaching process according to the present invention comprises the steps of first contacting said fabrics with a bleaching composition in accordance with the present invention, in its diluted form, then letting said fabrics remain in contact with said composition, for a period sufficient to whiten said fabrics, typically from 1 to 60 minutes, preferably from 5 to 30 minutes, then rinsing said fabrics with water. If said fabrics are to be washed, that is, with a conventional detergent composition preferably comprising at least one surfactant, said washing can be carried out together with the bleaching of said fabrics, contacting said fabrics at the same time with a bleaching composition according to the present invention in said detergent composition, or said washing can be carried out before or after said fabrics have been bleached. Accordingly, said method according to the present invention allows the bleaching of fabrics, and optionally the washing of fabrics with a detergent composition preferably comprising at least one surfactant before contacting said fabrics with said bleaching composition and / or in the step wherein said fabrics are brought into contact with said bleaching composition and / or after the passage wherein said fabrics are brought into contact with said bleaching composition, and before the rinsing step and / or after the rinsing step . In another embodiment of the present invention, the fabric bleaching process comprises the step of contacting the fabrics with a liquid bleaching composition in accordance with the present invention in its pure form, and allowing said fabrics to remain in contact with said composition. bleaching for a period sufficient to whiten said fabrics, typically 5 seconds to 30 minutes, preferably from 1 minute to 10 minutes, and then to rinse said fabrics with water. If said fabrics are to be washed, that is, with a conventional composition comprising at least one surfactant, said washing can be carried out before or after said fabrics have been bleached. Advantageously, the present invention provides liquid bleaching compositions that can be applied in their pure form on a fabric to be bleached, regardless of the lasting prejudice to the use of said compositions containing bleach in its pure form on fabrics, since that the present compositions are safe for colors and fabrics per se. Alternatively, instead of following the method of bleaching in pure form as described hereinabove (pre-processor application) by means of a rinsing step with water and / or a conventional washing step with a conventional liquid or powder detergent , the bleach pretreatment operation can also be followed by the bleaching procedure in diluted form as described hereinabove, either in a cuvette (hand operation) or in a washing machine. It is preferred to carry out the bleaching procedures herein, after said fabrics have been washed with a conventional laundry detergent composition. Of course, it has been observed that the bleaching of said fabrics with the compositions according to the present invention (typically, methods of bleaching in diluted form), after washing them with a detergent composition, provides whiteness and removal of higher stains with less energy and detergent, than if said fabrics are first bleached and then washed. In another embodiment, the present invention also encompasses a tfr, a method for treating a hard surface, such as an inanimate surface. In said process, a composition, as defined herein, is contacted with the hard surfaces to be treated. This In a manner, the present invention also encompasses a method for 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 soiled portions thereof. , * and optionally rinsing said hard surface. In the hard surface treatment process according to the present invention, the composition, as defined herein, can be applied to the surface to be treated in its pure form or in its diluted form, typically up to 200. times its water weight, preferably 80 to 2 times its weight in water, and more preferably 60 to 2 times its weight in water. When used as hard surface bleaching / disinfecting compositions, the compositions of the present invention are easy to rinse and provide good gloss characteristics on the treated surfaces. By "hard surfaces" is meant any hard surface as mentioned hereinabove, as well as tableware.

Packaging form of the liquid compositions Depending on the intended end use, the compositions herein can be packaged in several containers including conventional bottles, bottles equipped with dispenser, sponge, brush or sprinklers. In one embodiment of the present invention, the composition is packaged in a two-compartment container, wherein the bleaching composition as described herein is packaged in a compartment, and a second composition is packaged in the second compartment. In a particularly preferred aspect, the second composition is a conventional heavy duty liquid detergent composition, preferably comprising ingredients, particularly bleach sensitive ingredients, such as surfactants, enzymes and perfumes.

EXAMPLES The invention is best illustrated by the following, which does not mean that it is limiting. All levels are described in percent by 5 weight of the total composition. 10 & PAP is phthaloylamidoperoxyhexanoic acid. Cabopol ETD 2691 is a polyacrylate available from BF Goodrich. 15 Tinopal SOP is an optical brightener. «

Claims (11)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - A bleaching composition characterized in that it comprises a substantially insoluble optical brightener, and a preformed monoperoxycarboxylic acid having the general formula: XRC (0) OOH, wherein R is a linear or branched alkyl chain having at least 2 carbon atoms , and X is hydrogen or a substituent group selected from the group consisting of alkyl, especially alkyl chains of 1 to 24 carbon atoms, aryl, halogen, ester, ether, amine, amide, substituted phthalic amino, imide, hydroxide, sulfide , sulfate, sulfonate, carboxylic, heterocyclic, nitrate, aldehyde, phosphonate, phosphonic, or mixtures thereof.

2. The bleaching composition according to claim 1, further characterized in that the optical brightener is non-ionic.

3. The bleaching composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the optical brightener is a compound comprising a heterocyclic group or benzene, or derivatives thereof.

4. The bleaching composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the optical brightener comprises a benzoxazole, pyrazole, triazole, triazine, imidazole, furan, or mixtures thereof group.

5. The bleaching composition, characterized in that the optical brightener is selected from the group consisting of benzoxasol, 2,2'- 5 (2,5-thiophendiyl) bis- (7CI, 8CI, 9CI), 7- (dimethylamino) - 4-methyl-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one (9CI), benzoxasol, 2,2 '- (1,2-etendylyl) bis [5-methyl- (9CI) and 1H-benzimidazole, 2,2 '- (2,5-furandiyl) bis [1 -methyl- (9CI).

6. The bleaching composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the R 10 group of the preformed monoperoxycarboxylic acid is a linear alkyl chain comprising from 2 to 24 carbon atoms.

7. The bleaching composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the R group of the preformed monoperoxycarboxylic acid is a branched alkyl chain comprising one or more side chains comprising substituent groups selected from the group consisting of aryl, halogen, ester, ether, amine, amide, substituted phthalic amino, imide, hydroxide, sulfide, sulfate, sulfonate, carboxylic, heterocyclic, nitrate, aldehyde, ketone, or mixtures of the mimes.

8. The bleaching composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the group X of the preformed monoperoxycarboxylic acid is a phthalimido group.

9. The bleaching composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the preformed monoperoxycarboxylic acid is preformed phthaloylamidoperoxyhexanoic acid.

10. A method for cleaning a fabric, characterized in that it consists of applying a bleaching composition to the fabric according to any of the preceding claims, and optionally rinsing it.

11. The use of a bleaching composition comprising a preformed monoperoxycarboxylic acid and a substantially insoluble optical brightener for optically bleaching the fabric.