MXPA98007084A - Detergent compositions for the - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a detergent composition for washing particulate laundry that has a significantly improved oily removal activity. The composition comprises (a) from about 1 to 50 percent, by weight, of one or more detergent compounds selected from the group consisting of ionic or nonionic detergent compounds, and particularly polyhydroxy fatty acid and polyglucoside fatty acid amide detergents. of alkyl, (b) an enzyme lipase in an amount effective for removal of oily dirt from the stained fabric, and (c) a polymer for releasing dirt in an amount effective for removal of oily dirt from the stained fabric. . The laundry detergent composition is characterized by its ability to remove a variety of oily soils from the fabric to a greater extent than the additive dirt removal effects measured with comparative compositions containing components (a) and (b), and components (a) and (c), respectively

Description

DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS FOR WASHING FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to particulate detergent compositions having improved oily soil removal activity. More particularly, this invention relates to particulate laundry detergent compositions containing, among other components, a soil release polymer in combination with a lipase enzyme to provide a composition which is particularly effective in removing oily soils from the fabric .

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The use of detergent formulations in washing clothes to remove oily soils is well known in the art. U.S. Patent No. 5,223,169 issued to El-Sayed describes the use of hydrolase enzymes including lipases for laundry applications. U.S. Patent No. 5,069,810 to Holmes is directed to detergent compositions comprising microbial lipase and dodecylbenzene sulfonate.

Dirt-releasing polymers, and in particular, those commonly referred to as the PET-POET copolymers (polyethylene terephthalate-polyoxyethylene terephthalate) have been widely suggested as components of the detergent compositions. U.S. Patent Nos. 4,569,772 and 4,571,303 to Ciallella disclose nonionic detergent compositions containing stabilized PET-POET copolymers as soil release agents. Enzymes such as proteolytic and ilolytic enzymes are listed among the optional auxiliaries.

U.S. Patent No. 5,026,400 to Holland et al. Discloses compositions containing a narrow range of ethoxylated nonionic detergents in combination with PET-POET copolymers and enhancers.

Although detergent compositions containing soil release polymers have proven to be commercially successful as laundry compositions, the effective removal of oily stains from a variety of fabrics remains a persistent problem area to which one wishes to direct the search for. liquid and granular laundry washing formulas.

SYNTHESIS OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, a detergent composition for washing particulate laundry having a significantly improved oily dirt removal activity is provided. The composition comprises (a) from about 1 to 50 percent, by weight, of one or more detergent compounds selected from the group consisting of anionic and nonionic detergent compounds, and mixtures thereof; (b) an enzyme lipase in an amount effective for removal of oily dirt from a soiled fabric; and (c) a soil release polymer in an amount effective to remove oily dirt from the soiled fabric; said laundry detergent composition is capable of removing a variety of oily soils from the fabric to a greater extent than the additive dirt removal effects measured with comparative compositions containing components (a) and (b), and the components (a ) and (c) respectively, each of said comparative compositions being devoid of any combination of said lipase enzyme and said soil release polymer.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the suds release polymer is a copolymer of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyoxyethylene terephthalate (POET) having a molecular weight of from about 5,000 to 50,000.

According to the process of the invention, the washing of fabrics soiled or stained with oily soils is effected by washing the fabrics to be washed in an aqueous solution containing an effective amount of the detergent composition for washing particulate laundry defined above.

The present invention is predicated on the discovery that the combination of the enzyme lipase and the soil release polymer, particularly the PET-POET type copolymers, in a laundry detergent composition provide a synergistic interaction to remove oily soils from the fabrics. The cleaning effects provided by the compositions according to the invention exceed the cleaning effects provided by comparative detergent compositions similar to the compositions of the invention except that they contain either lipase or soil release polymers, as may be the case as individual components and not in combination.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The soil release polymers useful in the present invention are preferably copolymers of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyoxyethylene terephthalate (POET). These will usually be of molecular weights in the range of about 5,000 to 50,000, preferably in the range of about 9,000 to 20,000 and more preferably of about 15,000, according to molecular weight determinations carried out on samples thereof. they are usually employed here. Such molecular weights are average molecular weight weights, as distinguished from the average number molecular weight, which, in the case of the polymers present, are often lower. In the polymers used the polyoxyethylene will usually be of a molecular weight in the range of from about 1,000 to 10,000, preferably from 2,500 to 5,000, more preferably from 3,000 to 4,000, for example 3,400. In such polymers the molar ratio of polyethylene terephthalate units to polyoxyethylene terephthalate units (recitals such units) will be in the range of 2: 1 to 6: 1, preferably 5: 2 to 5: 1, more preferably 3: 1 to 4: 1, for example of about 3: 1. The ratio of ethylene oxide to phthalic group in the polymer will normally be at least 10: 1 and will often be 20: 1 or more, preferably being within the range of 20: 1 to 30: 1, and more preferably being around 22: 1. Therefore, it has been found that the polymer can be considered as being essentially an ethylene oxide polymer modified with the phthalic group being only a minor component thereof, whether calculated on a weight or molar basis.

Although the described PET-POET copolymer is that which is normally employed by applicants in accordance with the present invention and that which is highly preferred for its desired functions, other PET-POET polymers, such as those described in the US Pat. U.S. Patent No. 3,962,152 and British Patent Specification No. 1,088,984 may also be employed and may be effective soil release promoting agents in the compositions and methods of this invention.

The percentage of the PET-POET copolymer in the detergent compositions of the invention can vary from about 0.5 to 10 percent, preferably from about 1 to 5 percent by weight.

The lipase enzyme to be used according to the invention is of a fungal or bacterial origin and is suitable for use in detergent formulations to improve the removal of oil or fat containing stains typically resulting from fats and oils. frying, dressing of salads, human bait and cosmetics such as lipstick. Preferred lipase enzymes have an optimum activity between pH values of 9 to 11. A particularly preferred lipolytic enzyme for use herein is "Lipolase 100 T" ® marketed by Novo Industri A / S, DK-2880 Bagsvaerd, Denmark. The activity of the enzyme derived from the fungus is around 100,000 units of lipase per gram of enzyme. The weight percent of lipase in the detergent compositions of the invention will generally be from about 0.05 to 2 percent, preferably from about 0.1 to 1 percent, and more preferably in the range from 0.1 to 0.7 percent.

Any suitable non-ionic detergent compound can be used as a surfactant in the present compositions, with various members thereof being described in John's various annual volumes of Detercants and Emulsifiers. McCutcheon. Such volumes give the chemical formulas and trade names for commercial nonionic detergents marketed in the United States of America, and essentially all of those detergents can be employed in the present invention. However, it is highly preferred that such a non-ionic detergent be a condensation product of ethylene oxide and higher fatty alcohol (even though instead of the higher fatty alcohol, the higher fatty acids and the alkyl [octyl, nonyl and isooctyl] phenols can also be used). The higher fatty halides, such as the alkyls, of such alcohols and the resulting condensation products will normally be linear, of 10 to 18 carbon atoms, preferably 10 to 16 carbon atoms, more preferably 12 to 15 carbon atoms, and sometimes more preferably from 12 to 14 carbon atoms. Because such fatty alcohols are usually commercially available only as mixtures, the numbers of. the given carbon atoms are necessarily averages but in some cases the ranges of the numbers of the carbon atoms can be real limits for the alcohols employed and for the corresponding alkyls.

The ethylene oxide (EtO) contents of the non-ionic detergents will normally be in the range of 3 to 15 moles of EtO per mole of higher fatty alcohol, although as much as 20 moles of EtO can be present. Preferably such ethylene oxide content will be from 3 to 10 moles and more preferably will be from 6 to 7 moles, for example, from 6.5 to 7 moles per mole of higher fatty alcohol (and per mole of nonionic detergent). As with the higher fatty alcohol, the given polyethoxylate limits are also limits on the averages of the numbers of ethylene oxide groups present in the condensation product. Examples of suitable nonionic detergents include those sold by Shell Chemical Company under the trademark Neodol®, including Neodol 25-7, Neodol 23-6.5 and Neodol 25-3.

Other useful nonionic detergent compounds include the alkyl polyglycoside and the alkylpolysaccharide surfactants, which are well known and extensively described in the art.

Preferred alkyl polysaccharides for use herein are the alkyl polyglucosides having the formula RO (CnH2nO) r (Z)? wherein Z is derived from glucose, R is a hydrophobic group selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkyl phenyl, hydroxyalkyl phenyl, and mixtures thereof in which said alkyl contains from about 10 to 18, preferably from about 12 to about 14 carbon atoms; n is 2 or 3 preferably, 2; r is from 0 to 10, preferably 0; and x is from 1.5 to 8, preferably from 1.5 to 4, more preferably from 1.6 to 2.7. To prepare these compounds, a long chain alcohol (R20H wherein R2 is an alkyl group of about C10 to C18) can be reacted with glucose, in the presence of an acid catalyst to form the desired glucoside. Alternatively, the alkyl polyglucosides can be prepared by means of a two step process in which a short chain alcohol (RtOH where Rt is an alkyl having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms) is reacted with glucose or polyglucoside ( x = 2 to 4) to give a short chain alkyl glucoside (x = 1 to 4) which can in turn be reacted with a longer chain alcohol (RjOH) to displace the short chain alcohol and have the desired alkyl polyglucoside. If this 2-step process is used, the short chain alkyl glucoside content of the final alkyl polyglucoside material should be less than 50 percent, preferably less than 10 percent, more preferably less than about 5 percent. one hundred percent, more preferably 0 percent, of the alkyl polyglucoside.

The amount of unreacted alcohol (the content of free fatty alcohol) in the desired alkyl polysaccharide surfactant is preferably less than about 2 percent, more preferably less than about 0.5 percent by weight of the total polysaccharide of I rent. For some uses it is desirable to have the monosaccharide alkyl content of less than about 10 percent.

The term "alkyl polysaccharide surfactant" is intended to represent both the preferred galactose and glucose-derived surfactants and the less preferred alkyl polysaccharide surfactants. Through this description, the "alkyl polyglucoside" was used to include the alkyl polyglycosides because the stereochemistry of the saccharide group is changed during the preparation reaction.

An especially preferred glycoside surfactant APG is glycoside Glucopon 625 CSUP manufactured by Henkel Corporation of Ambler, PA. Glucopon 625 CSUP is a non-ionic alkyl polyglycoside characterized by the formula wherein the alkyl chain length distribution is as follows: for n = 10 (2%); n = 12 (65%); n = 14 (21-28%); n = 16 (4-8%) and n = 18 (0.5%) and x (degree of polymerization) = 1.6. Glucopon 625 CSUP has a pH of 11 to 11.5 (10 percent Glucopon 625 in distilled water); a specific gravity at 25 degrees centigrade of 9.1 pounds / gallon; a calculated lipophilic hydrophilic balance of 12.1 and a Brookfield viscosity at 35 degrees centigrade, spindle 21, 5-10 revolutions per minute from 3,000 to 7,000 centipoises.

Other surfactants useful for the present invention are the amide surfactants of the formula O R, (a) wherein Rx is H, hydrocarbyl C ^ -Cg, 2-hydroxyethyl, 2-hydroxypropyl, or a mixture thereof, j is preferably methyl; R is a C7-C2 hydrocarbyl, preferably a C9-C19 straight chain alkyl, more preferably a C10-C16 straight alkyl; and Z is a polyhydroxy hydrocarbyl unit having a straight chain with at least 2 hydroxyl directed connected to the chain. The preferred hydroxycarbyl polyhydroxy groups are derivatives of a reducing sugar in a reductive amination reaction. Z is more preferably a glycite group. Suitable reducing sugars include glucose, fructose, tall, lactose, galactose, mannose, and xylose, as well as glyceraldehyde or mixtures thereof. An especially preferred glycidyl group is where Z is -CHi- (CHOH) 4-CH2OH.

Alternatively, the amide surfactants may comprise amides of the formula O R, -O-R > (b) R- C- N- wherein R is a hydrocarbyl group CC ^, Ri is a C2-C8 hydrocarbyl group, R2 is a C, -Cg hydrocarbyl or an oxy-hydrocarbyl group, and Z is a polyhydroxy hydrocarbyl unit having a linear chain with At least two hydroxyl directly connected to the chain. Preferred hydrocarbyl polyhydroxy groups are derived from a reductive sugar in a reductive amination reaction. Z is more preferably a group of glycityl; the glycityl group -CH 2 - (CHOH) -CH 2 OH being especially preferred.

Among the anionic surfactants useful in the present invention are those surfactant compounds which contain a hydrophobic group containing from about 8 to 26 carbon atoms and preferably from about 10 to 18 carbon atoms in its structure and therefore less a water-solubilizing group selected from the group of sulfonate, sulfate, carboxylate, phosphorate and phosphate to form a water-soluble detergent.

Examples of suitable anionic detergents include soaps, such as, water-soluble salts (eg sodium potassium, ammonium and alkanolammonium salts) of higher fatty acids or resin salts containing from about 8 to 20. carbon atoms and preferably from 10 to 18 carbon atoms. Particularly useful are the sodium and potassium salts of the fatty acid mixtures derived from coconut oil and bait, for example, potassium bait soap and sodium coconut soap.

The anionic class of detergents also includes the sulfated and water-soluble sulfonated detergents having an aliphatic, preferably an alkyl radical containing from about 8 to 26, and preferably from about 12 to 22 carbon atoms. Examples of the sulfonated anionic detergents are the higher alkyl aromatic sulphonates such as the higher alkylbenzene sulfonates containing from about 10 to 16 carbon atoms in the higher alkyl group in a straight or branched chain, such as, for example, example, the sodium, potassium and ammonium salts of the higher alkyl benzene sulfonates, the higher alkyl toluene sulfonates and the higher alkyl phenol sulfonates.

Other suitable anionic detergents are the olefin sulfonates including the long chain alkene sulphonates, the long chain hydroxyalkane sulfonates or mixtures of alkene sulphonates and hiroxyalkane sulphonates. The olefin sulphonate detergents can be repaired in a conventional manner by reacting S03 with long chain olefins containing from about 8 to 25, and preferably from 12 to 21 carbon atoms, such olefins have the formula RCH = CHR! wherein R is a higher alkyl group of from about 6 to 23 carbon atoms and Rt is an alkyl group containing from about 1 to 17 carbon atoms, or hydrogen to form a mixture of sultones and sulphonic acids of alkene which is then treated to convert the sultones to sulfonates. Other examples of sulfate or sulfonate detergents are paraffin sulfonates containing from about 10 to 20 carbon atoms, and preferably from about 15 to 20 carbon atoms. The primary paraffin sulphonates are made by reacting the olefins and long chain alpha bisulfites.

Other suitable anionic detergents are the sulfated ethoxylated higher fatty alcohols of the formula RO (C2H0) mS03M, wherein R is a fatty alkyl of from 10 to 18 carbon atoms, m is from 2 to 6 (preferably having a value of about 1/5 to 1/2 the number of carbon atoms in R) and M is a solubilizing salt forming cation, such as an alkali metal, ammonium, lower alkylamino or lower alkanolamino or benzene sulfonate; higher alkyl wherein the higher alkyl is from 10 to 15 carbon atoms. The proportion of ethylene oxide in the polyethoxylated higher alkanol sulfate is preferably 2 to 5 moles of ethylene oxide groups per mole of anionic detergent, with three moles being more preferred, especially when the higher alcohol is 11 to 15 carbon atoms. carbon. A preferred polyethoxylated alcohol sulfate detergent is available from Shell Chemical Company as Neodol 25-3S.

The most highly preferred water soluble anionic detergent compounds are ammonium and substituted ammonium salts (such as mono, di and tri ethanolamine), alkali metal (such as sodium and potassium) and alkaline earth metal (such as calcium and magnesium) of the higher alkyl benzene sulfonates, the olefin sulfonates and the higher alkyl sulfates. Among the above-listed anionics the most preferred are sodium linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LABS), and especially those wherein the alkyl group is a straight chain alkyl radical of 12 or 13 carbon atoms.

Amphoteric or ampholytic detergents can be used, if desired, to complement the anionic and / or nonionic detergent in the composition of the invention. Ampholytic detergents well known in the art and many operable detergents of this class are described by A. M. Sch. Artz, J..

Perry and J. Berch in "Surfactants and Detergents", Interscience Publishers, New York, 1958, volume 2.

A preferred amphoteric surfactant is of the formula R- (N- CH2CH2CH2) and- N- CH2COOM 1 1 CH2COOM CH2COOM wherein R is an aliphatic hydrocarbyl, preferably fatty alkyl or fatty alkylene, of 16 to 18 carbon atoms, M is an alkali metal, and is from 3 to 4. More preferably R is baboalkyl (which is a mixture of stearyl, palmityl and oleyl in the proportions in which they occur in the bait), M is sodium and i is about 3.5, representing a mixture of about equal parts of the amphoteric surfactant where y is 3 and such amphoteric surfactant wherein y is 4. Among the most preferred amphoteric surfactants of this type is that commercially available under the trade name Ampholak ™, which is obtainable from Kenobel AB, a unit of Nobel Industries of Sweden.

The reinforcing materials can advantageously be included in the present compositions and can comprise any suitable water-insoluble or water-soluble reinforcer, either organic or inorganic as long as it is useful as a reinforcer for the particular non-ionic or anionic detergent compounds which can be employed . Such reinforcing agents are well known to those with a skill of detergents in the art include: alkali metal phosphates, such as alkali metal polyphosphates and pyrophosphates, including alkali metal tripolyphosphates, alkali metal silicates including alkali metal silicates the Na20: SiO2 ratio in the range of 1: 1.6 to 1: 3.0, preferably of 1: 2.0 to 1: 2.8, and more preferably 1: 2.35 or 1: 2.4; alkali metal carbonates; alkali metal bicarbonates; sesquicarbonate alkali metal (which can be considered as a mixture of alkali metal carbonates and alkali metal bicarbonates); alkali metal borates; for example borax; alkali metal citrates; alkali metal gluconates; alkali metal nitrilotriacetates; zeolites, preferably hydrated zeolites such as the initial hydrated zeolite A, the zeolite X and the zeolite Y; and mixtures of individual reinforcers within one or more such types of reinforcers. Preferably the reinforcers will be sodium salts and they will also be inorganic. A water-insoluble and water-soluble reinforcing composition mixed without phosphate comprises carbonate, bicarbonate and zeolite boosters. The phosphate-containing reinforcing systems will usually be based on alkali metal (sodium) tripolyphosphate and the silicate builders, with such silicate being in a relatively smaller proportion.

The zeolite A silicate aluminum reinforcer, usually hydrated, with about 15 to 25 percent hydration water is particularly advantageous for the present invention. The hydrated zeolites X and Y can also be useful, as can naturally occurring zeolites which can act as detergents. Of the various products of zeolite A,? < , eolite 4A, a type of zeolite molecule in which the pore size is around 4 amstrongs is frequently preferred. This type of zeolite is well known in the art and methods for its manufacture are described in the art such as in U.S. Patent No. 3,114,603.

Zeolite boosters are generally formula (Na20) x • (Al203) and • (Si02) z • w H20 wherein x is 1, and is from 0.8 to 1.2, preferably from about 1, z is from 1.5 to 3.5, preferably from 2 or 3 or about 2, and is from 0 to 9, preferably from 2.5 to 6. The crystalline types of zeolite which can be used here include those described in the work "Molecular Series of Zeolite" by Donald Breck, published in 1974 by John Wiley & Sons, typical commercially available zeolites are listed in Table 9.6 pages 747-749 of the text, such Table being incorporated herein by reference.

The zeolite booster must be a univalent cateon exchange zeolite, for example, it must be aluminosilicate of a univalent cation such as sodium, potassium, lithium (when practicable) or alkali metal or ammonium. A zeolite having an alkali metal cation, especially sodium, is more preferred, as indicated in the formula shown above. The zeolites employed can be characterized as having a high exchange capacity for the calcium ion, which is usually from about 200 to 400 or more milligram equivalents of calcium carbonate hardness per gram of the aluminosilicate, preferably from 250 to 350 mg, for example / g, on an anhydrous zeolite base.

Other components may be present in the detergent compositions to improve the properties and in some cases, to act as diluents or fillers. Among the suitable fillers, the most preferred is sodium sulfate. Illustrative of suitable auxiliaries are enzymes complementary to lipase which is an integral component of the present compositions to further promote the cleaning of certain stains difficult to remove from clothing or hard surfaces. Among the enzymes, the proteolytic and amylolytic enzymes are the most useful to complement the lipase. Other useful auxiliaries are foaming agents, such as lauric myristic diethanolamide, when the foam is desired, and antifoams when desired, such as dimethylsilicone fluids. Bleaching agents, such as sodium perborate, are also useful, which can be accompanied by suitable activators to promote the bleaching action in warm or cold water. The flow promoting agents, such as hydrated synthetic calcium silicate, which is sold under the trademark Microcel® C, can be used in relatively small proportions. Other auxiliaries usually present in detergent compositions include fluorescent brighteners, such as stilbene brighteners, dyes such as dyes and pigments, and perfume.

EXAMPLE 1 The effectiveness of the composition of the invention in removing oily soils and fabric stains was tested in a cleaning test known as a multirain test in which a variety of stains such as liquid makeup, bait / particulate soiling , of steak sauce, French dressing, Crisco red butter, among others was deposited on a variety of fabrics including double-woven Dacron®, cotton calico, and cotton / polyester blend, fabrics that may be feasibly present in the family wash. To evaluate the synergistic effects achieved with the compositions of the invention, comparative cleaning tests were conducted using three detergent compositions identical to the particular composition of the invention except that such comparative compositions do not contain either the soil release polymer, or the enzyme. lipase or both as may be the case.

The tests were carried out in an automatic washing machine that is loaded above a capacity of 28 liters with washing water at 77 degrees F having a hardness of about 150 ppm as calcium carbonate (calcium magnesium hardness mixed) using a 10-minute wash cycle after which the laundry was rinsed, spin dried and subsequently dried in an automatic clothes dryer with a 30-minute drying cycle. Then, the light reflectances of the samples were read and averaged. Subsequently, the samples were stained, such as by dirty motor oil (usually three drops per sample) and left to age overnight. The next day the reflectances of the stained samples were measured and the samples were then washed and dried in the previously described manner, followed by the reflectance measurements of the freshly washed samples.

If the reflectance of the unstained sample is Rdx and that of the stained sample before washing is Rd2, with the final reflectance being Rd3, the percentage of dirt removal is [(Rd3-Rd2) / (Rd, -Rd2)] x 100. Of course, the averages are taken for a plurality of samples used so that the average percentage of removal of dirt for a particular spot on a particular material, or for a variety of spots on a variety of materials, can be found .

A multiple stain test as described above was carried out using the comparative base detergent, a designated commercial laundry detergent composition and as control A and defined below.

The evaluation of the removal of the oily dirt from the stained fabrics was measured in the Examples given here by one of the two alternative calculations: (1) the percentage of soil removal as defined above; and (2) the values or changes? Rd in reflectance when compared to a soiled cloth wiped with a test composition against the value? Rd obtained when a control composition is used.

C O NT O L 1 Condensation product of a linear alcohol ci2 ~ ci5 and an average of 7 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol (Neodol 25-7 marketed by Shell Chemical Company).

The soil release polymers used in the tests described herein are composed, in part, of a polymer referred to as QCF which is a PET-POET copolymer with a molecular weight in the range of about 15,000 to 50,000, but more usually in the Preferred range of around 19,000 to 43,000. The molar ratio of the units of polyethylene terephthalate to polyoxyethylene terephthalate is about 3: 1. The commercial dirt release polymers which were used in the tests are designated here as SRP-1 and SRP-3. SRP-1 is a solid blend of 80 percent QCF and 20 percent sodium polyacrylate; and SRP-3 is a blend of 50 percent QCF and 50 percent sodium sulfate - both marketed by Rhone-Poulenc.

The results of a first and a third wash stain test expressed as values Rd or the change in reflectance against control A was shown below in Table 1. A value Rd of a unit 1 or greater is considered a difference statistically significant in cleaning. A value? Rd of 0.5 or greater is a difference. which can be perceived by the human eye.

B Oily Stain Game-Values Results - First and Third Washes Rd against Control A The compositions of the various detergent compositions designated in the Table are provided below: • Pure = 34.5 grams of Control A.

• SRP ******* Pure + 0.35 g of SRP1 (~ 1% by weight per dose).

• Lipase = Pure + 0.20 g of Novo Lipase 100T Enzyme Lipase (~ - 0.5%, by weight, per dose).

• SRP & Lipase = Pure + 0.35 g of SRP1 + 0.20 g Lipolase 100 T, Enzyme Lipase.

FIRST WASHED THIRD WASH LM = Liquid Makeup; SS = Cebo Spangler Particulate; RC = Red Crisco; BBQ = BBQ sauce; FD = French Dressing; Al = Steak Sauce; DDK = Double Dacron Tissue; Cot. = Percal Cotton; 65/35 = Cotton / Polyester blend.

As shown in Table 1, the composition of the invention, SRP and lipase, demonstrated a significant improvement in the removal of oily dirt from the cotton and polyester blends in relation to the cleaning achieved with the various comparative detergent compositions, especially after of the third wash, with particularly good results noted for the removal of liquid makeup, barbecue sauce and French dressing stains.

E J E M L O 2 A multiple stain test was carried out by washing by hand using as a comparative base detergent a commercial washing powder composition described below designated here as Control B.

C O N T R O L B The results of a first wash multi-stain test were used as a percentage change in dirt removal against Control B as shown in Table 2. A change in the percentage of dirt removal of 2 percent or greater is statistically significant.

T A B L A 2 Results of Stain Removal Values?% First Wash Against Control B The compositions of the various detergent compositions designated in the Table are provided below: • Pure = 214 grams of Control B. • 0.35% Lipase = Pure + 0.35% (by weight of Pure) of Lipase enzyme of Novo Lipase 100T. • 0.13% Lipase = Pure + 0.13% (by weight of Pure) of enzyme Lipase Lipolase 100T. • 0.93% SRP = Pure + 0.93% (by weight of Pure) of SRP-1.

LM * = Liquid Makeup; SS = Cebo Spangler Particulate; RC = Crisco Red; BBQ = BBQ sauce; FD ******* French dressing; Al = Steak Sauce; DDK = Double Dacron Tissue; Cot. = Percal Cotton; 65/35 = Cotton / Polyester blend.

As shown in Table 2, the composition of the invention significantly increased the cleanliness of oily soils from double dacron and cotton fabric. The synergistic interaction of the soil release polymer and the enzyme lipase according to the invention was particularly effective for the removal of the following spots: barbecue sauce; French dressing; liquid make-up; and Crisco red oil.

E J E M L O O 3 A single spot test with engine oil was carried out using automatic washing machines according to the test protocol described in Example 1, except that the machines used had a capacity of 64 liters of water. The comparative base detergent was a powder detergent for washing No-P described below and designated here as Control C.

C O N T R O L C (1) A mixture of triethanol amine and dodecyl benzene sulfate. (2) Linear alcohol condensation product C ,, - Cl5 and an average of 7 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol.

The results of a single spot test are shown in Table 3 where the percentage of dirt removal was compared for four fabrics. A percentage change measured of two percent or greater is considered statistically significant.

T A B L A 3 % Removal of Dirty Motor Oil Against Control C The compositions of the various detergent compositions designated in the Table are provided below: • Pure = 65 grams of Control C.

• Pure + SRP1 = Pure + 0.65 g SRP-1 (-1% by weight per dose).

• Pure + Lipase = Pure + 0.38 g of Novo Lipase 100T Lipase.

• Pure + Lipase + SRP-1 = Pure + 0.38 g of Novo Lipase 100T Lipase + 0.65 g SRP-1 (all as defined above).

Table 3 demonstrates the synergistic improvement achieved in the removal of the engine oil stain from the double dacron fabric when it is washed with the composition of the invention in relation to washing with a commercial laundry detergent as a Control composition. The percent removal rate of almost 84 percent that was noted when the composition of the invention was used far exceeds the individual cleaning effects of 1.8 percent and 68.5 percent that were achieved by the addition of the enzyme lipase and of the dirt release polymer, respectively, for the control composition.

E J E M L O A spot test was carried out using Control A defined above as the comparative detergent formula.

As noted in Table 4 the removal of a chocolate pudding pudding stain during washing was significantly improved by the use of the composition of the invention.

B Sweet Chocolate Pudding Spot Test - First Wash Results, Values? Rd against Control A Pure = 34.5 grams of Control A.

SRP = Pure + 0.35 g of SRPl (-1% by weight per dose).

• Lipase = Pure + 0.20 g of Novo Lipolasa 100T Enzyme Lipase (-0.5% by weight per dose).

• SRP and Lipase = Pure + 0.35 g of SPR1 + 0.20 g of Novo Lipolasa 100T of Enzyme Lipase.

E E M O 5 The efficacy of the invention was demonstrated in a formula containing an alkyl polyglycoside as the primary surfactant.

A multiple spot test was carried out using the test protocol of Example 1. The comparative detergent base was described below and designated as Control D.

C O N T O L The results of the multi-stain test of the first wash expressed as a change in soil removal percentage against Control D are shown in Table 5. A change in the percentage of dirt removal of 2 percent or greater is statistically significant T A B L A 5 Results of the First Wash Values of Stain Removal?% Against D The compositions of the various detergent compositions designated in the Table e¡¿r;; cc > - down below • Control = 204 grams of Control D. • 1.5% SRP = Control - 1.5% (by weight) of SRP3 ° 0.12% LIPASE = Control + 0.12% (by weight) of enzyme Lipase Lipolase 100T.

SS-Spaghetti Sauce, FD - French Salad, SSP - Seed Spangler Seed, CF - Chicken Fat, CP / 00 - Chili powder in olive oil, LN - Liquid Makeup, BBQ - Barbecue Sauce, Cot Cotton 65 / 35 - 65% / 35% Dacron / Pop Cotton blend - 65% Poplin / 35% Dacron / Cotton blend.

As shown in Table 5 the composition of the invention demonstrated a synergistic interaction between the soil release polymer and the enzyme lipase for the removal of oily soils from cotton and cotton blends. The following spots were removed with particular effectiveness: Spaghetti sauce, SSP, butter and barbecue sauce.

EXAMPLE 6 The efficacy of the invention was demonstrated in a formula containing a surfactant system of alkyl ethoxy sulfate / polyhydroxy fatty acid amide.

A multiple spot test was carried out using the test protocol of Example 1. The comparative detergent base was described below and is designated as Control E.

) Polyhydroxy C 12-14 fatty acid N-methyl amide The results of the first multiple spot test wash expressed as change in percent dirt removal against Control E are shown in Table 6.

TABLE 6 Results of first wash of values of removal of spot A% against Control E.

° Control = 76.8g of Control E. ° 1.5% of SRP = Control + 1.5% (by weight) of SRP3 ° 0.35% Lipase = Control = 0.35% (by weight) of enzyme lipase lipolase 100T ° 1.5% SRP + 0.35% lipase = Control + 1.5% (by weight) SRP3 + 0.35% lipase enzyme lipolase 100T.

SS- Spaghetti Sauce, Cot - 65/35 Cotton - blend of 65% &35% dacron / cotton.

As shown in Table 6, the composition of the invention demonstrated a synergistic interaction between the soil release polymer and the enzyme lipase.

Claims (10)

R E I V I N D I C A C I O N S

1. A detergent composition for washing particulate laundry having a significantly improved oily dirt removal activity comprising, by weight, (a) from about 1% to 50% of one or more detergent compounds selected from the group consisting of non-ionic detergents of fatty acid amide, polyhydroxy and alkyl polyglucoside; (b) 0.1% to 1.0% enzyme lipase in an amount effective for removal of oily dirt from the stained fabric; (c) from 0.5% to 10% of a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyoxyethylene terephthalate (POET) soil release copolymer having a molecular weight in the range of about 15,000 to 50,000 where the polyoxyethylene (POET) ) is of a molecular weight in the range of about 1,000 to 10,000 and the molar ratio of PET to POET units is from 2: 1 to 6: 1, in an amount effective for removal of oily dirt from the fabric stained; (d), from about 10 percent to 75 percent of an inorganic or organic, water-soluble or water-insoluble reinforcer for said detergent compound; said laundry detergent composition being able to remove a variety of oily soils from the fabric an extent greater than the additive dirt removal effects measured with comparative compositions containing components (a), (b), and (d) or ( a), (c) and (d), respectively, each of said comparative compositions being devoid of any combination of said lipase enzyme and said dirt release copolymer.

2. A detergent composition as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the PE-POET copolymer is of a molecular weight in the range of about 19,000 to 43,000 and the POET is of a molecular weight in the range of about 2,500 to 5,000

3. A detergent composition as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that it comprises from about 5 to 20 weight percent of a nonionic detergent.

4. A detergent composition as claimed in clause 3, characterized in that the nonionic detergent is the condensation product of a higher fatty alcohol having from 12 to 15 carbon atoms and from 6 to 12 moles of ethylene oxide per mol of alcohol.

5. A detergent composition as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said enzyme lipase is an enzyme derived from fungi.

6. A detergent composition as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said lipase enzyme has an activity of 100,000 units of lipase per gram of enzyme.

7. A detergent composition as claimed in clause 6, characterized in that the reinforcer is a mixture of sodium tripolyphosphate and sodium carbonate.

8. A detergent composition as claimed in clause 6, characterized in that the reinforcer is a mixture of sodium carbonate and zeolite A.

9. A method for washing clothes and removing oily soils from stained fabrics, which comprises washing the fabrics to be washed in an aqueous wash solution containing an effective amount of the composition, as claimed in clause 1.

10. A method as claimed in clause 9, characterized in that the laundry is repeatedly washed with said composition after intermediate soiling of the previously washed fabrics. E S U M E N A detergent composition for washing particulate laundry having significantly improved oily removal activity is provided. The composition comprises (a) from about 1 to 50 percent, by weight, of one or more detergent compounds selected from the group consisting of ionic or nonionic detergent compounds, and particularly polyhydroxy fatty acid amide detergents and alkyl polyglucoside; (b) an enzyme lipase in an amount effective for removal of oily dirt from stained fabric; and (c) a soil release polymer in an amount effective to remove oily dirt from the soiled fabric. The laundry detergent composition is characterized by its ability to remove a variety of oily soils from the fabric to a greater extent than the additive dirt removal effects measured with comparative compositions containing components (a) and (b), and components (a) and (c), respectively.