SK122598A3 - Laundry pretreatment process and bleaching compositions - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for pretreating soiled fabrics with a liquid composition comprising a peroxygen bleach and a soil dispersing agent selected from the group consisting of an ethoxylated monoamine, an ethoxylated diamine, an ethoxylated polyamine, an ethoxylated amine polymer and mixtures thereof. This invention also discloses liquid compositions suitable for pretreating fabrics, comprising a peroxygen bleach, a surfactant, and a soil dispersing agent selected from the group consisting of an ethoxylated monoamine, an ethoxylated diamine, an ethoxylated polyamine, an ethoxylated amine polymer and mixtures thereof, said composition being formulated either as an emulsion or a microemulsion.

Description

Technical field

The present invention relates to bleaching compositions particularly suitable for use in prewashing and to a method of prewashing articles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A variety of detergent compositions have been described in the art, particularly suitable for prewashing articles. For example, EP-A598170 discloses a special type of detergent. These are aqueous emulsions of a non-ionic surfactant, further comprising hydrogen peroxide or a water-soluble source thereof and a liquid bleach activator or any other hydrophobic component which must be separated from said hydrogen peroxide.

European patent no. 95203303,6 discloses a special type of detergent. These are aqueous microemulsions of the bleach activator in a matrix containing water, hydrogen peroxide, and a hydrophilic surfactant.

However, the disadvantage of such emulsions or microemulsions that contain a peroxygen bleach and a bleach activator, especially when used to prewash different types of products, such as cotton and synthetic products (e.g. polyester / polyamides), is that they do not provide efficient performance to meet the needs for all types of stains, including greasy, enzymatic, thigh / clay stains, as well as bleachable stains. Indeed, there is still room for further improving the stain-removing ability as well as the bleaching capabilities of such bleach-containing compositions when product pre-washing is used.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved ability to remove a wide range of stains as well as improved bleaching capabilities, particularly in pre-wash, e.g. if the composition is applied in pure form to at least a portion of the article prior to washing the article.

In addition, another problem with these emulsions and / or microemulsions, especially those containing a relatively high concentration of surfactants, e.g. 8% or more is that excessive viscosity causes them to strengthen and this results in poor removability of these emulsions / microemulsions from the article. This is unacceptable from the customer's point of view.

Thus, it is a further object of the present invention to provide liquid emulsions or microemulsions comprising a peroxygen bleach and a surfactant for which the viscosity can be suitably controlled, while adequate physical stability is maintained.

It has now been found that improved stain removal performance is obtained by using a liquid composition comprising a peroxygen bleach and a soil dispersant selected from the group consisting of: ethoxylated monoamine, ethoxylated diamine, ethoxylated polyamine, ethoxylated amine polymer, and mixtures thereof, for washing dirty products. Indeed, the addition of such dirt scattering agent to a liquid composition comprising a peroxygen bleach and optionally a bleach activator provides improved stain removal capability for a variety of stain types, including greasy, enzymatic, mud / clay stains, etc., under prewash conditions, compared to the stain removal performance achieved by the compositions without said soil-dispersing agent. Surprisingly, it has also been found that when used to prewash articles, liquid compositions comprising a peroxygen bleach and said soil-dispersing agent achieve a better bleaching performance compared to the same composition without said soil-dispersing agent. It has thus been found that the addition of a single compound, e.g. such a dirt-scattering agent in the peroxygen bleach-containing composition will achieve better stain removal and bleaching properties. Furthermore, it has been found that this stain-removing ability has been retained in many stains also in compositions containing peroxide bleach that have been stored for a long time. Thus, it is expected that the oxidized form of the soil dispersant that may have been formed in the presence of a peroxide bleach at longer storage times and / or elevated temperatures still provides better stain removal capability for many stains. Broadly, the present invention encompasses a method of bleaching a product with a liquid composition comprising from 0.01% to 15% of a peroxygen bleach (based on the total weight of the composition) and a soil dispersant. The method comprises the steps of applying said liquid composition in pure form to at least a portion of the article, optionally allowing said composition to remain in contact with the article and subsequently washing said article.

It has further been found that the addition of a soil dispersant selected from the group consisting of: ethoxylated monoamine, ethoxylated diamine, ethoxylated polyamine, ethoxylated amine polymer, and a mixture thereof, into a liquid composition formed as an emulsion or microemulsion containing a peroxygen bleach and a surfactant. reduces the viscosity of the composition, whatever the viscosity before adding the dirt of the dissolving agent. The real advantage of these compositions of the present invention, formed as an emulsion or microemulsion, is that they provide better stain removal, better bleaching capabilities, as well as acceptable viscosity without the need to add a viscosity regulating agent. In other words, the present invention allows for the formation of an emulsion or microemulsion with better stain removal capability, better bleaching capability and the desired physical properties at lower cost, e.g. without the addition of a viscosity regulator, which would increase costs and increase the volume of the compositions without contributing to their bleaching / cleaning properties. _;

Another advantage of the present invention is that stable emulsions or microemulsions are provided that can be used by the customer in the most efficient manner for a longer period of time.

Yet another advantage of the compositions of the present invention that are formulated as emulsions or microemulsions is that they provide excellent cleaning and / or bleaching performance even when used other than for prewashing, e.g. as cleaning powders or laundry additives.

European patent no. No. 95870079,1 discloses laundry detergents which contain polyamines and a peroxygen bleach and are suitable for prewashing articles. No ethoxylated amines, ethoxylated polyamines, nor ethoxylated amine polymers are disclosed.

U.S. Pat. No. 08/663501 discloses prewash compositions which include special chelates, a peroxygen bleach, and optionally components such as bleach activators, polymeric soil release agents, such as a sulfonated polyethoxy / propoxy terminated ester oligomer. However, no ethoxylated amines, ethoxylated polyamines, nor ethoxylated amine polymers are disclosed herein.

EP-A-271 312 discloses laundry detergents comprising a peroxyacid bleach and a soil dispersant such as cellulose alkyl and hydroxyalkyl ethers, polymers containing ethylene terephthalate and polyethylene oxide terephthalate. However, no ethoxylated amines, ethoxylated polyamines, nor ethoxylated amine polymers are disclosed herein.

WO96 / 12004 discloses laundry compositions comprising a lipophilic enzyme and a primary and / or tertiary amine. These compositions provide enhanced cleaning performance of greasy / oily stains and dirt, especially when used to clean greasy soiled products in the prewash process. The compositions exemplified herein include ethoxylated tetraethylene pentamine (15) but no bleach.

EP-A-112593 discloses cleaning compositions (pH = 6,5,5) which contain mono- and diamines, ethoxylated polyamines and / or ethoxylated amine polymers as soil removers, as well as preventing dirt re-deposition. These compositions may be used for prewashing, but no peroxide bleach is disclosed herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention encompasses a method of bleaching a product with a liquid composition comprising from 0.01 to 15% peroxide bleach (based on the total weight of the composition) and a soil dispersant. This soil dispersant is selected from the group consisting of:

(1) ethoxylated monoamines having the formula:

(X - L - N - (R ² ) ₂ (2) ethoxylated diamines having the formula:

(R ² ) 2 - N - R ¹ - N - (R ² ) 2

L

X

R ² - N - R ¹ - N - R ²

I I

L L

II xx or (X - L -) ₂

N - R ¹ - N - (R ² ) ₂ (3) ethoxylated polyamines having the formula:

R ²

R ³ - [(A ¹⁾ q ^(R4) tNLX] _p (4) ethoxylated amine polymers having the formula:

R ²

1 [(R ² ) 2-N-] w - [- R ¹ -K NK - [- R 1 -N-ly- [-R ¹ -NLX] z

L

I

X and (5) mixtures thereof,

0 II 0 II 0 II 0 0 II --NC- I , —Uco—, I —NCN—, ι I 1 , —OCN— and 1 R 1 R 1 1 R R 1 R 1 R

where A ¹ is

0 Q 0 o í? Jl II II ľ T -OCO- - of —oc— f -CNC- - or

I

R

R is hydrogen, C -C ₄ alkyl or hydroxyalkyl, R ¹ is C ₂ -C ₂ alkylene, hydroxyalkylene, alkenylene, arylene, alkarylene, or a C ₂ -C ₃ oxyalkylene moiety having from 2 to 20 oxyalkylene units, wherein not no bonds are formed between O and N,

R ² is C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, L-X or two R ^{2 taken} together form - (CH 2) _r -A ² - (CH 2) 3 -, wherein A ² is -O- or -CH 2 -, r is 1 or 2, s is 1 or 2 and r + s is 3 or 4,

X is a nonionic group, an anionic group or a mixture thereof,

R ³ is substituted C 3 -C 12 -alkyl or hydroxyalkyl, alkenyl, aryl or alkalkyl having p substitution sites, R ⁴ is C 1 -C 12 -alkylene, hydroxyalkylene, alkenylene, arylene, alkarylene or a C ₂ -C ₃ oxyalkylene compound which: has from 2 to 20 oxyalkylene units where no bonds are formed between O and N, nor between O and O,

L is a hydrophilic chain containing the polyoxyalkylene moiety - [(R ⁵⁰ O) m (CH ₂ CH ₂ O)] n ^- , wherein R ⁵ is C 3 -C ₄ -alkylene or hydroxyalkylene amine are such that the moiety - (CH ₂ CH ₂₎ O) contains at least 50% by weight of said polyoxyalkylene moiety, for said monoamines m is from 0 to 4 and n is at least 12, for said diamines is m from 0 to 3 and is at least 6 when R ¹ is C 2 -C 3 -alkylene, hydroxyalkylene , alkenylene and at least 3, when R ¹ is other than C 2 -C ₃ -alkylene, hydroxyalkylene, alkenylene, for said polyamines and amine polymers is m from 0 to 10 and n is at least 3, p is from 3 to 8, q is 1 or 0, t is 1 or 0, when t is 1, then q is 1, w is 1 or 0, x + y + z is at least 2 and y + z is at least 2, the method comprising the steps of applying said composition in pure form at least to a part of the product before washing this product.

The present invention encompasses a liquid prewash composition comprising a peroxygen bleach, a surfactant, and a soil dispersant selected from the group consisting of: ethoxylated monoamine, ethoxylated diamine, ethoxylated. a polyamine, an ethoxylated amine polymer, and mixtures thereof as defined above. This composition is formed as an emulsion or microemulsion.

Method of prewash

In its broadest embodiment, the present invention comprises a method of prewashing a product with a liquid composition comprising a soil dispersant as defined herein and from 0.01% to 15% of a peroxygen bleach (based on the total weight of the composition).

Prewash means that in the bleaching process of the present invention, the liquid composition is applied in pure form to at least a portion of the soiled article. Optionally, the product is allowed to act for 1 minute to several hours before the product is washed as described below.

Indeed, the present invention is based on the discovery that by adding dirt of the dispersant as described herein to a liquid composition comprising a peroxygen bleach, an improved stain removal performance is achieved when the composition is used to prewash a dirty product prior to washing it, as compared to with stain removal performance achieved by means without said soil dispersant.

The stain removal capability herein means the stain removal capability of many including grease / oil mud / clay stains, stains / dirt, enzymatic and type stains and / or bleachable stains as well.

Oily / oily stains here means stains and greasy dirt that may be present on the product, e.g. motor oil, make-up, vegetable oil, spaghetti sauce, mayonnaise, etc.

An example of bleachable spots is e.g. tea, coffee, wine, etc.

An example of enzymatic spots is e.g. grass, chocolate and blood.

The ability to remove stains of a given composition on a soiled article under prewash conditions can be determined using the following test method. The composition according to the invention is first applied to the stained portion of said fabric, left to act from one to ten minutes, typically five minutes, and the product was scoured under conventional laundry ¹ conditions conventional detergent composition, at a temperature of from 30 ° C to 70 ° C, in a time sufficient to whiten the product.

For example, typical dirty products that can be used in this stain removal test are commercially available from EMC (Empirical Manufacturing Company) of Cincinnaty, Ohio, USA, such as e.g. clay, chocolate, spaghetti sauce, dirty engine oil, make-up, coffee, blood on two different substrates / products, e.g. Cotton (CW120) and Cotton (PCW28).

The stain removal ability can then be determined by comparing various parts of the soiled, prewashed composition of the present invention with parts of the control article prewashed with a certified composition, e.g. by the same means, but without the dirt scattering agent of the present invention. A visual scale can be used to determine panel score unit differences in the range of 0 to 4.

Accordingly, the present invention encompasses a method of bleaching a product with a liquid composition comprising from 0.01% to 15% of a peroxygen bleach (based on the total weight of the composition) and a soil dispersant as defined herein. The method comprises the steps of applying said liquid composition in pure form to at least a portion of the article, optionally allowing said composition to remain in contact with the article, preferably without drying the composition on said article before washing it.

Said composition may remain in contact with said article for 1 minute to several hours, preferably 1 minute to 1 hour, more preferably 1 minute to 30 minutes and most preferably 2 to 10 minutes. Optionally, if the article is stained with hardened dirt / stains that would otherwise be relatively difficult to remove, the article may be brushed and / or rubbed more or less intensely, e.g. using a sponge or brush, or easier, by rubbing two parts of the product together.

Washing herein means simply soaking the article in water, or the article may be washed by a conventional composition containing at least one surfactant, in a washing machine or simply by hand.

In pure form, it is meant herein that the liquid compositions are applied directly to the articles to be washed without the addition of any diluent, e.g. the liquid compositions of the present invention are applied as described herein.

According to the present invention, the liquid composition used should preferably not be allowed to dry on the article in the process of prewashing dirty products. Indeed, it has been found that evaporation of water contributes to increasing the concentration of free radicals on the surface of the products and, consequently, to increasing the rate of chain reaction. It is expected that the autooxidation reaction occurs when water is evaporated when the liquid compositions are allowed to dry on the articles. This autooxidation reaction contributes to the formation of peroxy radicals, which can cause color damage and / or product damage. Not letting the liquid compositions used according to the present invention dry on the articles in the process of bleaching the articles of the present invention results in a more secure pre-wash with the liquid bleaching compositions.

As an important element, the composition used according to the present invention comprises a peroxygen bleach or mixtures thereof.

The peroxygen bleach used herein is any peroxygen bleach known to those skilled in the art. Such a peroxygen bleach may be hydrogen peroxide, a water-soluble source thereof, or a mixture thereof. Indeed, the presence of a peroxygen bleach contributes to the excellent cleaning and bleaching properties of the composition used in the present invention. The hydrogen peroxide source used herein is in fact any compound which forms perhydroxyl ions in contact with water.

A suitable water-soluble source of hydrogen peroxide for use herein includes: percarbonates, persilicate, persulfate, e.g. monopersulfate, perborates, peroxy acids, e.g. dihydroxydodecanedioic acid (DPDA), perftalic magnesium acid, perlauric acid, perbenzoic and alkyl perbenzoic acids, hydroperoxides, diacyl peroxides and mixtures thereof. Preferred peroxide bleaches used herein are hydrogen peroxide, hydroperoxide and / or aliphatic diacyl peroxides.

Suitable hydroperoxides for use herein are tertiary-butyl hydroperoxide, cumyl hydroperoxide, 2,4,4-trimethylpentyl-2-hydroperoxide, di-isopropylbenzene monohydroperoxide, tertiary-pentyl hydroperoxide and 2,5-dimethylhexane-2,5-dihydroperoxide. These hydroperoxides have the advantage of being extremely safe for the products and their color, but provide excellent bleaching capabilities.

Suitable aliphatic diacyl peroxides used herein are dilauroyl peroxide, didecanoyl peroxide, dimyristoyl peroxide, and mixtures thereof. These diacyl peroxides have the advantage of being extremely safe for products and their color, but they provide excellent bleaching capabilities.

The compositions used according to the present invention comprise from 0.01% to 15% of the peroxygen bleach (based on the total weight of the composition) or mixtures thereof, preferably from 0.1% to 12%, more preferably from 0.5% to 10% and most preferably from 2% to 2%. % to 8%.

As an important element, the compositions used in the present invention comprise a soil dispersant selected from the group consisting of: ethoxylated monoamine, ethoxylated diamine, ethoxylated polyamine, ethoxylated amine polymer as defined above, and mixtures thereof. Indeed, the presence of dirt dispersant contributes to the excellent cleaning and bleaching properties of the composition used in the present invention.

In the previous formulas of the soil dispersant used herein, R ¹ may be branched ₃

I (e.g., -CH ₂ -CH-, -CH ₂ -CH-), cyclic (e.g., och ₃ or preferably linear (e.g., -CH ₂ CH ₂ -, -CH ₂ -CH ₂ -CH ₂ -, - CH ₂ -CH ₂ -alkylene, hydroxyalkylene, alkenylene, alkarylene or oxyalkylene R ¹ is preferably C 2 -C 6 -alkylene for ethoxylated diamines and amine polymers The minimum degree of ethoxylation for the ethoxylated diamines decreases required for a suitable stain removal and anti-rebound ability. deposition of dirt, the C 2 -C 3 alkylene (ethylene, propylene) to hexamethylene. However, for the ethoxylated amine polymers, in particular the ethoxylated polyalkyleneamines and polyalkyleneimines, predovšetkýmvo at higher molecular weights, it is preferred for R ¹ C 2 C ₃ alkylene (ethylene, propylene, ), most preferred is ethylene. R ² is preferably -LX.

In the preceding formulas, hydrophilic chain is composed entirely of the polyoxyalkylene moiety ^[(R5 0) m (CH2CH2)] n. - (R ⁵ 0) m and - (CH ₂ CH ₂ O) _n - of the polyoxyalkylene moiety can be mixed together or preferably form blocks of - (R ⁵ 0) _m - and - (CH ₂ CH ₂ O) _n - part . R ⁵ is preferably

C3H6 (propylene). For ethoxylated polyamines and amine polymers, m is preferably from 0 to 5. For all ethoxylated amines of the present invention, most preferably 0, e.g. polyoxyalkylene moiety consists entirely of the - _{(CH2 CH2} O) _n units - (CH2CH2O) _n - preferably comprises at least 85% by weight of the polyoxyalkylene moiety and most preferably 100% (m is 0).

In the above formulas, X may be any nonionic group, anionic group or mixtures thereof. Suitable nonionic groups include hydrogen (H), C 1 -C ₄ -alkyl, hydroxyalkyl ester or ether groups, preferably acetate or methyl ether, or mixtures thereof. A particularly preferred nonionic group is H. Of the anionic groups, PO ₃ ' ² and SO ₃ are suitable. A particularly preferred anionic group is SO ₃ -. It has been found that the ratio of anionic groups to nonionic groups may be important for the ability of ethoxylated amines to remove stains and prevent dirt re-deposition. Mixtures of from 0 to 30% anionic groups and from 70 to 100% nonionic groups provide preferred capabilities. Mixtures of from 5 to 10% anionic groups and from 90 to 95% nonionic groups provide more preferred capabilities. Typically, mixtures of from 0 to 80% of the anionic groups and from 20 to 100% of the nonionic groups provide suitable stain removal and anti-redeposition properties.

Preferred ethoxylated mono- and diamines have the formula:

X- (CH ₂ CH ₂ O) _n N [CH ₂ -CH ₂ - (CH _{2) p N], and} - (CH ₂ CH ₂ O) '-X (CH ₂ CH ₂ O) _n -X ( CH ₂ CH ₂ O _n -X where X and n are as defined above, and is 0 or 1 and b is from 0 to 4. For preferred ethoxylated monoamines (a = 0), n is at least 15, with a typical range from 15 to 35. For preferred ethoxylated diamines (a = 1), n is at least 12, with a typical range of from 12 to 42. Methods for preparing ethoxylated amines are described, e.g. in EP-A-112 593.

In the preceding formulas of ethoxylated polyamines, (linear, branched or cyclic) R ^{3 is} preferably substituted with C ₃ -C 6 -alkyl, hydroxyalkyl or aryl, A ¹ is preferably

B -CN--, "hn is preferably at least 12, with a typical range of 12-42, p is preferably from 3 to 6. When R ^J is subtituted aryl or alkaryl group, q is preferably 1 and R ⁴ is preferably C 2 -C 3 -alkylene. When R ^{3 is} alkyl, hydroxyalkyl or alkenyl, and when q is 0, R ¹ is preferably C 2 -C ₃ -alkylene, if q is 1, then R ⁴ is preferably C ₂ -C ₃ -alkylene.

These ethoxylated polyamines may be derived from polyamides such as e.g.

HO

ABOUT

II

CN C ₃ H NH _phi? HO

-CN-C ₃ H 8 -) - NH 2

H

O ä _t Nfc ₃ h ₆ -y nh ₂

H

These ethoxylated polyamines can also be derived from polyaminopropylene oxide derivatives such as e.g.

- (OC ₃ H ₆ ) _C - n ₂

CH ₃ - (OC ₃ H ₆ ) _c -nh ₂ - (OC ₃ H ₆ ) _c -nh ₂ where c is a number from 2 to 20.

Preferred ethoxylated amine polymers are ethoxylated C ₂ -C ₃ -polyalkyleneamines and polyalkylenimines. Particularly preferred ethoxylated polyalkylene amines and polyalkylenimines are ethoxylated polyethylene amines (PEA) and polyethyleneimines (PEI). These preferred compounds contain units having the general formula:

[N] _w - [CH ₂ CH ₂ N] _X - [CH ₂ CH ₂ N] - _y - [CH ₂ CH ₂ N] _Z

II [(CH ₂ CH ₂ O) _n -X] ₂ (CH ₂ CH ₂ O) _n -X [(CH ₂ CH ₂ O) _n -X] ₂ where X, w, x, y, n and n are as defined above.

Before ethoxylation, the PEAs used in the preparation of the compounds of the present invention have the following general formula:

h ₂ n - CH ₂ CH ₂ 14 - ch ₂ ch ₂ n - CH ₂ CH ₂ NH ₂ "J w x H_ y

wherein X + y + z is from 2 to 9, y + z is from 2 to 9 and w is 0 or 1 (molecular weight from 100 to 400). Each hydrogen atom bonded to a nitrogen atom represents an active site for subsequent ethoxylation. For the preferred PEA, y + z is from 3 to 7 (molecular weight from 140 to 310), most preferably from 3 to 4 (molecular weight from 140 to 200). These PEAs can be obtained by reaction of ammonia and ethylene dichloride, followed by fractional distillation. The PEAs obtained are triethylenetetramine (TETA) and tetraethylenepentamine (ΤΕΡΑ). For higher than pentamines, e.g. hexamines, heptamines, octamines and even nonamines, the derivative mixture cannot be separated by distillation and may contain other substances, e.g. cyclic amines and especially piperazines. There may also be cyclic amines with side chains in which there are mainly nitrogen atoms. See U.S. Pat. No. 2,792,372, Dickson, issued May 14, 1957, which describes the preparation of PEA.

The minimum degree of ethoxylation required for the preferred stain removal and anti-redeposition ability may vary depending on the number of units in the PEA. When y + z is 2 or 3, n is preferably at least 6. When y + z is from 4 to 9, suitable capabilities are achieved when n is at least 3. For the most preferred ethoxylated PEA, n is at least 12, with a typical range from 12 to 42.

The PEIs used in the preparation of the compounds of the present invention have a molecular weight of at least 440, which is 10 units, before ethoxylation. Preferred PEIs used in the preparation of these compounds have a molecular weight of from 600 to 1800. The structure of these PEIs may be represented by the following general formula:

H ₂ N - [CH ₂ CH ₂ N] _x - [CH ₂ CH ₂ NH] - _y - [CH ₂ CH ₂ NH ₂ ] _Z where the sum of x, y and z is a sufficiently large number to obtain the above-mentioned molecular molecule weight. Although this structure may be linear, side chains often occur. The ratio of primary, secondary and tertiary amines present in the polymer may vary depending on the method of preparation. A typical distribution of amino groups is:

CH ₂ CH ₂ NH ₂ 30 % -CH2CH2-NH- 40 % CH2CH2-N 30 0th Ό

Each hydrogen atom bonded to the nitrogen atom in PEI represents an active site for subsequent ethoxylation. PEIs can be prepared e.g. polymerizing ethyleneimine in the presence of a catalyst, e.g. carbon dioxide, sodium bisulfite, sulfuric acid, hydrogen peroxide, hydrochloric acid or acetic acid. Typical methods for preparing PEI are described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,182,306, Ulrich et al., Issued Dec. 5, 1939, U.S. Pat. No. 3,033,746, Mayle et al., Issued May 8, 1962; U.S. Pat. No. 2,208,095, Esselman, et al., Issued June 16, 1940, U.S. Pat. No. 2,806,839, Crowther, issued September 17, 1957, U.S. Pat. No. 2,553,696, Wilson, issued May 21, 1951.

As defined in the preceding formulas, for ethoxylated PEI, n is at least 3. However, it should be noted that the minimum degree of ethoxylation required for the necessary stain removal and anti-dirt deposition ability may increase with an increase in the molecular weight of PEI, especially above 1800 Also, the degree of ethoxylation of the preferred compounds increases with increasing molecular weight of PEI. For a PEI with a molecular weight of at least 600, n is preferably at least 12 with a typical range of 12 to 42. For a PEI with a molecular weight of at least 1800, n is preferably at least 24 with a typical range of 24 to 42.

The compositions used in accordance with the present invention typically comprise from 0.01% to 20% of a soil dispersant (based on the total weight of the composition) or mixtures thereof, preferably from 0.1% to 10%, more preferably from 0.2% to 4% and most preferably from 0.5% to 2%.

The liquid compositions used in the present invention are. preferably by aqueous means. The compositions herein have a pH of from 0 to 6, preferably from 1 to 5, and most preferably from 3 to 5. The acidic compositions herein are preferred for reasons of stability.

The compositions used in accordance with the present invention may optionally contain components such as bleach activators, surfactants, perfumes, brighteners, chelating agents, radical cleaners, dirt removers, colorants, solvents, colorants, other amines, or mixtures thereof. Preferred optional components are described in more detail below.

I.

resources

The present invention also encompasses a liquid prewash composition comprising a peroxygen bleach, a soil dispersant selected from the group of: ethoxylated monoamine, ethoxylated diamine, ethoxylated polyamine, ethoxylated amine polymer, and mixtures thereof, as described above, and a surfactant. This composition is formed as an emulsion or microemulsion.

Adding dirt of the dispersant to a liquid composition comprising a peroxygen bleach and a surfactant, which is formed as an emulsion or microemulsion, not only achieves better stain removal performance on a variety of stain types including greasy, enzymatic, mud / clay stains, etc. In particular, under pre-wash conditions, better bleaching properties, but the desired viscosity is also achieved.

It has now been found that the soil dispersants of the present invention can be readily incorporated into a composition that is formed as an emulsion or microemulsion while providing the appropriate viscosity, e.g. the viscosity of said composition is reduced, regardless of the viscosity prior to the addition of the soil dispersant to the composition which comprises a peroxygen bleach and a surfactant.

Any surfactant or mixture thereof known to those skilled in the art is suitable for use in the compositions of the present invention formulated as emulsions or microemulsions which include anionic, nonionic, cationic, amphoteric, zwitterionic surfactants in an amount of from 0.01 % to 50% (based on the total weight of the composition), preferably from 1% to 30%, more preferably from 2% to 20%.

Preferably, the surfactant system used in the compositions of the present invention comprises at least one hydrophilic surfactant and at least one hydrophobic surfactant. In order to form stable emulsions or microemulsions, the two surfactants preferably have different HLB values (hydrophilic lipophilic balance). Typically, the difference in the HLB value of the two surfactants is at least 1, preferably at least 2, and most preferably at least 3.

Hydrophobic surfactant herein means a surfactant having an HLB of up to 10, or mixtures thereof, preferably below 10, and most preferably below 9. The hydrophobic surfactants used herein have excellent fat removal properties, e.g. they have a dissolving effect which contributes to the removal of greasy stains.

Hydrophilic surfactant herein means a surfactant having an HLB of above 10, or mixtures thereof, preferably above 10.5 and most preferably above 11.

Typically, the compositions of the present invention formed as emulsions or microemulsions contain from 1% to 50% of these hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfactants or mixtures thereof (based on the total weight of the composition), more preferably from 5% to 40% and most preferably from 8% to 30%. %. Preferred compositions according to the present invention, formed as emulsions or microemulsions, comprise from at least 0.01% hydrophobic surfactants or mixtures thereof (based on the total weight of the composition), more preferably at least 2% and most preferably at least 4% and at least 0.01% hydrophilic surfactants or mixtures thereof (based on the total weight of the composition), more preferably at least 2% and most preferably at least 4%.

Accordingly, the particularly preferred surfactants used in the compositions of the present invention are nonionic surfactants. Suitable nonionic surfactants for use herein include fatty alcohols, preferably ethoxylated and / or propoxylated fatty alcohols. A large number of such ethoxylated fatty alcohols having very different HLB values are commercially available. The HLB values of these ethoxylated nonionic surfactants depend, in particular, on the chain length of the fatty alcohol and on the method and amount of alkoxylation. Hydrophilic nonionic surfactants should have a high degree of alkoxylation and a short chain fatty alcohol, while hydrophobic surfactants should have a low degree of alkoxylation and a long chain fatty alcohol. A surfactant catalog can be obtained which contains a plurality of surfactants, including nonionic ones, together with the respective HLB values.

Chemical processes for preparing nonionic surfactants for use herein include condensation of the corresponding alcohols with alkylene oxide in the desired ratio. These procedures are well known to those skilled in the art. Many suitable alkoxylated alcohols for use herein are commercially available from many suppliers.

Preferred hydrophobic nonionic surfactants for use in the compositions of the present invention are surfactants having an HLB of up to 10 and having the formula R 0 - (C ₂ H ₄ O) _n (C ₃ H ₆ O) _m H, where R is C ₆ -C ₂₂ -alkyl chain or C ₆ -C ₂₈ -alkylbenzene, n + m is from 0.5 to 5 and n is from 0 to 5 and m'is from 0 to 5, preferably n + m is from 0, 5 to 4.5 and n is from 0 to 4.5 and m is from 0 to 4.5. Preferred R chains for use herein are C ₈ -C ₂₂ -alkyl chains. Accordingly, suitable nonionic hydrophobic surfactants for use herein are Dobanol ^R 912.5 (HLB = 8.1, R is a mixture of C 9 and C 11 alkyl chains, n is 2.5 am is 0), Lutensol ^R TO 3 (HLB = 8 , R is a mixture of C 13 and C 15 alkyl chains, n is 3 and m is 0), Tergitol ^R 25L3 (HLB = 7.7, R is an alkyl chain in the range of C 12 and C 15, n is 3 and m is 0), Dobanol ^R 23- 3 (HLB = 8.1; R is. a mixture of C 12 and C _i3 alkyl chains, n is 3 and m is 0), Dobanol ^R 23-2 (HLB = 6.2; R is a mixture of C _i2 and C13 alkyl chains, n is 2 and m is 0) or mixtures thereof. Preferred herein are Dobanol ^R 23-3, Dobanol 23-2, Lutensol ^R TO 3, or mixtures thereof. Dobanol ^R surfactants are commercially available from SHELL. Lutensol ^R surfactants are commercially available from BASF and Tergitol ^R surfactants are commercially available from UNION CARBIDE.

Other suitable nonionic hydrophobic surfactants for use herein are nonalkoxylated surfactants. E.g. Dobanol ^R 23 (HLB below 3).

Preferred nonionic. hydrophilic surfactants for use in the compositions of the present invention are surfactants having an HLB above 10 and of the formula R0- (C ₂ H ₄ O) _n (C ₃ H ₆ O) _m H, wherein R ₆ is a C -C ₂₂ -alkyl chain or C ₆ -C ₂₈ -alkylbenzene, n + m is from 5 to 11 and n is from 0 to 11 and m is from 0 to 11, preferably n + m is from 6 to 10 and n is from 0 to 11 10 and m are from 0 to 10. Throughout the specification they refer to the average degree of ethoxylation / popoxylation. Preferred R chains for use herein are C ₈ -C ₂ -alkyl chains. Accordingly, suitable nonionic hydrophilic surfactants for use herein are Dobanol * 23-6.5 (HLB = 11.9, R is a mixture of C ₁₂ and C _1-3 alkyl chains, n is 6.5 and m is 0), Dobanol ^R 25 -7 (HLB = 12, R is a mixture of C 12 and C 25 alkyl chains, n is 7 and m is 0), Dobanol * 45-7 (HLB = 11.6, R is a mixture of Cu and C 15 alkyl chains, n is 7 and m is 0), Dobanol ^R 91-5 (HLB = 11.6, R is a mixture of C 9 and Cu alkyl chains, n is 5 and m is 0), Dobanol ^R 91-6 (HLB = 6.2, R is a mixture of C ₉ and Cu alkyl chains, n is 6 and m is 0, Dobanol ^R 91-8 (HLB = 13.7, R is a mixture of C ₉ and Cu alkyl chains, n is 8 and m is 0), Dobanol ^R 91-10 (HLB = 14.2, R is a mixture of C ₉ and C 1 alkyl chains, n is 10 and is 0) or mixtures thereof. Preferred herein are Dobanol ^R 91-10, Dobanol ^R 45-7, Dobanol ^R 23-6.5 or mixtures thereof. Dobanol ^R surfactants are commercially available from SHELL.

In addition to nonionic hydrophilic surfactants, other hydrophilic surfactants such as e.g. polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactants or mixtures thereof, according to the formula:

^R2-C (0 NOS (R ¹⁾ -Z, wherein R ¹ is hydrogen, C, -C4 alkyl, C, -C4-hydrocarbon, 2-hydroxyethyl, 2-hydroxy propyl or a mixture thereof, R ² is a C 5 C _{3 R} the hydrocarbon and Z is a polyhydroxy hydrocarbon having a linear hydrocarbon chain with at least three hydroxyls directly bonded to the chain or an alkoxylated derivative thereof.

Preferably R is C ¹ -C 4 alkyl and more preferably C 4 or C 2 alkyl and most preferably methyl, ^R2 is a straight chain C7-Ci9 alkyl or alkenyl, preferably a straight C ₉ -C ₈ alkyl or alkenyl, more preferably straight Cn ^- Ci8- alkyl or alkenyl, and most preferably straight C 1 -C ₃₄ -alkyl or alkenyl, or mixtures thereof. Z is preferably derived from reduced sugars in a reductive amination reaction, preferably Z is glycityl. Suitable reduced sugars are glucose, fructose, maltose, lactose, galactose, mannose, and xylose. Like the above sugars, dextrose corn sugar, fructose corn sugar and maltose corn sugar can also be used as raw materials. Corn sugars can provide a mixture of sugar components for Z. This does not mean that other raw materials are not excluded. Z is preferably selected from: -CH ₂ (CHOH) _n -CH ₂ OH, -CH (CH ₂ OH) - (CHOH) _n -CH ₂ OH, -CH ₂ - (CHOH) ₂ (CHOR ') (CHOH -CH ₂ OH wherein n is an integer from 3 to 5 inclusive, and R 1 is H or a cyclic or aliphatic monosaccharide and its alkoxylated derivatives. Most preferred are glycityls wherein n is 4, especially -CH ₂ - (CHOH) ₄ -CH ₂ OH.

In the formula R ^x -C (O) -N (R ¹ ) -Z, R ¹ may be, for example, Nmethyl, N-ethyl, N-propyl, N-isopropyl, N-butyl, N-2-hydroxyethyl or Ν-2-hydroxypropyl. R ² -C (O) -N- can be, for example, cocamide, stearamide, oleamide, lauramide, myristyamide, caprinamide, palmitamide, tallovamide, etc. Z may be 1-deoxyglucityl, 2-deoxyfructityl, 1-deoxymaltityl, 1deoxylactityl, 1-deoxygalactityl, 1-deoxymanityl, 1deoxymaltotriotityl, etc.

Suitable polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactants for use herein are commercially available under the tradename HOE ^R from Hoechst.

Methods for preparing polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactants are known in the art. In general, they can be prepared by reaction of reductive amination of an alkylamine with a reduced sugar to give the corresponding Nalkylpolyhydroxyamine and then a condensation / amidation reaction of N-alkylpolyhydroxyamine with an aliphatic fatty ester or triglyceride to form N-alkyl, Npolyhydroxy fatty acid amide. Processes for preparing compositions containing polyhydroxy fatty acid amides are described, for example, in GB patent no. No. 809060, issued Feb. 18, 1959 to Thomas Hedley and Co., Ltd., U.S. Pat. No. 2,965,576, issued Dec. 20, 1960 to E. R. Wilson, U.S. Pat. No. 2,703,798, Anthony M. Schwartz, issued March 8, 1955; No. 1,985,424, issued Dec. 25, 1934 to Piggott and WO92 / 06070, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Other suitable hydrophilic surfactants for use in the compositions herein include anionic surfactants and mixtures thereof.

Suitable anionic surfactants, for use in the compositions herein, include water-soluble salts or acids of the formula ROSO3M, wherein R is preferably a C 10 -C 24 hydrocarbon, preferably alkyl or hydroxyalkyl with a C 10 -C ₂₀ alkyl component, more preferably C 12 -C ₁₈ alkyl or hydroxyalkyl and M is H or a cation, e.g. an alkali metal cation (e.g. sodium, potassium, lithium) or ammonium or a substituted ammonium cation (e.g. methyl, dimethyl and trimethylammonium cations, further tetramethylammonium: and dimethylpiperidinium cations and ammonium cations derived from alkylamines such as ethylamine, diethylamine, diethylamine, diethylamine) , triethylamine and mixtures thereof, etc.). Typically, C ₁₂ -C ₁₆ -alkyl chains are preferred for lower wash temperatures (e.g., below 50 ° C) and C ₁₆ -C ₁₈ -alkyl chains for higher wash temperatures (e.g., above 50 ° C).

Other suitable anionic surfactants for use herein are water soluble salts or acids of the formula RO (A) _m SO 3 M wherein R is an unsubstituted C10-C24uhľovodík, preferably an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl having a C ₀ -C ₂ to C 4 alkyl component, more preferably C 12 a _C2 ~ alkyl or hydroxyalkyl, more preferably C ₂ ^L CIS alkyl or hydroxyalkyl, a is an ethoxy or propoxy unit, m is greater than 0, typically between about 0.5 and about 6, preferably between about 0.5 and about 3 and M is H or a cation which may be e.g. a metal cation (e.g., sodium, potassium, lithium, calcium, magnesium, etc.), ammonium or a substituted ammonium cation. Also included are ethoxylated alkyl sulfates and propoxylated with Examples of substituted ammonium cations dimethyl- and trimethylammonium cations, as well as tetramethylammonium and dimethylpiperidinium cations and ammonium cations derived from alkylamines such as e.g. ethylamine, diethylamine, triethylamine and mixtures thereof, etc. Examples of surfactants are C ₁₂ -C ₁₈ -alkyl polyethoxylate (1,0) sulfate C ₁₂ -C ₁₈ E (1,0) M, C ₁₂ -C ₁₈ -alkyl polyethoxylate (2,25) sulfate C ₁₂ - the cup (2.25) M), C ₁₂ -C ₈ alkyl polyethoxylate (3.0) sulfate Cl 2 ^- C ₈ E (3.0) M), and Cl 2 ~ C ₈ alkyl polyethoxylate (4.0) sulfate C ₂ -C ₁₈ E (4.0) M), where M is usually sodium or potassium.

sulfates. are methyl,

Other anionic surfactants useful for cleaning can also be used herein. These may be salts (including, e.g., sodium, potassium, ammonium and substituted Iamonia salts, eg. Salts of mono-, di- and triethanolamine salts) of C9-C20 linear alkylbenzene sulphonates, C ₈ -C ₂ 2 primary or secondary alkanesulfonates, C ₈ -olefínsolfónany -C ₂₄ sulfonated polycarboxylic acids prepared by sulfonation of the pyrolyzed product of alkaline earth metal citrates, e.g.. described in British patent specification no. 1,082,179, a C ₄ -C ₆ -alkylpolyglykolétersulfáty (containing up to 10 moles of ethylene oxide), alkyl sulfonates esters like e.g. C ₁ -C ₁₆ methyl ester sulfonates, acyl glycerol sulfonates, oleyl glycerol sulfates, alkylphenolethylene oxide ether sulfates, paraffin sulfonates, alkylphosphonates, isothionates such as e.g. acyl isethionates, N-acyl taurates, alkyl succinamates and sulfosuccinates, monoesters of sulfosuccinate (especially saturated and unsaturated C ₂ C ₈ -monoestery) diesters of sulfosuccinate (especially saturated and unsaturated C ₆ -C ₄ diesters), sulfates of alkylpolysaccharides such as. alkyl polyglycoside sulfates (nonionic non-sulfate compounds are described below), branched primary alkyl sulfates, alkyl polyethoxycarboxylates such as e.g. those having the formula RO (CH ₂ CH ₂ O) _k CH ₂ COO-M ⁺ , wherein R is C ₈ -C ₂₂ alkyl, k is an integer from 0 to 10, M is a soluble, salt-forming cation. Resin acids and hydrogenated resin acids are also suitable, such as e.g. rosin, hydrogenated rosin. Resin acids and hydrogenated resin acids are present in or derived from tall oil. Further examples are given in "Surface Active Agents and Detergents" (Chapters I and II, Schwartz, Perry and Berch). Many of these surfactants are generally described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,929,678, issued Dec. 30, 1975 to Laughlin et al., Column 23, line 58, to column 29, line 23 (cited herein).

Other suitable anionic surfactants useful herein include acyl. sarcosinate or mixtures thereof in the form of a salt and / or an acid, preferably a long chain acyl sarcosinate having the following formula:

ABOUT

wherein M is hydrogen or a cationic component, R is an alkyl group composed of 11 to 15 carbon atoms, preferably 11 to 13 carbon atoms. M is preferably hydrogen or an alkali metal salt, especially sodium or potassium. Said acyl sarcosinate salts are derived from. natural fatty acids and amino acids sarcosine (N-methylglycine). They are suitable for use as aqueous solutions of their salts or in their acid form as a powder. Since these acyl sarcosinates are derived from natural fatty acids, they are rapidly and completely biodegradable and have good surface compatibility.

Accordingly, particularly preferred for use herein are long chain acyl sarcosinates, including C ₁₂ -acyl sarcosinate (e.g., acyl sarcosinate having the above formula wherein M is hydrogen and R is an alkyl group of 11 carbon atoms) and C _the acyl sarcosinate (e.g. acyl sarcosinate according to the above formula wherein M is hydrogen and R is an alkyl group consisting of 13 carbon atoms). C ₁₂ -acyl sarcosinate is commercially available, e.g. as Hamptosyl L-30 ^R from Hampshire. C ₁₄ -acyl sarcosinate. is commercially available, e.g. as Hamptosyl M-30 ^R from Hampshire.

It has been observed that improved stain removal performance is achieved by a surfactant system comprising a hydrophilic nonionic surfactant, a hydrophobic nonionic surfactant, and an additional hydrophilic surfactant than a fatty acid amide and / or ethoxylated alkyl sulfate surfactant.

The bleaching compositions of the present invention may further comprise an amine oxide surfactant having the formula R 1 R 2 R 3 NO, wherein R 1, R 2 and R 3 are independently a C ₁ -C ₃ oz, preferably a C 1 -C 20 and most preferably a C 1 -C ₁₆ hydrocarbon chain.

In an embodiment of the present invention where the compositions are formulated as emulsions, the compositions are opaque. In a centrifuge test, it was observed that after 15. min. at 600 rpm. these emulsions showed no phase difference. Under a microscope, these emulsions looked like a dispersion of drops in the matrix.

In an embodiment of the present invention where the compositions are formulated as microemulsions, the compositions are macroscopically transparent in the absence of opacifying agents and dyes. Under a microscope, these emulsions looked like a dispersion of drops in the matrix. We have observed that these particles usually have a diameter of about or below 3 microns, more preferably 2 microns. In a preferred embodiment of these emulsions of the present invention, wherein the emulsions further comprise a water insoluble component that emulsifies as a bleach activator as described below, the emulsifying system corresponds to the equation:

weight% A weight% B

HLB (X) = —x HLB (A) + —x HLB (B) and% A weight +% B weight = 100%

Where HLB (X) corresponds to the HLB of the component that it emulsifies. If there are several components that emulsify, X refers to all (weighted average based on% of each component of the formula). HLB (A) corresponds to HLB of the hydrophilic surfactant or mixture and HLB (B) corresponds to HLB. . % of a hydrophobic surfactant or mixture thereof.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the emulsions of the present invention, wherein the emulsions may further comprise a bleach activator such as acetyl triethyl citrate, the corresponding surfactant system could comprise a hydrophobic nonionic surfactant having e.g. HLB 6, such as e.g. Dobanol ^R 23-2 and a hydrophilic nonionic surfactant having HLB 15, e.g. Dobanol * 91-10. Other suitable nonionic surfactant systems include e.g. Dobanol ^R 45-6.5 (HLB below 6), Dobanol ^R 45-7 (HLB = 11.6) or Dobanol ^R 23-3 (HLB = 8.1).

The bleaching compositions of the present invention formed in the form of an emulsion or microemulsion are chemically stable. Chemically stable herein means that the peroxygen bleach compositions of the present invention do not lose more than 10% of usable oxygen at 50 ° C for two weeks. The concentration of usable oxygen can be measured by methods known in the art for chemical titration, such as e.g. iodometric method, permanganometric method and cerimetric method. These methods and criteria for selecting a suitable method are described e.g. in Hydrogen Peroxide, W.C. Schumb, C.N. Satterfield and R.L. Wentworth, Reinold Publishing Corporation, New York, 1955, and Organic Peroxides, Daniel Swern, Editor of Wiley Int. Science, 1970. Otherwise, the stability of the compositions can also be measured by swelling.

Accordingly, the bleaching compositions of the present invention can be packaged in a given deformable package / bottle without reducing the stability of the package / bottle when the compositions contain a longer period of time. The liquid compositions of the present invention, formed as emulsions or microemulsions, are generally aqueous and are formed at an acidic pH, preferably at a pH of from 1 to 5, more preferably from 2 to 5, and most preferably from 3 to 5. to the stability of these means. The pH of these compositions can be adjusted using organic or inorganic acids.

optional

The compositions of the present invention may further comprise a bleach activator, free radical scavengers, builders, agents containing optional ingredients such as stabilizers, chelating agents, dirt removers, brighteners, colorants, solvents, perfumes, suds suppressors or colorants, or mixtures thereof.

As an optional but highly preferred component, the compositions of the present invention comprise a bleach activator or mixtures thereof. Bleach activator herein refers to a compound that reacts with hydrogen peroxide to form a peracid. The peracid thus formed is an activated bleach. Particularly suitable bleach activators for use herein are hydrophobic bleach activators, e.g. bleach activator that is not stably miscible with water. Typically, such hydrophobic bleach activators have a secondary HLB (hydrophilic lipophilic balance) below 11, preferably below 10. The secondary HLB is known to those skilled in the art and is defined e.g. in Emulsions theory and practice, P. Becher, Reinhold, New York, 1957 or in Emulsion science, P. Sherman, Academic Press, London, 1969.

Suitable bleach activators for use herein include those belonging to the class of esters, amides, imides, or anhydrides. Examples of suitable compounds of this type are described in British Patent. GB 1 586 769 and GB 2 143 231 and the method for their preparation into the selected form is described in Europien published patent application EP-A-62 523. Here, suitable examples of such compounds are tetraacetylethylenediamine (TEAD), 3,5,5-trimethylhexanoyloxybenzenesulfonate sodium diperoxydodecanoic acid, e.g. in the US no. No. 4,259,201 and peroxyadipic acid nonylamide, e.g. in the US no. 4,259,201 and n-nonanoyloxybenzenesulfonate (NOBS). Also suitable are N-acylcaprolactams selected from substituted or unsubstituted benzoylcaprolactam, octanoylcaprolactam, nonanoylcaprolactam, hexanoylcaprolactam, decanoylcaprolactam, undecanoylcaprolactam, butylcaprolactam, formylcaprolactam, acetylcaprolactam, acetylcaprolactam, formylcaprolactam, acetylcaprolactam, acetylcaprolactam, acetylcaprolactam, acetylcaprolactam, acetylcaprolactam, acetylcaprolactam, acetylcaprolactam, acetylcaprolactam, formylcaprolactam, acetylcaprolactam, acetylcaprolactam, acetylcaprolactam, A particularly interesting class is described in EP 624 154 and acetyl triethyl citrate (ATC) is particularly preferred from this class. Acetyl triethyl citrate has the advantage that it does not harm the environment because it can degrade to citric acid and alcohol. Furthermore, acetyltriethyl citrate is hydrolytically stable upon storage and is an effective bleach activator.

The compositions of the present invention may contain from 0.01% to 20% of said bleach activator or a mixture thereof (based on the total weight of the composition), preferably from 1% to 10%, and most preferably from 3% to 7%.

Suitable chelating agents for use herein include chelating agents selected from the group of phosphonate chelating agents, aminocarboxylate chelating agents, polyfunctionally substituted aromatic chelating agents, and chelating agents such as glycine, salicylic acid, aspartic acid, glutamic, malonic and mixtures thereof. When used, the chelating agents are present in amounts of from 0.001% to 5% by weight of the total composition, and preferably from 0.05% to 2% by weight.

Suitable phosphonate chelating agents herein may include ethydronic acid, as well as aminophosphonate compounds including aminoalkylene poly (alkylene phosphonate), alkali metal ethane 1-hydroxydiphosphonates, nitrilotrimethylene phosphonates, ethylenediaminetetramethylene phosphonates, and diethylenephosphonates. The phosphonate compounds may be present either as acids or as salts of different cations. Preferred aminophosphonate chelating agents for use herein are diethylene triamine pentamethylene phosphonates. These phosphonate chelating agents are commercially available under the trade name DEQUEST ®.

For use herein, the most preferred phosphonate chelating agent is aminotri (methylene phosphonic acid), herein referred to as ATMP. The addition of ATMP, e.g. compounds of formula:

CH2 - PO3H2 I

N / \

PO3H2-CH2 CH2-PO3H2 to the liquid composition of the present invention greatly reduces the damage associated with prewashing products with a peroxide bleach-containing composition, particularly those containing metal ions such as e.g. copper, iron, chromium and magnesium.

Polyfunctionally. substituted aromatic chelating agents may also be used herein. See U.S. Pat. No. 3,812,044, issued May 21, 1974 to Connor et al. Preferred compounds of this type in acid form are dihydroxydisulfobenzenes, such as e.g. 1,2-dihydroxy-3,5-disulfobenzene.

For use herein, the preferred biodegradable chelating agent is ethylenediamine N, N-disuccinic acid, an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, ammonium, substituted ammonium salts, or mixtures thereof. Ethylenediamine N, N-disuccinic acid, especially its (S, S) isomer, has been extensively described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,704,233, Nov. 3, 1987 to Hartman and Perkins. Ethylenediamine N, N-disuccinic acid is commercially available e.g. under the tradename ssEDDS ^R from Palmer Research Laboratories.

For use herein suitable amino carboxylates include ethylene diamine, diethylene, diethylene (DTPA), N-hydroxyethylethylenediaminetriacetates, nitrilotri-acetates, ethylenediamine, triethylenetetraamine, ethanoldiglycines, propylene acid (PDTA) and methyl glycine diacetic acid (MGDA), both in their acid form, alkali metals, ammonium salts or substituted ammonium salts. Particularly suitable aminocarboxylates for use herein are diethylenetriamine pentaacetates and propylenediaminetetraacetic acid (PDTK), which is commercially available e.g. under the tradename Trilon FS ^R and methylglycine diacetic acid (MGDK).

Other chelating agents preferred for use herein have the formula:

wherein R 1, R ₂ , R ₃ and R ₄ are independently selected from the group consisting of -H, alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, aryloxy, -Cl, -Br, NO ₂ , -C (O) R 'and -SO ₂ R'', wherein R' is selected from the group consisting of -H, -OH, alkyl, alkoxy, aryl and aryloxy, R '' is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkoxy, aryl and aryloxy, and R ₅ , R ₆ , R 7 and R 8 are independently selected from the group consisting of -H and alkyl.

For use herein, particularly preferred chelating agents are ATMP, diethyltriamine methylene phosphonate, diethylene triamine pentaacetate, N, N-disuccinic acid, glycine, salicylic acid, aspartic acid, glutamic, malonic acid, and mixtures thereof. Highly preferred is ATMP.

Suitable radical scavengers for use herein include known substituted mono- and dihydroxybenzenes and analogs thereof, alkyl and arylcarboxylates, and mixtures thereof. Preferred radical scavengers include di-tertiary butyl-hydroxytoluene (BHT), hydroquinone, di-tertiary butyl-hydroquinone, monoterial-butyl-hydroquinone, tert-butyl-hydroxyanisole, benzoic acid, toluylic acid, catechol, t-butyl catechol, benzylamine, 1, 1,3-tri (2-methyl-4-hydroxy-5-t-butylphenyl) butane, n-propyl gallate, or mixtures thereof, and di-tertiary butyl hydroxytoluene is highly preferred. When used, free radical scavengers are present in an amount of from 0.001% to 2% of the total weight of the composition, preferably from 0.001% to 0.5%.

The presence of chelating agents, in particular ATMPs and / or free radical scavengers, contributes to the safety of the compositions of the present invention for prewashing dirty colored articles upon prolonged contact prior to washing the article.

The compositions of the present invention may further comprise up to 20%, preferably from 2% to 10%, of the solvent or mixture thereof (based on the total weight of the composition). It has further been found that adding a solvent system comprising at least one hydrophobic solvent and at least one hydrophilic solvent to the liquid composition of the present invention will improve the composition, e.g. will improve the overall stain removal capability of many types of stains, including oily stains, enzymatic stains, as well as bleachable stains.

Suitable hydrophobic solvents for use herein include terpenes, e.g. mono- and bicyclic monoterpenes, in particular those of the hydrocarbon class comprising terpinenes, trepinolenes, pinenes and mixtures thereof. Highly preferred substances of this type are d-limonene, dipentene, α-pinene or βpinene. Other hydrophobic solvents include all types of paraffins, both linear and non-linear, containing from 2 to 20 carbons, preferably from 4 to 10, more preferably from 6 to 8. Here octane is preferred. Another hydrophobic solvent suitable for use herein is benzyl alcohol. Particularly preferred hydrophobic solvents for use herein include d-limonene, dipentene, α-pinene, β-pinene, octane, benzyl alcohol, or mixtures thereof.

Suitable hydrophilic solvents for use herein include alkoxylated aliphatic alcohols such as methoxypropanol, propoxypropanol, butoxypropanol as well as alkoxylated glycols such as ethoxyethoxyethanol, aliphatic and aromatic alcohols such as ethanol, propanol, and also glycols such as propanediol or their mixture.

Any soil-dispersing agent known to those skilled in the art can be used in the compositions and methods of the invention. The polymeric soil dispersants are characterized as having hydrophilic portions that hydrophilize the surface of hydrophobic fibers, such as e.g. polyester and nylon, as well as hydrophobic portions deposited on the hydrophobic fibers and remain there until the wash and rinse cycles have been completed, thereby serving to trap the hydrophilic segments. This will make the stains easier to clean after application of the soil-dispersant.

The soil-dispersing polymeric agents useful herein include, in particular, soil-dispersing agents having: (a) one or more non-ionic hydrophilic moieties which are inevitably composed of (i) polyoxyethylene moieties having a degree of polymerization of at least 2, or (ii) oxypropylene or polyoxypropylene moieties having a degree of polymerization of from 2 to 10, wherein the hydrophilic moiety contains no oxypropylene unit only if bound to adjacent moieties by ether bonds at both ends, or (iii) a mixture of oxyalkylene units containing oxyethylene and from 1 to 30 oxypropylene units, the composition comprises sufficient oxyethylene units to provide the hydrophilic portion with sufficient hydrophilicity to enhance the hydrophilicity of the surface of conventional polyester synthetic fibers when depositing the soil dispersant on the surface, the hydrophilic portion preferably comprising at least 25% oxyethylene units, more preferably, for portions of from 20 to 30 oxypropionic units, at least 50% oxyethylene units, or (b) one or more hydrophobic moieties containing (i) a _3- oxyalkylene terephthalate moiety, wherein the hydrophobic moiety section contains the oxyethylene terephthalate, the ratio of oxyethylene terephthalate / C ₃ -oxyalkyléntereftalátové units is about 2: 1 or less, or (ii) C ₄ -C ₆ -alkylene or oxy C ₄ -C ₆ -alkylene, or of mixtures thereof, (iii) polyvinyl ester moieties, preferably polyvinyl acetate having a degree of polymerization of at least 2, or (iv) C 1 -C ₄ -alkyl ether or C ₄ -hydroxyalkylether substituents or mixtures thereof, wherein the substituents are present in the form of C 1 -C ₄ -alkyl ether or C ₄ -hydroxyalkylether cellulose derivatives or mixtures thereof, and these cellulose derivatives are amphiphilic, thereby having a sufficient amount of C 1 -C ₄ -alkyl ether and C ₄ -hydroxyalkylether poisons notes to be deposited on the surface of conventional polyester synthetic fibers and maintain a sufficient amount

Even hydroxyls already attached to the surfaces of conventional synthetic fibers to increase surface hydrophilicity, or combinations of (a) and (b).

Generally, the polyoxyethylene portions of (a) (i) have a degree of polymerization of from about 1 to about 200, although higher grades, preferably from 3 to about 159, more preferably from 6 to 100, can also be used.

Suitable oxyC ₄ -C ₆ -alkylene hydrophobic moieties include, but are not limited to, the ends of dirt dispersants such as e.g. MO ₃ S (CH ₂ ) _n OCH ₂ CH ₂ O-, wherein M is sodium and n is an integer from 4 to 6, as described in US Patent No. 5,640,549; No. 4,721,580, issued Jan. 26, 1988 to Gosselink.

Useful polymeric soil release agents include cellulose derivatives, such as e.g. hydroxyether cellulose polymers, copolymer blocks of ethylene terephthalate or propylene terephthalate with polyethylene oxide or polypropylene oxide terephthalate, etc.

These substances are commercially available and include hydroxyether celluloses such as METHOCEL (Dow). Cellulosic soil dispersants for use herein also include those selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C ₄ -alkyl- and C ₄ hydroxyalkylcellulose, see U.S. Pat. No. 4,000,093, issued Dec. 28, 1976 to Nicol et al.

Soil dispersants which are characterized by a polyvinyl ester hydrophobic moiety include polyvinyl ester copolymers, e.g. C 1 -C ₆ vinyl esters, preferably polyvinyl acetate tightly bound to polyalkylene oxide structures, e.g. Polyethylene oxide structures. See European Patent Application 0 219 048, published April 22, 1987 by Kud et al. Commercially available soil dispersants of this kind include SOKALAN, e.g. SOKALAN HP-22, from BASF (Germany).

One type of preferred soil release agent is a copolymer having irregular blocks of ethylene terephthalate and polyethylene oxide (PEO) terephthalate. The molecular weight of the soil dispersant is in the range of about 25,000 to about 55,000. See U.S. Pat. No. 3,959,230, Hays, issued May 25, 1967, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,893,929, Basadur, issued June 8, 1975.

Another preferred polymeric dirt dispersant is an ethylene terephthalate repeat unit polyester comprising 10-15% (by weight) ethylene terephthalate units and 90-80% (by weight) polyoxyethylene terephthalate units derived from polyoxyethylene glycol of an average molecular weight of about 5,000. polymers include the commercially available material ZELCON 5216 (from Dupont) and MILEASE T (from ICI). See U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,857, issued Oct. 27, 1987 to Gosselink.

Another preferred polymeric soil scattering agent is a sulfonated ester oligomer product which comprises an oligomeric ester structure of terephthaloyl and oxyalkyleneoxy units that repeat and the terminal portions are covalently bonded to the structure. These soil dispersants are described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 4,968,451, issued October 6, 1990, to J.J. Scheibel and E.P. Gosselink. Other preferred polymeric soil release agents include terephthalate polyesters of U.S. Pat. No. 4,711,730, issued Dec. 8, 1987 to Gosselink et al., Anionic oligomeric esters of U.S. Pat. No. 4,721,580, issued Jan. 26, 1988 to Gosselink; and compounds of oligomers of polyester blocks of U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,857, issued Oct. 27, 1987 to Gosselink.

Preferred polymeric soil-dispersing agents also include soil-dispersing agents from U.S. Pat. No. 5,877,896, issued October 31, 1989, to Maldonado et al., Which describes anionic, especially sulfoaroyl-terminated terephthalate esters.

Yet another preferred polymeric soil dispersant is an oligomer with repeating units of terephthaloyl units, sulfoisoterephthaloyl units, oxyethyleneoxy- and oxy-1,2-propylene units. The repeating units form the oligomer structure and are preferably terminated with modified isothionates.

A particularly preferred soil dispersant of this type comprises about 1 sulfoisoterephthaloyl unit, 5 terephthaloyl units, oxyethyleneoxy- and oxy-1,2-propyleneoxy units in a ratio of about 1.7 to 1.8, and two terminal units of 2- (2-hydroxyethoxy) - sodium ethanesulfonate. The soil dispersant also contains from about 0.5% to about 20% (by weight oligomer) of a crystalline-reducing stabilizer, preferably selected from the group consisting of xylene sulfonate, cumene, toluene, and mixtures thereof. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,415,807, issued May 16, 1995 to Gosselink et al.

When used, generally, the soil dispersants comprise from about 0.01% to about 10% by weight of the detergent composition, usually from about 0.1% to about 5%, preferably from about 0.2% to about 3%.

The compositions of the present invention may also contain one or more substances that effectively prevent the transfer of dyes from one colored surface to another in the cleaning process. Generally, these dye transfer inhibiting agents include polyvinylpyrrolidine polymers, polyamine N-oxide polymers, copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone and N-vinylimidazole, manganese phthalocyanine, peroxidase, and mixtures thereof.

When used, these generally comprise from about 0.01% to about 10% by weight of the composition, preferably from about 0.01% to about 5%, most preferably from about 0.5% to about 2%.

More specifically, here. for use, preferred polyamine The non-oxide polymers comprise units having the following structural formula: RA _x -P, where P is a polymerizable unit to which an N-O group can be attached or the N-O group can be part of this polymerizable unit, or this N-O group may 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 is an aliphatic, ethoxylated aliphatic, aromatic, heterocyclic or alicyclic group or any combination thereof to which the nitrogen of the N-O group may be attached, or the N-O group is part of that group. Preferred polyamine N-oxides are those wherein R is a heterocyclic group, such as e.g. pyridine, pyrrole, imidazole, pyrrolidine, peperidine and derivatives thereof.

Said N-O group may be represented by the following general formulas:

O Ô II i (R 1) x ^- N ^- (R ₂ ) y; -N (R |) x (R ₃₎ wherein R Vol _{l of R2,} R3 are aliphatic, aromatic, heterocyclic or alicyclic groups or combinations thereof, x, y and z are 0 or 1 and the nitrogen of the N-0 group is attached to or is part of any of the above groups. The amine oxide units of the polyamine N-oxides have a pKa of less than 10, preferably a pKa of less than 7, most preferably a pKa of less than 6.

Any polymer structure having a length such as this amine oxide polymer, water soluble and having the ability to prevent dye transfer can be used. Examples of suitable polymer structures are polyvinyl, polyalkylenes, polyesters, polyethers, polyamides, polyimides, polyacrylates and mixtures thereof. These polymers include irregular or block copolymers wherein one type of monomer is an amide N-oxide and the other type of monomer is an N-oxide. The amine oxide groups present in the polyamine oxide polymer can be varied by appropriate copolymerization or by a suitable degree of N-oxidation. Polyamine oxides can be obtained at almost all stages of polymerization. The average molecular weight is usually in the range from 500 to 1,000,000, more preferably from 1,000 to 500,000, and most preferably from 5,000 to 100,000. This preferred class of substances may be called PVNO. The most preferred polyamine N-oxide useful herein in the detergent composition is a poly (4-vinylpyridine-N-oxide) having an average molecular weight of about 50,000 and an amine to amine N-oxide ratio of about 1: 4.

Copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone N-vinylimidazole polymers (class PVPVI) are also preferred for use herein. Preferably, the PVPVI has an average molecular weight ranging from 5,000 to 1,000,000, more preferably from 5,000 to 1,000,000.

200,000, and most preferably from 10,000 to 20,000. (The average molecular weight range can be determined by light scattering, as described in Barth et al., Chemical analysis, Chapter 113 Modern methods of polymer characterization (cited herein). The PVPVI copolymers typically have a molar ratio of N-vinylimidazole to Nvinylpyrrolidone of from 1: 1 to 0.2: 1, more preferably from 0.8: 1 to 0.3: 1, and most preferably from 0.6: 1 to 0.4: 1. the copolymers may be either linear or branched.

The compositions of the present invention may also utilize polyvinylpyrrolidone PVP having an average molecular weight of from about 5,000 to about 4,000,000, more preferably from about 5,000 to about 200,000, and most preferably from about 5,000 to about 50,000. see EPA-262 897 and EP-A-256 696 (herein incorporated by reference). The PVP-containing compositions may also comprise polyethylene glycol (PEG) having an average molecular weight of from about 500 to about 100,000, preferably from about 1,000 to about 10,000. Preferably, the ratio of PEG to PVP is from about 2: 1 to about 50: 1. and more preferably from about 3: 1 to about 10: 1.

If high sudsing is desired, suds boosters such as e.g. C 10 -C 18 alkanolamides, usually in an amount of 1% to 10%. C10-C14 monoethanol and diethanolamides represent a typical class of suds boosters. Preference is given to the use of suds boosters together with suds enhancing surfactants such as e.g. with the above amine oxides, betaines and sultains. If necessary, soluble magnesium salts such as e.g. MgCl ₂ , MgSO _4, etc., in an amount of 0.1% to 2%. This results in greater foaming and a better ability to remove greasy stains.

Any optical brightener, fluorescent whitening agent or other brightener or whitening agent known in the art in an amount of from about 0.05% to about 1.2% by weight of the cleaning compositions may be added to the present article laundry compositions. Commercial optical brighteners which can be used in the present invention can be divided into subgroups including, but not limited to, derivatives of stilbene, pirazoline, coumarin, carboxylic acids, methenylcianine, dibenzothiophene-5,5-dioxide ,; azoles and five- and six-membered heterocyclic brighteners. Examples of such are described in The Production and Application of Fluorescent Brightening, M. Zahradnik, edited by John Wiley and Sons, New York (1982).

Exact examples of optical brighteners that are useful in the present invention are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,856, Wixon, issued December 13, 1988. These brighteners include PHORWHITE from Verona. Other brighteners described herein include: Tinopal UNPA, Tonopal CBS and Tinopal 5BM from Ciba Geige, Artic White CC and Artic White CWD from Hilton-Davis from Italy, 2- (4-styryl-phenyl) -2H-naphthol [1,2] -d] triazoles, 4,4-bis- (1,2,3-triazol-2-yl) -stilbenes, 4,4-bis (styryl) bisphenyls and aminocoumarins. Exact examples of these brighteners include 4-methyl-7-diethylaminocoumarin,

1,2-bis (benzimidazol-2-yl) ethylene, 2,5-bis (benzoxazol-2yl) thiophene, 2-styryl-naphtho [1,2-d] oxazole and 2- (stilben-4-yl) 2H-naphtho [1,2-d] triazole. See also U.S. Pat. No. 3,646,015, issued February 29, 1972 to Hamilton. Anionic brighteners are usually preferred herein.

Although the compositions described herein are preferably useful for prewashing, as described above, they may also be used as laundry detergents or laundry enhancers and as kitchen and bathroom cleaners. Compositions of the present invention suitable for prewashing articles may be packaged in a variety of containers, including conventional bottles, sponges, brushes and dispensers.

The present invention will be further elucidated by the following examples.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following compositions were prepared by mixing said ingredients in the indicated amounts (by weight or otherwise specified).

resources I II III IV in VI Dobanol * 45-7 6.4 6.4 6.4 1.5 12.0 6.0 Dobanol ^R 23-3 8.6 8.6 8.6 - - 6.0 Dobanol ^R 23-6.5 - - - 1.5 - - C25-AE-2.5-S 4.0 4.0 4.0 1.5 12.0 6.0 amidalkylglukózy 2.0 2.0 2.0 - - - ATC * 3.5 3.5 3.5 - 3.5 - H ₂ O ₂ 4.0 4.0 4.0 - 6.0 4.0 dilauroyl peroxide 0.5 - - 1.0 - 2.0 ethoxylated 15-18 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.2 1.0 0.7 tetraethylenepentamine Limonen D - - 0.5 0.1 0.5 1.0 benzoylalkohol - - 2.0 1.0 - - l-methoxy-2-propanol - - 5.0 - 2.0 3.0 ATMP ⁺⁺ 0.2 0.1 - - 12:16 - 1 n n q. with primes and 1 vU 6 H2SO4 to pH 4

ATC * is acetyltriethyl citrate.

Dobanol ^R 23-3 is a C 12 -C 13 non-ionic ethoxylated surfactant with an HLB of 8.1. Dobanol ^R 23-6.5 is C ₃ Cl 2-nonionic ethoxylated surfactant with HLB of 11.9. Dobanol ^R 45-7 is C ₁₄ -C _{15 non-} ionic. ethoxylated surfactant with HLB 11.6.

ATMP is aminotri (methylene phosphonic acid).

Excellent stain removal performance is achieved with many stains, including oily / oil stains such as clay, dirty engine oil, make-up, lipstick, carotenoid type stains such as spaghetti sauce, bleachable stains such as tea and enzymatic stains such as is grass, blood when dirty products are prewashed by any one of means I to IV as described above, e.g. if such a composition is left on the article for 5 minutes prior to soaking the article in water or washing it with a conventional cleaning agent such as Tide ^R powder, e.g. 1: 400.

Claims (12)

PATENT CLAIMS A method of bleaching a product with a liquid composition comprising from 0.01 to 15% of a peroxygen bleach, based on the total weight of the composition, and a soil dispersant, characterized in that the soil dispersant is selected from the group consisting of: (1) ethoxylated monoamines having the formula: (X - L -) - N - (R ² ) ₂ (2) ethoxylated diamines having the formula: R ² - N - ^R1 - N - R ² (R ²⁾ ₂ -N R ¹ - N - (R ² ) ₂ or (X - L -) ₂ - N - R ¹ - N - (R ² ) ₂ (3) ethoxylated polyamines having the formula: R ² R ³ - [(A ¹⁾ q (R ⁴⁾ t ^- NLX] p (4) ethoxylated amine polymers having the formula: R ² [(R ² ) 2 ^- N-] w - [- R ¹ -N-] x - [- R ¹ -N-] y - [- R ¹ "NLX] 2 and (5) their mixtures ABOUT II —NC— I R wherein A ¹ is ABOUT X O —NCO—, —NCN—, I I I R R R O O n ii —OCO—, —OC—, O n CNI R ABOUT II —OCNI R O O n n CNC— or R is hydrogen, C 1 -C ₄ -alkyl or hydroxyalkyl, R ¹ is C ₂ -C ₁₂ alkylene, hydroxyalkylene, alkenylene, arylene, alkarylene or C ₂ -C ₃ oxyalkylene moiety having from 2 to 20 oxyalkylene units where they are not formed no bonds between O and N, R ² is C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, L-X or two R ^{2 taken} together form - (CH 2) _r -A ² - (CH 2) 3 -, wherein A ² is -O- or -CH 2 -, r is 1 or 2, s is 1 or 2 and r + s is 3 or 4, X is a nonionic group, anionic group or mixture thereof, R ³ is substituted C ₃ -C ₂ ^- alkyl or hydroxyalkyl, alkenyl, aryl or alkaryl group having p substitution sites, R ⁴ is a C-C ₂ alkylene, hydroxyalkylene ,. alkenylene, arylene, alkarylene, or a C ₂ -C ₃ oxyalkylene compound having from 2 to 20 oxyalkylene units, wherein no bonds are formed between the O and N, or between the H and O, L is a hydrophilic chain which contains the polyoxyalkylene moiety - ^[(R5 0) m (CH2CH2)] n wherein R ⁵ is C 3 -C ₄ -alkylene or hydroxy and lky polyoxypropylene Aman are numbers such that the moiety - (CH ₂ CH ₂ O) contains at least 50% by weight of said polyoxyalkylene moiety, for said monoamines m is from 0 to 4 and n is at least 12, for said diamines is m from 0 to 3 and is at least 6 when R ¹ is C 2 -C 3 -alkylene , hydroxyalkylene, alkenylene and at least 3, when R ¹ is other than C 2 -C ₃ -alkylene, hydroxyalkylene, alkenylene, for said polyamines and amine polymers is m from 0 to 10 and n is at least 3, p is from 3 to 8, q is 1 or 0, t is 1 or 0 when t is 1, then q is 1, w is 1 or 0, x + y + z is at least 2 and y + z is at least 2, the method comprising the steps of applying said composition in pure form form at least a portion of the product before washing the product. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that said composition may remain in contact with said product for a maximum of 1 minute to 1 hour, more preferably 1 minute to 30 minutes and most preferably 2 to 10 minutes before said article is washed. 3. A liquid composition suitable for prewashing articles comprising a peroxygen bleach, a surfactant, and a soil dispersant selected from the group consisting of: (1) ethoxylated monoamines having the formula: (X - L -) - N - (R ² ) 2 (2) ethoxylated diamines having the formula: R ² - N - ^R1 - N - R ² (R ²⁾ ₂ - N - ^R1 - N - (R ²⁾ or (X - L ') ₂ - N - ^R1 - N - ^(R2). (3) ethoxylated polyamines having the formula: R2 ² - [(Abq-tR'jfN-L-Xp) (4) ethoxylated amine polymers having the formula: [(R ² ) 2 -N] w - [- R ¹ -N-] x - [- R ¹ -N-] y - [- R ¹ -NLX] for (5) mixtures thereof, 0 —NC—, —NCO—, —NCN—, II II R R R R H ON- I R ABOUT " -OCN- I R wherein A ¹ is Ο II II —0C— —CNC— or R is hydrogen, C 1 -C ₄ -alkyl or hydroxyalkyl, R ¹ is C ₂ -C ₁₂ alkylene, hydroxyalkylene, alkenylene, arylene, alkarylene or C ₂ -C ₃ oxyalkylene moiety having from 2 to 20 oxyalkylene units, where not no bonds are formed between O and N, R ² is C 4 alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, L - X, or two ^R2 together form - (CH 2) _r -A ² - (CH 2) s, wherein ^A2 is -O- or -CH2-, r is 1 or 2, s is 1 or 2 and r + s is 3 or 4, X is a nonionic group, an anionic group or a mixture thereof, R ³ is substituted with C ₃ -C ₁₂ -alkyl or hydroxyalkyl, alkenyl, aryl or alkaryl having p substituent sites, R ⁴ is a C 1 -C ₁₂ -alkylene, hydroxyalkylene, alkenylene, arylene, alkarylene or a C ₂ -C ₃ oxyalkylene compound having from 2 to 20 oxyalkylene units wherein no bonds are formed between O and N, nor between O and ABOUT, L is a hydrophilic chain that contains the polyoxyalkylene moiety - [(R ⁵⁰ O) m (CH ₂ CH ₂ O)] n -, wherein R ⁵ is C 3 -C ₄ -alkylene or hydroxyalkylene amine are such that the moiety - (CH ₂ CH ₂ O) ) contains at least 50% by weight of said polyoxyalkylene moiety, for said monoamines, m is from 0 to 4 and n is at least 12 for said diamines, m is from 0 to 3 and n is at least 6 when ^R1 is C2-C3 alkylene, hydroxyalkylene, alkenylene and at least 3 when R ¹ is other than C 2 -C ₃ -alkylene, hydroxyalkylene, alkenylene, for said polyamines and amine polymers m is from 0 to 10 and n is at least 3, p is from 3 to 8, q is 1 or 0, t is 1 or 0, when t is 1, then q is 1, w is 1 or 0, x + y + z is at least 2 and y + z is at least 2, the composition being prepared in the form of either an emulsion or a microemulsion. The composition of claim 3 or the method of any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the peroxygen bleach is hydrogen peroxide or a water-soluble source thereof selected from the group consisting of percarbonate, persilicate, persulfate, perborate, peroxyacids, hydroperoxides. , diacyl peroxides and mixtures thereof, and preferably tert-butyl hydroperoxide, cumyl hydroperoxide, 2,4,4-trimethylpentyl-2-hydroperoxide, diisopropylbenzene monohydroperoxide, tertiary-pentyl hydroperoxide and 2,5-dimethyl-hexane-2,5-dihydroperoxide, didecanoyl peroxide, dimyristoyl peroxide and mixtures thereof. A composition or method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the composition comprises from 0.01% to 15% of a peroxygen bleach, based on the total weight of the composition. or mixtures thereof, preferably from 0.1 0.5% to 10%, and most preferably from % to 12%, more preferably 2% to 8%. from 6. Device or way according to anyone from Previous claims v y and p and by that dirt dispersant is a an ethoxylated amine polymer wherein R ¹ is C ₂ -C ₃ -alkylene, preferably ethylene, wherein L is completely composed of (CH ₂ CH ₂ O) _n - and n is at least 12. The composition or method of claim 6, wherein said ethoxylated amine polymer is an ethoxylated polyethylene amine having a molecular weight of from 140 to 310 prior to ethoxylation. The composition or method of claim 6, wherein said ethoxylated amine polymer is an ethoxylated polyethylene amine having a molecular weight of from 600 to 1800 prior to ethoxylation. Composition or method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the composition comprises from 0.01% to 20% of a soil dispersant, based on the total weight of the composition or mixtures thereof, preferably from 0.1% to 10%, more preferably from 0.2% to 4%, and most preferably from 0.5% to 2%. The composition or method of any preceding claim, wherein the composition further comprises a bleach activator, preferably in an amount of from 0.01% to 20% of the total weight of the composition, more preferably from 1% to 10%, and most preferably from 1% to 10%. 3% to 7%. The composition or method of claim 10, wherein said bleach activator is selected from the group consisting of acetyltriethyl citrate, tetraacetylethylenediamine, 3,5,5-trimethylhexanoyloxybenzenesulfonate, diperoxydodecanoic acid, peroxyadipic acid nonanylamide, n-nonanoyanopoxybenzene, or unsubstituted benzoylcaprolactam, octanoylcaprolactam, nonanoylcaprolactam, hexanoylcaprolactam, decanoylcaprolactam, undecanoylcaprolactam, formylcaprolactam, acetylcaprolactam, lactyl, propanoylcaprolactam, butanoylcaprolactam, butanoylcaprolactam, butanoylcaprolactam, butanoylcaprolactam, butanoylcaprolactam; ' The composition or method of any preceding claim, wherein the composition is aqueous and has a pH of from 0 to 6, preferably from 1 to 5, and most preferably from 3 to 5. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims 3 to 12, characterized in that the composition comprises at least a hydrophobic surfactant having an HLB of up to 10, or mixtures thereof, preferably below 10 and most preferably below 9, and a hydrophilic surfactant, having an HLB above 10, or mixtures thereof, preferably above 10.5 and most preferably above 11.