SK174397A3 - Bleaching compositions - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to liquid compositions comprising a peroxygen bleach, a liquid hydrophobic bleach activator and a polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactant according to the formula R<2>-C(O)-N(R<1>)-Z, wherein R<1> is H, or C1-C4 alkyl, C1-C4 hydrocarbyl, 2-hydroxy ethyl, 2-hydroxy propyl or a mixture thereof, R<2> is C5-C31 hydrocarbyl, and Z is a polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl having a linear hydrocarbyl chain with at least 3 hydroxyls directly connected to the chain, or an alkoxylated derivative thereof, said compositions being formulated either as an emulsion or a microemulsion. The present invention further encompasses a process for pretreating soiled fabrics with a liquid composition comprising such a polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactant, whereby improved stain removal performance is delivered.

Description

Bleaching preparations

Technical field

The present invention relates to stable compositions with a peroxygen bleach component which are particularly suitable for pre-cleaning laundry.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Compositions containing a peroxygen bleach component suitable for the use of laundry as laundry detergents, laundry additives or as pre-cleaners have been extensively described.

However, the use of liquid compositions containing a peroxygen bleach component and a bleach activator in pre-washing laundry is known. Although these liquid bleaching compositions have good bleaching performance in the prewash of dirty laundry, there is still room for further improvement in terms of e.g. stain removal efficiency in preliminary cleaning.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to improve the removal efficiency of a wide variety of stains under pre-wash conditions, i. when used immediately on a dirty textile material and let it act on it before washing. More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide liquid compositions comprising a peroxygen bleach component and a liquid hydrophobic bleach activator with improved efficacy in removing various stains under pretreatment conditions without compromising their bleaching performance.

It has been found that the above object can be achieved using a liquid composition comprising polyhydroxy fatty acid amide as a surfactant for pretreating a textile material. Indeed, it has been found that the addition of a polyhydroxy fatty acid amide as a surfactant, as defined below, to a liquid composition, e.g. a composition comprising a peroxygen bleach component and optionally a liquid hydrophobic bleach activator allows for greater stain removal performance on the textile material under pretreatment conditions compared to that of the same composition but without the polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactant or the same composition with another surfactant , for example. with a non-ionic ethoxylated surfactant (C-7E0), instead of said polyhydroxy fatty acid amide. Broadly, the invention therefore encompasses the use of said polyhydroxy fatty acid amide as a surfactant in a liquid composition to improve the performance of various stain removal under pretreatment (wash) conditions. The invention also encompasses liquid compositions comprising said polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactant, a peroxygen bleach, and a liquid hydrophobic bleach activator. It has further been found that the addition of a polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactant to the liquid compositions comprising the peroxygen bleach component of the present invention and said liquid hydrophobic bleach activator also contributes to emulsifying the hydrophobic bleach activator to the extent that they can be formulated or microemulsified or as an emulsion. The compositions according to the invention therefore make it possible to achieve higher stain removal efficiency in the cleaning of dirty laundry, while at the same time having excellent chemical stability even over a longer storage period.

An advantage of the present invention is the improved stain removal performance when the composition of the invention penetrates the textile material, and this improvement is visible on a wide variety of stains and dirt, including grass and oil stains, lipstick, make-up, run-out motor oil and mineral oils. after foods such as mayonnaise and spaghetti sauce, and including bleachable tea stains and enzymatic blood and grass stains.

EP-A-598 170 discloses an emulsion comprising hydrogen peroxide or a source thereof, a hydrophobic liquid ingredient, and an emulsification system composed of two non-ionic surfactants with different HLB (hydrophilic-lipophilic balance). No polyhydroxy fatty acid amide is disclosed as a surfactant.

European Patent Application Ser. No. 95203330.6 discloses a liquid bleaching composition comprising hydrogen peroxide, a liquid hydrophobic bleach activator, and the composition is formulated as a microemulsion of the hydrophobic liquid bleach activator in a mother liquor consisting of water, hydrogen peroxide, and a hydrophilic surfactant system consisting of one nonionic and one anionic surfactant . No polyhydroxy fatty acid amide as a surfactant is disclosed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a liquid composition comprising a peroxygen bleach, a liquid hydrophobic bleach activator and a polyhydroxy fatty acid amide as a surfactant according to the formula

R ² -C (O) -NCR ¹ ) -Z wherein R ¹ is hydrogen or C-alkyl, C 1-4 -carbyl, 2-hydroxyethyl, 2-hydroxypropyl or a mixture thereof, R ³ is C _3i- hydrocarbyl, and Z is a polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl having a linear hydrocarbyl chain with at least three hydroxyls directly attached to the chain, or an alkoxylated derivative thereof, and the composition is formulated or as a microemulsion or as an emulsion.

The present invention also relates to a way in which a liquid composition consisting of a polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactant of the formula is penetrated by a soiled textile material.

R ² -C (O) -NCR ¹⁾ z wherein R ¹ is hydrogen or alkyl, C ^^ - hydrocarbyl, 2-hydroxy ethyl, 2-hydroxy propyl or a mixture thereof, R ² is _a C _ _{3 R} hydrocarbyl, and Z is a linear hydrocarbyl polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl with at least three hydroxyls attached directly to the chain, or an alkoxylated derivative thereof, and said process comprises the steps of applying the composition in its pure form to a textile material, wherein the composition remains in contact for some time before washing. with textile material.

The invention also relates to a method of using polyhydroxy fatty acid amide as a surfactant having the formula

R ² -C (O) -NR 4 wherein R ¹ is hydrogen or C-alkyl, C 1-4 -carbyl, 2-hydroxyethyl, 2-hydroxypropyl or a mixture thereof. ^R2 is Cs3i hydrocarbyl, and Z is a polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl having a linear hydrocarbyl chain with at least three hydroxyls directly connected to the chain, or an alkoxylated derivative thereof, wherein the use is in a liquid composition, preferably a liquid composition comprising a peroxygen bleach, which supplies more stain removal efficiency under pre-cleaning conditions, ie. if the detergent acts on the dirty textile before washing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The composition of the present invention comprises as an essential element a peroxygen bleaching composition. Thus, the hydrogen peroxide or its water-soluble source, or a mixture of both. Hydrogen peroxide is most preferred for the composition of the invention. The presence of a peroxygen bleach, preferably hydrogen peroxide, imparts a strong cleaning power which is particularly appreciated in laundries. The hydrogen peroxide source of the present invention refers to any compound that produces hydrogen peroxide on contact with water.

Water-soluble hydrogen peroxide sources suitable for use in the present invention are: percarbonates, persilicates, persulfates such as monopersulfate, perborates, peroxyacids such as diperoxy-dodecane-diacid (DPDA), magnesium-perfalic acid, perbenzoic and alkylperbenzoic acids, and mixtures thereof .

The compositions of the invention comprise a peroxygen bleach component in an amount of 0.01% to 20% by weight of the total composition, more preferably 1% to 15%, and most preferably 2% to 10%.

The compositions of the present invention further comprise a liquid hydrophobic bleach activator or mixtures thereof. A bleach activator is a compound that reacts with hydrogen peroxide to form a peracid. This is the essence of the activated bleaching composition. Hydrophobic bleach activator refers to a bleach activator that is not substantially and stably miscible with water. Typical hydrophobic bleach activators have a secondary HLB (hydrophilic-lipophilic balance) below 11, more preferably below 10. The secondary HLB is known in the art and is defined e.g. in P. Becher's Emulsions theory and practice, Reinhold, New York 1957, or in P. Sherman, Emulsion Science Academic Press, London 1969.

Hydrophobic bleach activators suitable for use herein belong 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 a method for their formation into a suitable form is described in European Published Patent Application EP-A-62 523. Suitable examples of such compounds are tetraacetyl ethylenediamine ( TAED), sodium 3,5,5-trimethyl-hexanoyloxybenzene sulfonate, diperoxydodecanoic acid described e.g. in USP 4,818,425 and peroxyadipic acid nonylamide, described e.g. in USP 4,259,201, and n-nonanoyloxyoxybenzenesulfonate (NOBS). Also suitable are N-acyl-caprolactams selected from the group of substituted or unsubstituted benzoyl-caprolactam, octanoyl-caprolactam, nonanoyl-caprolactam, hexanoyl-caprolactam, decanoyl-caprolactam, undecanoyl-caprolactam, butyl-caprolactam, acetyl-caprolactam, acetyl-caprolactam, acetyl-caprolactam, acetyl-caprolactam, acetyl-caprolactam, -caprolactam, pentanoyl-caprolactam, or mixtures thereof. A particular class of suitable bleach activators is described in EP 624 154, and particularly preferred of this class is acetyl triethyl citrate (ATC). This has the advantage of being ecologically acceptable since it possibly degrades to citric acid and alcohol. In addition, acetyl triethyl citrate has good hydrolytic stability in the product during storage, and is an effective bleach activator. Finally, ATC has good capacity to form the entire composition.

The compositions of the present invention comprise a liquid hydrophobic bleach activator or mixtures thereof in an amount of 0.1% to 20% by weight of the total composition, more preferably 1% to 10%, and most preferably 1.5% to 7%.

Another essential part of the composition according to the invention is a surfactant consisting of a polyhydroxy fatty acid amide or a mixture thereof having the formula

R ² -C (O) -NtR ¹ ) -Z wherein R ¹ is hydrogen or C 1-4 -alkyl, C 1-4-hydrocarbyl, 2-hydroxyethyl, 2-hydroxypropyl or a mixture thereof, R ² is C 3-8 hydrocarbyl, and Z is polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl, which has a linear hydrocarbyl chain with at least three hydroxyls directly attached to the chain, or an alkoxylated derivative thereof.

Preferred R ¹ is a C alkyl, more preferred are C _x -or C ₂ alkyl, and most preferred is methyl. R ² is a straight chain C 1-6 -alkyl or alkenyl, preferably a straight chain C -alkyl or -alkenyl, more preferably a straight chain

C 1-6 alkyl or alkenyl, and most preferably straight chain

C 1 -C ₄ -alkyl or -alkenyl, or mixtures thereof. Preferably Z is derived from reducing sugars in a reductive amination reaction; most preferably Z is glycityl. Suitable reducing sugars are glucose, fructose, maltose, lactose, galactose, mannose, and xylose. The raw materials used may be high dextrose, high fructose and high maltose corn syrup, as well as the individual sugars mentioned above. These cereal syrups provide a mixture of sugar components for Z. This is to be understood in no way excluding other suitable raw materials. Z is preferably selected from the following groups: -CH - (CHOH) -CH OH, -CH (CHOH) - (CHOH) -CHOH, n 2 2 ** -

-CH - (CHOH) - (CHOR) (CHOH) -CH OH, wherein n is an integer from 3 2 2 2 to and including 5, and R is H or a cyclic or aliphatic monosaccharide, and its alkoxylated derivatives. Most preferred are glycityls wherein n is 4, i.e., -CH ₂ - (CHOH) 4 -CH 2 OH.

In the formula R ² -C (O) -N (R ¹ ) -Z the R ¹ may be e.g. N-methyl, N-ethyl, N-propyl, N-isopropyl, N-butyl, 2-hydroxyethyl or 2-hydroxypropyl.

R ² -C (O) -N? May be e.g. amide of coconut, stearic, oleic, lauric, myristic, capric, palm, tall, etc.

Z may be 1-deoxyglucityl, 2-deoxyfructityl, 1-deoxymaltityl, 1-deoxylactityl, 1-deoxygalactityl,

1-deoxymanityl, 1-deoxymaltotriotityl and the like.

A suitable polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactant useful herein may be commercially available under the tradename H0E ^R from Hoechst.

Methods for preparing polyhydroxy fatty acid amides as surfactants are known in the art. Generally, they can be prepared by reacting an alkylamine with a reducing agent in a reduction-amination reaction to form

N-alkyl polyhydroxyamine, which is then reacted with an aliphatic ester or triglyceride in the condensation-amidation step to produce the product N-alkyl, a polyhydroxy fatty acid amide. A process for preparing polyhydroxy fatty acid amide formulations is described, e.g. in British patent application GB 809.060, Thomas Hedley and Co., Ltd., issued February 18, 1959, in USP 2,965,576, E. R. Wilson, eds. On December 20, 1960; USP 2, 703.798; Anthony M. Schwartz, eds. On March 8, 1955, USP 1, 985,424, Piggott, eds. On Dec. 25, 1934, the fatty acid and WO92 / 06070, which are incorporated herein by reference.

Typical compositions of the invention include surfactants

in the form of fatty amides polyhydroxy acids or mixtures thereof in an amount of 0.01% to 0.1% 30%, advantageous 0,1% up to 20% and most preferably 0.5% until 15% by weight overall means. Now it has been that after adding amide fatty

polyhydroxy acids into a liquid composition comprising a peroxygen bleach component and a liquid hydrophobic bleach activator will achieve greater stain removal efficiency (when used to pre-treat dirty textiles prior to washing) compared to using the same surfactant-amide-free composition polyhydroxy fatty acids, or the same composition but containing a different hydrophilic surfactant, e.g. nonionic ethoxylated surfactant (C14 / C15 7E0).

The term &quot; stain removal efficiency &quot; refers to the removal efficiency of a variety of stains / soils, such as grass or oil stains, and / or bleachable stains and / or enzymatic stains.

The term stains on grass or oil refer to any dirt and stains of greasy nature that may occur on textile material, ie, streaks of oil, mineral oil, make-up, lipstick, vegetable oil, spaghetti sauce, mayonnaise and the like.

Examples of bleachable spots are spots after tea, coffee, wine, etc. Examples of enzymatic spots are grass, chocolate and blood stains.

The stain removal performance of the soiled textile is evaluated by the following method. The composition according to the invention is first applied to the textile, preferably to the soiled portion thereof, left to act for 1 to 10 minutes, preferably 5 minutes, and then washed in a conventional manner at a temperature of 30 ° C to 70 ° C for a period sufficient for bleaching. The stain removal efficiency is then evaluated by comparing (piece by piece) the soiled fabric soaked in the composition of the invention with the soaked fabric in the reference, i.e. in the same composition but without polyhydroxy fatty acid surfactant amide. A visual step meter is used to determine the difference in panel measurement units (psu) in the range of 0 to 4.

Indeed, it has now been proven that the higher stain removal efficiency is achieved by this polyhydroxy fatty acid amide as a surfactant when it has been brought into direct contact with the fabric prior to washing and rinsing. The stain removal efficiency associated with this surfactant - a polyhydroxy fatty acid amide - is therefore not dependent on the mother liquor.

Broadly, therefore, the invention encompasses the use of a polyhydroxy fatty acid amide as a surfactant (as defined herein) in a liquid composition, preferably a liquid composition comprising a peroxygen bleach, to improve stain removal performance by the composition under pre-treatment conditions, i.e.. pre-soaking the dirty fabric with the composition before washing.

The compositions of the present invention comprising a peroxygen bleach component also contain a liquid hydrophobic bleach activator so that they can be formulated or as aqueous emulsions of the liquid hydrophobic bleach activator in a water-containing mother liquor, a peroxygen bleach, and a polyhydroxy fatty acid amide emulsifying surfactant system. the hydrophilic surfactant has an HLB of above 10), or as a microemulsion of this liquid hydrophobic bleach activator in a mother liquor containing water, a peroxygen bleach, and a hydrophilic surfactant system consisting of at least the polyhydroxy fatty acid amide.

In an embodiment of the present invention wherein the bleaching component composition is formulated as an aqueous emulsion, polyhydroxy fatty acid amide can be used as the only emulsifying surfactant to emulsify the hydrophobic bleach activator. In this case, the polyhydroxy fatty acid amide as the only emulsifying surfactant in the emulsion is present in an amount of 1% to 6% by weight of the total composition.

It has now been observed that the polyhydroxy fatty acid amide makes it possible, even at low content, to improve the physical stability of the emulsion according to the invention, even at a higher temperature (up to 40 ° C) compared to the physical stability of the same emulsion, but without the polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactant. Accordingly, a further aspect of the present invention is the use of a polyhydroxy fatty acid amide in an emulsion comprising a peroxygen bleach component or source thereof and a liquid hydrophobic bleach activator to improve the physical stability of the emulsion.

For emulsifying a liquid hydrophobic bleach activator, emulsions comprising a peroxide bleaching agent, which consist of a system of emulsifying surfactants consisting of at least two different surfactants, i.e. a surfactant, are preferred. at least one hydrophobic surfactant with an HLB of up to 9.5 or a mixture, and at least one hydrophilic surfactant with an HLB of above 10, or a mixture of surfactants. It is preferred for the invention that the two surfactants have a different HLB (hydrophilic lipophilic balance) value to form stable emulsions, and a preferred difference in the HLB values of the two surfactants is at least 1, more preferably at least 2. A suitable combination of at least two of these surfactants with a different the HLB value in the water will form emulsions which do not substantially separate into two different layers even if they have been standing for at least two weeks at 40 ° C.

Preferred emulsions of the invention comprise said hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfactants in an amount of 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition, more preferably 5% to 40%, and most preferably 8% to 30%. Preferred emulsions of the invention comprise a hydrophobic surfactant or mixtures thereof in an amount of at least 0.01% by weight of the total emulsion, more preferably at least 2%, and most preferably at least 4%, and a hydrophilic surfactant or mixtures thereof in an amount of at least 0.01% by weight of the total emulsion. at least 2%, and most preferably at least 4% of the total weight of the emulsion.

The hydrophilic surfactant with HLB above 10 which is useful in the emulsions of the invention is or is polyhydroxy fatty acid amide alone or in admixture with other hydrophilic surfactants with HLB above 10, more preferably above 10.5. According to the invention, preferred hydrophobic surfactants are hydrophobic nonionic surfactants. These have an HLB of up to 9.5, more preferably below 9.5, and most preferably below 9. Furthermore, they have an excellent ability to break down fats, ie. they have a solvent effect that contributes to the removal of hydrophobic dirt (stains). The hydrophobic surfactants act as a carrier of hydrophobic brighteners to the fabric, so that these brighteners can act in close proximity to the fabric surface immediately at the start of the wash.

According to the invention, suitable nonionic surfactants are alkoxylated fatty alcohols, preferably ethoxylated and / or propoxylated. A large number of these alkoxylated fatty alcohols with different HLB (hydrophilic and lipophilic balance) values are commercially available. The HLB values of these alkoxylated nonionic surfactants depend essentially on the chain length of the fatty alcohol and the nature (method) and degree of alkoxylation. Hydrophilic nonionic surfactants tend to have a high degree of alkoxylation and a short chain of fatty alcohol, while hydrophobic surfactants have a low degree of alkoxylation and a long chain of alcohol. Surfactant catalogs are available describing many surfactants, including nonionic ones, and their respective HLB values are listed.

A suitable chemical process for the preparation of nonionic compounds suitable for use in the present invention is the corresponding alkylene oxide alcohols prone to fatty surfactants by condensation in the necessary proportions. These procedures are well known to those skilled in the art and have already been extensively described. Another alternative is to commercially obtain (from various suppliers) the most diverse alkoxylated alcohols suitable for use in the invention.

Preferred hydrophobic nonionic surfactants in the emulsions of the invention are surfactants having an HLB up to 9, which correspond to the formula R0- (CH 0) (CH O) H, wherein R ₆ is a C ₂₂ -alkyl chain, or C _{e, 2e} -alkylbenzénový chain, and n + m is 0.5 to 5, n is 0 to 5 and n1 is 0 to 5, more preferably n + m is 0.5 to 4.5, and n is 0 to 4.5. Preferred R chains are _C1-12 alkyl chains. Accordingly, suitable hydrophobic nonionic surfactants for use herein are Dobanol ^R 91-2.5 (HLB = 8.1;

C-alkyl chains, n = 2.5 and m

Lutensol ^R R-T03 (HLB = 8;

R oe composition is 0), or a mixture of alkyl chain C, n = 3 and m = 0), or Tergitol ^R 25L3 (HLB = 7.7; alkyl chains in the range C to C _i, n = 3 and m = 0), and

Dobanol ^R 23-3 (HLB = 8.1; R is a mixture of alkyl chains C and C, n is 3 and m is 0), or Dobanol ^R 23-2 (HLB 6.2; R is a mixture of alkyl C and C, n is 2 and m is 0), or mixtures thereof. Of these, Dobanol ^R 23-3, Dobanol ^R 23-2, Lutensol ^R T03, or mixtures thereof are preferred for the invention. Dobanol surfactants are supplied by SHELL, Lutensol by BASF and Tergitol by UNION CARBIDE. Other preferred hydrophobic nonionic surfactants for use herein are nonalkoxylated surfactants. An example is Dobanol ^R 23 (HLB <3).

Preferred hydrophilic nonionic surfactants that are useful in the emulsions of the invention are surfactants having an HLB above 10, which correspond to the formula R0- (CHO) (C HO) H, wherein R ₂ is C _{g = p} -alkyl chain, or C _ _{c (a} -alkylbenzénový

A 6-28 chain, and wherein n + m is 5 to 11, and n is 0 to 11; n + m is 6 to 10, preferably 0 to 10 are preferred. throughout the description of the invention q and m refer to the average degree of ethoxylation / propoxylation. To use the invention, preferred R are alkyl chains of C _e to C ₂₂ - Accordingly, the hydrophilic nonionic surfactants suitable for use herein include: Dobanol ^R 23-6.5 (HLB = 11.9; R is a mixture of alkyl chains of C to C, n = 6.5 am is 0), or Dobanol ^R 25-7 (HLB = 12; R is a mixture of alkyl chains c to C, n is 7 am is 0), or Dobanol ^R 45-7 (HLB = 11, 6; R is a mixture of alkyl chains C and C, n is 7 and r is 0), or Dobanol ^R 91-5 (HLB = 11.6; R is a mixture of alkyl chains C to ^C n '- is 5 and is 0 and is 0 ), or Dobanol ^R 91-6 (HLB = 12.5; R is a mixture of alkyl chains C 8 to C, n is 6 and m is 0), or Dobanol ^R 91-8 (HLB = 13.7; R is a mixture of alkyl chains C to ^C Xi ^{'3 e} j 8 and m is 0), or Dobanol ^R 91-10 (HLB = 14.2; R is a mixture of alkyl chains of C _g and C _xx, q is 10 and m is 0), or mixtures thereof. Preferred according to the invention are Dobanol ^R 91-10, or Dobanol ^R 45-7, Dobanol ^R 23-6.5, or mixtures thereof. These Dobanol ^R surfactants are commercially available from SHELL. In addition to these hydrophilic nonionic surfactants, others that will be described later can be used in the emulsions of the invention.

The emulsions of the invention may further comprise other surfactants at the polyhydroxy fatty acid amide level, or the emulsion system further comprises hydrophobic surfactants or optional other hydrophilic surfactants which, however, do not significantly alter the weighted average HLB values of the total emulsion.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the emulsion of the invention comprising acetyl triethyl citrate as a bleach activator, an appropriate system of nonionic emulsifying surfactant at the polyhydroxy fatty acid amide level would comprise a hydrophobic nonionic surfactant with HLB e.g. 6, such as Dobanol ^R 23-2, and a hydrophilic nonionic surfactant with HLB e.g. 15, such as Dubanol ^R 91-10. Other suitable nonionic surfactant systems include e.g. Dubanol ^R 23-6.5 (HLB 12) and Dubanol ^R 23 (HLB below 6), or Dubanol ^R 45-7 (HLB 11.6) and Dubanol ^R 23-3 (HLB = 8.1).

The preferred preparation of the preferred emulsions of the invention which contain a liquid hydrophobic bleach activator is based on: (i) premixing the hydrophobic surfactants with the bleach activator and other water-immiscible ingredients, if required; (ii) premixing the hydrophilic surfactants (i.e., polyhydroxy fatty acid amide and other optional hydrophilic surfactants, such as hydrophilic nonionic surfactants) with water, and then adding other water-soluble ingredients, if required; (iii) adjusting the pH to a preferred value; (iv) incorporating a peroxygen bleach, e.g. hydrogen peroxide, and the hydrophobic phase prepared in step (i). It is important that during the mixing of the two phases, the emulsions are constantly mixed at a relatively low mixing energy, i.e., the mixing of the emulsions. 30 minutes at 550 rpm, more preferably 30 minutes at 450 rpm.

In an embodiment of the invention where the compositions are formulated as emulsions, the compositions are opaque. In centrifugation tests, it was observed that the emulsions herein did not exhibit phase separation even after 15 minutes at 6000 rpm. Under the microscope, these emulsions appeared as dispersions of droplets in the mother liquor.

In an embodiment of the invention, wherein the compositions comprising the peroxygen bleach component of the invention are formulated as microemulsions, the peroxygen bleach component microemulsions comprise a hydrophilic surfactant system with a polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactant. Accordingly, and when the polyhydroxy fatty acid amide is represented in the microemulsion as the only emulsifying surfactant, it is present in an amount of above 6% and up to 15% by weight of the total composition. A key factor for the stable incorporation of a hydrophobic bleach activator is that the polyhydroxy fatty acid amide have a different HLB than the hydrophobic activator.

It has now been observed that the polyhydroxy fatty acid amide as a surfactant as defined herein allows to improve the physical stability of the microemulsions prepared according to the invention even at low levels, even at higher temperatures (up to 40 ° C) when compared to the physical stability of the same formulation. without said polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactant. Accordingly, another aspect of the present invention is the use of a polyhydroxy fatty acid amide in a liquid microemulsion preferably comprising a peroxygen bleach component or source thereof, and a liquid hydrophobic bleach activator, to improve the physical stability of the microemulsion.

The hydrophilic surfactant system emulsifying said hydrophobic bleach activator in the microemulsions of the invention may further comprise other hydrophilic surfactants, such as other nonionic hydrophilic surfactants and / or anionic surfactants. A key factor in the stable incorporation of a hydrophobic activator in said microemulsions is that at least one of the surfactants of the hydrophilic system must have a different HLB value from that of the hydrophobic activator. Indeed, if all surfactants had the same HLB value as the hydrophobic activator, a single continuous phase could be formed, which would reduce the chemical stability of the bleach / bleach activator system. Preferably, at least one of said surfactants has an HLB value differing by at least 1.0 HLB unit, more preferably 2.0 HLB units from said bleach activator.

Suitable anionic surfactants which can be further added to the compositions of the invention are the water-soluble salts or acids of the formula ROSO _and M, wherein R is preferably < _{1/10: 24-} hydrocarbyl, more preferably alkyl or hydroxyalkyl with C _{10 -2 { an β-} alkyl component, most preferably C _{12 x 6} -alkyl or -hydroxyalkyl, and M is hydrogen or a cation, e.g. an alkali metal cation (e.g., sodium, potassium, lithium), or ammonium or substituted ammonium such as tetramethyl ammonium and dimethyl piperidinium cations, and quaternary ammonium cations derived from alkylamines such as ethylamine, diethylamine, triethylamine, and mixtures thereof; Similarly). Typical alkyl chains of _^C12-s are preferred for lower wash temperatures (e.g. below 50 ° <I '), and n _{s s} _ 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) SO M wherein R is an unsubstituted C ₂₄ _ _also -alkyl or hydroxyalkyl having a C-_ alkyl component, preferably a C _ _{2 O x3} - alkyl or hydroxyalkyl, more preferably C _x -alkyl or hydroxyalkyl, a is an ethoxy or propoxy unit, m is greater than 0, preferably 0.5 to 6, more preferably 0.5 to 3, and m is H or a cation, e.g. a metal (e.g., sodium, potassium, lithium, calcium, magnesium, etc.), an ammonium cation, or a substituted ammonium. According to the invention, the use of ethoxylated or propoxylated alkyl sulfates is contemplated herein. Specific examples of substituted ammonium are methyl-, dimethyl-trimethyl-ammonium and quaternary ammonium such as tetramethyl-ammonium, dimethyl-piperidinium, and cations derived from alkanolamines such as ethylamine, diethylamine, triethylamine, and mixtures thereof, and the like. Exemplary surfactants are the alkyl polyethoxylate (1, 0) sulfate, C _x2 _ _s E (1, 0) M,

C 1-4 alkyl polyethoxylate (2,25) sulphate, C 1-4 alkyl (2,25) M,

C _i2ie alkyl polyethoxylate (3.0) sulfate, ^C ₂ -ie ^{E <3.0)} 'and C alkyl polyethoxylate (4.0) sulfate, CE (4.0) M, wherein M is a suitably sodium or potassium.

Other anionic surfactants may also be used for detergent purposes. These may be salts (including, e.g., sodium, potassium, ammonium, and substituted ammonium salts such as mono-, di- and triethanolamine salts), _and C _E _ - linear alkyl benzene sulfonates, _C - primary or secondary alkane sulfonates, C _{24 E} -olefínsulfonáty , sulfonated polycarboxylic acids prepared by sulfonating the pyrolysis product of alkaline earth citrate, described e.g. British Patent Application 1,082,179,

C ₄ -C ₄ -alkyl polyglycol ether sulfates (containing up to 10 moles of ethylene oxide); alkyl glycerol sulfonates, fatty oleyl glycerin sulfates, alkylphenol ethylene oxide ether sulfates, paraffin sulfonates, alkyl phosphates, isethionates such as acyl isethionates, and sulfosuccinates sulfosuccinates

C-monoesters) and unsaturated C-14

N-acyltaurates, alkyl succinamates (sulfosuccinates), monoesters (especially saturated and unsaturated diesters of sulfosuccinates (especially saturated diesters), sulfates of alkylpolysaccharides such as sulfates of alkylpolyglucosides (nonionic alkylsulfonated polyesters described below) are described below with the formula RO (CH _and CH _and O) _{> c} CH _and COO-M ' ^k where R is C _6a -alkyl, k is an integer from 0 to 10, and M is a soluble salt-forming cation. bituminous acids such as rosin, hydrated rosin and resinous and hydrated resin acids occurring in or derived from tall oil Further examples are given in Surface Active Agents and Detergents, Vol. I and II, authors. Many such surfactants are described obeerte also in USP 3,929,678, Laughlin et al., Issued December 30, 1975, column 23, tableware. 58 to column 29, line 23 (herein incorporated by reference).

Other suitable anionic surfactants which are useful according to the invention are also acyl sarcosinates or mixtures thereof in the form of an acid and / or salt, preferably long chain acyl sarcosinates having the following formula:

Λ-in "

CH 2 O wherein M is hydrogen or a cationic group, and R is an alkyl with an amino acid group of 11 to 15 carbon atoms, more preferably 11 to 13 carbon atoms, as an aqueous solution. M is preferably hydrogen or alkali metal salts, namely sodium and potassium. Acyl sarcosinate surfactants are derived from natural fatty acids and sarcosine (N-methyl-glycine). Their suitable use is their salts or in acid form as a powder.

As derivatives of natural fatty acids, acyl sarcosinates are fast and completely biodegradable and have good skin compatibility.

Accordingly, a particularly preferred long chain acyl sarcosinate is a C ₁₂ -acyl sarcosinate (i.e., an acyl sarcosinate according to the above formula wherein M is hydrogen and R is C 11 alkyl), and C-acyl sarcosinate (i.e.

acyl sarcosinate according to the above formula wherein M is hydrogen and R is C 13 alkyl). C-acyl sarcosinate is commercially available e.g. such as Hamposyl L-30 ^R from Hampshire, and C-acyl sarcosinate as Hamposyl M-30 ^R from the same company.

Other suitable nonionic surfactants for use in the microemulsions of the invention are the hydrophilic nonionic surfactants defined above for use in emulsions.

The preferred preparation of the microemulsions according to the invention which contain a liquid hydrophobic bleach activator is based on the premixing of surfactants with water and the gradual addition of other ingredients including a peroxygen bleach, e.g. hydrogen peroxide, and said hydrophobic bleach activator. In addition to this preferred order of addition of the ingredients, it is important that the microemulsions are constantly mixed at a relatively high mixing energy of preferably 30 minutes. at 750 rpm, and most preferably 30 min. at 1000 rpm.

In an embodiment of the present invention where the compositions are formulated as microemulsions, the compositions are macroscopically transparent in the absence of opacifiers and dyes. In centrifugal tests, it was observed that these microemulsions did not show phase separation at all even after 15 minutes at 6000 rpm. Under the microscope, microemulsions appeared as dispersions of droplets in the mother liquor. The parent liquid is hydrophilic, as discussed above, and the droplets are a liquid hydrophobic bleach activator. We have observed that the typical particle diameter is around or below 3 microns.

The compositions of the invention containing a peroxygen bleach component and formulated as emulsions or microemulsions are chemically stable. By chemically, it is meant that the compositions of the invention will not show a loss of usable oxygen of greater than 10% at 50 ° C after 2 weeks. The concentration of usable (free) oxygen is measured by a method known in the art for chemical titration, e.g. iodometrically, permanganometrics or cerimetrically. These methods and aspects of choosing a suitable method are described e.g. in Hydrogen peroxide, W.C.Schumb, C.N.Satterfield and R.L.Wentworth, Reinhold Pub. Corp., New York 1955, and Organic Peroxides, Daniel Swern, eds. Wiley Int. Science 1970. Alternatively, the stability of these compositions can be evaluated by a drop-off (overfill) test method.

Accordingly, the compositions of the present invention comprising a peroxygen bleach component can be packaged in conventional deformable containers / bottles without compromising the stability of these containers / bottles even after prolonged standing.

according to the invention, containing peroxide and formulated as emulsions or as microemulsions, may further comprise other surfactants known in the art, including cationic, both ionic and / or amphoteric surfactants. So eg. compositions of the invention comprising a peroxygen bleach component, further comprising an amine oxide surfactant of the formula R 1 R 2 R 3 NO, wherein R 1,

Means bleaching component abilities component a

R2 and R3 are C independent hydrocarbon chains,

1-30 preferably C _o, C, and most preferably _e. We have observed that the addition of such an amine oxide improves chemical stability, i. the decomposition of the bleach component and the bleach activator is reduced. This stability is believed to be due to the amine oxide to limit the interactions between the bleaching bleach activator that may occur during emulsification. This stabilizing effect is believed to be independent of the mother liquor. Preferably, the amine oxide content is up to 10% by weight of the total composition, more preferably from 1% to 3%.

The compositions of the present invention are liquid aqueous cleaning compositions. These compositions are formulated in an acidic pH to neutral pH (pH = 7), preferably at a pH of from 0 to 0

6, more preferably from 1 to 6, and most preferably from 1 to 5. Formulation of these compositions at an acidic pH contributes to their stability. The pH of the compositions of the invention may be adjusted using organic or inorganic acids or alkalinizing agents.

The compositions of the invention further comprise optional ingredients such as stabilizers, chelating agents, free-radical scavengers, carrier additives, suspending agents, dye transfer agents, solvents, brighteners, fragrances, antifoams, or colorants, or mixtures thereof.

The peroxygen bleach component compositions of the invention may further comprise a chelating agent or mixtures thereof, as a highly preferred optional component. Chelating agents suitable for use in the present invention are compounds selected from the group of phosphonate chelating agents, aminocarboxylates, polyfunctional substituted aromatic chelating agents, and chelating agents such as glycine, salicylic acid, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, malonic acid, or mixtures thereof. When used, the chelating agents are present in an amount of 0.001% to 5% by weight of the total composition, more preferably 0.05% to 2%.

Suitable phosphonate chelating agents useful in the present invention may further comprise ethydronic acid as well as aminophosphonates, including amino-alkylene poly (alkylene phosphonates), alkali metal ethane-1-hydroxy-diphosphonates, nitrilotrimethylene phosphonates, ethylenediamine-tetramethylenetethylenethylenethylenethylenethylenethylenethylenethylenethylenethylenethylenethylenethylenethylenethylenes. -pentamethylene-phosphonates. The phosphonate compounds must be in or in their acid form, or as salts of different cations on some or all of their acid functional groups. Preferred phosphonate chelating agents used herein are diethylene triamine pentamethylene phosphonates. These are supplied by MONSANTO under the trade name DEQUEST ^R '

Polyfunctionally substituted chelating agents are also useful in the compositions of the invention. See. USP 3,812-044, Connor et al., Eds. March 21, 1974. Preferred compounds of this type are dihydroxydisulfobenzenes such as 1,2-dihydroxy-3,5-disulfobenzene.

A preferred biodegradable chelating agent useful in the present invention is ethylenediamine-N, N'-disuccinic acid, or alkaline, alkaline earth, ammonium, substituted ammonium, or mixtures thereof.

Ethylenediamine-N, N-disuccinic acid (particularly the isomer S, S) is described in detail in USP 4,704.233, Hartman and Perkins, eds. On November 3, 1987. They are commercially available e.g. under the tradename EDDS ^R of Palmer Research Laboratories.

Preferred aminocarboxylates which are useful herein are ethylenediamine tetraacetate, diethylenetriamine pentaacetate (DTPA), N-hydroxyethyl ethylenediamine triacetates, nitrilotriacetates, ethylenediamine tetrapropionates, triethylenetetramine ethexylacetate, diglycetetaminethexaacetate) methyl glycine diacetic acid (MGDA), both in their acid form or in the form of alkali metal, ammonium and substituted ammonium salts. Particularly suitable aminocarboxylates are diethylenetriamine-pentaacetic acid, propylenediamine-tetraacetic acid (PDTA), which is commercially available e.g. from BASF under the tradename Trilon FS ^R , metal glycine-diacetic acid (MGDA).

Highly preferred chelating agents useful in the present invention are diethylenetriamine methylene phosphonates, ethylene N, N-disuccinic acid, diethylenetriamine pentaacetate, glycine, salicylic acid, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, malonic acid, and mixtures thereof, but most preferred is salicylic acid. This is commercially available from Rhône-Poulenc under the trade name Sylicylic Acid ^R.

The compositions of the present invention comprising a peroxygen bleach component further comprise free radical scavengers, or mixtures thereof, which are a highly preferred optional component. Suitable free radical scavengers useful in the present invention are the well-known substituted mono-dihydroxybenzenes and analogs thereof, and alkyl aryl aryl carboxylates, and mixtures thereof. Preferred scavengers are (BHT), hydroquinone, mono-t-butyl hydroquinone, t-butyl hydroxyanisole, benzoic acid, toluoic acid, catechol, t-butyl catechol, benzylamine, 1,1,3-tris (2-methyl- 4-hydroxy-5-butylphenyl) butane, n-propyl gallate and mixtures thereof.

Most preferred is di-tert-butyl-hydroxytoluene. In use, the scrubbers are present in an amount of 0.001% to 2% by weight of the total composition, more preferably 0.001% to 0.5%.

The presence of chelating agents and / or free radical scrubbers makes it possible to produce compositions which are as safe as possible against the textile material and paint, even if the soiled textile material in the prewash has been in contact with them for a longer period of time before washing.

The compositions of the present invention comprising a peroxygen bleach component further comprise an alcohol of the formula HO-CR'R-OH, wherein R 'and R are independently hydrogen or a C _2-10 -carbon chain and / or a ring. The preferred alcohol di-tert-butyl-hydroxytoluene di-tert-butyl-hydroquinone, according to this formula, is propanediol. We have observed that these alcohols in general, and propanediol in particular, improve the chemical stability of the compositions, i. reduce the decomposition of the bleaching agent and the bleach activator, similar to the above-mentioned amine oxides. In addition, these alcohols reduce the surface tension of the product, thereby preventing the formation of a surface film or gel. These alcohols therefore improve the aesthetics of the compositions of the invention. The chemically stabilizing effect of these alcohols is believed to be twofold. Firstly, they act as scavengers, and secondly, they interact with hydrogen peroxide, thereby preventing or limiting hydrolysis and therefore reducing the peroxide decomposition rate. It is believed that the improvement of chemical stability by these alcohols is independent of the mother liquor.

The compositions of the invention containing a peroxygen bleach component may further comprise a suds suppressor such as 2-alkyl-alkanol or mixtures thereof as an optional component. Particularly suitable for use in the present invention are 2-alkyl-alkanols having an alkyl chain of 6 to 16 carbon atoms, more preferably 8 to 12 atoms, and the alkyl chain having a substitution at the alpha position with another alkyl chain of 1 to 10 carbon atoms, more preferably 2 to 8 atoms, and most preferably 3 to 6 carbon atoms. These suitable compounds are commercially available e.g. in the Isofol ^R product line, such as Isofol ^R 12 (2-butyloctanol) or Isofol ^R 16 (2-hexyl-decanol). The compositions of the invention comprise 2-alkyl alkanol or mixtures thereof in an amount of up to 2% by weight of the total composition, more preferably 0.05% to 1.5%, and most preferably 0.1% to 0.8%.

Preferred use of the compositions described herein, however, is to pretreat the laundry, however, these compositions can also be used as a laundry detergent or laundry detergent accelerator, as well as a household detergent for the bathroom and kitchen.

of the invention is (prewash),

This liquid soaking in contact with minutes to the invention further relates to a method of pre-soiled textile material (laundry) with a composition containing a polyhydroxy fatty acid amide as a surfactant of the formula

R ² - C (O) - NR ¹ ) - Z wherein R ¹ is H or C-alkyl, C 1-6 -carbyl, 2-hydroxyethyl, 2-hydroxypropyl or mixtures thereof, R ² is CB 3x-hydrocarbyl, and Z is a polyhydroxy hydrocarbyl having a linear hydrocarbyl chain with at least three hydroxyls attached directly to the chain, or an alkoxylated derivative thereof, and said process comprising the steps of applying the composition in its pure (original) form to a textile material, wherein the composition remains for some time before washing in contact with the textile material without drying up. The composition must remain with said textile material for a few hours, more preferably 1 minute to 1 hour, more preferably 1 to 30 minutes, and most preferably 2 to 10 minutes. If the dirty textile has stains and dirt that would otherwise be difficult to remove, the composition may be rubbed and / or brushed more or less intensively, such as e.g. sponge, brush, or simply rub two pieces of laundry together. A preferred method of pretreating the dirty fabric (laundry) is to use the compositions of the present invention.

By washing is meant in the text of the invention a simple rinse with water (rinsing), or a washing of textiles by conventional means containing at least one surfactant, either in the washing machine or simply in the hands.

The designation in its pure (original) form means the application of the liquid compositions directly to the textile material to be pre-cleaned, i.e. without the composition being diluted, i.e., in the form of a liquid. The compositions of the invention are used as described herein.

A method of pretreating the textile materials of the invention also includes that the liquid compositions of the invention must not be left to dry on the textile. In fact, it has been found that evaporation of water contributes to increasing the concentration of free and, consequently, there is a presumption that the radicals on the textile surface, to accelerate the chain reaction, after the water evaporation when the liquid compositions on the textile surface dry. This auto-oxidation reaction produces peroxide radicals that contribute to the degradation of cellulose. Therefore, if these liquid compositions containing the peroxygen bleach are not allowed to dry on the surface of the fabric as required by the pre-cleaning process of the soiled fabric of the present invention, this will limit fabric damage that would otherwise occur after prolonged contact of the fabric with liquid compositions. contain a peroxygen bleach component.

The following examples further illustrate the invention.

1578Y Examples

The following compositions were prepared by mixing the ingredients in the proportions indicated (in percent by weight unless otherwise stated).

resources I II III IV IN VI VI Glucose alkylamide 4 2.0 2.0 3.0 12 3.0 3.0 Dobanol 45-7 - 6.4 6.4 6.4 - 6.0 Dobanol 23-3 - 8.6 8.6 8.6 - - Dobanol 23-6.5 - - - - - 6.0 C25-AE-2.5-S - - 4.0 9.0 - 6.0 6.0 ATC * 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 H 0 2 2 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 6.0 6.5 6.0 Water and small ingredients -doplniť to 100% -

H ₂ SO ₄ up to pH 4 * ATC is acetyl triethyl citrate

Dobanol 23-3 is a nonionic ethoxylated _C12-313- surfactant with an HLB of 8.1.

Dobanol 23-6.5 is a nonionic ethoxylated β 2 _-surfactant with an HLB of 11.9.

Dobanol 45-7 is a nonionic ethoxylated C-surfactant with HLB

11.6.

Formulations I to IV are emulsions of the invention and Formulations V to VII are microemulsions of the invention. The most diverse stains, including greasy and oily stains, engine oil stains, make-up stains, lipsticks, Italian sauce, bleachable stains for tea and enzymatic stains for grass and blood, have achieved excellent efficacy in removing them by pretreatment with means I to VII as described above, i. by applying these compositions to the textile material for 5 minutes before washing.

Claims (2)

A liquid composition comprising a peroxygen bleach or a source thereof, a liquid hydrophobic bleach activator, a polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactant having the formula R2-C (O) -NCR1) -Z wherein R1 is hydrogen or C 1-4 -alkyl, C 4 -carbyl, 2-hydroxyethyl, 2-hydroxypropyl or mixtures thereof, R 2 is C 3-10 hydrocarbyl, and Z is a polyhydroxy-hydrocarbyl having a linear hydrocarbyl chain with at least three hydroxyls directly attached to the chain, or an alkoxylated derivative thereof, and the composition is formulated or as an emulsion or as a microemulsion. The composition according to claim 1, wherein in the fatty acid amide such as R 1 is methyl, R 2 is a straight chain or alkenyl, preferably a straight chain -alkyl or alkenyl, more preferably a straight chain surfactant? -Xe- and? Y1 XX-18 alkyl or alkenyl, and Z is glycityl. XX-14 The composition according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a surfactant or mixtures thereof throughout the composition, wherein the polyhydroxy fatty acid amide is present in an amount of 0.01% to 30% by weight, more preferably 0.1% to 20%, 0.5% up to 15% by weight of the whole of the foregoing, and most preferably of the composition. A composition according to any one of the claims characterized by a liquid hydrophobic bleach activator is acetyl triethyl citrate, tetraacetyl ethylenediamine, sodium 3,5,5-trimethylhexanoyloxybenzenesulfonate, diperoxy dodecanoic acid, peroxyadipic acid nonylamide, n-nonanoyl sulfonate, -acyl-caprolactam, substituted and unsubstituted benzoyl-caprolactam, octanoyl-caprolactam, nonanoyl-caprolactam, hexanoyl-caprolactam, decanoyl-caprolactam, undecanoyl-caprolactam, formyl-caprolactam, acetyl-caprolactam, propanoyl-caprolactam, propanoyl-caprolactam, propanoyl-caprolactam, with acetyl triethyl citrate being preferred. The composition according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a liquid hydrophobic bleach activator or mixtures thereof in an amount of 0.1% to 20% by weight of the total composition, more preferably 1% to 10%, and most preferably 1.5% to 7% by weight. of the whole device. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by a peroxygen bleaching agent, a source soluble in that the hydrogen peroxide is water, or a mixture or both thereof. The composition according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a peroxygen bleach or a source thereof, or a mixture of both in an amount of 0.01% to 20% by weight of the total composition, preferably 1% to 15%, and more preferably 2% to 10%. weight of the whole composition. Composition according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is formulated as a microemulsion of a hydrophobic liquid bleach activator in a mother liquor containing water, a peroxygen bleach and a hydrophilic surfactant system comprising a polyhydroxy fatty acid amide. The composition of claim 1, wherein the hydrophilic surfactant system 8 further comprises another nonionic surfactant and / or anionic surfactant. Composition according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that at least one surfactant of the hydrophilic surfactant system has an HLB value different from the HLB value of the bleach activator, preferably by 1 HLB unit. Composition according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it is formulated as an aqueous emulsion of a hydrophobic liquid bleach activator in a mother liquor containing water, a peroxygen bleach and an emulsifying surfactant system comprising a polyhydroxy fatty acid amide as a hydrophilic surfactant having an HLB value above Composition according to claim 11, characterized in that the emulsifying system comprises at least one hydrophilic surfactant or mixture of hydrophilic surfactants having an HLB value above 10, and at least one hydrophobic surfactant or mixture having an HLB value of up to 9.5, preferably hydrophobic a non-ionic surfactant having an HLB below 9.5, more preferably below 9, such that the hydrophobic bleach activator is emulsified by these emulsifying surfactants. Composition according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a pH of from 0 to 7, preferably from 0 to 6, and most preferably from 1 to 6. Composition according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it contains a radical scavenger chelating agent. A method of pretreating a material with a liquid surfactant-containing liquid composition which is a polyoxydroxy fatty acid amide of the formula R 2 -C (O) -N (R 1) -Z, and / or a dirty textile agent wherein R 1 is H or 1-4 -alkyl, C-hydrocarbyl, 2-hydroxyethyl, 2-hydroxypropyl, or mixtures thereof, R ² is - hydrocarbyl is a polyhydroxy-hydrocarbyl having a linear hydrocarbyl chain with at least three hydroxyls attached directly to the chain, or an alkoxylated derivative thereof, characterized in that the (process) comprises the steps of applying the composition in its pure (undiluted) form to a textile material; wherein the composition remains in contact with the textile material for some time prior to washing. Use of a polyhydroxy fatty acid amide such as R ² -C (O) -N (R ¹ ) -Z, wherein R ^x is a surfactant of formula H or C _1-4 -alkyl, C _x . 2-hydroxypropyl, _A C hydrocarbyl having a linear hydrocarbyl chain with at least three hydroxyls directly connected to the chain, or an alkoxylated derivative thereof, wherein: a use of the composition, preferably in a liquid containing thus the manual removal hydrocarbyl, 2-hydroxyethyl, or mixtures thereof. R ² and Z is a polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl composition in a liquid composition, the effectiveness of the peroxide bleaching agent to increase the spot where the composition applied to the soiled fabric before washing. The use of a polyhydroxy fatty acid amide as a surfactant of the formula R ² -C (O) -N (R ^X ) -Z, wherein R ^x is H or C-alkyl, C 14-hydrocarbyl, 2-hydroxyethyl, 2-hydroxypropyl, or mixtures thereof, R ² is a C 3 hydrocarbyl, and Z is a polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl having a linear hydrocarbyl chain with at least three hydroxyls directly connected to the chain, or an alkoxylated derivative thereof, in a liquid emulsion or microemulsion, preferably in emulsion or microemulsion comprising a peroxygen bleach, or a source of , and a liquid hydrophobic bleach activator, i.e. a use for increasing the physical stability of said emulsions or microemulsions.