WO2023025761A1

WO2023025761A1 - Detergent composition

Info

Publication number: WO2023025761A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/073398
Authority: WO
Inventors: Panchanan BHUNIA; Narayanan Subrahmaniam
Original assignee: Unilever Ip Holdings B.V.; Unilever Global Ip Limited; Conopco, Inc., D/B/A Unilever
Priority date: 2021-08-25
Filing date: 2022-08-23
Publication date: 2023-03-02
Also published as: WO2023025740A1; WO2023025742A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a laundry detergent composition having a desirable foam profile during the laundering process. It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a detergent composition which provides good foam profile. It is yet another objection of the present invention to provide a detergent composition which reduces the amount of water required for rinsing. The present inventors have found that a detergent composition having specifically selected primary anionic detersive surfactant when present in combination with cosurfactant and a foam suppressing agent surprisingly provides good foam formation in the wash stage while eliminating the foam quickly during the rinsing stage.

Description

DETERGENT COMPOSITION

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a laundry cleaning composition; in particular, a solid laundry detergent composition having a desirable foam profile during the laundering process.

Background of the invention

Synthetic detergents are widely used for laundering fabrics, due to their efficiency in cleaning and stain removal. In addition to the synthetic detergents, formulated laundry detergent composition includes various additives to provide improved cleaning and sensorial benefits. Proper foam level is a sensorial benefit which most consumers desire during the laundering process.

Foaming or sudsing is an important factor to consider when formulating a detergent composition. Foam is a significant consumer cue and acts as the primary reason by which a consumer perceives that a composition is having a cleaning effect. Unfortunately, while foam is easy to generate, it also needs to be removed from the substrate after cleaning. High volume of foam in the washing cycle typically results in foam being carried over to the rinse liquor and requiring additional time, energy, and water to thoroughly rinse the laundered articles. It is therefore advantageous to have high foam volume generation at early stages in the wash cycle for consumer acceptance. Followed by quick collapse of the foam to a lower volume toward the end of the wash cycle, these aspects of the foaming profile of a detergent composition allows for complete cleaning and minimum wastage of clean water.

Several attempts at saving water after laundering fabric with high foaming compositions have been made in the past. Laundry formulations such as rinse aids have been used to help reduce the foam carried by the laundered fabric into the rinse water. Rinse aids reduce the amount of water used during rinsing. However, the use of rinse aids adds an extra step and the consume needs to use an additional product in the washing process.

In today’s fast paced world, consumers look for a single composition which provides multiple benefits. Accordingly, there is a need for a detergent composition which provides good foam profile, good cleaning benefits and reduces water consumption. This need is particularly felt by consumers who dwell in regions where there is acute shortage of water.

In addition to the above, synthetic detergents are associated with environmental concerns. Synthetic detergents are derived from non-renewable resources and pollute water bodies when they are ultimately discharged into rivers and lakes. Thus, there is a need for a detergent composition which has lower levels of these ingredients. However, reducing the levels of the synthetic detergent in the formulation significantly deteriorates the foaming profile of the detergent composition. Compositions with low detergent levels have lower foam generation or provide foam which may not be well retained during the washing cycle. This poor foaming profile makes the detergent composition less acceptable to consumers who highly value the foaming profile of the detergent composition.

EP 3441449 A1 (The Procter & Gamble Company, 2019) discloses a composition having LAS, cationic hydroxyethylcellulose polymer and an antifoam.

Accordingly, there remains a need for a laundry cleaning composition containing an environmentally friendly composition with lower levels of synthetic detergents while providing desired foaming profile, that is a high volume of well retained foam generated quickly upon dissolving the detergent composition in a washing solution and where the foam quickly collapses towards the end of the washing cycle to aid in easier removal of foam at the rinse stage.

Thus, there is a need for a cleaning composition that reduces and preferably eliminates foam in the rinse without adversely affecting the formation of foam in the initial washing step.

Some solutions towards addressing this problem of foaming at the rinse stage, were provided by incorporating rinse triggered antifoams which act on the foam and suppresses it at the rinse stage. However, such rinse triggered antifoam adds to the amount of chemicals incorporated in the composition and such compositions must be formulated carefully to avoid the antifoam from being released during cleaning stage. Further such rinse triggered antifoams are generally expensive and provide no other performance benefit to the composition other than foam suppression. Therefore, it is desirable that their presence is minimised. There remains a need for providing detergent composition for laundering fabrics which provides good foam profile while maintaining good cleaning performance.

It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a solid laundry detergent composition which provides good foam profile.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a solid laundry detergent composition which provides good cleaning performance.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a solid laundry detergent composition which is environmentally friendly.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a solid laundry detergent composition which reduces the amount of water required for rinsing.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a solid laundry detergent composition which gives good foaming in the wash stage and quick foam reduction in rinse stage even in cold water or wash liquor at ambient temperature conditions.

Summary of the invention

The present inventors have found that a detergent composition having specifically selected primary anionic detersive surfactant when combined with C3 to C10 alkyl amine salt of C9 to C15 alkyl benzene sulphonate cosurfactant and a foam suppressing agent surprisingly provides good foam formation in the wash stage while eliminating the foam quickly during the rinsing stage. This benefit was preferably found across different consumer washing habits and different fabric types present in the wash load. It was further preferably found that the detergent composition according to the first aspect of the present invention provides for removing the foam in a single rinse cycle.

The composition shows good foaming during the main wash and quick foam removal during the rinse stage; thus, the composition provides good sensorial and the advantage of lower water consumption. The foam production during the wash stage and the reduction of the foam in the rinse stage was seen even in cold water and ambient temperature conditions.

The present inventors have surprisingly found that the combination of the specific primary anionic detersive surfactant and the specific C3 to C10 alkyl amine salt of C9 to C15 alkyl benzene sulphonate cosurfactant provides the solid detergent composition with quick foaming in the wash liquor even in presence of the foam suppressing agent and the quick removal of the foam in the rinse liquor.

According to a first aspect of the present invention disclosed is a solid laundry detergent composition comprising: i) a primary anionic detersive surfactant selected from the group consisting of sulfate surfactant, sulphonate surfactant, alkyl ether sulfate surfactant or mixtures thereof; ii) a C3 to C10 alkyl amine salt of C9 to C15 alkyl benzene sulphonate cosurfactant; and, iii) a foam suppressing agent.

According to a second aspect of the present invention disclosed is a method of treating a textile surface with the detergent composition according to the first aspect comprising the steps of: i) preparing a wash liquor with an effective amount of foam by contacting the detergent composition according to the first aspect with a liquid; ii) soaking said textile surface in the wash liquor for a predetermined period; and, iii) rinsing the textile surface, wherein the number of rinses required for the removal of foam present in the rinse liquor is less than 3 rinses.

According to a third aspect of the present invention disclosed is the use of a primary anionic detersive surfactant, a foam suppressing agent and a C3 to C10 alkyl amine salt of C9 to C15 alkyl benzene sulphonate cosurfactant in a solid laundry detergent composition to provide good lather generation in the wash liquor during the main wash stage and rapid collapse of lather during rinse stage wherein the rinse stage involves less than 3 rinses.

As used herein, the terms "fabric", "textile", and "cloth" are used non-specifically and may refer to any type of flexible material consisting of a network of natural or artificial fibers, including natural, artificial, and synthetic fibers, such as, but not limited to, cotton, linen, wool, polyester, nylon, silk, acrylic, and the like, including blends of various fabrics or fibers.

As used herein, "foaming profile" refers to the properties of foam character in washing and rinsing solutions formed with a detergent composition. The foaming profile of a detergent composition includes but is not limited to the speed of foam generation upon dissolving the detergent composition, the volume and retention of foam in the washing cycle and the ease of rinsing the foam away in the rinsing cycle.

Detailed description of the invention

The solid detergent composition according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a primary anionic detersive surfactant, a foam suppressing agent and a C3 to C10 alkyl amine salt of C9 to C15 alkyl benzene sulphonate cosurfactant.

Primary anionic detersive surfactant

The solid detergent composition according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a primary anionic detersive surfactant selected from the group consisting of sulphonate surfactant, sulfate surfactant, alkyl ether sulphate surfactant or mixtures thereof.

Suitable sulphonate surfactant includes methyl ester sulphonates, alpha olefin sulphonates, alkyl benzene sulphonates, especially alkyl benzene sulphonates. Preferably C9 to C15 alkyl benzene sulphonates (LAS), still preferably C10 to C13 alkyl benzene sulphonates (LAS), still preferably the benzene sulphonate (LAS) has at least 50 wt.% of C12 alkyl benzene sulphonate, still preferably 80 wt.% C12 alkyl benzene sulphonate. Preferably the alkyl chain in the alkyl benzene sulphonate is straight or branched, more preferably linear. The alkyl benzene sulphonate is preferably in the salt form with the cation selected from alkali metal or alkaline earth metal or mixtures thereof. Preferably alkali metal selected from sodium or potassium, most preferably sodium. Suitable alkyl benzene sulphonate (LAS) is obtainable, preferably obtained, by sulphonating commercially available linear alkyl benzene (LAB); suitable LAB includes low 2-phenyl LAB, other suitable LAB includes high 2-phenyl LAB, such as those supplied by Sasol under the tradename Hyblene®. The sulphonate surfactant may also be selected from the modified alkylbenzene sulfonate (MLAS) as discussed in WO 99/05243, WO 99/05242 and WO 99/05244; methyl ester sulfonate (MES); and alpha-olefin sulfonate (AOS).

Suitable sulphate surfactant includes alkyl sulphate surfactant, preferably Cs to C22 alkyl sulphate or predominantly C12 alkyl sulphate. Conventional primary alkyl sulphate surfactants have the general formula: R"OSOs'M⁺ wherein R" is typically a Cs to C20 alkyl group, which may be straight chain or branched chain, and M is a water-solubilizing cation. In specific embodiments, R" is a C10 to Cis alkyl group, C10 to C15 alkyl group, and M is alkali metal, more specifically R" is C12 to C14 alkyl and M is sodium. Specific, non-limiting examples of anionic alkyl sulphate surfactant useful herein include: C10 to C20 primary, branched-chain and random alkyl sulfates (AS), C10 to Cis secondary (2,3)-alkyl sulfates having following formulae:

wherein M is hydrogen or a cation which provides charge neutrality, and all M units, can either be a hydrogen atom or a cation depending upon the form isolated or the relative pH of the system wherein the surfactant is used, with non-limiting examples of preferred cations including sodium, potassium, ammonium, and mixtures thereof, and x is an integer of at least about 7, preferably at least about 9, and y is an integer of at least 8, preferably at least about 9. The alkyl chain in the alkyl sulphate surfactant is linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted. They may be derived from petroleum source, non-petroleum source, from a biomaterial or a renewable source. Also suitable as alkyl sulphate surfactant are a random C10 to Cis alkyl sulphate surfactant or a C10 to C18 secondary (2,3) alkyl sulfates, mid-chain branched alkyl sulfates as discussed in US 6,020,303 and US 6,060,443.

Primary anionic detersive surfactant may be an alkyl ether sulphate surfactant. The alkyl ether sulphate surfactant may be branched or linear. Preferably it is linear. Preferably the alkyl ether sulphate is a Cs to Cis alkyl ether sulphate. Preferably the alkyl ether sulphate surfactant has an average degree of ethoxylation of from 0.5 to 20, preferably from 0.5 to 10, preferably the alkyl ether sulphate is a Cs to Cis alkyl ether sulphate having an average degree of ethoxylation of from 0.5 to 10, preferably from 0.5 to 5, more preferably from 0.5 to 3 and most preferably from 0.5 to 1 .5. Most preferably the alkyl ether sulphate surfactant is a linear Cs to Cis alkyl ether sulphate having an average degree of ethoxylation of from 0.5 to 7, more preferably 1 to 3. Frequently the alkyl ether sulphate surfactant will inevitably also contain some non-alkoxylated alkyl sulfate materials, which may constitute as much as 20 wt.% of the alkyl ether sulphate surfactant. The alkyl ether surfactant may also include the mid-chain branched alkyl alkoxy sulfates as discussed in US 6,008,181 and US 6,020,303.

The anionic detersive surfactant according to the present invention are preferably a non-soap anionic surfactant. The term “soap” is used herein in its popular sense the alkali metal of aliphatic, alkanes, or alkene monocarboxylic acids.

Preferably the anionic surfactant includes 0 wt.% to 10 wt.% alkyl sulfate surfactant, preferably 0.2 wt.% to 5 wt.% alkyl sulfate surfactant, preferably the alkyl sulfate surfactant is a primary alkyl sulphate surfactant (PAS). The anionic surfactant may also preferably include from 0 wt.% to 10 wt.% MES, more preferably 0 wt.% to 5 wt.% MES. The anionic surfactant may include an alkyl ether sulphate surfactant, preferably an alkyl ether sulphate surfactant with 1 to 7EO group, still preferably a sodium lauryl ether sulphate with 1 to 7 EO, still preferably SLES 1 to 3 EO, preferably included in the composition in an amount from 0 wt.% to 10 wt.%, preferably 0 wt.% to 5 wt.% SLES. The alkyl ether sulphate surfactant may be branched or linear, preferably linear.

The detergent composition of the present invention includes from 3 wt.% to 50 wt.% of primary anionic detersive surfactant selected from sulphate surfactant, sulphonate surfactant, alkyl ether sulphate surfactant or mixtures thereof. Preferably the detergent composition comprises at least 4 wt.%, still preferably at least 5 wt.%, still preferably at least 10 wt.%, most preferably at least 15 wt.% of the anionic surfactant, but typically not more than 45 wt.%, still preferably not more than 40 wt.%, still further preferably not more than 35 wt.%, still more preferably not more than 30 wt.% and most preferably not more than 25 wt.%, still more preferably not more than 20 wt.% of a primary anionic detersive surfactant based on the weight of the detergent composition.

The detergent composition according to the first aspect of the present invention preferably includes low levels of the primary anionic detersive surfactant. Preferably the primary anionic detersive surfactant is present in an amount ranging from 2 wt.% to 20 wt.%, still preferably from 2 wt.% to 15 wt.%. The present inventors have found that even when the primary anionic detersive surfactant is present at these low levels the detergent composition having a combination of the primary anionic detersive surfactant along with the C3 to C10 alkyl amine salt of C9 to C15 alkyl benzene sulphonate cosurfactant and the foam suppressing agent provides good foam profile in the initial main wash stage and quick reduction (less than 3 rinses) in the foam in the rinse stage while maintain good cleaning performance.

In the solid detergent composition according to the present invention the ratio of the C3 to C10 alkyl amine salt of C9 to C15 alkyl benzene sulphonate cosurfactant to the primary anionic detersive surfactant is in a ratio from 1 :1 to 1 :200, preferably 1 :1 to 1 :160, still preferably from 1 :1 to 1 :100, still preferably the ratio from 1 :5 to 1 :200, further preferably the ratio is from 1 :5 to 1 :160, still more preferably from 1 :5 to 1 :100. In the detergent composition of the present invention the total amount of primary anionic detersive surfactant is greater than the C3 to C10 alkyl amine salt of C9 to C15 alkyl benzene sulphonate cosurfactant present in the composition.

Alkyl amine salt of alkyl benzene sulphonate cosurfactant

According to the first aspect of the present invention disclosed solid laundry detergent composition includes a C3 to C10 alkyl amine salt of C9 to C15 alkyl benzene sulphonate cosurfactant. Preferably the solid detergent composition according to the present invention comprises from 0.05 wt.% to 5 wt.% C3 to C10 alkyl amine salt of C9 to C15 alkyl benzene sulphonate cosurfactant. Preferably the solid detergent composition comprises at least 0.8 wt.%, preferably at least 0.1 wt.%, still preferably at least 0.15 wt.% still more preferably 0.25 wt.% and most preferably at least 0.5 wt.%, but typically not more than 4 w.t%, still preferably not more than 3 wt.%, still further preferably not more than 2 wt.% and most preferably not more than 1 wt.%.

Alkyl amine salt of alkyl benzene sulphonate:

According to a first aspect of the present invention the solid laundry detergent composition includes a C3 to C10 alkyl amine salt of C9 to C15 alkyl benzene sulphonate. Preferably the cosurfactant is a C3 to C10 alkyl amine salt of a linear or branched C9 to C15 alkyl benzene sulphonate. Still preferably alkyl amine salt of the C9 to C15 alkyl benzene sulphonate, even more preferably C10 to C14 alkyl benzene sulphonate. Still preferably a hydroxy alkyl amine salt of alkyl benzene sulphonate. The alkyl amine group includes a C₃ to C₁₀ alkyl group, preferably the hydroxyl alkyl amine group is selected from triethanolamine (TEA) or monoisopropanol amine (MIPA). The alkyl amine salt of alkyl benzene sulphonate is a C₃ to C₁₀ alkyl amine salt of C₉ to C₁₅ alkyl benzene sulphonate. More preferably the alkyl amine salt of alkyl benzene sulphonate cosurfactant is MIPA- LAS. The co-surfactant may include a mixture of other alkyl amine salt of C₁₀ to C₁₈ sulphate surfactant or alkyl amine salt of C₁₀ to C₁₈ ether sulphate surfactant along with alkyl amine salt of alkyl benzene sulphonate. Preferably the solid detergent composition according to the present invention comprises from 0.05 wt.% to 5 wt.% C₃ to C₁₀ amine salt of C₉ to C₁₅ alkyl benzene sulphonate cosurfactant. Preferably the solid detergent composition comprises at least 0.8 wt.%, preferably at least 0.1 wt.%, still preferably at least 0.15 wt.% still more preferably 0.25 wt.% and most preferably at least 0.5 wt.%, but typically not more than 4 w.t%, still preferably not more than 3 wt.%, still further preferably not more than 2 wt.% and most preferably not more than 1 wt.%. Additional cosurfactant In addition to the C₃ to C₁₀ alkyl amine salt of C₉ to C₁₅ alkyl benzene sulphonate cosurfactant, the solid laundry detergent composition of the present invention may include other cosurfactant selected from the cationic polysaccharide, siloxane comprising polyoxyalkylene group, amide surfactant or mixtures thereof. Cationic polysaccharide cosurfactant : The additional cosurfactant is preferably a cationic polysaccharide. For the purpose of this application "polysaccharide" are polymer carbohydrate molecules composed of long chains of monosaccharide units bound together by glycosidic linkages. A "cationic polysaccharide" is understood to be a polysaccharide or a derivate of a polysaccharide comprising a cationic group. The cationic group is preferably selected from ammonium group, quaternary ammonium group, a sulfonium group, a phosphonium group a transitional metal or any other positively charged functional group. A preferred cationic group is a quaternary ammonium group. The polysaccharide is preferably selected from the group consisting of fructan, dextran, maltodextrin, or mixtures thereof. More preferably the polysaccharide is a fructan.

The cationic polysaccharide preferably contains per monosaccharide unit, on an average at least 0.1 cationic group of the general formula

-A-N+R/R²]^³ or -C(=NR⁴)-NR¹R²

“A” represents a straight-chain or branched C2 to Ce alkylene group which is optionally preceded by a carbonyl group or optionally interrupted by one or two oxygen atoms or imino or alkylimino groups and optionally substituted by one or two hydroxyl groups or amine groups or a carboxyl or carbamoyl group; or “A” represents the residue of a monosaccharide unit;

R¹ and R² each represent hydrogen methyl, carboxymethyl, phosphonomethyl, ethyl, hydroxyethyl, propyl, isopropl, allyl, hydroxypropyl or dihydroxypropyl or, together with the nitrogen atom, form a pyrrolidino, piperidino, piperazino, N’-alkylpiperazino, N’- (hydroxyalkyl)piperazino, N’- (aminoalkyl)piperazino, morpholino or hexamethyleneamino group,

R³ represents hydrogen, Ci to C18 alkyl, C3 to C18 alkenyl, alkynyl or cycloalkyl, C4 to C18 cycloalkyl-alkyl or C7 to C18 aralkyl or a group of the formula -A-Fruc, where “A” has the above-mentioned meaning and True” represents a polysaccharide residue bonded via oxygen; and

R⁴ represents hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, hydroxyethyl, hydroxypropyl or dihydroxypropyl; where the amine nitrogen atoms can be uncharged or protonated or quarternised with methyl, ethyl, hydroxyethyl, hydroxypropyl or dihydroxypropyl.

The polysaccharide is selected from the group consisting of sucrose, trehalose, lactose, fructan, dextran, maltodextrin, amylose or mixtures thereof. More preferably the polysaccharide is selected from the group consisting of fructan, dextran, maltodextrin or mixtures thereof. Still more preferably the polysaccharide is a fructan. Each polysaccharide has on an average at least 0.1 cationic group per monosaccharide unit and where the general formula of the cationic group is

-A-N⁺R^!R²R³ or -C(=NR⁴)-NR¹R²

Where A, R¹, R², R³ and R⁴ have the meaning as defined above. Preferably the cationic polysaccharide has a weight average molecular weight lower than 30000 g/mol and more preferably a weight average molecular weight ranging from 500 g/mol and 30000 g/mol. More preferably the weight average molecular weight of the cationic polysaccharide ranges between 1000 g/mol and 15000 g/mol and more preferably from 2000 g/mol and 5000 g/mol.

For the purpose of this application the "weight average molecular weight" is defined by the following formula:

wherein M/ is the molecular weight of a chain; N, is the number of chains of that molecular weight. The average molecular weight may be calculated based on the average molecular weight of the cationic derivative of fructan, preferably inulin, as determined by a chromatographic method such as HPAEC-PAD (high-performance anion exchange chromatography coupled to pulsed amperometric detection) before quaternization, and the weight increase based on the degree of substitution determined after quaternization.

Preferably the cationic polysaccharide has a degree of substitution ranging from 0.01 and 3, more preferably 0.05 to 2.5. More preferably, the degree of substitution of the cationic polysaccharide ranges from 0.1 and 2.5, more preferably from 0.1 and 2, still preferably from 0.15 and 2, still more preferably from 0.15 and 1.5, furthermore preferably from 0.2 and 0.9 or most preferably from 0.30 and 0.90. The "degree of substitution" is defined as the cationic group content per monosaccharide unit. The degree of substitution may be determined based on the nitrogen content calculated using Kjeldahl method.

Preferably the solubility of the cationic polysaccharide in water at a temperature of 25 °C is preferably not less than 20 wt.%, still preferably more than 30 wt.%, more preferably more than 50 wt.%, further preferably more than 80 wt.%. As used herein the term “solubility" is defined as the maximum percentage (by weight) of a substance that will dissolve in a unit of volume of water at a certain temperature.

Preferred cationic polysaccharide have an average molecular weight ranging between 1000 g/mol and 15000 g/mol and a degree of substitution ranging between 0.15 and 2. Even more preferred cationic polysaccharide have an average molecular weight ranging between 2000 g/mol and 5000 g/mol and a degree of substitution ranging between 0.30 and 0.90. The solubility of the cationic polysaccharide in water at a temperature of 25°C is preferably higher than 20 wt.% and more preferably higher than 40 wt.%.

Preferably the polysaccharide of the invention is a fructan. The term "fructan" is understood to include all polysaccharides which have a multiplicity of anhydrofructose units. The fructan can have a polydisperse chain length distribution and can be straight-chain or branched. The fructan includes both products obtained directly from a vegetable or other source and products in which the average chain length has been modified (increased or reduced) by fractionation, enzymatic synthesis, or hydrolysis. Preferably the fructan have an average chain length (=degree of polymerization, DP) of at least 2 to 1000, in particular from 3 to 60, still preferred is an average chain length of at least 8, in particular at least 15 or even at least 25 monosaccharide units. The preferred average chain length is from 2 to 20 monosaccharide units. Preferably, the fructan as used according to the invention contains predominantly p-2,1 bonds, as in inulin (see also Mensink et al., Carbohydrate Polymers 130 (2015) 405-419).

A preferred group of fructan comprises inulin. The term "inulin" is understood to comprise polysaccharides comprising P (2,1) linked fructofuranose units and a glucopyranose unit. A preferred cationic polysaccharide additional cosurfactant is a cationic inulin. The degree of polymerization of cationic inulin polysaccharide additional cosurfactant ranges preferably ranges from 2 and 60.

Preferably the cationic inulin has a degree of substitution ranging from 0.01 to 3. More preferably, the degree of substitution of the cationic inulin ranges from 0.05 to 2.5, for example from 0.1 to 2, from 0.15 to 2, from 0.15 to 1.5, from 0.2 to 0.9 or from 0.30 to 1.3. More preferably the cationic inulin has a degree of substitution in the range from 0.55 to 0.85, preferably from 0.6 to 0.8, more preferably from 0.65 to 0.75. Also, preferably the cationic inulin has a weight average molecular weight ranging from 3000 to 5000 g/mol, preferably from 3500 to 4500 g/mol, most preferably from 3800 to 4200 g/mol. Commercially available cationic inulin is known and sold under the trademark Quatin® (a trademark of Cosun Biobased Products). Nonlimiting examples includes Quatin®350, Quatin® 680, Quatin® 1280 having INCI name as hydroxypropyl trimonium inulin.

Preferably the solid detergent composition according to the present invention comprises from 0.05 wt.% to 5 wt.% cationic polysaccharide cosurfactant. Preferably the solid detergent composition comprises at least 0.8 wt.%, preferably at least 0.1 wt.%, still preferably at least 0.15 wt.% still more preferably 0.25 wt.% and most preferably at least 0.5 wt.%, but typically not more than 4 w.t%, still preferably not more than 3 wt.%, still further preferably not more than 2 wt.% and most preferably not more than 1 wt.%.

Siloxane comprising a polyoxyalkylene group:

The additional cosurfactant is preferably a siloxane comprising a polyoxyalkylene group represented by the following general formula (I) where

R¹ is same or different and is selected from an alkyl, alkenyl or aryl alkyl group from 1 to 20 carbon atom, or alkyl, alkenyl or aryl alkyl group from 1 to 20 carbon atom comprising a functional group, or mixtures thereof,

Y is a polyoxyalkylene group having 19 to 30 oxyalkylene group, R² and R³ are same or different and is selected from an alkyl, alkenyl or aryl alkyl group having from 1 to 20 carbon atom, or alkyl, alkenyl or aryl alkyl group having from 1 to 20 carbon atom comprising a functional group, wherein, a is 0 or 1 , b is 0 or 1 or 2, p is 0 to 20 preferably 0, 1 , 2 or 3, j, k, are independent of each other and is 0 or an integer from 1 to 50 where either j or k or both is at least 1 and with the proviso that the siloxane contains at least one Y radical per molecule. Preferably the value of j is an integer in the range from 1 to 50, more preferably in the range from 1 to 40, still preferably in the range from 1 to 30 most preferably in the range from 1 to 20. Preferably the value of k is an integer in the range from 1 to 50, more preferably in the range from 1 to 40, still preferably in the range from 1 to 30 most preferably in the range from 1 to 20. Where if a is 0 then p is 0, 1 , 2 or 3, and if a is 1 or 2 then p is 0 or an integer from 1 to 50, Preferably when k is at least 1 and b is 1 or 2, a is 0 and j is 2 then p is 0, 1 , 2 or 3. In another preferred siloxane compound, when a is 1 , j is 2, and k is 0 then p is an integer from 1 to 30. In yet another preferred siloxane compound, when a is 1 , j is 2 and k is 0 then p is 0.

For R¹, R² and R³ the preferred group is the alkyl group. Preferably R², R³ is a methyl radical. Preferably Y is a polyoxyalkylene group having 19 to 30 oxyalkylene group of the formula - R⁵(OR⁴)_gOR’, where R⁴ is same or different and is a Ci to Cw alkylene radical and preferably a C2 alkylene radical, R⁵ is same or different and is a Ci to C10 alkylene radical, R’ are same or different and are a hydrogen atom or a Ci to Ce alkyl group, preferably a hydrogen atom, and g is from 19 to 30. Preferably the Y represents a polyoxyalkylene group having 23 to 30 oxyalkylene group. The polyoxyalkylene group preferably comprises at least 20 oxyalkylene group, more preferably at least 21 oxyalkylene group, even more preferably at least 22 oxyalkylene group, even more preferably at least 23 oxyalkylene group, still more preferably at least 24 oxyalkylene group per molecule of siloxane. Preferably Y represents a polyoxyalkylene group having from 20 to 30 oxyalkylene group, more preferably from 22 to 30 oxyalkylene group, even more preferably from 23 to 30 oxyalkylene group, still more preferably from 24 to 30 oxyalkylene group, still more preferably from 24 to 28 oxyalkylene group and yet more preferably from 24 to 26 oxyalkylene group. Preferably the polyoxyalkylene group is polyoxyethylene group.

More preferably the siloxane containing a polyoxyalkylene group is represented by the formula (IIA) where

R¹ is same or different and is selected from an alkyl, alkenyl or aryl alkyl group from 1 to 20 carbon atom, or an alkyl, alkenyl or aryl alkyl group from 1 to 20 carbon atom comprising a functional group selected from alkoxy, hydroxyl group or combinations thereof, or mixtures thereof, where R² and R³ are same or different and is selected from an alkyl, alkenyl or aryl alkyl group having from 1 to 20 carbon atom, or alkyl, alkenyl or aryl alkyl group having from 1 to 20 carbon atom comprising a functional group

Y is a polyoxyalkylene group having 19 to 30 oxyalkylene group having a general formula - R⁵(OR⁴)_gOR’ R⁴ is same or different and is a Ci to Cw alkylene radical, R⁵ is same or different and is a Ci to Cw alkylene radical, R’ are same or different and are a hydrogen atom or a Ci to Ce alkyl group, preferably a hydrogen atom, where, a is 0 or an integer from 1 to 2, p is 0 or an integer from 1 to 3, m is 0 or an integer from 1 to 50, g is from 19 to 30, with the proviso that the siloxane contain at least one Y radical per molecule. Preferably R⁴ is same or different and is a C2 alkylene radical. Preferably when, if a is 0 then p is 0, 1 , 2 or 3, and if a is 1 or 2 then p is 0 or an integer from 1 to 50, with the proviso that the siloxane contains at least one

Y radical per molecule. Preferably when k is at least 1 and b is 1 or 2, a is 0 and j is 2 then p is 0, 1 , 2 or 3. Preferably, when a is 1 j is 2, and k is 0 then p is an integer from 1 to 30. Preferably, when a is 1 , j is 2 and k is 0 then p is 0.

Preferably the polyoxyalkylene group is a polyoxyethylene group. That is, the polyoxyalkylene group is a polyoxyethylene group having 19 to 30 oxyethylene groups. Preferably the number of silicon units in the siloxane with pendant polyoxyalkylene group is from 3 to 6 Si units. Preferably the number of silicon units in the siloxane with terminal polyoxyalkylene group is from 15 to 20 Si units.

Still preferred siloxane compound is a siloxane containing a polyoxyalkylene group represented by the general formula (I I B)

R¹ is same or different and is selected from an alkyl, alkenyl or aryl alkyl group from 1 to 20 carbon atom, or an alkyl, alkenyl or aryl alkyl group from 1 to 20 carbon atom comprising a functional group selected from alkoxy, hydroxyl group or combinations thereof, or mixtures thereof, where R² and R³ are same or different and is selected from an alkyl, alkenyl or aryl alkyl group having from 1 to 20 carbon atom, or alkyl, alkenyl or aryl alkyl group having from 1 to 20 carbon atom comprising a functional group,

Y is a polyoxyalkylene group having 19 to 30 oxyalkylene group wherein, a is an integer from 0 to 2, b is an integer from 1 to 2, p is an integer from 0 to 3, j, k, are independent of each other and are integers from 0 to 50, where either j or k or both is at least 1 .

In all the above-described siloxane based cosurfactant the term "alkyl" refers to a straight or branched chain monovalent hydrocarbon radical having a specified number of carbon atoms. In all structures above, Y is preferably a polyoxyalkylene group derivable or derived from allyloxy polyalkylene oxide having from 19 to 30 oxyalkylene group. More preferably the Y is derived from allyloxy polyethylene oxide having from 19 to 30 oxyethylene group.

Preferably the siloxane cosurfactant may be used along with an alkyl ester of fatty acid. The alkyl ester of fatty acid is preferably selected from but not limited to fatty acid alkyl or alkylene esters based on Ce to C22 fatty acids and most preferably is a methyl ester of a Ce to C22 fatty acid. Other suitable alkyl ester of fatty acid may be selected from esters of linear Ce to C22 fatty acids with linear or branched Ce to C22 fatty alcohols or esters of branched Ce to C13 carboxylic acids with linear or branched Ce to C22 fatty alcohols. Also suitable are esters of linear Ce to C22 fatty acids with branched alcohols, esters of Cis to C38 alkylhydroxy carboxylic acids with linear or branched Ce to C22 fatty alcohols, and/or branched fatty acids with polyhydric alcohols. Preferably the siloxane compound and the alkyl ester of fatty acid are used in a ratio of 1 :1 to 10:1 , more preferably 2.75:1 to 5:1.

The siloxane cosurfactant may be present in the form of a solid siloxane cosurfactant composition comprising i. from 10 wt.% to 35 wt.% siloxane having polyoxyalkylene group having the general formula (I), (HA) or (I IB) as described above; and ii. 55 wt.% to 90 wt.% filler, preferably sodium carbonate.

Suitable examples of filler include carbonate, sulphate, dolomite, calcite, silicate, bicarbonate, zeolite more preferably the filler is selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, sodium sulphate, potassium sulphate, aluminium silicate, zeolite and mixtures thereof. Most preferably the filler is sodium carbonate, sodium sulphate or mixtures thereof.

In addition, the solid cosurfactant composition may include from 0 wt.% to 10 wt.% alkyl or alkylene ester of fatty acid.

Alternately the siloxane may be formulated in the form of a liquid siloxane cosurfactant composition comprising: i. from 10 wt.% to 35 wt.% siloxane having polyoxyalkylene group having the general formula (I), (HA) or (I IB) as described above having the general formula as described above; ii. 55 wt.% to 90 wt.% protic solvent, preferably water.

The liquid siloxane cosurfactant composition preferably includes alkyl or alkylene ester of a Ce to C12 fatty acid and optionally an emulsifier.

Preferably the solid detergent composition according to the present invention comprises from 0.05 wt.% to 5 wt.% siloxane cosurfactant. Preferably the solid detergent composition comprises at least 0.8 wt.%, preferably at least 0.1 wt.%, still preferably at least 0.15 wt.% still more preferably 0.25 wt.% and most preferably at least 0.5 wt.%, but typically not more than 4 w.t%, still preferably not more than 3 wt.%, still further preferably not more than 2 wt.% and most preferably not more than 1 wt.%.

Amide surfactant:

The additional cosurfactant is preferably an amide surfactant or salts thereof. The amide surfactant has a general formula (III)

wherein R² is linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, alkyl group or alkenyl group having 16 carbon atom or less, preferably R² is a 10 to 14 carbon atom alkyl group or alkenyl group. R¹ and Z are independently selected from H, hydroxy, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl or 2-hydroxyl ethyl and where at least one of R¹ or Z is a 2-hydroxyl ethyl. More preferably the Z is an alkyl mono hydroxyl group. A preferred example of the amide surfactant has the general formula

Non limiting examples of the amide cosurfactant according to the present invention includes cocoamide diethanolamine, cocoamide dimethanolamine, cocoamide monoethanolamine, cocoamide monomethanol amine, cocoamide MIPA or mixtures thereof. More preferably the amide cosurfactant according to the present invention includes cocoamide monoethanolamine, cocoamide monomethanol amine, cocoamide MIPA or mixtures thereof.

Preferably the solid detergent composition according to the present invention comprises from 0.05 wt.% to 5 wt.% amide cosurfactant. Preferably the solid detergent composition comprises at least 0.25 wt.%, preferably at least 0.3 wt.%, still preferably at least 0.4 wt.% and most preferably at least 0.5 wt.%, but typically not more than 4 w.t%, still preferably not more than 3 wt.%, still further preferably not more than 2 wt.% and most preferably not more than 1 wt.%.

The ratio of the additional amide cosurfactant to the primary anionic detersive surfactant in the composition is preferably in a ratio from 1 :1 to 1 :200, more preferably the ratio is from 1 :1 to 1 :160 still preferably the ratio is from 1 :1 to 1 :100, more preferably 1 :10 to 1 :80.

Foam supressing agent

According to a first aspect of the present invention disclosed composition includes a foam supressing agent.

The term foam suppressing agent used herein should be understood to include both the terms antifoaming agent and defoaming agent. Similarly, the term "suppressing foam" should be understood as including both antifoaming and defoaming. Antifoaming is the prevention of foam in whole or in part. Defoaming is the diminishing or eliminating an already existing foam. The term foam suppressing agent also means an agent which regulates the foam to a desired extent.

The foam suppressing agent may be selected from the group consisting of silicone compound, amino silicone compound, glycerol derivative, diester compound, fatty acid, soap, polyols or combinations thereof. More preferably the foam suppressing agent is selected from silicone compound, amino silicone compound, glycerol derivative, diester compound or mixtures thereof.

Preferably the foam suppressing agent is a delayed-release foam suppressing agent. By “delayed release” it is meant that the foam suppressing agent begins to suppress foam over time. The time delay may be adjusted depending on the time when the foam is required to be suppressed.

Silicone compound:

The foam suppressing agent may be a silicone compound. Preferably the silicone compound includes a reactive siloxane structural unit comprising Si-0 moieties where the reactive siloxane is a polymer which may include one or more functional moieties selected from the group amino, amido, alkoxy, hydroxy, polyether, carboxy, hydride, mercapto, sulfate phosphate and/or quaternary ammonium moieties. These moieties may be attached directly to the siloxane backbone through a bivalent alkylene radical, (i.e. , "pendant") or may be part of the backbone. Suitable functionalized siloxane polymers include materials selected from the group consisting of aminosilicones, amidosilicones, silicone polyethers, silicone-urethane polymers, quaternary ABn silicones, amino ABn silicones, and combinations thereof. Preferably the silicone compound is an organopolysiloxane preferably having an amino-functional or a carboxyl-functional organic group. Suitable organosilicone may be linear, branched, or cross linked. The silicone compound may belong to the organosiloxane class of amino amino-functional organopolysiloxane, carboxy-functional organopolysiloxane, polydimethyl siloxane, silicone polyether or mixtures thereof.

Amino-functional organopolysiloxane:

The silicone compound may also be selected from a reactive siloxane which is a silicone aminoalcohol. Yet another preferred silicone compound includes a reactive siloxane which is an aminosilicone.

Preferably the foam suppressing agent is an amino-functional organopolysiloxane (IV) which has at least one siloxane unit of the general formula

and at least one siloxane unit of the general formula

wherein: R¹ is the same or different and is a hydrogen atom, a monovalent, optionally fluorine-, chlorine- or bromine- substituted C₁ to C₁₈ hydrocarbyl radical or a C₁ to C₁₂ alkoxy radical or a hydroxyl radical, preferably a C1 to C18 hydrocarbyl radical or a C1 to C3 alkoxy radical or a hydroxyl radical, where Q is an amino group of the general formula or forms thereof with partial or full protonation on the nitrogen atoms – NH₂ CH₂CH₂NH(CH₂)₃ is a preferred example. R² is a divalent C₁ to C₁₈ hydrocarbyl radical, preferably a divalent C₂ to C₄ hydrocarbyl radical hydrocarbyl radical, R³ is a hydrogen atom or a C1 to C10 alkyl radical, R⁴ is a hydrogen atom or a C₁ to C₁₀ alkyl radical, R⁵ is a hydrogen atom or a C₁ to C₁₀ alkyl radical, a is 0, 1 or 2, preferably 0 or 1, b is 1, 2 or 3, preferably 1, c is 0, 1, 2 or 3, preferably 2 or 3, m is 2, 3 or 4, preferably 2 or 3, and x is 0, 1 or 2, preferably 0 or 1, and the sum of a+b is less than or equal to 3. The hydrocarbyl radical mentioned may be saturated or unsaturated, linear, branched or a cyclic radical. Preferably the ratio of siloxane units with the general formula (Ia) to (Ib) is from 1:1 to 1:10,000 and preferably from 1:2 to 1:300. The amino-functional organopolysiloxanes preferably have an average viscosity of 25 to 10,000 mPas, more preferably 50 to 5,000 mPas, at 25°C. Preferably the foam suppressing agent is in solid form which includes an amino-functional organopolysilioxane of formula IV and a carrier material selected from the group of sodium carbonate, sodium sulphate, aluminium silicate, potassium carbonate, potassium sulphate, sodium hydrogencarbonate, potassium hydrogencarbonate and zeolites, and mixtures thereof. Another preferred foam suppressing agent is a modified amino-functional organopolysilioxane have the general formula (V) …… (V) where R₂ is the same or different and is a monovalent C₁ to C₁₈ hydrocarbyl radical, R¹ is as defined above for (IVa) Q is as defined above for (IVa), k is 0 or 1, m is 0 or an integer from 1 to 1000, n is 0 or an integer from 1 to 50, with the proviso that the organopolysiloxanes contain at least one Q radical per molecule. Examples of amino-functional organopolysiloxanes of the formula (V) are amino-functional polydimethylsiloxanes terminated by trimethylsiloxane units and amino-functional polydimethylsiloxanes terminated by hydroxydimethylsiloxane units and C₁ to C₃ alkoxydimethylsiloxane units. Yet another type of modified amino silicone organopolysiloxane useful in the present invention is the one having the formula (VI) where:

A is an amino radical of the formula or a protonated amino form and/or acylated amino form of the amino radical A, preferably A is –(CH₂)₃NH₂ and – (CH₂)₃NH(CH₂)₂NH₂; X is a monovalent hydrocarbon radical having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms or a polyoxyalkylene group G of the formula , preferably G is – (CH₂)₃–(OC₂H₄)_y–O–R⁶ R¹ is a C₁ to C₁₀ alkylene radical, preferably a radical of the formula -CH₂CH₂CH₂-, R² is hydrogen or a C₁ to C₄ alkyl radical, preferably hydrogen, R³ is a C₁ to C₁₀ alkylene radical, preferably a radical of the formula -CH₂CH₂-, R⁴ is a C₁ to C₁₀ alkylene radical, preferably a radical of the formula -CH₂CH₂CH₂-, R⁵ is a C₁ to C₄ alkylene radical, preferably a radical of the formula -CH₂CH₂-, or -CH₂CH₂(CH₃)- or mixtures thereof; R⁶ is hydrogen or a C₁ to C₄ alkylene radical, preferably hydrogen or a methyl radical, more preferably hydrogen, n is an integer from 1 to 6, preferably from 1 to 3, m is an integer from 1 to 200, preferably from 1 to 80, x is 0 or 1 and y is an integer from 5 to 20, preferably from 5 to 12, with the proviso that on an average from 30 mol% to 60 mol%, preferably 30 mol% to 50 mol%, of the radicals X are polyoxyalkylene group G. The modified amino silicone organopolysiloxane are generally a fluid and therefore need a carrier filler selected from the group comprising sodium carbonate, sodium sulphate, aluminum silicate, potassium carbonate, potassium sulphate, sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate and zeolites to form a free-flowing powder form. Still another preferred type of modified amino silicone organopolysiloxane useful in the present invention is the one having the formula (VII) where:

Y is an amino group of the general formula or the protonated or acylated amino forms of the amino group Y, R¹ is the same or different and is a monovalent C₁ to C₆ alkyl radical or a C₁ to C₆ alkoxy radical or a hydroxyl radical, R is a monovalent C₁ to C₆ alkyl radical, R² is a monovalent C₂ to C₆ alkyl radical, R³ is a C₁ to C₁₀ alkylene radical, R⁴ is a hydrogen or a C₁ to C₄ alkyl radical, R⁵ and R⁶ independently represent hydrogen or a C₁ to C₄ alkyl radical, j is an integer from 0 to 3, k is an integer from 0 to 3, z is an integer from 1 to 500, n is an integer from 1 to 70, m is an integer from 1 to 10, v is an integer from 0 to 15, x is an integer from 0 to 1. The amino radical Y is preferably –(CH₂)₃NH₂ and –(CH₂)₃NH(CH₂)₂NH₂ and its protonated acylated form or its mixtures thereof. These modified amino silicone organopolysiloxane are generally a fluid and therefore need a carrier filler. Preferably the carrier filler is water-soluble with a water solubility of 50 to 500 g/L at 25°C. More preferably the carrier filler is selected from the group comprising sodium carbonate, sodium sulphate, aluminum silicate, potassium carbonate, potassium sulphate, sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate and zeolites, water soluble starch or mixtures thereof to form a free-flowing powder form. Yet another preferred silicone compound is where the reactive siloxane may preferably be a silicone polyether. In general, silicone polyethers comprise a polydimethylsiloxane backbone with one or more polyoxyalkylene chains. The polyoxyalkylene moieties may be incorporated in the polymer as pendent chains or as terminal blocks. Such silicones are described in US Publication No.2005/0098759, and US Patent Nos.4,818,421 and 3,299,112. The foam suppressing agent may be polysiloxane having the structure:

where R and R' are the same or different alkyl or aryl groups having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; and x is an integer of at least 20. The preferred polysiloxanes are polydimethylsiloxanes, where both R and R' are methyl groups. The polysiloxanes usually have a molecular weight of from 500 to 200,000 and a kinematic viscosity of from 50 to 2×10⁶ mm²sec^-1. Preferably, the polysiloxanes have a kinematic viscosity of from 5×10² to 5×10⁴ mm² sec^-1, most preferably from 3×10³ to 3×10⁴ mm² sec^-1 at 25°C. The polysiloxane is generally end blocked with trimethylsilyl groups, but other end-blocking groups are also suitable. Examples of suitable commercially available polysiloxanes are the polydimethyl siloxanes, "Silicone 200 Fluids", available from Dow Corning, having viscosities of from 50 to 5×10⁴ mm² sec^-1. Other examples of silicone oils include silicone oils 47v 100, 47v 5000 and 47v 12500 available from Rhone Poulenc; Silcolapse 430 and Silicone EP 6508 available from ICI; Rhodosil 454 available from Rhone Poulenc; and Silkonol AK 100 available from Wacker. Preferably the silicone compound is an organosilicones selected from polydimethylsiloxane, dimethicone, dimethiconol, dimethicone crosspolymer, phenyl trimethicone, alkyl dimethicone, lauryl dimethicone, stearyl dimethicone and phenyl dimethicone, octyl amidomethicone, cetyl amidomethicone. Still preferably the silicone compound is selected from polydimethylsiloxane, octyl amidomethicone, cetyl amidomethicone and mixtures thereof. Examples include those available under the names DC 200 Fluid, DC 1664, DC 349, DC 346G available from Dow Corning Corporation, Midland, MI, and those available under the trade names SF1202, SF1204, SF96, and Viscasil available from Momentive Silicones, Waterford, NY. In addition to the abovementioned foam suppressing agent a further foam suppressing agent such as finely divided particulate silica may also be used in the composition of the present invention. Any type of silica can be employed in the preparation of hydrophobic silica. Preferred examples are precipitated silica and pyrogenic silica which can be converted to a hydrophobic form. More preferably the foam suppressing agent includes a mixture of polydimethylsiloxane and silica. Diester compound: The foam suppressing agent as disclosed in the present invention is preferably a cyclohexane polycarboxylic acid derivative of the formula (VIII) in which

R¹ may be identical or different. It is selected from straight chain or branched C₁ to C₁₀ -alkyl or C₃ to C₈ -cycloalkyl; m is 0, 1, 2 or 3; n is 2, 3 or 4, and R is H or a straight chain or branched C₁ to C₃₀ alkyl, where at least one radical R is C₁ to C₃₀ alkyl. Preferably R¹ is an alkyl group selected from methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl, n-hexyl, n-octyl and 2-ethylhexyl. Preferably the R is an alkyl radical which includes those already mentioned under R¹ and n-nonyl, isononyl, n- decyl, isodecyl, n-undecyl, isoundecyl, n-dodecyl, isododecyl, n-tridecyl, isotridecyl, stearyl, n-eicosyl, where at least one radical R is n-nonyl, isononyl, n-decyl, isodecyl, n-undecyl, isoundecyl, n-dodecyl, isododecyl, n-tridecyl, isotridecyl, stearyl, n-eicosyl. Preferably the R is isononyl. The cyclohexane polycarboxylic acid derivatives may be selected from mono-, di-, tri-, tetra esters and anhydrides of cyclohexane polycarboxylic acids. Preferably, all the carboxylic acid groups are esterified. Preferably the cyclohexane polycarboxylic acid derivative is chosen from the group consisting of ring-hydrogenated mono- and dialkyl esters of phthalic acid, isophthalic acid and terephthalic acid, ring-hydrogenated mono-, di- and trialkyl esters of trimellitic acid, of trimesic acid and of hemimellitic acid, or mono-, di-, tri- and tetra alkyl esters of pyrromellitic acid, where the alkyl groups may be linear or branched and in each case have 1 to 30, preferably 2 to 10, particularly preferably 3 to 18, carbon atoms, and mixtures of two or more thereof. Preferably the cyclohexane polycarboxylic acid derivative is an alkyl ester of cyclohexane- 1,4-dicarboxylic acid, alkyl ester of cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylic acid, mixed esters of cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylic acid with C₁ to C₁₃ alcohols, mixed esters of cyclohexane-1,3- dicarboxylic acid with C₁ to C₁₃ alcohols, mixed esters of cyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylic acid with C₁ to C₁₃ alcohols, alkyl esters of cyclohexane-1, 3-dicarboxylic acid. More preferably the cyclohexane polycarboxylic acid derivative is an alkyl ester of cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylic acid as given in the formula below where R³ and R⁴ are mutually independently selected from branched and unbranched C₇ to C₁₂ alkyl residues. Preferably, C₇ to C₁₂ alkyl is selected from n-heptyl, 1-methylhexyl, 2-methylhexyl, 1- ethylpentyl, 2-ethylpentyl, 1-propylbutyl, 1-ethyl-2-methylpropyl, n-octyl, isooctyl, 2- ethylhexyl, n-nonyl, isononyl, 2-propylhexyl, n-decyl, isodecyl, 2-propylheptyl, n-undecyl, isoundecyl, n-dodecyl, isododecyl and the like. Particularly preferably C₇ to C₁₂ alkyl stands for n-octyl, n-nonyl, isononyl, 2-ethylhexyl, isodecyl, 2-propylheptyl, n-undecyl or isoundecyl. Preferably the residues R³ and R⁴ both stand for 2-ethylhexyl, isononyl or 2- propylheptyl.

The alkyl ester of cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylic acid is preferably selected from the group consisting of di(isobutyl) ester of cyclohexane-1, 2-dicarboxylic acid, di(2-ethylhexyl) ester of cyclohexane-1, 2-dicarboxylic acid, di(isononyl) ester of cyclohexane-1, 2-dicarboxylic acid. Preferred ester groups are straight-chain or branched alkyl groups having 6 to 13 carbon atoms. Most preferably it is a di(isononyl) ester of cyclohexane-1, 2-dicarboxylic acid. Diisononylcyclohexane-1, 2-dicarboxylate is commercially available under the name Hexamoll® DINCH (BASF AG). The cyclohexane polycarboxylic acid derivatives are preferably prepared according to the process disclosed in WO 99/32427. Glycerol derivative: The foam suppressing agent is preferably a glycerol derivative. The glycerol derivative has the general formula (IX) as mentioned herein below. …… (IX) wherein the R¹ is H or C₁₂ to C₁₈ saturated or unsaturated alkyl ester and R² is C₁₂ to C₁₈ saturated or unsaturated alkyl ester. The glycerol derivative is preferably glycerol monooleate, glycerol dioleate, glycerol monostearate, glycerol distearate and mixtures thereof, preferably the glycerol derivative is a glycerol monostearate, glycerol monooleate or mixtures thereof. Most preferably the glycerol derivative is a glycerol monooleate.

In a preferred embodiment the foam suppressing agent is a glycerol derivative used in combination with methyl cellulose. Preferably glycerol monooleate is used in combination with methyl cellulose. The ratio of glycerol derivative to methyl cellulose is at least 0.6, preferably at least 0.75, more preferably 1. The ratio of glycerol derivative to methyl cellulose is at most 1 , preferably at most 2, more preferably at most 5, even more preferably at most 7.

Preferably the foam suppressing agent when it is a glycerol derivative is present in the detergent composition in an amount ranging from 0.5 wt.% to 5 wt.%. Preferably the levels of the glycerol derivative in the detergent composition is at least 0.75 wt.%, still preferably at least 1 wt.%, still preferably at least 1.25 wt.%, most preferably at least 1.5 wt.%, but typically not more than 4.75 wt%, still preferably not more than 4.5 wt%, most preferably not more than 4 wt%.

Other suitable foam suppressing agents include the monocarboxylic fatty acids and soluble salts thereof, which are described in US 2,954,347. Other foam suppressing agents are described in EP-A-0210731 and EP-A-0210721.

Preferably the solid detergent composition according to the present invention comprises from 0.05 wt.% to 2.0 wt.% foam suppressing agent. Preferably the solid detergent composition comprises at least 0.08 wt.%, preferably at least 0.1 wt.%, still preferably at least 0.2 wt.% and most preferably at least 0.4 wt.%, but typically not more than 1.5 w.t%, still preferably not more than 1.3 wt.%, still further preferably not more than 1.2 wt.% and most preferably not more than 1 wt.%.

Carbonate builder

The detergent composition of the present invention includes a sodium carbonate builder. Examples of the carbonate builder includes alkaline earth metal and alkali metal carbonates as disclosed in the German patent application No. 2,321 ,001. The carbonate builder preferably includes further alkali metal carbonate, alkaline earth metal carbonate or mixtures thereof. Preferred further alkali carbonates potassium carbonate. It is further preferred that sodium carbonate makes up at least 75 wt.%, more preferably at least 85 wt.% and even more preferably at least 90 wt.% of the total weight of the alkali metal carbonate builder.

The detergent composition of the present invention includes from 0.1 wt.% to 40 wt.% sodium carbonate builder. More preferably the sodium carbonate builder is present in an amount ranging from 0 wt.% to 20 wt.% in the composition. Preferably the detergent composition comprises at least 0.8 wt.%, still preferably at least 1 wt.%, still preferably at least 2 wt.%, most preferably at least 5 wt.% of the carbonate builder, but typically not more than 38 wt.%, still preferably not more than 35 wt.%, most preferably not more than 30 wt.% of sodium carbonate builder based on the weight of the cleaning composition.

Non-carbonate builder

In addition to the sodium carbonate builder the detergent composition of the present invention may preferably include further inorganic non-carbonate builder. The other preferred builders may be selected from the group consisting of silicates, silica, zeolites phosphates or mixtures thereof. Yet other non-carbonate builder may be organic builders which includes but are not limited to as succinates, carboxylates, malonates, polycarboxylates, citric acid or a salt thereof.

Suitable silicates include the water-soluble sodium silicates with an SiCh: Na2O ratio of from 1.0 to 2.8, with ratios of from 1.6 to 2.4 being preferred, and 2.0 ratio being most preferred. The silicates may be in the form of either the anhydrous salt or a hydrated salt. Sodium silicate with an SiCh: Na2O ratio of 2.0 is the most preferred silicate.

Silicates are preferably present in the detergent compositions in accordance with the invention at a level of from 5 wt.% to 50 wt.% of the composition, more preferably from 10 wt.% to 40 wt.% of the solid laundry detergent composition. Still more preferably the silicates are present in an amount ranging from 5 wt.% to 18 wt.% of the solid laundry detergent composition. The composition is preferably phosphate builder free, that is the composition has no deliberately added phosphate builder such as STPP. Preferably the detergent composition includes 0 wt.% to 8 wt.% phosphate builder, still preferably the composition has no deliberately added phosphate builder. Most preferably the solid laundry detergent composition includes 0 wt.% phosphate builder. Preferably the detergent composition includes 0 wt.% to 8 wt.% zeolite, still preferably the composition has no deliberately added zeolite. Most preferably the solid laundry detergent composition includes 0 wt.% zeolite builder.

Form of the composition

The composition of the present invention is in the solid form. The composition according to the present invention may be made via a variety of conventional methods known in the art and those which includes but is not limited to the mixing of ingredients, including dry-mixing, compaction such as agglomerating, extrusion, tabletting, or spray-drying of the various compounds comprised in the detergent component, or mixtures of these techniques, whereby the components herein also can be made by for example compaction, including extrusion and agglomerating, or spray-drying. The detergent composition may be made by any of the conventional processes, especially preferred is the technique of slurry making and spray drying.

The compositions herein can take a variety of physical solid forms including forms such as powder, granule, ribbon, particulate, noodle, paste, tablet, flake, pastille and bar, and preferably the composition is in the form of powder, granules or a tablet, still preferably the composition is in the form of a powder. The composition may be in the form of a unit dose formulation, delayed delivery formulation, detergent contained on or in a porous substrate or nonwoven sheet, and other suitable forms that may be apparent to one skilled in the art in view of the teachings herein. The composition according to the present invention may preferably be in a form selected from powder, unit dose or pouch form, tablet, gel, paste, bar, or flake. Preferably the composition is for manual-washing. Preferably, the composition of the present invention is a solid laundry detergent composition. Preferably the composition is in the form of a spray -dried powder. The compositions preferably have a density of more than 350 grams/litre, more preferably more than 450 grams/litre or even more than 570 grams/litre.

The composition according to the present invention has a pH of from 8 to 13, preferably from 8.5 to 12, more preferably 8.5 to 11 when measured at 1 wt.% dilution in de-ionised water at 25°C. The sodium carbonate builder provides the desired pH to the composition. In addition to the sodium carbonate builder which is essential, the composition of the present invention preferably also includes further alkaline source which is selected from bicarbonates and semi-bicarbonates. The composition may preferably include a buffer.

Moisture content:

The solid laundry detergent composition includes from 1 wt.% to 3.5 wt.%, still preferably 1 wt.% to 3 wt.% water. Preferably the solid detergent composition is either agglomerated or spray-dried.

Optional ingredients

The detergent composition of the present invention may preferably include one or more of the optional ingredients selected from the group consisting of cleaning and care ingredients. The optional ingredients include one or more adjunct cleaning additives selected from polymers, enzymes, enzyme stabilizer, brightening agents, hueing agent, bleach, chelating agent, humectant, perfume, filler or carrier, an alkalinity system, a buffer or combinations thereof.

Polymers:

The composition of the present invention may preferably include polymers which provide cleaning or care benefits. The cleaning polymer includes but is not limited to soil release polymer, carboxylate polymers, antiredeposition polymers, cellulosic polymers, care polymers, dye-transfer inhibiting polymer, amphiphilic alkoxylated grease cleaning polymers, clay soil cleaning polymers, soil suspending polymers or mixtures thereof.

Suitable carboxylate polymer includes polymers such as a maleate/acrylate random copolymer or polyacrylate homopolymer. Suitable carboxylate polymers homopolymeric or copolymeric carboxylic acids, such as polyacrylic acid, polymethacrylic acid, polymaleic acid, copolymers of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid with maleic acid. Preferred representatives of this group are sodium polyacrylate and sodium salts of acrylic acid-maleic acid copolymers.

Soil release polymers are designed to modify the surface of the fabric to facilitate the ease of removal of soil. Suitable soil release polymers are sold by Clariant under the TexCare® series of polymers, e.g. TexCare® SRN240. Other suitable soil release polymers are sold by Rhodia under the Repel-o-Tex® series of polymers, e.g. Repel-o-Tex® SF2. A preferred polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyester soil release polymer, both endcapped and non-end-capped sulphonated or unsulphonated PET/POET polymers. Preferably the levels of these soil release polymer in the adjunct particle is from 3 wt.% to 15wt.%.

Anti-redeposition polymers are designed to suspend or disperse soil. Typically, antiredeposition polymers are polyethylene glycol polymers, polycarboxylate polymers, polyethyleneimine polymers or mixtures thereof. Such polymers are available from BASF under the trade name Sokalan®CP5 (neutralised form) and Sokalan®CP45 (acidic form). Suitable antiredeposition polymers are ethoxylated and or propoxylated polyethylene imine or polycarboxylate materials, for example, acrylic acid-based homo or copolymers available under the trademark ACLISOL from Dow Chemical, Alcosperse from Akzonobel or Sokolan from BASF.

Suitable care polymers include cellulosic polymers that are cationically modified or hydrophobically modified. Such modified cellulosic polymers can provide anti- abrasion benefits and dye lock benefits to fabric during the laundering cycle. Suitable cellulosic polymers include cationically modified hydroxyethyl cellulose.

Examples of suitable sequestering polymers are DEQUEST™, organic phosphonate type sequestering polymers sold by Monsanto and alkanehydroxy phosphonates.

The cleaning composition is preferably substantially free of phosphate based sequestering polymers. By substantially free, it is meant herein that no phosphate based sequestering polymers is deliberately added.

Enzymes: The composition of the present invention preferably includes one or more enzymes. Preferred examples of the enzymes include those which provide cleaning performance and/or fabric care benefits.

Examples of suitable enzymes include, but are not limited to, hemicellulases, peroxidases, proteases, cellulases, xylanases, lipases, xyloglucanase, phospholipases, esterases, cutinases, pectinases, mannanases, pectate lyases, keratinases, reductases, oxidases, phenoloxidases, lipoxygenases, ligninases, pullulanases, tannases, pentosanases, malanases, G-glucanases, arabinosidases, hyaluronidase, chondroitinase, laccase, and amylases, or mixtures thereof. A typical combination is an enzyme cocktail that may comprise, for example, a protease and lipase in conjunction with one or more of amylase, mannanase and cellulase. When present in a detergent composition, the aforementioned additional enzymes may be present at levels from about 0.00001% to about 2%, from about 0.0001% to about 1% or from 0.001% to about 0.5% enzyme protein by weight of the detergent composition. Suitable commercially available protease enzymes include those sold under the trade names Alcalase®, Savinase®, Primase®, Durazym®, Polarzyme®, Kannase®, Liquanase®, Liquanase Ultra®, Savinase Ultra®, Ovozyme®, Neutrase®, Everlase® and Esperase® by Novozymes A/S (Denmark), those sold under the tradename Maxatase®, Maxaca®l, Maxapem®, Properase®, Purafect®, Purafect Prime®, Purafect Ox®, FN3®, FN4®, 10 Excellase® and Purafect OXP® by Genencor International, those sold under the tradename Opticlean® and Optimase by Solvay Enzymes. Suitable commercially available alpha-amylases include DURAMYL®, LIQUEZYME®, TERMAMYL®, TERMAMYL ULTRA®, NATALASE®, SUPRAMYL®, STAINZYME®, STAINZYME PLUS®, FUNGAMYL® and BAN® (Novozymes A/S, Bagsvaerd, Denmark), 15 KEMZYM® AT 9000 Biozym Biotech Trading GmbH Wehlistrasse 27b A-1200 Wien Austria, RAPIDASE®, PURASTAR®, ENZYSIZE®, OPTISIZE HT PLUS®, POWERASE® and PURASTAR OXAM® (Genencor International Inc., Palo Alto, California) and KAM® (Kao, 14-10 Nihonbashi Kayabacho, 1-chome, Chuo-ku Tokyo 103-8210, Japan). In one aspect, suitable amylases include NATALASE®, STAINZYME and STAINZYME PLUS® and mixtures thereof. Preferred lipases would include those sold under the tradenames Lipex® and Lipolex®. Suitable endoglucanases are sold under the tradenames Celluclean® and Whitezyme® (Novozymes A/S, Bagsvaerd, Denmark). Other preferred enzymes include pectate lyases sold under the tradenames Pectawash®, Pectaway®, Xpect® and mannanases sold under the tradenames Mannaway® (all from Novozymes A/S, Bagsvaerd, Denmark), and Purabrite® (Genencor International Inc., Palo Alto, California).

Enzyme stabilizing system:

The enzyme-containing compositions described herein may optionally comprise from 0.001 % to 10%, by weight of the composition, of an enzyme stabilizing system. The enzyme stabilizing system can be any stabilizing system which is compatible with the detersive enzyme. Such stabilizing systems can, for example, comprise calcium ion, boric acid, propylene glycol, short chain carboxylic acids, boronic acids, chlorine bleach scavengers and mixtures thereof. In the case of detergent compositions comprising protease, a reversible protease inhibitor, such as a boron compound, including borate, 4-formyl phenylboronic acid, phenylboronic acid and derivatives thereof, or compounds such as calcium formate, sodium formate and 1 ,2-propane diol may be added to further improve stability.

Brightening agents:

Optical brighteners or other brightening or whitening agents may be incorporated at levels from 0.01% to 1 .2%, by weight of the composition. Commercial brighteners suitable for the present invention can be classified into subgroups, including but not limited to: derivatives of stilbene, pyrazoline, coumarin, benzoxazoles, carboxylic acid, methinecyanines, dibenzothiophene-5, 5- dioxide, azoles, 5- and 6-membered-ring heterocycles, and other miscellaneous agents. Preferred commercially available Brighteners includes Tinopal AMS- GX by Ciba Geigy Corporation, Tinopal UNPA-GX by Ciba-Geigy Corporation, Tinopal 5BM- GX by Ciba-Geigy Corporation. The brighteners may be added in particulate form or as a premix with a suitable solvent, for example nonionic surfactant, monoethanolamine, propane diol.

Fabric hueing agents:

The composition may comprise a fabric hueing agent (sometimes referred to as shading, bluing or whitening agents). Typically, the hueing agent provides a blue or violet shade to fabric. Hueing agents can be used either alone or in combination to create a specific shade of hueing and/or to shade different fabric types. This may be provided for example by mixing a red and green-blue dye to yield a blue or violet shade. Hueing agents may be selected from any known chemical class of dye, including but not limited to acridine, anthraquinone (including polycyclic quinones), azine, azo (e.g., monoazo, disazo, trisazo, tetrakisazo, polyazo), including 30 premetallized azo, benzodifurane and benzodifuranone, carotenoid, coumarin, cyanine, diazahemicyanine, diphenylmethane, formazan, hemicyanine, indigoids, methane, naphthalimides, naphthoquinone, nitro and nitroso, oxazine, phthalocyanine, pyrazoles, stilbene, styryl, triarylmethane, triphenylmethane, xanthenes and mixtures thereof. Suitable fabric hueing agents include dyes, dye-clay conjugates, and organic and inorganic pigments.

Additional surfactants:

In addition to the primary anionic detersive surfactant and the cosurfactant the detergent composition according to the present invention may include additional surfactants selected from but not limited to non-ionic surfactant, amphoteric surfactant cationic surfactant, zwitterionic surfactant, or mixtures thereof.

Non-ionic surfactant

Non-limiting examples of nonionic surfactants include: C12 to C18 alkyl ethoxylates, Ce to C12 alkyl phenol alkoxylates wherein the alkoxylate units are a mixture of ethyleneoxy and propyleneoxy units; C12 to C18 alcohol and Ce to C12 alkyl phenol condensates with ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block alkyl polyamine ethoxylates alkylpolysaccharides and ether capped poly(oxyalkylated) alcohol surfactants.

Cationic surfactant

Non-limiting examples of cationic surfactants include: the quaternary ammonium surfactants, which can have up to 26 carbon atoms include: alkoxylate quaternary ammonium (AQA) surfactants, dimethyl hydroxyethyl quaternary ammonium, dimethyl hydroxyethyl lauryl ammonium chloride; polyamine cationic surfactants and cationic ester surfactants.

Zwitterionic surfactant

Non-limiting examples of zwitterionic or ampholytic surfactants include: derivatives of secondary and tertiary amines, derivatives of heterocyclic secondary and tertiary amines, or derivatives of quaternary ammonium, quaternary phosphonium or tertiary sulfonium compounds. Examples of zwitterionic surfactants includes betaines, including alkyl dimethyl betaine and cocodimethyl amidopropyl betaine, Cs to Cis (for example from C12 to Cis) amine oxides and sulfo and hydroxy betaines, such as N-alkyl-N, N-dimethylammino-1-propane sulfonate where the alkyl group can be Cs to Cis and in certain embodiments from C10 to C14.

Fillers

Optionally the solid laundry detergent composition includes fillers such as sodium sulphate, sodium chloride, calcite, dolomite or mixtures thereof.

Methods of laundering:

According to a second aspect of the present invention, disclosed is a method for laundering a textile surface with the detergent composition according to the first aspect of the present invention comprising the steps of: i) preparing an aqueous wash liquor with an effective amount of foam by contacting the detergent composition according to the first aspect with a liquid; ii) soaking said textile surface in the wash liquor for a predetermined period of time; and, iii) optionally rinsing the textile surface.

Preferably the rinsing of the textile surface is carried in less than 3 rinsing steps, preferably less than 2 rinsing steps more preferably in a single rinsing step.

According to a second aspect the method includes the step of preparing an aqueous wash liquor of the detergent composition in a liquid. The wash liquor is preferably prepared by dissolving the detergent composition in water. The wash liquor may be preferably cold water or water at ambient temperature conditions. The foam profile of the present invention is not dependent on the temperature of the wash liquor.

In the next step, preferably the textile surface is subjected to a washing step prior to the aforementioned optional rinsing step. For purposes of the present invention, washing includes, but is not limited to, scrubbing, wiping and mechanical agitation.

The compositions are preferably employed at concentrations of from about 200 ppm to about 10,000 ppm in solution. The water temperatures preferably range from about 5°C to about 100°C.

Machine laundry methods herein typically comprise treating soiled laundry with an aqueous wash solution in a washing machine having dissolved or dispensed therein an effective amount of the detergent composition in accordance with the invention. By an effective amount of the detergent composition it is meant from 20 g to 300 g of product dissolved or dispersed in a wash solution of volume from 5 to 65 liters, as are typical product dosages and wash solution volumes commonly employed in conventional machine laundry methods. Hand-washing methods, and combined handwashing with semiautomatic washing machines are also included.

According to a third aspect of the present invention disclosed is the use of a primary anionic detersive surfactant, a foam suppressing agent and a C3 to C10 alkyl amine salt of C9 to C15 alkyl benzene sulphonate cosurfactant in a detergent composition to provide good lather generation in the wash liquor during the main wash stage and collapse of lather during rinse stage wherein the rinse stage requires less than 3 rinses.

The invention will now be illustrated more fully with the aid of the following non-limiting examples. It will be appreciated that other modifications of the present invention within the skill of those in the art can be undertaken without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. All of the formulations exemplified hereinafter are prepared via conventional formulation and mixing methods unless specific methods are given. All parts, percentages, and ratios herein are by weight unless otherwise specified.

Examples

Example 1 : Four (4) different solid laundry detergent compositions according to the present invention were prepared by spray drying as shown in table 1.

Table 1

The compositions as provided in table 1 were found to give good foam profile in the main wash and quick reduction of the foam in a single rinse at the rinse stage.

Claims

1 A solid laundry detergent composition comprising: i) a primary anionic detersive surfactant selected from the group consisting of sulfate surfactant, sulphonate surfactant, alkyl ether sulphate surfactant or mixture thereof; ii) a C3 to C10 alkyl amine salt of C9 to C15 alkyl benzene sulphonate cosurfactant; and, iii) a foam suppressing agent.

2 A composition according to claim 1 wherein the cosurfactant is a C3 to C10 alkyl amine salt of C12 linear alkyl benzene sulphonate (LAS).

3 A composition according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the composition comprises an additional cosurfactant selected from the group consisting of cationic polysaccharide, a siloxane comprising a polyoxyalkylene group, an amide surfactant or mixtures thereof.

4 A composition according to claim 3 wherein the cationic polysaccharide additional cosurfactant is a polysaccharide or a derivative of polysaccharide modified with a cationic group selected from the group consisting of ammonium group, quaternary ammonium group, a sulfonium group, a phosphonium group, a transitional metal or any other positively charged functional group.

5 A composition according to claim 3 or 4 wherein the additional cosurfactant is selected from: i) a cationic polysaccharide cosurfactant where the polysaccharide is selected from the group consisting of fructan, dextran, maltodextrin or mixtures thereof;; ii) an amide surfactant of the general formula (III) wherein R² is linear or branched, saturated or

unsaturated, alkyl group or alkenyl group having 16 carbon atom or less, preferably R² is a 10 to 14 carbon atom alkyl group or alkenyl group. R¹ and Z are independently selected from H, hydroxyl methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl or 2-hydroxyl ethyl; iii) a siloxane comprising a polyoxyalkylene group represented by the general formula (I) wherein,

Y is a polyoxyalkylene group having 19 to 30 oxyalkylene group, preferably an oxyethylene group,

R² and R³ are same or different and is selected from an alkyl, alkenyl or aryl alkyl group having from 1 to 20 carbon atom, or alkyl, alkenyl or aryl alkyl group having from 1 to 20 carbon atom comprising a functional group, wherein, a is 0 or 1 , b is 0 or 1 or 2, where if a is 0 then p is 0 or an integer from 1 to 3, and if a is 1 then p is 0 or an integer from 1 to 50, j, k are independent of each other and is 0 or an integer from 1 to 50, where either j or k or both is at least 1 , with the proviso that the siloxane contains at least one Y radical per molecule or mixtures thereof. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the foam suppressing agent is selected from the group consisting of silicone compound, amino silicone compound, diester compound, a glycerol derivative or mixtures thereof. A composition according to claim 6 wherein the foam suppressing silicone compound or amino silicone compound is selected from the group consisting of: i) amino-functional organopolysiloxane (IV) having at least one siloxane unit of the general formula

and at least one siloxane unit of the general formula wherein:

R¹ is the same or different and is a hydrogen atom, a monovalent, optionally fluorine-, chlorine- or bromine- substituted C₁ to C₁₈ hydrocarbyl radical or a C₁ to C₁₂ alkoxy radical or a hydroxyl radical, preferably a C₁ to C₁₈ hydrocarbyl radical or a C₁ to C₃ alkoxy radical or a hydroxyl radical, where Q is an amino group of the general formula

forms thereof with partial or full protonation on the nitrogen atoms, R² is a divalent C1 to C18 hydrocarbyl radical, preferably a divalent C2 to C4 hydrocarbyl radical hydrocarbyl radical, R³ is a hydrogen atom or a C₁ to C₁₀ alkyl radical, R⁴ is a hydrogen atom or a C₁ to C₁₀ alkyl radical, R⁵ is a hydrogen atom or a C₁ to C₁₀ alkyl radical, a is 0, 1 or 2, preferably 0 or 1, b is 1, 2 or 3, preferably 1, c is 0, 1, 2 or 3, preferably 2 or 3, m is 2, 3 or 4, preferably 2 or 3, and x is 0, 1 or 2, preferably 0 or 1, and the sum of a+b is less than or equal to 3; or, ii) amino-functional organopolysiloxane having the general formula V

where R₂ is the same or different and is a monovalent C₁ to C₁₈ hydrocarbyl radical, R¹ is the same or different and is a hydrogen atom, a monovalent, optionally fluorine-, chlorine- or bromine- substituted C₁ to C₁₈ hydrocarbyl radical or a C₁ to C₁₂ alkoxy radical or a hydroxyl radical, preferably a C₁ to C₁₈ hydrocarbyl radical or a C₁ to C₃ alkoxy radical or a hydroxyl radical, where Q is an amino group of the general formula or forms thereof with partial or full protonation on the nitrogen atoms, P0000056CPL k is 0 or 1, m is 0 or an integer from 1 to 1000, n is 0 or an integer from 1 to 50, with the proviso that the organopolysiloxanes contain at least one Q radical per molecule; or, iii) amino-functional organopolysiloxane having the general formula VI ……. (VI) where: A is an amino radical of the formula or a protonated amino form and/or acylated amino form of the amino radical A, X is a monovalent hydrocarbon radical having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms or a polyoxyalkylene group G of the formula R¹ is a C₁ to C₁₀ alkylene radical, preferably a radical of the formula - CH₂CH₂CH₂-, R² is hydrogen or a C₁ to C₄ alkyl radical, preferably hydrogen, R³ is a C₁ to C₁₀ alkylene radical, preferably a radical of the formula -CH₂CH₂-, R⁴ is a C₁ to C₁₀ alkylene radical, preferably a radical of the formula - CH₂CH₂CH₂-, R⁵ is a C₁ to C₄ alkylene radical, preferably a radical of the formula -CH₂CH₂-, or -CH₂CH₂(CH₃)- or mixtures thereof; R⁶ is hydrogen or a C₁ to C₄ alkylene radical, preferably hydrogen or a methyl radical, more preferably hydrogen, n is an integer from 1 to 6, m is an integer from 1 to 200, x is 0 or 1 and y is an integer from 5 to 20, with the proviso that on an average from 30 to 60 mol% of the radicals X are polyoxyalkylene group G; or, iv) amino-functional organopolysiloxane having the general formula VII ……. (VII) where: Y is an amino group of the general formula, or the protonated or acylated amino forms of the amino group Y R¹ is the same or different and is a monovalent C₁ to C₆ alkyl radical or a C₁ to C₆ alkoxy radical or a hydroxyl radical, R is a monovalent C₁ to C₆ alkyl radical, R² is a monovalent C2 to C6 alkyl radical, R³ is a C₁ to C₁₀ alkylene radical, R⁴ is a hydrogen or a C₁ to C₄ alkyl radical, R⁵ and R⁶ independently represent hydrogen or a C₁ to C₄ alkyl radical. j is an integer from 0 to 3, k is an integer from 0 to 3, z is an integer from 1 to 500, n is an integer from 1 to 70, m is an integer from 1 to 10, v is an integer from 0 to 15, x is an integer from 0 to 1. A composition according to claim 6 wherein the diester compound is having the general formula VIII: in which

R¹ may be identical or different. It is selected from straight chain or branched C₁ to C₁₀ -alkyl or C₃ to C₈ -cycloalkyl; m is 0, 1, 2 or 3; n is 2, 3 or 4, and R is H or a straight chain or branched C₁ to C₃₀ alkyl, where at least one radical R is C₁ to C₃₀ alkyl. A composition according to claim 6 wherein the glycerol derivative is selected from those having the general formula IX: …… (IX) wherein the R¹ is H or C₁₂ to C₁₈ saturated or unsaturated alkyl ester and R² is C₁₂ to C₁₈ saturated or unsaturated alkyl ester. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the primary sulphonate anionic detersive surfactant is an alkali metal salt of C₁₀ to C₁₈ alkyl benzene sulfonate. 11 A composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the C₃ to C₁₀ alkyl amine salt of C₉ to C₁₅ alkyl benzene sulphonate cosurfactant is present in an amount ranging from 0.2 wt.% to 5 wt.% in the composition. 12 A composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the primary anionic detersive surfactant is present in an amount ranging from 2 wt.% to 20 wt.% in the composition. 13 A composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the foam suppressing agent is present in an amount ranging from 0.05 wt.% to 2 wt.% in the composition. 14 A method of laundering a textile surface with the detergent composition according to any one of the preceding claims comprising the steps of: i) preparing a wash liquor having an effective amount of foam by contacting the detergent composition according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 13 with a liquid; ii) soaking said textile surface in the wash liquor for a predetermined period of time; and, iii) rinsing the textile surface where the number of rinses required to remove the foam formed in step (i) is less than 3 rinses. 15 Use of a primary anionic detersive surfactant selected from the group consisting of sulfate surfactant, sulphonate surfactant, alkyl ether sulphate surfactant or mixture thereof, a foam suppressing agent, a C₃ to C₁₀ alkyl amine salt of C₉ to C₁₅ alkyl benzene sulphonate cosurfactant to provide good lather generation in the wash liquor during the main wash stage and rapid collapse of lather during rinse stage wherein the rinse stage involves less than 3 rinses.