Title of Invention

"DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS"

Abstract Detergent compositions containing high efficiency lipase enzymes and specific detergent formulations comprising a high reserve alkalinity, greater than 7.5 and less than 15 wt% zeolite and phosphate builder are described. Preferred formulations comprise surfactants selected from alkyl benzene sulphonates in combination with alky ethoxylated sulfates or MES or non-ionic surfactants.
Full Text DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS
Technical field
The present invention relates to laundry detergent compositions and in particular to detergents comprising lipolytic or lipase enzymes.
Background of the Invention and Prior Art
Improved removal of greasy soils is a constant aim for laundry detergent manufacturers. In spite of the use of many effective surfactants and combinations of surfactants, especially when used at low water temperatures, many surfactant-based products still do not achieve complete removal of greasy/oily soils. Lipase enzymes have been used in detergents since the late 1980s for removal of fatty soils by breakdown of fatty soils into tri-glycerides.
Until relatively recently, the main commercially available lipase enzymes, such as Lipolase (trade name, Novozymes) worked particularly effectively at the lower moisture levels of the drying phase of the wash process. These enzymes tended to produce significant cleaning only in the second wash step because the active site of the enzyme was occupied by water during the washing process, so that fat breakdown was significant only on soils remaining on laundered clothes during the drying stage, the broken down fats then being removed in the next washing step. However, more recently, higher efficiency lipases have been developed that also work effectively during the wash phase of the cleaning process, so that as well as cleaning in the second washing step, a significant improvement in cleaning effect due to lipase enzyme can be found in the first wash-cycle. Examples of such enzymes are as described in WO00/60063 and Research Disclsoure IP6553D. Such enzymes are referred to below as first wash lipases. Examples of such enzymes include certain variants of lipolase (wild-type Humicola lanuginosa) which should comprise one or more substitutions with positive amino acids near the N-terminal in the three-dimensional structure. The variants should further comprise a peptide addition at the C-terminal and/or should meet certain limitations on electrically charged amino acids at positions 90-101 and 210.
The problem facing the present inventors was how to maximise performance from this new generation of enzymes. The present inventors found that whilst a small benefit
could be achcivcd formulating such enzymes according to present day delergeni formulations by simply replacing existing lipasc cnzymes with the new generation of enzymes, a considerable improvement in performance was found by formulating the detergent compositions in a different way and even reducing the levels of some conventional detergent ingredients. Furthermore, it is known that the use of lipase enzymes in some conditions can generate malodours as the fatty soils are broken down to tri-glycerides. The present invention aims to alleviate that problem. Definition of the Invention
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a detergent composition comprising a lipasc which is a polypcptidc having an amino acid sequence which: (a) has at least 90% identity with the wild-type lipase derived from Humicola lanuginosa strain DSM 4109; (b) compared to said wild-type lipasc, comprises a substitution of an electrically neutral or negatively charged amino acid at the surface of the three-dimensional structure within 15 Angstroms of El or Q249 with a positively charged amino acid; and (c) comprises a peptide addition at the C-terminal; and/or (d) comprises a peptide addition at the N-terminal and/or (e) meets the following limitations: i) comprises a negative amino acid in position E210 of said wild-type lipase; ii) comprises a negatively charged amino acid in the region corresponding to positions 90-101 of said wild-type lipase; and iii) comprises a neutral or negative amino acid at a position corresponding to N94 of said wild-type lipase and/or has a negative or neutral net electric charge in the region corresponding to positions 90-101 of said wild-type lipase; the detergent composition having a reserve alkalinity of greater than 7.5 and comprising less than 15 wt% aluminosilicate (anhydrous basis) and/or phosphate builder.
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a detergent composition comprising a lipase enzyme producing First Wash lard removal performance better than that produced by WT Lipolasc (tradcnamc from Novozymcs) using the Lard First Wash Test described below, and the detergent composition having a reserve alkalinity greater than 7.5 and comprising less than 15 wt% aluminosilicate builder and/or phosphate builder. WT Lipolase from Novozymes is described in US 5 869 438, seq#2.
In a preferred aspect of the invention, the detergent compositions of the invention comprise less than 15 wt% builders selected from aluminosilicate (zeolite) builder and/or
phosphate builder. In a further preferred aspect of the invention, the compositions comprise less than 10 wt% zeolite and/or phosphate builder, or even less than 5 wt% or 4 wt % zeolite and/or phosphate builder.
The present inventors have found that when a first wash lipase is used in conjunction with high reserve alkalinity and low levels of builder, the problems of malodour formation are reduced or eliminated. Without wishing to be bound by theory the inventors work suggests that this is because the alkalinity in the wash neutralises the malodorous fatly acids produced by break-down of fatly soils by the lipase enzymes and then after neutralisation, calcium salts of the fatty acids form having a significantly lower vapour pressure than the protonatcd fatty acids released by the enzymes.
Surprisingly, even at the low levels of phosphate and zeolite builder, dramatically improved grease removal benefits are obtained compared to formulating lipase with conventional builder levels. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that the presence of divalent cations is enhancing lipase activity by (i) increasing the deposition of enzyme onto the fabric surface and/or (ii) enhancing the precipitation of insoluble fatty acid salts arising from the lipolysis enzymatic process.
While builder reduction or elimination might be expected to raise significant stain removal negatives on, for example, paniculate and beverage stains, we have found that the compositions show unexpectedly good performance. Without wishing to be bound by theory it is believed that this is due to fatty acids released by the lipase during lipolysis of fatty soils acting to (i) destabilize these stains via a hardness sequestration effect and (ii) reduce the wash pH slightly resulting in lightening of pH-scnsitive stains. Detailed Description of the Invention Lipase Enzyme
The reference lipase used in this invention is the wild type lipase derived from Humicola lanuginosa strain DSM 4109. It is described in EP258068 and EP305216 and has the amino acid sequence shown in positions 1-269 of SEQ ID NO: 2 of US5869438 (attached hereto). In this specification, the reference lipase is also referred to as Lipolase. Substitution with Positive Amino Acid
The lipasc of (he invention comprises one or more (e.g. 2-4, particularly two) substitutions of an electrically neutral or negatively charged amino acid near El or Q249 with a positively charged amino acid, preferably R.
The substitution is al the surface of the three-dimensional structure within 15 A of El orQ249, e.g. at any of positions 1-11,90,95, 169, 171-175, 192-211,213-226,228-258, 260-262.
The substitution may be within 10 A of El or Q249, e.g. at any of positions 1-7, 10, 175, 195, 197-202, 204-206, 209, 215, 219-224, 230-239, 242-254.
The substitution may be within 15 A of El, e.g. at any of positions 1-11, 169, 171, 192-199, 217-225, 228-240, 243-247, 249, 261-262.
The substitution is most preferably within 10 A of El, e.g. at any of positions 1-7, 10, 219-224 and 230-239.
Thus, some preferred substitutions are S3R, S224R, P229R, T231R, N233R, D234R and T244R. Peptide Addition at C-Terminal
The lipase may comprise a peptide addition attached to C-terminal L269. The peptide addition improves the first-wash performance in a variety of detergents.
The peptide addition preferably consists of 1-5 amino acids, e.g. 2, 3 or 4 amino acids. The amino acids of the peptide addition will be numbered 270, 271, etc.
The peptide addition may consist of electrically neutral (e.g. hydrophobic) amino acids, e.g. PGL or PG. In an alternative embodiment, the lipase peptide addition consists of neutral (e.g. hydrophobic) amino acids and the amino acid C, and the lipasc comprises substitution of an amino acid with C at a suitable location so as to form a disulflde bridge with the C of the peptide addition. Examples are: 270C linked to G23C or T37C 271C linked to K24C, T37C, N26C or R81C 272C linked to D27C, T35C, E56C, T64C or R81C. Amino Acids at. Positions 90-101 and 210
The lipase used in the invention preferably meets certain limitations on electrically charged amino acids at positions 90-101 and 210. Thus, amino acid 210 may be negative. E210 may be unchanged or it may have the substitution E210D/C/Y, particularly E210D.
The lipasc may comprise a negatively charged amino acid at any of positions 90-101 (particularly 94-101), e.g. at position D96 and/or E99.
Further, the lipase may comprise a neutral or negative amino acid at position N94, i.e. N94 (neutral or negative), e.g. N94N/D/E.
Also, the lipase may have a negative or neutral net electric charge in the region 90-101 (particularly 94-101), i.e. the number of negative amino acids is equal to or greater than the number of positive amino acids. Thus, the region may be unchanged from Lipolase, having two negative amino acids (D96 and E99) and one positive (K98), and having a neutral amino acid at position 94 (N94), or the region may be modified by one or more substitutions.
Alternatively, two of the three amino acids N94, N96 and E99 may have a negative or unchanged electric charge. Thus, all three amino acids may be unchanged or may be changed by a conservative or negative substitution, i.e. N94 (neutral or negative), D(negativc) and E99(negativc). Examples arc N94D/E and D96E. Also, one of the three may be substituted so as to increase the electric charge, i.e. N94 (positive), D96 (neutral or positive) or E99 (neutral or positive). Examples are N94K7R, D96I/L/N/SAV or E99N/Q/K/R/H.
As discussed in WOOO/60063, the substitution of a neutral with a negative amino acid (N94D/E), may improve the performance in an anionic detergent. The substitution of a neutral amino acid with a positive amino acid (N94K/R) may provide a variant lipase with good performance both in an anionic detergent and in an anionic/non-ionic detergent (a detergent with e.g. 40-70 % anionic out of total surfactant). A substitution Q249R/K/H and/or a substitution of R209 with a neutral or negative amino acid (e.g. R209P/S) may be useful. The lipase may optionally comprise the substitution G91A.
The lipase may optionally comprise substitutions of one or more additional amino acids. Such substitutions may, e.g. be made according to principles known in the art, e.g. substitutions described in WO92/05249, WO94/25577, WO95/22615, WO97/04079 and WO97/07202. Specific examples of suitable combinations of substitutions are given in the table bridging pages 4 and 5 of WOOO/60063. Nomenclature for amino acid modifications is as described in WOOO/60063.

The preferred lipasc enzymes are described in WOOO/60063, the most preferred being Lipex (registered Iradcnamc of Novo/ymcs). a variant of the Humicola lanuginosa (Thermomyces lanuginosits) lipase (Lipolase registered tradename of Novo/.ymcs) with the mutations T231R and N233R.
The lipase enzyme incorporated into the detergent compositions of the present invention is generally present in an amount of 10 to 20000 LU/g of the detergent composition, or even ] 00 to 10000 LU/g. The LU unit for lipase activity is defined in WO99/42566. The lipase dosage in the wash solution is typically from 0.01 to 5 mg/1 active lipase protein, more typically from 0.1 to 2mg/l as enzyme protein.
The lipasc cnzymc may be incorporated into the detergent composition in any convenient form, generally in the form of a non-dusting granulate, a stabilised liquid or a protected, for example, coated enzyme particle. Lard First Wash Test
Whether any specific lipasc enzyme gives better First Wash Jard removal performance than WT Lipolase (from Novozymes, described in US 5869438, seq#2), can be determined by comparing the performance results of WT Lipolase with the performance results of the specific lipase enzyme according to the following test: The wash performance of lipolytic enzymes is tested in a one cycle wash trial carried out in a thermostated Terg-O-Tometer (TOM) followed by line-drying. The experimental conditions are as follows: Wash liquor: 1000ml per beaker
Swatches: 7 flat cotton swatches (9X9cm) (supplied by Warwick-Equcst) per beaker Stain: Lard coloured red with sudan red dye (Sigma) (0.75mg Sudan red/g lard). 50 µl of lard/sudan red heated to 70°C are applied to the centre of each swatch. After application of the stain the swatches are heated in an oven for 25 minutes at 75°C and then stored overnight at room temperature.Water for preparing wash liquor: 3.2mM Ca 2+/Mg2+ (in a ratio of 5:1) Detergent: 5g/l of detergent composition A. Detergent Composition A: 0.300g/l alky] sulphate (AS; C14-16) 0.650g/l of alcohol ethoxylate (AEO; C12-14, 6EO)
1.750g/l/zeolite P
0.145g/lNa2CO3
0.02Og/l Sokalan CP5 (BASF)
0.050g/l CMC(carboxy methyl cellulose)
5g/l of detergent composition A are mixed into deionised water with added hardness (3.2
mM Ca2/Mg2+ (5:1)) and the pH artificially adjusted to pH 10.2 by adding NaOH.
Lipasc enzyme is added.
Concentration of lipolytic en/.yme: 0 and 12500 LU/1
Wash time: 20 minutes
Wash temperature: 30°C
Rinse: 15 minutes in running tap water
Drying: overnight at room conditions (approx. 20°C, 30 -40 % RH).
Evaluation: the reflectance was measured at 460nm.
The percentage of lard removed is determined as:
Delta reflectance (dR) defined as:
(R(Swatches washed in detergent with lipase)-R(Swatches washed in detergent without
lipase)
The reflectance (which may also be termed remission) is measured on an Elrcpho 2000
apparatus from Datacolor which illuminates the sample with 2 xenon blitz lamps and
measures the amount of reflected light so that entirely white corresponds to a 100%
reflectance and entirely black a 0% reflectance. Comparing the results for lard removal
due to the presence of enzyme, lipase enzymes giving better performance than WT
Lipolase™ are suitable for use in the compositions of the present invention.
Reserve Alkalinity
As used herein, the term "reserve alkalinity" is a measure of the buffering capacity of the
detergent composition (g/NaOH/lOOg detergent composition) determined by titrating a
1% (w/v) solution of detergent composition with hydrochloric acid to pH 7.5 i.e in order
to calculate Reserve Alkalinity as defined herein:
Reserve Alkalinity (to pH 7.5) as % alkali in g NaOH/100 g product = T x M x 40 x Vol
lOxWtx Aliquot

T = litre (ml) to pH 7.5
M - Molarityof HCl = 0.2
40 = Molecular weight of NaOH
Vol = Total volume (ie. 1000 ml)
W = Weight of product (10 g)
Aliquot = (100ml)
Obtain a lOg sample accurately weighed to two decimal places, of fully formulated detergent composition. The sample should be obtained using a Pascall sampler in a dust cabinet. Add the lOg sample to a plastic beaker and add 200 ml of carbon dioxide-free deionised water. Agitate using a magnetic stirrer on a stirring plate at 150 rpm until fully dissolved and for at least 15 minutes. Transfer the contents of the beaker to a 1 litre volumetric flask and make up to 1 litre with deionised water. Mix well and take a 100 mis ± 1 ml aliquot using a 100 mis pipette immediately. Measure and record the pH and temperature of the sample using a pH meter capable of reading to ±0.01pH units, with stirring, ensuring temperature is 21 °C +/- 2°C. Titrate whilst stirring with 0.2M hydrochloric acid until pH measures exactly 7.5. Note the millilitres of hydrochloric acid used. Take the average litre of three identical repeats. Carry out the calculation described above to calculate RA to pH 7.5.
The RA of the detergent compositions of the invention will be greater than 7.5 and preferably greater than 8. The RA may be greater than 9 or even greater than 9.5 or 10 or higher. The RA may be up to 20 or higher.
Adequate reserve alkalinity may be provided, for example, by one or more of alkali metal silicates (excluding crystalline layered silicate), typically amorphous silicate salts, generally 1.2 to 2.2 ratio sodium salts, alkali metal typically sodium carbonate, bicarbonate and/or sesquicarbonates. STPP and persalts such as perborates and percarbonates also contribute to alkalinity. Buffering is necessary to maintain an alkaline pH during the wash process counteracting the acidity of soils, especially fatty acids liberated by the lipase enzyme.
The detergent composition preferably comprises from 0 wt% to 50 wt% silicate salt, more usually 5 to 30 wt% silicate salt, or 7 to 20 wt% silicate salt, usually sodium silicate.
In order to provide the desired reserve alkalinity the detergent compositions of the invention may comprise a carbonate salt, typically from 1 wl% to 70 wl%, or from 5 wt% to 50 wt% or from 10 wt% to 30 wl% carbonate salt. Preferred carbonate salts are sodium carbonate and/or sodium bicarbonate and/or sodium sesquicarbonale. The carbonate salt may be incorporated into the detergent composition wholly or partially via a mixed salt such as Burkeite. A highly preferred carbonate salt is sodium carbonate. Preferably, the composition may comprise from 5 wt.% to 50 wt% sodium carbonate, or from 10 to 40 wt% or even 15 to 35 wl% sodium carbonate. It may also be desired for the composition to comprise from 1 wt% to 20 wt% sodium bicarbonate, or even 2 to 10 or 8 wt%.
If zeolite is present, it may be desired for the weight ratio of sodium carbonate and/or sodium silicate to zeolite builder to be at least 5:1, preferably at least 10:1, or at least 15:1, or at least 20:1 or even at least 25:1
The carbonate salt, or at least part thereof, is typically in particulate form, typically having a weight average particle size in the range of from 200 to 500 micrometers. However, it may be preferred for the carbonate salt, or at least part thereof, to be in micronised paniculate form, typically having a weight average particle size in the range of from 4 to 40 micrometers; this is especially preferred when the carbonate salt, or at least part thereof, is in the form of a co-particulate admixture with a detersive surfactant, such as an alkoxylated anionic detersive surfactant.
In order to provide the required reserve alkalinity, preferably the levels of carbonate and/or silicate salts, typically sodium carbonate and sodium silicate will be from 10 to 70 wt%, or from 10 or even 15 to 50 wt% based on the total weight of the composition. Builders
Commercially available laundry detergents comprise strong inorganic builder, with either phosphate builder typically sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP), or zeolite typically sodium aluminosilicate builder being used as the predominant strong builder. Generally such strong builders are present at relatively high levels such as 20 wt% or even higher, for example even up to 40 wt%. In accordance with the present invention, the amount of strong builder selected from phosphate and/or zeolite builder is less than 15 wt% based on the total weight of the detergent composition, preferably below 10 wt%, or even below 8 or 5 or 4 or 3 or 2 wt% .

Thus, the compositions of the inversion may comprise from 0 wt% lo Jess than 15wt% zeolite builder, and 0 wi% to less than 15 wt% phosphate builder, the totaf amounl of phosphate and/or zeolite not exceeding 15 wt%, and preferably being below 10 wt% as described above. Preferably Ihc compositions of the invention comprise from 0 wt% to 8 \vl%, or from 0 wt% to 5 or 4 wi%, or from 0 wt% lo 3 or even Jess than 2 wt% zeolite builder. It may even be preferred for the composition to be essentially free from zeolite builder. By essentially free from zeolite builder it is typically meant that the composition comprises no deliberately added zeolite builder. This is especially preferred if it is desirable for the composition to be very highly soluble, to minimise the amount of water-insoluble residues (for example, which may deposit on fabric surfaces), and also when it is highly desirable to have transparent wash liquor. Zeolite builders include zeolite A, zeolite X, zeolite P and zeolite MAP.
The compositions of the invention may comprise from 0 wt% to less than 15wt% phosphate builder. The composition preferably comprises from 0 wt.% to 8 wt%, or from 0 wt% to 5 or 4 wt.%, or from 0 wt% to 3 or even 2 wt% phosphate builder. It may even be preferred for the composition to be essentially free from phosphate builder. By essentially free from phosphate builder it is typically meant that the composition comprises no deliberately added phosphate builder. This is especially preferred if it is desirable for the composition to have a very good environmental profile. Phosphate builders include sodium tripolyphosphate.
In a further preferred aspect of the invention, the total level of weak builders selected from layered silicate (SKS-6), citric acid, citrate salts and nitrilo triacetic acid or salt thereof is below 15 wt%, more preferably below 8 wt%, more preferably below 4 wt% or even below 3 or 2 wl% based on the total weight of the detergent composition. Typically the level of each of layered silicate, citric acid, citrate salts and nitrilo triacetic acid or salt, thereof will be below 10 wt% or even below 5 wt.% or wt% based on the total weight of the composition.
Although builders bring several benefits to the formulator, their main role is to sequester divalent metal ions (such as calcium and magnesium ions) from the wash solution that would otherwise interact negatively with The surfactant system. Builders are also effective at removing metal ions and inorganic soils from the fabric surface too,
leading to improved removal of paniculate and beverage stains. It would therefore he expected that reduction of their levels would ncgalivcly impact on cleaning performance and therefore, preparation of detergent compositions that are effective with the claimed reduced levels of phosphate and zeolite builders is surprising. Surfactant
A highly preferred adjunct component of the compositions of the invention is a surfactant. Preferably, the detergent composition comprises one or more surfactants. Typically, the detergent composition comprises (by weight of the composition) from 0% to 50%, preferably from 5% and more preferably from 10 or even 15 wt% to 40%, or to 30%, or to 20% one or more surfactants. Preferred surfactants arc anionic surfactants, non-ionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, zwitterionic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, cationic surfactants and mixtures thereof. Anionic surfactants
Suitable anionic surfactants typically comprise one or more moieties selected from the group consisting of carbonate, phosphate, phosphonate, sulphate, sulphonate, carboxylate and mixtures thereof. The anionic surfactant may be one or mixtures of more than one of C8-18 alkyl sulphates and C8-18 alkyl sulphonates. Suitable anionic surfactants incorporated alone or in mixtures in the compositions of the invention arc also the C8-18 alkyl sulphates and/or C8-18 alkyl sulphonates optionally condensed with from 1 to 9 moles of CM alkylene oxide per mole of C8-18 alkyl sulphate and/or C8-18 alkyl sulphonate. The alkyl chain of the C8-18 alkyl sulphates and/or C8-18 alkyl sulphonates may be linear or branched, preferred branched alkyl chains comprise one or more branched moieties that are C1-6 alkyl groups. More particularly, suitable anionic surfactants include the C10-C20 primary, branched-chain, linear-chain and random-chain alkyl sulphates (AS), typically having the following formula:
CH3(CH2)XCH2-OSO3" M+
wherein, M is hydrogen or a cation which provides charge neutrality, preferred cations are sodium and ammonium cations, wherein x is an integer of at least 7, preferably at least 9; C10-C18 secondary (2,3) alkyl sulphates, typically having the following formulae:

OSO3 IVf OSO, M"
CH3(CH2)X(CH)CH3 or CH3(CH2)y(CU)CH2CH3
wherein, M is hydrogen or a cation which provides charge neutrality, preferred cations include sodium and ammonium canons, wherein x is an integer of at least 7, preferably al least 9, y is an integer of at least 8, preferably at least 9; C10-C18 alkyl alkoxy carboxylates; mid-chain branched alkyl sulphates as described in more detail in US 6,020,303 and US 6,060,443; modified alkylbenzene sulphonate (MLAS) as described in more detail in WO 99/05243, WO 99/05242, WO 99/05244, WO 99/05082, WO 99/05084, WO 99/05241, WO 99/07656, WO 00/23549, and WO 00/23548 and mixtures thereof.
Preferred anionic surfactants are C8-18 alkyl benzene sulphates and/or C8-18 alkyl benzene sulphonates. The alkyl chain of the C8-18 alkyl benzene sulphates and/or C8-18 alkyl benzene sulphonates may be linear or branched, preferred branched alkyl chains comprise one or more branched moieties that are C1-6 alky! groups.
Other preferred anionic surfactants are selected from the group consisting of: C8-18 alkenyl sulphates, C8-18 alkenyl sulphonates, C8-18 alkenyl benzene sulphates, C8-18 alkenyl benzene sulphonates, C8-18 alky] di-methyl benzene sulphate, Cs-is alkyl di-methyl benzene sulphonate, fatty acid ester sulphonates, di-alkyl sulphosuccinates, and combinations thereof. Other useful anionic surfactants herein include the esters of alpha-sulfonated fatty acids, typically containing from 6 to 20 carbon atoms in the fatty acid group and from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the ester group; 2-acyloxy-alkane-l-sulfonic acid and salts thereof, typically containing from about 2 to 9 carbon atoms in the acyl group and from about 9 to 23 carbon atoms in the alkane moiety; alpha-olefin sulfonates (AOS), typically containing from about 12 to 24 carbon atoms; and beta-alkoxy alkane sulfonates, typically containing from about 1 to 3 carbon atoms in live alkyl group and from about 8 to 20 carbon alorns in the alkane moiety. Also useful are the sulphonation products of fatty acid esters containing an alkyl group typically with from 10 to 20 carbon atoms. Preferred are C1-4, most preferably rnelhyl ester sulphonates. Preferred are C16-18 methyl ester sulphonules (MES).

The anionic surfactants may be present in the salt form. For example, the anionic surfaciant(8) may be an alkali metal salt of any of the above. Preferred alkali metals arc sodium, potassium and mixtures thereof.
Preferred anionic detersive surfactants arc selected from the group consisting of: linear or branched, substituted or unsubstiluled, C12-18 alkyl sulphates: linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituled, C10-13 alkylbenzenc sulphonates, preferably linear CK> B alkylbenzcne sulphonates; and mixtures (hereof. Highly preferred are linear CC8-18 alkylben/ene sulphonales. Highly preferred are linear C10- 13 alkylben/,ene sulphonales that are obtainable, preferably obtained, by sulphonating commercially available linear alkyl benzenes (LAB); suitable LAB include low 2-phcnyl LAB, such as those supplied by Sasol under the tradename Isochem® or those supplied by Petresa under the tradename Petrelab®, other suitable LAB include high 2-phenyl LAB, such as those supplied by Sasol under the tradename Hyblene®.
It may be preferred for the anionic detersive surfactant to be structurally modified in such a manner as to cause the anionic detersive surfactant to be more calcium tolerant and less likely to precipitate out of the wash liquor in the presence of free calcium ions. This structural modification could be the introduction of a methyl or ethyl moiety in the vicinity of the head group of the anionic detersive surfactant, as this can lead to a more calcium tolerant anionic detersive surfactant due to steric hindrance of the head group, which may reduce the affinity of the anionic detersive surfactant for complexing with free calcium cations in such a manner as to cause precipitation out of solution. Other structural modifications include the introduction of functional moieties, such as an aminc moiety, in the alkyl chain of the anionic detersive surfactant; this can lead to a more calcium tolerant anionic detersive surfactant because the presence of a functional group in the alkyl chain of an anionic detersive surfactant may minimise the undesirable physicochemical property of the anionic detersive surfactant to form a smooth crystal structure in the presence of free calcium ions in the wash liquor. This may reduce the tendency of the anionic detersive surfactant to precipitate out of solution. Alkoxvlated anionic surfactants
The composition may comprise an alkoxylated anionic surfactant. Where present such a surfactant will generally be present in amounts form 0.1 wt% to 40 wt%, generally
0.1 to 10 wt%based on the detergent composition as a whole. It may he preferred for the composition to comprise from 3wt% to 5wt% alkoxylatcd anionic detersive surfactant, or it may be preferred for the composition to comprise from 1 wt% to 3wt% alkoxylaled anionic detersive surfactant.
Preferably, the alkoxylated anionic detersive surfactant is a linear or branched, substituted or unsubstiluted C12-18 alkyl alkoxylated sulphate having an average degree of alkoxylation of from 1 to 30, preferably from 1 to 10. Preferably, the alkoxylaled anionic detersive surfactant is a linear or branched, substituted or unsubstiuted C12-18 alkyl ethoxylated sulphate having an average degree of ethoxylation of from 1 to 10. Most preferably, the alkoxylatcd anionic detersive surfactant is a linear unsubstitutcd C12-18 alkyl ethoxylaled sulphate having an average degree of ethoxylation of from 3 to 7.
The alkoxylated anionic detersive surfactant may also increase the non-alkoxylated anionic detersive surfactant activity by making the non-alkoxylated anionic detersive surfactant less likely to precipitate out of solution in the presence of free calcium cations. Preferably, the weight ratio of non-alkoxylated anionic detersive surfactant to alkoxylated anionic detersive surfactant is less than 5:1, or less than 3:1, or less than 1.7:1, or even less than 1.5:1. This ratio gives optimal whiteness maintenance performance combined with a good hardness tolcrcncy profile and a good sudsing profile. However, it may be preferred that the weight ratio of non-alkoxylated anionic detersive surfactant to alkoxylated anionic detersive surfactant is greater than 5:1, or greater than 6:1, or greater than 7:1, or even greater than 10:1. This ratio gives optimal greasy soil cleaning performance combined with a good hardness tolcrcncy profile, and a good sudsing profile. Suitable alkoxylated anionic detersive surfactants are: Texapan LEST™ by Cognis; Cosmacol AES™ by Sasol; BES151™ by Stephan; Empicol ESC70/U™; and mixtures thereof. Non-ionic detersive surfactant
The compositions of the invention may comprise non-ionic surfactant. Where present it is generally present in amounts of from 0.5wt% to 20, more typically 0.5 to 10 wt% based on the total weight of the composition. The composition may comprise from 1 wt% to 7wt% or from 2wt% to 4wt% non-ionic detersive surfactant. The inclusion of

non-ionic detersive surfactant in the composition helps to provide a good overall cleaning profile, especially when laundering at high temperatures such as 60oC or higher.
The non-ionic detersive surfactant can be selected from the group consisting of: C12-C18 alkyl ethoxylates, such as, NEODOL® non-ionic surfactants from Shell; C6-C12 alky] phenol alkoxylates wherein the alkoxylate units are ethylencoxy units, propylcneoxy units or a mixture thereof; C12-C18 alcohol and C6-C13 alkyl phenol condensates with ethylene oxide/propylenc oxide block polymers such as Pluronic® from BASF; C14-C22 mid-chain branched alcohols, BA, as described in more detail in US 6,150,322; C14-C22 mid-chain branched alkyl alkoxylates, BAEX wherein x = from 1 to 30, as described in more detail in US 6,153,577, US 6,020,303 and US 6,093,856; alkylpolysaccharidcs as described in more detail in US 4,565,647, specifically alkylpolyglycosides as described in more detail in US 4,483,780 and US 4,483,779; polyhydroxy fatty acid amides as described in more detail in US 5,332,528, WO 92/06162, WO 93/19146, WO 93/19038, and WO 94/09099; ether capped poly(oxyalkylatcd) alcohol surfactants as described in more detail in US 6,482,994 and WO 01/42408; and mixtures thereof.
The non-ionic detersive surfactant could be an alky] polyglucoside and/or an alkyl alkoxylated alcohol. Preferably the non-ionic detersive surfactant is a linear or branched, substituted or unsubstitutcd Cg-ig alkyl clhoxylatcd alcohol having an average degree of ethoxylation of from 1 to 50, more preferably from 3 to 40. Non-ionic surfactants having a degree of elhoxylation from 3 to 9 may be especially useful either. Nonionic surfactants having an HLB value of from 13 to 25, such as C8-18 alkyl ethoxylated alcohols having an average degree of ethoxylation from 15 to 50, or even from 20 to 50 may also be preferred non-ionic surfactants in the compositions of the invention. Examples of these latter non-ionic surfactants are Lulensol AO30 and similar materials disclosed in WO04/041982. These may be beneficial as they have good lime soap dispersant properties.
The non-ionic detersive surfactant not only provides additional soil cleaning performance but may also increase the anionic detersive surfactant activity by making the anionic detersive surfactant less likely to precipitate out of solution in the presence of free calcium cations. Preferably, the weight ratio of non-alkoxylated anionic detersive surfactant to non-ionic detersive surfactant is in the range of less than 8:1, or less than 7:1,
or less than 6:1 or less than 5:1, preferably from 1:1 to 5: i, or from 2:1 to 5:1, or even
from 3:1 to 4:1.
Cationic detersive surfactant
In one aspect of the invention, the detergent compositions are free of cationic surfactant. However, the composition optionally may comprise from 0.1 wt% to 10 or 5wt% cationic detersive surfactant. When present however, preferably the composition comprises from 0.5wl% to 3wl%, or from 1% to 3wt%, or even from 1 wt% to 2wt% cationic detersive surfactant. This is the optimal level of cationic detersive surfactant to provide good cleaning. Suitable cationic detersive surfactants are alkyl pyridinium compounds, alkyl quaternary ammonium compounds, alkyl quaternary phosphonium compounds, and alky] ternary sulphonium compounds. The cationic detersive surfactant can be selected from the group consisting of: alkoxylate quaternary ammonium (AQA) surfactants as described in more detail in US 6,136,769; dimethyl hydroxyethyl quaternary ammonium as described in more detail in US 6,004,922; polyaminc cationic surfactants as described in more detail in WO 98/35002, WO 98/35003, WO 98/35004, WO 98/35005, and WO 98/35006; cationic ester surfactants as described in more detail in US 4,228,042, US 4,239,660, US 4,260,529 and US 6,022,844; amino surfactants as described in more detail in US 6,221,825 and WO 00/47708, specifically amido propyldimethy] amine; and mixtures thereof. Preferred cationic detersive surfactants are quaternary ammonium compounds having the general formula:
(R)(R1)(R2)(R3)N+X
wherein, R is a linear or branched, substituted or unsubstitutcd C6-18 alkyl or alkenyl moiety, R1 and R2 are independently selected from methyl or ethyl moieties, R3 is a hydroxyl, hydroxymethyl or a hydroxyelhyl moiety, X is an anion which provides charge neutrality, preferred anions include halides (such as chloride), sulphate and sulphonate. Preferred cationic detersive surfactants arc mono-C6-18 alkyl mono-hydroxyethyl dimethyl quaternary ammonium chlorides. Highly preferred cationic detersive surfactants are mono-C8-10 alkyl mono-hydroxyethyl di-methyl quaternary ammonium chloride, mono-C10-12 alkyl mono-hydroxyethyl di-methyl quaternary ammonium chloride and mono-C10 alkyl mono-hydroxyethyl di-methyl quaternary ammonium chloride. Cationic

surfactants such as Pracpagen HY (tradename Clariant) may be useful and may also be useful as a suds booster.
The cationic detersive surfactant provides additional greasy soil cleaning performance. However, the cationic detersive surfactant may increase the tendency of any non-alkoxylated anionic detersive surfactant to precipitate out of solution. Preferably, the cationic detersive surfactant and any non-alkoxylated anionic detersive surfactant arc separated in the detergent composition of the invention, for example if cationic surfactant is present, preferably the cationic a dn any anionic surfactant, particularly non-alkoxylated anionic surfactant will be present in the composition in separate particles. This minimises any effect that any cationic detersive surfactant may have on the undesirable precipitation of the anionic detersive surfactant, and also ensures that upon contact with water, the resultant wash liquor is not cloudy. If cationic surfactant is present, preferably the weight ratio of non-alkoxylated anionic detersive surfactant to cationic detersive surfactant is in the range of from 5:1 to 25:1, more preferably from 5:1 to 20:1 or from 6:1 to 15:1, or from 7:1 to 10:1, or even from 8:1 to 9:1.
Typically, the detergent composition comprises from 1 to 50 wt% anionic surfactant, more typically from 2 to 40 wt%. Alkyl benzene sulphonates are preferred anionic surfactants.
Preferred compositions of the present invention comprise at least two different surfactants in combination comprising at least one selected from a first group, the first group comprising alky] benzene sulphonate and MES surfactant; and at least one selected from a second group, the second group comprising alkoxylatcd anionic surfactant, MES and alkoxylated non-ionic surfactant and alpha olefin sulfonates (AOS). A particularly preferred combination comprises alkyl benzene sulphonate, preferably LAS in combination with MES. A further particularly preferred combination comprises alkyl benzene sulphonate, preferably LAS with an alkoxylated anionic surfactant, preferably C8-18 alkyl alkoxylatcd sulphate having an average degree of alkoxylation of from 1 to 10. A third particularly preferred combination comprises alkyl benzene sulphonate, preferably LAS in combination with an alkoxylated non-ionic surfactant, preferably C8-18 alkyl ethoxylated alcohol having a degree of alkoxylation of from 15 to 50, preferably from 20 to 40.

The weight ratio of the surfactant from the first group to the weight ratio of the surfactant from the second group is typically 1:5 to 100:1, preferably 1:2 lo 100:1 or 1:1 to 50:1 or even to 20:1 or 10:1. The levels of the surfactants arc as described above under the specific classes of surfactants. Presence of AE3S and/or MES in the system is preferred on account of their exceptional hardness-tolerance and ability to disperse lime soaps which are formed during the wash by lipase.
In a further embodiment, the surfactant in the detergent compositions of the invention comprises at least three surfactants, at least one from each of the first and second groups defined above and in addition a third surfactant, preferably also from the first or second groups defined above.
The detergent compositions of the invention may surprisingly contain relatively low levels of surfactant and yet still perform good cleaning, on account of the soil removal functionality delivered by the lipase, so that the overall level of surfactant may be below 12 wt%, or 10 wt% or 8 wt% based on total weight of the composition Polymeric polycarboxylate
It may be desired for the compositions of the invention to comprise at least 0.1 wt%, or at least 0.5 wt%, or at least 2 or 3 wt%, or even at least 5 wt% polymeric polycarboxylates up to levels of 30 wt% or 20 wl% or 10 wt%. Preferred polymeric polycarboxylates include: polyacrylates, preferably having a weight average molecular weight of from l,OOODa lo 20,OOODa; co-polymers of maleic acid and acrylic acid, preferably having a molar ratio of maleic acid monomers to acrylic acid monomers of from 1:1 to 1:10 and a weight average molecular weight of from lO.OOODa to 200,OOODa, or preferably having a molar ratio of maleic acid monomers to acrylic acid monomers of from 0.3:1 to 3:1 and a weight average molecular weight of from l,OOODa to 50,OOODa. Suitable polycarboxylates are the Sokalan CP, PA and HP ranges (BASF) such as Sokalan CP5, PA40 and HP22, and the Alcospcrsc range of polymers (Alco) such as Alcosperse 725, 747,408,412 and 420. Soil dispersant
It may also be preferred for the composition to comprise a soil dispersant having the formula:
bis((C2H5O)(C2H4O)n)(CH3)-N+-CxH2x-N+-(CH3)-bis((C2H5O)(C2H4O)n)
wherein, n = from 20 to 30, and x = from 3 10 8. Other suitable soil dispersants arc sulphonated or sulphated soil dispersanls having the fomiula:
sulphonated or sulphated bis((C2H5O)(C2H4O)n)(CH3)-N+-CxH3x-N"-(CH3)-
bis((C2H5OXC2H4O)n)
wherein, n = from 20 to 30, and x = from 3 to 8. Preferably, the composition comprises at least lwt%, or at least 2wt%, or at least 3wt% soil dispersants.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, (he detergent composition also comprises a suds booster, typically in amounts from 0.01 to 10 wl%, preferably in amounts from 0.02 to 5 wt% based on the total weight of the composition. Suitable suds boosters include fatty acid amides, fatty acid alkalonamidcs, bctaincs, sulfobctaincs and amine oxides. Particularly preferred materials are cocamidopropyl betaine, cocomonoethanolamide and amine oxide. A suitable amine oxide is Admox 12, supplied by Albemarle. Lime Soap Dispersants
Since these lipase enzymes release soil into the wash water, it may be particularly preferred for the detergent compositions of the invention to additionally comprise anti-redeposition polymers such as the polymeric polycarboxylates described above. In addition, or alternatively, cellulose ethers such as carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) will be useful. A suitable CMC is Tylose CR1500 G2, sold by Clariant. Suitable polymers are also sold by Andercol, Colombia under the Texlilan brand name.
It is especially preferred to include additives with lime soap dispersancy functionality such as the aforementioned MES, AES, highly cthoxylatcd nonionic surfactant or polymers showing excellent lime soap dispersancy such as Acusol 460N (Rohm & Haas). Lists of suitable lime soap dispersants are given in the following references and documents cited therein.
WO9407974 (P&G), WO9407984 (P&G), WO9407985 (P&G), WO9504806 (P&G), WO9703379 (P&G), US6770610 (Clariant), EP0324568 (Rohm & Haas), EP0768370 (Rohm & Haas), M.K. Nagarajan and W.F. Masler, Cosmetics and Toiletries, 1989, 104, pp71-73, W. M. Linfield, Tenside Surf. Det, 1990, 27, pp!59-161, R.G. Bistline et al, J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc, 1972, 49, pp63-69

Presence of a soil release polymer has been found to be especially beneficial in further strengthening the slain removal and cleaning benefits of the development, especially on synthetic fibres. Modified cellulose ethers such as methyl hydroxyelhyl cellulose (MHEC), for example as sold by Clariant as Tylosc MH50 G4 and Tylose MH300 G4, are preferred. Polyester-based Soil Release Polymers are especially preferred as they can also be effective as lime soap dispersants. Examples of suitable materials are Repel-o-Tex PF (supplied by Rhodia), Texcare SRA100 (supplied by Clarianl) and SokalanSRl00(BASF)
The formulations may contain one or more other enzymes in addition to the first wash lipasc, for example protease, amylasc, ccllulasc (especially cndoglucanasc), pectatc lyase and/or mannanase.
The detergent compositions of the invention may be in any convenient form such as solids such as powdered or granular or tablet solids, bars, or liquids which may be aqueous or on-aqueous, gels or liquigcls. Any of these forms may be partially or completely encapsulated. However, the present invention particularly relates to solid detergent compositions, especially granular compositions. Where the detergent compositions of the invention are solid, conventionally, surfactants are incorporated into agglomerates, cxtrudatcs or spray dried particles along with solid materials, usually builders, and these may be admixed to produce a fully formulated detergent composition according to the invention. When present in (he granular form the detergent compositions of the present invention are preferably those having an overall bulk density of from 350 to 1200 g/1, more preferably 450 to 1000g/l or even 500 to 900g/l. Preferably, the detergent particles of the detergent composition in a granular form have a size average particle size of from 200µm to 2000µm, preferably from 350µm to 600p.m. Generally the detergent compositions of the invention will comprise a mixture of detergent particles including combinations of agglomerates, spray-dried powders and/or dry added materials such as bleaching agents, enzymes etc.
In one aspect of the invention the detergent compositions of the invention comprise an anionic surfactant from the list above which is a iron-alkoxylated anionic detersive surfactant and this is preferably incorporated into the detergent composition in particulate form, such as via an agglomerate, a spray-dried powder, an extrudate, a bead, a noodle, a

needle or a flake. Spray-dried particles are preferred. If via an agglomerate, the agglomerate preferably comprises at least 20%, by weight of the agglomerate, of a non-alkoxylated anionic detersive surfactant, more preferably from 25wt% to 65wt%, by weight of the agglomerate, of a non-alkoxylaled anionic detersive surfactant. H may be preferred for part of the non-alkoxyfaied anionic detersive surfactant to be in the form of a spray-dried powder (e.g. a blown powder), and for part of (he non-alkoxylaled anionic detersive surfactant to be in the form of a non-spray-dricd powder (e.g. an agglomerate, or an extrudale, or a flake such as a linear alkyl benzene sulphonale flake; suitable linear alkyl benzene sulphonale flakes are supplied by Pilot Chemical under the tradename F90®, or by Stcpan under the tradename Nacconol 90G®). This is especially preferred when it is desirable to incorporate high levels of non-alkoxylaled anionic detersive surfactant in the composition.
Any alkoxylated anionic detersive surfactant may be incorporated into the detergent composilons of the invention via a spray-dried particle of a non-spray-dricd powder such as an extrudate, agglomerate, preferably an agglomerate. Non- spray dried particles are preferred when it is desirable lo incorporate high levels of alkoxylated anionic detersive surfactant in the composition
Any non-ionic detersive surfactant, or at least part thereof, can be incorporated into the composition in the form of a liquid spray-on, wherein the non-ionic detersive surfactant, or al least part thereof, in liquid form (e.g. in the form of a hot-melt) is sprayed onto the remainder of the composition. The non-ionic detersive surfactant, or at least part thereof, may be in included into a paniculate for incorporation into the detergent composition of the invention and the non-ionic detersive surfactant, or at least part thereof, may be dry-added to the remainder of the composition. The non-ionic surfactant, or at least part thereof, may be in the form of a co-particulate admixture with a solid carrier material such as carbonate salt, .sulphate salt, burkeitc, silica or any mixture thereof.
Any non-ionic detersive surfactant, or at least part thereof, may be in a co-particulate admixture with either an alkoxyJated anionic detersive surfactant, a non-alkoxylated anionic detersive surfactant or a cationic detersive surfactant. The non-ionic detersive surfactant, or at least part thereof, may be agglomerated or extruded with either

an alkoxylated anionic detersive surfactant, a non-alkoxyla(ed anionic detersive surfactant
or a cationic detersive surfactant.
The cationic detersive surfactant if present may be incorporated into the
composition by incorporation in a particulate, such as a spray-dried powder, an
agglomerate, an extrudate, a flake, a noodle, a needle, or any combination thereof.
Preferably, the cationic detersive surfactant, or at least part thereof, is in the form of a
spray-dried powder or an agglomerate.
First, second and third surfactant components
In a further aspect of the invention a detergent composition is provided comprising
granular components, and comprising al least, two separate surfactant components or even
at least three separate surfactant components: a first, a second and an optional third
surfactant component. These separate surfactant components may be present in separate
particulates so that at least two surfactant components are separate from one another in
the detergent composition.
The composition preferably comprises a( least two separate surfactant components,
each in particulate form. It may be preferred for the composition to comprise at least three
separate surfactant components, each in paniculate form.
The first surfactant component predominantly comprises an alkoxylatcd detersive
surfactant. By predominantly comprises, it is meant that the first surfactant component comprises greater than 50%, by weight of the first surfactant component., of an alkoxylated anionic detersive surfactant, preferably greater than 60%, or greater than 70%, or greater than 80%, or greater then 00% or even essentially 100%, by weight of the first, surfactant component, of an alkoxylated anionic detersive surfactant. Preferably, the first surfactant component comprises less than 10%, by weight of the first surfacianl component, of a non-alkoxylated anionic detersive surfactant, preferably less than 5%, or less than 2%, or even 0%, by weight of the first surfactant component, of a non-alkoxylated anionic detersive surfactant. Preferably, the first surfactant component is essentially free from non-alkoxylated anionic detersive surfactant. By essentially free from non-alkoxylated anionic detersive surfactant it is typically meant that the first surfactant component comprises no deliberately added non-alkoxylated anionic detersive surfactant. This is especially preferred in order to ensure that the composition has good

dispensing and dissolution profiles, and also to ensure that the composition provides a clear wash liquor upon dissolution in water.
If cationic detersive surfactant is present in the composition, then preferably the first surfactant component comprises less than 10%, by weight of the first surfactant component, of a cationic detersive surfactant, preferably less than 5%, or less than 2%, or even 0%, by weight of the first surfactant component, of a cationic detersive surfactant. Preferably, Ihe first surfactant component is essentially free from cationic detersive surfactant. By essentially free from calionic detersive surfactant it is typically meant that the first surfactant component comprises no deliberately added calionic detersive surfactant. This is especially preferred in order to reduce the degree of surfactant gelling in the wash liquor.
The first surfactant component is preferably in the form of a spray-dried powder, an agglomerate, an extrudate or a flake. If the first surfactant component is in the form of an agglomerate particle or an extrudate particle, then preferably the particle comprises from 20% to 65%, by weight of the particle, of an alkoxylated anionic detersive surfactant. If the first surfactant component is in spray-dried particle form, then preferably the particle comprises from 10wt% to 30wt%, by weight of the particle, of an alkoxylated anionic detersive surfactant. The first surfactant component may be in the form of a co-particulatc admixture with a solid carrier material. The solid carrier material can be a sulphate salt and/or a carbonate salt, preferably sodium sulphate and/or sodium carbonate.
The second surfactant component predominantly comprises a non-alkoxylated detersive surfactant. By predominantly comprises, it is meant the second surfactant component comprises greater than 50%, by weight of the second surfactant component, of a non-alkoxylated anionic detersive surfactant, preferably greater than 60%, or greater than 70%, or greater than 80%, or greater than 90% or even essentially 100%, by weight of the second surfactant component, of a non-alkoxylated anionic detersive surfactant. Preferably, the second surfactant component comprises less than 10%, by weight of the second surfactant component, of an alkoxylated anionic detersive surfactant, preferably less than 5%, or less than 2%, or even 0%, by weight of the second surfactant component, of an alkoxylated anionic detersive surfactant. If cationic detersive surfactant is present in the composition, then preferably the second surfactant component comprises less than

10%, by weight of the second surfactant component, of a cationic detersive surfactant, preferably less than 5%, or less than 2%, or even 0%, by weight of the second surfactant component, of acationic detersive surfactant. Preferably, the second surfactant component is essentially free from alkoxylated anionic detersive surfactant. By essentially free from alkoxylated anionic detersive surfactant it is typically meant that the second surfactant component comprises no deliberately added alkoxylated anionic detersive surfactant. Preferably, the second surfactant component is essentially free from cationic detersive surfactant. By essentially free from calionic detersive surfactant it is typically meant that the second surfactant component comprises no deliberately added cationic detersive surfactant. This is especially preferred in order to ensure that the composition has good dispensing and dissolution profiles, and also to ensure that the composition provides a clear wash liquor upon dissolution in water.
The second surfactant component may be in the form of a spray-dried powder, a flash-dried powder, an agglomerate or an extrudatc. If the second surfactant component is in the form of an agglomerate particle, then preferably the particle from 5% to 50%, by weight of the particle, of a non-alkoxylated anionic detersive surfactant, or from 5wt% to 25wt% non-alkoxylated anionic detersive surfactant. The second surfactant component may be in form of a co-particulatc admixture with a solid carrier material. The solid carrier material can be a sulphate salt and/or a carbonate salt, preferably sodium sulphate and/or sodium carbonate.
Although the detergent compositions of the invention may be substantially free of cationic surfactant, if present, the cationic surfactant may be present in a third surfactant component or may be incorporated into a spray-dried particle with at least some anionic surfactant. If present in a third component, it may be beneficial to have the third surfactant component predominantly comprising a cationic detersive surfactant. By predominantly comprises, it is meant the third surfactant component comprises greater than 50%, by weight of the third surfactant component, of a cationic detersive surfactant, preferably greater than 60%, or greater than 70%, or greater than 80%, or greater than 90% or even essentially 100%, by weight of the third surfactant component, of a cationic detersive surfactant. Preferably, the third surfactant component comprises less than 10%, by weight of the third surfactant component, of an alkoxylated anionic detersive

surfactant, preferably less than 5%, or less than 2%, or even essentially 0%, by weight of the third surfactant component, of an alkoxylatcd anionic detersive surfactanl. Preferably the third surfactant component comprises less than 10%, by weight of the third surfactant component, of a non-alkoxylated anionic detersive surfactant, preferably less than 5%, or less than 2%, or even 0%, by weight of the third surfactant component, of a non-alkoxylated anionic detersive surfactant. Preferably, the third surfactanl component is essentially free from alkoxylated anionic detersive surfactant. By essentially free from alkoxylaled anionic detersive surfactanl it is typically meant that the third surfactant component comprises no deliberately added alkoxylated anionic detersive surfactant. Preferably, the third surfactant component is essentially free from non-alkoxylatcd anionic detersive surfactant. By essentially free from non-alkoxylatcd anionic detersive surfactant it is typically meant that the third surfactant component comprises no deliberately added non-alkoxylated anionic detersive surfactant. This is especially preferred in order to ensure that the composition has good dispensing and dissolution profiles, and also to ensure that the composition provides a clear wash liquor upon dissolution in water.
The third surfactant component is preferably in the form of a spray-dried powder, a flash-dried powder, an agglomerate or an extrudate. If the third surfactant component is in the form of an agglomerate particle, then preferably the particle comprises from 5% to 50%, by weight of the particle, of cationic detersive surfactant, or from 5wt% to 25wt% cationic detersive surfactant. The third surfactant component may be in form of a co-particulate admixture with a solid carrier material. The solid carrier material can be a sulphate salt and/or a carbonate salt, preferably sodium sulphate and/or sodium carbonate, Optional Detersive Adjuncts
Optionally, the detergent ingredients can include one or more other detersive adjuncts or other materials for assisting or enhancing cleaning performance, treatment of the substrate to be cleaned, or to modify the aesthetics of the detergent composition. Usual detersive adjuncts of detergent compositions include the ingredients set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 3,936,537, Baskerville et al. and in Great Britain Patent Application No. 9705617.0, Trinh et al., published September 24, 1997. Such adjuncts are included in detergent compositions at their conventional art-established levels of use, generally from 0 wt% to about 80 wt% of the detergent ingredients, preferably from about 0.5

wl% to about 20wi % and can include color speckles, suds boosters, suds suppressors, anti tarnish and/or anticorrosion agents, soil-suspending agents, soil release agents, dyes, fillers, optical brightencrs, germicides, alkalinity sources, hydrotropes, antioxidants, enzymes, enzyme stabilizing agents, solvents, solubilizing agents, chelating agents, clay soil removal/anti-redeposition agents, polymeric dispersing agents, processing aids, fabric softening components, static control agents, bleaching agents, bleaching activators, bleach stabilizers, dye-transfer inhibitors, flocculants, fabric softeners, suds supressors, fabric integrity agents, perfumes, whitening agents, photobleach, alkali metal sulphate salts, sulphamic acid, sodium sulphate and sulphamic acid complexes, etc and combinations thereof. The precise nature of these additional components, and levels of incorporation thereof will depend on the physical form of the composition or component, and the precise nature of the washing operation for which it is to be used.
Preferred zwitterionic surfactants comprise one or more quaternized nitrogen atoms and one or more moieties selected from the group consisting of: carbonate, phosphate, sulphate, sulphonate, and combinations thereof. Preferred zwitterionic surfactants are alkyl betaines. Other preferred zwitterionic surfactants are alkyl amine oxides. Catanionic surfactants which are complexes comprising a cationic surfactant and an anionic surfactant may also be included. Typically, the molar ratio of the cationic surfactant to anionic surfactant in the complex is greater than 1:1, so that the complex has a net positive charge.
A preferred adjunct component is a bleaching agent. Preferably, the detergent composition comprises one or more bleaching agents. Typically, the composition comprises (by weight of the composition) from 1% to 50% of one or more bleaching agent. Preferred bleaching agents are selected from the group consisting of sources of peroxide, sources of peracid, bleach boosters, bleach catalysts, photo-bleaches, and combinations thereof. Preferred sources of peroxide are selected from the group consisting of: perborate monohydrate, perborate tetra-hydrate, percarbonale, salts thereof, and combinations thereof. Preferred sources of peracid are selected from the group consisting of: bleach activator typically with a peroxide source such as perborate or percarbonate, preformed peracids, and combinations thereof. Preferred bleach activators are selected from the group consisting of: oxy-benzene-sulphonate bleach activators,
lactam bleach activators, imide bleach activators, and combinations thereof. A preferred source of pcracid is tctra-acctyl cthylcnc diaminc (TAED)and peroxide source such as percarbonatc. Preferred oxy-bcn/.cnc-sulphonate bleach activators are selected from the group consisting of: nonanoyl-oxy-benzenc-sulponatc, 6-nonamido-caproyl-oxy-benzene-sulphonate, salts thereof, and combinations thereof. Preferred lactam bleach activators are acyl-caprolactams and/or acyl-valerolactams. A preferred imide bleach activator is N-nonanoyl-N-methyl-acetamide.
Preferred preformed peracids are selected from the group consisting of N,N-pthaloyl-amino-peroxycaproic acid, nonyl-amido-peroxyadipic acid, salts thereof, and combinations thereof. Preferably, the STW-composition comprises one or more sources of peroxide and one or more sources of peracid. Preferred bleach catalysts comprise one or more transition metal ions. Other preferred bleaching agents are di-acyl peroxides. Preferred bleach boosters are selected from the group consisting of: zwitterionic imines, anionic irninc polyions, quaternary oxaziridinium salts, and combinations thereof. Highly preferred bleach boosters are selected from the group consisting of: aryliminium zwitterions, aryliminium polyions, and combinations thereof. Suitable bleach boosters are described in US360568, US5360569 and US5370826.
A preferred adjunct component is an anti-rcdcposition agent. Preferably, the detergent composition comprises one or more anti-redeposition agents. Preferred anti-redeposition agents are cellulosic polymeric components, most preferably carboxymethyl celluloses.
A preferred adjunct component is a chclant. Preferably, the detergent composition comprises one or more chelants. Preferably, the detergent composition comprises (by weight of the composition) from 0,01% to 10% chelant, or 0.01 to 5 wt% or 4 wt% or 2 wt%. Preferred chelants are selected from the group consisting of: hydroxyethane-dimethylcnc-phosphonic acid, cthylcne diaminc tctra(mcthylcnc phosphonic) acid, diethylene triamine pentacetate, ethylene diamine tetraacetate, diethylene triamine penta(methyl phosphonic) acid, ethylene diamine disuccinic acid, and combinations thereof.
A preferred adjunct component is a dye transfer inhibitor. Preferably, the detergent composition comprises one or more dye transfer inhibitors. Typically, dye transfer

inhibitors are polymeric components that trap dye molecules and retain the dye molecules by suspending them in the wash liquor. Preferred dye transfer inhibitors arc selected from the group consisting of: polyvmylpyrrolidones, polyvinylpyridinc N-oxides, polyvinylpyrrolidone-polyvinylimidazole copolymers, and combinations thereof.
Preferred adjunct components include other enzymes. Preferably, the detergent composition comprises one or more additional enzymes. Preferred cnzymes are selected from then group consisting of: amylases, arabinosidases, carbohydrases, cellulases, chondroitinases, cutinases, dextranases, eslerases, B-glucanases, gluco-amylases, hyaluronidases, keratanases, laccases, ligninases, lipoxygenases, malanascs, mannanases, oxidascs, pectinascs, pentosanascs, pcroxidascs, phcnoloxidascs, phospholipases, proteases, pullulanases, reduclases, tannases, transferases, xylanases, xyloglucanases, and combinations thereof. Preferred additional enzymes are selected from the group consistin of: amylases, carbohydrases, cellulases, proteases, and combinations thereof.
A preferred adjunct component is a fabric integrity agent. Preferably, the detergent composition comprises one or more fabric integrity agents. Typically, fabric integrity agents are polymeric components that deposit on the fabric surface and prevent fabric damage during the laundering process. Preferred fabric integrity agents are hydrophobically modified celluloses. These hydrophobically modified celluloses reduce fabric abrasion, enhance fibre-fibre interactions and reduce dye loss from the fabric. A preferred hydrophobically modified cellulose is described in WO99/14245. Other preferred fabric integrity agents are polymeric components and/or oligomeric components that are obtainable, preferably obtained, by a process comprising the step of condensing imidazole and epichlorhyrdin.
A preferred adjunct component is a salt. Preferably, the detergent composition comprises one or more salts. The salts can act as alkalinity agents, buffers, builders, co-builders, encrustation inhibitors, fillers, pH regulators, stability agents, and combinations thereof. Typically, the detergent composition comprises (by weight of the composition) from 5% to 60% salt. Preferred salts are alkali metal salts of aluminate, carbonate, chloride, bicarbonate, nitrate, phosphate, silicate, sulphate, and combinations thereof. Other preferred salts are alkaline earth metal salts of aluminate, carbonate, chloride, bicarbonate, nitrate, phosphate, silicate, sulphate, and combinations thereof. Especially

preferred salts are sodium sulphate, sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium silicate, sodium sulphate, and combinations thereof. Optionally, the alkali metal salts and/or alkaline earth metal salts may be anhydrous.
A preferred adjunct component is a soil release agent. Preferably, the detergent composition comprises one or more soil release agents. Typically, soil release agents are polymeric compounds that modify the fabric surface and prevent the redeposition of soil on the fabric. Preferred soil release agents are copolymers, preferably block copolymers, comprising one or more tcrephthalalc unit. Preferred soil release agents are copolymers that are synthesised from dimethylterephthalate, 1,2-propyl glycol and methyl capped polycthylcncglycol. Other preferred soil release agents arc anionically end capped polyesters. Softening system
The detergent compositions of the invention may comprise softening agents for softening through the wash such as clay optionally also with flocculant and enzymes.
Further more specific description of suitable detergent components can be found inW097/11151. Washing Method
The invention also includes methods of washing textiles comprising contacting textiles with an aqueous solution comprising the detergent composition of the invention. The invention may be particularly beneficial at low water temperatures such as below 30°C or below 25 or 20°C. Typically the aqueous wash liquor will comprise at least 100 ppm, or at least 500ppm of the detergent composition Examples The following are examples of the invention.
(Table Removed)





We claim:
1. A detergent composition comprising a lipase which is a polypeptide having an amino
acid sequence of SEQ ID 1 which:
(a) has at least 90% identity with the wild-type lipase derived from Humicola lanuginosa strain DSM 4109;
(b) compared to said wild- type lipase, comprises a substitution of an electrically neutral or negatively charged amino acid at the surface of the three-dimensional structure within 15 Angstroms of El or Q249 at any position 1-11, 90, 95, 169, 171-175, 192-211,213-226, 228-258, 260-262 with a positively charged amino acid; and

(c) comprises a peptide addition at the C-terminal; and/or
(d) comprises a peptide addition at the N-terminal and/or
(e) meets the following limitations: i) comprises a negative amino acid in position E210 of said wild-type lipase; ii) comprises a negatively charged amino acid in the region corresponding to positions 90-101 of said wild-type lipase; and iii) comprises a neutral or negative amino acid at a position corresponding to N94 of said wild-type lipase and/or has a negative or neutral net electric charge in the region corresponding to positions 90-101 of said wild-type lipase; the composition having a reserve alkalinity of greater than 7.5, and the detergent composition comprising up to 15 wt% aluminosilicate (anhydrous basis) and/or phosphate builder (anhydrous basis).

2. A detergent composition as claimed in claim 1 having a reserve alkalinity greater than 8, or greater than 9.
3. A detergent composition as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 comprising less than 8 wt% aluminosilicate and/or phosphate builder.
4. A detergent composition as claimed in any of claims 1-3 having a reserve alkalinity greater than 10.
5. A detergent composition as claimed in any of claims 1-4, wherein the composition optionally comprises from 0.1 to 40 wt% alkoxylated alkyl sulphate surfactant and/or

from 0.1 to 40 wt% Ci-4 alkyl ester sulphonate, preferably methyl ester sulphonate (MES), preferably in combination with alkyl benzene sulphonate surfactant in an amount from 5 to 40 wt%.
6. A detergent composition as claimed in any of claims 1-5, wherein the composition,whenever required comprises a suds booster in an amount from 0.05 to 2 wt%, preferably selected from fatty acid amides, fatty acid alkanolamides, betaines, sulfobetaines and amine oxides or mixtures thereof.
7. A detergent composition as claimed in any of claims 1 -6, wherein said composition optionally comprises from 0.05 to 5, preferably from 0.1 to 1 wt% soil release polymer, preferably selected from modified cellulose ethers such as methyl hydroxyethyl cellulose (MHEC) or polyester-based soil release polymers or mixtures thereof.
8. A detergent composition as claimed in claims 1-7, wherein said composition is a solid detergent composition, preferably granular.

Documents:

5443-delnp-2007-abstract.pdf

5443-delnp-2007-assignment.pdf

5443-delnp-2007-Claims-(05-12-2012).pdf

5443-DELNP-2007-Claims-(06-06-2012).pdf

5443-delnp-2007-Claims-(29-11-2012).pdf

5443-delnp-2007-claims.pdf

5443-delnp-2007-Correspondence Others-(05-12-2012).pdf

5443-DELNP-2007-Correspondence Others-(06-06-2012)..pdf

5443-delnp-2007-Correspondence Others-(06-06-2012).pdf

5443-DELNP-2007-Correspondence Others-(19-08-2011).pdf

5443-DELNP-2007-Correspondence Others-(23-08-2011).pdf

5443-delnp-2007-Correspondence Others-(25-02-2013).pdf

5443-delnp-2007-Correspondence Others-(25-06-2013).pdf

5443-DELNP-2007-Correspondence Others-(29-08-2011).pdf

5443-delnp-2007-Correspondence Others-(29-11-2012).pdf

5443-delnp-2007-Correspondence-Others-(01-10-2012).pdf

5443-delnp-2007-Correspondence-Others-(03-04-2013).pdf

5443-delnp-2007-Correspondence-Others-(04-12-2012).pdf

5443-DELNP-2007-Correspondence-Others-(20-05-2011).pdf

5443-delnp-2007-Correspondence-Others-(24-05-2013).pdf

5443-delnp-2007-Correspondence-Others-(27-06-2013).pdf

5443-delnp-2007-correspondence-others.pdf

5443-DELNP-2007-Description (Complete)-(06-06-2012).pdf

5443-delnp-2007-description (complete).pdf

5443-delnp-2007-form-1.pdf

5443-delnp-2007-Form-18.pdf

5443-DELNP-2007-Form-2-(06-06-2012).pdf

5443-delnp-2007-form-2.pdf

5443-delnp-2007-Form-3-(06-06-2012).pdf

5443-DELNP-2007-Form-3-(20-05-2011).pdf

5443-delnp-2007-Form-3-(24-05-2013).pdf

5443-DELNP-2007-Form-3-(29-08-2011).pdf

5443-delnp-2007-Form-3-(29-11-2012).pdf

5443-delnp-2007-form-3.pdf

5443-delnp-2007-form-5.pdf

5443-DELNP-2007-GPA-(19-08-2011).pdf

5443-delnp-2007-gpa.pdf

5443-delnp-2007-pct-210.pdf

5443-delnp-2007-pct-304.pdf

5443-delnp-2007-Petition-137-(06-06-2012).pdf

5443-delnp-2007-Petition-137-(24-05-2013).pdf


Patent Number 256876
Indian Patent Application Number 5443/DELNP/2007
PG Journal Number 32/2013
Publication Date 09-Aug-2013
Grant Date 06-Aug-2013
Date of Filing 13-Jul-2007
Name of Patentee THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY
Applicant Address ONE PROCTER & GAMBLE PLAZA, CINCINNATI, OH 45202, USA.
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 LANT, NEIL, JOSEPH 12 WARKWORTH WOODS, GOSFORTH, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, TYNE AND WEAR NE3 5RA, GREAT BRITAIN
2 PATTERSON, STEVEN, GEORGE 32 INGLEBOROUGH CLOSE, MAYFIELD, WASHINGTON, TYNE AND WEAR NE 37 1RZ, GREAT BRITAIN
PCT International Classification Number C11D 3/386
PCT International Application Number PCT/IB2006/050577
PCT International Filing date 2006-02-22
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 05250995.7 2005-02-22 EUROPEAN UNION