Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
Patent
1999-03-02
2000-04-04
Fries, Kory
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
510297, 510305, 510306, 510321, 510323, 510326, 510334, 510349, 510374, 510376, 510392, 510514, 510530, C11D 3386, C11D 308, C11D 183
Patent
active
060461497
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to detergent compositions particularly suitable for use in a laundry washing method containing an amylase enzyme in combination with a builder system.
Builder systems are commonly used in detergent compositions for their stain removal and water softening capabilities. Composite builder systems comprising more than one builder compound are often used, including those comprising aluminosilicate zeolite, crystalline layered silicate and optionally organic polymeric compound.
The satisfactory removal of particular soils/stains such as blood, spinach, ink, chocolate and tomato sauce from soiled/stained substrates is a challenge to the formulator of a detergent composition for use in a washing method such as a laundry or machine dishwashing method. Enzymes are commonly employed in detergent compositions to aid the removal of such soils/stains from substrates in the wash.
A problem encountered with the use of enzymes as components of detergents is that enzyme activity in the wash is sensitive to the presence of other chemical components in the wash solution. In particular, it has been established that a certain level of hardness ions, particularly calcium ions is necssary to ensure effective enzyme action. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that the formation of hardness ion-enzyme associations are necessary to ensure this enzyme action. Amylolytic enzymes have been found to be especially sensitive to hardness ion levels.
It has been found that a problem can be encountered with amylase-containing detergents when certain builder systems, especially those comprising aluminosilicate zeolite, crystalline layered silicate and optionally organic polymeric compound, are present in the detergent composition, such that on introduction of the detergent to a wash solution both the amylase and the builder system are commonly present in the wash solution. The builder system is believed to prevent the formation of, or to disrupt, the hardness ion-enzyme associations which are necessary for effective enzyme action. Reduced enzymatic soil/stain removal capability has thus been observed.
The Applicants have now however, found that for a detergent composition containing both an amylase enzyme and a builder system comprising aluminosilicate zeolite, crystalline layered silicate and preferably organic polymeric compound enhanced stain/soil removal, particularly on enzymatically sensitive stains/soils, may be obtained if the weight ratio of layered silicate to amylase (120 KNU/g activity basis) is from 7:1 to 20:1.
The problem of enzyme degradation has been only partially recognized in the art, but no specific recognition of the importance of enzyme-calcium associations for effective enzyme performance appears to have been made. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,176,079 A it is stated that `enzymes tend to degrade and become inactive in the highly alkaline detergent composition environment`, and that enzymes may be `subject to interference and attack from incompatible components such as phosphates, in the washing solution`. Thus, the problem of enzyme degradation is linked to high pH and/or phosphates, but not specifically to builder systems of the type herein provided.
EP-A-552,287 describes a phosphate-free builder combination containing zeolite in quantities of 60 to 96% by weight, crystalline layer silicate corresponding to formula NaMSi.sub.x O.sub.2x+1.yH.sub.2 O, in which M is sodium or hydrogen, x is a number of 0 to 20, in quantities of 2 to 25% by weight and polymeric polycarboxylate in quantities of 2 to 16% by weight and, optionally, phosphonate, the ratio by weight of crystalline layer silicates to polymeric polycarboxylates being 3:1 to 1:3. Enzymes are generally described as optional components.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a detergent composition containing amylase enzyme (120 KNU/gram activity basis) is from 7:1 to 20:1.
Most preferably, the builder system also contains an organic polymeric compound.
An essential component of
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Main Alison Lesley
Sorrie Graham Alexander
Cook C. Brant
Fries Kory
Procter & Gamble Company
Rasser Jacobus C.
Zerby Kim W.
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