Detergent compositions

• US 4,479,881 A
• Filed: 02/29/1984
• Issued: 10/30/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lever Brothers Company (Unilever PLC)
• Original Assignee: Lever Brothers Company (Unilever PLC)
• Inventors: Tai, Ho T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tungol, Maria Parrish
• Application Number:
  US06/584,671
• Time in Patent Office: 244 Days
• Field of Search: 252/8.8
• US Class Current: 510/322
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/22 derived from aromatic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/40 Monoamines or polyamines; Salts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/72 Ethers of polyoxyalkylene glycols
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/86 Mixtures of anionic, cationic, and non-ionic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/30 Amines; Substituted amines ; Quaternized amines
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/38645 containing cellulase

Abstract

An improved laundry detergent composition which combines effective cleaning performance with effective textile softening performance on a wide range of textile materials comprises an anionic and/or nonionic surfactant and a synergistic mixture of a water-insoluble long chain C₁₀ -C₂₆ tertiary amine and cellulase. The cellulase is preferably an alkali cellulase having an optimum pH of above 7 and is preferably used in an amount corresponding to a cellulase activity of from 0.25 to 150 or higher regular C_x cellulase activity units/gram of the detergent composition.

Claims

1. A detergent composition for the cleaning and simultaneous softening of fabrics, comprising:

(a) 2-50% by weight of a surfactant selected from the group consisting of anionic and nonionic surfactants and mixtures thereof in conjunction with;

(b) 0.5-15% by weight of a tertiary amine having the general formula;

##STR9## wherein R₁ is a C₁₀ -C₂₆ alkyl or alkenyl group,

R₂ is as R₁ or, if R₁ is a C₂₀ -C₂₆ alkyl or alkenyl group, may be a C₁ -C₇ alkyl group and R₃ has the formula --CH₂ --Y wherein

Y is H, C₁ -C₆ alkyl, ##STR10## --CH₂ OH, --CH═

CH₂, --CH₂ CH₂ OH, --CH₂ CN, ##STR11## wherein R₄ is a C₁ -C₄ alkyl group, each R₅ is independently H or C₁ -C₂₀ alkyl; and

each R₆ is independently H or C₁ -C₂₀ alkyl; and

(c) cellulase,

forming together the essential fabric softening ingredients.

2. A detergent composition according to claim 1, wherein the cellulase is bacterial or fungal cellulase having a pH optimum of between 5 and 11.5.

3. A detergent composition according to claim 2 wherein the cellulase is alkali cellulase having a pH optimum from 7 to 11.

4. A detergent composition according to claim 3 wherein the cellulase is alkali cellulase having a pH optimum from 7.5 to 11.0.

5. A detergent composition according to claim 1 wherein the cellulase is present in the form of a non-dusting granulate having a cellulase activity of at least 250 regular C_x cellulase activity units/gram.

6. A detergent composition according to claim 5 wherein the cellulase is present in an amount of from about 0.1-10% by weight of the composition.

7. A detergent composition according to claim 1 wherein the composition has a cellulase activity of from 0.25 to 150 regular C_x units/gram.

8. A detergent composition according to claim 7 wherein the cellulase activity is from 0.5 to 25 regular C_x units per gram of composition.

9. A detergent composition according to claim 1 wherein the tertiary amine is selected from compounds in which R₁ and R₂ are each independently C₁₂ -C₂₂ alkyl groups and R₃ is a methyl or ethyl group.

10. A detergent composition according to claim 9 wherein the tertiary amine is ditallowyl methyl amine.