Detergent compounds with high activity cellulase and quaternary ammonium compounds

• US 5,668,073 A
• Filed: 06/19/1996
• Issued: 09/16/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Baeck, Andre Cesar, Busch, Alfred, Convents, Andre Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldarola, Glenn A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ghyka, Alexander G.
• Application Number:
  US08/666,147
• Time in Patent Office: 454 Days
• Field of Search: 510/276, 510/320, 510/330
• US Class Current: 502/320
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 9/2437 Cellulases (3.2.1.4; 3.2.1.74; 3.2.1.91; 3.2.1.150)
• CPC Class Codes: C12Y 302/01004 Cellulase (3.2.1.4), i.e. endo-1,4-beta-glucanase

Abstract

The present invention provides a detergent composition comprising a quaternary ammonium compound of formula: R₁ R₂ R₃ R₄ N⁺ X^-,wherein R₁ is C₈ -C₁₆ alkyl, each of R₂, R₃ and R₄ is independently C₁ -C₄ alkyl or hydroxy alkyl, benzyl or --(C₂ H₄₀)_x H where x has a value from 2 to 5, not more of R₂, R₃ or R₄ being benzyl, and X is an anion, and a cellulase characterized in that said cellulase provides at least 10% removal of immobilized radio-active labelled carboxymethylcellulose according to the CMC-method at 25×10^-6 % by weight of cellulase protein in the laundry test solution. According to the present invention, a preferred cellulase consists of a homogeneous endoglucanase component which is immunoreactive with a monoclonal antibody raised against a partially purified=43 kD cellulase derived from Humicola insolens DM 1800.

Claims

1. A detergent composition comprising:

(a) a quaternary ammonium compound of the formula

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">R.sub.1 R.sub.2 R.sub.3 R.sub.4 N.sup.+ X.sup.-

wherein R₁ is C₈ -C₁₆ alkyl, each of R₂, R₃ and R₄ is independently C₁ -C₄ alkyl or hydroxyl alkyl, benzyl, or --(C₂ H₄ O)_x H where x has a value from 2 to 5, not more than one of R₂, R₃ or R₄ being benzyl and X^- is an anion, and

(b) a cellulase wherein said cellulase consists essentially of a homogeneous endoglucanase component which is immunoreactive with an antibody raised against a highly purified about 43 kD cellulase derived from Humicola insolens, DSM 1800.

2. A detergent composition according to claim 1, wherein the endoglucanase component of said cellulase has an isoelectric point of about 5.1.

3. A detergent composition according to claim 2 wherein said endoglucanase component is producible by a method comprising cultivating a host cell transformed with a recombinant DNA vector carrying a DNA sequence encoding said endoglucanase component or a precursor of said endoglucanase component, as well as DNA sequences encoding functions permitting the expression of the DNA sequence encoding the endoglucanase component, or a precursor thereof, in a culture medium under conditions permitting the expression of the endoglucanase component or precursor thereof and recovering the endoglucanase component form the culture.

4. A detergent composition according to claim 1 wherein the cellulase has the amino acid sequence shown in the appended sequence listing ID #2, or is a homologue thereof exhibiting endoglucanase activity.

5. A detergent composition according to claim 2 wherein said cellulase is producible by a species of Humicola.

6. A detergent composition according to claim 1 characterized in that the cellulase compound is and endoglucanase enzyme having the amino acid sequence shown in the appended sequence lising ID #4, or is a homologue thereof exhibiting endoglucanase activity.

8. A detergent composition according to claim 5, 6, or 7 wherein said enzyme is produced by a DNA construct comprising a DNA sequence encoding the enzyme.

9. A detergent composition according to claim 8 wherein the DNA sequence is as shown in the appended sequence listings ID #1 or ID #3.

10. A detergent composition according to claim 4, 5, 6 or 7 wherein said host cell is a strain of fungus selected from the group consisting of Tricloderuca or Aspergillus, or a yeast cell selected from the group consisting of Hansenula or Saccharomyces.

11. A detergent composition according to claim 4, 5, 6 or 7 wherein said host cell is a strain of a bacterium selected from the group consisting of Bacillus, Streptomyces or E. coli.

12. A detergent composition according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 wherein the water soluble cationic compound is selected from quaternary ammonium salts in which R₁ is C₁₂ -C₁₄ alkyl and R₂, R₃ and R₄ are selected from methyl and hydroxyethyl groups.

13. A detergent composition according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 wherein the level of said watersoluble cationic compound is from 0.2 to 10%.

14. A detergent composition according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 further comprising anionic surfactants, wherein the molar ratio of the anionic surfactant to the water soluble quaternary ammonium compound is greater than 1:

1.

15. A detergent composition according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 which is a detergent additive, in the form of a non-dusting granulate or liquid.

16. A detergent composition which comprises a detergent additive according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7.

17. A detergent composition according to claim 16 which is in granular form, compact granular form or liquid form.

18. A laundry process comprising contacting fabrics with a detergent composition according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, wherein the cellulase being added at levels of from 0.005 to 40 mg enzyme protein/liter of wash solution.

7. A detergent composition according to claim wherein said endoglucanase enzyme is producible by a species of Fusarium.