WO2020193101A1 - Method for washing a garment worn on the head - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for washing a garment worn on the head, preferably selected from Hijabs, Niqab, Burka, Al-Amira, Shayla, Khimar, Chador, Jilbaad, Ghoonghat, Sari, Ghandi cap, Turbans, Dastaar, Babushka, Mantilla, Dupatta, Bonnets, white veils and head covering for wearing during religious service, Kippah and Wimple, with a composition comprising: (i) from 6 to 60 wt%, preferably 8 to 16wt% of an anionic surfactant; (ii) from 0.4 to 8wt%, of an alkyl ether carboxylic acid dispersant of the following structure: R-(OCH₂CH₂)_n-OCH₂-COOH, wherein: R is selected from saturated C16 linear alkyl chains and saturated and mono-unsaturated C18 linear alkyl chains, wherein the weight ratio of alkyl ether carboxylate with C16/C18 chains is from 0.01 to 0.3, preferably 0.04 to 0.2; n is selected from 6 to 30; and, (iii) optionally a lipid esterase at a level of from 0.0005 to 0.5 wt % of pure enzyme.

Description

METHOD FOR WASHING A GARMENT WORN ON THE HEAD

The present invention relates to improved methods for cleaning head gear.

WO 2016/198263 (Unilever) discloses a domestic laundry cleaning composition, said composition comprising an anionic surfactant, an alkyl ether carboxylic acid dispersant; and a lipid esterase.

WO 2017/055254 (Unilever) discloses a formulation for use in domestic laundry comprising anionic surfactant and or non-ionic surfactant and stearyl ether carboxylic acid.

WO 2018/206197 (Unilever) discloses an aqueous liquid laundry detergent composition comprising: (i) 5-19 wt. percent of LAS, (ii) 0.5-8 wt. percent of an alkyl ether carboxylic acid surfactant of the structure: R2-(OCH2CH2)n-OCH2-COOH, wherein R2 is C16-C18 linear alkyl chain; n is 10-25, and the ratio of (ii) to (i) is 0.05-1 ; (iii) at least 60 wt. percent water; (iv) 0-2 wt. percent of an ethoxylated alcohol non-ionic surfactant, wherein the ratio of (iv) to (i) is 0-0.2; and, (v) 0-1 weight percent of phosphorous containing chemicals; and wherein the composition optionally comprises a further anionic surfactant, wherein the ratio of further surfactant to (i) is 0-0.55. A method of treating a textile comprising: a) treating textile with 1 g/L of an aqueous solution of said composition; b) contacting said solution from 10 minutes to 2 days, then rinsing and drying.

Garments that are worn on the head are in close contact with the skin and become readily soiled with sebum and other materials from the human scalp. This is particularly the case for items of head wear where the item is often worn daily, for long periods, and is pressed against the scalp. This often causes plugged pores which results in more sebum production. The fact that the head is often the warmest part of the body and is also closest to the sun makes it more likely that the problems associated with head wear are more pronounced that for other items of clothing which are usually looser. This leads to discolouration, such as dark lines or yellow staining and leaves the head garment looking dirty. This is entirely different to the oily stain associated with being close to the rest of the body, for example, under the arms etc. where the increased distance between the fabrics as well as the increased movement between the body and the fabric and so sebum production is not only physically less than on the head but fabrics such as shirts or trousers have a much lower chance of being stained by sebum.

Effective removal of this dirt is important for maintaining the appeal of the garment, particularly for garments of religious and cultural significance. Examples of such garments includes Hijabs, Niqab, Burka, Al-Amira, Shayla, Khimar, Chador, Jilbaad, Ghoonghat, Sari, Ghandi cap, Turbans, Dastaar, Babushka, Mantilla, Dupatta, Bonnets, white veils and head covering for wearing during religious service, Kippah and Wimple.

Despite the prior art there remains a need for improved methods of cleaning such head gear.

Accordingly, and in a first aspect, the present invention relates to a method for washing a garment worn on the head, preferably selected from Hijabs, Niqab, Burka, Al-Amira, Shayla, Khimar,

Chador, Jilbaad, Ghoonghat, Sari, Ghandi cap, Turbans, Dastaar, Babushka, Mantilla, Dupatta, Bonnets, white veils and head covering for wearing during religious service, Kippah and Wmple, with a composition comprising:

(i) from 6 to 60 wt%, preferably 8 to 16wt% of an anionic surfactant;

(ii) from 0.4 to 8wt%, of an alkyl ether carboxylic acid dispersant of the following structure:

R-(OCH₂CH₂)_n-OCHrCOOH, wherein:

R is selected from saturated C16 linear alkyl chains and saturated and mono-unsaturated C18 linear alkyl chains, wherein the weight ratio of alkyl ether carboxylate with C16/C18 chains is from 0.01 to 0.5, preferably 0.04 to 0.3; n is selected from 6 to 30; and,

(iii) optionally a lipid esterase at a level of from 0.0005 to 0.5 wt %, preferably 0.001 to 0.1 wt% of pure enzyme.

In a second aspect there is provided a method of washing a garment worn on the head, preferably selected from Hijabs, Niqab, Burka, Al-Amira, Shayla, Khimar, Chador, Jilbaad, Ghoonghat, Sari, Ghandi cap, Turbans, Dastaar, Babushka, Mantilla, Dupatta, Bonnets, white veils and head covering for wearing during religious service, Kippah and Wmple, with a composition comprising:

(i) from 4 to 50 wt%, preferably 5 to 20wt% of an anionic surfactant; (ii) from 0.1 to 20 wt%, preferably 0.5 to 4wt%, preferably of an alkyl ether carboxylic acid dispersant of the following structure:

R-(OCH₂CH₂)_n-OCHrCOOH, wherein:

R is selected from saturated and mono-unsaturated C16 to C20 linear or branched alkyl chains; n is selected from 5 to 30; and,

(iii) optionally a lipid esterase at a level of from 0.0005 to 0.5 wt % of pure enzyme.

Alkyl ether carboxylate

The composition used in carrying out the method should preferably contain 0.1 to 8wt% of an alkyl ether carboxylate.

In the context of the current invention alkyl ether carboxylic acid dispersants are not included as anionic surfactants. Weights of alkyl ether carboxylic acid are calculated as the protonated form, R-(OCH₂CH₂)_n-OCH₂COOH. They may be used as salt version for example sodium salt, or amine salt.

The alkyl chain may be linear or branched, preferably it is linear.

The alkyl chain may be aliphatic or contain one double bond. Preferred examples of linear chains are CH₃(CH₂)₁₅, CH₃(CH₂)₁₇, and CH₃(CH₂)₁₉ and CH₃(CH₂)₇CH=CH(CH₂)₈-. Most preferably CH₃(CH₂)₁₅, CH₃(CH₂)₁₇, and CH₃(CH₂)₇CH=CH(CH₂)₈-.

For aliphatic alkyl chains n is preferably from 10 to 30.

For alkyl chains with one double bond n is preferably from 5 to 20. The double bond may be in the cis or trans form, preferably the cis.

The alkyl ether carboxylic acid is most selected from: CH3(CH2)7CH=CH(CH2)8(OCH2CH2)nOCH₂COOH, where n is from 5 to 20 and CH3(CH2)i7(OCH2CH2)nOCH₂COOH, where m is from 10 to 30.

Alkyl ether carboxylic acid are available from Kao (Akypo®), Huntsman (Empicol®) and Clariant (Emulsogen®)

Lipid Esterases

Cleaning lipid esterases are discussed in Enzymes in Detergency edited by Jan H. Van Ee,, Onno Misset and Erik J. Baas (1997 Marcel Dekker, New York).

Cleaning lipid esterases are preferable active at alkaline pH in the range 7 to 11 , most preferably they have maximum activity in the pH range 8 to 10.5.

The lipid esterase may be selected from lipase enzymes in E.C. class 3.1 or 3.2 or a combination thereof.

Preferably the cleaning lipid esterases is selected from triacylglycerol lipases (E.C. 3.1.1.3), carboxylic ester hydrolase (E.C. 3.1.1.1), cutinase (E.C. 3.1.1.74), sterol esterase (E.C. 3.1.1.13) wax-ester hydrolase (E.C. 3.1.1.50) and mixtures thereof.

Suitable triacylglycerol lipases can be selected from variants of the Humicola lanuginosa

(Thermomyces lanuginosus) lipase. Other suitable triacylglycerol lipases can be selected from variants of Pseudomonas lipases, e.g., from P. alcaligenes or P. pseudoalcaligenes (EP 218272),

P. cepacia (EP 331 376), P. stutzeri (GB 1 ,372,034), P. Huorescens, Pseudomonas sp. strain SD 705 (WO 95/06720 and WO 96/27002), P. wis¥nsinensis (WO 96/12012), Bacillus lipases, e.g., from B. subtilis (Dartois et al. (1993), Biochemica et Biophysica Acta, 1131 , 253-360), B.

stearothermophilus (JP 64/744992) or B. pumilus (WO 91/16422).

Suitable carboxylic ester hydrolases can be selected from wild-types or variants of carboxylic ester hydrolases endogenous to B. gladioli, P. Huorescens, P. putida, B. acidocaldarius, B. subtilis, B. stearothermophilus, Stneptomyces chrysomallus, S. diastatochromogenes and Saccaromyces cerevisiae.

Suitable cutinases can be selected from wild-types or variants of cutinases endogenous to strains of Aspergillus, in particular Aspergillus oryzae, a strain of Altemaria, in particular Altemaria brassiciola, a strain of Fusarium, in particular Fusarium solani, Fusarium solani pisi, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium oxysporum cepa, Fusarium roseum culmomm , or Fusarium roseum sambucium , a strain of Helminthosporum, in particular Helminthosporum sativum, a strain of Humicola, in particular Humicola insolens, a strain of Pseudomonas, in particular Pseudomonas mendocina, or

Pseudomonas putida, a strain of Rhizoctonia, in particular Rhizoctonia solani, a strain of

Streptomyces, in particular Streptomyces scabies, a strain of Coprinopsis, in particular Coprinopsis cinerea, a strain of Thermobifida, in particular Thermobifida fusca, a strain of Magnaporthe, in particular Magnaporthe grisea, or a strain of Ulocladium, in particular Ulocladium consortiale.

In a preferred embodiment, the cutinase is selected from variants of the Pseudomonas mendocina cutinase described in WO 2003/076580 (Genencor), such as the variant with three substitutions at I178M, F180V, and S205G.

In another preferred embodiment, the cutinase is a wild-type or variant of the six cutinases endogenous to Coprinopsis cinerea described in H. Kontkanen et al, App. Environ. Microbiology, 2009, p2148-2157.

In another preferred embodiment, the cutinase is a wild-type or variant of the two cutinases endogenous to Trichoderma neesei described in WG2009007510 (VTT).

In a most preferred embodiment the cutinase is derived from a strain of Humicola insolens, in particular the strain Humicola insolens DSM 1800. Humicola insolens cutinase is described in WO 96/13580. The cutinase may be a variant, such as one of the variants disclosed in WO 00/34450 and WO 01/92502. Preferred cutinase variants include variants listed in Example 2 of WO 01/92502. Preferred commercial cutinases include Novozym 51032 (available from

Novozymes, Bagsvaerd, Denmark).

Suitable sterol esterases may be derived from a strain of Ophiostoma, for example Ophiostoma piceae, a strain of Pseudomonas, for example Pseudomonas aeruginosa, or a strain of

Melanocarpus, for example Melanocarpus albomyces.

In a most preferred embodiment the sterol esterase is the Melanocarpus albomyces sterol esterase described in H. Kontkanen et al, Enzyme Microb Technol., 39, (2006), 265-273.

Suitable wax-ester hydrolases may be derived from Simmondsia chinensis.

The lipid esterase is most preferably selected from a Triacylglycerol lipases (E.C. 3.1.1.3). Examples of EC 3.1.1.3 lipases include those described in WIPO publications WO 00/60063,

WO 99/42566, WO 02/062973, WO 97/04078, WO 97/04079 and US 5,869,438. Preferred lipases are produced by Absidia reflexa, Absidia corymbefera, Rhizmucor miehei, Rhizopus deleman Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus tubigensis, Ruebήuin oxysporum, Fusarium heterosporum,

Aspergillus oryzea, Penicilium camembertii, Aspergillus foetidus, Aspergillus niger, Thermomyces lanoginosus (synonym: Humicola lanuginosa) and Landerina penisapora, particularly

Thermomyces lanoginosus. Certain preferred lipases are supplied by Novozymes under the tradenames. Lipolase®, Lipolase Ultra®, Lipoprime®, Lipoclean® and Lipex® (registered tradenames of Novozymes) and LIPASE P "AMANO®" available from Areario Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Nagoya, Japan, AMANO-CES®, commercially available from Toyo Jozo Co., Tagata, Japan; and further Chromobacter viscosum lipases from Amersham Pharmacia Biotech., Piscataway, New Jersey, U.S.A. and Diosynth Co., Netherlands, and other lipases such as Pseudomonas gladioli. Additional useful lipases are described in WIPO publications WO 02062973, WO 2004/101759,

WO 2004/101760 and WO 2004/101763. In one embodiment, suitable lipases include the "first cycle lipases" described in WO 00/60063 and U.S. Patent 6,939,702 Bl, preferably a variant of SEQ ID No. 2, more preferably a variant of SEQ ID No. 2 having at least 90% homology to SEQ ID No. 2 comprising a substitution of an electrically neutral or negatively charged amino acid with R or K at any of positions 3, 224, 229, 231 and 233, with a most preferred variant comprising T23 IR and N233R mutations, such most preferred variant being sold under the tradename Lipex®

(Novozymes).

The aforementioned lipases can be used in combination (any mixture of lipases can be used). Suitable lipases can be purchased from Novozymes, Bagsvaerd, Denmark; Areario

Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Nagoya, Japan; Toyo Jozo Co., Tagata, Japan; Amersham Pharmacia Biotech., Piscataway, New Jersey, U.S.A; Diosynth Co., Oss, Netherlands and/or made in accordance with the examples contained herein.

Lipid esterase with reduced potential for odour generation and a good relative performance, are particularly preferred, as described in W02007/087243. These include lipoclean ® (Novozyme) Particulate laundry detergents.

The term“laundry detergent” in the context of this invention denotes formulated compositions intended for and capable of wetting and cleaning domestic laundry such as clothing, linens and other household textiles. The term“linen” is often used to describe certain types of laundry items including bed sheets, pillow cases, towels, tablecloths, table napkins and uniforms. Textiles can include woven fabrics, non-woven fabrics, and knitted fabrics; and can include natural or synthetic fibres such as silk fibres, linen fibres, cotton fibres, polyester fibres, polyamide fibres such as nylon, acrylic fibres, acetate fibres, and blends thereof including cotton and polyester blends.

Examples of laundry detergents include heavy-duty detergents for use in the wash cycle of automatic washing machines, as well as fine wash and colour care detergents such as those suitable for washing delicate garments (e.g. those made of silk or wool) either by hand or in the wash cycle of automatic washing machines.

The term "particulate” in the context of this invention denotes free-flowing or compacted solid forms such as powders, granules, pellets, flakes, bars, briquettes or tablets.

One preferred form for the composition used in the method of the invention is a free-flowing powdered solid, with a loose (unpackaged) bulk density generally ranging from about 200g/l to about 1 ,300 g/l, preferably from about 400 g/l to about 1 ,000 g/l, more preferably from about 500g/l to about 900 g/l.

The composition used in the method of the invention comprises from 3 to 80%, preferably from 10 to 60%, and more preferably from 15 to 50% (by weight based on the total weight of the composition) of one or more detersive surfactants selected from non-soap anionic surfactants, nonionic surfactants and mixtures thereof.

The term“detersive surfactant’ in the context of this invention denotes a surfactant which provides a detersive (i.e. cleaning) effect to laundry treated as part of a domestic laundering process.

Non-soap anionic surfactants are principally used to facilitate particulate soil removal. Non-soap anionic surfactants for use in the invention may typically be selected from salts of organic sulfates and sulfonates having alkyl radicals containing from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms, the term “alkyl” being used to include the alkyl portion of higher acyl radicals. Examples of such materials include alkyl sulfates, alkyl ether sulfates, alkaryl sulfonates, alpha-olefin sulfonates and mixtures thereof. The alkyl radicals preferably contain from 10 to 18 carbon atoms and may be unsaturated. The alkyl ether sulfates may contain from one to ten ethylene oxide or propylene oxide units per molecule, and preferably contain one to three ethylene oxide units per molecule. The counterion for anionic surfactants is generally an alkali metal such as sodium or potassium; or an ammoniacal counterion such as monoethanolamine, (MEA) diethanolamine (DEA) or triethanolamine (TEA). Mixtures of such counterions may also be employed. A preferred class of non-soap anionic surfactant for use in the invention includes alkylbenzene sulfonates, particularly linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS) with an alkyl chain length of from 10 to 18 carbon atoms. Commercial LAS is a mixture of closely related isomers and homologues, each containing an aromatic ring sulfonated at the“para” position and attached to a linear alkyl chain at any position except the terminal carbons. The linear alkyl chain typically has a chain length of from 11 to 15 carbon atoms, with the predominant materials having a chain length of about C12. Each alkyl chain homologue consists of a mixture of all the possible sulfophenyl isomers except for the 1-phenyl isomer. LAS is normally formulated into compositions in acid (i.e. HLAS) form and then at least partially neutralized in-situ.

Mixtures of any of the above described materials may also be used.

In a composition of the invention the total level of non-soap anionic surfactant may suitably range from 5 to 25% (by weight based on the total weight of the composition).

Nonionic surfactants may provide enhanced performance for removing very hydrophobic oily soil and for cleaning hydrophobic polyester and polyester/cotton blend fabrics.

Nonionic surfactants for use in the invention are typically polyoxyalkylene compounds, i.e. the reaction product of alkylene oxides (such as ethylene oxide or propylene oxide or mixtures thereof) with starter molecules having a hydrophobic group and a reactive hydrogen atom which is reactive with the alkylene oxide. Such starter molecules include alcohols, acids, amides or alkyl phenols. Where the starter molecule is an alcohol, the reaction product is known as an alcohol alkoxylate. The polyoxyalkylene compounds can have a variety of block and heteric (random) structures. For example, they can comprise a single block of alkylene oxide, or they can be diblock alkoxylates or triblock alkoxylates. Within the block structures, the blocks can be all ethylene oxide or all propylene oxide, or the blocks can contain a heteric mixture of alkylene oxides. Examples of such materials include Cs to C22 alkyl phenol ethoxylates with an average of from 5 to 25 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alkyl phenol; and aliphatic alcohol ethoxylates such as Cs to Cis primary or secondary linear or branched alcohol ethoxylates with an average of from 2 to 40 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol.

A preferred class of nonionic surfactant for use in the invention includes aliphatic Cs to Cis, more preferably C12 to C15 primary linear alcohol ethoxylates with an average of from 3 to 20, more preferably from 5 to 10 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol. Mixtures of any of the above described materials may also be used.

In a composition of the invention the total level of nonionic surfactant may suitably range from 1 to 10% (by weight based on the total weight of the composition).

Examples of suitable mixtures of non-soap anionic and/or nonionic surfactants for use in the invention include mixtures of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (preferably Cn to C15 linear alkyl benzene sulfonate) with sodium lauryl ether sulfate (preferably C10 to C18 alkyl sulfate ethoxylated with an average of 1 to 3 EO) and/or ethoxylated aliphatic alcohol (preferably C12 to C15 primary linear alcohol ethoxylate with an average of from 5 to 10 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol). The level of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (preferably Cn to C15 linear alkyl benzene sulfonate) in such mixtures is preferably at least 50%, such as from 50 to 95% (by weight based on the total weight of the mixture).

A composition of the invention may also contain one or more cosurfactants (such as amphoteric (zwitterionic) and/or cationic surfactants) in addition to the non-soap anionic and/or nonionic detersive surfactants described above.

Specific cationic surfactants include Cs to C18 alkyl dimethyl ammonium halides and derivatives thereof in which one or two hydroxyethyl groups replace one or two of the methyl groups, and mixtures thereof. Cationic surfactant, when included, may be present in an amount ranging from 0.1 to 5% (by weight based on the total weight of the composition).

Specific amphoteric (zwitterionic) surfactants include alkyl amine oxides, alkyl betaines, alkyl amidopropyl betaines, alkyl sulphobetaines (sultaines), alkyl glycinates, alkyl carboxyglycinates, alkyl amphoacetates, alkyl amphopropionates, alkylamphoglycinates, alkyl amidopropyl hydroxysultaines, acyl taurates and acyl glutamates, having alkyl radicals containing from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms, the term“alkyl” being used to include the alkyl portion of higher acyl radicals. Amphoteric (zwitterionic) surfactant, when included, may be present in an amount ranging from 0.1 to 5% (by weight based on the total weight of the composition).

A composition of the invention may also include one or more builders. Builders are principally used to reduce water hardness. This is done either by sequestration or chelation (holding hardness minerals in solution), by precipitation (forming an insoluble substance), or by ion exchange (trading electrically charged particles). Builders can also supply and maintain alkalinity, which assists cleaning, especially of acid soils; help keep removed soil from redepositing during washing; and emulsify oily and greasy soils.

Builders for use in the invention can be of the organic or inorganic type, or a mixture thereof. Nonphosphate builders are preferred.

Inorganic, non-phosphate builders for use in the invention include carbonates, silicates, zeolites, and mixtures thereof.

Suitable carbonate builders for use in the invention include mixed or separate, anhydrous or partially hydrated alkali metal carbonates, bicarbonates or sesquicarbonates. Preferably the alkali metal is sodium and/or potassium, with sodium carbonate being particularly preferred.

Suitable silicate builders include amorphous forms and/or crystalline forms of alkali metal (such as sodium) silicates. Preferred are crystalline layered sodium silicates (phyllosilicates) of the general formula (I)

NaMSixC yhhO (I) in which M is sodium or hydrogen, x is a number from 1.9 to 4, preferably 2 or 3 and y is a number from 0 to 20. Sodium disilicates of the above formula in which M is sodium and x is 2 are particularly preferred. Such materials can be prepared with different crystal structures, referred to as a, b, y and d phases, with d-sodium disilicate being most preferred.

Zeolites are naturally ocurring or synthetic crystalline aluminosilicates composed of (SiCU)^4- and (AIO4)⁵· tetrahedra, which share oxygen-bridging vertices and form cage-like structures in crystalline form. The ratio between oxygen, aluminium and silicon is 0:(AI + Si) = 2: 1. The frameworks acquire their negative charge by substitution of some Si by Al. The negative charge is neutralised by cations and the frameworks are sufficiently open to contain, under normal conditions, mobile water molecules. Suitable zeolite builders for use in the invention may be defined by the general formula (II):

Nax[(AI0₂)x(Si0₂)_y] zH₂0 (II) in which x and y are integers of at least 6, the molar ratio of x to y is in the range from about 1 to about 0.5, and z is an integer of at least 5, preferably from about 7.5 to about 276, more preferably from about 10 to about 264.

Suitable organic, non-phosphate builders for use in the invention include polycarboxylates, in acid and/or salt form. When utilized in salt form, alkali metal (e.g. sodium and potassium) or alkanolammonium salts are preferred. Specific examples of such materials include sodium and potassium citrates, sodium and potassium tartrates, the sodium and potassium salts of tartaric acid monosuccinate, the sodium and potassium salts of tartaric acid disuccinate, sodium and potassium ethylenediaminetetraacetates, sodium and potassium N(2-hydroxyethyl)-ethylenediamine triacetates, sodium and potassium nitrilotriacetates and sodium and potassium N-(2-hydroxyethyl)- nitrilodiacetates. Polymeric polycarboxylates may also be used, such as polymers of unsaturated monocarboxylic acids (e.g. acrylic, methacrylic, vinylacetic, and crotonic acids) and/or unsaturated dicarboxylic acids (e.g. maleic, fumaric, itaconic, mesaconic and citraconic acids and their anhydrides). Specific examples of such materials include polyacrylic acid, polymaleic acid, and copolymers of acrylic and maleic acid. The polymers may be in acid, salt or partially neutralised form and may suitably have a molecular weight (Mw) ranging from about 1 ,000 to 100,000, preferably from about 2,000 to about 85,000, and more preferably from about 2,500 to about 75,000.

Mixtures of any of the above described materials may also be used. Preferred builders for use in the invention may be selected from zeolites (of the general formula (II) defined above), sodium carbonate, d-sodium disilicate and mixtures thereof.

Preferably the level of phosphate builders in a composition of the invention is less than 1% (by weight based on the total weight of the composition). The term“phosphate builder” in the context of this invention denotes alkali metal, ammonium and alkanolammonium salts of polyphosphate, orthophosphate, and/or metaphosphate (e.g. sodium tri polyphosphate).

Builder, when included, may be present in a total amount ranging from about 10 to about 80%, preferably from about 15 to 50% (by weight based on the total weight of the composition).

A composition of the invention may also include one or more fillers to assist in providing the desired density and bulk to the composition. Suitable fillers for use in the invention may generally be selected from neutral salts with a solubility in water of at least 1 gram per 100 grams of water at 20° C; such as alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, ammonium or substituted ammonium chlorides, fluorides, acetates and sulfates and mixtures thereof. Preferred fillers for use in the invention include alkali metal (more preferably sodium and/or potassium) sulfates and chlorides and mixtures thereof, with sodium sulfate and/or sodium chloride being most preferred.

Filler, when included, may be present in a total amount ranging from about 1 to about 80%, preferably from about 5 to about 50% (by weight based on the total weight of the composition).

A composition of the invention may contain one or more fatty acids and/ or salts thereof.

Suitable fatty acids in the context of this invention include aliphatic carboxylic acids of formula RCOOH, where R is a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl chain containing from 6 to 24, more preferably 10 to 22, most preferably from 12 to 18 carbon atoms and 0 or 1 double bond. Preferred examples of such materials include saturated C12-18 fatty acids such as lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid or stearic acid; and fatty acid mixtures in which 50 to 100% (by weight based on the total weight of the mixture) consists of saturated C12-18 fatty acids. Such mixtures may typically be derived from natural fats and/or optionally hydrogenated natural oils (such as coconut oil, palm kernel oil or tallow).

The fatty acids may be present in the form of their sodium, potassium or ammonium salts and/or in the form of soluble salts of organic bases, such as mono-, di- or triethanolamine.

Mixtures of any of the above described materials may also be used.

Fatty acids and/or their salts, when included, may be present in an amount ranging from about 0.25 to 5%, more preferably from 0.5 to 5%, most preferably from 0.75 to 4% (by weight based on the total weight of the composition).

For formula accounting purposes, in the formulation, fatty acids and/or their salts (as defined above) are not included in the level of surfactant or in the level of builder.

A composition of the invention may also include one or more polymeric cleaning boosters such as soil release polymers, antiredeposition polymers, and mixtures thereof.

Soil release polymers adsorb onto a fabric surface assisting soil removal. Suitable soil release polymers for use in the invention include copolyesters of dicarboxylic acids (for example adipic acid, phthalic acid or terephthalic acid), diols (for example ethylene glycol or propylene glycol) and polydiols (for example polyethylene glycol or polypropylene glycol). An example of such a material has a midblock formed from propylene terephthalate repeat units and one or two end blocks of capped polyalkylene oxide, typically PEG 750 to 2000 with methyl end capping. The weight average molecular weight (M_w) of such materials generally ranges from about 1000 to about 20,000 and preferably ranges from about 1500 to about 10,000.

Mixtures of any of the above described materials may also be used.

When included, a composition of the invention will preferably comprise from 0.05 to 6%, more preferably from 0.1 to 5% (by weight based on the total weight of the composition) of one or more soil release polymer(s) such as, for example, the copolyesters which are described above.

Anti-redeposition polymers stabilise the soil in the wash solution thus preventing redeposition of the soil. Suitable anti-redeposition polymers for use in the invention include alkoxylated

polyethyleneimines. Polyethyleneimines are materials composed of ethylene imine units - CH2CH2NH- and, where branched, the hydrogen on the nitrogen is replaced by another chain of ethylene imine units. Preferred alkoxylated polyethylenimines for use in the invention have a polyethyleneimine backbone of about 300 to about 10000 weight average molecular weight (M_w). The polyethyleneimine backbone may be linear or branched. It may be branched to the extent that it is a dendrimer. The alkoxylation may typically be ethoxylation or propoxylation, or a mixture of both. Where a nitrogen atom is alkoxylated, a preferred average degree of alkoxylation is from 10 to 30, preferably from 15 to 25 alkoxy groups per modification. A preferred material is ethoxylated polyethyleneimine, with an average degree of ethoxylation being from 10 to 30, preferably from 15 to 25 ethoxy groups per ethoxylated nitrogen atom in the polyethyleneimine backbone. Another type of suitable anti-redeposition polymer for use in the invention includes cellulose esters and ethers, for example sodium carboxymethyl cellulose.

Mixtures of any of the above described materials may also be used.

When included, a composition of the invention will preferably comprise from 0.05 to 6%, more preferably from 0.1 to 5% (by weight based on the total weight of the composition) of one or more anti-redeposition polymers such as, for example, the alkoxylated polyethyleneimines and/or cellulose esters and ethers which are described above.

A composition of the invention may also include an oxidising agent to facilitate removal of tough food stains and other organic stains by chemical oxidation. The oxidising agent may, for example oxidize polyphenolic compounds commonly found in coffee, tea, wine, and fruit stains. Oxidation by the oxidising agent may also aid in bleaching, whitening, and disinfecting fabrics, and may also provide additional washing machine cleanliness and odour prevention. Suitable oxidising agents for use in the invention include peroxy bleach compounds such as sodium perborate monohydrate and tetrahydrate, and sodium percarbonate.

When included, a composition of the invention will preferably comprise from 5 to 35%, preferably from 8 to 20% (by weight based on the total weight of the composition) of one or more oxidising agents such as the peroxy bleach compounds which are described above.

A bleaching activator such as N,N,N',N'-tetraacetylethylenediamine (TAED) or sodium

nonanoyloxybenzenesulfonate (NOBS) may be included in conjunction with the one or more oxidising agents to improve bleaching action at low wash temperatures.

A bleaching catalyst may also be included in addition to or instead of a bleach activator. Typical bleaching catalysts include complexes of heavy metal ions such as cobalt, copper, iron, manganese or combinations thereof; with organic ligands such as 1 ,4,7-triazacyclononane (TACN), 1 ,4,7- trimethyl-1 ,4,7-triazacyclononane (Me3-TACN), 1 ,5,9-trimethyl-1 ,5,9-triazacyclononane, 1 ,5,9- triazacyclododecane, 1 ,4,7-triazacycloundecane, tris[2-(salicylideneamino)ethyl]amine or combinations thereof.

A composition of the invention may also contain one or more chelating agents for transition metal ions. Such chelating agents may also have calcium and magnesium chelation capacity, but preferentially bind heavy metal ions such as iron, manganese and copper. Such chelating agents may help to improve the stability of the composition and protect for example against transition metal catalyzed decomposition of certain ingredients.

Suitable transition metal ion chelating agents include phosphonates, in acid and/or salt form. When utilized in salt form, alkali metal (e.g. sodium and potassium) or alkanolammonium salts are preferred. Specific examples of such materials include aminotris(methylene phosphonic acid) (ATMP), 1-hydroxyethylidene diphosphonic acid (HEDP) and diethylenetriamine penta(methylene phosphonic acid (DTPMP) and their respective sodium or potassium salts. HEDP is preferred. Mixtures of any of the above described materials may also be used.

Transition metal ion chelating agents, when included, may be present in an amount ranging from about 0.1 to about 10%, preferably from about 0.1 to about 3% (by weight based on the total weight of the composition). Mixtures of any of the above described materials may also be used. A composition of the invention may also comprise an effective amount of one or more enzyme selected from the group comprising, pectate lyase, protease, amylase, cellulase, lipase, mannanase and mixtures thereof. The enzymes are preferably present with corresponding enzyme stabilizers.

A composition of the invention may contain further optional ingredients to enhance performance and/or consumer acceptability. Examples of such ingredients include dye transfer inhibitors (e.g. polyvinylpyrrolidone), foam control agents, preservatives (e.g. bactericides), anti-shrinking agents, anti-wrinkle agents, antioxidants, sunscreens, anti-corrosion agents, drape imparting agents, antistatic agents, ironing aids, colorants, fluorescers, pearlisers and/or opacifiers, and shading dye.

Each of these ingredients will be present in an amount effective to accomplish its purpose.

Generally, these optional ingredients are included individually at an amount of up to 5% (by weight based on the total weight of the composition).

Packaging and dosing

A composition of the invention may be packaged as unit doses in polymeric film soluble in the wash water. Alternatively, a composition of the invention may be supplied in multidose plastics packs with a top or bottom closure. A dosing measure may be supplied with the pack either as a part of the cap or as an integrated system.

A method of laundering fabric using a composition of the invention will usually involve diluting the dose of detergent composition with water to obtain a wash liquor and washing fabrics with the wash liquor so formed. In automatic washing machines the dose of detergent composition is typically put into a dispenser and from there it is flushed into the machine by the water flowing into the machine, thereby forming the wash liquor. From 5 up to about 65 litres of water may be used to form the wash liquor depending on the machine configuration. The dose of detergent composition may be adjusted accordingly to give appropriate wash liquor concentrations.

The dilution step preferably provides a wash liquor which comprises inter alia from about 3 to about 20 g/wash of detersive surfactants (as are further defined above). The wash liquor preferably has a pH of from above 7 to less than 13, preferably from above 7 to less than 10.5.

A subsequent aqueous rinse step and drying the laundry is preferred.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the following non-limiting Examples. Example

The following main wash detergent powders were created.

The alkyl ether carboxylate was palmitic/stearyl based with 20 moles of ethoxylation and a C16/C18 ratio of 0.4 . * The lipase granule contained Lipex 100 T a lipid esterase (E.C. 3.1.1.3) from Novozymes. The end powder contained 0.0019wt% pure enzyme protein.

Sebum was collected from male adults by placing cotton and poly/cotton fabric close to the skin, so that sebum and other skin material were transferred by rubbing. The fabric was hand washed in powder 1 and then the sebum recollected. This cycle was repeated 10 times with 2 days left between each collection. In this manner the fabric become heavily stained with human skin soil. After the 1⁵¹5^th and 10^th cycle the fabrics was given a score by 15 trained panellists under controlled lighting. The score was on a 10-point scale, where 0 was completely clean and 10 completely filthy. A different of 1 unit on the scale is visible. The % cleaning of the fabric was calculated as: score ( before wash) -score ( after wash)

% cleaning = 100

score ( before wash)

The experiment was repeated on alternate days using Powder 2 and a separate fabric set.

The average values are given in the table below

The average cleaning for powder 1 is 75.0% (±3.3) and the average cleaning for powder 2 is 83.8% (±2.8), where in the value in parenthesis is the 95% confidence limit. Powder 2 provides significantly more effectively cleaning of the sebum stain than Powder 1 .

Claims

1. A method for washing a garment worn on the head, preferably selected from Hijabs, Niqab, Burka, Al-Amira, Shayla, Khimar, Chador, Jilbaad, Ghoonghat, Sari, Ghandi cap, Turbans, Dastaar, Babushka, Mantilla, Dupatta, Bonnets, white veils and head covering for wearing during religious service, Kippah and Wimple, with a composition comprising:

(i) from 6 to 60 wt%, preferably 8 to 16wt% of an anionic surfactant;

(ii) from 0.4 to 8wt%, of an alkyl ether carboxylic acid dispersant of the following structure:

R-(OCH₂CH₂)_n-OCHrCOOH, wherein:

R is selected from saturated C16 linear alkyl chains and saturated and mono- unsaturated C18 linear alkyl chains, wherein the weight ratio of alkyl ether carboxylate with C16/C18 chains is from 0.01 to 0.5, preferably 0.04 to 0.3; n is selected from 6 to 30; and,

(iii) optionally a lipid esterase at a level of from 0.0005 to 0.5 wt %, preferably 0.001 to 0.1 wt% of pure enzyme.

2. A method of washing a garment worn on the head, preferably selected from Hijabs, Niqab, Burka, Al-Amira, Shayla, Khimar, Chador, Jilbaad, Ghoonghat, Sari, Ghandi cap, Turbans, Dastaar, Babushka, Mantilla, Dupatta, Bonnets, white veils and head covering for wearing during religious service, Kippah and Wmple, with a composition comprising:

(i) from 4 to 50 wt%, preferably 5 to 20wt% of an anionic surfactant;

(ii) from 0.1 to 20 wt%, preferably 0.5 to 4wt%, preferably of an alkyl ether carboxylic acid dispersant of the following structure:

R-(OCH₂CH₂)_n-OCHrCOOH, wherein:

R is selected from saturated and mono-unsaturated C16 to C20 linear or branched alkyl chains; n is selected from 5 to 30; and,

(iii) optionally a lipid esterase at a level of from 0.0005 to 0.5 wt % of pure enzyme.