Abstract: Heterocyclic compounds IR.sup.1 --X--L (I)whereL is a cyclic carbamate residue, a lactonoxy residue or a lactam residue,X is an oxygen-containing group ##STR1## where A is a linker, and R.sup.1 is an organic radical or a group L,are used as activators for inorganic peroxy compounds, in particular as cold bleach activators or optical brighteners in detergents, cleaners and bleaches and in disinfectants.

Abstract: The use of triacids of the formula I ##STR1## where X.sup.1 to X.sup.3 are, independently of one another, carboxylic acid groups of the formula COOM, sulfonic acid groups of the formula SO.sub.3 M or phosphonic acid groups of the formula PO.sub.3 M.sub.2, whereM is hydrogen, alkali metal, ammonium or substituted ammonium,A.sup.1 to A.sup.3 are, independently of one another, 1,2-alkylene with 2 to 18 carbon atoms,R.sup.1 to R.sup.3 are, independently of one another, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkylene, andx, y and z are, independently of one another, a number from 0 to 10, where the total of x+y+z must be greater than or equal to 1,as complexing agents for complexing heavy metals or for preparing heavy metal complexes for changing the redox potential, and as builders in detergents and cleaners.

Abstract: The use of polymers which are preparable by reaction of(a) polymers that contain vinylamine units, with(b) compounds that contain aldehyde or keto groups, and optionally(c) NH- and/or OH-containing compoundsand which contain aminal, hemiaminal and/or aminal-acetal structures with or without unconverted vinylamine units, as detergent additive for inhibiting dye transfer during the wash, and polymers containing aminal, hemiaminal and/or aminal-acetal structures, obtainable by reaction of(a) polymers that contain vinylamine units, with(b) compounds that contain aldehyde or keto groups, and(c) NH- and/or OH-containing compounds,and detergents which contain the abovementioned polymers in amounts from 0.05 to 10% by weight.

Abstract: There are described the use of copolymers obtainable by free-radically initiated copolymerization of monomer mixtures comprising (a) 60-99% by weight of 1-vinylpyrrolidone, 1-vinyl-imidazole or mixtures thereof, (b) 1-40% by weight of nitrogen-containing, basic ethylenically unsaturated monomers in the form of the free bases, in the form of salts or in quaternized form, and optionally (c) up to 20% by weight of other monoethylenically unsaturated monomers, as detergent additives for inhibiting dye transfer during the wash, detergents which contain such polymers, and polymers which are obtainable by free-radically initiated polymerization of (a) 1-vinylpyrrolidone, 1-vinylimidazole, 1-vinylimidazolium compounds, or mixtures thereof, and optionally (b) other nitrogen-containing, basic ethylenically unsaturated monomers in the form of the free bases, in the form of the salts or in quaternized form, and/or (c) other monoethylenically unsaturated monomers, in an aqueous medium in the presence of water-soluble prot

Abstract: Grafted polyamidoamines and grafted polyethyleneimines obtainable by free-radically initiated polymerization of(a) 1-vinylpyrrolidone, 1-vinyltriazole, 1-vinylimidazoles, mixtures of said monomers or mixtures of at least one of said monomers with up to 20% by weight of other monoethylenically unsaturated monomers in the presence of(b) water-soluble or -dispersible polyamidoamines, polyethyleneimines or mixtures thereof in a weight ratio of (a):(b) from 5:95 to 95:5, are useful as dye transfer inhibitors in surfactant-based detergents when included therein in an amount from 0.05 to 10% by weight.

Abstract: A process for preparing finely divided mixtures of amphiphilic polymers and polycarboxylates, which comprises mixing(a) aqueous dispersions or colloidal aqueous solutions with at least one amphiphilic polymer, and(b) an aqueous solution of a polycarboxylatein a weight ratio of (a):(b) of from 1:1 to 1:20, each based on the solids, or dispersing at least one amphiphilic polymer in an aqueous solution of a polycarboxylate, and spray-drying the dispersions thus obtainable to form finely divided polymer mixtures, use of the finely divided polymer mixtures as ingredient of detergent and as laundry aftertreatment, and finely divided polymer mixtures having a particle size from 20 .mu.m to 3 mm prepared by the above-indicated process.

Abstract: There are described the use of copolymers obtainable by free-radically initiated copolymerization of monomer mixtures comprising(a) 60-99% by weight of 1-vinylpyrrolidone, 1-vinylimidazole or mixtures thereof,(b) 1-40% by weight of nitrogen-containing, basic ethylenically unsaturated monomers in the form of the free bases, in the form of salts or in quaternized form, and optionally(c) up to 20% by weight of other monoethylenically unsaturated monomers,as detergent additives for inhibiting dye transfer during the wash, detergents which contain such polymers, and polymers which are obtainable by free-radically initiated polymerization of(a) 1-vinylpyrrolidone, 1-vinylimidazole, 1-vinylimidazolium compounds, or mixtures thereof, and optionally(b) other nitrogen-containing, basic ethylenically unsaturated monomers in the form of the free bases, in the form of the salts or in quaternized form, and/or(c) other monoethylenically unsaturated monomers,in an aqueous medium in the presence of water-soluble proteins and

Abstract: Copolymers which are obtainable by free radical copolymerization of a mixture of(a) from 20 to 95% by weight of 1-vinylpyrrolidone, a 1-vinylimidazole or a mixture of 1-vinylpyrrolidone and/or 1-vinylimidazoles which may contain up to 20% by weight of other monoethylenically unsaturated monomers and(b) from 5 to 80% by weight of water-insoluble polymers which contain at least one ethylenically unsaturated double bond and/or one mercapto group in the molecule, processes for the preparation of the copolymers by copolymerization of the compounds of groups (a) and (b) in the abovementioned amounts in water, an alcohol, an ester or a ketone in the presence of free radical initiators, and the use of the copolymers thus obtainable and of copolymers of from 20 to 95% by weight of 1-vinylpyrrolidone or a mixture of 1-vinylpyrrolidone with up to 20% by weight of other monoethylenically unsaturated monomers andfrom 10 to 80% by weight of styrene as additives for detergents for inhibiting the dye transfer during the wash

Abstract: Heterocyclic compounds which are useful as bleach activators or optical brighteners in washing and cleaning agents have the formula ##STR1## where the variables have the following meanings: X is O, S or the group N--R.sup.3, where R.sup.3 is hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.25 -alkyll C.sub.1 -C.sub.25 -acyl or an aryl group of up to12 carbon atoms,Y is CH or N,R.sup.1 for X=S or N--R.sup.3 is hydrogen, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.25 -alkyl or C.sub.2 -C.sub.25 -alkenyl group or a phenyl radical which may be additionally substituted by one or two C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkoxy, hydroxyl, carboxyl, sulfo, amino, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -acylamino, nitro or cyano groups or chlorine or bromine atoms, which substituents, if there are two of them, may be identical or different,R.sup.1 for X=O is phenyl, o-, m- or p-tolyl, p-chlorophenyl, m-nitrophenyl, m-methoxyphenyl or m-methylsulfonylphenyl,R.sup.2 for X=S or N--R.sup.3 is hydrogen, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.

Abstract: Copolymers useful in amounts of from 0.1 to 15% by weight as grayness inhibiting and primary detergency boosting additives in pulverulent liquid detergents have K values of from 10 to 80 (determined by Fikentscher in dimethylformamide at 25.degree. C. with a polymer concentration of 2% by weight) and are obtainable by copolymerizing monomer mixtures of(a) from 10 to 60% by weight of water-soluble monomers obtainable from (A) water-soluble polyalkylene glycols or (B) water-soluble alkoxylated C.sub.1 -C.sub.25 -alcohols, for example by esterification with C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 -carboxylic acids, by vinylation with acetylene or by allylation with alkenyl ethers, or by reaction with ammonia to give the corresponding end group aminated compounds (A) or (B) and by reaction with monoethylenically unsaturated C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 -carboxylic acids to form the amides, and(b) from 40 to 90% by weight of vinyl esters of saturated monocarboxylic acids and/or alkyl esters of monoethylenically unsaturated C.sub.3 -C.sub.

Abstract: Phosphate-free and low-phosphate detergents which contain surfactants as essential constituents also contain from 0.1 to 20% by weight, based on the particular formulation, of water-soluble or water-dispersible grafted proteins obtainable by free radical copolymerization of(A) monoethylenically unsaturated monomers in the presence of(B) proteins in a weight ratio of (A):(B) of (0.5-90):(99.5-10).

Abstract: A process for the preparation of copolymers which contain monoethylenically unsaturated monocarboxylic acids and dicarboxylic acids as copolymerized monomer units, which comprises copolymerizinga) 10 to 60% by weight, based on the sum of the monomers, of a monoethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid of 4 to 6 carbon atoms, -or an alkali metal salt thereof or, an anhydride thereof,b) 90 to 40% by weight of a monoethylenically unsaturated monocarboxylic acid of 3 to 10 carbon atoms or an alkali metal salt thereof andc) 0 to 20% by weight of another monoethylenically unsaturated monomer, not having carboxyl groups and which is copolymerizable with a) and b);in an aqueous medium in the presence of from 0.5 to 5% by weight, based on monomers, of a water-soluble initiator.

Abstract: Polyesters obtainable by condensation of(a) an at least dicarboxylic acid, or an ester or anhydride or a mixture thereof,(b) an at least dihydric alcohol or an addition product of from 1 to 5 mol of at least one alkylene oxide of 2 or 3 carbon atoms with 1 mol of an at least dihydric alcohol, or a mixture thereof, and(c) a water-soluble addition product of from 5 to 80 mol of at least one alkylene oxide with 1 mol of a C.sub.8 -C.sub.24 -alcohol, a C.sub.8 -C.sub.18 -alkylphenol or a C.sub.8 -C.sub.24 -alkylaminein a molar ratio of (a):(b):(c) of 100:(25-2500):(5-110) at not less than 120.degree. C. up to a weight average molecular weight of from 2000 to 50000, are used in amounts of from 0.05 to 15% by weight as grayness inhibitors and soil release promoters in detergents.

Abstract: .beta.-Alaninediacetic acid (Ia) or its alkali metal or ammonium salts (Ib) are prepared by a process in which iminodiacetic acid and acrylic acida) for the preparation of Ia, are reacted with one another in a nonbasic aqueous medium andb) for the preparation of Ib, are reacted with one another in an alkaline aqueous medium or an aqueous medium containing a nitrogen base, or the Ia formed in the nonbasic medium is converted with an alkali metal base, ammonia or an amine into Ib.

Abstract: Water-soluble polymers having K values of from 5 to 100 (determined on the Na salt of the polymers according to H. Fikentscher in aqueous solution at 25.degree. C., a pH of 7 and a concentration of 1% by weight of the Na salt of the polymer) are prepared by polymerizing a monomer mixture of(a) monethylenically unsaturated C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 -monocarboxylic acids and(b) more than 20-100 mol % of monomers which have two or more ethylenically unsaturated double bonds linked via one or more ester or amide functions and which contain one or more --CO--OX groups, where X is one hydrogen equivalent, one alkali metal equivalent or one alkaline earth metal equivalent or an ammonium group,in aqueous solution in the presence of a polymerization initiator, and the polymers are used in amounts of from 0.5 to 25% by weight in detergents and cleaners.

Abstract: 2-Methyl- and 2-hydroxymethyl-serine-N,N-diacetic acid and derivatives thereof of the general formula I ##STR1## in which X denotes hydrogen, alkali metal or ammonium which may or may not be substituted by C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -hydroxyalkyl groups and Z denotes hydrogen or hydroxyl.The compounds I serve as complexing agents for heavy metal ions or alkaline earth metal ions and as bleach stabilizers or builders in detergents and cleaning formulations.

Abstract: .beta.-Alaninediacetic acid (Ia) or its alkali metal or ammonium salts (Ib) are prepared by a process in which iminodiacetic acid and acrylic acid(a) for the preparation of Ia, are reacted with one another in a nonbasic aqueous medium and(b) for the preparation of Ib, are reacted with one another in an alkaline aqueous medium or an aqueous medium containing a nitrogen base, or the Ia formed in the nonbasic medium is converted with an alkali metal base, ammonia or an amine into Ib.

Abstract: A stable liquid detergent composition having improved clay soil detergency, clay soil anti-redeposition, oily soil anti-redeposition and soil release properties is disclosed. The detergent composition is comprised of an anionic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant, a hydrotrope, a graft copolymer of polyalkylene oxide and an ester monomer, and a nonionic cellulosic anti-redeposition agent. The graft copolymer is comprised of (a) a polyalkylene oxide based upon an alkylene oxide having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms having a molecular weight of 300 to 100,000 and, (b) at least one vinyl ester derived from a saturated monocarboxylic acid containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and/or methyl or ethyl ester of acrylic or meth-acrylic acid in a weight ratio of (a):(b) of from 1:0.2 to 1:10. The nonionic cellulosic anti-redeposition agent is preferably hydroxypropyl methylcellulose.

Abstract: Washing and cleaning agents for aqueous use contain from 2 to 25% by weight, based on the total weight of the agent, of .beta.-alanine-N,N-diacetic acid or an alkali metal or ammonium salt thereof as water softener. The washing and cleaning agent is effective in preventing hardness deposits on textiles and fabrics.

Abstract: Pulverulent and liquid detergents contain (1) one or more anionic surfactants, one or more nonionic surfactants or mixtures thereof and (2) copolymers in amounts of from 0.1 to 15% by weight preparable by copolymerization of(a) from 10 to 55 mol % of a 1,2-di-C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkoxyethylene,(b) from 10 to 60 mol % of a monoethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic anhydride of from 4 to 8 carbon atoms,(c) from 0 to 60 mol % of a monoethylenically unsaturated C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 -monocarboxylic acid and(d) from 0 to 20 mol % of another monoethylenically unsaturated monomerand subsequent hydrolysis of the anhydride groups of the copolymerized monomer (b) or reaction of these groups with an alcohol or an amine.Preferred copolymers contain 1,2 dimethoxyethylene as the (a) monomer, maleic acid as the (b) monomer, and acrylic acid as the (c) monomer.