Abstract: An applicator for a fabric treatment to effect mechanical stain removal has a no rinse fabric treatment composition and an application device. The application device induces a certain frictional stress upon the fabric and has a frictional stress value on the fabric optimally chosen to effect fabric treatment and is at the same time kind to the fabric. Advantageously, the application device has a frictional stress value of from 0.05 N mm−2 to 1 N mm−2. The frictional stress should be high enough to ensure good mechanical stain removal, good delivery of the fabric treatment composition into the fabric and allow fabric treatment with fabric friendly chemical compositions at low levels.

Abstract: A method of laundering fabric materials in a washing machine includes the steps of providing a non-particulate detergent product comprising a mixture of spray-dried detergent and an agglomeration detergent comprising a perborate component, and a flow aid; providing a flexible porous bag for receiving the non-particulate detergent product; placing the non-particulate detergent product within the flexible porous bag containing the detergent product in the washing machine with the fabric materials to be washed.

Abstract: A detergent granule and tablets which comprises an anionic surfactant system which comprises an anionic sulphate surfactant and/or an anionic sulphonate surfactant and other detergent active ingredients, the granule comprising at least a first and a second particulate component and optionally a binding agent, characterised in that the ratio of anionic sulphate surfactant to anionic sulphonate surfactant in the particulate components and in the optional binding agent is less than 1:4 or more than 4:1, preferably even less than 1:5 or more than 5:1. The invention also relates to specific granules comprising restricted degree of mixing of anionic sulphonate surfactant and zeolite, anionic sulphate surfactant and carbonate salts and/or restricted degree of mixing of polymeric builder and anionic surfactant, in particular sulphate surfactants.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for preparation of a chelant composition by a non-spray-drying process, a process for improving one or more of flowability and scoopability of a laundry detergent composition, and a chelant agglomerate useful as an ad-mix in a particulate laundry detergent. In one aspect of the present invention, the process for preparation of a chelant composition by a non-spray-drying process includes the steps of admixing a transition metal chelant and an inorganic compound to form a mixture, aglomerating the mixture in an aqueous medium to form a chelant agglomerate and drying the chelant agglomerate.

Abstract: The solid component comprises a finely divided component, preferably a sensitiser, and a specific polymeric component, whereby the solid component has a tressed Heubach Index of less than 1000. The solid component is preferably present in the detergent composition, preferably in a granular composition, a tablet or bar.

Abstract: Solid detergent compositions comprising from 8-60 wt. % of a surfactant system and having a Grand Compatibility Index of at least 0.5, preferably at least 0.6, are claimed. The use of these detergent compositions in a washing process for soiled laundry is also claimed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a perfumed detergent tablet, the tablet comprising a clay mineral compound, and the perfume comprising less than 0.6% of Schiff-base by weight of the perfume composition.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a personal cleansing composition comprising an anionic and/or amphoteric surfactant and a polymeric ester comprising: (i) a polyol; (ii) a monocarboxylic acid having from 4 to 30 carbon atoms; and (iii) a dicarboxylic acid. The compositions of the present invention provide improved in-use sensory feel while at the same time being exceptionally mild to the skin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to detergent compositions which comprise a flocculating agent and an organophilic smectite clay whereof at least 30%, preferably at least 40% of the exchangeable cations in the clay is replaced by one or more long-chain organic cations, preferably having at least one long carbon chain of at least 10 or even 12 carbon atoms. The compositions provide improved fabric softening and deliver good cleaning.

Abstract: A process for producing a starting material in a granular form and in a nanoporous anhydrous state, a process for improving the water-solubility and controlled release characteristics of a detergent material, and a detergent composition are disclosed. In one aspect, a process for producing a starting material in a granular form and in a nanoporous anhydrous state includes obtaining a starting material in a form of a dispersion or solution in a sublimable solvent or mixtures of sublimable solvents, forming graded droplets by atomization, freezing the graded droplets in a freezing medium at a controlled freezing rate of a least 100° C. per second to form frozen droplets and drying the frozen droplets by vacuum sublimation to obtain freeze-dried granules of the starting material in a nanoporous anhydrous state. The starting material in dispersion or solution form has a viscosity suitable for atomization and formation of graded droplets.

Abstract: A detergent composition which has improved solubility or dissolution in laundering solutions, especially in solutions kept at cold temperatures (i.e., less than about 30° C.), is disclosed. The granular detergent composition is aesthetically pleasing to consumers and has improved flowability. The granular detergent composition has optimally selected level of particles having a judiciously selected median particle size diameter with a selected standard deviation. The granular detergent composition also has carefully tailored physical properties such as uniformity parameter, whiteness, circularity and aspect ratio.

Abstract: A granular detergent composition comprising from about 0.01% to about 50% by weight of an anionic sulphonate surfactant, from about 0.01% to about 45% by weight of a hydrotrope, and from about 0.5% to about 5% by weight of a cationic surfactant. The granular detergent composition is substantially free from anionic sulphate surfactant.

Abstract: Disclosed is an isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence substantially as shown in SEQ ID NO:2, or substantially similar to an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleotide sequence in a plasmid having all the identifying characteristics of Deposit No. FERM BP-6129. Also disclosed is an isolated polynucleotide substantially as shown in SEQ ID NO:1, or substantially similar to a nucleotide sequence contained in a plasmid having all of the identifying characteristics of Deposit No. FERM BP-6129. Further disclosed is an expression system comprising the above polynucleotide. Further disclosed is a composition comprising the above polypeptide.

Abstract: Detergent compositions comprise a water-soluble builder, an enzyme and a polymeric dye transfer inhibiting agent, wherein a means is provided for delaying the release of the enzyme relative to the release of the water-soluble builder to the wash solution. The time to achieve a concentration that is 50% of the ultimate concentration of the water-soluble builder is less than 60 seconds, and the time to achieve a concentration that is 50% of the ultimate concentration of the enzyme is more than 90 seconds.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for forming an agglomerated particle containing the steps of providing at least one alkaline material, a core material, and at least one acid active. The alkaline material and the core material are added to a mixer and agglomerated therein, to form an agglomerated particle comprising an interior and an exterior. The acid active is then added to the mixer. The core material is concentrated into the interior of the agglomerated particle by adding substantially all of the core material to the alkaline material before more than about 50% of the acid active is added to the mixer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for forming a cleaning composition containing the steps of providing at least one alkaline material and at least one acid active, and adding the acid active and the alkaline material to a mixer. The acid active is substantially neutralized within the mixer to form a neutralized detergent active. At least one acid-sensitive polymer is added to the neutralized detergent active to form a slurry, and the slurry is formed into a cleaning composition. A cleaning composition as formed by the above process is also described herein.

Abstract: A process for producing high density detergent compositions is provided. The process is a continuous process during which high density detergent agglomerates are produced by feeding a surfactant paste and dry starting detergent material into a moderate speed mixer/densifier having a centrally positioned rotating shaft and at least one high speed chopper. The surfactant paste is inputted at least one location along the length of the moderate speed mixer/densifier to achieve optimal build-up agglomeration. The proces produces a free flowing, high density detergent composition which can be commercially sold as a low dosage or “compact” detergent composition.

Abstract: Methods for reducing lipase enzyme activity within a treatment area comprise applying a copolymeric compound having an average molecular weight of at least 400 and a polyalkoxy backbone which comprises at least one branched C1-C30 alkoxy unit and at least one linear C1-C30 alkoxy unit to the treatment area in an amount sufficient to reduce lipase enzyme activity within the treatment area.

Abstract: The present invention relates to water or alcohol soluble or dispersible thermoplastic elastomeric copolymers and to cosmetic and pharmaceutical compositions containing these copolymers. This invention especially relates to copolymers useful for hair styling purposes, and to hair styling compositions containing these copolymers. This invention further relates to copolymers useful for providing cosmetic and pharmaceutical compositions for topical application to the skin. These topical skin care compositions are useful for delivereing and/or transdermally transporting active ingredients to or thorugh the skin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to Proteinase K variants having a modified amino acid sequence of wild-type Proteinase K amino acid sequence, the wild-type amino acid sequence comprising a first loop region, a second loop region, a third loop region, a fourth loop region, a fifth loop region and a sixth loop region; wherein the modified amino acid sequence comprises different amino acids than that occurring in wild-type Proteinase K (i.e., substitution) at specifically identified positions in one or more of the loop regions whereby the Proteinase K variant has decreased adsorption to, and increased hydrolysis of, an insoluble substrate as compared to the wild-type Proteinase K. The present invention also relates to DNA sequences encoding such Proteinase K variants. The present invention also relates to compositions comprising such Proteinase K variants for cleaning a variety of surfaces.