Abstract: Mutant Bacillus lentus DSM 5483 proteases are derived by the replacement of at least one amino acid residue of the mature form of the B. lentus DSM 5483 alkaline protease. The mutant proteases are expressed by genes which are mutated by site-specific mutagenesis. The amino acid sites selected for replacement are identified by means of a computer based method which compares the three dimensional structure of the wild-type protease and a reference protease.

Abstract: The cleaning performance of bleach-containing detergents, especially against protein- and starch-containing soils and colored soils, was to be improved.

Abstract: A foaming aqueous body-cleansing composition of (a) an anionic surfactant, (b) an alkyl (oligo)glycoside, (c) a zwitterionic surfactant, (d) an ampholytic surfactant is presented. The body cleansing composition produces a stable, fine-bubble, creamy-feeling foam.

Abstract: The invention relates to detergents characterized in that they contain &agr;-amylase from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and protease from Bacillus lentus, optionally modified by genetic engineering, in addition to our usual ingredients compatible with said enzymes.

Abstract: Enzyme granules suitable for incorporating into detergents or cleaners are provided containing an enzyme, a carrier material and a granulation auxiliary containing phosphated starch. The phosphated starch preferably has a mean degree of phosphation ranging from 1.5 to 2.5. Carrier materials include starch, cereal flour, cellulose, alkali metal aluminosilicate, layer silicate and alkali metal salts. Enzymes include proteases, lipases, amylases and cellulases. A preferred carrier material contains water-swellable starch, sucrose, cereal flour and cellulose powder. The granulation auxiliary may contain a co-granulation auxiliary selected from polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of from 200 to 6,000, 1,2-propylene glycol and a poly-ethoxylate having a specified formula. Preferred granules have a mean particle size of from 0.3 to 3 mm.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a skin lightening composition comprising (a) a safe and effective amount of a compound of formula (I): wherein Z is Oxygen or Sulfur, (b) an average polarity solvent, (c) a polyhydric alcohol, (d) a solid fatty alcohol, (e) a nonionic surfactant, (f) water, and (g) lecithin wherein at least a portion of the above components (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g) forms a liquid crystal.

Abstract: A molded synthetic composition is presented having at least 25% by weight synthetic surfactants, at least 30% by weight non-surface-active organic plasticizers and fillers, and 5 to 30% by weight of talcum. The composition provides improved moldability and initial foam quality.

Abstract: A liquid non-aqueous detergent is presented containing a nonionic surfactant, a builder, a bleaching agent, and a cationic stabilizer of formula I, II or III: where the groups R1 independently of one another are C1-6 alkyl, alkenyl or hydroxyalkyl groups, the groups R2 independently of one another are C8-28 alkyl or alkenyl groups, R3 has the same meaning as R1 or represents (CH2)n—T—R2, R4 has the same meaning as R1 or R2 or represents (CH2)n—T—R2, T represents —CH2—, —O—CO— or —CO—O— and n is an integer of from 0 to 5. The solid bleaching agents in the stabilized non-aqueous liquid detergent retain their activity after prolonged storage.

Abstract: Formulations for coloring keratinous fibers are provided, comprising a substantive dye, an aminopolycarboxylic acid or salt thereof with a physiologically compatible cation, and isoascorbic acid or a salt thereof with a physiologically compatible cation. Also provided are methods of coloring keratinous fibers with the formulations.

Abstract: Naphthalene sulfonic acid/formaldehyde condensates may be used (i) in a liquid multiphase cleaning composition with at least two continuous phases which contains at least one aqueous phase I and a non-aqueous liquid phase II immiscible with this aqueous phase and which can be temporarily converted into an emulsion by shaking, (ii) in a composition for cleaning hard surfaces to reduce the rain effect and/or the film effect, (iii) in a process for reducing the rain effect and/or the film effect on a hard surface treated with a liquid cleaning composition, the surface being treated with a liquid cleaning composition in concentrated or diluted form containing at least one naphthalene sulfonic acid/formaldehyde condensate and (iv) in a process for cleaning hard surfaces, more particularly glass, in which a cleaning composition according to (i) is temporarily converted into an emulsion by shaking, applied to the surface to be cleaned, preferably by spraying, in quantities of 1.

Abstract: An enzyme granule and means for producing the enzyme granule is presented. The enzyme granule is composed of an enzyme, a carrier material, and a coating system of 5 to 70 percent by weight fine-particle inorganic water-insoluble pigment, 45 to 90 percent by weight of a water-soluble organic substance having a melting point of from 40 to 70° C., and 0 to 30 percent by weight of a flow improver. The granule can be produced by mixing an aqueous enzyme liquid with an inorganic or organic carrier material to form an enzyme compound, extruding the enzyme compound, spheronizing the extrudate, and applying an outer coating layer of the coating system listed above to form an enzyme granule having a mean particle size of 0.8 to 1.4 millimeters. The coated enzyme granule has increased storage stability, even coloration, reduced odor, and releases enzyme activity quickly in water. The enzyme granule is useful in solid detergents.

Abstract: Low-concentration, highly viscous liquid detergents which maintain their degree of viscosity in storage in a range of climatic conditions, do not undergo any phase separation or agglomerate separation, and maintain their color under the influence of light. Liquid detergents with the desired properties contain 0.2 to 5 wt. % of a polyurethane or modified polyacrylate, 0.5 to 7 wt. % of a boron compound and 1 to 8 wt. % of a complexer.

Abstract: Partially coated laundry detergent and cleaning product tablets having advantageous properties such as high hardnesses without adverse effect on short disintegration times and high resistance to edge fracture are achieved with relatively small amounts of coating agents if the coating covers only mechanically sensitive parts of the tablets.

Abstract: A process for making neutral sugar surfactant granules involving: (a) providing a water-containing alkaline sugar surfactant selected from the group consisting of an alkyl oligoglycoside, an alkenyl oligoglycoside, a fatty acid-N-alkyl polyhydroxyalkylamide, and mixtures thereof; (b) providing a thin-layer evaporator or dryer having rotating internals; (c) neutralizing the water-containing alkaline sugar surfactant to a pH of from 6.8 to 7.5 to form a neutralized water-containing sugar surfactant; (d) introducing the neutralized water-containing alkaline sugar surfactant into the thin-layer evaporator or dryer; and (e) drying the water-containing alkaline sugar surfactant in the thin-layer evaporator or dryer until it has a residual water content below 2% by weight.

Abstract: The problem addressed by the invention was to provide a foam regulator system containing silicone and/or paraffin and bis-fatty acid amide which would have a low viscosity, which could be handled at low temperatures and which would have a low percentage content of non-foam-regulating ingredients. This problem was largely solved by an aqueous foam regulator emulsion containing 16% by weight to 70% by weight of active foam regulator based on paraffin wax and/or silicone oil, 2% by weight to 15% by weight of nonionic and/or anionic emulsifier and no more than 80% by weight of water. The foam regulator emulsion is preferably used for the production of partiulate foam regulator granules for use in detergents.

Abstract: A stable, gel-form, shear-thinning cleaning composition is presented containing (a) 1 to 5 percent by weight of a polysaccharide, (b) 3 to 25 percent by weight of a C8-22 alkyl polyglycoside, and (c) 2 to 15 percent by weight of a perfume. The composition has a viscosity of 30,000 to 150,000 mPas as measured with a Brookfield RVT rotational viscometer with a Helipath spindle and TA spindle at 1 r.p.m. at 23° C. The composition is a visually attractive, translucent or clear pseudoplastic gel and useful in the cleaning flush toilets.

Abstract: A process for the production of detergent tablets containing surfactants, builders and optionally other detergent ingredients. To produce the tablets, particulate detergent compositions containing 5 to 20% by weight of an overdried amorphous silicate, 0.5 to 10% by weight of polyethylene glycol and 1 to 15% by weight of water or aqueous solutions, based on the weight of the tablet formed, are tabletted under pressure. Despite low tabletting pressures, the process according to the invention gives tablets combining high fracture resistance and stability in storage with excellent dissolving behavior.

Abstract: A laundry detergent composition comprises a cellulase having a ratio of tensile strength loss to antipilling properties of less than 1. A method of laundering cotton-containing fabrics with the composition is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention concerns pearly luster concentrates in the form of an aqueous dispersion having between 10 and 40 wt % pearly luster-forming components and between 15 and 55 wt % emulsifiers. The concentrates contain as emulsifiers alkylpolyglycosides of general formula (I), RO—(Z)x, in which R stands for a C6 to C22 alkyl group, Z stands for a mono or oligosaccharide, x is a number from 1.1 to 5, or their addition products with 1 to 10 molecules ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide. The concentrates are characterized by a Newtonian flow behaviour when they are free of emulsifiers with —COO—and —OSO3 —groups, such that these concentrates are considerably easier to handle.

Abstract: The invention relates to lipid soluble, water insoluble cosmetic or dermatological active substances which can be included in body cleansing agents in the form of an aqueous preparation with at least 5 wt. % water soluble ionic or non-ionic surfactant content by solubilization of the active substances with a polar lipid in lipid-surfactant mixed micelles or liquid crystals or by microemulsification with a nonpolar lipid, wherein the emulsion particles have a diameter which is less than 500 nm. Said agents are also characterized by enhanced skin penetration by the active substances.