Abstract: Improved cleaning and/or bleaching compositions including fabric laundry and bleaching compositions, automatic dishwashing compositions, hard surface cleaners, bleach additives and the like, suitable for domestic use, comprising improved bleach activators having particular alpha-modified lactam leaving groups leading to improved in-use performance of bleaching agents such as perborate even under wash conditions less alkaline than those typically encountered or when hydrogen peroxide source is at low levels in a cleaning operation. A preferred class of activators are N-acyl-3-morpholinone compounds with benzoyl being a preferred acyl group and N-Benzoyl-3-oxomorpholine being a highly preferred activator.

Abstract: Improved aqueous bleaching solutions formed by reacting a bleach activator having a perhydrolysis selectivity coefficient of 5 or greater and a low-pH perhydrolysis-efficiency coefficient of 0.15 or higher are provided. More specifically, the invention relates to bleaching solutions which provide enhanced cleaning/bleaching benefits though the selection of bleach activators at mildly alkaline washing solutions or in the presence of reduced-levels of hydrogen peroxide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a dye transfer inhibiting detergent composition comprisinga) 0.0001% to 10% by weight of a dye transfer inhibitor having a ratio of amine to amine N-oxide of from about 2:3 to about 1:1,000,000 selected from the group consisting of poly(2-vinylpyridine-N-oxide), poly-2-(dimethylamino)-ethylmethacrylate-N-oxide and poly-1-vinylimidazole-N-oxide; andb) a detersive effective amount of a surfactant; andc) a detersive effective amount of a builder.

Abstract: The present invention relates to acylated citrate esters to be used as peracid precursors in a bleaching or a disinfecting operation. The present invention encompasses the use of these acylated citrate esters, granular or liquid compositions comprising the acylated citrate esters. Activating compositions are described as well as activated bleaching compositions.

Abstract: Bleaching compositions, laundry and automatic dishwashing detergent compositions comprising particular neutral or anionically charged substituted bleach activators are provided. More specifically, the invention relates to compositions which provide enhanced cleaning/bleaching benefits through the selection of perhydrolysis-selective bleach activators having specific leaving groups with a conjugate acid pK.sub.a above 13 and with specific ratios of the rate of perhydrolysis to the rate of hydrolysis and the rate of perhydrolysis to the rate of diacylperoxide production. Included are preferred activator compounds and methods for washing fabrics, hard surfaces, and tableware using the activators.

Abstract: Automatic dishwashing detergent compositions, comprising particular quaternary-substituted bleach activators, are provided. More specifically, the invention relates to granular automatic dishwashing detergents which provide enhanced cleaning/bleaching benefits through the selection of quaternary-substituted bleach activators having specific features, such as caprolactam or valerolactam leaving groups and/or the ability to form particular cationic aliphatic peracid structures in solution. Preferred automatic dishwashing compositions comprise amylase enzymes. Included are preferred activator compounds and methods for washing tableware in domestic automatic dishwashing appliances using the activators.

Abstract: Bleaching compositions, laundry and automatic dishwashing detergent compositions comprising multiple-substituted bleach activators which have at least one quaternary nitrogen atom,, are provided. More specifically, the invention relates to compositions which provide enhanced cleaning/bleaching benefits though the selection of multiple-substituted quaternary bleach activators having specific leaving groups with a conjugate acid aqueous pK.sub.a above 13 and with advantageous ratios of rate of perhydrolysis to rate of hydrolysis and of rate of perhydrolysis to rate of diacylperoxide production. Included are preferred activator compounds and methods for washing fabrics, hard surfaces, and tableware using the activators.

Abstract: A) A metallocatalyst selected from: a) metalloporphin and water-soluble or water-dispersable derivatives thereof; b) metaloporphyrin and water-soluble or water-dispersable derivatives thereof; c) metallophthalocyanine and water-soluble or water-dispersable derivatives thereof; B) a polyamine N-oxide containing polymers; C) an efficient amount of a bleaching agent.

Abstract: Bleaching compositions, laundry and automatic dishwashing detergent compositions comprising multiple-substituted bleach activators which have at least one quaternary nitrogen atom, are provided. More specifically, the invention relates to compositions which provide enhanced cleaning/bleaching benefits though the selection of multiple-substituted quaternary bleach activators having specific leaving groups with a conjugate acid aqueous pK.sub.a above 13 and with advantageous ratios of rate of perhydrolysis to rate of hydrolysis and of rate of perhydrolysis to rate of diacylperoxide production. Included are preferred activator compounds and methods for washing fabrics, hard surfaces, and tableware using the activators.

Abstract: Bleaching compositions, laundry and automatic dishwashing detergent compositions comprising particular neutral or anionically charged substituted bleach activators are provided. More specifically, the invention relates to compositions which provide enhanced cleaning/bleaching benefits through the selection of perhydrolysis-selective bleach activators having specific leaving groups with a conjugate acid pK.sub.a above 13 and with specific ratios of the rate of perhydrolysis to the rate of hydrolysis and the rate of perhydrolysis to the rate of diacylperoxide production. Included are preferred activator compounds and methods for washing fabrics, hard surfaces, and tableware using the activators.

Abstract: High quality acyl lactam imides are prepared by reacting an acyl lactam of the formula ##STR1## where 5 carbon atoms and an acylating acid of the formula R'CO.sub.2 H or by reacting a lactam, an anhydride of the formula (RCO).sub.2 O where R is 1 to 5 carbon atoms and an acylating acid, preferably in the presence of a base catalyst. The process affords acyl lactam imides in high yield and at lower reaction temperatures by providing for the removal of volatile carboxylic acid by-products under vacuum or by the use of a stripping gas. The acyl lactam imides are particularly suited for use as bleach activators in detergent compositions.

Abstract: Laundry detergents and bleaching systems comprising acyl verolactam bleach activators having the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or alkoxy group containing from about 1 to about 18 carbon atoms wherein the longest linear alkyl or alkoxy chain extending from and including the carbonyl carbon contains from about 2 to about 12 carbon atoms; ##STR2## wherein R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, and R.sup.6 are members selected from the group consisting of H, halogen, nitro, alkyl, alkoxy, alkoxyaryl, alkaryl, and alkaryloxy moieties containing from about 1 to about 12 carbon atoms, and substituents having the structures: ##STR3## wherein R.sup.7 is selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, alkaryl, alkoxy, alkoxyaryl, alkaryloxy, and aminoalkyl; X is O, NH, or NR.sup.9, wherein R.sup.9 is H or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl group; and R.sup.8 is an alkyl, cycloalkyl, or aryl group containing from 3 to 11 carbon atoms; orc) mixtures of a) and b)are provided.

Abstract: Yeast or other micro-organism cells for use in the encapsulation of liquids (e.g. liquid bleach activators for use in laundry detergent compositions) are deodorised by treatment with a peroxygen bleach, e.g. hydrogen peroxide.

Abstract: Poly(glutamic acid) is used as a dispersing, soil-suspending or anti-redeposition agent in laundry detergent or other cleaning compositions that also contain a detersive surfactant. Suitable polymers include not only the homopolymers of glutamic acid but also block, graft or random copolymers of glutamic acid with biodegradable monomers or polymers, e.g., other amino acids or polyethylene glycol.

Abstract: Bleaching compositions, laundry and automatic dishwashing detergent compositions comprising multiple-substituted bleach activators which have at least one quaternary nitrogen atom, are provided. More specifically, the invention relates to compositions which provide enhanced cleaning/bleaching benefits though the selection of multiple-substituted quaternary bleach activators having specific leaving groups with a conjugate acid aqueous pK.sub.a above 13 and with advantageous ratios of rate of perhydrolysis to rate of hydrolysis and of rate of perhydrolysis to rate of diacylperoxide production. Included are preferred activator compounds and methods for washing fabrics, hard surfaces, and tableware using the activators.

Abstract: Laundry detergents and bleaching systems comprise acyl valerolactam bleach activators. The bleach activators are effective under mixed soil conditions, especially mixtures of hydrophobic and hydrophilic soils and stains.

Abstract: Laundry detergents and automatic dishwashing compositions with activated bleaching systems which are effective under mixed soil conditions, especially mixtures of hydrophobic and hydrophilic soils and stains are presented. The preferred bleach activators are N-acyl caprolactams and nonanoyloxybenzene sulfonate. A particularly preferred embodiment comprises a 1:2.2:7.7 molar ratio of N-acyl caprolactam to alanoyloxybenzenesulfonate to peroxygen bleaching compound. This mixed caprolactam, alkanoyloxybenzenesulfonate bleaching composition delivers stronger than expected performance on both hydrophobic and hydrophilic stains and on dingy clean up.