Abstract: Laundry or cleaning composition comprising: (a) a catalytically effective amount, preferably from about 1 ppb to about 99.9%, of a transition-metal bleach catalyst which is a complex of a transition-metal and a cross-bridged macropolycyclic ligand; and (b) at least about 0.1% of one or more laundry or cleaning adjunct materials, preferably comprising an oxygen bleaching agent. Preferred compositions are laundry compositions and automatic dishwashing detergents which provide enhanced cleaning/bleaching benefits through the use of such catalysts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of a purified salt of 4-sulfophenyl-[(1-oxyalkanoyl)amino]alkanoate. The process comprises the steps of: (a) providing a source of 4-sulfophenyl-[(1-oxyalkanoyl)amino]alkanoate; (b) admixing the source with a water-based purification system to form a purification mixture, the water-based purification system having water present at a ratio of 4-sulfophenyl-[(1-oxyalkanoyl)amino]alkanoate to water ranging from about 1:0.05 to about 1:50, preferably from about 1:0.1 to about 1:40; (c) separating a purified salt of 4-sulfophenyl-[(1-oxyalkanoyl)amino]alkanoate from the purification mixture; and (d) collecting said purified salt of 4-sulfophenyl-[(1-oxyalkanoyl)amino]alkanoate. In preferred embodiments, the purification mixture includes a processin aide such as ethyl alcohol, propyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, acetone and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: The present inventintion relates to the formation of an amido ester having the formula:

Abstract: Method for cleaning fabrics using laundry detergents and bleaching systems which comprise substituted benzoyl caprolactam bleach activators are presented. The bleach activators are effective under mixed soil conditions, especially mixtures of hydrophobic and hydrophilic soils and stains.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods to treat fabrics with lipophilic fluid and bleaching agents. The present invention is also directed to compositions containing lipophilic fluid and bleaching agents.

Abstract: Laundry or cleaning composition comprising: (a) a catalytically effective amount, preferably from about 1 ppb to about 99.9%, of a transition-metal bleach catalyst which is a complex of a transition-metal and a cross-bridged macropolycyclic ligand; and (b) at least about 0.1% of one or more laundry or cleaning adjunct materials, preferably comprising an oxygen bleaching agent. Preferred compositions are laundry compositions and automatic dishwashing detergents which provide enhanced cleaning/bleaching benefits through the use of such catalysts.

Abstract: Laundry or cleaning composition comprising: (a) an effective amount, preferably from about 0.0001% to about 99.9%, more typically from about 0.1% to about 25%, of a bleach activator and/or organic percarboxylic acid; (b) a catalytically effective amount, preferably from about 1 ppb to about 99.9%, of a transition-metal bleach catalyst which is a complex of a transition-metal and a cross-bridged macropolycyclic ligand; and (c) at least about 0.1% of one or more laundry or cleaning adjunct materials, preferably comprising an oxygen bleaching agent. Preferred compositions are laundry compositions and automatic dishwashing detergents which provide enhanced cleaning/bleaching benefits through the use of such catalysts in combination with bleach activators and/or organic percarboxylic acids.

Abstract: Laundry or cleaning composition comprising: a) an effective amount of a bleach activator and/or organic percarboxylic acid; b) a catalytically effective amount of a transition-metal bleach catalyst which is a complex of a transition-metal and a cross-bridged macropolycyclic ligand; and c) at least about 0.1% of one or more laundry or cleaning adjunct materials. Preferred compositions are laundry compositions and automatic dishwashing detergents which provide enhanced cleaning/bleaching benefits through the use of such catalysts in combination with bleach activators and/or organic perearboxylic acids.

Abstract: Laundry detergents and bleaching systems which comprise substituted benzoyl caprolactam bleach activators are presented. The bleach activators are effective under mixed soil conditions, especially mixtures of hydrophobic and hydrophilic soils and stains.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bleaching composition comprising:I) from about 0.1% to about 70.0% by weight of the composition of an unsymmetrical imide bleach activator having the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is a C.sub.7 -C.sub.13 linear or branched chain saturated or unsaturated alkyl group, R.sub.2 is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 linear or branched chain saturated or unsaturated alkyl group, and R.sub.3 is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 linear or branched chain saturated or unsaturated alkyl group; andii) from about 0.1% to about 70% by weight of the composition of a source of hydrogen peroxide.

Abstract: The invention herein provides bleaching compositions comprising a protease enzyme which is a carbonyl hydrolase variant having an amino acid sequence not found in nature, which is derived by replacement of a plurality of amino acid residues of a precursor carbonyl hydrolase with different amino acids, wherein said plurality of amino acid residues replaced in the precursor enzyme correspond to position +76 in combination with one or more of the following residues: +99, +101, +103, +104, +107, +123, +27, +105, +109, +126, +128, +135, +156, +166, +195, +197, +204, +206, +210, +216, +217, +218, +222, +260, +265, and/or +274, where the numbered positions corresponds to naturally-occurring subtilisin from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens or to equivalent amino acid residues in other carbonyl hydrolases or subtilisins (such as Bacillus lentus subtilisin) and a bleaching agent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to bleaching and detergent compositions comprising conventional detergent ingredients, bleaching systems with one or more bleach activators. Preferred bleaching activators are amido-derived bleach activators and/or N-acyl caprolactam bleach activators. The invention also relates to methods of using the detergent compositions.

Abstract: Nonaqueous detergent compositions which are in the form of a liquid, paste or gel, wherein the compositions comprise a divalent and/or trivalent metal salt bleach activator are disclosed.

Abstract: A bleach-containing detergent composition which contains a peroxygen bleaching compound and a bleach activator is disclosed. The bleach activator is in the form of particles having a mean particle diameter of 200 microns to 2000 microns. Also disclosed are bleach activator particles in the form of substantially cylindrically-shaped extrudates having a mean extrudate length of from about 500 microns to about 3500 microns and a mean extrudate diameter of from about 450 microns to about 850 microns.

Abstract: Bleach boosters comprising zwitterionic imines and anionic imine polyions having a net negative charge are disclosed. The bleach boosters increase bleaching effectiveness in lower temperature solutions and demonstrate superior color safety profiles. The bleach boosters are ideally suited for inclusion into bleaching compositions including those with detersive surfactants and enzymes. Also provided is a laundry additive product including zwitterionic imines and anionic imine polyions with a net negative charge as bleach boosters. A method for laundering a fabric employing the bleach boosters of the present invention is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of cleaning fabrics with heavy soil loads or by hand-washing with detergent compositions comprising N-acyl caprolactam bleaching activators.

Abstract: Bleaching compositions, laundry and automatic dishwashing detergent compositions comprising particular quaternary-substituted bleach activators, are provided. More specifically, the invention relates to compositions which provide enhanced cleaning/bleaching benefits though the selection of quaternary-substituted bleach activators having specific leaving groups with a conjugate acid pKa 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: The invention herein provides bleaching compositions comprising a protease enzyme which is a carbonyl hydrolase variant having an amino acid sequence not found in nature, which is derived by replacement of a plurality of amino acid residues of a precursor carbonyl hydrolase with different amino acids, wherein said plurality of amino acid residues replaced in the precursor enzyme correspond to position +76 in combination with one or more of the following residues: +99, +101, +103, +104, +107, +123, +27, +105, +109, +126, +128, +135, +156, +166, +195, +197, +204, +206, +210, +216, +217, +218, +222, +260, +265, and/or +274, where the numbered positions corresponds to naturally-occurring subtilisin from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens or to equivalent amino acid residues in other carbonyl hydrolases or subtilisins (such as Bacillus lentus subtilisin) and a bleaching agent.

Abstract: Organic peroxyacid compounds are stabilized against excessive heat generation as the result of exothermic decomposition by the addition of a nonhydrated material which chemically decomposes to start releasing water at a temperature below the acid's decomposition temperature.

Abstract: Cellulose-based soil release ethers are used in detergent compositions containing C.sub.10 -C.sub.13 alkyl sulfate surfactants, and substantially free from interfering amounts of longer-chain length alkyl sulfates, to provide optimal soil release performance.