Abstract: The invention relates to a variant of a parent Termamyl-like &agr;-amylase, which exhibits an alteration in at least one of the following properties relative to said parent &agr;-amylase: i) improved pH stability at a pH from 8 to 10.5; and/or ii) improved Ca2+ stability at pH 8 to 10.5, and/or iii) increased specific activity at temperatures from 10 to 60° C.

Abstract: There is provided a method of delivering a benefit agent to a selected area of a fabric for exerting a predetermined activity, wherein the area is pre-treated with a multi-specific binding molecule which has a high binding affinity to said area through one specificity and is capable of binding to said benefit agent through another specificity, followed by contacting said pre-treated area with said benefit agent, to enhance said pre-determined activity to said area. Preferably, the binding molecule is an antibody or fragment thereof, or a fusion protein comprising a cellulose binding domain and a domain having a high binding affinity to another ligand which is directed to said benefit agent. The method is useful for stain removal, perfume delivery, and treating collars and cuffs for wear.

Abstract: A method for antimicrobial treatment of microorganisms and/or viruses which involves treating the microorganisms and/or viruses with an effective amount of a fungal laccase and one or more enhancers in the presence of oxygen, the enhancers having the formula: 1

Abstract: A chemical cleaning system for a multi-tank or a single-tank laundry washing machine, having at least two separate components for aqueousdissolution or dilution to respective use concentrations, a first component comprising a proteolytic enzyme, and a second component comprising an imidoperoxycarboxylic acid, particularly phthaloylaminoperoxycaprbic acid (PAP), wherein the first component is introduced into a prewash zone or step, and the second component is introduced into a main wash zone or step. When using this system, it was found that effective cleaning could be obtained even at relatively low main wash temperatures of 45-55° C. As a result, much less energy was needed and a considerable reduction of textile damage was observed as compared with cleaning systems of the prior art.

Abstract: A multicomponent system for modifying, degrading or bleaching lignin and lignin-containing materials or similar substances, includes an oxidoreductase and an oxidant suitable for the oxidoreductase and a mediator and at least one enzymatically active additive. The mediator does not inactivate the oxidoreductase and the enzymatically active additive, and the enzymatically active additive is selected from the group consisting of the hydrolases of the enzyme class 3.2.1.

Abstract: A laundry detergent composition is provided for enhanced whitening and stain removal of washed laundry comprising: a) from about 1% to about 50%, by weight, of a surfactant or surfactant mixture selected from the group consisting of anionic and nonionic surfactants; b) a protease enzyme in an amount sufficient to provide from at least about 0.030 to about 3.0 Kilo Novo Protease Units (KNPU) of activity of protease enzyme per gram of detergent composition; c) a cellulase enzyme of the endoglucanase type in an amount sufficient to provide from about 0.5 to about 100 CMC units per gram of detergent composition; and d) from about 0.5% to about 10% by weight, of an acrylic acid-based polymer and copolymer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a detergent composition which is excellent in enzyme stability and exhibits excellent detergency particularly to protein-related dirt of socks and other items even under laundering conditions at a lower temperature. That is, the present invention provides a detergent composition comprising specific proportions of (a) an anionic surfactant, (b) a chlorine scavenger, (c) a protease whose &agr;-keratin-hydrolyzing activity at 10° C. is not less than 0.09×10−3 &mgr;g/mPU·min and (d) a protease whose &agr;-keratin-hydrolyzing activity at 10° C. is less than 0.09×10−3 &mgr;g/mPU·min.

Abstract: Granular detergent compositions contain a bleach and a cellulase enzyme derived from Trichodenna SPP. The compositions are especially useful in a fabric laundering process where bleaching activity is desired.

Abstract: There is provided a process for enhancing the activity of an oxidoreductase, comprising adding to the enzyme, as an enhancer for the activity of said enzyme, a compound having the formula: wherein X represents (—O—) or (—S—) and R1, R2 and R3 may each independently represent hydrogen, hydroxy, halogen, nitroso, formyl, carboxyl, and esters and salts thereof, carbamoyl, sulfo, and esters and salts hereof, sulfamoyl, nitro, amino, phenyl, C1-C20 alkyl, C1-C8 alkoxy, carbonyl-C1-C6-alkoxy, aryl-C1-C6-alkyl, whereby: the carbamoyl, sulfamoyl and amino groups may be unsubstituted or substituted once or twice with hydroxy, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy, in which C1-C6-group may be saturated or unsaturated, branched or unbranched and may be substituted once or twice with halogen, nitroso, hydroxy, formyl, carboxy, and esters and salts thereof, carbamoyl, sulfo, and esters and salts hereof, sulfamoyl; and the phenyl group may be substituted with once or twice with halogen, nitr

Abstract: Detergent compositions and fabric laundering and treating methods utilize certain polyamide-polyamines as fabric treatment agents that can impart fabric appearance benefits to fabric laundered or treated in washing or soaking solutions which contain such agents. Such polyamide-polyamine fabric treatment agents include adipic acid-diethylenetriamine-epichlorohydrin adducts.

Abstract: Cotton soil release polymers comprising water soluble and/or dispersible, modified polyamines having functionalized backbone moieties and improved stability toward bleach. Also, laundry detergent compositions comprising these cotton soil release polymers having enhanced hydrophilic soil removal benefits in combination with a protease enzyme system are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to protease variants, stabilized towards the inactivation caused by peroxidase systems, in which protease variants a naturally occurring tyrosine residue has been deleted or substituted with a different amino acid residue at one or more positions. The invention also relates to a method of stabilizing a protease towards the inactivation caused by peroxidase systems, and detergent compositions comprising a protease variant of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to detergent compositions comprising a cellulase termination composition and cellulase in order to prevent potential tensile strength loss related to the hydrolytic activity of cellulase on cellulose substrates while maintaining the desired benefits from the use of cellulase.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are fabric cleaning solutions such as clothing pre-spotters. The solutions have a mildly acidic pH and contain an amphoteric surfactant. They can be used many hours, or even a few days, before laundering in standard base detergent conditions. The solutions provide the equivalent of a "bucketless soak.

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: There is provided a detergent composition containing an amylase enzyme and a builder system comprising an aluminosilicate zeolite, a crystalline layered silicate and most preferably an organic polymeric compound wherein the weight ratio of said crytalline layered silicate to said amylase enzyme (120 KNU/gram activity basis) is from 7:1 to 20:1. In one preferred aspect the detergent composition contains a bleaching system capable of providing delayed release of an organic peroxyacid to a wash solution.

Abstract: The present invention relates to cleaning compositions comprising 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).

Abstract: A granular detergent composition comprising an alkali metal percarbonate and an amylase enzyme, characterized in that said composition contains an amylase in a weight ratio of percarbonate to amylase of 1:2 to 300:1, preferably 1:2 to 60:1, more preferably 20:1 to 40:1. Both laundry detergent compositions including laundry additives and automatic dishwashing compositions are encompassed by the term "detergent composition" herein. Methods of treatment of specific stains are also encompassed.

Abstract: This invention relates to activation of enzymes. More specifically, the invention relates to agents capable of enhancing the activity of peroxidases or peroxidase acting compounds. The invention also relates to methods of oxidizing a substrate with a source of hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a peroxidase enzyme or a peroxidase acting compound, and an enhancing agent. More specifically, the invention relates to a method of bleaching of dye in solutions, to a method of inhibiting the transfer of a textile dye from a dyed fabric to another fabric when said fabrics are washed together in a wash liquor, to a method of bleaching of lignin-containing material, in particular bleaching of pulp for paper production, to a method of treatment of waste water from pulp manufacturing, and to a method of enzymatic polymerization and/or modification of lignin or lignin containing material.

Abstract: Bleaching and cleaning compositions comprising a bleaching compound, one or more bleach activators, and protease enzymes are provided. Thus, laundry detergent compositions which comprise protease, perborate or percarbonate and activators such as benzoyl caprolactain exhibit improved dingy clean-up performance.

Abstract: A lipolytic enzyme with high activity at alkaline pH in the absence of Ca.sup.++ can be obtained from strains of filamentous fungi belonging to the genus Absidia. The lipolytic enzymes are effective for improving the effect of detergents towards fatty soiling.

Abstract: There is provided a non-phosphate builder-containing detergent composition formulated with a surfactant, a water-soluble organic polymeric polycarboxylic compound, a chelant, an amylase and a source of alkalinity, wherein (a) said water-soluble organic polymeric polycarboxylic compound is in amount less than 3% by weight, (b) said chelant is in amount from 0.1% to 10% by weight, (c) said amylase is in amount from 0.001% to 5% by weight, and (d) said alkalinity source has the capacity to deliver alkalinity to a wash solution as measured by the alkalinity release test described herein, such that the % weight NaOH equivalent of the composition is greater than 8.0% by weight of the composition. Also provided herein is a method for reducing fabric encrustation which comprises contacting the fabric with an effective amount of an aqueous solution of said detergent composition.

Abstract: A non-phosphate builder-containing detergent composition comprising a surfactant, and a) at least 0.5% by weight of a source of hydrogen peroxide; b) from 0.01% to 10% by weight of an organic peroxyacid bleach precursor; c) from 0.001% to 5% by weight of a proteolytic enzyme; d) an alkalinity source having the capacity to deliver alkalinity to a wash solution as measured by the alkalinity release test described herein, such that the % weight of NaOH equivalent of the composition is greater than 10.6% by weight of the composition, and wherein the detergent composition has a Hydrogen peroxide Precursor Proteolytic enzyme (HPP) Index of at least 0.35 as defined by the formula: ##EQU1## wherein the % weight of proteolytic enzyme in the formulation is based on an enzyme activity of 13 knpu/g of the enzyme particle, and wherein the % AvO.sub.2 is the total amount of available oxygen present in the composition is provided.

Abstract: Composite particles comprise a bleach catalyst plus one or more detersive enzymes. The particles are especially useful in automatic dishwashing compositions. Thus, a cobalt (III) or manganese (III) bleach catalyst is combined with protease or amylase enzymes and a carrier. The resulting particles are used in combination with perborate or percarbonate bleach to clean dishware in an automatic machine.

Abstract: Glycolic acid or its salts is effective in stabilizing enzymes in liquid laundry detergent compositions.

Abstract: There is provided an enzymatic detergent composition comprising one or more surfactants and an endoglucanase which is not a Family 7 cellulase, which contains no cellulose binding domain and wherein the catalytic domain contains at least two disulphide bridges. Preferably, the endoglucanase is producible from Thermomonospora fusca, or mutants or variants thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides an enzyme-containing granulated product containing, in a uniformly dispersed state, an enzyme and one or more stabilizers selected from the group consisting of reducing agents and antioxidants. The invention also discloses a method for the production of the granulated product, as well as bleaching agents and detergent compositions containing the granulated product. The granulated product loses only a minimal level of enzyme activity even in the copresence of a bleaching agent, and exhibits excellent solubility. Therefore, bleach compositions and detergent compositions prepared by incorporating the granulated product fully exhibit the enzyme activity and bleaching activity.

Abstract: A protease obtained from Bacillus sp., DSM 8473, is disclosed which has improved hypochlorite stability as compared to other known proteases. The protease is suitable as a detergent additive and may be used singly or combined with other know enzymes in detergent compositions. A process for washing soiled fabric with detergent compositions containing the hypochlorite stable protease is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a detergent composition comprising an amylase enzyme in combination with a nonionic polysaccharide ether for improved stain removal performance.

Abstract: The invention relates to a detergent additive and a detergent composition which comprises a protease enzyme derived from Nocardiopsis, a surfactant, and either/or an enzyme which exhibits peroxidase activity and hydrogen peroxide or precursor thereof or an oxidase enzyme which acts on an aromatic compound.

Abstract: This invention relates to proteases with improved application properties in cleaners and detergents. The improvement's achieved by substituting positively charged or uncharged amino acids in the substrate binding region of the wild type subtilisin protease.

Abstract: There is provided an enzymatic detergent composition comprising a surfactant and an endoglucanase producible from Thermomonospora fusca, preferably E5, or mutants or variants thereof.

Abstract: The invention concerns compositions comprising xylanolytic activity. Specfically, the invention relates to detergent compositions havin xylanase activity. Specific compositions show an excellent boost on cleaning performanc on fruit, vegetables and/or mud and clay compounds containing said soil.

Abstract: A cold water washing formula and a method of reducing the soil load on a textile by introducing the textile and cold water into an internal assembly within a washing machine. The method includes a first break wash wherein the textile, water, and a solvent are introduced into the washing machine to initiate soil removal. In a second break wash, a surfactant and an alkali are added to the first break wash to continue the washing cycle. The combined first and second break washes are drained from the internal assembly and the textile is rinsed with water. After draining the first rinse from the internal assembly, a second rinse including ozonated water and an acid is introduced into the internal assembly. The second rinse is drained from the internal assembly and a third rinse, which includes ozonated water, is introduced into the internal assembly to rinse the textile.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for providing a bleached look in the color density of the surface of dyed fabric, especially cellulosic fabric such as denim, comprising use of a phenol oxidizing enzyme such as a peroxidase or a laccase, a hydrogen peroxide source and an enhancing agent represented by formula (I).

Abstract: Novel bleaches, a method for bleaching substrates using these materials and detergent compositions containing same are reported. The bleaches are thiadiazole dioxides. Substrates such as fabrics may be bleached in an aqueous solution containing the thiadiazole and a peroxygen compound.

Abstract: A multipurpose cleaning agent containing 6.5-8% sodium alkyl sulfate, 2.7-4% fatty acid coconut diethanolamide, 0.38-0.42% citric acid, 0.38-0.42% ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid, 0.42-0.48% sodium citrate, 2.88-3.2% water, 1.88-2.5% sodium polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate, 0.5-1% sodium carboxy methyl cellulose, 0.2-0.4% sodium percarbonate, 2-5% sodium tripoly phosphate, 40.38-35.89% low density sodium carbonate, 40.38-35.89% Na.sub.2 SO.sub.4.H.sub.2 O, 0.4-0.8%, savinase 40T, and 1-2% celluzyme 0.7T.

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 modified subtilisins comprising a mutation in an amino acid sequence of a subtilisin at a position selected from the group consisting of 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 27, 36, 37, 38, 40, 41, 43, 44, 45, 46, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 87, 89, 91, 94, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 112, 113, 115, 116, 117, 118, 120, 126, 128, 129, 130, 131, 133, 134, 136, 137, 140, 141, 143, 144, 145, 146, 155, 156, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 170, 171, 172, 173, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 188, 189, 191, 192, 194, 195, 197, 204, 206, 209, 210, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 243, 244, 245, 247, 248, 249, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 259, 260, 261, 262, 263, 265, 269, 271, 272 and 275. The present invention also relates to detergent compositions comprising a modified subtilisin of the present invention.

Abstract: Novel bleaches, a method for bleaching substrates using these materials and detergent compositions containing same are reported. The bleaches are phosphinoyl imines. Substrates such as fabrics may be bleached in an aqueous solution containing the phosphinoyl imines and a peroxygen compound.

Abstract: This invention relates to enzymes, to rDNA techniques applicable for example to their production, to mutated genes, vectors and mutant and transformed microorganisms useful in their production, and to their uses including for example enzymatic detergent and cleaning compositions containing them.

Abstract: Laundry and cleaning compositions which comprise large pore size redox catalysts.

Abstract: Novel bleach catalysts, a method for bleaching substrates using these catalysts and detergent compositions containing the catalysts are reported. The catalysts are quaternary imine salts. Substrates such as fabrics may be bleached in an aqueous solution containing these salts and a peroxygen compound.

Abstract: A process for preparing particulate bodies containing a substantially water-insoluble organic peroxyacid compound, which process does not include a solidification step, including an early step of intimately mixing substantially water-insoluble peroxyacid compound with a peroxyacid-stable, water-soluble surfactant.

Abstract: Gemini polyhydroxy fatty acid amide compounds and laundry, cleaning, fabric and personal care compositions comprising these compounds.

Abstract: Detergent compositions containing conventional detergent surfactants, detergent builders, and the like, and a chelant selected from ethylenediamine-N,N'-diglutaric acid (EDDG) and 2-hydroxypropylenediamine-N,N'-disuccinic acid (HPDDS) are disclosed. Such compositions provide enhanced removal of organic stains, such as food and beverage stains. The EDDG and HPDDS are biodegradable and contain no phorphorus.