Abstract: A granular material for use in the treating of textile materials, comprising (i) a silicone material having at least one nitrogen containing substituent, (ii) an aluminosilicate carrier and (iii) a binder, preferably in conjunction with a surface active material. Also described is a process for preparing such granular materials, which comprises forming a water-in-oil emulsion of component (i) in conjunction with component (iii) by dispersing and agitating said components in water, followed by depositing said emulsion onto a free flowing powder form of component (ii), for example by spraying, and removing sufficient water from the product to obtain a free flowing granular material. The granules are useful in a process of treating textile materials in an aqueous medium, particularly where the textile material is denim. Preferably the granular material is added into the finishing steps of denim such as the desizing, the fading or the softening steps and helps with avoiding backstaining.

Abstract: Preparation of solid free flowing detergent composition by spray drying a chemically simple slurry as well as compositions comprising chemically simple spray dried particles

Abstract: A cleansing or a surface-conditioning composition comprising a mixture of (i) and (ii) in water: i) a surfactant selected from the group consisting of anionic, non-ionic, zwitterionic, cationic, and mixtures thereof, and ii) a hydrophobic benefit agent in a particulate form having a mean particle size in the range of 1-1,000 micron, and a specific gravity of ?1, not encapsulated within a film or a capsule-like enclosure, the particulate hydrophobic benefit agent comprising: a) a physically-modified form of the hydrophobic benefit agent; and b) a deposition-aid material bonded to the surface of the physically-modified benefit agent material, wherein the bonding between the two said materials is achieved prior to addition to i), wherein said deposition-aid material is not a surfactant having a weight average molecular weight of less than 5,000 Dalton.

Abstract: Microcapsules for use in liquid detergents having a core and a polyelectrolyte complex shell in the form of a semipermeable membrane comprising a particulate permeability-regulator. The invention also relates to a process for making the microcapsules and liquid detergents comprising said microcapsules.

Abstract: A cleansing or a surface-conditioning composition comprising a mixture of (i) and (ii) in water: i) a surfactant selected from the group consisting of anionic, non-ionic, zwitterionic, cationic, and mixtures thereof; and ii) a hydrophobic benefit agent in a particulate form having a mean particle size in the range of 1-1,000 micron, and a specific gravity of ?1, not encapsulated within a film or a capsule-like enclosure, the particulate hydrophobic benefit agent comprising: a) a physically-modified form of the hydrophobic benefit agent; and b) a deposition-aid material bonded to the surface of the physically-modified benefit agent material, wherein the bonding between the two said materials is achieved prior to addition to i), wherein said deposition-aid material is not a surfactant having a weight average molecular weight of less than 5,000 Dalton.

Abstract: A cleansing or a surface-conditioning composition comprising a mixture of (i) and (ii) in water: i) a surfactant selected from the group consisting of anionic, non-ionic, zwitterionic, cationic, and mixtures thereof; and ii) a hydrophobic benefit agent in a particulate form having a mean particle size in the range of 1-1,000 micron, and a specific gravity of ?1, not encapsulated within a film or a capsule-like enclosure, the particulate hydrophobic benefit agent comprising: a) a physically-modified form of the hydrophobic benefit agent; and b) a deposition-aid material bonded to the surface of the physically-modified benefit agent, wherein the bonding between the benefit agent and the deposition-aid material is achieved prior to addition to i), wherein said deposition-aid material is not a surfactant having a weight average molecular weight of less than 5,000 Dalton.

Abstract: A cationic oil-in-water emulsion, for addition to detersive compositions, comprising hydrophilic cationic polymers, a surface-active, anionic polymer that is capable of adsorbing at an air-water interface or an oil-water interface and/or is oil-soluble, and a hydrophobic benefit agent in the oil phase made by adding the benefit agent to a hydrophobic liquid; thickening the oil phase with an organophillic smectite clay reacted at clay platelet surfaces to make the clay platelet surfaces hydrophobic while the edge surfaces of the clay remain hydrophilic, such that the organophillic smectite clay is adsorbed at an oil/water interface in the emulsion, and one of the hydrophilic, cationic polymers has a cationic nitrogen content of at least 6% by weight, that is incompatible with anionic surfactants, being insoluble in anionic-surfactant solutions containing an amount of 3% or higher of an anionic surfactant, and another hydrophilic cationic polymer has a cationic nitrogen content of at least 0.

Abstract: The invention describes a stable and transparent liquid washing agent or liquid cleaning agent having a graying-inhibiting polysaccharide that has a particle size smaller than 100 nm. The invention also relates to the use of the liquid washing agent or liquid cleaning agent, and to a method for the manufacture thereof.

Abstract: The use of water-soluble or water-dispersible polymers obtainable by reaction of (a) polyalkylenepolyamines, polyamidoamines or ethyleneimine-grafted polyamidoamines or mixtures thereof, (b) if desired at least bifunctional crosslinkers and (c) monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids, salts, esters, amides or nitriles of monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids, chlorocarboxylic acids and/or glycidyl compounds, said component (a) having an average molecular weight Mw in the range from 20 000 to 2 000 000 and the molar ratio of the hydrogen atoms on the nitrogen in said component (a) to said component (b) being in the range from 1:0.7 to 1:0.9, as a laundry detergent additive.

Abstract: Aqueous washing and cleaning agents that contain capsules in addition to other constituents, the capsules each encompassing an active ingredient in a matrix. The introduction of a combination of aluminum silicate and silicic acid into the matrix improves the solubility characteristics of the capsules in a washing operation.

Abstract: A cationic oil-in-water emulsion, for addition to detersive compositions, comprising hydrophilic cationic polymers, a surface-active, anionic polymer that is capable of adsorbing at an air-water interface or an oil-water interface and/or is oil-soluble, and a hydrophobic benefit agent in the oil phase made by adding the benefit agent to a hydrophobic liquid; thickening the oil phase with an organophillic smectite clay reacted at clay platelet surfaces to make the clay platelet surfaces hydrophobic while the edge surfaces of the clay remain hydrophilic, such that the organophillic smectite clay is adsorbed at an oil/water interface in the emulsion, and one of the hydrophilic, cationic polymers has a cationic nitrogen content of at least 6% by weight, that is incompatible with anionic surfactants, being insoluble in anionic-surfactant solutions containing an amount of 3% or higher of an anionic surfactant, and another hydrophilic cationic polymer has a cationic nitrogen content of at least 0.

Abstract: Microcapsules for use in liquid detergents having a core and a polyelectrolyte complex shell in the form of a semipermeable membrane capable of withstanding a force before bursting of from about 20 mN to about 20,00 N and having a density of from about 900 Kg/m3 to about 1,300 Kg/m3 at 25° C. The invention also relates to a process for making the microcapsules and liquid detergents comprising said microcapsules.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions comprising photosenitizer that can be used to provide lipophilic fluids with bleaching capabilities, lipophilic fluid cleaning compositions having bleaching capabilities and processes of making and using same. Such compositions provide the cleaning benefits of typical lipophilic solvents and additional cleaning benefits that include bleaching.

Abstract: The invention provides methods, compositions and kits for increasing the brightness retention of a fabric laundered using a hypohalite-generating bleach by employing an amount of bromide-releasing compound sufficient to provide between 0.1 to about 1.5 moles of bromine ion to mole of available chlorine in a wash liquor to mitigate the negative effects of said hypohalite bleach on the optical brightener present in either the wash liquor or on said fabric. The invention also applies to fabrics washed using commercial laundry detergents which typically deliver an optical brightener into said wash liquor, said optical brightener generally exhibiting instability in the presence of said hypohalite bleaches.

Abstract: Fabric conditioning compositions comprising a fabric care active and a hueing dye, wherein the hueing dye exhibits a hueing efficiency of at least about 20 according to the Hueing Efficiency Test method; and a Wash Removal Value from about 50% to about 98%, are useful in mitigating the discoloration of white and other light colored fabrics.

Abstract: Consumer product compositions such as laundry detergents comprising selected photosensitive compounds for photobleaching, photodisinfection, antibacterial activity, hueing or other benefits. The compositions are preferably formulated with detersive surfactants and/or water-soluble polymers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to substrate comprising fabric, the substrate treated with a composition comprising: a) an aldehyde, said aldehyde a mono-functional aldehyde, a di-functional aldehyde, or mixtures thereof; b) a polyethylene glycol having the formula: R(OCH2CH2)xOR  wherein R is hydrogen, C1-C4 alkyl, and mixtures thereof, and the index x has a value of 15 to 45; c) an acid catalyst; and d) optionally, a surface modifying agent; wherein the treated substrate has at least three enhanced fabric benefits, said benefits selected from the group consisting of: i) durable press; ii) hand feel; iii) anti-abrasion; iv) anti-shrinkage; and v) anti-yellowing. The present invention further relates to a system and a process for providing a substrate having the above described enhanced fabric benefits.

Abstract: The invention relates to a variant of a parent Termamyl-like a-amylase, which variant has a-amylase activity and exhibits an alteration in at least one of the following properties relative to parent a-amylase: substrate specificity, substrate binding, substrate cleavage pattern, thermal stability, pH/activity profile, pH/stability profile, stability towards oxidation, Ca2+ dependency and specific activity.

Abstract: A detergent composition comprises detergent particles, each particle having a substantially anhydrous coating comprising a fluorescent whitening agent and a nonionic surfactant. A process for the preparation of the said detergent composition comprises spraying base detergent particles with a substantially anhydrous mixture comprising the fluorescent whitening agent and the nonionic surfactant.

Abstract: The invention relates to a variant of a parent Termamyl-like .alpha.-amylase, which variant has a-amylase activity and exhibits an alteration in at least one of the following properties relative to said parent a-amylase: substrate specificity, substrate binding, substrate cleavage pattern, thermal stability, pH/activity profile, pH/stability profile, stability towards oxidation, Ca.sup.2+ dependency and specific activity.

Abstract: A method for laundering non-structured garments which are unsuitable for water washing and which are to be cleaned without wrinkling, shrinkage or color damage.

Abstract: There is provided a white crystal form of the compound having the formula: ##STR1## whose crystal form is characterised by an X-ray diffraction diagram which is essentially as shown in Table I, II or III. Also provided is a formulation comprising from 10 to 85% by weight of the white crystal form of compound having the formula (1) and from 90 to 15% by weight of a polyhydroxy compound, preferably glycerine.

Abstract: A powdered laundry detergent is provided with (a) a powder laundry detergent base that includes an inorganic carrier and a surfactant and (b) post-added acidulant and discrete whitening agent particles to provide a detergent having improved cool water solubility with bulk color deterioration caused by whitening agents being minimized. The detergent includes from about 5% to about 80% of an inorganic carrier, from about 1% to about 90% of a detergent surfactant, from about 0.1% up to about 15% of an acidulant and from about 0.1% up to about 30% of the discrete whitening agent particles. The acidulant is selected from the group of acids that in an acid form are soluble in water in an amount not greater than about 8%, preferably not greater than about 0.7% by weight at 25.degree. C. and in a salt form are soluble in water at least in an amount of about 15% by weight at 25.degree. C. The whitening agent particles include a whitening agent and a surfactant.

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 provides mutant lipases which retain lipase activity, but have improved surfactant resistance and are thus highly advantageous for use in detergent compositions. Preferred lipases of this type include modified functional forms of a lipase of Pseudomonas alcaligenes having one or more amino acid substitutions at or near the surface of the lipase which effect interaction of the hydrophobic portions of surfactant molecules with initiation sites on the enzyme for surfactant denaturation.

Abstract: A powdered laundry detergent is provided with discrete whitening agent particles that do not adversely affect the bulk appearance of the detergent during storage. The detergent includes from about 5% to about 80% of an inorganic carrier, from about 1% to about 90% of a detergent surfactant, and from 0.1% up to about 30% of the discrete whitening agent particles. The whitening agent particles include a whitening agent and a surfactant. The surfactant for the whitening agent particle includes those anionics, nonionics, zwitterionics, ampholytics, cationics, and mixtures thereof that are solids in a temperature range of from about 32.degree. F. (0.degree. C.) to about 180.degree. F. (82.degree. C.). The whitening agent particles, in a more desirably form, include a whitener and water. The particles are formed by extruding a homogenous mass into discrete particles. The homogenous mass includes either a whitening agent, a surfactant, and optionally a plasticizer or a whitening agent and water.

Abstract: The present invention concerns aqueous surfactant composition comprising poly hydroxy fatty acid amides of formula (A), ##STR1## wherein R.sup.2 is C.sub.11 -C.sub.19 alkyl, alkenyl or mixtures thereof, Z is a polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl moiety having a linear hydrocarbyl chain with at least 3 hydroxyls directly connected to the chain; and in a part of the total amide surfactant (a) R.sup.1 is a methyl group and in the remainder of the total amide surfactant (b) R.sup.1 is an alkyl group with from 3 to 8 carbon atoms; said composition further comprising (c) from 0% to 15% by weight of an organic solvent; wherein the ratio of N-methyl poly hydroxy fatty acid amide (a) to N-alkyl (C.sub.3 -C.sub.8) polyhydroxy fatty acid amide (b), is from 25:1 to 1:1.

Abstract: A high molecular weight, solid state active detergent made by mixing two pilled materials at a predetermined ratio, the detergent containing sodium lauryl sulfate, fatty alcohol polyoxyetbylene (9) ?ether (AEO-9)!, CMC (carboxymethyl cellulose), EDTA (ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid), fluorescent whitening agent, sodium silicate pentahydrate (Na.sub.2 Sio.sub.3 5H.sub.2 O), sodium carbonate (Na.sub.2 CO.sub.3), E-44 (epoxy resin), polyamide resin, red iron oxide, zeolite A, and fragrance.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a surfactant composition comprising N-methyl polyhydroxy fatty acid amide and N-alkyl (C3-C8) polyhydroxy fatty acid amide comprises mixing N-methyl polyhydroxy fatty acid amine and N-alkyl (C3-C8) polyhydroxy fatty acid amine to form a mixture. The mixture is reacted with a fatty acid ester reactant in the presence of a base catalyst and, optionally, in the presence of a reaction solvent. Unreacted N-alkoxyamino polyol is acylated with an acid anhydride at a temperature in the range of from 50.degree. C. to 85.degree. C. The weight ratio of N-methyl polyhydroxy fatty acid amide to N-alkyl (C3-C8) polyhydroxy fatty acid amide in the surfactant composition is from 25:1 to 1:1.

Abstract: A powdered laundry detergent is provided with (a) a powder laundry detergent base that includes an inorganic carrier and a surfactant and (b) post-added acidulant and discrete whitening agent particles to provide a detergent having improved cool water solubility with bulk color deterioration caused by whitening agents being minimized. The detergent includes from about 5% to about 80% of an inorganic carrier, from about 1% to about 90% of a detergent surfactant, up to about 15% of an acidulant and up to about 30% of the discrete whitening agent particles. The acidulant is selected from the group of acids that in an acid form are soluble in water in an amount not greater than about 0.7% by weight at 25.degree. C. and in a salt form are soluble in water at least in an amount of about 15% by weight at 25.degree. C. The whitening agent particles include a whitening agent and a surfactant.

Abstract: A powdered laundry detergent is provided with discrete whitening agent particles that do not adversely affect the bulk appearance of the detergent during storage. The detergent includes from about 5% to about 80% of an inorganic carrier, from about 1% to about 90% of a detergent surfactant, and up to about 30% of the discrete whitening agent particles. The whitening agent particles include a whitening agent and a surfactant. The surfactant for the whitening agent particle includes those anionics, nonionics, zwitterionics, ampholytics, cationics, and mixtures thereof that are solids in a temperature range of from about 32.degree. F. (0.degree.C.) to about 180.degree. F. (82.degree. C.).

Abstract: A process for preparing discrete whitening agent particles that includes the steps of providing a whitening agent, admixing a surfactant that is a solid in a temperature range of from about 32.degree. F. (0.degree. C.) to about 180.degree. F. (82.degree. C.) with the whitening agent to form a substantially homogenous mass, and forming the mixture into discrete particles. The particles are preferably formed by extruding the homogeneous mass through an extruder at an elevated temperature. The particles may be added to a powder detergent.

Abstract: Aqueous acidic bleaching compositions are described which comprise hydrogen peroxide and a specific class of surfactants which stabilize hydrogen peroxide.

Abstract: A process for preparing high density detergent agglomerates having a density of at least 650 g/l is provided. The process comprises the step of continuously mixing detergent granules having a density of less than about 450 g/l in a moderate speed mixer/densifier wherein the granules are pulverized and densified to produce agglomerates having a density of at least 650 g/l . The mean residence time of the granules in the moderate speed mixer/densifier is at least about 12 minutes, and preferably from 12 to 15 minutes. The process further includes the step of either spraying a binder or adding a coating agent in the mixer/densifier to facilitate agglomeration of the granules. Thereafter, the agglomerates are dried to obtain the high density granular detergent agglomerates which are ready for packaging as a low dosage detergent.