Detergent composition comprising dye transfer inhibiting polymer and water soluble sunscreen

A detergent composition having excellent color care properties when used to launder colored fabnrics. The composition comprises a dye transfer inhibiting polymer comprising one or more monomeric units containing at least one .dbd.N--C(.dbd.O) with the proviso that the dye transfer inhibiting agent does not comprise an -oxide group and a water soluble sunscreen.

TECHNICAL FIELD 
The present invention relates to a detergent composition that enhances the 
UV barrier provided by fabric, which mitigates dye transfer between 
fabrics and which can protect fabric from photofading. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The colour of fabrics can be altered during the laundering process or 
during wear or use by photo fading. 
During the laundering process there is a tendency for coloured fabrics to 
release dye into the wash solution. This is a most persistent and 
troublesome problem as this released dye can then be transferred onto 
other fabrics or other parts of the same garment. The fading of coloured 
fabrics by sunlight during wear and during drying is also a major problem 
for consumers. Sun fading of fabrics is of specific concern to consumers 
because the contrast between exposed and unexposed areas makes it 
particularly noticeable. e.g on collars, inside versus outside of 
garments, and on wrap around garments such as saris. 
In addition consumers rely on the use of clothes to protect them from UV 
light. It is frequently beneficial to enhace the UV protecton given by 
clothes. 
Surfactant containing dye transfer inhibiting compositions are disclosed in 
EP-A-0 587 550. The dye transfer inhibition agent is a polymer selected 
from polyamine N-oxide containing polymers. 
EP-A-0 327 927 describes a granular detergent additive comprising 
water-soluble polymeric compounds based on N-vinylpyrolidone and/or 
N-vinylimidazole and/or N-vinyloxazolidine and cationic compounds. 
Detergent compositions comprising a N-vinylimidazole N-vinylpyrolidone 
copolymer are disclosed in EP-A-0 635 566 and EP-A-0 635 566. 
The use of certain sunscreens has already been discussed in the literature. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,788,054 teaches the use of N-phenylphthalisomides as 
ultraviolet radiation absorbers for cotton, wool, polyester and rayon. 
Fabric care compositions comprising a water dispersible/water soluble 
copolymers which prevent photofading are disclosed in EP-A-0 523 956. 
WO 95/13354 discloses detergent compositions containing the combination of 
certain dye transfer inhibiting polymers with certain defined hydrophilic 
optical brighteners which are bis-[(anilino-triazinyl) amino] stilbene 
sulphonic acid derivatives, (e.g. as disclosed in EP-A-728 749 and GB-A-2 
313 375). However, these compositions do not produce good deposition of 
fluorescer on the fabric to reduce photofading. 
EP-A-403 062 discloses an acidic liquid laundry bleaching additive 
containing a thickener which comprises an solubilized amine-type 
fluorescent agent and preferably an amide-type polymer. 
WO 96/03369 discloses the use of butylated hydroxy toluene for the 
protection of surfaces from physical and chemical degradation. 
There is however a persistent problem that in a detergent composition it is 
difficult to formulate a composition that mitigates both photofading and 
dye transfer of fabrics and yet increases the UV barrier of fabrics due to 
the incompatibility of the active agents used. 
The present invention has now found that the transmission of harmful rays, 
dye transfer inhibition and photofading of fabric can be mitigated by the 
use of specific detergent compositions. 
DEFINITION OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly we have found that the present application relates to a 
detergent composition comprising: 
a) a dye transfer inhibiting polymer comprising one or more monomeric units 
containing at least one .dbd.N--C(.dbd.O) with the proviso that the dye 
transfer inhibiting agent does not comprise an -oxide group; and 
b) a water soluble sunscreen. 
The invention further relates to the use of a detergent composition as 
described above to reduce the amount of dye transfer between coloured 
fabrics in the wash, to reduce the photofading of coloured fabrics and to 
enhance the UV barrier provided by fabric. 
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The compositions of the invention preferably contain detergent-active 
compounds (surfactants) and generally detergency builders, and may 
optionally contain bleaching components and other active ingredients to 
enhance performance and properties. They also contain a dye transfer 
inhibiting polymer and a water soluble sunscreen. 
Water Soluble Sunscreen 
The sunscreen used in the invention is any water soluble sunscreen. In the 
context of the present invention a sunscreen may be a UV absorber, a 
material that is a UV barrier and/or an antioxidant. 
Suitable sunscreens which are UV absorbers are described in N. A. Saath, 
Cosmetics and Toiletries Vol 102 March 1987 page 21-39 Classifications 
given as table 2 on page 22,; N. A. Saath, Evolution of modern sunscreen 
chemicals pages 3-35; Cosmetics and Toiletries Vol 107 March 1992. 
Sunscreen use in cosmetic formulas, pages 45-47; Ultra violet absorbers by 
S. B. Miller, G. R. Lappin, and C. E. Tholstrup in 1968-1969 Modem 
Plastics Encyclopedia, pages 442-447 and; G. R. Lappin, Encyclopedia of 
polymer science and technology, vol 14, pages 125-148, Ultra violet 
radiation absorbers. 
Suitable antioxidant materials are disclosed in Kirk-Othmer Encyclopaedia 
of Chemical Technology, fourth edition, volume 3, pages 424-447. 
The level of sunscreen is preferably from 0.025 wt % to 5 wt % of the total 
composition, more preferably from 0.05 wt % to 2.5 wt %, most preferably 
from 0.075 wt % to 1 wt %. 
It is prefered if the sunscreen is a material which absorbs UV in the UVB 
region of the spectrum. It is further preferred if the sunscreen is 
capable of reducing the transmisssion of harmful UV rays through fabrics 
and thus increasing the ultraviolet protection factor of the fabric. 
It is especially advantageous if the sunscreens used with composition of 
the invention have a structure corresponding to formula (I): 
##STR1## 
in which M is hydrogen, an alkali metal atom, ammonium or a cation formed 
from an amine; R.sub.1 is a group having one of the formulae: 
##STR2## 
in which R.sub.3 is optionally substituted alkyl or optionally substituted 
aryl; 
##STR3## 
in which R.sub.4 is M, optionally substituted alkyl or optionally 
substituted aryl; 
##STR4## 
in which R.sub.5 is hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally 
substituted aryl or --NR.sub.7 R.sub.8 in which R.sub.7 and R.sub.8, 
independently, are hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl or optionally 
substituted aryl, or R.sub.7 and R.sub.8 together with the nitrogen atom 
to which they are attached, form a heterocyclic residue; 
##STR5## 
in which R.sub.8 is hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl or optionally 
substituted aryl, provided that R.sub.8 is not carboxymethyl or 
hydroxymethyl; 
R.sub.2 is hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted 
aryl, 
##STR6## 
--OH, 
--NH.sub.2, N(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 OH).sub.2, --N[CH.sub.2 CH(OH)CH.sub.3 
].sub.2, --NH--R.sub.4, --N(R.sub.4).sub.2 or --OR.sub.4, in which R.sub.4 
has its previous significance; and n.sub.1 and n.sub.2, independently, are 
0 or 1. 
Preferred sunscreens of this type and their method of preparation are 
disclosed in EP O 728 749 (Ciba Geigy). 
It is especially preferred if the sunscreens are of formula (II) and/or 
formula (III): 
##STR7## 
Dye Transfer Inhibition Polymers 
The compositions of the invention contain as an essential ingredient a dye 
transfer inhibiting polymer comprising one or more monomeric units 
containing at least one .dbd.N--C(.dbd.O) with the proviso that the dye 
transfer inhibiting agent does not comprise an -oxide group; 
The level of dye transfer inhibition polymer present in the detergent 
compositions is preferably from 0.01 to 10 wt % of the total composition, 
more preferably from 0.05 to 5 wt %, most preferably form 0.1 to 1 wt %. 
It is preferred if the dye transfer inhibition polymers of the present 
invention have an average molecular weight range from 500 to 200,000 
particularly wherein said polymer has an average molecular weight range 
5,000 to 200,000 more preferably from 10,000 to 100,000, most preferably 
from 20,000 to 70,000. 
The dye transfer polymers of the present invention can be used alone or as 
mixtures of dye transfer polymers. 
The nitrogen of the .dbd.N--C(.dbd.O)-- group can be bonded to either one 
or two other atoms. 
Examples of polymers containing .dbd.N--C(.dbd.O)-- groups are: 
Polyvinylpyrrolidone: 
##STR8## 
Polyvinyloxazolidone: 
##STR9## 
Polyvinylmethyloxazolidone: 
##STR10## 
Polyacrylamide and N-substituted polyacrylamides: 
##STR11## 
wherein each R.sup.1 is independently selected from H and C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 
alkyl groups, e.g. methyl, ethyl, propyl, or isopropyl, or two R.sup.1 
groups can form a 5 or 6 member ring structure. 
Polymethacrylamide and N-substituted polymethacrylamides: 
##STR12## 
wherein each R.sup.1 is as described above. Poly(N-acrylylglycinamide): 
##STR13## 
Poly(N-methacrylylglycinamide): 
##STR14## 
Poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline): 
##STR15## 
Polyvinylurethane: 
##STR16## 
wherein each R.sup.1 is as described above. Mixtures of these groups can 
be present. 
These polymers have an amphiphilic character with polar groups conferring 
hydrophilic properties and apolar groups conferring hydrophobic 
properties. Preferred polymers are those having the nitrogen atoms highly 
substituted so that they are shielded to different degrees by the 
surrounding apolar groups. Examples of said polymers are 
polyvinylpyrrolidones, polyvinyloxazolidones, N,N-disubstituted 
polyacrylamides, and N,N-disubstituted polymethacrylamides. Detailed 
description of physicochemical properties of some of these polymers are 
given in "Water-Soluble Synethetic Polymers: Properties and Behavior," 
Vol. I, Philip Molyneux, CRC Press, 1983. 
These polymers are also useful in the present invention in partially 
hydrolyzed and/or crosslinked forms. 
A preferred dye transfer inhibitor is polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). This 
polymer has an amphiphilic character with a highly polar amide group 
conferring hydrophilic and polar-attracting properties, and also has 
apolar methylene and methine groups, in the backbone and/or the ring, 
conferring hydrophobic properties. The rings may also provide planar 
alignment with the aromatic rings, in the dye molecules. PVP is readily 
soluble in aqueous and organis solvent systems. 
PVP is available from ISP, Wayne, N.J., and BASF Corp., Parsippany, N.J., 
as a powder or aqueous solutions in several viscosity grades, designated 
as, e.g. K-12, K-15, K-25, and K-30. These K-values indicate the viscosity 
average molecular weight, as shown below: 
EQU K-12 K-15 K-25 K-30 
PVP Viscosity Avg. Mol. Wt. 2,500 10,000 24,000 40,000 
PVP K-12, K-15; and K-30-are-also available from Polyscuebees, Inc. 
Warrington, Pa., and PVP K-15, K-25, and K30 and poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) 
are available from Aldrich Chemical Co., Inc. Milwaukee, Wis., 
Further preferred dye transfer polymers are described in DE 4341072 (BASF), 
especially preferred are those that contain alkyl-1-vinylimidazole 
monomers. 
The average molecular weight for water-soluble polymers with 
--N--C(--.dbd.O)-- groups useful in the present invention is from about 
500 to about 200,000, preferably from about 500 to about 40,000, and more 
preferably from about 1,000 to about 30,000. 
A further group of preferred polymers for use in detergent compositions 
according to the present invention comprise a polymer selected from 
N-vinylimidazole N-vinylpyrrolidone copolymers, 
Preferably the N-vinylimidazole N-vinylpyrrolidone copolymer of the present 
invention has a molar ratio of N-vinylimidazole to N-vinylpryrrolidone 
from 5 to 0.2. 
The N-vinylimidazole N-vinylpyrrolidone copolymers can be linear or 
branched. 
It is also advantageous with the present application to use the polymers 
descrined in GB co-pending application number 97300122.5 
Detergent Active Compounds 
The detergent compositions of the invention may contain one or more 
detergent-active compounds (surfactants), preferably in an amount of at 
least 5% by weight, e.g. from 5% to 30% by weight of total surfactant, 
based on the total composition may be chosen from soap and non-soap 
anionic, cationic, nonionic, amphoteric and zwitterionic detergent-active 
compounds, and mixtures thereof. Many suitable detergent-active compounds 
are available and are fully described in the literature, for example, in 
"Surface-Active Agents and Detergents", Volumes I and II, by Schwartz, 
Perry and Berch. 
The preferred detergent-active compounds that can be used are soaps and 
synthetic non-soap anionic and nonionic compounds. 
The detergent compositions of the invention preferably contain an anionic 
surfactant. A preferred anionic surfactant is alkylbenzene sulphonate, 
particularly if they are linear alkylbenzene sulphonate, alkylbenzene 
sulphonates having an alkyl chain length of C.sub.8 -C.sub.15 are 
especially preferred. 
It is preferred if the level of anionic surfactant is from 5 wt % to 50 wt 
%, more preferably 10 wt % to 40 wt %, still more preferably from 12 wt % 
to 38 wt %, most preferably from 15 wt % to 35 wt %. 
Other anionic surfactants suitable for use with the invention are 
well-known to those skilled in the art. Examples include primary and 
secondary alkyl sulphates, particularly C.sub.8 -C.sub.15 primary alkyl 
sulphates; alkyl ether sulphates; olefin sulphonates; alkyl xylene 
sulphonates; dialkyl sulphosuccinates; and fatty acid ester sulphonates. 
Sodium salts are generally preferred. 
The compositions of the invention may also contain nonionic surfactant. 
It is preferable if the ratio of anionic surfactant to nonionic surfactant 
is equal to or greater than 2:3, more preferably greater than or equal to 
3:2, most preferably equal to or greater than 4:1. 
Nonionic surfactants that may be used include the primary and secondary 
alcohol ethoxylates, especially the C.sub.8 -C.sub.20 aliphatic alcohols 
ethoxylated with an average of from 1 to 20 moles of ethylene oxide per 
mole of alcohol, and more especially the C.sub.10 -C.sub.15 primary and 
secondary aliphatic alcohols ethoxylated with an average of from 1 to 10 
moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol. Non-ethoxylated nonionic 
surfactants include alkylpolyglycosides, glycerol monoethers, and 
polyhydroxyamides (glucamide). 
It is preferred if the level of nonionic surfactant is from 1 wt % to 35 wt 
%. 
The choice of detergent-active compound (surfactant), and the amount 
present, will depend on the intended use of the detergent composition. In 
fabric washing compositions, different surfactant systems may be chosen, 
as is well known to the skilled formulator, for handwashing products and 
for products intended for use in different types of washing machine. 
If a high foaming product is desired it is preferable to use nonionic 
surfactants that are not ethoxylated such as cocomonoethanolamide. 
The total amount of surfactant present will also depend on the intended end 
use and may be as high as 60 wt %, for example, in a composition for 
washing fabrics by hand. In compositions for machine washing of fabrics, 
an amount of from 5 to 40 wt % is generally appropriate. 
Detergent compositions suitable for use in most automatic fabric washing 
machines generally contain anionic non-soap surfactant, or nonionic 
surfactant, or combinations of the two in any ratio, optionally together 
with soap. 
Detergency Builders 
The detergent compositions of the invention will generally also contain one 
or more detergency builders. The total amount of detergency builder in the 
compositions will suitably range from 5 to 80 wt %, preferably from 10 to 
60 wt %. 
Inorganic builders that may be present include sodium carbonate, if desired 
in combination with a crystallisation seed for calcium carbonate, as 
disclosed in GB 1 437 950 (Unilever); crystalline and amorphous 
aluminosilicates, for example, zeolites as disclosed in GB 1 473 201 
(Henkel), amorphous aluminosilicates as disclosed in GB 1 473 202 (Henkel) 
and mixed crystalline/amorphous aluminosilicates as disclosed in GB 1 470 
250 (Procter & Gamble); and layered silicates as disclosed in EP 164 514B 
(Hoechst). Inorganic phosphate builders, for example, sodium 
orthophosphate, pyrophosphate and tripolyphosphate are also suitable for 
use with this invention. 
The detergent compositions of the invention preferably contain an alkali 
metal, preferably sodium, aluminosilicate builder. Sodium aluminosilicates 
may generally be incorporated in amounts of from 10 to 70% by weight 
(anhydrous basis), preferably from 25 to 50 wt %. 
The alkali metal aluminosilicate may be either crystalline or amorphous or 
mixtures thereof, having the general formula: 
EQU 0.8-1.5 Na.sub.2 O.Al.sub.2 O.sub.3.0.8-6 SiO.sub.2 
These materials contain some bound water and are required to have a calcium 
ion exchange capacity of at least 50 mg CaO/g. The preferred sodium 
aluminosilicates contain 1.5-3.5 SiO.sub.2 units (in the formula above). 
Both the amorphous and the crystalline materials can be prepared readily 
by reaction between sodium silicate and sodium aluminate, as amply 
described in the literature. 
Suitable crystalline sodium aluminosilicate ion-exchange detergency 
builders are described, for example, in GB 1 429 143 (Procter & Gamble). 
The preferred sodium aluminosilicates of this type are the well-known 
commercially available zeolites A and X, and mixtures thereof. 
The zeolite may be the commercially available zeolite 4A now widely used in 
laundry detergent powders. However, according to a preferred embodiment of 
the invention, the zeolite builder incorporated in the compositions of the 
invention is maximum aluminium zeolite P (zeolite MAP) as described and 
claimed in EP 384 070A (Unilever). Zeolite MAP is defined as an alkali 
metal aluminosilicate of the zeolite P type having a silicon to aluminium 
ratio not exceeding 1.33, preferably within the range of from 0.90 to 
1.33, and more preferably within the range of from 0.90 to 1.20. 
Especially preferred is zeolite MAP having a silicon to aluminium ratio not 
exceeding 1.07, more preferably about 1.00. The calcium binding capacity 
of zeolite MAP is generally at least 150 ma CaO per g of anhydrous 
material. 
Organic builders that may be present include polycarboxylate polymers such 
as polyacrylates, acrylic/maleic copolymers, and acrylic phosphinates; 
monomeric polycarboxylates such as citrates, gluconates, oxydisuccinates, 
glycerol mono-, di- and, trisuccinates, carboxymethyloxysuccinates, 
carboxymethyloxymalonates, dipicolinates, hydroxyethyliminodiacetates, 
alkyl- and alkenylmalonates and succinates; and sulphonated fatty acid 
salts. This list is not intended to be exhaustive. 
Especially preferred organic builders are citrates, suitably used in 
amounts of from 5 to 30 wt %, preferably from 10 to 25 wt %; and acrylic 
polymers, more especially acrylic/maleic copolymers, suitably used in 
amounts of from 0.5 to 15 wt %, preferably from 1 to 10 wt %. 
Builders, both inorganic and organic, are preferably present in alkali 
metal salt, especially sodium salt, form. 
Bleach Components 
Detergent compositions according to the invention may also suitably contain 
a bleach system. Fabric washing compositions may desirably contain peroxy 
bleach compounds, for example, inorganic persalts or organic peroxyacids, 
capable of yielding hydrogen peroxide in aqueous solution. 
Suitable peroxy bleach compounds include organic peroxides such as urea 
peroxide, and inorganic persalts such as the alkali metal perborates, 
percarbonates, perphosphates, persilicates and persulphates. Preferred 
inorganic persalts are sodium perborate monohydrate and tetrahydrate, and 
sodium percarbonate. 
Especially preferred is sodium percarbonate having a protective coating 
against destabilisation by moisture. Sodium percarbonate having a 
protective coating comprising sodium metaborate and sodium silicate is 
disclosed in GB 2 123 044B (Kao). 
The peroxy bleach compound is suitably present in an amount of from 0.1 to 
35 wt %, preferably from 0.5 to 25 wt %. 
The peroxy bleach compound may be used in conjunction with a bleach 
activator (bleach precursor) to improve bleaching action at low wash 
temperatures. The bleach precursor is suitably present in an amount of 
from 0.1 to 8 wt %, preferably from 0.5 to 5 wt %. 
Preferred bleach precursors are peroxycarboxylic acid precursors, more 
especially peracetic acid precursors caprolactam precursors and 
pernonanoic acid precursors. Especially preferred bleach precursor 
suitable for use in the present invention are N,N,N',N'-tetracetyl 
ethylenediamine (TAED) and sodium nonanoyloxybenzene sulphonate (SNOBS). 
The novel quaternary ammonium and phosphonium bleach precursors disclosed 
in U.S. Pat. No. 4,751,015 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,818,426 (Lever Brothers 
Company) and EP 402 971A (Unilever) are also of great interest. The 
cationic bleach precursors disclosed in EP 284 292A and EP 303 520A (Kao) 
may also be used. 
The bleach system can be either supplemented with or replaced by a 
peroxyacid. Examples of such peracids can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 
4,686,063 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,397,501 (patent on TPCAP-Unilever). A 
preferred example is the imido peroxycarboxylic class of peracids 
described in EP A 325 288, EP A 349 940, DE 382 3172 and EP 325 289. A 
particularly preferred example is phtalimido peroxy caproic acid (PAP). 
Such peracids are suitably present at 0.1-12%, preferably 0.5-10%. 
A bleach stabiliser (heavy metal sequestrant) may also be present. Suitable 
bleach stabilisers include ethylenediamine tetraacetate (EDTA), the 
polyphosphonates such as Dequest (Trade Mark) and non-phosphate 
stabilisers such as EDDS (ethylene diamine di-succinic acid). These Bleach 
stabilisers are also useful for stain removal, especially in products 
containing low levels of bleaching species or no bleaching species. 
An especially preferred bleach system comprises a peroxy bleach compound 
(preferably sodium percarbonate optionally together with a bleach 
activator), and a transition metal bleach catalyst as described and 
claimed in EP 458 397A, EP 458 398A and EP 509 787A (Unilever). 
The Enzyme 
Suitable enzymes include the proteases, amylases, cellulases, oxidases, 
peroxidases and lipases usable for incorporation in detergent 
compositions. 
Preferred proteolytic enzymes (proteases) are, catalytically active protein 
materials which degrade or alter protein types of stains when present as 
in fabric stains in a hydrolysis reaction. They may be of any suitable 
origin, such as vegetable, animal, bacterial or yeast origin. 
Proteolytic enzymes or proteases of various qualities and origins and 
having activity in various pH ranges of from 4-12 are available and can be 
used in the instant invention. Examples of suitable proteolytic enzymes 
are the subtilisins, which are obtained from particular strains of B. 
subtilis and B. licheniformis, such as the commercially available 
subtilisins Maxatase (Trade Mark), as supplied by Gist-Brocades N. V., 
Delft, Holland, and Alcalase (Trade Mark), as supplied by Novo Industri 
A/S, Copenhagen, Denmark. 
Particularly suitable is a protease obtained from a strain of Bacillus 
having maximum activity throughout the pH range of 8-12, being 
commercially available, e.g. from Novo Industri A/S under the registered 
trade-names Esperase (Trade Mark) and Savinase (Trade-Mark). The 
preparation of these and analogous enzymes is described in GB 1 243 785. 
Other commercial proteases are Kazusase (Trade Mark) (obtainable from 
Showa-Denko of Japan), Optimase (Trade Mark) (from Miles Kali-Chemie, 
Hannover, West Germany), and Superase (Trade Mark) (obtainable from Pfizer 
of U.S.A.). 
Detergency enzymes are commonly employed in granular form in amounts of 
from about 0.1 to about 3.0 wt %. 
Other Ingredients 
The compositions of the invention may contain alkali metal, preferably 
sodium, carbonate, in order to increase detergency and ease processing. 
Sodium carbonate may suitably be present in amounts ranging from 1 to 60 
wt %, preferably from 2 to 40 wt %. However, compositions containing 
little or no sodium carbonate are also within the scope of the invention. 
Powder flow may be improved by the incorporation of a small amount of a 
powder structurant, for example, a fatty acid (or fatty acid soap), a 
sugar, an acrylate or acrylate/maleate polymer, or sodium silicate. 
One preferred powder structurant is fatty acid soap, suitably present in an 
amount of from 1 to 5 wt %. 
Other materials that may be present in detergent compositions of the 
invention include sodium silicate; antiredeposition agents such as 
cellulosic polymers; inorganic salts such as sodium sulphate; lather 
control agents or lather boosters as appropriate; proteolytic and 
lipolytic enzymes; dyes; coloured speckles; perfumes; foam controllers; 
fabric softening compounds, soil release polymers, fluorescers and 
decoupling polymers. This list is not intended to be exhaustive. 
The detergent composition when diluted in the wash liquor (during a typical 
wash cycle) will give a pH of the wash liquor from 7 to 10.5. 
The detergent components of the present invention may be incorporated in 
detergent compositions of all physical types, for example, powders, 
liquids, gels and solid bars. 
Detergent compositions of the invention may be prepared by any suitable 
method. 
Particulate detergent compositions are suitably prepared by spray-drying a 
slurry of compatible heat-insensitive ingredients, and then spraying on or 
postdosing those ingredients unsuitable for processing via the slurry. The 
skilled detergent formulator will have no difficulty in deciding which 
ingredients should be included in the slurry and which should not. 
Particulate detergent compositions of the invention preferably have a bulk 
density of at least 400 g/l, more preferably at least 500 g/l. 
Especially preferred compositions have bulk densities of at least 650 
g/liter, more preferably at least 700 g/liter. 
Such powders may be prepared either by post-tower densification of 
spray-dried powder, or by wholly non-tower methods such as dry mixing and 
granulation; in both cases a high-speed mixer/granulator may 
advantageously be used. 
Processes using high-speed mixer/granulators are disclosed, for example, in 
EP-A-340 013, EP-A-367 339, EP-A-390 251 and EP-A-420 317. 
Liquid detergent compositions can be prepared by admixing the essential and 
optional ingredients thereof in any desired order to provide compositions 
containing components in the requisite concentrations. Liquid compositions 
according to the present invention can also be in compact form which means 
it will contain a lower level of water compared to a conventional liquid 
detergent.