BODIES CONTAINING BLEACH ACTIVATORS

Abstract: The invention relates to bodies containing bleach activa­ tors. In particular, this invention relates to bodies containing bleach activators which comprise specific bleach activators and binder material. In such bodies said bleach activators have excellent storage stability and, yet, maintain excellent dispersibility in wash water.

Description: Bodies CONTAINING BLEACH ACTIVITATORS mE TO THE INVENTION The present invention relates to bodies containing bleach activators. In particular, this invention relates to bodies containing bleach activators which comprise specific bleach activators and binder material. In such bodies said bleach activators have excellent storage stability and, yet, maintain excellent dispersibility in wash water. It has long been known that peroxygen bleaches provide a desirable level of bleaching performance, but that they are also extremely temperature dependent. Such bleaches are essentially only practicable and/or effective in bleaching solutions; i.e., a bleach and water mixture, wherein the solution temperature is above about 600C. At bleach solution temperatures of about 600C peroxygen bleaches are only partially effective, due to their low level of reactivity. Therefore, in order to obtain a desirable level of bleaching performance extremely high levels of peroxygen bleach must be added to the system. As the bleach solution temperature is lowered below 600C, even higher levels of peroxygen bleach must be added to the system in order to obtain a desirable level of bleaching performance. The temperature dependence of peroxygen bleaches is significant because such bleaches are commonly used as a detergent adjuvant in textile wash processes that utilize an automatic household washing machine at wash water temperatures below 600 C. Such wash temperatures are utilized because of textile care and energy considerations. As a consequence of such wash processes, there has been much industrial research to develop substances, generally referred to as bleach activators, that render peroxygen bleaches effective at bleach solution temperatures below 600C. Numerous substances have been disclosed in the art as effective bleach activators. Carboxylic acid ester bleach activators are known. U.K. Patent 864,798, Hampson et a (April 6, 1961), discloses bleaching compositions comprising an inorganic persalt and an organic ester of an aliphatic carboxylic acid wherein the size of the carboxylic acid ester particles are such that at least 70% of them are retained on a 60 mesh British Standard sieve. It is stated that such bleaching compositions are stable during storage. It is preferred that the ester be derived from an aliphatic carboxylic acid having not more than 10, preferably less than 8 carbon atoms. U.K. Patent 836,988, Davies et al (June 9, 1960), discloses bleaching compositions containing hydrogen peroxide or inorganic persalt and organic. carboxylic esters. A test is described to define the esters within the invention. It is stated that such esters provide improved bleaching at temperatures from 50 C to 600C relative to that obtained with the persalt alone. It is also known that peroxygen bleaches in combination with bleach activators that are believed to exhibit surface activity provide particularly effective bleaching performance. U.S. Patent 4,283,301, Diehl (August 11, 1981), discloses bleaching compositions comprising a peroxygen bleach and a bleach activator of the general formula: EMI2.1 wherein R is an alkyl chain containing from about 5 to about 13 carbon atoms, R2 is an alkylene chain containing from about 4 to about 24 carbon atoms and each Z is a leaving group as defined therein. It has also been long known that the function--of a bleach activator can be significantly impaired during storage by inter- action with the peroxygen bleach andlor moisture and, if- the bleach activator is part of a detergent composition, interaction with other components of the detergent composition. Therefore, for the bleach activator to retain its efficacy, it must be protected from its environment during storage: However, any method of protecting the bleach activator from its environment must not substantially inhibit its ability to disperse in the wash water. U.S. Patent 4,009,113 Green et al, February 22, 1977, discloses granular compositions comprising from about 409 to about 80% of a bleach activator and an inert carrier material such as a long chain fatty acids or esters wherein said precursor is substantially evenly distributed with said precursor compound to form a composite particle. The particle has an outer protective layer which can consist of, for example, polyvinyl alcohol. It is stated that such compositions have both good storage stability and dispersibility in the wash water. U.S. PEtnt 4,399,049 Gray eft al (Fzrgust 16 1983)discloses a detergent additive composition comprising from about about 75% to about 95% of a particulate infusible solid having a particle size distribution such that at least about 508 thereof passes a 250 micrometer screen and comprising storage sensitive detergent additive materials, and from about 58 to about 25% of ethoxylated non ionic surfactants melting in the range from about 200C to about 600C wherein said composition is prepared via a radial extrusion process. It is stated that such compositions have improved storage stability together with excellent release and dispersibility characteristics in wash water. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a body containing bleach activators comprising: (a) from . 50% to 98% of a bleach activator having the general formula: EMI3.1 wherein R is an alkyl group containing from 5 to 18 carbon atoms wherein the longest linear alkyl chain extending from and including the carbonyl carbon contains from 6 to 10 carbon atoms and L is a leaving group containing an anionic moiety, wherein the conjugate acid of the anion formed on L has a pK a in the range of from 4 to 13; and (b) from 2% to 50E of a binder material selected from the group consisting of nonionic surfactants, polyethylene glycols, anionic surfactants, film forming polymers, fatty acids and mixtures thereof wherein said binder does not melt below 400C; wherein (a) and (b) are substantially evenly distributed throughout said body, the density of said body is above 1.06 gicc and said body contains less than 38 water. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a body containing bleach activators which comprise specific bleach activators and binder material, both of which are defined hereinafter. The bleach activators in the body have excellent storage stability and, yet, readily disperse in the wash water. Also en the bodies are-utilized as disclosed in the Applicants pending Eurean patent Applicaticn neo. 83200938 5. a superior level of bleaching performance on textiles is obtained. It is essential that the bleach activator and binder material are substantially evenly distributed throughout the body and that the body has the proper density. Experimental evidence indicates that compacting the bleach activator particles to form a body with a density within the invention and then coating it with the binder material does not provide the desired level of storage stability. Only when the bleach activator and binder material are substantially evenly distributed throughout the body is the storage stability excellent. However, it is also essential that the density of the body be above 1.06 grams /cubic centimeter (g/cc), preferably above 1 .08 gicc, most preferably from 1.10 glcc to 1.30 glcc. Experimental evidence also indicates that though the bleach activator and binder material are substantially evenly distributed throughout the body, densities below 1.06 glcc do not provide the desired level of storage stability. It should be noted that the specific densities were measured by a mercury displacement method in which air is removed from a vessel containing a weighed sample of the particles (bodies), mercury is introduced, and the pressure increased in increments. The rate of volume decrease (or density increase) is typically one value when interparticulate spaces are being filled, which occurs first, and a different value when the voids in the particle are being filled. The inflection point on the volumepressure curve is taken as indicating the specific density of the particles. The body must also be essentially free of moisture. The presence of excess free moisture will result in very poor storage stability because of the bleach activator's susceptability to hydrolysis. -Thus, the body must contain less than 3% water and preferably less than 1.596 water. Control of the particle size of the body is also of some importance for securing optimum storage stability and dispersibility in the wash water. It is preferred that the bodies have a particle size distribution from O.O5um to 2.5 millimeters wherein no more than 5% of the bodies are greater than 2 millimeters and more preferably from 0.30 mn to 1.5 millimeters. The body can be made by essentially any apparatus that is suitable to substantially evenly distribute the bleach activator and binder material throughout the. body and compact the body in order to obtain the required density. For example, powder blenders can be utilized to mix the bleach activator and binder material and then the mixture can be passed through a radial or axial extruder or a compaction press to form the body. Radial or axial extruders are preferred because it is believed that they produce a body in which the bleach activator has both superior storage stability and dispersibility in the wash water. It should be noted that when the bleach activator and binder material are mixed, the binder material should be in fluid form. This can be accomplished by either heating the mixture until the binder material melts or, especially with binder materials that decompose rather than melt upon heating, forming an aqueous solution. The following is a detailed description of the essential components of the body containing bleach activators within the invention. All percentages, parts and ratios are by weight unless otherwise indicated. The Bleach Activator The bleach activators that can be utilized in the bodies within the invention have the general formula: EMI6.1 wherein R is an alkyl group containing from 5 to 18 carbon atoms wherein the longest linear alkyl chain extending from and including the carbonyl carbon contains from 6 to 10 carbon atoms and L is a leaving group that contains an anionic moiety, the conjugate acid of which has a pK in the range of from 6 to 13. L can be essentially any suitable leaving group that contains an anionic moiety. A leaving group is any group that is displaced from the bleach activator as a consequence of the nucleophilic attack on the bleach activator by the perhydroxide anion Generally, for a group to be a suitable leaving group it must exert an electron attracting effect. This facilitates the nucleophilic attack by the perhydroxide anion yielded by the peroxygen bleach which is believed to be essential - in order to obtain a superior level of bleaching performance. Leaving groups that exhibit such behavior are those in which their conjugate acid has a pK in the range of from 6 to 13, preferably from 7 to 11 and most preferably from about 8 to about 11. Also, in order for the body to have the desired level of dispersibility in the wash water it is essential that the leaving group contain an anionic moiety. A leaving group that does not contain an anionic moiety does not provide the desired level of dispersibility in the wash water. Nonlimiting examples of suitable anionic moieties are -SO3 M -COO M and -SO4M - wherein M is a compatible cation. Preferred bleach activators are those of the above general formula wherein R is as defined in the general formula and L is selected from EMI7.1 wherein R is as defined above, R2 is an alkyl chain containing from 1 to 8 carbon atoms1 R3 is H or R2, and Y is selected from -SO3M, -COO M and -SO 4M and most preferably -SO3M and -COO M, M is selected from alkali metals, ammonium and substituted ammonium cations, with sodium and potassium being most preferred. Preferred bleach activators are also those of the above general formula wherein L is as defined in the general formula and R is an alkyl group containing from 5 to 12 carbon atoms wherein the longest linear alkyl chain extending from and including the carbonyl carbon contains from 6 to 10 carbon atoms. Even more preferred are bleach activators of the above general formula wherein L is as defined in the general formula and R is a linear alkyl chain containing from 5 to 9 and preferably from 7 to 9 carbon atoms. More preferred bleach activators are those of the above general formula wherein R is a linear alkyl chain containing from 5 to 9 and preferably from 7 to 9 carbon atoms and L is selected from EMI7.2 EMI8.1 wherein R, R21 R3 and Y are as defined above. Particularly preferred bleach activators are those of the above general formula wherein R is an alkyl group containing from 5 to 12 carbon atoms wherein the longest linear portion of the alkyl chain extending from and including the carbonyl carbon is from 6 te - 10 carbon atoms and L is selected from EMI8.2 <tb> <SEP> Y <SEP> BZ <SEP> RZv <tb> <SEP> -O, <SEP> , <SEP> -oyLy <SEP> and <tb> <SEP> 2 <SEP> -+ <SEP> -+ <tb> wherein <SEP> R <SEP> is <SEP> as <SEP> defined <SEP> above <SEP> and <SEP> Y <SEP> is <SEP> -SO3M <SEP> or <SEP> -COO <SEP> M <tb> wherein M is as defined above. Especially preferred bleach activators are those of the above general formula wherein R is a linear alkyl chain containing from 5 to 9 and preferably from about 7 to about 9 carbon atoms and -L is selected from EMI8.3 wherein R is as defined above and Y is -SO3M or -COO M wherein M is as defined above. The most preferred bleach activators have the formula: EMI8.4 wherein R is a linear alkyl chain containing from 5 to 9 and preferably from 7 to 9 carbon atoms and M is sodium or potassium. The level of bleach activator within the bodies of the invention is from t 50% to 988 and preferably from 858 to 96%. It is also preferred that the bleach activator particle size distribution is from 5 microns to 2.5 millimeters wherein no more than 2% of the particles are greater than 2 millimeters and more preferably from 25 microns to 150 microns. The Binder The materials that can be utilized as binders are nonionic surfactants, polyethylene glycols, fatty acids, anionic surfactants, film forming polymers and mixtures thereof. It is believed that such binder materials are not reactive with the bleach activator and, if in a detergent composition, not reactive with the components of the detergent composition upon storage. Also, they have low hygroscopicity upon storage and, yet, are soluble and, therefore, dispersible in the wash water. However, it is essential that such binder materials do not melt below about 400C. Otherwise, the binder is likely to melt upon storage because often the storage temperature is as high as 400C. Naturally, the melting of the binder material results in the bleach activator being quite unstable. It should be noted that some of the binder materials within the invention will decompose rather than melt upon the application of heat energy. However, the temperature at - which such binder materials decompose is well beyond any temperature at which the bodies will be stored. Nonionic surfactants are the least preferred binder materials because it is believed that they have an inimical effect on cieaning performance on textiles when the bodies are utilized as disclosed in the AWlicalts pending European patent Applicaticn No. 83200938.5. Examples of non ionic surfactants that can be utilized as a binder material are the condensation product of primary or secondary aliphatic alcohols having from 8 to 24 carbon atoms, in either straight chain or branched chain configuration, with from 35 to 100 moles, preferably 40 to about 80 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol. Preferably, the aliphatic alcohol comprises between 9 and 18 carbon atoms and is ethoxylated with between 35 and 100, desirably between 40 and 80 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of aliphatic alcohol. The preferred non ionic surfactants are prepared from primary alcohols which are either linear (such as those derived from natural fats or, prepared by the Ziegler process from ethylene, e.g., myristyl, cetyl, stearyl alcohois), or partly branched such as the Dobanols and Neodols which have about 252 2-methyl branching (Dobanol and Neodol being Trade Names of Shell or Synperonics, which are understood to have about 508 2-methyl branching (Synperonic is a Trade Name of l.C.l.) or the primary alcohols having more than 50% branched chain structure sold under the Trade Name Lial by Liquichimica. Other suitable nonionic surfactants are the polyethylene oxide condensates of alkyl phenol, e.g., the condensation products of alkyl phenols having an alkyl group containing from 6 to 12 carbon atoms in either a straight chain or branched chain configuration, with ethylene oxide, the said ethylene oxide being present in amounts equal to 35 to 100, preferably 40 to 80 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alkyl phenol. The alkyl substituent in such compounds may be derived, for example, from polymerised propylene, di-isobutylene, octene and nonene. Still further non ionic surfactants suitable for use herein are the compounds formed by condensing ethylene oxide with a hydrophobic base formed by the condensation of propylene oxide with propylene glycol. The molecular weight of the hydrophobic portion generally falls in the range of 1500 to 1800. Such synthetic nonionic detergents are available on the market under the Trade Name of "Pluronic" supplied by Wyandotte Chemicals Corporation. Suitable polyethylene glycols, which are homopolymers of ethylene oxide having the general formula HO(C2H401nH, have an average molecular weight of from 2,000 to 15,000, preferably from 3,000 to 10,000 and most preferably from 4,000 to 8,000. The fatty acids that are suitable for use herein are higher fatty acids containing from 8 to 24 carbon atoms and preferably from 12 to 18 carbon atoms. It has also been observed that mixtures of fatty acids and nonionic binder materials, e.g., polyethylene glycols or nonionic surfactants, provide the bleach activator with particularly good storage stability and dispersibility in the wash water. It is believed that fatty acids reduce the hygroscopicity of the nonionic binder materials and that the nonionic binder materials improve the dispersibility of the fatty acids. Suitable anionic surfactants are the water-soluble salts, preferably the alkali metal, ammonium and alkylolammonium salts, of organic sulfuric reaction . products having in their molecular structure an alkyl group containing from 8 to 20 carbon atoms and a sulfonic acid or sulfuric acid ester group. included in the term "alkyl" is the aikyl portion of acyl groups.) Examples of this group of synthetic surfactants are the sodium and potassium alkyl sulfates, especially those obtained by sulfating the higher alcohols (C8-C18 carbon atoms) such as those produced by reducing the glycerides of tallow or coconut oil; and the sodium and potassium alkylbenzene sulfonates in which the alkyl group contains from about 9 to about 15 carbon atoms, in straight chain or branched chain configuration. e.g., those of the type described in U.S. Patents 2,220,099 and 2,477,383. The preferred anionic surfactants are linear straight chain alkylbenzene sulfonates in which the average number of carbon atoms in the alkyl group is from 11 to 13, abbreviated as C1113 LAS. Other anionic surfactants herein are the water-soluble salts of the higher fatty acids, i.e., "soaps", are useful anionic surfactants in the compositions herein. This includes alkali metal soaps such as the sqdium, potassium, ammonium, and alkylolammonium salts of higher fatty acids containing from 8 to 24 carbon atoms, and preferably from 12 to 18 carbon atoms. Soaps can be made by direct saponification of fats and oils or by the neutralization of free fatty acids. Other anionic surfactants for use herein are the sodium alkyl glyceryl ether sulfonates, especially those ethers of higher alcohols derived from tallow and coconut oil; sodium coconut oil fatty acid monoglyceride sulfonates and sulfates; sodium or potassium lrn salts of alkyl phenol ethylene oxide ether sulfates containing from 1 to 10 units of ethylene oxide per molecule and wherein the alkyl groups contain from 8 to 12 carbon atoms; and sodium or potassium salts of alkyl ethylene oxide ether sulfates containing 1 to 10 units of ethylene oxide per molecule and wherein the alkyl group contains from 10 to 20 carbon atoms. Other useful anidnic surfactants herein include the watersoluble salts of esters of alpha-sulfonated fatty acids containing from 6 to 20 carbon atoms in the fatty acid group and from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the ester group; water-soluble salts of 2-acyloxyalkane-1-sulfonic acids containing from 2 to 9 carbon atoms in the acyl group and from 9 to 23 carbon atoms in the alkane moiety; water-soluble salts of olefin and paraffin sulfonates containing from , 12 to 20 carbon atoms; and beta-alkyloxy alkane sulfonates containing from 1 to 3 carbon atoms in the alkyl group and from 8 to 20 carbon atoms in the alkane moiety. Suitable film forming polymers are the polymers derived from the monomers such as vinyl chloride, vinyl alcohol, furan, acrylonitrile, vinyl acetate, methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, styrene, vinyl methyl ether, vinyl ethyl ether, vinyl propyl ether, acrylamide, ethylene, propylene and 3-butenoic acid. Preferred polymers of the above group are the homopolymers -and copolymers of acrylic acid, hydroxyacrylic acid, or methacrylic acid, which in the case of the copolymers contain at least 50%, and preferably at least 80%, by weight of units derived from the acid. The particularly preferred- polymer is sodium polyacrylate. Other specific preferred polymers are the homopolymers and copolymers of maleic anhydride, especially the copolymers with ethylene, styrene and vinyl methyl ether. These polymers are commercially available under the trade names Versicol and Gantrez. Other film-forming polymers useful herein include the cellulose sulfate esters such as cellulose acetate sulfate, cellulose sulfate, hydroxyethyl cellulose sulfate, methylcellulose sulfate and hydroxypropylcellulose sulfate. Surprisingiy, very small levels of binder material within the body are required. The level of binder material within the bodies within the invention is from 28 to 50Q and preferably from 4% to 15%. Optional Components The bodies of the present invention can also contain all of the usual components of detergent compositions including the ingredients set forth in U.S. Patent 3,936,537, Baskerville et al, so long as they are inert with respect to the bleach activator and binder material. Such components include color speckles, suds boosters, suds suppressors, antitarnish and/or anticorrosion agents, soil-suspending agents, soil-release agents, dyes, fillers, optical brighteners, germicides, alkalinity sources, hydrotropes, antioxidants, enzymes, enzyme stabilizing agents, perfumes, etc. The following examples are given to illustrate the parameters of.and compositions within the invention. All percentages, parts and ratios are by weight unless otherwise indicated. EXAMPLE I The following granular detergent composition was prepared: Part Sodium C13 linear alkylbenzene sulfonate 7.5 Sodium C14 15 alkyl sulfate 7.5 C12 alkyl trimethyl ammonium chloride 2.0 C1 2-13 alkyl polyethoxylatez ST* 2.0 Sodium tripolyphosphate 31.60 Sodium carbonate 10.0 Sodium silicate (1.6r) 2.9 Sodium sulfate 14.25 Water 6. û Miscellaneous 2.05 *stripped of unreacted alcohol and monoethoxylate 600 parts of the bleach activator powdered sodium linear octanoyloxybenzene sulfonate which passes through a t 0.149 urn screen and 180 parts of a binder material consisting of 50t water, 32% C13 linear alkylbenzene sulfonate and 188 sodium sulfate were utilized in a fluidized bed to produce bodies containing the bleach activator of particle sizes that passed through a 0.595mn screen onto a 0.21mM screen. The bodies were then dried to remove all the water. The density of the bodies was then determined via mercury intrusion. A composition consisting of 86% of the above granular detergent composition, 6% sodium perborate monohydrate and 8% of the bodies was prepared. The composition was placed in a glass jar and stored for four weeks wherein the storage room temperature ranged from 27 C to 320C and room humidity ranged from 60% to 80%. 10 Grams of the composition was then added to a beaker containing 500 cc. of 370C water. The water contained 120pFsn Ca water hardness. The water was continuously stirred for about 10 minutes and then the amount of available oxygen from percarboxylic acid was measured utilizing an iodometric titration procedure. This measurement was compared to the maximum theoretical arr.ount of available oxygen from percarboxylic acid to determine the percent of the retained reactivity of the bleach activator. The entire above procedure was repeated but with bodies consisting of 100 parts of the above bleach activator and 18 parts of the above binder material prepared via radial extrusion. The noodle like extrudates were then dried and granulated. The size of the bodies was such that they passed through a l. 6irm screen onto a 0.4hn screen. Once again the entire above procedure was repeated, but the bodies were prepared by placing 50 parts of the above bleach activator in a mixer and then spraying them with 4 parts water. The bodies were then dried. The size of the bodies was such that they passed through a l.6k. screen onto a 0.4dim screen. The bodies then were coated with a C13 linear alkyl benzene sulfonate paste binder material. The results were as follows: Density % Retained Activity (g/cc) of Bleach Activator Body prepared via fluid bed 1 .04 55 Body prepared via mixer 1.22 75 Body prepared via extrusion 1.12 93 The bodies prepared via the fluid bed have the binder paste substantially evenly distributed throughout the bodies containing the bleach activator, but have a density outside the invention provided poor storage stability for the bleach activator. The bodies prepared via the mixer have a density within the invention, but do not have the binder material substantially evenly distributed throughout the bodies containing the bleach activator did not provide the desired level of storage stability of the bleach activator. Only the bodies prepared via extrusion, which have both a density within the invention and the binder material substantially evenly distributed throughout the body, provided excellent storage stability for the bleach activator. EXAMPLE II A sample of the bodies prepared via radial extrusion in Example I were admixed with the granular detergent composition of Example I. A quantity of sodium perborate monohydrate corresponding to a molar ratio of sodium perborate monohydrate to bleach activator of 3.3 was added to the system. The entire system was then placed in a beaker containing 370C water. The amount of available oxygen from percarboxylic acid was measured as in Example 1, 3 minutes, 5 minutes and then 15 minutes after the system was placed in the beaker. Then the percent conversion of sodium linear octanoyloxybenzene sulfonate to percarboxylic acid was calculated for each time period. The above procedure was repeated with sodium linear octanoyloxybenzene sulfonate powder, tetracetylethylenediamine (TAED) powder and TAED prepared with the same binder material via radial extrusion as in Example The results were as follows: % Conversion of Bleach Activator Bleach Activator System to Percarboxylic Acid 3 min. 5 min. 15 min. I. Sodium linear octanoyloxy benzene sulfonate, extruded 58 74 100 II. Sodium linear octanoyloxy benzene sulfonate, powder 90 96 100 Ill. TAED, extruded 13 27 100 IV. TAED, powder 62 81 100 Bleach Activator System I, which is within the invention, produced higher percentage conversion of activator to percar boxylic acid in a shorter period of time than Bleach Activator System Ill, which is outside the invention because it did not contain a bleach activator within the invention. It should be noted that though Bleach Activator System Ill achieved 100% conversion after 15 minutes, that this level of dispersibility would not be sufficient in a textile wash process because it would not allow enough time for the bleaching process to occur. EXAMPLE 111 Ten sets- of four 12.5 x 12.5 cm swatches consisting of standard textiles and five sets of four terry cloth towels were precon ditioned by adding artificial body soils to them so as to simulate the condition of household laundry that has been subjected to routine wear. Each set of four swatches was then stained with a different bleachable stain. The swatches were then cut in half- to produce 20 sets of half swatches with half of the stain being on each half of the swatch. One terry cloth towel from each set of terry cloth towels was then soiled with a mixture of artiticial body soil and vacuum cleaner soil. A laundry load consisting of one of the sets of terry cloth towels and four of the sets of half swatches was placed in each of five mini-wash systems. The four sets of half swatches placed in each mini-wash system were chosen so that no half swatch was placed in the same mini-wash system as its original other half. The laundry load in the first mini-wash system was washed with a quantity of the detergent composition of Example I that corresponds to 1500 ppm in the wash water which is typical of conventional automatic wash processes. The mini-wash system with such a load simuiates a conventional automatic wash process. The wash water temperature was 370C and the rinse water temperature was 220C and both contained 12Cpprn Ca water hardness. This wash process was carried out in the other four miniwash systems, but with each mini-wash system also containing one of the four Bleach Activator Systems of Example II and sodium perborate monohydrate wherein the molar ratio of sodium perborate monohydrate to bleach activator was 3.3. Each of the swatches was then comparison graded with its original other half to determine relative stain removal. A grading scale of -4 to 4 was used, with -4 indicating much less stain removal, 0 indicating no difference and 4 indicating much more s'tain removal. The average of the grades for each stain of each mini-wash system was calculated. The entire above procedure was repeated. The average of the two determinations of each of the above described averages was calculated. Finally, the average of all such averages for each mini-wash system was calculated. The average for each system was then scaled from 0 to 100, with 0 being the mini-wash system that provided the least stain. removal and 100 being the mini-wash system that provided the most stain removal. This number is known as the Bleaching Index. The results were as follows: Bleaching Least Significant Bleach Activator System Index Difference (.05) 1, None 0 20 Il. Sodium linear octanoyl oxybenzene sulfonate, extruded 94 20 Ill. Sodium linear octanoyl oxybenzene sulfonate, powder 100 20 IV. TAED, extruded 21 20 V. TAED, powder .45 20 Bleach Activator System II, which has bodies containing a bleach activator within the invention, not only provided significantly better bleaching performance than Bleach Activator System IV, which has bodies containing bleach activators outside the invention, but significantly better bleaching performance than Bleach Activator System V, which contains a powdered bleaching system.

Claims: CLEWS 1. A body containing a bleach activator comprising: (a) from 50% to 98% of a bleach activator having the general formula: EMI19.1 wherein R is an alkyl group containing fran 5 to 18 carbon atoms wherein the longest linear alkyl chain extending from and including the carbonyl carbon contains from 6 to 10 carbon atoms and L is a leaving group containing an anionic moiety, wherein the conjugate acid of the anion formed on L has a pKa in the range of from 4 to 13; and (b) from 2% to 50% of a binder material selected from nonionic surfactants, polyethylene glycols, anionic surfactants, film forming polymers, fatty acids and mixtures thereof wherein said binder does not melt below 4o0C; wherein (a) and (b) are substantially evenly distributed throughout said body, the density of said body is above 1.06 g/cc and said body contains less than 3% water. 2. A body according to Claim 1 wherein said body has a particle size lying in the range from 0.05mm to 2.5mm wherein no more than 5% of the bodies are greater than 2 millimetres, said particle size range preferably extending from 0.3mm to l.5mm. 3. A body according to either one of claims 1 and 2 wherein the binder material is selected fran water-soluble Cll 13 linear alkylberizene sulfonates; aliphatic alcohols containing between 9 and 18 carbon atoms etboxylated with between 40 and 80 moles of ethylene oxide; sodium polyacrylate; polyethylene glycols having a molecular weight of from 2,000 to 15,000, preferably from 4,000 to 8,000; fatty acids containing from 12 to 18 carbon atoms; and mixtures thereof. 4. A body according to any one of claims 1-3 wherein the bleach activator comprises from 85% to 96% of the body and the binder ccrprises from 4% to 15% of the body. 5. A body according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the density of said body is above 1.08 g/cc, preferably from 1.10 g/cc to 1.30 g/cc. 6. A body according to any one of claims 1-5 wherein the bleach activator has the general formula: EMI20.1 wherein R is a linear alkyl chain containing from 7 to 9 carbon atoms and M is sodium or potassium wherein the bleach activator particle size distribution is fram 0.025mm to 0.15mm; and wherein said body contains less than 1.58 water. 7. A body according to any one of claims 1-6 prepared by radial or axial extrusion.

Inventors: CHUNG, STANLEY YAT-MING, SPADINI, GIANFRANCO LUIGI
Applicants: THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY
Application year: 1983
Main classification: C11D3
IPC codes: C11D3