Patent Description:
Primary alkyl sulfate is an anionic surfactant, useful for cleaning purposes. There is a problem with these surfactants in terms of cleaning ability at low temperature (e.g. lower than <NUM>). <CIT> discloses a use of N-methyl-N-acylglucamines as cold stabilizers in aqueous surfactant solutions.

The invention seeks to overcome the problem of cleaning at low temperature (e.g. lower than <NUM>) of primary alkyl sulfate surfactant cleaning compositions.

We have found that cleaning compositions containing a primary alkyl sulfate surfactant have improved cleaning at temperatures below <NUM>, preferably below <NUM>, more preferably <NUM> and lower by inclusion of a combination of an amphoteric surfactant and a biosurfactant as defined in claim <NUM>.

The invention relates in a first aspect to the use as defined in claim <NUM> of a combination of a rhamnolipid biosurfactant and amphoteric surfactant selected sultaines to improve the cold cleaning performance at temperatures below <NUM>, preferably below <NUM>, more preferably <NUM> and lower, of primary alkyl sulfate surfactant containing cleaning compositions, wherein the primary alkyl sulfate is a C<NUM>-C<NUM> alkyl sulphate.

In the use according to the invention, the ratio of primary alkyl sulfate surfactant to rhamnolipid biosurfactant is from <NUM>:<NUM> to <NUM>:<NUM>, preferably from <NUM>:<NUM> to <NUM>:<NUM>; and, the ratio of primary alkyl sulfate surfactant to amphoteric surfactant is from <NUM>:<NUM> to <NUM>:<NUM>, preferably from <NUM>:<NUM> to <NUM>:<NUM>.

Preferably in the use, the cleaning composition is a fluid cleaning composition, more preferably an aqueous cleaning composition.

In the use according to the invention, the cleaning composition comprises from <NUM> to <NUM> wt. %, preferably from <NUM> to <NUM> wt. %, more preferably from <NUM> to <NUM> wt. %, most preferably from <NUM> to <NUM> wt. % of primary alkyl sulfate.

Preferably in the use, the primary alkyl sulfate is a sodium, potassium or ammonium C<NUM>-C<NUM> alkyl sulphate, even more preferably sodium C<NUM>-C<NUM> alkyl sulphate, most preferably sodium lauryl sulfate.

In the use according to the invention, the cleaning composition comprises from <NUM> to <NUM> wt. %, more preferably from <NUM> to <NUM> wt. %, more preferably from <NUM> to <NUM> wt. %, most preferably from <NUM> to <NUM> wt. % of rhamnolipid biosurfactant.

Preferably in the use, the rhamnolipid comprises at least <NUM> wt. % mono-rhamnolipid, more preferably at least <NUM> wt. % mono-rhamnolipid, even more preferably <NUM> wt. % mono-rhamnolipid, most preferably at least <NUM> wt. % mono-rhamnolipid, or wherein the rhamnolipid comprises at least <NUM> wt. % di-rhamnolipid, more preferably at least <NUM> wt. % di-rhamnolipid, even more preferably <NUM> wt. % di-rhamnolipid, most preferably at least <NUM> wt. % di-rhamnolipid.

Preferably in the use, the rhamnolipid is a di-rhamnolipid of formula: Rha2C<NUM>-<NUM>C<NUM>-<NUM> wherein the alkyl chain may be saturated or unsaturated.

In the use according to the invention, the cleaning composition from <NUM> to <NUM> wt. %, more preferably from <NUM> to <NUM> wt. %, more preferably from <NUM> to <NUM> wt. %, most preferably from <NUM> to <NUM> wt. % of amphoteric surfactant selected from sultaines.

Preferably in the use, the amphoteric surfactant is lauryl hydroxy sultaine.

Preferably in the use, the composition is a home care cleaning composition.

Preferably in the use, the composition further comprises one or more enzymes selected from lipases, proteases, amylases, cellulases, and mixtures thereof.

Preferably in the use, the detergent composition when dissolved in demineralised water at <NUM>/L, <NUM>, has a pH of from <NUM> to <NUM>, more preferably from <NUM> to <NUM>, even more preferably from <NUM> to <NUM>.

Preferably in the use, the composition is a cleaning composition as defined in claim <NUM>.

The combination of an amphoteric surfactant selected from sultaines and a rhamnolipid biosurfactant is used together to enhance the cleaning of a primary alkyl sulfate anionic surfactant at low temperature. Low temperature as used herein means at temperatures below <NUM>, preferably below <NUM>, more preferably <NUM> and lower.

Preferably in the use, the ratio of primary alkyl sulfate surfactant to rhamnolipid biosurfactant is from <NUM>:<NUM> to <NUM>:<NUM>; and, the ratio of primary alkyl sulfate surfactant to amphoteric surfactant is from <NUM>:<NUM> to <NUM>:<NUM>.

The use of the combination of an amphoteric surfactant selected from sultaines and a rhamnolipid biosurfactant to enhance the cleaning of a primary alkyl sulfate anionic surfactant at low temperature can be suitably demonstrated be a preferred composition according to the invention as described in the following pages.

The inventive use can be demonstrated by a cleaning composition comprising:.

The cleaning composition comprises from <NUM> to <NUM> wt. %, preferably from <NUM> to <NUM> wt. %, preferably from <NUM> to <NUM> wt. %, most preferably from <NUM> to <NUM> wt. % of primary alkyl sulfate. The primary alkyl sulfate is a C<NUM>-C<NUM> alkyl sulphate, preferably a lauryl sulfate.

The primary alkyl sulfate preferably is in the form with a counterion, more preferably the counterion is a sodium, potassium or ammonium ion.

Examples of preferred materials include sodium C<NUM>-C<NUM> alkyl sulphate, most preferably sodium lauryl sulfate.

The primary alkyl sulphate does not include alkoxylated sulphates, i.e. the term primary alkyl sulphate does not include primary ether sulphates.

The ratios of primary alkyl sulfate surfactant to amphoteric surfactant and the ratio of primary alkyl sulfate surfactant to rhamnolipid biosurfactant can each individually or together also preferably go from <NUM>:<NUM> to <NUM>:<NUM>, preferably from <NUM>:<NUM> to <NUM>:<NUM>, more preferably from <NUM>:<NUM> to <NUM>:<NUM> most preferably from <NUM>:<NUM> to <NUM>:<NUM>, or even <NUM> to <NUM>:<NUM>.

Preferably the rhamnolipid biosurfactant is present in the formulation from <NUM> to <NUM> wt. %, more preferably from <NUM> to <NUM> wt. %, most preferably from <NUM> to <NUM> wt.

The biosurfactant are rhamnolipids. These are a class of glycolipid. They are constructed of rhamnose combined with beta-hydroxy fatty acids. Rhamnose is a sugar. Fatty acids are ubiquitous in animals and plants.

Rhamnolipids are discussed in <NPL> et al. Rhamnolipids are produced by Evonik, Stepan, Glycosurf, AGAE Technologies and Urumqi Unite Bio-Technology Co. Rhamnolipids may be produced by strains of the bacteria Pseudomonas Aeruginosa. There are two major groups of rhamnolipids; mono-rhamnolipids and di-rhamnolipids.

Mono-rhamnolipids have a single rhamnose sugar ring. A typical mono-rhamnolipid produced by P. aeruginosa is L-rhamnosyl-β-hydroxydecanoyl-β-hydroxydecanoate (RhaC<NUM>C<NUM>). It may be referred to as Rha-C<NUM>-C<NUM>, with a formula of C<NUM>H<NUM>O<NUM>. Mono-rhamnolipids have a single rhamnose sugar ring.

The IUPAC Name is <NUM>-[<NUM>-[(2R,3R,4R,5R,<NUM>)-<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>-trihydroxy-<NUM>-methyloxan-<NUM>-yl]oxydecanoyloxy]decanoic acid.

Di-rhamnolipids have two rhamnose sugar rings. A typical di-rhamnolipid is L-rhamnosyl-L-rhamnosyl-β-hydroxydecanoyl-β-hydroxydecanoate (Rha2C<NUM>C<NUM>). It may be referred to as Rha-Rha-C-<NUM>-C-<NUM>, with a formula of C<NUM>H<NUM>O<NUM>.

The IUPAC name is <NUM>-[<NUM>-[<NUM>,<NUM>-dihydroxy-<NUM>-methyl-<NUM>-(<NUM>,<NUM>, <NUM>-tri hydroxy-<NUM>-methyloxan-<NUM>-yl)oxyoxan-<NUM>-yl]oxydecanoyloxy]decanoic acid.

In practice a variety of other minor components with different alkyl chain length combinations, depending upon carbon source and bacterial strain, exist in combination with the above more common rhamnolipids. The ratio of mono-rhamnolipid and di-rhamnolipid may be controlled by the production method. Some bacteria only produce mono-rhamnolipid, see <CIT>: Example <NUM>, some enzymes can convert mono-rhamnolipid to di-rhamnolipid.

In various publications mono-rhamnolipids have the notation Rha-, which may be abbreviated as Rh or RL2. Similarly, di-rhamnolipids have the notation Rha-Rha or Rh-Rh- or RL1. For historical reasons "rhamnolipid <NUM>" is a mono-rhamnolipid and "rhamnolipid <NUM> " is a di-rhamnolipid. This leads to some ambiguity in the usage or "RL1 " and "RL2" in the literature.

Throughout this patent specification, we use the terms mono- and di-rhamnolipid in order to avoid this possible confusion. However, if abbreviations are used R1 is mono-rhamnolipid and R2 is di-rhamnolipid. For more information on the confusion of terminology in the prior art see the introduction to <CIT>.

The following rhamnolipids have been detected as produced by the following bacteria: (C12:<NUM>, C14:<NUM> indicates fatty acyl chains with double bonds).

Rhamnolipids produced by P. aeruginosa (mono-rhamnolipids):
Rha-C8-C10, Rha-C10-C8, Rha-C-<NUM>-C10, Rha-C10-C12, Rha-C10-C12:<NUM>, Rha-C12-C10, Rha-C12:<NUM>-C10.

Rhamnolipids produced by P. aeruginosa (di-rhamnolipids):
Rha-Rha-C8-C10, Rha-Rha-C8-C12:<NUM>, Rha-Rha-C10-C8, Rha-Rha-C10-C10, Rha-Rha-C10-C12:<NUM>, Rha- Rha-C-<NUM>-C-<NUM>, Rha-Rha-C-<NUM>-C-<NUM>, Rha-Rha-C-<NUM>:<NUM>-C-<NUM>, Rha-Rha-C-<NUM>-C14:<NUM>.

Rhamnolipids produced by P. aeruginosa (unidentified as either mono- or di-rhamnolipids): C8-C8, C8-C10, C10-C8, C8-C12:<NUM>, C12:<NUM>-C8, C10-C10, C12-C10, C12:<NUM>-C10 C12-C12, C12:<NUM>-C12, C14-C10, C14:<NUM>-C10, C14-C14.

Rhamnolipids produced by P. chlororaphis (mono-rhamnolipids only):
Rha-C10-C8, Rha-C10-C10, Rha-C12-C10, Rha-C12:<NUM>-C10, Rha-C12-C12, Rha-C12:<NUM>-C12, Rha-C14-C10. Rha-C-<NUM>:<NUM>- C-<NUM>.

Rhamnolipids produced by Burkholdera pseudomallei (di-rhamnolipids only): Rha-Rha-C14-C14.

Rhamnolipids produced by Burkholdera (Pseudomonas) plantarii (di-rhamnolipids only): Rha-Rha-C14-C14.

There are over <NUM> strains of P. aeruginosa on file at the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC). There are also a number of strains that are only available to manufacturers of commercial Rhamnolipids. Additionally there are probably thousands of strains isolated by various research institutions around the world. Some work has gone into typing them into groups. Each strain has different characteristics including how much rhamnolipid is produced, which types of rhamnolipids are produced, what it metabolizes, and conditions in which it grows. Only a small percentage of the strains have been extensively studied.

Through evaluation and selection, strains of P. aeruginosa can be isolated to produce rhamnolipids at higher concentrations and more efficiently. Strains can also be selected to produce less byproduct and to metabolize different feedstock or pollutants. This production is greatly affected by the environment in which the bacterium is grown.

A typical di-rhamnolipid is L-rhamnosyl-L-rhamnosyl-β-hydroxydecanoyl-β-hydroxydecanoate (Rha<NUM>C<NUM>C<NUM> with a formula of C<NUM>H<NUM>O<NUM>).

Preferably the rhamnolipid is selected from:.

Most preferably the Rhamnolipid is L-rhamnosyl-β-hydroxydecanoyl-β-hydroxydecanoate (RhaC<NUM>C<NUM> with a formula of C<NUM>H<NUM>O<NUM>) produced by P. aeruginosa.

Preferably, the rhamnolipid comprises at least <NUM> wt. % mono-rhamnolipid, more preferably at least <NUM> wt. % mono-rhamnolipid, even more preferably <NUM> wt. % mono-rhamnolipid, most preferably at least <NUM> wt. % mono-rhamnolipid; alternatively, wherein the rhamnolipid comprises at least <NUM> wt. % di-rhamnolipid, more preferably at least <NUM> wt. % di-rhamnolipid, even more preferably <NUM> wt. % di-rhamnolipid, most preferably at least <NUM> wt. % di-rhamnolipid.

Preferably the rhamnolipid is a di-rhamnolipid of formula: Rha2C<NUM>-<NUM>C<NUM>-<NUM>. The preferred alkyl chain length is from C<NUM> to C<NUM>. The alkyl chain may be saturated or unsaturated.

The surfactant combination comprises from <NUM> to <NUM> wt. % of an amphoteric (also known as zwitteronic) surfactant.

Preferably the cleaning composition comprises from <NUM> to <NUM> wt. %, preferably from <NUM> to <NUM> wt. %, most preferably from <NUM> to <NUM> wt. % of amphoteric surfactant.

The amphoteric surfactant is selected from sultaines, preferably the amphoteric surfactant is lauryl hydroxy sultaine.

The composition is a cleaning composition, useful for cleaning a substrate, for example a surface, including for home and personal care purposes. The composition is preferably a fluid cleaning composition, more preferably an aqueous cleaning composition.

Preferably the cleaning composition is a home care composition.

Such a composition could be used for example for hand dish wash, to cleaning substrates such as cutlery, crockery, glassware, plastics and metal.

Such a composition could be used for example for laundry purposes, to launder textile articles.

Preferably the cleaning composition is a laundry detergent composition, more preferably a liquid laundry detergent or a powder detergent.

Preferably the detergent composition when dissolved in demineralised water at <NUM>/L, <NUM>, has a pH of from <NUM> to <NUM>, more preferably from <NUM> to <NUM>, even more preferably from <NUM> to <NUM>.

Preferably when a liquid laundry detergent, the laundry detergent composition when dissolved in demineralised water at <NUM>/L, <NUM>, has a pH of from <NUM> to <NUM>, more preferably from <NUM> to <NUM>.

Additional surfactants may be present in the composition.

Preferably the cleaning composition comprises from <NUM> to <NUM> wt. %, more preferably from <NUM> to <NUM> wt. % of additional surfactants.

These are preferably selected from anionic and nonionic surfactants.

In general, the nonionic and anionic surfactants of the surfactant system may be chosen from the surfactants described "<NPL>, <NPL>, in the current edition of <NPL> or in "<NPL>. Preferably the surfactants used are saturated.

Preferred nonionic detergent compounds which may be used include the reaction products of compounds having a hydrophobic group and a reactive hydrogen atom, for example, aliphatic alcohols, acids, amides with alkylene oxides, especially ethylene oxide either alone or with propylene oxide. Specific nonionic detergent compounds are the condensation products of aliphatic primary or secondary linear or branched alcohols with ethylene oxide, generally <NUM> to <NUM> EO, preferably 7EO to 9EO.

Preferred anionic detergent compounds which may be used are usually water-soluble alkali metal salts of organic sulphates and sulphonates having alkyl radicals containing from about <NUM> to about <NUM> carbon atoms, the term alkyl being used to include the alkyl portion of higher acyl radicals. Examples of suitable synthetic anionic detergent compounds are sodium and potassium alkyl C<NUM> to C<NUM> benzene sulphonates, particularly sodium linear secondary alkyl C<NUM> to C<NUM> benzene sulphonates; and sodium alkyl glyceryl ether sulphates, especially those ethers of the higher alcohols derived from tallow or coconut oil and synthetic alcohols derived from petroleum. The preferred anionic detergent compounds are sodium C<NUM> to C<NUM> alkyl benzene sulphonates. Also applicable are surfactants such as those described in <CIT>), which show resistance to salting-out, the alkyl polyglycoside surfactants described in <CIT>, and alkyl monoglycosides.

Preferred surfactant systems are mixtures of anionic with nonionic detergent active materials.

Preferably the additional surfactant is predominately anionic surfactant by weight.

Cleaning boosters may preferably be present in the composition.

The composition preferably comprises from <NUM> to <NUM> wt. %, more preferably from <NUM> to <NUM> wt. %, even more preferably from <NUM> to <NUM> wt. %, most preferably from <NUM> to <NUM> wt. % of cleaning boosters selected from antiredeposition polymers; soil release polymers; alkoxylated polycarboxylic acid esters as described in <CIT> and <CIT>; and mixtures thereof.

Preferred anti redeposition polymers include alkoxylated polyamines.

A preferred alkoxylated polyamine comprises an alkoxylated polyethylenimine, and/or alkoxylated polypropylenimine. The polyamine may be linear or branched. It may be branched to the extent that it is a dendrimer. The alkoxylation may typically be ethoxylation or propoxylation, or a mixture of both. Where a nitrogen atom is alkoxylated, a preferred average degree of alkoxylation is from <NUM> to <NUM>, preferably from <NUM> to <NUM>. A preferred material is ethoxylated polyethyleneimine, with an average degree of ethoxylation being from <NUM> to <NUM> preferably from <NUM> to <NUM>, where a nitrogen atom is ethoxylated.

Preferably the soil release polymer is a polyester soil release polymer.

Preferred soil release polymers include those described in <CIT> and <CIT>.

Preferably the polyester based soil release polymer is a polyester according to the following formula (I)
<CHM>
wherein.

Preferably the polyester provided as an active blend comprising:.

Alkoxylated polycarboxylic acid esters are obtainable by first reacting an aromatic polycarboxylic acid containing at least three carboxylic acid units or anhydrides derived therefrom, preferably an aromatic polycarboxylic acid containing three or four carboxylic acid units or anhydrides derived therefrom, more preferably an aromatic polycarboxylic acid containing three carboxylic acid units or anhydrides derived therefrom, even more preferably trimellitic acid or trimellitic acid anhydride, most preferably trimellitic acid anhydride, with an alcohol alkoxylate and in a second step reacting the resulting product with an alcohol or a mixture of alcohols, preferably with C16/C18 alcohol.

The cleaning composition may comprise any of these further preferred ingredients.

One or more of these further ingredients are particularly useful to include if the cleaning composition is a home care composition, particularly if it is a for a hand dish wash or laundry purpose.

Builder materials may be selected from <NUM>) calcium sequestrant materials, <NUM>) precipitating materials, <NUM>) calcium ion-exchange materials and <NUM>) mixtures thereof.

Examples of calcium sequestrant builder materials include alkali metal polyphosphates, such as sodium tripolyphosphate and organic sequestrants, such as ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid.

Examples of precipitating builder materials include sodium orthophosphate and sodium carbonate.

Examples of calcium ion-exchange builder materials include the various types of water-insoluble crystalline or amorphous aluminosilicates, of which zeolites are the best known representatives, e.g. zeolite A, zeolite B (also known as zeolite P), zeolite C, zeolite X, zeolite Y and also the zeolite P-type as described in <CIT>.

The composition may also contain <NUM>-<NUM> % of a builder or complexing agent such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, diethylenetriamine-pentaacetic acid, alkyl- or alkenylsuccinic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid or the other builders mentioned below. Many builders are also bleach-stabilising agents by virtue of their ability to complex metal ions.

Zeolite and carbonate (including bicarbonate and sesquicarbonate) are preferred builders.

The composition may contain as builder a crystalline aluminosilicate, preferably an alkali metal aluminosilicate, more preferably a sodium aluminosilicate. This is typically present at a level of less than <NUM> wt. Aluminosilicates are materials having the general formula:.

<NUM>-<NUM><NUM>. Al<NUM>O<NUM>. <NUM>-<NUM> Si0<NUM>.

where M is a monovalent cation, preferably sodium. These materials contain some bound water and are required to have a calcium ion exchange capacity of at least <NUM> CaO/g. The preferred sodium aluminosilicates contain <NUM>-<NUM> SiO<NUM> units in the formula above. They can be prepared readily by reaction between sodium silicate and sodium aluminate, as amply described in the literature. The ratio of surfactants to alumuminosilicate (where present) is preferably greater than <NUM>:<NUM>, more preferably greater than <NUM>:<NUM>.

Alternatively, or additionally to the aluminosilicate builders, phosphate builders may be used. In this art the term 'phosphate' embraces diphosphate, triphosphate, and phosphonate species. Other forms of builder include silicates, such as soluble silicates, metasilicates, layered silicates (e.g. SKS-<NUM> from Hoechst).

Preferably the laundry detergent formulation contains less than <NUM> wt. % of phosphate. Preferably the laundry detergent formulation is carbonate built if a builder is included.

The composition preferably comprises a fluorescent agent (optical brightener).

Fluorescent agents are well known and many such fluorescent agents are available commercially. Usually, these fluorescent agents are supplied and used in the form of their alkali metal salts, for example, the sodium salts. The total amount of the fluorescent agent or agents used in the composition is generally from <NUM> to <NUM> wt. %, more preferably <NUM> to <NUM> wt. Preferred classes of fluorescer are: Di-styryl biphenyl compounds, e.g. Tinopal (Trade Mark) CBS-X, Di-amine stilbene di-sulphonic acid compounds, e.g. Tinopal DMS pure Xtra and Blankophor (Trade Mark) HRH, and Pyrazoline compounds, e.g. Blankophor SN. Preferred fluorescers are: sodium <NUM> (<NUM>-styryl-<NUM>-sulfophenyl)-<NUM>-napthol[<NUM> ,<NUM>-d]triazole, disodium <NUM>,<NUM>'-bis{[(<NUM>-anilino-<NUM>-(N methyl-N-<NUM> hydroxyethyl) amino <NUM> ,<NUM>,<NUM>-triazin-<NUM>-yl)]amino}stilbene-<NUM>-<NUM>' disulfonate, disodium <NUM>,<NUM>'-bis{[(<NUM>-anilino-<NUM>-morpholino-<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>-triazin-<NUM>-yl)]amino} stilbene-<NUM>-<NUM>' disulfonate, and disodium <NUM>,<NUM>'-bis(<NUM>-sulfostyryl)biphenyl.

It is preferred that the aqueous solution used in the method has a fluorescer present. When a fluorescer is present in the aqueous solution used in the method it is preferably in the range from <NUM>/l to <NUM>/l, preferably <NUM> to <NUM>/l.

The composition preferably comprises a dye. Dyes are discussed in <NPL>).

Preferred dye chromophores are azo, azine, anthraquinone, phthalocyanine and triphenylmethane.

Azo, anthraquinone, phthalocyanine and triphenylmethane dyes preferably carry a net anionic charged or are uncharged. Azine dyes preferably carry a net anionic or cationic charge.

Preferred non-shading dyes are selected are selected from blue dyes, most preferably anthraquinone dyes bearing sulphonate groups and triphenylmethane dye bearing sulphonate groups. Preferred compounds are acid blue <NUM>, acid blue <NUM>, acid blue <NUM>; acid blue <NUM>, acid blue <NUM>, acid blue <NUM>, acid blue <NUM><NUM>, acid blue <NUM>, acid blue <NUM>, acid blue <NUM>, acid blue <NUM>, acid blue <NUM>, acid blue <NUM>, acid blue <NUM>, acid blue <NUM>, acid blue <NUM>, acid blue <NUM>, acid blue <NUM>, acid blue <NUM>:<NUM>, acid blue <NUM>, acid blue <NUM>, acid blue <NUM>, acid blue <NUM>, acid blue <NUM>, acid blue <NUM>, acid blue <NUM><NUM>, and acid blue <NUM>. On dissolution granules with non-shading dyes provide an attractive colour to the wash liquor.

Blue or violet Shading dyes are most preferred. Shading dyes deposit to fabric during the wash or rinse step of the washing process providing a visible hue to the fabric. In this regard the dye gives a blue or violet colour to a white cloth with a hue angle of <NUM> to <NUM>, more preferably <NUM> to <NUM>, most preferably <NUM> to <NUM>. The white cloth used in this test is bleached non-mercerised woven cotton sheeting.

Shading dyes are discussed in <CIT>, <CIT>), <CIT>), <CIT>), <CIT>), <CIT>), <CIT>), <CIT>), <CIT>), <CIT>), <CIT>), <CIT>), <CIT>), <CIT>), <CIT>), <CIT>) and <CIT>).

The shading dye chromophore is most preferably selected from mono-azo, bis-azo, anthraquinone, and azine.

Mono-azo dyes preferably contain a heterocyclic ring and are most preferably thiophene dyes. The mono-azo dyes are preferably alkoxylated and are preferably uncharged or anionically charged at pH=<NUM>. Alkoxylated thiophene dyes are discussed in <CIT> and <CIT>.

Most preferred shading dyes are selected from Direct Violet <NUM>, Direct Violet <NUM>, Direct Violet <NUM>, Solvent Violet <NUM>, Disperse Violet <NUM>, dyes of the structure
<CHM>
<CHM>.

Preferably the composition comprises a perfume. The perfume is preferably in the range from <NUM> to <NUM> wt. %, most preferably <NUM> to <NUM> wt. Many suitable examples of perfumes are provided in the <NPL>, and <NPL>.

It is commonplace for a plurality of perfume components to be present in a formulation. In the compositions of the present invention it is envisaged that there will be four or more, preferably five or more, more preferably six or more or even seven or more different perfume components.

In perfume mixtures preferably <NUM> to <NUM> wt. % are top notes. Top notes are defined by <NPL>]). Preferred top-notes are selected from citrus oils, linalool, linalyl acetate, lavender, dihydromyrcenol, rose oxide and cis-<NUM>-hexanol.

It is preferred that the laundry treatment composition does not contain a peroxygen bleach, e.g., sodium percarbonate, sodium perborate, and peracid.

The composition may comprise one or more further polymers. Examples are carboxymethylcellulose, poly(ethylene glycol), polyvinyl alcohol), polycarboxylates such as polyacrylates, maleic/acrylic acid copolymers and lauryl methacrylate/acrylic acid copolymers. Polymers present to prevent dye deposition, for example poly(vinylpyrrolidone), poly(vinylpyridine-N-oxide), and poly(vinylimidazole), may be present in the formulation.

One or more enzymes are preferred to be present in a cleaning composition of the invention and when practicing a method of the invention.

Preferably the level of each enzyme in the composition of the invention is from <NUM> wt. % to <NUM> wt.

Especially contemplated enzymes include proteases, alpha-amylases, cellulases, lipases, peroxidases/oxidases, pectate lyases, and mannanases, or mixtures thereof.

Suitable lipases include those of bacterial or fungal origin. Chemically modified or protein engineered mutants are included. Examples of useful lipases include lipases from Humicola (synonym Thermomyces), e.g. from H. lanuginosa (T. lanuginosus) as described in <CIT> and <CIT> or from H. insolens as described in <CIT>, a Pseudomonas lipase, e.g. from P. alcaligenes or P. pseudoalcaligenes (<CIT>), P. cepacia (<CIT>), P. stutzeri (<CIT>), P. fluorescens, Pseudomonas sp. strain SD <NUM> (<CIT> and <CIT>), P. wisconsinensis (<CIT>), a Bacillus lipase, e.g. from B. subtilis (<NPL>), B. stearothermophilus (<CIT>) or B. pumilus (<CIT>).

Other examples are lipase variants such as those described in <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>, <CIT>.

Preferred commercially available lipase enzymes include Lipolase™ and Lipolase Ultra™, Lipex™ and lipoclean™ (Novozymes A/S).

The method of the invention may be carried out in the presence of phospholipase classified as EC <NUM>. <NUM> and/or EC <NUM>. As used herein, the term phospholipase is an enzyme which has activity towards phospholipids.

Phospholipids, such as lecithin or phosphatidylcholine, consist of glycerol esterified with two fatty acids in an outer (sn-<NUM>) and the middle (sn-<NUM>) positions and esterified with phosphoric acid in the third position; the phosphoric acid, in turn, may be esterified to an amino-alcohol. Phospholipases are enzymes which participate in the hydrolysis of phospholipids. Several types of phospholipase activity can be distinguished, including phospholipases Ai and A2 which hydrolyze one fatty acyl group (in the sn-<NUM> and sn-<NUM> position, respectively) to form lysophospholipid; and lysophospholipase (or phospholipase B) which can hydrolyze the remaining fatty acyl group in lysophospholipid.

Phospholipase C and phospholipase D (phosphodiesterases) release diacyl glycerol or phosphatidic acid respectively.

The enzyme and the photobleach may show some interaction and should be chosen such that this interaction is not negative. Some negative interactions may be avoided by encapsulation of one or other of enzyme or photobleach and/or other segregation within the product.

Suitable proteases include those of animal, vegetable or microbial origin. Microbial origin is preferred. Chemically modified or protein engineered mutants are included. The protease may be a serine protease or a metallo protease, preferably an alkaline microbial protease or a trypsin-like protease. Preferred commercially available protease enzymes include Alcalase™, Savinase™, Primase™, Duralase™, Dyrazym™, Esperase™, Everlase™, Polarzyme™, and Kannase™, (Novozymes A/S), Maxatase™, Maxacai™, Maxapem™, Properase™, Purafect™, Purafect OxP™ , FN2™, and FN3™ (Genencor International Inc. The method of the invention may be carried out in the presence of cutinase classified in EC <NUM>. The cutinase used according to the invention may be of any origin.

Preferably cutinases are of microbial origin, in particular, of bacterial, of fungal or of yeast origin.

Suitable amylases (alpha and/or beta) include those of bacterial or fungal origin.

Chemically modified or protein engineered mutants are included. Amylases include, for example, alpha-amylases obtained from Bacillus, e.g. a special strain of B. lichen iformis, described in more detail in <CIT>, or the Bacillus sp. strains disclosed in <CIT> or <CIT>. Commercially available amylases are Duramyl™, Termamyl™, Termamyl Ultra™, Natalase™, Stainzyme™ , Fungamyl™ and BAN™ (Novozymes A/S), Rapidase™ and Purastar™ (from Genencor International Inc.

Suitable cellulases include those of bacterial or fungal origin. Chemically modified or protein engineered mutants are included. Suitable cellulases include cellulases from the genera Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Humicola, Fusarium, Thielavia, Acremonium, e.g. the fungal cellulases produced from Humicola insolens, Thielavia terrestris, Myceliophthora thermophila, and Fusarium oxysporum disclosed in <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, and <CIT>.

Suitable peroxidases/oxidases include those of plant, bacterial or fungal origin.

Chemically modified or protein engineered mutants are included. Examples of useful peroxidases include peroxidases from Coprinus, e.g. from C. cinereus, and variants thereof as those described in <CIT>, <CIT>, and <CIT>.

Commercially available peroxidases include Guardzyme™ and Novozym™ <NUM> (Novozymes A/S).

Further enzymes suitable for use are discussed in <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>.

Any enzyme present in the composition may be stabilized using conventional stabilizing agents, e.g., a polyol such as propylene glycol or glycerol, a sugar or sugar alcohol, lactic acid, boric acid, or a boric acid derivative, e.g., an aromatic borate ester, or a phenyl boronic acid derivative such as <NUM>-formylphenyl boronic acid, and the composition may be formulated as described in e.g. <CIT> and <CIT>.

Where alkyl groups are sufficiently long to form branched or cyclic chains, the alkyl groups encompass branched, cyclic and linear alkyl chains. The alkyl groups are preferably linear or branched, most preferably linear.

The indefinite article "a" or "an" and its corresponding definite article "the" as used herein means at least one, or one or more, unless specified otherwise.

The invention will be further described with the following non-limiting examples.

Various solutions were made up comprising either single surfactant systems or mixtures of PAS, HS and Rhamnolipids.

Tergotometer assessment of the cleaning performance of formulations were assessed under the following conditions.

Details of formulations tested (each <NUM>% active other than the PAS:HS:R2 formulation that was made at <NUM>%):.

The PAS, PAS:HS and the PAS:R2 were <NUM> wt. % surfactant active compositions which were dosed at <NUM>/L. The PAS:HS:R2 was a <NUM> wt. % surfactant active composition which was dosed at <NUM>/L. This was done to equalise the surfactant active level in use between all of the tested compositions.

The cleaning results are shown in <FIG>. The cleaning performance is measured by ΔSRI, which measures the stain removal performance of the compositions in table <NUM>. The ΔSRI is the improvement in stain removal from treatment using the composition versus the stained article.

<FIG> shows the advantageous effect of the combination of a rhamnolipid biosurfactant and amphoteric surfactant to improve the cold cleaning performance at <NUM> of primary alkyl sulfate surfactant containing cleaning compositions. The performance of PAS drops off at such low temperatures (<NUM>) compared to <NUM>. While the inclusion of either biosurfactant (rhamnolipid) or amphoteric surfactant (while keeping the overall surfactant level the same) improves the cleaning somewhat, only the combination of the biosurfactant (rhamnolipid) and amphoteric surfactant together improve the cold cleaning (<NUM>) performance of the PAS surfactant to a level above that seen for PAS alone at to <NUM>.

Claim 1:
Use of a combination of from <NUM> to <NUM> wt.% rhamnolipid biosurfactant and from <NUM> to <NUM> wt.% amphoteric surfactant selected from sultaines to improve the cold cleaning performance at temperatures below <NUM>, preferably below <NUM>, more preferably <NUM> and lower, of primary alkyl sulfate surfactant containing cleaning compositions, wherein the primary alkyl sulfate is a C<NUM>-C<NUM> alkyl sulphate, wherein the cleaning composition comprises: from <NUM> to <NUM> wt.% of primary alkyl sulfate; wherein the ratio of primary alkyl sulfate surfactant to rhamnolipid biosurfactant is from <NUM>:<NUM> to <NUM>:<NUM>; and the ratio of primary alkyl sulfate surfactant to amphoteric surfactant is from <NUM>:<NUM> to <NUM>:<NUM>.