COMPOSITION

Abstract

Laundry liquid composition comprising a benzoate salt and a linear alkyl benzoate surfactant, said composition having a pH of from 5 to 7.5. A method for preserving a laundry liquid composition comprising linear alkyl benzoate and having a pH of from 5 to 7.5 by adding a benzoate salt.

Claims

1. Laundry liquid composition comprising a benzoate salt and a linear alkyl benzoate surfactant, said composition having a pH of from 5.0 to 7.5.

2. A composition according to claim 1 in which the benzoate salt is an alkali-metal salt.

3. A composition according to claim 1 in which the benzoate salt is sodium benzoate.

4. A composition according to claim 1 wherein the benzoate salt is present at from 0.2 to 2.5% wt. of the composition.

5. A composition according to claim 1 comprising a soil release polymer.

6. A composition according to claim 1 comprising an ethylene imine.

7. A composition according to claim 1 comprising encapsulated fragrance.

8. A composition according to claim 1 comprising free fragrance.

Description

EXAMPLES

Challenge Test Method

[0213] A modified challenge test to that of the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur. Or EP) 5.1.3 criteria was performed on a subsample of unpreserved and each dosed product. The bacterial challenge test pool and inoculum level are summarised in Table 1. The microbial challenge pools were added to each sample container at a ratio of 1:100. The final concentration of inoculum in the product should be 5×10.sup.6 CFU/G of test product. Each product is mixed with a sterile spatula to ensure a homogenous distribution of the inocula throughout the product.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Microbial Challenge test pool and Inoculum levels Pool In-product Inoculum inoculum Pool Group Microorganism CFU/mL CFU/G 1 Gram Pseudomonas 7.1 × 10.sup.8 CFU/mL 5 × 10.sup.5-6 Negative non- aeruginosa CFU/mL fermenting Burkholderia bacteria cepacia P. putida 2 Gram Enterobacter 5.2 × 10.sup.8 CFU/mL 5 × 10.sup.5-6 Negative cloacae CFU/mL fermenting Klebsiella sp. bacteria

[0214] Both the inoculum level and the level of microorganism within each sample was quantified using a Total Viable Count (TVC) pour plate method at 7, 14, 21 and 28 days. A 1:10 dilution was made with a subsample of each product, performed separately in peptone (0.1%)/tween 80 (2%) neutralising agent. A 1:10 and 1:100 dilution of each subsample was performed and pour plates produced at each dilution using tryptone soya agar (TSA). TSA plates were incubated at 28° C. for 48 hours and then examined for growth. Visible colonies were counted with the aid of a Quebec Colony Counter and recorded for analysis against the challenge test criteria. During the removal of a subsample of product for TVC, a reinoculation is performed at 7 and 14 days, reintroducing 5 X 10.sup.6CFU/G of bacteria before mixing using a sterile spatula to homogenise the reinoculation.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Microbial challenge test inoculation level Challenge Inoculum level (cfu/mL) test pool Microorganisms Day 0 Day 7 Day 14 Pool 1 B. cepacia 4.1E+08 3.6E+08 5.5E+08 P. aeruginosa P. putida Pool 2 E. cloacae 7.5E+08 4.9E+08 6.3E+08 Klebsiella sp.

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Microbial challenge test log kill Gram −ve NaB non- Gram −ve pH level (%) fermenters fermenters Mould 5.0 0.5 + + + 5.0 1.0 + + + 5.5 0.5 + + + 5.5 1.0 + + + 5.5 1.5 + + + 5.5 2.0 + + + 6.0 0.5 + + +/− 6.0 1.0 + + + 6.0 1.5 + + + 6.0 2.0 + + + 6.5 0.5 + + − 6.5 1.0 + + +/− 6.5 1.5 + + + 6.5 2.0 + + + 7.0 0.5 − − − 7.0 1.0 + + − 7.0 1.5 + + − 7.0 2.0 + + − 7.5 0.5 − − − 7.5 1.0 − − − 7.5 1.5 − − − 7.5 2.0 + + −

[0215] The above table demonstrates the enhanced preservation properties of sodium benzoate in the presence of LAS surfactant.