DETERGENT COMPOSITION

Abstract

The present invention relates to detergent compositions comprising a polypeptide having alpha-amylases. Furthermore, the present invention relates to methods of using the detergent compositions.

Claims

1. A detergent composition comprising a polypeptide having an alpha-amylase activity, wherein the alpha-amylase is a variant of a parent amylase, said variant amylase or parent amylase has at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 1 and further comprising a mutation at least one, optionally two, optionally plurality, of amino acid residues corresponding to position 9, 26, 30, 33, 82, 37, 106, 118, 128, 133, 149, 150, 160, 178, 182, 186, 193, 195, 202, 203, 214, 231, 256, 257, 258, 269, 270, 272, 283, 295, 296, 298, 299, 303, 304, 305, 311, 314, 315, 318, 319, 320, 323, 339, 345, 361, 378, 383, 419, 421, 437, 441, 444, 445, 446, 447, 450, 458, 461, 471, 482, 484, and optionally at least one mutation at an amino acid corresponding to 181, 182, 183 and 184 (using SEQ ID NO: 1 for numbering) having improved wash performance.

2. The detergent composition of claim 1 further comprising one or more additional components.

3. The detergent composition of claim 1, wherein one or more additional components is selected from the group consisting of surfactants, builders, flocculating aid, chelating agents, dye transfer inhibitors, enzyme stabilizers, enzyme inhibitors, catalytic materials, bleach activators, hydrogen peroxide, sources of hydrogen peroxide, preformed peracids, polymeric dispersing agents, clay soil removal/anti-redeposition agents, brighteners, suds suppressors, dyes, perfumes, structure elasticizing agents, fabric softeners, carriers, hydrotropes, builders and co-builders, fabric hueing agents, anti-foaming agents, dispersants, processing aids, pigments and mixtures thereof.

4. The detergent composition according to claim 1, wherein the detergent composition further comprises one or more enzymes.

5. The detergent composition according to claim 4, wherein the enzyme is selected from the group consisting of another alpha-amylase, beta-amylase, a pullulanase, a lipase, a cellulase, an oxidase, protease, a carbohydrase, a phospholipase, a perhydrolase, a xylanase, a pectate lyase, a pectinase, a galacturanase, a hemicellulase, a xyloglucanase, a nuclease, a mannanase and mixtures thereof.

6. The detergent composition according to claim 1, wherein said detergent composition is a liquid laundry detergent composition, a powder laundry detergent composition, a gel detergent composition, a liquid dishwash detergent composition, or a powder dishwash detergent composition.

7. The detergent composition according to claim 1, wherein the composition has improved wash performance at low temperature.

8. The detergent composition according to claim 1, wherein the composition has improved wash performance at reduced wash cycle time.

9. The detergent composition according to claim 1, wherein the amylase is the one shown as SEQ ID NO: 1, or an amylase having at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, in particular 100% identity to SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2.

10. The detergent composition according to claim 1, wherein the amylase variant has at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, but less than 100% identity to SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2.

11. A method of treating a substrate, where the method includes the step of contacting the substrate with a detergent composition of claim 1, wherein the substrate is a fabric or a hard surface.

12. A method of cleaning comprising contacting a surface and/or a fabric with a detergent composition of claim 1.

13. The method of cleaning of claim 12, wherein the cleaning comprises removing and/or reducing soil and/or for reducing redeposition on a surface and/or textile.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein contacting is done in presence of water to form wash liquor.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the temperature of wash liquor in the main wash cycle is less than 60° C., such as less than 55° C., such as 50° C., such as less than 45° C., such as less than 40° C., such as less than 35° C., such as less than 30° C., such as less than 25° C., such as less than 20° C., such as less than 15° C.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein the pH of the composition in the main wash cycle is about 4.0-11.0.

17. The method according to claim 12, wherein the length of the main wash cycle time is less than 60 minutes, such as less than 50 minutes, such as less than 40 minutes, such as less than 30 minutes, such as less than 20 minutes, such as less than 15 minutes, such as less than 12 minutes, such as less than 10 minutes, such as less than 8 minutes.

18. A method of laundering or dishwashing in a washing machine comprising the steps of placing a detergent composition of claim 1 into the product dispenser and releasing it during the wash cycle.

19. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the laundering or dishwashing is in laundry, manual dishwash or automatic dishwash.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the laundering or dishwashing is in laundry or automatic dishwash at low temperature, such as less than 60° C., such as less than 55° C., such as less than 50°, such as less than 45° C., such as less than 40° C., such as less than 35° C., such as less than 30° C., such as less than 25° C., such as less than 20° C., such as less than 15° C.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0064] The present invention relates to a detergent composition comprising an alpha-amylase and one or more additional components and wherein the alpha-amylase variant of a parent amylase, said variant amylase or parent amylase has at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 1 and further comprising a mutation of at least one, optionally two, optionally plurality, of amino acid residues corresponding to position 9, 26, 30, 33, 82, 37, 106, 118, 128, 133, 149, 150, 160, 178, 182, 186, 193, 195, 202, 203, 214, 231, 256, 257, 258, 269, 270, 272, 283, 295, 296, 298, 299, 303, 304, 305, 311, 314, 315, 318, 319, 320, 323, 339, 345, 361, 378, 383, 419, 421, 437, 441, 444, 445, 446, 447, 450, 458, 461, 471, 482, 484, and optionally at least one mutation at an amino acid corresponding to 181, 182, 183 and 184 (using SEQ ID NO: 1 for numbering).

[0065] In one aspect, the detergent composition has improved wash performance compared to a reference amylase.

[0066] In one aspect, the detergent composition has improved wash performance compared to a reference amylase at low temperature.

[0067] In one aspect, the detergent composition has improved wash performance compared to a reference amylase at low temperature, such as less than 60° C., such as less than 55° C., such as less than 50°, such as less than 45° C., such as less than 40° C., such as less than 35° C., such as less than 30° C., such as less than 25° C., such as less than 20° C., such as less than 15° C.

[0068] In one aspect, the detergent composition has improved wash performance compared to a reference amylase at reduced wash cycle time.

[0069] In one aspect, the detergent composition has improved wash performance compared to a reference amylase at reduced wash cycle time, such as less than 60 minutes, such as less than 50 minutes, such as less than 40 minutes, such as less than 30 minutes, such as less than 20 minutes, such as less than 15 minutes, such as less than 12 minutes, such as less than 10 minutes, such as less than 8 minutes.

[0070] In one aspect, the detergent composition has improved wash performance compared to a reference amylase at shorter wash cycle.

[0071] In one aspect, the detergent composition has improved wash performance compared to a reference amylase at shorter wash cycle, such as at least about 10% shorter, at least about 20% shorter, at least about 30% shorter, at least about 40% shorter, at least about shorter 50% shorter, at least about 60% shorter, at least about 70% shorter, at least about 80% shorter than the conventional wash cycle.

[0072] In one aspect, the detergent composition is added at different points in time of the wash-cycle of a laundry or automatic dishwashing machine.

[0073] In one embodiment of the present invention, the polypeptide having alpha-amylase activity of the present invention may be added in an amount corresponding to 0.001-100 mg of protein, such as 0.01-100 mg of protein, preferably 0.005-50 mg of protein, more preferably 0.01-25 mg of protein, even more preferably 0.05-10 mg of protein, most preferably 0.05-5 mg of protein, and even most preferably 0.01-1 mg of protein per liter of wash liquor.

[0074] In some preferred aspects, the detergent composition provided herein are typically formulated such that, during use in aqueous cleaning operations, the wash water has a pH of from about 5.0 to about 11.5, or in alternative embodiments, even from about 6.0 to about 10.5, such as from about 5 to about 11, from about 5 to about 10, from about 5 to about 9, from about 5 to about 8, from about 5 to about 7, from about 6 to about 11, from about 6 to about 10, from about 6 to about 9, from about 6 to about 8, from about 6 to about 7, from about 7 to about 11, from about 7 to about 10, from about 7 to about 9, or from about 7 to about 8. In some preferred embodiments, granular or liquid laundry products are formulated such that the wash water has a pH from about 5.5 to about 11. Techniques for controlling pH at recommended usage levels include the use of buffers, alkalis, acids, etc., and are well known to those skilled in the art.

[0075] A low detergent concentration system comprises detergents where less than about 800 ppm of detergent components are present in the wash water. Japanese detergents are typically considered low detergent concentration system as they have approximately 667 ppm of detergent components present in the wash water.

[0076] A medium detergent concentration comprises detergents where between about 800 ppm and about 2000 ppm of detergent components are present in the wash water. North American detergents are generally considered to be medium detergent concentration systems as they have approximately 975 ppm of detergent components present in the wash water.

[0077] A high detergent concentration system comprises detergents where more than about 2000 ppm of detergent components are present in the wash water. European detergents are generally considered to be high detergent concentration systems as they have approximately 4500-5000 ppm of detergent components in the wash water.

Additional Enzymes

[0078] The composition of the invention may further comprise one or more additional enzymes which provide cleaning or wash performance. Examples of suitable enzymes include, but are not limited to, hemicellulases, peroxidases, proteases, cellulases, xylanases, lipases, phospholipases, esterases, cutinases, pectinases, mannanases, pectate lyases, keratinases, reductases, oxidases, phenoloxidases, lipoxygenases, ligninases, pullulanases, tannases, pentosanases, malanases, β-glucanases, arabinosidases, hyaluronidase, chondroitinase, laccase, chlorophyllases, nucleases, otheramylases, or mixtures thereof.

[0079] In general the properties of the selected enzyme(s) should be compatible with the selected detergent, (i.e., pH-optimum, compatibility with other enzymatic and non-enzymatic ingredients, etc.), and the enzyme(s) should be present in effective amounts.

Cellulases

[0080] In one aspect preferred enzymes include a cellulase. Suitable cellulases include those of bacterial or fungal origin. Chemically modified or protein engineered mutants are also contemplated. The cellulase may for example be a mono-component or a mixture of mono-component endo-1,4-beta-glucanase also referred to as endoglucanase.

[0081] Suitable cellulases include those from the genera Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Humicola, Myceliophthora, Fusarium, Thielavia, Trichoderma, and Acremonium. Exemplary cellulases include a fungal cellulase from Humicola insolens (U.S. Pat. No. 4,435,307) or from Trichoderma, e.g. T. reesei or T. viride. Other suitable cellulases are from Thielavia e.g. Thielavia terrestris as described in WO 96/29397 or the fungal cellulases produced from Myceliophthora thermophila and Fusarium oxysporum disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,648,263, 5,691,178, 5,776,757, WO 89/09259 and WO 91/17244. Also relevant are cellulases from Bacillus as described in WO 02/099091 and JP 2000210081. Suitable cellulases are alkaline or neutral cellulases having care benefits. Examples of cellulases are described in EP 0 495 257, EP 0 531 372, WO 96/11262, WO 96/29397, WO 98/08940. Other examples are cellulase variants such as those described in WO 94/07998, EP 0 531 315, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,457,046, 5,686,593, 5,763,254, WO 95/24471, WO 98/12307.

[0082] Other cellulases are endo-beta-1,4-glucanase enzyme having a sequence of at least 97% identity to the amino acid sequence of position 1 to position 773 of SEQ ID NO:2 of WO 2002/099091 or a family 44 xyloglucanase, which a xyloglucanase enzyme having a sequence of at least 60% identity to positions 40-559 of SEQ ID NO: 2 of WO 2001/062903.

[0083] Commercially available cellulases include Carezyme®, Carezyme Premium®, Celluzyme®, Celluclean®, Celluclast®, Endolase®, Renozyme®; Whitezyme® Celluclean® Classic, Cellusoft® (Novozymes A/S), Puradax®, Puradax HA, and Puradax EG (available from Genencor International Inc.) and KAC-500(B)™ (Kao Corporation).

Mannanases

[0084] In one aspect preferred enzymes include a mannanase. Suitable mannanases include those of bacterial or fungal origin. Chemically or genetically modified mutants are included. The mannanase may be an alkaline mannanase of Family 5 or 26. It may be a wild-type from Bacillus or Humicola, particularly B. agaradhaerens, B. licheniformis, B. halodurans, B. clausii, or H. insolens. Suitable mannanases are described in WO 1999/064619. A commercially available mannanase is Mannaway (Novozymes A/S).

Peroxidases/Oxidases

[0085] In one aspect preferred enzymes include a peroxidases/oxidases. A suitable peroxidase is preferably a peroxidase enzyme comprised by the enzyme classification EC 1.11.1.7, as set out by the Nomenclature Committee of the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (IUBMB), or any fragment derived therefrom, exhibiting peroxidase activity.

[0086] Suitable peroxidases include those of plant, bacterial or fungal origin. Chemically modified or protein engineered mutants are included. Examples of useful peroxidases include peroxidases from Coprinopsis, e.g., from C. cinerea (EP 179,486), and variants thereof as those described in WO 93/24618, WO 95/10602, and WO 98/15257.

[0087] Suitable peroxidases also include a haloperoxidase enzyme, such as chloroperoxidase, bromoperoxidase and compounds exhibiting chloroperoxidase or bromoperoxidase activity. Haloperoxidases are classified according to their specificity for halide ions. Chloroperoxidases (E.C. 1.11.1.10) catalyze formation of hypochlorite from chloride ions. The haloperoxidase may be a chloroperoxidase. Preferably, the haloperoxidase is a vanadium haloperoxidase, i.e., a vanadate-containing haloperoxidase. In a preferred method the vanadate-containing haloperoxidase is combined with a source of chloride ion.

[0088] Haloperoxidases have been isolated from many different fungi, in particular from the fungus group dematiaceous hyphomycetes, such as Caldariomyces, e.g., C. fumago, Alternaria, Curvularia, e.g., C. verruculosa and C. inaequalis, Drechslera, Ulocladium and Botrytis.

[0089] Haloperoxidases have also been isolated from bacteria such as Pseudomonas, e.g., P. pyrrocinia and Streptomyces, e.g., S. aureofaciens.

[0090] The haloperoxidase may be derivable from Curvularia sp., in particular Curvularia verruculosa or Curvularia inaequalis, such as C. inaequalis CBS 102.42 as described in WO 95/27046; or C. verruculosa CBS 147.63 or C. verruculosa CBS 444.70 as described in WO 97/04102; or from Drechslera hartlebii as described in WO 01/79459, Dendryphiella salina as described in WO 01/79458, Phaeotrichoconis crotalarie as described in WO 01/79461, or Geniculosporium sp. as described in WO 01/79460.

[0091] Suitable oxidases include, in particular, any laccase enzyme comprised by the enzyme classification EC 1.10.3.2, or any fragment derived therefrom exhibiting laccase activity, or a compound exhibiting a similar activity, such as a catechol oxidase (EC 1.10.3.1), an o-aminophenol oxidase (EC 1.10.3.4), or a bilirubin oxidase (EC 1.3.3.5).

[0092] Preferred laccase enzymes are enzymes of microbial origin. The enzymes may be derived from plants, bacteria or fungi (including filamentous fungi and yeasts).

[0093] Suitable examples from fungi include a laccase derivable from a strain of Aspergillus, Neurospora, e.g., N. crassa, Podospora, Botrytis, Collybia, Fomes, Lentinus, Pleurotus, Trametes, e.g., T. villosa and T. versicolor, Rhizoctonia, e.g., R. solani, Coprinopsis, e.g., C. cinerea, C. comatus, C. friesii, and C. plicatilis, Psathyrella, e.g., P. condelleana, Panaeolus, e.g., P. papilionaceus, Myceliophthora, e.g., M. thermophila, Schytalidium, e.g., S. thermophilum, Polyporus, e.g., P. pinsitus, Phlebia, e.g., P. radiata (WO 92/01046), or Coriolus, e.g., C. hirsutus (JP 2238885).

[0094] Suitable examples from bacteria include a laccase derivable from a strain of Bacillus.

[0095] A laccase derived from Coprinopsis or Myceliophthora is preferred; in particular a laccase derived from Coprinopsis cinerea, as disclosed in WO 97/08325; or from Myceliophthora thermophila, as disclosed in WO 95/33836.

Proteases

[0096] In one aspect preferred enzymes include a protease. Suitable proteases may be of any origin, but are preferably of bacterial or fungal origin, optionally in the form of protein engineered or chemically modified mutants. The protease may be an alkaline protease, such as a serine protease or a metalloprotease. A serine protease may for example be of the S1 family, such as trypsin, or the S8 family such as a subtilisin. A metalloprotease may for example be a thermolysin, e.g. from the M4 family, or another metalloprotease such as those from the M5, M7 or M8 families.

[0097] The term “subtilases” refers to a sub-group of serine proteases according to Siezen et al., Protein Eng. 4 (1991) 719-737 and Siezen et al., Protein Sci. 6 (1997) 501-523. Serine proteases are a subgroup of proteases characterized by having a serine in the active site, which forms a covalent adduct with the substrate. The subtilases may be divided into six subdivisions, the Subtilisin family, the Thermitase family, the Proteinase K family, the Lantibiotic peptidase family, the Kexin family and the Pyrolysin family.

[0098] Although proteases suitable for detergent use may be obtained from a variety of organisms, including fungi such as Aspergillus, detergent proteases have generally been obtained from bacteria and in particular from Bacillus. Examples of Bacillus species from which subtilases have been derived include Bacillus lentus, Bacillus alkalophilus, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus pumilus and Bacillus gibsonii. Particular subtilisins include subtilisin lentus, subtilisin Novo, subtilisin Carlsberg, subtilisin BPN′, subtilisin 309, subtilisin 147 and subtilisin 168 and e.g. protease PD138 (described in WO 93/18140). Other useful proteases are e.g. those described in WO 01/16285 and WO 02/16547.

[0099] Examples of trypsin-like proteases include the Fusarium protease described in WO 94/25583 and WO 2005/040372, and the chymotrypsin proteases derived from Cellumonas described in WO 2005/052161 and WO 2005/052146.

[0100] Examples of metalloproteases include the neutral metalloproteases described in WO 2007/044993 such as those derived from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, as well as e.g. the metalloproteases described in WO 2015/158723 and WO 2016/075078.

[0101] Examples of useful proteases are the protease variants described in WO 89/06279 WO 92/19729, WO 96/34946, WO 98/20115, WO 98/20116, WO 99/11768, WO 01/44452, WO 03/006602, WO 2004/003186, WO 2004/041979, WO 2007/006305, WO 2011/036263, WO 2014/207227, WO 2016/087617 and WO 2016/174234. Preferred protease variants may, for example, comprise one or more of the mutations selected from the group consisting of: S3T, V41, S9R, S9E, A15T, S24G, S24R, K27R, N42R, S55P, G59E, G59D, N60D, N60E, V66A, N74D, S85R, A96S, S97G, S97D, S97A, S97SD, S99E, S99D, S99G, S99M, S99N, S99R, S99H, S101A, V1021, V102Y, V102N, S104A, G116V, G116R, H118D, H118N, A120S, S126L, P127Q, S128A, S154D, A156E, G157D, G157P, S158E, Y161A, R164S, Q176E, N179E, S182E, Q185N, A188P, G189E, V193M, N198D, V1991, Q200L, Y203W, S206G, L211Q, L211D, N212D, N212S, M216S, A226V, K229L, Q230H, Q239R, N246K, S253D, N255W, N255D, N255E, L256E, L256D T268A and R269H, wherein position numbers correspond to positions of the Bacillus lentus protease shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 of WO 2016/001449. Protease variants having one or more of these mutations are preferably variants of the Bacillus lentus protease (Savinase®, also known as subtilisin 309) shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 of WO 2016/001449 or of the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens protease (BPN′) shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 of WO 2016/001449. Such protease variants preferably have at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 1 or to SEQ ID NO: 2 of WO 2016/001449.

[0102] Another protease of interest is the alkaline protease from Bacillus lentus DSM 5483, as described for example in WO 91/02792, and variants thereof which are described for example in WO 92/21760, WO 95/23221, EP 1921147, EP 1921148 and WO 2016/096711.

[0103] The protease may alternatively be a variant of the TY145 protease having SEQ ID NO: 1 of WO 2004/067737, for example a variant comprising a substitution at one or more positions corresponding to positions 27, 109, 111, 171, 173, 174, 175, 180, 182, 184, 198, 199 and 297 of SEQ ID NO: 1 of WO 2004/067737, wherein said protease variant has a sequence identity of at least 75% but less than 100% to SEQ ID NO: 1 of WO 2004/067737. TY145 variants of interest are described in e.g. WO 2015/014790, WO 2015/014803, WO 2015/014804, WO 2016/097350, WO 2016/097352, WO 2016/097357 and WO 2016/097354.

[0104] Examples of preferred proteases include:

[0105] (a) variants of SEQ ID NO: 1 of WO 2016/001449 comprising two or more substitutions selected from the group consisting of S9E, N43R, N76D, Q206L, Y209W, S259D and L262E, for example a variant with the substitutions S9E, N43R, N76D, V2051, Q206L, Y209W, S259D, N261W and L262E, or with the substitutions S9E, N43R, N76D, N185E, S188E, Q191N, A194P, Q206L, Y209W, S259D and L262E, wherein position numbers are based on the numbering of SEQ ID NO: 2 of WO 2016/001449;

[0106] (b) a variant of the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1 of WO 2016/001449 with the mutation S99SE, wherein position numbers are based on the numbering of SEQ ID NO: 2 of WO 2016/001449;

[0107] (c) a variant of the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1 of WO 2016/001449 with the mutation S99AD, wherein position numbers are based on the numbering of SEQ ID NO: 2 of WO 2016/001449;

[0108] (d) a variant of the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1 of WO 2016/001449 with the substitutions Y167A+R170S+A194P, wherein position numbers are based on the numbering of SEQ ID NO: 2 of WO 2016/001449;

[0109] (e) a variant of the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1 of WO 2016/001449 with the substitutions S9R+A15T+V68A+N218D+Q245R, wherein position numbers are based on the numbering of SEQ ID NO: 2 of WO 2016/001449;

[0110] (f) a variant of the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1 of WO 2016/001449 with the substitutions S9R+A15T+G61E+V68A+A194P+V2051+Q245R+N261D, wherein position numbers are based on the numbering of SEQ ID NO: 2 of WO 2016/001449;

[0111] (g) a variant of the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1 of WO 2016/001449 with the substitutions S99D+S101R/E+S103A+V1041+G160S; for example a variant of SEQ ID NO: 1 of WO 2016/001449 with the substitutions S3T+V41+S99D+S101E+S103A+V1041+G160S+V2051, wherein position numbers are based on the numbering of SEQ ID NO: 2 of WO 2016/001449;

[0112] (h) a variant of the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2 of WO 2016/001449 with the substitutions S24G+S53G+S78N+S101N+G128A/S+Y217Q, wherein position numbers are based on the numbering of SEQ ID NO: 2 of WO 2016/001449;

[0113] (i) the polypeptide disclosed in GENESEQP under accession number BER84782, corresponding to SEQ ID NO: 302 in WO 2017/210295;

[0114] (j) a variant of the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1 of WO 2016/001449 with the substitutions S99D+S101E+S103A+V1041+S156D+G160S+L262E, wherein position numbers are based on the numbering of SEQ ID NO: 2 of WO 2016/001449;

[0115] (k) a variant of the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1 of WO 2016/001449 with the substitutions S9R+A15T+G61E+V68A+N76D+S99G+N218D+Q245R, wherein position numbers are based on the numbering of SEQ ID NO: 2 of WO 2016/001449;

[0116] (l) a variant of the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1 of WO 2016/001449 with the substitutions V68A+S106A, wherein position numbers are based on the numbering of SEQ ID NO: 2 of WO 2016/001449; and

[0117] (m) a variant of the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1 of WO 2004/067737 with the substitutions S27K+N109K+S111E+S171E+S173P+G174K+S175P+F180Y+G182A+L184F+Q198E+N199+T297P, wherein position numbers are based on the numbering of SEQ ID NO: 1 of WO 2004/067737.

[0118] Suitable commercially available protease enzymes include those sold under the trade names Alcalase®, Duralase™, Durazym™, Relase®, Relase® Ultra, Savinase®, Savinase® Ultra, Primase™, Polarzyme®, Kannase®, Liquanase®, Liquanase® Ultra, Ovozyme®, Coronase®, Coronase® Ultra, Blaze®, Blaze Evity® 100T, Blaze Evity® 125T, Blaze Evity® 150T, Blaze Evity® 200T, Neutrase®, Everlase®, Esperase®, Progress® Uno, Progress® In and Progress® Excel (Novozymes A/S), those sold under the tradename Maxatase™, Maxacal™ Maxapem®, Purafect® Ox, Purafect® OxP, Puramax®, FN2™, FN3™, FN4.sup.ex™, Excellase®, Excellenz™ P1000, Excellenz™ P1250, Eraser™, Preferenz® P100, Purafect Prime, Preferenz P110™, Effectenz P1000™, Purafect®, Effectenz P1050™, Purafect® Ox, Effectenz™ P2000, Purafast™, Properase®, Opticlean™ and Optimase® (Danisco/DuPont), BLAP (sequence shown in FIG. 29 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,352,604) and variants hereof (Henkel AG), and KAP (Bacillus alkalophilus subtilisin) from Kao.

Lipases and Cutinases

[0119] In one aspect preferred enzymes include a lipase and/or cutinase. Suitable lipases and cutinases include those of bacterial or fungal origin. Chemically modified or protein engineered mutant enzymes are included. Examples include lipase from Thermomyces, e.g. from T. lanuginosus (previously named Humicola lanuginosa) as described in EP258068 and EP305216, cutinase from Humicola, e.g. H. insolens (WO96/13580), lipase from strains of Pseudomonas (some of these now renamed to Burkholderia), e.g. P. alcaligenes or P. pseudoalcaligenes (EP218272), P. cepacia (EP331376), P. sp. strain SD705 (WO95/06720 & WO96/27002), P. wisconsinensis (WO96/12012), GDSL-type Streptomyces lipases (WO10/065455), cutinase from Magnaporthe grisea (WO10/107560), cutinase from Pseudomonas mendocina (U.S. Pat. No. 5,389,536), lipase from Thermobifida fusca (WO11/084412), Geobacillus stearothermophilus lipase (WO11/084417), lipase from Bacillus subtilis (WO11/084599), and lipase from Streptomyces griseus (WO11/150157) and S. pristinaespiralis (WO12/137147).

[0120] Other examples are lipase variants such as those described in EP407225, WO92/05249, WO94/01541, WO94/25578, WO95/14783, WO95/30744, WO95/35381, WO95/22615, WO96/00292, WO97/04079, WO97/07202, WO00/34450, WO00/60063, WO01/92502, WO07/87508 and WO09/109500.

[0121] Preferred commercial lipase products include Lipolase™, Lipex™; Lipolex™ and Lipoclean™ (Novozymes A/S), Lumafast (originally from Genencor) and Lipomax (originally from Gist-Brocades).

[0122] Other examples of lipases sometimes referred to as acyltransferases or perhydrolases, e.g. acyltransferases with homology to Candida antarctica lipase A (WO10/111143), acyltransferase from Mycobacterium smegmatis (WO05/56782), perhydrolases from the CE 7 family (WO09/67279), and variants of the M. smegmatis perhydrolase in particular the S54V variant used in the commercial product Gentle Power Bleach from Huntsman Textile Effects Pte Ltd (WO10/100028).

Nucleases

[0123] In one aspect preferred enzymes include a nuclease. Suitable nucleases include deoxyribonucleases (DNases) and ribonucleases (RNases) which are any enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolytic cleavage of phosphodiester linkages in the DNA or RNA backbone respectively, thus degrading DNA and RNA. There are two primary classifications based on the locus of activity. Exonucleases digest nucleic acids from the ends. Endonucleases act on regions in the middle of target molecules. The nuclease is preferably a DNase, which is preferable is obtainable from a microorganism, preferably a bacterium; in particular a DNase which is obtainable from a species of Bacillus is preferred; in particular a DNase which is obtainable from Bacillus cibi, Bacillus subtilis or Bacillus licheniformis is preferred. Examples of such DNases are described in WO 2011/098579, WO2014/087011 and WO2017/060475.

Amylase

[0124] Suitable additional may be an alpha-amylase or a glucoamylase and may be 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 Bacillus licheniformis, described in more detail in GB1296839.

[0125] Suitable amylases include amylases having SEQ ID NO: 3 in WO95/10603 or variants having 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 3 thereof. Preferred variants are described in WO94/02597, WO94/18314, WO97/43424 and SEQ ID NO: 4 of WO99/019467, such as variants with substitutions in one or more of the following positions: 15, 23, 105, 106, 124, 128, 133, 154, 156, 178, 179, 181, 188, 190, 197, 201, 202, 207, 208, 209, 211, 243, 264, 304, 305, 391, 408, and 444.

[0126] Different suitable amylases include amylases having SEQ ID NO: 6 in WO02/010355 or variants thereof having 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 6. Preferred variants of SEQ ID NO: 6 are those having a deletion in positions 181 and 182 and a substitution in position 193.

[0127] Other amylases which are suitable are hybrid alpha-amylase comprising residues 1-33 of the alpha-amylase derived from B. amyloliquefaciens shown in SEQ ID NO: 6 of WO2006/066594 and residues 36-483 of the B. licheniformis alpha-amylase shown in SEQ ID NO: 4 of WO2006/066594 or variants having 90% sequence identity thereof. Preferred variants of this hybrid alpha-amylase are those having a substitution, a deletion or an insertion in one of more of the following positions: G48, T49, G107, H156, A181, N190, M197, I201, A209 and Q264. Most preferred variants of the hybrid alpha-amylase comprising residues 1-33 of the alpha-amylase derived from B. amyloliquefaciens shown in SEQ ID NO: 6 of WO2006/066594 and residues 36-483 of SEQ ID NO: 4 are those having the substitutions:

[0128] M197T;

[0129] H156Y+A181T+N190F+A209V+Q264S; or

[0130] G48A+T491+G107A+H156Y+A181T+N190F+I201F+A209V+Q264S.

[0131] Further amylases which are suitable are amylases having SEQ ID NO: 6 in WO99/019467 or variants thereof having 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 6. Preferred variants of SEQ ID NO: 6 are those having a substitution, a deletion or an insertion in one or more of the following positions: R181, G182, H183, G184, N195, 1206, E212, E216 and K269. Particularly preferred amylases are those having deletion in positions R181 and G182, or positions H183 and G184.

[0132] Additional amylases which can be used are those having SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 2 or SEQ ID NO: 7 of WO96/023873 or variants thereof having 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 7. Preferred variants of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 7 are those having a substitution, a deletion or an insertion in one or more of the following positions: 140, 181, 182, 183, 184, 195, 206, 212, 243, 260, 269, 304 and 476. More preferred variants are those having a deletion in positions 181 and 182 or positions 183 and 184. Most preferred amylase variants of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2 or SEQ ID NO: 7 are those having a deletion in positions 183 and 184 and a substitution in one or more of positions 140, 195, 206, 243, 260, 304 and 476.

[0133] Other amylases which can be used are amylases having SEQ ID NO: 2 of WO08/153815, SEQ ID NO: 10 in WO01/66712 or variants thereof having 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 2 of WO08/153815 or 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 10 in WO01/66712. Preferred variants of SEQ ID NO: 10 in WO01/66712 are those having a substitution, a deletion or an insertion in one of more of the following positions: 176, 177, 178, 179, 190, 201, 207, 211 and 264.

[0134] Further suitable amylases are amylases having SEQ ID NO: 2 of WO09/061380 or variants having 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 2 thereof. Preferred variants of SEQ ID NO: 2 are those having a truncation of the C-terminus and/or a substitution, a deletion or an insertion in one of more of the following positions: Q87, Q98, S125, N128, T131, T165, K178, R180, S181, T182, G183, M201, F202, N225, S243, N272, N282, Y305, R309, D319, Q320, Q359, K444 and G475. More preferred variants of SEQ ID NO: 2 are those having the substitution in one of more of the following positions: Q87E,R, Q98R, S125A, N128C, T1311, T1651, K178L, T182G, M201L, F202Y, N225E,R, N272E,R, S243Q,A,E,D, Y305R, R309A, Q320R, Q359E, K444E and G475K and/or deletion in position R180 and/or S181 or of T182 and/or G183. Most preferred amylase variants of SEQ ID NO: 2 are those having the substitutions:

[0135] N128C+K178L+T182G+Y305R+G475K;

[0136] N128C+K178L+T182G+F202Y+Y305R+D319T+G475K;

[0137] S125A+N128C+K178L+T182G+Y305R+G475K; or

[0138] S125A+N128C+T1311+T1651+K178L+T182G+Y305R+G475K wherein the variants are C-terminally truncated and optionally further comprises a substitution at position 243 and/or a deletion at position 180 and/or position 181.

[0139] Other suitable amylases are the alpha-amylase having SEQ ID NO: 12 in WO01/66712 or a variant having at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 12. Preferred amylase variants are those having a substitution, a deletion or an insertion in one of more of the following positions of SEQ ID NO: 12 in WO01/66712: R28, R118, N174; R181, G182, D183, G184, G186, W189, N195, M202, Y298, N299, K302, S303, N306, R310, N314; R320, H324, E345, Y396, R400, W439, R444, N445, K446, Q449, R458, N471, N484. Particular preferred amylases include variants having a deletion of D183 and G184 and having the substitutions R118K, N195F, R320K and R458K, and a variant additionally having substitutions in one or more position selected from the group: M9, G149, G182, G186, M202, T257, Y295, N299, M323, E345 and A339, most preferred a variant that additionally has substitutions in all these positions.

[0140] Other examples are amylase variants such as those described in WO2011/098531, WO2013/001078 and WO2013/001087.

[0141] Commercially available amylases are Duramyl™, Termamyl™, Termamyl Ultra™, Fungamyl™, Ban™, Stainzyme™, Stainzyme Plus™, Amplify®, Supramyl™, Natalase™ Liquozyme X and BAN™ (from Novozymes A/S), KEMZYM® AT 9000 Biozym Biotech Trading GmbH Wehlistrasse 27b A-1200 Wien Austria, and Rapidase™, Purastar™/Effectenz™, Powerase, Preferenz S100, Preferenx S110, ENZYSIZE®, OPTISIZE HT PLUS®, and PURASTAR OXAM® (Danisco/DuPont) and KAM® (Kao).

[0142] Enzyme components weights are based on total active protein. All percentages and ratios are calculated by weight unless otherwise indicated. All percentages and ratios are calculated based on the total composition unless otherwise indicated. In the exemplified detergent composition, the enzymes levels are expressed by pure enzyme by weight of the total composition and unless otherwise specified, the detergent ingredients are expressed by weight of the total composition.

Surfactants

[0143] The detergent composition may comprise one or more surfactants, which may be anionic and/or cationic and/or non-ionic and/or semi-polar and/or zwitterionic, or a mixture thereof. In a particular embodiment, the detergent composition includes a surfactant system (comprising more than one surfactant) e.g. a mixture of one or more nonionic surfactants and one or more anionic surfactants. In one embodiment the detergent comprises at least one anionic surfactant than at least one non-ionic surfactant, the weight ratio of anionic to nonionic surfactant may be from 10:1 to 1:10. In one embodiment the amount of anionic surfactant is higher than the amount of non-ionic surfactant e.g. the weight ratio of anionic to non-ionic surfactant may be from 10:1 to 1.1:1 or from 5:1 to 1.5:1. The amount of anionic to non-ionic surfactant may also be equal and the weight ratios 1:1. In one embodiment the amount of non-ionic surfactant is higher than the amount of anionic surfactant and the weight ratio may be 1:10 to 1:1.1. Preferably the weight ratio of anionic to non-ionic surfactant is from 10:1 to 1:10, such as from 5:1 to 1:5, or from 5:1 to 1:1.2. Preferably, the weight fraction of non-ionic surfactant to anionic surfactant is from 0 to 0.5 or 0 to 0.2 thus non-ionic surfactant can be present or absent if the weight fraction is 0, but if non-ionic surfactant is present, then the weight fraction of the nonionic surfactant is preferably at most 50% or at most 20% of the total weight of anionic surfactant and non-ionic surfactant. Light duty detergent usually comprises more nonionic than anionic surfactant and there the fraction of non-ionic surfactant to anionic surfactant is preferably from 0.5 to 0.9. The total weight of surfactant(s) is typically present at a level of from about 0.1% to about 60% by weight, such as about 1% to about 40%, or about 3% to about 20%, or about 3% to about 10%. The surfactant(s) is chosen based on the desired cleaning application, and may include any conventional surfactant(s) known in the art. When included therein the detergent will usually contain from about 1% to about 40% by weight of an anionic surfactant, such as from about 5% to about 30%, including from about 5% to about 15%, or from about 15% to about 20%, or from about 20% to about 25% of an anionic surfactant. Non-limiting examples of anionic surfactants include sulfates and sulfonates, typically available as sodium or potassium salts or salts of monoethanolamine (MEA, 2-aminoethan-1-ol) or triethanolamine (TEA, 2,2′,2″-nitrilotriethan-1-ol); in particular, linear alkylbenzenesulfonates (LAS), isomers of LAS such as branched alkylbenzenesulfonates (BABS) and phenylalkanesulfonates; olefin sulfonates, in particular alpha-olefinsulfonates (AOS); alkyl sulfates (AS), in particular fatty alcohol sulfates (FAS), i.e., primary alcohol sulfates (PAS) such as dodecyl sulfate; alcohol ethersulfates (AES or AEOS or FES, also known as alcohol ethoxysulfates or fatty alcohol ether sulfates); paraffin sulfonates (PS) including alkane-1-sulfonates and secondary alkanesulfonates (SAS); ester sulfonates, including sulfonated fatty acid glycerol esters and alpha-sulfo fatty acid methyl esters (alpha-SFMe or SES or MES); alkyl- or alkenylsuccinic acids such as dodecenyl/tetradecenyl succinic acid (DTSA); diesters and monoesters of sulfosuccinic acid; fatty acid derivatives of amino acids. Furthermore, salts of fatty acids (soaps) may be included.

[0144] When included therein the detergent will usually contain from about 1% to about 40% by weight of a cationic surfactant, for example from about 0.5% to about 30%, in particular from about 1% to about 20%, from about 3% to about 10%, such as from about 3% to about 5%, from about 8% to about 12% or from about 10% to about 12%. Non-limiting examples of cationic surfactants include alkyldimethylethanolamine quat (ADMEAQ), cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), dimethyldistearylammonium chloride (DSDMAC), and alkylbenzyldimethylammonium, alkyl quaternary ammonium compounds, alkoxylated quaternary ammonium (AQA) compounds, ester quats, and combinations thereof.

[0145] When included therein the detergent will usually contain from about 0.2% to about 40% by weight of a nonionic surfactant, for example from about 0.5% to about 30%, in particular from about 1% to about 20%, from about 3% to about 10%, such as from about 3% to about 5%, from about 8% to about 12%, or from about 10% to about 12%. Non-limiting examples of nonionic surfactants include alcohol ethoxylates (AE or AEO) e.g. the AEO-series such as AEO-7, alcohol propoxylates, in particular propoxylated fatty alcohols (PFA), ethoxylated and propoxylated alcohols, alkoxylated fatty acid alkyl esters, such as ethoxylated and/or propoxylated fatty acid alkyl esters (in particular methyl ester ethoxylates, MEE), alkylpolyglycosides (APG), alkoxylated amines, fatty acid monoethanolamides (FAM), fatty acid diethanolamides (FADA), ethoxylated fatty acid monoethanolamides (EFAM), propoxylated fatty acid monoethanolamides (PFAM), polyhydroxyalkyl fatty acid amides, or N-acyl N-alkyl derivatives of glucosamine (glucamides, GA, or fatty acid glucamides, FAGA), as well as products available under the trade names SPAN and TWEEN, and combinations thereof.

[0146] When included therein the detergent will usually contain from about 0.01 to about 10% by weight of a semipolar surfactant. Non-limiting examples of semipolar surfactants include amine oxides (AO) such as alkyldimethylamine oxides, in particular N-(coco alkyl)-N,N-dimethylamine oxide and N-(tallow-alkyl)-N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amine oxide, and combinations thereof.

[0147] When included therein the detergent will usually contain from about 0.01% to about 10% by weight of a zwitterionic surfactant. Non-limiting examples of zwitterionic surfactants include betaines such as alkyldimethylbetaines, sulfobetaines, and combinations thereof.

[0148] Additional bio-based surfactants may be used e.g. wherein the surfactant is a sugar-based non-ionic surfactant which may be a hexyl-β-D-maltopyranoside, thiomaltopyranoside or a cyclic-maltopyranoside, such as described in EP2516606 B1.

Other Components

[0149] Soap—The compositions of the present invention may contain soap. Without being limited by theory, it may be desirable to include soap as it acts in part as a surfactant and in part as a builder and may be useful for suppression of foam and may furthermore interact favorably with the various cationic compounds of the composition to enhance softness on textile fabrics treaded with the inventive compositions. Any soap known in the art for use in laundry detergents may be utilized. In one embodiment, the compositions contain from 0 wt % to 20 wt %, from 0.5 wt % to 20 wt %, from 4 wt % to 10 wt %, or from 4 wt % to 7 wt % of soap.

[0150] Examples of soap useful herein include oleic acid soaps, palmitic acid soaps, palm kernel fatty acid soaps, and mixtures thereof. Typical soaps are in the form of mixtures of fatty acid soaps having different chain lengths and degrees of substitution. One such mixture is topped palm kernel fatty acid.

[0151] In one embodiment, the soap is selected from free fatty acid. Suitable fatty acids are saturated and/or unsaturated and can be obtained from natural sources such a plant or animal esters (e.g., palm kernel oil, palm oil, coconut oil, babassu oil, safflower oil, tall oil, castor oil, tallow and fish oils, grease, and mixtures thereof), or synthetically prepared (e.g., via the oxidation of petroleum or by hydrogenation of carbon monoxide via the Fisher Tropsch process).

[0152] Examples of suitable saturated fatty acids for use in the compositions of this invention include captic, lauric, myristic, palmitic, stearic, arachidic and behenic acid. Suitable unsaturated fatty acid species include: palmitoleic, oleic, linoleic, linolenic and ricinoleic acid. Examples of preferred fatty acids are saturated Cn fatty acid, saturated Ci.sub.2-Ci.sub.4 fatty acids, and saturated or unsaturated Cn to Ci.sub.8 fatty acids, and mixtures thereof.

[0153] When present, the weight ratio of fabric softening cationic cosurfactant to fatty acid is preferably from about 1:3 to about 3:1, more preferably from about 1:1.5 to about 1.5:1, most preferably about 1:1.

[0154] Levels of soap and of nonsoap anionic surfactants herein are percentages by weight of the detergent composition, specified on an acid form basis. However, as is commonly understood in the art, anionic surfactants and soaps are in practice neutralized using sodium, potassium or alkanolammonium bases, such as sodium hydroxide or monoethanolamine.

Hydrotropes

[0155] A hydrotrope is a compound that solubilises hydrophobic compounds in aqueous solutions (or oppositely, polar substances in a non-polar environment). Typically, hydrotropes have both hydrophilic and a hydrophobic character (so-called amphiphilic properties as known from surfactants); however the molecular structure of hydrotropes generally do not favor spontaneous self-aggregation, see e.g. review by Hodgdon and Kaler (2007), Current Opinion in Colloid & Interface Science 12: 121-128. Hydrotropes do not display a critical concentration above which self-aggregation occurs as found for surfactants and lipids forming miceller, lamellar or other well defined meso-phases. Instead, many hydrotropes show a continuous-type aggregation process where the sizes of aggregates grow as concentration increases. However, many hydrotropes alter the phase behavior, stability, and colloidal properties of systems containing substances of polar and non-polar character, including mixtures of water, oil, surfactants, and polymers. Hydrotropes are classically used across industries from pharma, personal care, food, to technical applications. Use of hydrotropes in detergent compositions allow for example more concentrated formulations of surfactants (as in the process of compacting liquid detergents by removing water) without inducing undesired phenomena such as phase separation or high viscosity.

[0156] The detergent may contain 0-10% by weight, for example 0-5% by weight, such as about 0.5 to about 5%, or about 3% to about 5%, of a hydrotrope. Any hydrotrope known in the art for use in detergents may be utilized. Non-limiting examples of hydrotropes include sodium benzenesulfonate, sodium p-toluene sulfonate (STS), sodium xylene sulfonate (SXS), sodium cumene sulfonate (SCS), sodium cymene sulfonate, amine oxides, alcohols and polyglycolethers, sodium hydroxynaphthoate, sodium hydroxynaphthalene sulfonate, sodium ethylhexyl sulfate, and combinations thereof.

Builders and Co-Builders

[0157] The detergent composition may contain about 0-65% by weight, such as about 5% to about 50% of a detergent builder or co-builder, or a mixture thereof. In a dish wash detergent, the level of builder is typically in the range 40-65%, particularly in the range 50-65%. The builder and/or co-builder may particularly be a chelating agent that forms water-soluble complexes with Ca and Mg. Any builder and/or co-builder known in the art for use in cleaning detergents may be utilized.

[0158] Non-limiting examples of builders include zeolites, diphosphates (pyrophosphates), triphosphates such as sodium triphosphate (STP or STPP), carbonates such as sodium carbonate, soluble silicates such as sodium metasilicate, layered silicates (e.g., SKS-6 from Clariant), ethanolamines such as 2-aminoethan-1-ol (MEA), diethanolamine (DEA, also known as 2,2′-iminodiethan-1-ol), triethanolamine (TEA, also known as 2,2′,2″-nitrilotriethan-1-ol), and (carboxymethyl)inulin (CMI), and combinations thereof.

[0159] The detergent composition may also contain from about 0-50% by weight, such as about 5% to about 30%, of a detergent co-builder. The detergent composition may include a co-builder alone, or in combination with a builder, for example a zeolite builder. Non-limiting examples of co-builders include homopolymers of polyacrylates or copolymers thereof, such as poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) or copoly(acrylic acid/maleic acid) (PAA/PMA). Further non-limiting examples include citrate, chelators such as aminocarboxylates, aminopolycarboxylates and phosphonates, and alkyl- or alkenylsuccinic acid. Additional specific examples include 2,2′,2″-nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), iminodisuccinic acid (IDS), ethylenediamine-N,N′-disuccinic acid (EDDS), methylglycinediacetic acid (MGDA), glutamic acid-N,N-diacetic acid (GLDA), 1-hydroxyethane-1,1-diylbis(phosphonic acid (HEDP),

[0160] ethylenediaminetetramethylenetetrakis(phosphonic acid) (EDTMPA),

[0161] diethylenetriaminepentamethylenepentakis(phosphonic acid) (DTMPA or DTPMPA),

[0162] N-(2-hydroxyethyl)iminodiacetic acid (EDG), aspartic acid-N-monoacetic acid (ASMA), aspartic acid-N,N-diacetic acid (ASDA), aspartic acid-N-monopropionic acid (ASMP), iminodisuccinic acid (IDA), N-(2-sulfomethyl)aspartic acid (SMAS), N-(2-sulfoethyl)aspartic acid (SEAS), N-(2-sulfomethyl)glutamic acid (SMGL), N-(2-sulfoethyl)glutamic acid (SEGL), N-methyliminodiacetic acid (MIDA), α-alanine-N,N-diacetic acid (α-ALDA), serine-N,N-diacetic acid (SEDA), isoserine-N,N-diacetic acid (ISDA), phenylalanine-N,N-diacetic acid (PHDA), anthranilic acid-N,N-diacetic acid (ANDA), sulfanilic acid-N,N-diacetic acid (SLDA), taurine-N,N-diacetic acid (TUDA) and sulfomethyl-N,N-diacetic acid (SMDA), N-(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediamine-N,N′,N″-triacetic acid (HEDTA), diethanolglycine (DEG), aminotrimethylenetris(phosphonic acid) (ATMP), and combinations and salts thereof. Further exemplary builders and/or co-builders are described in, e.g., WO 09/102854, U.S. Pat. No. 5,977,053

[0163] Chelating Agents and Crystal Growth Inhibitors—The compositions of the present invention may contain a chelating agent and/or a crystal growth inhibitor. Suitable molecules include copper, iron and/or manganese chelating agents and mixtures thereof. Suitable molecules include DTPA (Diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid), HEDP (Hydroxyethane diphosphonic acid), DTPMP (Diethylene triamine penta(methylene phosphonic acid)), 1,2-Dihydroxybenzene-3,5-disulfonic acid disodium salt hydrate, ethylenediamine, diethylene triamine, ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid (EDDS), N-hydroxyethylethylenediaminetri-acetic acid (HEDTA), triethylenetetraaminehexaacetic acid (TTHA), N-hydroxyethyliminodiacetic acid (HEIDA), dihydroxyethylglycine (DHEG), ethylenediaminetetrapropionic acid (EDTP), carboxymethyl inulin and 2-Phosphonobutane 1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid (Bayhibit® AM) and derivatives thereof. Typically the composition may comprise from 0.005 to 15 wt % or from 3.0 to 10 wt % chelating agent or crystal growth inhibitor.

Bleaching Systems

[0164] The detergent composition may contain 0-50% by weight, such as 1-40%, such as 1-30%, such as about 1% to about 20%, of a bleaching system. Any oxygen-based bleaching system comprising components known in the art for use in cleaning detergents may be utilized. Suitable bleaching system components include sources of hydrogen peroxide; peracids and sources of peracids (bleach activators); and bleach catalysts or boosters.

[0165] Sources of Hydrogen Peroxide:

Suitable sources of hydrogen peroxide are inorganic persalts, including alkali metal salts such as sodium percarbonate and sodium perborates (usually mono- or tetrahydrate), and hydrogen peroxide-urea (1/1).

[0166] Sources of Peracids:

Peracids may be (a) incorporated directly as preformed peracids or (b) formed in situ in the wash liquor from hydrogen peroxide and a bleach activator (perhydrolysis) or (c) formed in situ in the wash liquor from hydrogen peroxide and a perhydrolase and a suitable substrate for the latter, e.g., an ester.
a) Suitable preformed peracids include, but are not limited to, peroxycarboxylic acids such as peroxybenzoic acid and its ring-substituted derivatives, peroxy-α-naphthoic acid, peroxyphthalic acid, peroxylauric acid, peroxystearic acid, ε-phthalimidoperoxycaproic acid [phthalimidoperoxyhexanoic acid (PAP)], and o-carboxybenzamidoperoxycaproic acid; aliphatic and aromatic diperoxydicarboxylic acids such as diperoxydodecanedioic acid, diperoxyazelaic acid, diperoxysebacic acid, diperoxybrassylic acid, 2-decyldiperoxybutanedioic acid, and diperoxyphthalic, -isophthalic and -terephthalic acids; perimidic acids; peroxymonosulfuric acid; peroxydisulfuric acid; peroxyphosphoric acid; peroxysilicic acid; and mixtures of said compounds. It is understood that the peracids mentioned may in some cases be best added as suitable salts, such as alkali metal salts (e.g., Oxone®) or alkaline earth-metal salts.
b) Suitable bleach activators include those belonging to the class of esters, amides, imides, nitriles or anhydrides and, where applicable, salts thereof. Suitable examples are tetraacetylethylenediamine (TAED), sodium 4-[(3,5,5-trimethylhexanoyl)oxy]benzene-1-sulfonate (ISONOBS), sodium 4-(dodecanoyloxy)benzene-1-sulfonate (LOBS), sodium 4-(decanoyloxy)benzene-1-sulfonate, 4-(decanoyloxy)benzoic acid (DOBA), sodium 4-(nonanoyloxy)benzene-1-sulfonate (NOBS), and/or those disclosed in WO98/17767. A particular family of bleach activators of interest was disclosed in EP624154 and particularly preferred in that family is acetyl triethyl citrate (ATC). ATC or a short chain triglyceride like triacetin has the advantage that they are environmentally friendly. Furthermore, acetyl triethyl citrate and triacetin have good hydrolytical stability in the product upon storage and are efficient bleach activators. Finally, ATC is multifunctional, as the citrate released in the perhydrolysis reaction may function as a builder.

Bleach Catalysts and Boosters

[0167] The bleaching system may also include a bleach catalyst or booster.

[0168] Some non-limiting examples of bleach catalysts that may be used in the compositions of the present invention include manganese oxalate, manganese acetate, manganese-collagen, cobalt-amine catalysts and manganese triazacyclononane (MnTACN) catalysts; particularly preferred are complexes of manganese with 1,4,7-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane (Me3-TACN) or 1,2,4,7-tetramethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane (Me4-TACN), in particular Me3-TACN, such as the dinuclear manganese complex [(Me3-TACN)Mn(O)3Mn(Me3-TACN)](PF6)2, and [2,2′,2″-nitrilotris(ethane-1,2-diylazanylylidene-κN-methanylylidene)triphenolato-κ3O]manganese(III). The bleach catalysts may also be other metal compounds; such as iron or cobalt complexes.

[0169] In some embodiments, where a source of a peracid is included, an organic bleach catalyst or bleach booster may be used having one of the following formulae:

##STR00001##

(iii) and mixtures thereof; wherein each R1 is independently a branched alkyl group containing from 9 to 24 carbons or linear alkyl group containing from 11 to 24 carbons, preferably each R1 is independently a branched alkyl group containing from 9 to 18 carbons or linear alkyl group containing from 11 to 18 carbons, more preferably each R1 is independently selected from the group consisting of 2-propylheptyl, 2-butyloctyl, 2-pentylnonyl, 2-hexyldecyl, dodecyl, tetradecyl, hexadecyl, octadecyl, isononyl, isodecyl, isotridecyl and isopentadecyl.

[0170] Other exemplary bleaching systems are described, e.g. in WO2007/087258, WO2007/087244, WO2007/087259, EP1867708 (Vitamin K) and WO2007/087242.

[0171] Suitable photobleaches may for example be sulfonated zinc or aluminium phthalocyanines.

Polymers

[0172] The detergent composition may contain 0.005-10% by weight, such as 0.5-5%, 2-5%, 0.5-2% or 0.2-1% of a polymer. Any polymer known in the art for use in detergents may be utilized. The polymer may function as a co-builder as mentioned above, or may provide antiredeposition, fiber protection, soil release, dye transfer inhibition, grease cleaning and/or anti-foaming properties. Some polymers may have more than one of the above-mentioned properties. Exemplary polymers include (carboxymethyl)cellulose (CMC), poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), poly(ethyleneglycol) or poly(ethylene oxide) (PEG or PEO), ethoxylated poly(ethyleneimine), (carboxymethyl)inulin (CMI), carboxylate polymers and polycarboxylates such as polyacrylates, maleic/acrylic acid copolymers, acrylate/styrene copolymers, poly(aspartic) acid, and lauryl methacrylate/acrylic acid copolymers, hydrophobically modified CMC (HM-CMC), silicones, copolymers of terephthalic acid and oligomeric glycols, copolymers of poly(ethylene terephthalate) and poly(oxyethene terephthalate) (PET-POET), poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP), poly(vinylimidazole) (PVI), poly(vinylpyridine-N-oxide) (PVPO or PVPNO) and copoly(vinylimidazole/vinylpyrrolidone) (PVPVI). Suitable examples include PVP-K15, PVP-K30, ChromaBond S-400, ChromaBond S-403E and Chromabond S-100 from Ashland Aqualon, and Sokalan® HP 165, Sokalan® HP 50 (Dispersing agent), Sokalan® HP 53 (Dispersing agent), Sokalan® HP 59 (Dispersing agent), Sokalan® HP 56 (dye transfer inhibitor), Sokalan® HP 66 K (dye transfer inhibitor) from BASF. Further exemplary polymers include sulfonated polycarboxylates, polyethylene oxide and polypropylene oxide (PEO-PPO) and diquaternium ethoxy sulfate. Particularly preferred polymer is ethoxylated homopolymer Sokalan® HP 20 from BASF, which helps to prevent redeposition of soil in the wash liquor. Further exemplary polymers include sulfonated polycarboxylates, ethylene oxide-propylene oxide copolymers (PEO-PPO), copolymers of PEG with and vinyl acetate, and diquaternium ethoxy sulfate or quaternized sulfated ethoxylated hexamethylenediamine. Other exemplary polymers are disclosed in, e.g., WO 2006/130575. Salts of the above-mentioned polymers are also contemplated.

Microorgansims

[0173] The detergent composition may also comprise one or more microorganisms, such as one or more fungi, yeast, or bacteria.

[0174] In an embodiment, the one or more microorganisms are dehydrated (for example by lyophilization) bacteria or yeast, such as a strain of Lactobacillus.

[0175] In another embodiment, the microorganisms are one or more microbial spores (as opposed to vegetative cells), such as bacterial spores; or fungal spores, conidia, hypha. Preferably, the one or more spores are Bacillus endospores; even more preferably the one or more spores are endospores of Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, or Bacillus megaterium.

[0176] The microorganisms may be included in the detergent composition or additive in the same way as enzymes (see below).

Fabric Hueing Agents

[0177] The detergent compositions of the present invention may also include fabric hueing agents such as dyes or pigments, which when formulated in detergent compositions can deposit onto a fabric when said fabric is contacted with a wash liquor comprising said detergent compositions and thus altering the tint of said fabric through absorption/reflection of visible light. Fluorescent whitening agents emit at least some visible light. In contrast, fabric hueing agents alter the tint of a surface as they absorb at least a portion of the visible light spectrum. Suitable fabric hueing agents include dyes and dye-clay conjugates, and may also include pigments. Suitable dyes include small molecule dyes and polymeric dyes. Suitable small molecule dyes include small molecule dyes selected from the group consisting of dyes falling into the Colour Index (C.I.) classifications of Direct Blue, Direct Red, Direct Violet, Acid Blue, Acid Red, Acid Violet, Basic Blue, Basic Violet and Basic Red, or mixtures thereof, for example as described in WO2005/03274, WO2005/03275, WO2005/03276 and EP1876226 (hereby incorporated by reference). The detergent composition preferably comprises from about 0.00003 wt % to about 0.2 wt %, from about 0.00008 wt % to about 0.05 wt %, or even from about 0.0001 wt % to about 0.04 wt % fabric hueing agent. The composition may comprise from 0.0001 wt % to 0.2 wt % fabric hueing agent, this may be especially preferred when the composition is in the form of a unit dose pouch. Suitable hueing agents are also disclosed in, e.g. WO 2007/087257 and WO2007/087243.

Adjunct Materials

[0178] Any detergent components known in the art for use in laundry/ADW/hard surface cleaning detergents may also be utilized. Other optional detergent components include anti-corrosion agents, anti-shrink agents, anti-soil redeposition agents, anti-wrinkling agents, bactericides, binders, corrosion inhibitors, disintegrants/disintegration agents, dyes, enzyme stabilizers (including boric acid, borates, CMC, and/or polyols such as propylene glycol), fabric conditioners including clays, fillers/processing aids, fluorescent whitening agents/optical brighteners, foam boosters, foam (suds) regulators, perfumes, soil-suspending agents, softeners, suds suppressors, tarnish inhibitors, and wicking agents, either alone or in combination. Any ingredient known in the art for use in laundry/ADW/hard surface cleaning detergents may be utilized. The choice of such ingredients is well within the skill of the artisan.

Dispersants

[0179] The detergent compositions of the present invention can also contain dispersants. In particular powdered detergents may comprise dispersants. Suitable water-soluble organic materials include the homo- or co-polymeric acids or their salts, in which the polycarboxylic acid comprises at least two carboxyl radicals separated from each other by not more than two carbon atoms. Suitable dispersants are for example described in Powdered Detergents, Surfactant science series volume 71, Marcel Dekker, Inc.

Dye Transfer Inhibiting Agents

[0180] The detergent compositions of the present invention may also include one or more dye transfer inhibiting agents. Suitable polymeric dye transfer inhibiting agents include, but are not limited to, polyvinylpyrrolidone polymers, polyamine N-oxide polymers, copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone and N-vinylimidazole, polyvinyloxazolidones and polyvinylimidazoles or mixtures thereof. When present in a subject composition, the dye transfer inhibiting agents may be present at levels from about 0.0001% to about 10%, from about 0.01% to about 5% or even from about 0.1% to about 3% by weight of the composition.

Fluorescent Whitening Agent

[0181] The detergent compositions of the present invention will preferably also contain additional components that may tint articles being cleaned, such as fluorescent whitening agent or optical brighteners. Where present the brightener is preferably at a level of about 0.01% to about 0.5%. Any fluorescent whitening agent suitable for use in a laundry detergent composition may be used in the composition of the present invention. The most commonly used fluorescent whitening agents are those belonging to the classes of diaminostilbene-sulfonic acid derivatives, diarylpyrazoline derivatives and bisphenyl-distyryl derivatives. Examples of the diaminostilbene-sulfonic acid derivative type of fluorescent whitening agents include the sodium salts of: 4,4′-bis-(2-diethanolamino-4-anilino-s-triazin-6-ylamino) stilbene-2,2′-disulfonate, 4,4′-bis-(2,4-dianilino-s-triazin-6-ylamino) stilbene-2.2′-disulfonate, 4,4′-bis-(2-anilino-4-(N-methyl-N-2-hydroxy-ethylamino)-s-triazin-6-ylamino) stilbene-2,2′-disulfonate, 4,4′-bis-(4-phenyl-1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)stilbene-2,2′-disulfonate and sodium 5-(2H-naphtho[1,2-d][1,2,3]triazol-2-yl)-2-[(E)-2-phenylvinyl]benzenesulfonate. Preferred fluorescent whitening agents are Tinopal DMS and Tinopal CBS available from Ciba-Geigy AG, Basel, Switzerland. Tinopal DMS is the disodium salt of 4,4′-bis-(2-morpholino-4-anilino-s-triazin-6-ylamino) stilbene-2,2′-disulfonate. Tinopal CBS is the disodium salt of 2,2′-bis-(phenyl-styryl)-disulfonate. Also preferred are fluorescent whitening agents is the commercially available Parawhite KX, supplied by Paramount Minerals and Chemicals, Mumbai, India. Other fluorescers suitable for use in the invention include the 1-3-diaryl pyrazolines and the 7-alkylaminocoumarins.

[0182] Suitable fluorescent brightener levels include lower levels of from about 0.01, from 0.05, from about 0.1 or even from about 0.2 wt % to upper levels of 0.5 or even 0.75 wt %.

Soil Release Polymers

[0183] The detergent compositions of the present invention may also include one or more soil release polymers which aid the removal of soils from fabrics such as cotton and polyester based fabrics, in particular the removal of hydrophobic soils from polyester based fabrics. The soil release polymers may for example be nonionic or anionic terephthalte based polymers, polyvinyl caprolactam and related copolymers, vinyl graft copolymers, polyester polyamides see for example Chapter 7 in Powdered Detergents, Surfactant science series volume 71, Marcel Dekker, Inc. Another type of soil release polymers are amphiphilic alkoxylated grease cleaning polymers comprising a core structure and a plurality of alkoxylate groups attached to that core structure. The core structure may comprise a polyalkylenimine structure or a polyalkanolamine structure as described in detail in WO 2009/087523 (hereby incorporated by reference). Furthermore random graft co-polymers are suitable soil release polymers. Suitable graft co-polymers are described in more detail in WO 2007/138054, WO 2006/108856 and WO 2006/113314 (hereby incorporated by reference). Other soil release polymers are substituted polysaccharide structures especially substituted cellulosic structures such as modified cellulose deriviatives such as those described in EP 1867808 or WO 2003/040279 (both are hereby incorporated by reference). Suitable cellulosic polymers include cellulose, cellulose ethers, cellulose esters, cellulose amides and mixtures thereof. Suitable cellulosic polymers include anionically modified cellulose, nonionically modified cellulose, cationically modified cellulose, zwitterionically modified cellulose, and mixtures thereof. Suitable cellulosic polymers include methyl cellulose, carboxy methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, hydroxyl ethyl cellulose, hydroxyl propyl methyl cellulose, ester carboxy methyl cellulose, and mixtures thereof.

Anti-Redeposition Agents

[0184] The detergent compositions of the present invention may also include one or more anti-redeposition agents such as carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), polyoxyethylene and/or polyethyleneglycol (PEG), homopolymers of acrylic acid, copolymers of acrylic acid and maleic acid, and ethoxylated polyethyleneimines. The cellulose based polymers described under soil release polymers above may also function as anti-redeposition agents.

Protease Stabilizers/Inhibitors

[0185] The protease(s), as described above, may be stabilized using compounds that act by temporarily reducing the proteolytic activity (reversible inhibitors).

[0186] Thus, the composition of the invention may also include a protease inhibitor/stabilizer, which is a reversible inhibitor of protease activity, e.g., serine protease activity. Preferably, the protease inhibitor is a (reversible) subtilisin protease inhibitor. In particular, the protease inhibitor may be a peptide aldehyde, boric acid, or a boronic acid; or a derivative of any of these.

[0187] Perfumes—The compositions of the present invention may comprise a perfume that comprises one or more perfume raw materials selected from the group consisting of 1,1′-oxybis-2-propanol; 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid, diethyl ester; (ethoxymethoxy)cyclododecane; 1,3-nonanediol, monoacetate; (3-methylbutoxy)acetic acid, 2-propenyl ester; beta-methyl cyclododecaneethanol; 2-methyl-3-[(1,7,7-trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl)oxy]-1-propanol; oxacyclohexadecan-2-one; alpha-methyl-benzenemethanol acetate; trans-3-ethoxy-1,1,5-trimethylcyclohexane; 4-(1,1-dimethylethyl)cyclohexanol acetate; dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan; beta-methyl benzenepropanal; beta-methyl-3-(1-methylethyl)benzenepropanal; 4-phenyl-2-butanone; 2-methylbutanoic acid, ethyl ester; benzaldehyde; 2-methylbutanoic acid, 1-methylethyl ester; dihydro-5-pentyl-2(3H)furanone; (2E)-1-(2,6,6-trimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1-yl)-2-buten-1-one; dodecanal; undecanal; 2-ethyl-alpha, alpha-dimethylbenzenepropanal; decanal; alpha, alpha-dimethylbenzeneethanol acetate; 2-(phenylmethylene)octanal; 2-[[3-[4-(1,1-dimethylethyl)phenyl]-2-methylpropylidene]amino]benzoic acid, methyl ester; 1-(2,6,6-trimethyl-3-cyclohexen-1-yl)-2-buten-1-one; 2-pentylcyclopentanone; 3-oxo-2-pentyl cyclopentaneacetic acid, methyl ester; 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde; 3-ethoxy-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde; 2-heptylcyclopentanone; 1-(4-methylphenyl)ethanone; (3E)-4-(2,6,6-trimethyl-1-cyclohexen-1-yl)-3-buten-2-one; (3E)-4-(2,6,6-trimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1-yl)-3-buten-2-one; benzeneethanol; 2H-1-benzopyran-2-one; 4-methoxybenzaldehyde; 10-undecenal; propanoic acid, phenylmethyl ester; beta-methylbenzenepentanol; 1,1-diethoxy-3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadiene; alpha, alpha-dimethylbenzeneethanol; (2E)-1-(2,6,6-trimethyl-1-cyclohexen-1-yl)-2-buten-1-one; acetic acid, phenylmethyl ester; cyclohexanepropanoic acid, 2-propenyl ester; hexanoic acid, 2-propenyl ester; 1,2-dimethoxy-4-(2-propenyl)benzene; 1,5-dimethyl-bicyclo[3.2.1]octan-8-one oxime; 4-(4-hydroxy-4-methylpentyl)-3-cyclohexene-1-carboxaldehyde; 3-buten-2-ol; 2-[[[2,4(or 3,5)-dimethyl-3-cyclohexen-1-yl]methylene]amino]benzoic acid, methyl ester; 8-cyclohexadecen-1-one; methyl ionone; 2,6-dimethyl-7-octen-2-ol; 2-methoxy-4-(2-propenyl)phenol; (2E)-3,7-dimethyl-2,6-Octadien-1-ol; 2-hydroxy-Benzoic acid, (3Z)-3-hexenyl ester; 2-tridecenenitrile; 4-(2,2-dimethyl-6-methylenecyclohexyl)-3-methyl-3-buten-2-one; tetrahydro-4-methyl-2-(2-methyl-1-propenyl)-2H-pyran; Acetic acid, (2-methylbutoxy)-, 2-propenyl ester; Benzoic acid, 2-hydroxy-, 3-methylbutyl ester; 2-Buten-1-one, 1-(2,6,6-trimethyl-1-cyclohexen-1-yl)-, (Z)—; Cyclopentanecarboxylic acid, 2-hexyl-3-oxo-, methyl ester; Benzenepropanal, 4-ethyl-.alpha.,.alpha.-dimethyl-; 3-Cyclohexene-1-carboxaldehyde, 3-(4-hydroxy-4-methylpentyl)-; Ethanone, 1-(2,3,4,7,8,8a-hexahydro-3,6,8,8-tetramethyl-1H-3a,7-methanoazulen-5-yl)-, [3R-(3.alpha.,3a.beta.,7.beta.,8a.alpha.)]-; Undecanal, 2-methyl-2H-Pyran-2-one, 6-butyltetrahydro-; Benzenepropanal, 4-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-.alpha.-methyl-; 2(3H)-Furanone, 5-heptyldihydro-; Benzoic acid, 2-[(7-hydroxy-3,7-dimethyloctylidene)amino]-, methyl; Benzoic acid, 2-hydroxy-, phenylmethyl ester; Naphthalene, 2-methoxy-; 2-Cyclopenten-1-one, 2-hexyl-; 2(3H)-Furanone, 5-hexyldihydro-; Oxiranecarboxylic acid, 3-methyl-3-phenyl-, ethyl ester; 2-Oxabicyclo[2.2.2]octane, 1,3,3-trimethyl-; Benzenepentanol, .gamma.-methyl-; 3-Octanol, 3,7-dimethyl-; 3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadienenitrile; 3,7-dimethyl-6-octen-1-ol; Terpineol acetate; 2-methyl-6-methylene-7-Octen-2-ol, dihydro derivative; 3a,4,5,6,7,7a-hexahydro-4,7-Methano-1H-inden-6-ol propanoate; 3-methyl-2-buten-1-ol acetate; (Z)-3-Hexen-1-ol acetate; 2-ethyl-4-(2,2,3-trimethyl-3-cyclopenten-1-yl)-2-buten-1-ol; 4-(octahydro-4,7-methano-5H-inden-5-ylidene)-butanal; 3-2,4-dimethyl-cyclohexene-1-carboxaldehyde; 1-(1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8-octahydro-2,3,8,8-tetramethyl-2-naphthalenyl)-ethanone; 2-hydroxy-benzoic acid, methyl ester; 2-hydroxy-benzoic acid, hexyl ester; 2-phenoxy-ethanol; 2-hydroxy-benzoic acid, pentyl ester; 2,3-heptanedione; 2-hexen-1-ol; 6-Octen-2-ol, 2,6-dimethyl-; damascone (alpha, beta, gamma or delta or mixtures thereof), 4,7-Methano-1H-inden-6-ol, 3a,4,5,6,7,7a-hexahydro-, acetate; 9-Undecenal; 8-Undecenal; Isocyclocitral; Ethanone, 1-(1,2,3,5,6,7,8,8a-octahydro-2,3,8,8-tetramethyl-2-naphthalenyl)-; 3-Cyclohexene-1-carboxaldehyde, 3,5-dimethyl-; 3-Cyclohexene-1-carboxaldehyde, 2,4-dimethyl-; 1,6-Octadien-3-ol, 3,7-dimethyl-; 1,6-Octadien-3-ol, 3,7-dimethyl-, acetate; Lilial (p-t-Bucinal), and Cyclopentanone, 2-[2-(4-methyl-3-cyclohexen-1-yl)propyl]- and 1-methyl-4-(1-methylethenyl)cyclohexene and mixtures thereof.

[0188] In one aspect the composition may comprise an encapsulated perfume particle comprising either a water-soluble hydroxylic compound or melamine-formaldehyde or modified polyvinyl alcohol. In one aspect the encapsulate comprises (a) an at least partially water-soluble solid matrix comprising one or more water-soluble hydroxylic compounds, preferably starch; and (b) a perfume oil encapsulated by the solid matrix.

[0189] In a further aspect, the perfume may be pre-complexed with a polyamine, preferably a polyethylenimine so as to form a Schiff base.

[0190] Suds Boosters—If high sudsing is desired, suds boosters such as the C.sub.10-C.sub.16 alkanolamides or C.sub.10-C.sub.14 alkyl sulphates can be incorporated into the compositions, typically at 1 to 10 wt % levels. The C.sub.10-C.sub.14 monoethanol and diethanol amides illustrate a typical class of such suds boosters. Use of such suds boosters with high sudsing adjunct surfactants such as the amine oxides, betaines and sultaines noted above is also advantageous. If desired, water-soluble magnesium and/or calcium salts such as MgCl.sub.2, MgSO.sub.4, CaCl.sub.2, CaSO.sub.4 and the like, can be added at levels of, typically, 0.1 to 2 wt %, to provide additional suds and to enhance grease removal performance.

[0191] Suds Suppressors—Compounds for reducing or suppressing the formation of suds can be incorporated into the compositions of the present invention. Suds suppression can be of particular importance in the so-called “high concentration cleaning process” as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,489,455 and 4,489,574, and in front-loading-style washing machines. A wide variety of materials may be used as suds suppressors, and suds suppressors are well known to those skilled in the art. See e.g. Kirk Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, Third Edition, Volume 7, p. 430-447 (John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1979). Examples of suds suppressors include monocarboxylic fatty acid and soluble salts therein, high molecular weight hydrocarbons such as paraffin, fatty acid esters (e.g., fatty acid triglycerides), fatty acid esters of monovalent alcohols, aliphatic C.sub.18-C.sub.40 ketones (e.g., stearone), N-alkylated amino triazines, waxy hydrocarbons preferably having a melting point below about 100° C., silicone suds suppressors, and secondary alcohols. Suds suppressors are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,954,347; 4,265,779; 4,265,779; 3,455,839; 3,933,672; 4,652,392; 4,978,471; 4,983,316; 5,288,431; 4,639,489; 4,749,740; 4,798,679; 4,075,118; EP89307851.9; EP150872; and DOS 2,124,526.

[0192] For any detergent compositions to be used in automatic laundry washing machines, suds should not form to the extent that they overflow the washing machine. Suds suppressors, when utilized, are preferably present in a “suds suppressing amount. By “suds suppressing amount” is meant that the formulator of the composition can select an amount of this suds controlling agent that will sufficiently control the suds to result in a low-sudsing laundry detergent for use in automatic laundry washing machines.

[0193] The compositions of the present invention may comprise from 0 to 10 wt % of suds suppressor. When utilized as suds suppressors, monocarboxylic fatty acids, and salts therein, will be present typically in amounts up to 5 wt %. Preferably, from 0.5 to 3 wt % of fatty monocarboxylate suds suppressor is utilized. Silicone suds suppressors are typically utilized in amounts up to 2.0 wt %, although higher amounts may be used. Monostearyl phosphate suds suppressors are generally utilized in amounts ranging from 0.1 to 2 wt %. Hydrocarbon suds suppressors are typically utilized in amounts ranging from 0.01 to 5.0 wt %, although higher levels can be used. The alcohol suds suppressors are typically used at 0.2 to 3 wt %.

Rheology Modifiers

[0194] The detergent compositions of the present invention may also include one or more rheology modifiers, structurants or thickeners, as distinct from viscosity reducing agents. The rheology modifiers are selected from the group consisting of non-polymeric crystalline, hydroxy-functional materials, polymeric rheology modifiers which impart shear thinning characteristics to the aqueous liquid matrix of a liquid detergent composition. The rheology and viscosity of the detergent can be modified and adjusted by methods known in the art, for example as shown in EP 2169040.

[0195] Other suitable adjunct materials include, but are not limited to, anti-shrink agents, anti-wrinkling agents, bactericides, binders, carriers, dyes, enzyme stabilizers, fabric softeners, fillers, foam regulators, hydrotropes, perfumes, pigments, sod suppressors, solvents, and structurants for liquid detergents and/or structure elasticizing agents.

Microorganisms

[0196] The detergent composition as described above may comprise one or more microorganisms or microbes. Generally, any microorganism(s) may be used in the enzyme/detergent formulations in any suitable amount(s)/concentration(s). Microorganisms may be used as the only biologically active ingredient, but they may also be used in conjunction with one or more of the enzymes described above.

[0197] The purpose of adding the microorganism(s) may, for example, be to reduce malodor as described in WO 2012/112718. Other purposes could include in-situ production of desirable biological compounds, or inoculation/population of a locus with the microorganism(s) to competitively prevent other non-desirable microorganisms form populating the same locus (competitive exclusion).

[0198] The term “microorganism” generally means small organisms that are visible through a microscope. Microorganisms often exist as single cells or as colonies of cells. Some microorganisms may be multicellular. Microorganisms include prokaryotic (e.g., bacteria and archaea) and eurkaryotic (e.g., some fungi, algae, protozoa) organisms. Examples of bacteria may be Gram-positive bacteria or Gram-negative bacteria. Example forms of bacteria include vegetative cells and endospores. Examples of fungi may be yeasts, molds and mushrooms. Example forms of fungi include hyphae and spores. Herein, viruses may be considered microorganisms.

[0199] Microorganisms may be recombinant or non-recombinant. In some examples, the microorganisms may produce various substances (e.g., enzymes) that are useful for inclusion in detergent compositions. Extracts from microorganisms or fractions from the extracts may be used in the detergents. Media in which microorganisms are cultivated, or extracts or fractions from the media may also be used in detergents. In some examples, specific of the microorganisms, substances produced by the microorganisms, extracts, media, and fractions thereof, may be specifically excluded from the detergents. In some examples, the microorganisms, or substances produced by, or extracted from, the microorganisms, may activate, enhance, preserve, prolong, and the like, detergent activity or components contained with detergents.

[0200] Generally, microorganisms may be cultivated using methods known in the art. The microorganisms may then be processed or formulated in various ways. In some examples, the microorganisms may be desiccated (e.g., lyophilized). In some examples, the microorganisms may be encapsulated (e.g., spray drying). Many other treatments or formulations are possible. These treatments or preparations may facilitate retention of microorganism viability over time and/or in the presence of detergent components. In some examples, however, microorganisms in detergents may not be viable. The processed/formulated microorganisms may be added to detergents prior to, or at the time the detergents are used.

[0201] In one embodiment, the microorganism is a species of Bacillus, for example, at least one species of Bacillus selected from the group consisting of Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus atrophaeus, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus megaterium, or a combination thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the aforementioned Bacillus species are on an endospore form, which significantly improves the storage stability.

Formulation of Detergent Products

[0202] The detergent composition of the invention may be in any convenient form, e.g., a bar, a homogenous tablet, a tablet having two or more layers, a pouch having one or more compartments, a regular or compact powder, a granule, a paste, a gel, or a regular, compact or concentrated liquid.

[0203] Pouches can be configured as single or multicompartments. They can be of any form, shape and material which is suitable for hold the composition, e.g. without allowing the release of the composition from the pouch prior to water contact. The pouch is made from water soluble film which encloses an inner volume. Said inner volume can be divided into compartments of the pouch. Preferred films are polymeric materials preferably polymers which are formed into a film or sheet. Preferred polymers, copolymers or derivates thereof are selected polyacrylates, and water soluble acrylate copolymers, methyl cellulose, carboxy methyl cellulose, sodium dextrin, ethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, malto dextrin, poly methacrylates, most preferably polyvinyl alcohol copolymers and, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC). Preferably the level of polymer in the film for example PVA is at least about 60%. Preferred average molecular weight will typically be about 20,000 to about 150,000. Films can also be of blended compositions comprising hydrolytically degradable and water soluble polymer blends such as polylactide and polyvinyl alcohol (known under the Trade reference M8630 as sold by MonoSol LLC, Indiana, USA) plus plasticisers like glycerol, ethylene glycerol, propylene glycol, sorbitol and mixtures thereof. The pouches can comprise a solid laundry cleaning composition or part components and/or a liquid cleaning composition or part components separated by the water soluble film. The compartment for liquid components can be different in composition than compartments containing solids: US2009/0011970 A1.

[0204] Detergent ingredients can be separated physically from each other by compartments in water dissolvable pouches or in different layers of tablets. Thereby negative storage interaction between components can be avoided. Different dissolution profiles of each of the compartments can also give rise to delayed dissolution of selected components in the wash solution.

[0205] A liquid or gel detergent, which is not unit dosed, may be aqueous, typically containing at least 20% by weight and up to 95% water, such as up to about 70% water, up to about 65% water, up to about 55% water, up to about 45% water, up to about 35% water. Other types of liquids, including without limitation, alkanols, amines, diols, ethers and polyols may be included in an aqueous liquid or gel. An aqueous liquid or gel detergent may contain from 0-30% organic solvent.

[0206] A liquid or gel detergent may be non-aqueous.

Laundry Soap Bars

[0207] The alpha-amylases of the invention may be added to laundry soap bars and used for hand washing laundry, fabrics and/or textiles. The term laundry soap bar includes laundry bars, soap bars, combo bars, syndet bars and detergent bars. The types of bar usually differ in the type of surfactant they contain, and the term laundry soap bar includes those containing soaps from fatty acids and/or synthetic soaps. The laundry soap bar has a physical form which is solid and not a liquid, gel or a powder at room temperature. The term solid is defined as a physical form which does not significantly change over time, i.e. if a solid object (e.g. laundry soap bar) is placed inside a container, the solid object does not change to fill the container it is placed in. The bar is a solid typically in bar form but can be in other solid shapes such as round or oval.

[0208] The laundry soap bar may contain one or more additional enzymes, protease inhibitors such as peptide aldehydes (or hydrosulfite adduct or hemiacetal adduct), boric acid, borate, borax and/or phenylboronic acid derivatives such as 4-formylphenylboronic acid, one or more soaps or synthetic surfactants, polyols such as glycerine, pH controlling compounds such as fatty acids, citric acid, acetic acid and/or formic acid, and/or a salt of a monovalent cation and an organic anion wherein the monovalent cation may be for example Na.sup.+, K.sup.+ or NH.sub.4.sup.+ and the organic anion may be for example formate, acetate, citrate or lactate such that the salt of a monovalent cation and an organic anion may be, for example, sodium formate.

[0209] The laundry soap bar may also contain complexing agents like EDTA and HEDP, perfumes and/or different type of fillers, surfactants e.g. anionic synthetic surfactants, builders, polymeric soil release agents, detergent chelators, stabilizing agents, fillers, dyes, colorants, dye transfer inhibitors, alkoxylated polycarbonates, suds suppressers, structurants, binders, leaching agents, bleaching activators, clay soil removal agents, anti-redeposition agents, polymeric dispersing agents, brighteners, fabric softeners, perfumes and/or other compounds known in the art.

[0210] The laundry soap bar may be processed in conventional laundry soap bar making equipment such as but not limited to: mixers, plodders, e.g a two stage vacuum plodder, extruders, cutters, logo-stampers, cooling tunnels and wrappers. The invention is not limited to preparing the laundry soap bars by any single method. The premix of the invention may be added to the soap at different stages of the process. For example, the premix containing a soap, alpha-amylases, optionally one or more additional enzymes, a protease inhibitor, and a salt of a monovalent cation and an organic anion may be prepared and the mixture is then plodded. The alpha-amylases and optional additional enzymes may be added at the same time as the protease inhibitor for example in liquid form. Besides the mixing step and the plodding step, the process may further comprise the steps of milling, extruding, cutting, stamping, cooling and/or wrapping.

Granular Detergent Formulations

[0211] A granular detergent may be formulated as described in WO09/092699, EP1705241, EP1382668, WO07/001262, U.S. Pat. No. 6,472,364, WO04/074419 or WO09/102854. Other useful detergent formulations are described in WO09/124162, WO09/124163, WO09/117340, WO09/117341, WO09/117342, WO09/072069, WO09/063355, WO09/132870, WO09/121757, WO09/112296, WO09/112298, WO09/103822, WO09/087033, WO09/050026, WO09/047125, WO09/047126, WO09/047127, WO09/047128, WO09/021784, WO09/010375, WO09/000605, WO09/122125, WO09/095645, WO09/040544, WO09/040545, WO09/024780, WO09/004295, WO09/004294, WO09/121725, WO09/115391, WO09/115392, WO09/074398, WO09/074403, WO09/068501, WO09/065770, WO09/021813, WO09/030632, and WO09/015951.

[0212] WO2011025615, WO2011016958, WO2011005803, WO2011005623, WO2011005730, WO2011005844, WO2011005904, WO2011005630, WO2011005830, WO2011005912, WO2011005905, WO2011005910, WO2011005813, WO2010135238, WO2010120863, WO2010108002, WO2010111365, WO2010108000, WO2010107635, WO2010090915, WO2010033976, WO2010033746, WO2010033747, WO2010033897, WO2010033979, WO2010030540, WO2010030541, WO2010030539, WO2010024467, WO2010024469, WO2010024470, WO2010025161, WO2010014395, WO2010044905,

[0213] WO2010145887, WO2010142503, WO2010122051, WO2010102861, WO2010099997, WO2010084039, WO2010076292, WO2010069742, WO2010069718, WO2010069957, WO2010057784, WO2010054986, WO2010018043, WO2010003783, WO2010003792,

[0214] WO2011023716, WO2010142539, WO2010118959, WO2010115813, WO2010105942, WO2010105961, WO2010105962, WO2010094356, WO2010084203, WO2010078979, WO2010072456, WO2010069905, WO2010076165, WO2010072603, WO2010066486, WO2010066631, WO2010066632, WO2010063689, WO2010060821, WO2010049187, WO2010031607, WO2010000636.

Formulation of Enzyme in Co-Granule

[0215] The enzyme of the invention may be formulated as a granule for example as a co-granule that combines one or more enzymes. Each enzyme will then be present in more granules securing a more uniform distribution of enzymes in the detergent. This also reduces the physical segregation of different enzymes due to different particle sizes. Methods for producing multi-enzyme co-granulates for the detergent industry are disclosed in the IP.com disclosure IPCOM000200739D.

[0216] Another example of formulation of enzymes by the use of co-granulates are disclosed in WO 2013/188331, which relates to a detergent composition comprising (a) a multi-enzyme co-granule; (b) less than 10 wt % zeolite (anhydrous basis); and (c) less than 10 wt % phosphate salt (anhydrous basis), wherein said enzyme co-granule comprises from 10 to 98 wt % moisture sink component and the composition additionally comprises from 20 to 80 wt % detergent moisture sink component. WO 2013/188331 also relates to a method of treating and/or cleaning a surface, preferably a fabric surface comprising the steps of (i) contacting said surface with the detergent composition as claimed and described herein in an aqueous wash liquor, (ii) rinsing and/or drying the surface.

[0217] The multi-enzyme co-granule may comprise an enzyme of the invention and (a) one or more enzymes selected from the group consisting of first-wash lipases, cleaning cellulases, xyloglucanases, perhydrolases, peroxidases, lipoxygenases, laccases and mixtures thereof; and (b) one or more enzymes selected from the group consisting of hemicellulases, proteases, care cellulases, cellobiose dehydrogenases, xylanases, phospho lipases, esterases, cutinases, pectinases, mannanases, pectate lyases, keratinases, reductases, oxidases, phenoloxidases, ligninases, pullulanases, tannases, pentosanases, lichenases glucanases, arabinosidases, hyaluronidase, chondroitinase, amylases, and mixtures thereof.

Liquid Enzyme Formulations

[0218] The enzyme may be formulated as a liquid enzyme formulation, which is generally a pourable composition, though it may also have a high viscosity. The physical appearance and properties of a liquid enzyme formulation may vary a lot—for example, they may have different viscosities (gel to water-like), be colored, not colored, clear, hazy, and even with solid particles like in slurries and suspensions. The minimum ingredients are the enzyme and a solvent system to make it a liquid. In addition to the enzyme, the liquid enzyme formulation may also comprise other enzyme activities, such as protease, amylase, lipase, cellulase, and/or nuclease (e.g., DNase, RNase) activities.

[0219] The solvent system may comprise water, polyols (such as glycerol, (mono, di, or tri) propylene glycol, (mono, di, or tri) ethylene glycol, sugar alcohol (e.g. sorbitol, mannitol, erythritol, dulcitol, inositol, xylitol or adonitol), polypropylene glycol, and/or polyethylene glycol), ethanol, sugars, and salts. Usually the solvent system also includes a preservation agent and/or other stabilizing agents.

[0220] A liquid enzyme formulation may be prepared by mixing a solvent system and an enzyme concentrate with a desired degree of purity (or enzyme particles to obtain a slurry/suspension).

[0221] In an embodiment, the liquid enzyme composition comprises:

(a) at least 0.01% w/w active enzyme protein,
(b) at least 0.5% w/w polyol,
(c) water, and
(d) optionally a preservation agent.

[0222] The enzyme in the liquid composition of the invention may be stabilized using conventional stabilizing agents. Examples of stabilizing agents include, but are not limited to, sugars like glucose, fructose, sucrose, or trehalose; addition of salt to increase the ionic strength; divalent cations (e.g., Ca.sup.2+ or Mg.sup.2+); and enzyme inhibitors, enzyme substrates, or various polymers (e.g., PVP). Selecting the optimal pH for the formulation may be very important for enzyme stability. The optimal pH depends on the specific enzyme but is typically in the range of pH 4-9. In some cases, surfactants like nonionic surfactant (e.g., alcohol ethoxylates) can improve the physical stability of the enzyme formulations.

[0223] One embodiment of the invention relates to a composition comprising an enzyme, wherein the composition further comprises:

(i) a polyol, preferably selected from glycerol, (mono, di, or tri) propylene glycol, (mono, di, or tri) ethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, sugar alcohols, sorbitol, mannitol, erythritol, dulcitol, inositol, xylitol and adonitol;
(ii) optionally an additional enzyme, preferably selected from protease, amylase, or lipase,
(iii) optionally a surfactant, preferably selected from anionic and nonionic surfactants,
(iv) optionally a divalent cation, polymer, or enzyme inhibitor;
(v) optionally having a pH in the range of pH 4-9; and
(vi) water.

[0224] Slurries or dispersions of enzymes are typically prepared by dispersing small particles of enzymes (e.g., spray-dried particles) in a liquid medium in which the enzyme is sparingly soluble, e.g., a liquid nonionic surfactant or a liquid polyethylene glycol. Powder can also be added to aqueous systems in an amount so not all go into solution (above the solubility limit). Another format is crystal suspensions which can also be aqueous liquids (see for example WO2019/002356). Another way to prepare such dispersion is by preparing water-in-oil emulsions, where the enzyme is in the water phase, and evaporate the water from the droplets. Such slurries/suspension can be physically stabilized (to reduce or avoid sedimentation) by addition of rheology modifiers, such as fumed silica or xanthan gum, typically to get a shear thinning rheology.

Granular Enzyme Formulations

[0225] The enzyme may also be formulated as a solid/granular enzyme formulation. Non-dusting granulates may be produced, e.g. as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,106,991 and 4,661,452, and may optionally be coated by methods known in the art. Examples of waxy coating materials are poly(ethylene oxide) products (polyethyleneglycol, PEG) with mean molar weights of 1000 to 20000; ethoxylated nonylphenols having from 16 to 50 ethylene oxide units; ethoxylated fatty alcohols in which the alcohol contains from 12 to 20 carbon atoms and in which there are 15 to 80 ethylene oxide units; fatty alcohols; fatty acids; and mono- and di- and triglycerides of fatty acids. Examples of film-forming coating materials suitable for application by fluid bed techniques are given in GB 1483591.

[0226] The enzyme may be formulated as a granule for example as a co-granule that combines one or more enzymes or benefit agents (such as MnTACN or other bleaching components). Examples of such additional enzymes include proteases, amylases, lipases, cellulases, and/or nucleases (e.g., DNase, RNase). Each enzyme will then be present in more granules securing a more uniform distribution of enzymes in the detergent. This also reduces the physical segregation of different enzymes due to different particle sizes. Methods for producing multi-enzyme co-granulate for the detergent industry are disclosed in the IP.com disclosure IPCOM000200739D.

[0227] An embodiment of the invention relates to an enzyme granule/particle comprising an enzyme. The granule is composed of a core, and optionally one or more coatings (outer layers) surrounding the core. Typically, the granule/particle size, measured as equivalent spherical diameter (volume based average particle size), of the granule is 20-2000 μm, particularly 50-1500 μm, 100-1500 μm or 250-1200 μm.

[0228] The core may include additional materials such as fillers, fibre materials (cellulose or synthetic fibres), stabilizing agents, solubilising agents, suspension agents, viscosity regulating agents, light spheres, plasticizers, salts, lubricants and fragrances. The core may include binders, such as synthetic polymer, wax, fat, or carbohydrate. The core may comprise a salt of a multivalent cation, a reducing agent, an antioxidant, a peroxide decomposing catalyst and/or an acidic buffer component, typically as a homogenous blend. The core may consist of an inert particle with the enzyme absorbed into it, or applied onto the surface, e.g., by fluid bed coating. The core may have a diameter of 20-2000 μm, particularly 50-1500 μm, 100-1500 μm or 250-1200 μm. The core can be prepared by granulating a blend of the ingredients, e.g., by a method comprising granulation techniques such as crystallization, precipitation, pan-coating, fluid bed coating, fluid bed agglomeration, rotary atomization, extrusion, prilling, spheronization, size reduction methods, drum granulation, and/or high shear granulation. Methods for preparing the core can be found in Handbook of Powder Technology; Particle size enlargement by C. E. Capes; Volume 1; 1980; Elsevier. These methods are well-known in the art and have also been described in international patent application WO2015/028567, pages 3-5, which is incorporated by reference.

[0229] The core of the enzyme granule/particle may be surrounded by at least one coating, e.g., to improve the storage stability, to reduce dust formation during handling, or for coloring the granule. The optional coating(s) may include a salt coating, or other suitable coating materials, such as polyethylene glycol (PEG), methyl hydroxy-propyl cellulose (MHPC) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). Examples of enzyme granules with multiple coatings are shown in WO 93/07263 and WO 97/23606.

[0230] Such coatings are well-known in the art, and have earlier been described in, for example, WO00/01793, WO2001/025412, and WO2015/028567, which are incorporated by reference.

[0231] In one aspect, the present invention provides a granule, which comprises:

(a) a core comprising an enzyme according to the invention; and
(b) optionally a (salt) coating consisting of one or more layer(s) surrounding the core.

[0232] Another aspect of the invention relates to a layered granule, comprising:

(a) a (non-enzymatic) core;
(b) a coating surrounding the core, wherein the coating comprises an enzyme; and
(c) optionally a (salt) coating consisting of one or more layer(s) surrounding the enzyme containing coating.

Encapsulated Enzyme Formulations

[0233] The enzyme may also be formulated as an encapsulated enzyme formulation (an ‘encapsulate’). This is particularly useful for separating the enzyme from other ingredients when the enzyme is added into, for example, a (liquid) cleaning composition, such as the detergent compositions described below.

[0234] Physical separation can be used to solve incompatibility between the enzyme(s) and other components. Incompatibility can arise if the other components are either reactive against the enzyme, or if the other components are substrates of the enzyme. Other enzymes can be substrates of proteases.

[0235] The enzyme may be encapsulated in a matrix, preferably a water-soluble or water dispersible matrix (e.g., water-soluble polymer particles), for example as described in WO 2016/023685. An example of a water-soluble polymeric matrix is a matrix composition comprising polyvinyl alcohol. Such compositions are also used for encapsulating detergent compositions in unit-dose formats.

[0236] The enzyme may also be encapsulated in core-shell microcapsules, for example as described in WO 2015/144784, or as described in the IP.com disclosure IPCOM000239419D.

[0237] Such core-shell capsules can be prepared using a number of technologies known in the art, e.g., by interfacial polymerization using either a water-in-oil or an oil-in-water emulsion, where polymers are crosslinked at the surface of the droplets in the emulsion (the interface between water and oil), thus forming a wall/membrane around each droplet/capsule.

METHODS OF USE

[0238] The invention provides a use of a detergent composition in a domestic or industrial cleaning process. A cleaning process may for example be a dishwashing process, such as automated dishwashing; a laundry process; or cleaning of hard surfaces such as bathroom tiles, floors, table tops, drains, sinks and washbasins.

[0239] Dishwashing

[0240] An automated dishwashing process may comprise the following steps:

[0241] a. Exposing dishware to an aqueous wash liquor comprising a detergent composition;

[0242] b. Completing at least one wash cycle; and

[0243] c. Optionally rinsing and drying the dishware.

Thus, the invention provides a method of dishwashing in an automatic dishwashing machine using a detergent composition as described herein, comprising the steps of adding said detergent composition in a detergent composition compartment in said automatic dishwashing machine, and releasing said detergent composition during a main-wash cycle.

[0244] The compositions may be employed at concentrations from about 1000-8000 ppm in the wash liquor, such as 2000-6000 ppm in the wash liquor. The hardness of the wash liquor may be 3-30°dH. The pH of the wash liquor may be 3-11, such as 7-11.

[0245] The temperature of the wash liquor when used may be in the range of 10-70° C. For example the temperature of the wash liquor can be in the range of 15-60° C., in the range of 20-50° C., in the range of 25-50° C., in the range of 30-45° C., in the range of 35-40° C., in the range of 35-55° C., or in the range of 40-50° C.

[0246] The temperature may vary throughout the wash program. One enzyme may be activated at one active temperature range and other enzymes may be activated at another active temperature range differing from the active temperature range of the first enzyme. For example, one or more wash cycles may be carried out at a temperature of 32-38° C. and other wash cycles may be carried out at a temperature of 45-55° C. The advantage of this is that the single enzymes are allowed to work at their optimal temperature. The optimal temperature of the enzymes of a detergent composition may vary but is typically in the range of 65-70° C. for proteases and in the range of 55-65° C. for amylases. The optimal temperature may be determined by different assays, such as comparing the activity over a 15 min period of time in a buffered solution at different temperatures.

[0247] During or after completion of a wash cycle the dishware can be rinsed with water or with water comprising a rinsing aid. The effectiveness of the cleaning can be further improved if an acidic rinsing aid is used. The rinsing aid should be capable of lowering the pH below 4 during at least a period of the rinsing step. The pH may be even further lowered e.g. to below pH 3.5, such as below pH 3, below pH 2.5 or below pH 2. The period of lowering the pH may be at least 1 minute, such as at least 2 minutes, at least 3 minutes, at least 4 minutes, at least 5 minutes, at least 6 minutes or at least 7 minutes. The period of lowering the pH may even be as long as the time period for the full rinsing step.

[0248] The ability of lowering the pH during the rinsing step is due to a buffering agent. A buffer with strong buffer capacity at low pH, from pH 4 and below should be selected. The buffer capacity should correspond to the same effect as the pH drop was done with 15 ml 4M HCL/rinse cycle. The ability of lowering the pH during the rinsing step is due to a buffering agent selected from the group consisting of citric acid, acetic acid, potassium dihydrogen phosphate, boric acid, diethyl barbituric acid, Carmody buffer and Britton-Robinson buffer.

[0249] The rinsing aid can further improve the cleaning of the dishware by rinsing away any soil released from the dishware during the washing cycle. In addition, the acidic rinsing aid prevents precipitation of calcium on the dishware.

[0250] Laundering

[0251] Laundry processes can for example be household laundering, but it may also be industrial laundering. A process for laundering of fabrics and/or garments may be a process comprises treating fabrics with a washing solution containing a detergent composition as described herein. A cleaning process or a textile care process can for example be carried out in a machine washing process or in a manual washing process.

[0252] The fabrics and/or garments subjected to a washing, cleaning or textile care process may be conventional washable laundry, for example household laundry. Preferably, the major part of the laundry is garments and fabrics, including knits, woven, denims, non-woven, felts, yarns, and toweling. The fabrics may be cellulose based such as natural cellulosics, including cotton, flax, linen, jute, ramie, sisal or coir or manmade cellulosics (e.g., originating from wood pulp) including viscose/rayon, ramie, cellulose acetate fibres (tricell), lyocell or blends thereof. The fabrics may also be non-cellulose based such as natural polyamides including wool, camel, cashmere, mohair, rabbit and silk or synthetic polymer such as nylon, aramid, polyester, acrylic, polypropylene and spandex/elastane, or blends thereof as well as blend of cellulose based and non-cellulose based fibres.

[0253] In one aspect, the present invention relates to a method of laundering in an automatic laundering machine using a detergent composition as described herein, comprising the steps of adding said detergent composition in a detergent composition compartment in said automatic laundering machine, and releasing said detergent composition during a main wash cycle. In another aspect, the present invention relates to a method of laundering, comprising laundering a garment with a detergent composition as described herein, preferably at a temperature less than 60° C., such as less than 55° C., such as less than 50°, such as less than 45° C., such as less than 40° C., such as less than 35° C., such as less than 30° C., such as less than 25° C., such as less than 20° C., such as less than 15° C.

[0254] These methods include a method for laundering a fabric. The method comprises the steps of contacting a fabric to be laundered with a cleaning laundry solution comprising a detergent composition. The fabric may comprise any fabric capable of being laundered in normal consumer use conditions. The solution preferably has a pH from about 5.5 to about 11.5. The compositions may be employed at concentrations from about 100 ppm, preferably 500 ppm to about 15,000 ppm in solution. The water temperatures typically range from about 5° C. to about 95° C., including about 10° C., about 15° C., about 20° C., about 25° C., about 30° C., about 35° C., about 40° C., about 45° C., about 50° C., about 55° C., about 60° C., about 65° C., about 70° C., about 75° C., about 80° C., about 85° C. and about 90° C. The water to fabric ratio is typically from about 1:1 to about 30:1.

[0255] In particular embodiments, the washing method is conducted at a degree of hardness of from about 0°dH to about 30°dH. Under typical European wash conditions, the degree of hardness is about 16°dH, under typical US wash conditions about 6°dH, and under typical Asian wash conditions, about 3°dH.

Hard Surface Cleaning

[0256] The present invention encompasses a method of cleaning a hard surface with a composition according to the present invention. In one aspect, the method of cleaning a hard surface herein involves the use of the hard surface cleaning composition according to the present invention in liquid or powder form. In a preferred embodiment said hard surface is contacted with the hard surface cleaning composition according to the present invention. An alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention provides that a solid or unit-dose hard surface cleaning composition is applied onto the surface to be treated.

[0257] In the method herein, the hard surface cleaning composition herein is applied onto said surface by conventional means known by the skilled person. Indeed, the composition herein may be applied by pouring or spraying said composition, preferably in liquid or powder form, onto said surface. In a preferred embodiment, the method of cleaning a hard surface herein includes the steps of applying, preferably spraying, said hard surface cleaning composition, onto said hard surface, leaving said hard surface cleaning composition to act onto said surface for a period of time to allow said composition to act, preferably without applying mechanical action, and optionally removing said hard surface cleaning composition, preferably removing said hard surface cleaning composition by rinsing said hard surface with water and/or wiping said hard surface with an appropriate instrument, e.g., a sponge, a paper or cloth towel and the like.

Uses

[0258] The present invention further relates to the use of detergent composition according to the present invention in a cleaning process such as laundry, including industrial cleaning, ADW and hard surface cleaning. The soils and stains that are important for cleaning are composed of many different substances, and a range of different enzymes, all with different substrate specificities, have been developed for use in detergents both in relation to laundry and hard surface cleaning, such as dishwashing. These enzymes are considered to provide an enzyme detergency benefit, since they specifically improve stain removal in the cleaning process that they are used in, compared to the same process without enzymes. Stain removing enzymes that are known in the art include enzymes such as proteases, amylases, lipases, cutinases, cellulases, endoglucanases, xyloglucanases, pectinases, pectin lyases, xanthanases, peroxidaes, haloperoxygenases, catalases and mannanases.

[0259] In another aspect, the invention relates to a laundering process which may be for household laundering as well as industrial laundering. Furthermore, the invention relates to a process for the laundering of textiles (e.g. fabrics, garments, cloths etc.) where the process comprises treating the textile with a washing solution containing a detergent composition of the present invention. The laundering can for example be carried out using a household or an industrial washing machine or be carried out by hand using a detergent composition of the invention.

[0260] In another aspect, the invention relates to a dish wash process, including ADW; or hard surface cleaning, which may be for household cleaning as well as industrial cleaning. Furthermore, the invention relates to a process for dish wash or hard surface cleaning, where the process comprises treating the dishes or hard surfaces with a washing solution comprising a detergent composition of the present invention. The dish wash or hard surface cleaning can for example be carried out using a household dish washing machine or be carried out by hand using a detergent composition of the invention.

[0261] The present invention is further described by the following examples that should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

Materials and Method

Assays for Alpha-Amylase Activity

1. PNP-G7 Assay

[0262] The alpha-amylase activity was determined by employing the pNP-G7 substrate (PNP-G7 the abbreviation for 4,6-ethylidene(G7)-p-nitrophenyl(G1)-α,D-maltoheptaoside, a blocked oligosaccharide which is cleaved by an endo-amylase, such as an alpha-amylase).

[0263] An antibody was diluted in Phosphate buffered saline (PBS) (0.010 M Phosphate buffer pH7.4, 0.0027M KCl, 0.14M NaCl) buffer to concentration of 10 μg/ml. A maxisorp microtiter plate was coated with antibody by adding 100 μl diluted antibody (10 μg/ml) to each well and incubated for 1 h at room temperature (RT) and mixing at 800 rpm. After incubation the microtiter plate was washed (using Bio-Tek ELx405 ELISA washer) with 3×200 μl Phosphate buffered saline with 0.05% Tween (PBST) (0.010 M Phosphate buffer pH7.4, 0.0027M KCl, 0.14M NaCl, 0.05% Tween 20) buffer.

[0264] Microtiter plates with the alpha-amylase variants culture broths were spun down and supernatants transferred to new microtiter plates and diluted 4× in PBST buffer. 100 μl diluted supernatant was transferred to antibody coated maxisorp microtiter plate and incubated for 1 h at RT and mixing at 800 rpm. After incubation microtiter plates were washed in PBST buffer (3×200 μl, ELISA washer).

[0265] Upon the cleavage of the pNP-G7 substrate, the alpha-Glucosidase included in the kit used is digested and the hydrolysed substrate liberates a free pNP molecule which has a yellow color and thus can be measured by visible spectophometry at Abs=405 nm (400-420 nm.). Kits containing pNP-G7 substrate and alpha-Glucosidase are manufactured by Roche/Hitachi (cat. No. 11876473). 100 μl pNP-G7 substrate was added to all wells and mixed for 1 minute before measuring absorbance at 405 nm. The slope (absorbance per minute) is determined and only the linear range of curve is used.

[0266] The slope of the time dependent absorption-curve is directly proportional to the activity of the alpha-amylase in question under the given set of conditions.

[0267] The specific alpha-amylase activity may also be determined by other activity assays, such as amylazyme activity assay, Phadebas activity assay, or reducing sugar activity assay as described below.

2. Amylazyme Activity Assay

[0268] Amylazyme activity assay (from Megazyme, Ireland): An Amylazyme tablet includes interlinked amylose polymers that are in the form of globular microspheres that are insoluble in water. A blue dye is covalently bound to these microspheres. The interlinked amylose polymers in the microsphere are degraded at a speed that is proportional to the alpha-amylase activity. When the alpha-amylase degrades the amylose polymers, the released blue dye is water soluble and concentration of dye can be determined by measuring absorbance at 650 nm. The concentration of blue is proportional to the alpha-amylase activity in the sample.

[0269] The amylase sample to be analysed is diluted in activity buffer with the desired pH. One substrate tablet is suspended in 5 mL activity buffer and mixed on magnetic stirrer. During mixing of substrate transfer 150 μl to microtiter plate (MTP). Add 30 μl diluted amylase sample to 150 μl substrate and mix. Incubate for 15 minutes at 37° C. The reaction is stopped by adding 30 μl 1M NaOH and mix. Centrifuge MTP for 5 minutes at 4000×g. Transfer 100 μl to new MTP and measure absorbance at 620 nm.

[0270] The amylase sample should be diluted so that the absorbance at 650 nm is between 0 and 2.2, and is within the linear range of the activity assay.

3. Phadebas Assay

[0271] A Phadebas tablet (from for example Magle Life Sciences, Lund, Sweden) includes interlinked starch polymers that are in the form of globular microspheres that are insoluble in water. A blue dye is covalently bound to these microspheres. The interlinked starch polymers in the microsphere are degraded at a speed that is proportional to the alpha-amylase activity. When the alpha-amylase degrades the starch polymers, the released blue dye is water soluble and concentration of dye can be determined by measuring absorbance at 650 nm. The concentration of blue is proportional to the alpha-amylase activity in the sample.

[0272] The amylase sample to be analysed is diluted in activity buffer with the desired pH. One substrate tablet is suspended in 5 mL activity buffer and mixed on magnetic stirrer. During mixing of substrate transfer 150 μl to microtiter plate (MTP). Add 30 μl diluted amylase sample to 150 μl substrate and mix. Incubate for 15 minutes at 37° C. The reaction is stopped by adding 30 μl 1M NaOH and mix. Centrifuge MTP for 5 minutes at 4000×g. Transfer 100 μl to new MTP and measure absorbance at 620 nm.

[0273] The measured absorbance is directly proportional to the specific activity (activity/mg of pure alpha-amylase protein) of the alpha-amylase in question under the given set of conditions.

4. Reducing Sugar Activity Assay

[0274] Number of reducing ends formed by the alpha-amylase hydrolysing the alpha-1,4-glycosidic linkages in starch is determined by reaction with p-Hydroxybenzoic acid hydrazide (PHBAH). After reaction with PHBAH the number of reducing ends can be measured by absorbance at 405 nm and the concentration of reducing ends is proportional to the alpha-amylase activity in the sample.

[0275] The corns starch substrate (3 mg/ml) is solubilised by cooking for 5 minutes in milliQ water and cooled down before assay. For the stop solution prepare a Ka-Na-tartrate/NaOH solution (K-Na-tartrate (Merck 8087) 50 g/l, NaOH 20 g/1) and prepare freshly the stop solution by adding p-Hydroxybenzoic acid hydrazide (PHBAH, Sigma H9882) to Ka-Na-tartrate/NaOH solution to 15 mg/ml.

[0276] In PCR-MTP 50 μl activity buffer is mixed with 50 μl substrate. Add 50 μl diluted enzyme and mix. Incubate at the desired temperature in PCR machine for 5 minutes. Reaction is stopped by adding 75 μl stop solution (Ka-Na-tartrate/NaOH/PHBAH). Incubate in PCR machine for 10 minutes at 95° C. Transfer 150 μl to new MTP and measure absorbance at 405 nm.

[0277] The measured absorbance is directly proportional to the specific activity (activity/mg of pure alpha-amylase protein) of the alpha-amylase in question under the given set of conditions.

Example 1: Wash Performance of a Polypeptide Having Alpha-Amylase Activity of SEQ ID NO: 1

[0278] Wash performance of the alpha-amylase of SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2 were investigated in a Miele W1935 washing machine using the Express20 short program without water plus. The washes were conducted at 20° C. with 15°dH water hardness.

[0279] The laundry experiments are conducted under the experimental conditions specified below:

TABLE-US-00001 Washing machine Miele W1935 Washing program Express20, short, no water plus Detergent LAS, sodium salt 11% AS, sodium salt 1.8% Soap, sodium salt 2% AEO 3% Soda ash 15% Hydrous sodium silicate 3% Zeolite A 20% HEDP-Na4 0.13% Sodium citrate 2% PCA, copoly(acrylic acid/maleic acid), sodium salt 1.5% SRP 0.5% Sodium sulfate 39% Foam regulator 1% Detergent dosage 5.3 g/L Enzyme dosage 0.0-0.05-0.1-0.2-0.4-1.0 mg EP/L Temperature 20° C. Water hardness 15°dH Ballast 2 kg (65:35 Cotton:Polyester) Test materials CS-28 (Rice starch on cotton, colored) CS-26 (Corn starch on cotton, colored) CS-27 (Potato starch on cotton, colored) CS-29 (Tapioca starch on cotton, colored) EMPA160 (Chocolate cream on cotton) EMPA161 (Corn starch on cotton) EMPA162 (Corn starch on polyester/cotton) 063KC (Beef gravy) 113KC (Spaghetti sauce) Number of test 4 pieces 5 × 9 cm each for CS and EMPA stains materials per wash 4 pieces 10 × 10 cm each for 063KC and 113KC
Test materials are obtained from Center For Testmaterials BV, P.O. Box 120, 3133 KT Vlaardingen and from Warwick Equest Ltd. Unit 55, Consett Business Park, Consett, County Durham, DH8 6BN, United Kingdom.

[0280] Water hardness is adjusted to 15°dH by addition of CaCl.sub.2, MgCl.sub.2, and NaHCO.sub.3 (Ca.sup.2+:Mg.sup.2+:NaHCO.sub.3=4:1:7.5) to the test system. After washing, the textiles were rinsed in hardness adjusted water and dried. The textiles are subsequently air-dried and the wash performance is measured as the brightness of the color of these textiles. Brightness can also be expressed as the Remission (R), which is a measure for the light reflected or emitted from the test material when illuminated with artificial daylight 6500K. The Remission (R) of the textiles was measured at 460 nm using a X-rite Coloreye 7000 spectrophotometer. The measurements are done according to the manufacturer's protocol, but with a grey instead of a white background/sample holder in the machine. Textiles were measured in stacks of 4 pieces.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 1 Delta remission values of alpha-amylase of SEQ ID NO: 1 and 2 on different test materials relative to detergent without amylase Alpha-amylase of SEQ ID Alpha-amylase of SEQ ID NO: 1 (mg/L) NO: 2 (mg/L) Test Material 0.05 0.1 0.2 0.4 1.0 0.05 0.1 0.2 0.4 1.0 CS-28 Rice starch on 5.9 5.7 9.2 12.7 16.0 1.8 1.1 0.9 8.5 8.4 cotton, colored CS-26 Corn starch on 4.3 3.6 6.5 11.5 14.6 1.1 1.1 1.7 6.1 7.1 cotton, colored CS-27 Potato starch on 6.1 4.9 8.4 14.0 16.2 1.2 2.5 2.5 8.2 8.7 cotton, colored CS-29 Tapioca starch 6.6 4.7 8.0 11.3 15.3 1.6 2.1 3.4 8.0 7.8 on cotton, colored EMPA 160, Chocolate 5.2 5.0 7.6 8.6 11.7 0.8 1.0 1.8 5.1 6.3 cream on cotton EMPA 161 Corn starch 1.8 0.8 2.2 3.8 8.7 -0.1 0.6 0.3 2.1 3.1 on cotton EMPA 162 Corn starch 6.8 5.4 8.5 17.2 19.7 1.7 2.9 2.8 7.2 10.4 on polyester/cotton 063K Beef gravy 5.3 2.0 3.7 8.4 7.2 1.9 0.8 1.2 7.2 5.3 113KC Spaghetti sauce 7.7 6.0 12.1 14.8 17.9 2.1 2.6 1.8 8.8 9.8

[0281] The data in table 1 clearly demonstrates that the alpha-amylase of SEQ ID NO: 1 surprisingly shows a distinctly higher wash performance than SEQ ID NO: 2 under cold and quick wash conditions (i.e. at 20° C. with the Express20 program, which has a main wash time of 11 min). This is in contrast to normal wash conditions, i.e. at 40° C. and a main wash time of 55 min, where SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ ID NO:2 show more or less the same wash performance.