GB2361686A - Water-soluble, multi-compartment pouch for detergent product - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention relates to a multi-compartment pouch obtainable by a process of closing an open compartment with a pre-sealed compartment. Said multi-compartment pouch preferably comprises a composition and is for use in automatic-washing or hand-washing applications. The pouch is made from a water-soluble film such as polyvinyl alcohol polymer. The process of closing the open compartment may involve forming a second seal on the pre-sealed compartment which is in a different position to its original seal. The second seal may have a greater diameter than the original seal. A compartment which contains a liquid component of a detergent composition may also contain an air bubble, this preferably being the pre-sealed compartment.

Description

2361686 Detergent Product

Field of the Invention 5 This invention relates to water-soluble pouches.

Background to the Invention

The laundry industry has been trying to develop ways that minimise the contact between incompatible detergent ingredients during the manufacturing, transport and storage of detergent products prior to addition to the washing cycle.

W One such way is the development of a multi-compartment water-soluble detergent is pouch. Incompatible detergent ingredients are comprised by different compartments of said pouch in such a manner so that they do not come into contact with each other until said pouch dissolves or disintegrates in water during the washing cycle.

Examples of these multi-compartment pouches are described in US4973416 and US5224601. The use of compartments which can contain different detergent ingredients is designed to overcome the problems associated with the storage of incompatible detergent ingredients, since said ingredients do not come into contact during storage as they are in separate compartments.

The inventors have found that there is a risk of detergent ingredients leaking from multi-compartment pouches, in addition the inventors have found that detergent ingredients are more likely to leak from the seals of a multi-compartment pouch, especially when the compartments are sealed simultaneously, due to the poor seal strength. The risk of leakage is greater when one of the compartments comprises a liquid.

2 Furthermore, the inventors have found that if the compartments are sealed simultaneously, a process which requires unsealed compartments being in relatively close proximity, there is a risk that ingredients may leak from one unsealed compartment to another during the sealing process. due the lack of a seal to prevent the exchange of ingredients between the two compartments during the early stages of the sealing process. This is especially applicable if one or more of the ingredients is a liquid.

Herein, the inventors have found that by using a pre-sealed water-soluble compartment to close an unsealed compartment, thus forming a multicompartment water-soluble pouch, said multi-compartment water-soluble pouch is more stable having a reduced risk of ingredients leaking from the seals of said pouch both during the manufacturing and storage of the pouch. This is due to the multiple seal that is formed by the above closing process. This is especially applicable if the pre-sealed water-soluble compartment comprises a liquid.

Summary of the invention

In a first embodiment of the invention, a multi-compartment pouch made from a water-soluble film and having at least two compartments is provided, said multicompartment pouch is obtainable by the process of closing an open compartment with a pre-sealed compartment.

In a second embodiment of the invention, a process for making a multicompartment pouch made from a water-soluble film and having at least two compartments is provided which comprises the step of closing an open compartment with a pre-sealed compartment.

Detailed description of the invention

3 Multi-compartment pouch and material thereof The multi-compartment pouch, herein referred to as -'pouch", has at least two, preferably two compartments. The pouch herein is typically a closed structure, made of materials described herein, enclosing a volume space which preferably comprises a composition. Said composition is described in more detail herein. The pouch can be of any form, shape and material which is suitable to hold the composition, e.g. without allowing the release of the composition from the pouch prior to contact of the pouch to water. The exact execution will depend on for example the type and amount of the composition in the pouch, the number of compartments in the pouch, the characteristics required from the pouch to hold, protect and deliver or release the compositions.

The pouch may be of such a size that it conveniently contains either a unit dose amount of the composition herein, suitable for the required operation, for example one wash, or only a partial dose, to allow the consumer greater flexibility to vary the amount used, for example depending on the size and/or degree of soiling of the wash load.

The pouch is made from a water-soluble film, said film encloses an inner volume, said inner volume is divided into the compartments of the pouch. The exact process of making said pouch is described in more detail hereinafter The compartment of the pouch is a closed structure, made of materials described herein, enclosing a volume space which comprises the components. Said volume space is preferably enclosed by a water-soluble film in such a manner that the volume space is separated from the outside environment.

4 The term "separated^' means for the purpose ofthis invention--physicallydistinct, in that a first ingredient comprised by a compartment is prevented from contacting a second ingredient if said second ingredient is not comprised by the same compartment which comprises said first ingredient".

The term "outside environment" means for the purpose of this invention "anything which cannot pass through the water-soluble film which encloses the compartment and which is not comprised by the compartment".

Preferably, the volume space of the open compartment is greater than the volume space of the pre-sealed compartment. Thus, it is preferred that the compartment of the pouch which is derived from the open compartment has a volume space which is greater than the compartment of the pouch which is derived from the pre-sealed compartment.

The pouch preferably comprises a composition, said composition macy comprise a solid component or a liquid component. If the composition comprises a solid component and a liquid component, then it may be preferred that the solid component and liquid component are comprised by two different compartments, ty ically so that that said solid component and said liquid component are separated 1 pi by a water-soluble film which acts as a barrier.

Preferably, if present the liquid component is comprised by the presealed compartment and, upon formation of the pouch is comprised by the compartment of the pouch which is derived from the pre-sealed compartment. It may also be preferred that the pre-sealed compartment comprises a solid component, or that the open compartment comprises a liquid component, or that both the pre-sealed compartment and the open compartment comprise a solid component, or that both the pre-sealed compartment and the open compartment comprise a liquid component.

It may be preferred that a compartment which comprises a liquid component also comprises an air bubble, preferably the air bubble has a volume of no more than 50%, preferably no more than 40%, more preferably no more than '30%, more preferably no more than 20%, more preferably no more than 10% of the volume space of the compartment. Without being bound by theory.. it is belic-,ed that the presence of the air bubble increases the tolerance of the pouch to the movement of liquid ingredients within the compartments of the pouch, thus reducing the risk of liquid ingredients leaking from the pouch.

The compartment is suitable to hold the components, e.g. without allowing the release of the components from the compartment prior to contact of the pouch to water. The compartment can have any form or shape, depending on the nature of the material of the compartment, the nature of the components or composition. the intended use, amount of the components etc.

Preferably, the composition is a composition to be delivered to water and thus the pouch and the compartment(s) thereof are designed such that at least one or more of the components is released at or very shortly after the time of addition to the water. It is especially preferred that at least one component is delivered to the water within 3 minutes, preferably even within 2 minutes or even within 1 minute after contacting the pouch to water. Thus, it is preferred that the compartment and preferably the pouch as a whole comprises material which is water- dispersible or more preferably water-soluble.

Preferred water-dispersible material herein has a dispersability of at least 50%, preferably at least 75% or even at least 95%, as measured by the method set out hereinafter using a glass-filter with a maximum pore size of 50 microns.

6 More preferably the material is water-soluble and has a solubility of at least 50%. preferably at least 75% or even at least 95%., as measured by the method set out hereinafter using a glass-filter with a maximum pore size of 50 microns, namely:

Gravimetric method for determining water-solubility or waterdispersability of the material of the compartment and/or pouch:

grams 0. 1 gram of material is added in a 400 ml beaker, whereof the weight has been determined, and 245ml Iml of distilled water is added. This is stirred vigorously on magnetic stirrer set at 600 rpm, for 30 minutes. Then, the mixture is filtered through a folded qualitative sintered-glass filter Nxith the pore sizes as defined above (max. 50 micron). The water is dried off from the collected filtrate by any conventional method, and the weight of the remaining polymer is determined (which is the dissolved or dispersed fraction). Then, the % solubility or dispersability can be calculated.

The pouch is made from a water-soluble film. Preferred films are polymeric materials, preferably polymers which are formed into a film or sheet. The film can for example be obtained by casting, blow-moulding, extrusion or blow extrusion of the polymer material, as known in the art.

Preferred polymer copolymers or derivatives thereof are selected from polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyalkylene oxides, acrylamide, acrylic acid, cellulose, cellulose ethers, cellulose esters, cellulose amides, polyvinyl acetates, polycarboxylic acids and salts, polyarninoacids or peptides, polyamides, polyacrylamide, copolymers of maleic/acrylic acids, polysaccharides including starch and gelatine, natural gums such as xanthum. and carragum. More preferably the polymer is selected from polyacrylates and water- soluble acrylate copolymers, methylcellulose, carboxymethy1cellulose sodium, dextrin, ethylcellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, maltodextrin, 7 polymethacrylates. most preferably polyvinyl alcohols. polyvinyl alcohol copolymers and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC).

The polymer can have any weight average molecular weight, preferably from about 1000 to 1,000,000, or even form 10,000 to 300,000 or even form 15,000 to 200,000 or even form 20,000 to 150,000.

Mixtures of polymers can also be used. This may, in particular be beneficial to control the mechanical and/or dissolution properties of the compartment or pouch, depending on the application thereof and the required needs. For example, it may be preferred that a mixture of polymers is present in the material of the compartment, whereby one polymer material has a higher water-solubility than another polymer material, and/or one polymer material has a higher mechanical strength than another polymer material. It may be preferred that a mixture of polymers is used, having different weight average molecular weights, for example a mixture of PVA or a copolymer thereof of a weight average molecular weight of 10,000- 40,000, preferably around 20,000, and of PVA or copolymer thereof, with a weight average molecular weight of about 100,000 to 3)00,000, preferably around 150,000.

Also useful are polymer blend compositions, for example comprising hydrolytically degradable and water-soluble polymer blend such as polylactide and polyvinyl alcohol, achieved by the mixing of polylactide and polyvinyl alcohol, typically comprising 1-35% by weight polylactide and approximately from 65% to 99% by weight polyvinyl alcohol, if the material is to be water-dispersible, or water-soluble.

It may be preferred that the polymer present in the film is from 60% to 98% hydrolysed, preferably 80% to 90%, to improve the dissolution of the material.

Suitable examples of commercially available water-soluble films include polyvinyl alcohol and partially hydrolysed polyvinyl acetate, alginates, cellulose ethers such as 8 carboxvmeth.Icellulose and methylcellulose. polyethylene oxide, polvacrylates. and combinations thereof. Most preferred are films which comprises PVA polymers and have similar properties to films that are known under the trade reference M8630, as sold by Chris-Craft Industrial Products of Gary, Indiana. US.

The film herein may comprise other additive ingredients. than the polymer or polymer material. For example, it may be beneficial to add plasticisers, for example glycerol, ethylene glycol, diethyleneglycol, propylene glycol, sorbitol and mixtures thereof, additional water, disintegrating aids. It may be useful when the pouched composition is a detergent composition, that the pouch or compartment material itself comprises a detergent additive to be delivered to the wash water, for example organic polymeric soil release agents, dispersants, dye transfer inhibitors.

Process of closing the open compartment The pouch is obtainable by the process of closing an open compartment with a presealed compartment. Said process comprises the step of closing an open compartment with a pre-sealed compartment. Preferably.. said process forms a second seal in a different position to the first seal of the pre-sealed compartment. Preferably, said process forms a second seal on the pre-sealed compartment, said second seal has a greater equivalent diameter than the fixst seal of the pre-sealed compartment.

The process of closing the open compartment closes the open compartment to obtain a closed compartment, said process of closing an open compartment with a pre- sealed compartment is herein referred to as "process of closing".

An open compartment has a volume space that is not separated from the outside environment. The process of closing the open compartment forms a compartment that has a volume space which is separated from the outside environment, such a 9 compartment is a closed compartment, such as a compartment of the multicompartment pouch of the invention.

The formation of the open compartment can be done by any known method.

Typically, the open compartment is formed by fitting a water-soluble pouch around a mould and vacuum pulling the film so that it is flush with the inner surface of the mould, thus forming a volume space which is not separated from the outside environment, said volume space being the vacuum formed indent or niche in said water-soluble film. Preferred open compartments are made by introducing the film to form the compartment to a mould, then applying a vacuum to the mould, so that the material adopts the shape of the mould, also referred to as vacuum-forming. Another preferred method is thermo-forming to get the material to adopt the shape of the mould.

The process of closing typically comprises the steps of, (i) bringing into close proximity the pre-sealed compartment and the open compartment, preferably so that at least part of the water-soluble film which encloses the volume space of the pre-sealed compartment also partially encloses the volume space of the open compartment; and (ii) closing the open compartment by a sealing process, preferably said scaling process forms a seal on the open compartment to close said compartment and also forms a second seal on the pre-sealed compartment at a different position to the seal already present.

Preferably, the open compartment is closed with the same material as the material of the open compartment. The closing material, and thus preferably also the open compartment material, is preferably thermoplastic so that it can be closed by heatsealing. Alternatively, a thermoplastic coating may be provided, either over the whole material or just in the areas where seals are to be formed. The sealing can also be made by solvent welding. Suitable heat-sealable materials include polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyethylene oxide. acrylic resins and mixtures thereof. in particular polyvinyl alcohols (PVA). These heat-sealable materials may also be used in combination with the other water-soluble or waterdispersible materials.

The pre-sealed compartment is typically already seated prior to contact to the open compartment in such a manner so that any ingredient comprised in the volume space of the pre-sealed compartment is separated from the outside environment. The presealed compartment typically comprises at least one seal, preferably only one seal, prior to the process of closing the open compartment.

Typically, the seal formed by the process of closing, has a greater equivalent diameter than the seal already present on the pre-sealed compartment. Typically, the seal formed by the process of closing closes the open compartment, adds a second seal to the pre-sealed compartment, and forrns a multi-compartment pouch by structurally bringing together the open compartment and pre-sealed compartment to form a multi-compartment pouch.

Composition The pouch preferably comprises a composition, typically said composition is contained in the volume space of the compartments of the pouch.

Typically, the composition comprises such an amount of a cleaning composition, that one or a multitude of the pouched compositions is or are sufficient for one wash.

Preferably, the composition comprises at least one surfactant and at least one building agent.

11 The composition may comprises a solid component and a liquid component. Preferably the pre-seated compartment comprises a liquid component. Said liquid component and solid component are described in more detail herein.

Liguid component If present, the liquid component is comprised by a compartment of the pouch. Preferably, said compartment is a different compartment to the compartment that comprises the solid component. 10 The liquid component preferably comprises (by weight of the liquid component) at least 50%, preferably at least 55%, more preferably at least 60%, more preferably at least 70%, more preferably at least 80% surfactant. Typically the surfactant is a liquid at room temperature. Preferably, the surfactant is a nonionic surfactant, an 15 anionic surfactant or a combination thereof, most preferably the surfactant is a nonionic surfactant. Preferably, said liquid component of the invention comprises a solvent or a perfume. Preferably, said liquid component comprises (by weight of the liquid component) at 20 least 21%, more preferably at least 5%, more preferably at least 10%, more preferably at least 40% perfarne. Preferably, said liquid component comprises (by weight of liquid component) from 0.1% to 30%, more preferably from 5% to 25%, more preferably from 10% to 20% solvent. Preferably said solvent is an alcohol based solvent, more preferably said solvent is ethanol and/or n-butoxy propoxy propanol. 25 Preferably, the liquid component is substantially liquid in that at least 90%, more preferably at least 95%, %, more preferably at least 98% ingredients comprised by the liquid component are in a liquid form at room temperature. 30 Solid component 12 If present. the solid component is comprised by a compartment of the pouch.

Preferably, said compartment is a different compartment to the compartment that comprises the liquid component.

Said solid component preferably comprises (by weight of the solid component) at least 10%, more preferably at least 20%. more preferably at least 30% water insoluble solid material.

Preferably, said water-insoluble solid material includes water-insoluble building agents, preferably the water-insoluble building agent is an alummiOsilicate, or water insoluble fabric softening agent such as clay. Preferably, said water- insoluble solid material comprises a water-insoluble building agent. Preferred water- insoluble building agents are described in more detail hereinafter.

Said solid composition preferably comprises at least one detergent ingredient selected from the group consisting of building agent, chelating agent, bleaching agent, bleach activator, enzyme, brightener. suds suppressor and dye. Preferably, said detergent ingredient is in the form of a solid.

It may even be possible that part or all of the ingredients of the solid component are not pre-granulated, such as agglomerated, spray-dried, extruded, pnor to incorporation into the compartment, and that the component is a mixture of dry mixed powder ingredients or even raw materials. Preferred may be that for example less than 60% or even less than 40% or even less than 20% of the component is a free-flowable pre-granulated granules.

Preferably the solid component is substantially solid in that at least 90%, preferably at least 95%, more preferably at least 98% of the ingredients comprised by the solid component are in a solid form. Preferably the solid component comprises ingredients 13 that are either difficult or costly to include in a substantially liquid composition or that are typically transported and supplied as solid ingredients which require additional processing steps to enable them to be included in a substantially liquid composition.

Preferred inaredients of the liquid and solid component The composition herein typically comprises ingredients. These ingredients are described hereinafter. The composition may comprises a liquid component and a solid component. Typically. ingredients that are preferably manufactured and processed in a solid form are comprised by the solid component and ingredients that are preferably manufactured and processed in a liquid form are comprised by the liquid component. The preferred amounts of ingredients described herein are % by weight of the composition herein as a whole and not % by weight of either the solid component or liquid component which may comprise said ingredient.

Water insoluble building agent The composition herein preferably comprises a water-insoluble building agent. 20 Preferably the water-insoluble building agent is comprised by the solid component. Preferably the water-insoluble building agent is in solid form.

Examples of water insoluble builders include the sodium alurninosilicates. Suitable aluminosilicate zeolites have the unit cell formula Naj(A10. ))z(Si02)Y]. xH20 wherein z and y are at least 6, the molar ratio of z to y is from 1.0 to 0.5 and x is at least 5. preferably from 7.5 to 276, more preferably from 10 to 264. The aluminosilicate material are in hydrated form and are preferably crystalline, containing from 10% to 28%, more preferably from 18% to 22% water in bound form. 30 14 The aluminosilicate zeolites can be naturally occur-ring materials, but are preferably synthetically derived. Synthetic crystalline aluminosilicate ion exchange materials are available under the designations Zeolite A. Zeolite B, Zeolite P. Zeolite X, Zeolite HS and mixtures thereof. Zeolite A has the fonnula:

Na 12 [AI02) 12 (Si02)121- xH20 wherein x is from 20 to 30, especially 27.Zeolite X has the formula Na86 [(AI02)86(SiO2)1061. 276 H20- Preferred crystalline layered silicates for use herein have the general formula:

NaMSix02x+l.yH20 wherein M is sodium or hydrogen, x is a number from 1.9 to 4 and y is a number from 0 to 20. Crystalline layered sodium silicates of this type are disclosed in EP-A0164514 and methods for their preparation are disclosed in DE-A-3417649 and DEA-3742043. Herein, x in the general fonnula above preferably has a value of 2, 3 or 4 and is preferably 2. The most preferred material is 5-Na2Si2O5, available from 20 Hoechst AG as NaSKS-6. Chelating agents The composition herein, preferably comprises a chelating agent. By heavy chelating 25 agent it is meant herein components which act to sequester (chelate) heavy metal ions. These components may also have calcium and magnesium chelation capacity, but preferentially they show selectivity to binding heavy metal ions such as iron, manganese and copper.

Chelating agents are generally present at a level of from 0.05% to 2%. preferably from 0. 1 % to 1.5%, more preferably from 0.25% to 1.2% and most preferably from 0.5% to 1% by weight of the composition herein.

Suitable chelating agents for use herein include organic phosphonates, such as the amino alkylene poly (alkylene phosphonates). alkali metal ethane 1-hydroxy bisphosphonates and nitrilo trimethylene phosphonates.

Preferred among the above species are diethylene triamine penta (methylene phosphonate), ethylene diamine tri (methylene phosphonate) hexamethylene diamine tetra (methylene phosphonate) and hydroxy-ethylene 1, 1 diphosphonate.

Other suitable chelating agents for use herein include nitrilotriacetic acid and polyaminocarboxylic acids such as ethylenediaminotetracetic acid, ethylenetriamine pentacetic acid, ethylenediamine disuccinic acid, ethylenediamine diglutaric acid, 2hydroxypropylenediarnine disuccinic acid or any salts thereof. Especially preferred is ethylenediamine-N,N'-disuccinic acid (EDDS) or the alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, ammonium, or substituted ammonium salts thereof, or mixtures thereof.

Other suitable chelating agents for use herein are iminodiacetic acid derivatives such as 2-hydroxyethyl diacetic acid or glyceryl imino, diacetic acid, described in EP-A 3 17,542 and EP-A-399,1 353. The iminodiacetic acid-N-2-hydroxypropyl sulfonic acid and aspartic acid N-carboxymethyl N-2-hydroxypropyl-3:)-suifonic acid sequestrants described in EP-A-516,102 are also suitable herein. The P-alanine-N,N'- diacetic acid, aspartic acid-N,N'-diacetic acid, aspartic acid-N-monoacetic acid and iminodisuccinic acid sequestrants described in EP-A-509,382 are also suitable.

EP-A-476,257 describes suitable amino based sequestrants. EP-A-510,331 describes suitable sequestrants derived from collagen, keratin or casein. EP-A-528,859 describes a suitable alkyl iminodiacetic acid sequestrant. Dipicolinic acid and 2- 16 phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid are also suitable. Glycinamide-N. N'disuccinic acid (GADS), ethylenediamine-N-N'-diglutaric acid (EDDG) and 2hydroxypropylenediamine-N-N'-disuccinic acid (HPDDS) are also suitable.

Detersive surfactants Nonionic alkoxylated surfactant Essentially any alkoxylated nonionic surfactants can be comprised by the composition herein. The ethoxylated and propoxylated nonionic surfactants are preferred. Preferred alkoxylated surfactants can be selected from the classes of the nonionic condensates of alkyl phenols, nonionic ethoxylated alcohols, nonionic ethoxylated/propoxylated fatty alcohols, nonionic ethoxylate/propoxylate condensates with propylene glycol, and the nonionic ethoxylate condensation products with propylene oxide/ethylene diamine adducts.

Highly preferred are nonionic alkoxylated alcohol surfactants, being the condensation products of aliphatic alcohols with from I to 75 moles of alkylene oxide, in particular about 50 or from I to 15 moles, preferably to I I moles, particularly ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide, are highly preferred nonionic surfactants. The alkyl chain of the aliphatic alcohol can either be straight or branched, primary or secondary, and generally contains from 6 to 22 carbon atoms. Particularly preferred are the condensation products of alcohols having an alkyl group containing from 8 to 20 carbon atoms with from 2 to 9 moles and in particular 3 or 5 moles, of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol.

Nonionic polyhydroxy LaLtty acid amide surfactant Polyhydroxy fatty acid arnides are highly preferred nonionic surfactant comprised by the composition herein, in particular those having the structural formula 17 R2CONRIZ xsterein: RI is H, Cl-18. preferably Ci-C4 hydrocarblyl. 2hydroxy ethyl, 2-hydroxy propyl, ethoxy, propoxy. or a mixture thereof preferable Cl-C4 alkyl, more preferably Cl or C2 alkyl, most preferably Cl alkyl (i. e., methyl); and R2 is a C5-C31 hydrocarbyl, preferably straight-chain C5- CI9 or C7-CI9 alkyl or alkenyl, more preferably straight-chain C9-CI7 alkyl or alkenyl, most preferably straight-chainC11-C17 alkyl or alkenyl, or mixture thereof.. and Z is a polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl having a linear hydrocarbyl chain with at least 3 hydroxyls directly connected to the chain, or an alkoxylated derivative (preferably ethoxylated or propoxylated) thereof. Z preferably will be derived from a reducing sugar in a 10 reductive amination reaction; more preferably Z is a glycityl.

A highly preferred nonionic polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactant for use herein is aC12-CI4,aCI5-CI7 and/orC16-CI8alkylN-methylglucamide.

It may be particularly preferred that the composition herein comprises a mixture of a C 1 2-C 18 alkyl N-methyl glucamide and condensation products of an alcohol having an alkyl group containing from 8 to 20 carbon atoms with from 2 to 9 moles and in particular 3 or 5 moles, of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol.

The polyhydroxy fatty acid amide can be prepared by any suitable process. One particularly preferred process is described in detail in WO 9206984. A product comprising about 95% by weight polyhydroxy fatty acid amide, low levels of undesired impurities such as fatty acid esters and cyclic amides, and which is molten typically above about 80'C, can be made by this process.

Nonionic fattv acid arnide surfactant Fatty acid amide surfactants or alkoxylated fatty acid amides can also be comprised by the composition herein. They include those having the formula: R6CON(R7) (R8) 18 vy-herein R6 is an alkyl group containing from 7 to 2 1. preferably from 9 to 17 carbon or even 11 to 1 -3 3 carbon atoms and R7 and R8 are each individually selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C 1 -C4 alkyl, C 1 C4 h-,. .droxyalkvl. and -(C2H4O.)xH, where x is in the range of from 1 to 11, preferably 1 to 7, more preferably form 1-5.

1 1 whereby it may be preferred that R7 is different to R8. one having x being 1 or 2, one having x being from 3 to 11 or preferably 5.

Nonionic alkyl esters of fatty acid surfactant Alkyl esters of fatty acids can also be comprised by the composition herein. They include those having the formula: R9COO(R10) wherein R9 is an alkyl group containing from 7 to 21, preferably from 9 to 17 carbon or even 11 to 13 carbon atoms and RIO is a Cl-C4 alkyl, Cl-C4 h,ldroxvalkvl. or -(C- )H40)xH, where x is in the range of from 1 to 11, preferably 1 to 7, more preferably form 1-5, whereby it may be preferred that R 10 is a methyl or ethyl group.

Nonionic alkylpplysacchadde surfactant Alkylpolysaccharides can also be comprised by the composition herein, such as those disclosed in US Patent 4,565,647, Lienado, issued January 21, 1986, having a hydrophobic group containing from 6 to 30 carbon atoms and a polysaccharide, a polyglycoside, hydrophilic group containing from 1.3 to 10 saccharide units.

Preferred alkylpolyglycosides have the formula R2 O(Cri.H2n0)t(glYCOSIV1)x wherein R2 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkylphenvI, hydroxyalkyl, hydroxyalkylphenyl, and mixtures thereof in which the alkyl groups contain from 10 19 to 18 carbon atoms; n is 2 or 3; t is from 0 to 10, and x is from 1.3 to 8. The glycosyll is preferably derived from glucose.

Polyethylene/propylene glycols The composition herein may comprise polyethylene and/or propylene glycol, particularly those of molecular weight 1000-10000, more particularly 2000 to 8000 and most preferably about 4000.

Anionic surfactant The composition herein, preferably comprises one or more anionic surfactants. Any anionic surfactant useful for detersive purposes is suitable. Examples include salts (including, for example, sodium. potassium, ammonium. and substituted ammonium salts such as mono-, di- and triethanolamine salts) of the anionic sulphate, sulphonate, carboxylate and sarcosinate surfactants. Anionic sulphate surfactants are preferred.

Other anionic surfactants include the isethionates such as the acyl isethionates, N acyl taurates, fatty acid amides of methyl tauride, alkyl succinates and sulfosuccinates, monoesters of sulfosuccinate (especially saturated and unsaturated c 12-C 18 monoesters) diesters of sulfosuccinate (especially saturated and unsaturated c 6-CI4 diesters), N-acyl sarcosinates. Resin acids and hydrogenated resin acids are also suitable, such as rosin, hydrogenated rosin, and resin acids and hydrogenated resin acids present in or derived from tallow oil.

Anionic sulphate surfactant Anionic sulphate surfactants suitable for use herein include the linear and branched 30 primary and secondary alkyl sulphates, alkyl ethoxysulphates, fatty oleoyl glycerol sulphates, alkyl phenol ethylene oxide ether sulphates. the C5-CI7 acyl-N- (C l -C4 alkyl) and -N-(CI-C.) hydroxyalkyl) glucarnine sulphates. and sulphates of alkylpolysaccharides such as the sulphates of alkylpolyglucoside (the nonionic nonsulphated compounds being described herein).

Alkyl sulphate surfactants are preferably selected from the linear and branched primary C9-C-)-) alkyl sulphates, more preferably the Cl]-C 15 branched chain alkyl 1 sulphates and the C 12-C 14 linear chain alkyl sulphates.

Alkyl ethoxysulfate surfactants are preferably selected from the group consisting of the Cl O-C 18 alkyl sulphates which have been ethoxylated with from 0.5 to 50 moles of ethylene oxide per molecule. More preferably, the alkyl ethoxysulfate surfactant is a C 11 -C 18. most preferably C 11 -C 15 alkyl sulphate which has been ethoxylated with from 0.5 to 7, preferably from 1 to 5, moles of ethylene oxide per molecule.

Anionic sulphonate surfactant Anionic sulphonate surfactants suitable for use herein include the salts Of C5-C-)0 linear or branched alkylbenzene sulphonates, alkyl ester sulphonates, in particular methyl ester sulphonates, C6-C22 primary or secondary alkane sulphonates, C6-C24 olefin sulphonates, sulphonated polycarboxylic acids. alkyl glycerol sulphonates, fatty acyl glycerol sulphonates, fatty oleyl glycerol sulphonates, and any mixtures thereof Anionic carboxylate surfactant Suitable anionic carboxylate surfactants include the alkyl ethoxy carboxylates, the alkyl polyetboxy polycarboxylate surfactants and the soaps ('alkyl carboxyls'), especially certain secondary soaps as described herein.

21 Suitable alkyl ethoxv carboxylates include those with the formula RO(CH. )CH-)0)x CH2COO-M+ wherein R is a C6 to Cl 8 alkyl group, x ranges from 0 to 10, and the ethoxylate distribution is such that, on a weight basis, the arnount of material where x is 0 is less than 20 % and M is a cation. Suitable alkyl polyethoxy polycarboxylate surfactants include those having the formula RO-(CHRI-CHR.)-0)X-R3 wherein R is a C6 to Cl 8 alkyl group, x is from 1 to 25, R 1 and R are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl acid radical, succinic acid radical, hydroxysuccinic acid radical, and mixtures thereof, and R3 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon having between 1 and 8 carbon atoms, and mixtures thereof.

Suitable soap surfactants include the secondary soap surfactants which contain a carboxyl unit connected to a secondary carbon. Preferred secondary soap surfactants for use herein are water-soluble members selected from the group consisting of the water-soluble salts of 2-methyl1 -undecanoic acid, 2- ethyl- 1 -decanoic acid, 2-propylI-nonanoic acid, 2-butyl-l-octanoic acid and 2-pentyl-l-heptanoic acid. Certain soaps may also be included as suds suppressers.

Alkali metal sarcosinate surfactant Other suitable anionic surfactants are the alkali metal sarcosinates of formula R-CON (R1) CH2 COOM, wherein R is a C5-CI7 linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group, R I is a C I -C4 alkyl group and M is an alkali metal ion. Preferred examples are the myristyl and oleoyl methyl sarcosinates in the form of their sodium salts.

Cationic surfactant 22 Another preferred surfactant is a cationic surfactant, which may. preferably be present at a level of from 0.1% to 60% by weight of the composition herein, more preferably from 0.4% to 20%, most preferably from 0.5% to 5% by weight of the composition herein.

When present, the ratio of the anionic surfactant to the cationic surfactant is preferably from 35:1 to 1:3, more preferably from 15:1 to I:L most preferably from 10: 1 to 1: 1.

Preferably the cationic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of cationic ester surfactants, cationic mono-alkoxylated arnine surfactants, cationic bisalkoxylated amine surfactants and mixtures thereof Cationic mono-alkoxylated amine surfactants Preferred cationic mono-alkoxylated arnine surfactant for use herein, has the general formula:

R 1 N + p 4X- wherein RI is an alkyl or alkenyl moiety containing from about 6 to about 18 carbon atoms, preferably 6 to about 16 carbon atoms, most preferably from about 6 to about 11 carbon atoms, R2 and R3 are each independently alkyl groups containing from one to about three carbon atoms, preferably methyl; R4 is selected from hydrogen (preferred), methyl and ethyl, X- is an anion such as chloride, bromide, methylsulphate, sulphate, or the like, to provide electrical neutrality; A is selected 23 from Cl-C4 alkoxy. especially ethoxy (i.e., -CH2CH20-). propoxy. butoxy and mixtures thereof, and p is from 1 to about 30, preferably 1 to about 15, most preferably 1 to about 8.

Highly preferred cationic mono-alkoxylated arnine surfactants for use herein are of the formula:

R N + "I (CH2CH20)1-SH X0 CH3 CH3 wherein RI is C6-CI8 hydrocarbyl and mixtures thereof preferably C6-CI4, especially C6-C 11 alkyl, preferably C 8 and C 10 alkyl, and X is any convenient anion to provide charge balance, preferably chloride or bromide.

As noted, compounds of the foregoing type include those wherein the ethoxy (CH2CH20) units (E0) are replaced by butoxy, isopropoxy [CH(CH3)CH20] and [CH2CH(CH301 units (i-Pr) or n-propoxy units (Pr), or mixtures of EO and/or Pr ancUor i-Pr units.

Cationic bis-alkoxylated amine surfactant 20 The cationic bis-alkoxylated amine surfactant for use herein, has the general formula:

Ap 3 24 wherein R I is an alkyl or alkenyl moiety containing from about 6 to about 18 carbon atoms, preferably 6 to about 16 carbon atoms, more preferably 6 to about 11, most preferably from about 8 to about 10 carbon atoms; R2 is an alkyl group containing from one to three carbon atoms, preferably methyl; R3 and R4 can vary independently and are selected from hydrogen (preferred). methyl and ethyl, X- is an anion such as chloride, bromide, methyisulphate, sulphate, or the like, sufficient to provide electrical neutrality. A and A' can vary independently and are each selected from Cl-C4 alkoxy, especially ethoxy, (i.e., -CH2CH.)0-).

propoxy, butoxy and mixtures thereof, p is from 1 to about 30, preferably 1 to about 4 and q is from 1 to about 30, preferably 1 to about 4, and most preferably both p and q are 1.

Highly preferred cationic bis-alkoxylated amine surfactants for use herein are of the formula:

R CH2CH.)OH N ' XE) CH3 CH.)CR)OH wherein RI is C6-CI8 hydrocarbyl and mixtures thereof, preferably C6, C8, C10, C12, C14 alkyl and mixtures thereof. X is any convenient anion to provide charge balance, preferably chloride. With reference to the general cationic bis-alkoxylated amine structure noted above, since in a preferred compound RI is derived from 20 (coconut) C 12-CI4 alkyl fraction fatty acids, R2 is methyl and ApR3 and XqR4 are each monoethoxy. Other cationic bis-alkoxylated amine surfactants useful herein include compounds of the formula: 25 I N-!",,(CH-)CH-)0)pH X- -' -(CH-)CH-)O)qH wherein R I is C6-C 18 hydrocarbyl, preferably C6-C 14 alkyl, independently p is I to about 3 and q is I to about 3, R2 is CI-C3 alkyl, preferably methyl, and X is an anion, especially chloride or bromide.

Other compounds of the foregoing type include those wherein the ethoxy (CH2CH20) units (EO) are replaced by butoxy (Bu) isopropoxy [CH(CH3)CH201 and [CH2CH(CH301 units (i-Pr) or n-propoxy units (Pr), or mixtures of EO and/or Pr and/or i-Pr units.

Amphoteric surfactant Suitable amphoteric surfactants for use herein include the amine oxide surfactants 15 and the alkyl amphocarboxylic acids.

Suitable amine oxides include those compounds having the formula R3(OR4)xNO(R5)2 wherein R3 is selected from an alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, acylamidopropoyl and alkyl phenyl group, or mixtures thereof, containing from 8 to 26 carbon atoms; R4 is an alkylene or hydroxyalkylene group containing from 2 to 3 carbon atoms, or mixtures thereof, x is from 0 to 5, preferably from 0 to 3 3; and each R5 is an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group containing from I to 3, or a polyethylene oxide group containing from I to 3 ethylene oxide groups. Preferred are C I O-C 18 alkyl dimethylamine oxide, and C 10- 18 acylamido alkyl dimethylamine oxide.

26 A suitable example of an alkyl aphodicarboxylic acid is Miranol(TM) C2M Conc. manufactured by Miranol, Inc., Dayton, NJ.

Zwitterionic surfactant 5 Zwitterionic surfactants can also be comprised by the composition herein. These surfactants can be broadly described as derivatives of secondary and tertiary amines, derivatives of heterocyclic secondary and tertiary amines. or derivatives of quatemary ammonium, quaternary phosphonium or tertiary sulfonium compounds. 10 Betaine and sultaine surfactants are exemplary zwitterionic surfactants for use herein.

Suitable betaines are those compounds having the formula R(R')2N+R2COowherein R is a C6-C 18 hydrocarbyl group, each RI is typically C I -C3 alkyl, and R2 is a CI-C5 hydrocarbyl group. Preferred betaines are C12-18 dimethyl-ammonio 15 hexanoate and the C10-18 acylamidopropane (or ethane) dimethyl (or diethyl) betaines. Complex betaine surfactants are also suitable for use herein.

Water-soluble building agent The composition herein may comprises a water-soluble building agent, typically present at a level of from 0% to 36% by weight, preferably from 1% to 35% by weight, more preferably from 10% to 35%, even more preferably from 12% to 30% by weight of the composition or particle. Preferably, the water-soluble builder compound is an alkali or earth alkali metal salt of phosphate present at the level 25 described above.

Other typical water-soluble building agents include the water soluble monomeric polyearboxylates, or their acid forms, homo or copolymeric polycarboxylic acids or their salts in which the polycarboxylic acid comprises at least two carboxylic radicals 27 separated from each other by not more that two carbon atoms, borates, phosphates.

and mixtures of any of the foregoing.

The carboxylate or polycarboxylate builder can be monomeric or oligomeric in type although monomeric polycarboxylates are generally preferred for reasons of cost and performance.

Suitable carboxylates containing one carboxy group include the water soluble salts of lactic acid, glycolic acid and ether derivatives thereof Polycarboxylates containing two carboxy groups include the water-soluble salts of succinic acid, malonic acid, (ethylenedioxy) diacetic acid, maleic: acid, diglycolic acid, tartaric acid, tartronic acid and furnaric acid, as well as the ether carboxylates and the sulfmyl carboxylates.

Polycarboxylates containing three carboxy groups include, in particular, water soluble citrates, aconitrates and citraconates as well as succinate derivatives such as the carboxymethyloxysuccinates described in British Patent No. 1,379,241, lactoxysuccinates described in British Patent No. 1,389,7332, and aminosuccinates described in Netherlands Application 7205873, and the oxypolycarboxy late materials such as 2-oxa- 1, 1, 3 -propane tricarboxylates described in British Patent No.

1,387,447.

Polycarboxylates containing four carboxy groups include oxydisuccinates disclosed in British Patent No. 1,261,829, 1,1,2,2-ethane tetracarboxylates, 1,1,3, 3-propane tetracarboxylates and 1,1,2,3-propane tetracarboxylates. Polycarboxylates containing sulfo substituents include the sulfosuccinate derivatives disclosed in British Patent Nos. 1.398,421 and 1,398,422 and in US Patent No. 3,936,448, and the sulphonated pyrolysed citrates described in British Patent No. 1,43)9,000. Preferred polycarboxylates are hydroxycarboxylates containing up to three carboxy groups per molecule, more particularly citrates.

28 Suitable examples of water-soluble phosphate builders are the alkali metal tripolyphosphates. sodium, potassium and ammonium pyrophosphate. sodium and potassium and ammonium pyrophosphate, sodium and potassium orthophosphate. sodium polymeta/phosphate in,,-hich the degree of polymerisation ranges from about 5 6 to 2 1. and salts of phytic acid.

Peroxide Source Another preferred ingredient is a perhydrate bleach. such as salts of percarbonates, particularly the sodium salts, and/ or organic peroxyacid bleach precursor. It has been found that when the pouch or compartment is formed from a material with free hydroxy groups, such as PVA, the preferred bleaching agent comprises a percarbonate salt and is preferably free form any perborate salts or borate salts. It has been found that borates and perborates interact with these hydroxy-containing materials and reduce the dissolution of the materials and also result in reduced performance.

Inorganic perhydrate salts are a preferred source of peroxide. Preferably these salts are present at a level of from 0.01% to 50% by weight, more preferably of from 0.5% to 30% by weight of the composition or component.

Examples of inorganic perhydrate salts include percarbonate, perphosphate, persulfiate and persilicate salts. The inorganic perhydrate salts are normally the alkali metal salts. The inorganic perhydrate salt may be included as the crystalline solid without additional protection. For certain perhydrate salts however, the preferred executions of such granular compositions utilise a coated form of the material which provides better storage stability for the perhydrate salt in the granular product. Suitable coatings comprise inorganic salts such as alkali metal silicate, carbonate or borate salts or mixtures thereof. or organic materials such as waxes, oils, or fatty soaps.

29 Alkali metal percarbonates, particularly sodium percarbonate are preferred perhydrates herein. Sodium percarbonate is an addition compound having a formula corresponding to 2Na2CO3.3H202, and is available commercially as a crystalline solid. Potassium peroxymonopersulfate is another inorganic perhydrate salt of use in the compositions herein. 10 Bleach Activator The composition herein preferably comprises a bleach activator, preferably comprising an organic peroxyacid bleach precursor. It may be preferred that the composition comprises at least two peroxy acid bleach precursors, preferably at least 15 one hydrophobic peroxyacid bleach precursor and at least one hydrophilic peroxy acid bleach precursor, as defined herein. The production of the organic peroxyacid occurs then by an in situ reaction of the precursor with a source of hydrogen peroxide. 20 The bleach activator may alternatively, or in addition comprise a preformed peroxy acid bleach. Preferably, at least one of the bleach activators, preferably a peroxy acid bleach precursor having an average particle size, by weight, of from 600 microns to 1400 25 microns, preferably from 700 microns to 1100 microns is present in the composition herein. Hereby, it may be preferred that at least 80%, preferably at least 90% or even at least 95 % or even substantially 100% of the component or components comprising the bleach activator have a particle size of from 300 microns to 1700 microns, preferably from 425 microns to 1400 microns.

The hydrophobic peroxy acid bleach precursor preferably comprises a compound having a oxy-benzene sulphonate group, preferably NOBS, DOBS, LOBS and/ or NACA-OBS, as described herein.

The hydrophilic peroxy acid bleach precursor preferably comprises TAED, as described herein.

Organic peroxyacid bleaching system The composition herein preferably comprises an organic peroxyacid precursor. The production of the organic peroxyacid may occur by an in situ reaction of such a precursor with the percarbonate source. In an alternative preferred execution a preformed organic peroxyacid is incorporated directly into the composition.

Peroxyacid bleach precursor Peroxyacid bleach precursors are compounds which react with hydrogen peroxide in a perhydrolysis reaction to produce a peroxyacid. Generally peroxyacid bleach precursors may be represented as:

0 X-C-L where L is a leaving group and X is essentially any functionality, such that on perhydrolysis the structure of the peroxyacid produced is:

31 0 X C OOH Suitable peroxyacid bleach precursor compounds typically contain one or more N- or 0-acyl groups, which precursors can be selected from a wide range of classes.

Suitable classes include anhydrides, esters, imides. lactarns and acylated derivatives of imidazoles and oximes. Examples of useful materials Within these classes are disclosed in GB-A-1586789. Suitable esters are disclosed in GB-A-836988, 864798, 11478 71, 2143 213 3 1 and EP-A-0 1703 86.

Leaving groups The leaving group, hereinafter L group, must be sufficiently reactive for the C_ perhydrolysis reaction to occur within the optimum time frame (e.g., a wash cycle).

However, if L is too reactive, this activator will be difficult to stabilise for use herein.

Preferred L groups are selected from the group consisting of.

3y 0 0 11 1 A 11 -N-U-R -N N -N-U-CH-R4 13 Li 1 1 1 R R3 Y 1 Y R3 Y 1 1 -u-uti=C-CH=CH2 -0-t;ti=u-CH=CH2 32 0 0 Y 0 />- U', 4 11 4 -N NR -NC___AR c 11 11 U R3 0 Y 1 11 1 0 and mixtures thereof, wherein R' is an alkyl, aryl, or alkaryl group containing from 1 to 14 carbon atoms, R 3 is an alkyl chain containing from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, R4 is 3 1 4 H or R, and Y is H or a solubilizing group. Any of R R and R may be substituted by essentially any functional group including, for example alkyl, hydroxy, alkoxy, halogen, amine, nitrosyl, amide and ammonium or alkyl ammonium groups.

The preferred solubilizing groups are -SO -m +. -CO - m +, _so -M+, -N + (R 3 - 3 2 4)4X 3 + - and 0<-N(R)3 and most preferably -S03 -M and -CO,-M 1 wherein R-' is an alkyl chain containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, M is a cation which provides solubility to the bleach activator and X is an anion which provides solubility to the bleach activator. Preferably, M is an alkali metal, ammonium or substituted ammonium cation, with sodium and potassium being most preferred, and X is a halide, hydroxide, methylsulphate or acetate anion.

Amide substituted alkyl peroxyacid precursors 33 Amide substituted alkyl peroxyacid precursor compounds are suitable herein, including those of the following general formulae:

R' C N - R2 C L R' - -N C R2 ---C --L 0 R5 0 or R5 0 0 wherein RI is an alkyl group with from 1 to 14 carbon atoms. R2 is an alkylene group containing from 1 to 14 carbon atoms, and R5 is H or an alkyl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms and L can be essentially. any leaving group. Amide substituted bleach activator compounds of this type are described in EP-A-0 1703 86. 10 Pre-formed organic peroUacid The organic peroxyacid bleaching system may contain a pre-formed organic peroxyacid.

A preferred class of organic peroxyacid compounds are the amide substituted compounds of the following general formulae:

R' -- - C N --- R2 ---- C OOH R' ---- N -- C - -- R2- C --- OOH 0 R5 0 or R5 0 0 wherein RI is an alkyl, aryl or alkaryl group with from 1 to 14 carbon atoms, R2 is an alkylene, arylene, and alkarylene group containing from 1 to 14 carbon atoms, and R5 is H or an alkyl, aryl, or alkaryl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms. Amide substituted organic peroxyacid compounds of this type are described in EP-A25 0170386.

34 Other organic peroxvacids include diacyl and tetraac Y lperox ides. especially diperox,,.Idodecanedioe acid., diperox-,-tetradecanedioc acid and diperoxyhexadecanedioc acid. Mono- and diperazelaic acid, mono- and diperbrassylic acid and N-phthaloylaminoperoxicaproic acid are also suitable herein.

EMme Another preferred optional ingredient useful in the composition herein, is one or more additional enzymes.

Preferred additional enzymatic materials include the commercially available lipases, cutinases, amylases, neutral and alkaline proteases, esterases, cellulases, pectinases, lactases and peroxidases conventionally incorporated into compositions. Suitable enzymes are discussed in US Patents 3.519,570 and 3.533,1339.

Preferred commercially available protease enzymes include those sold under the tradenames Alcalase, Savinase, Primase, Durazym, and Esperase by Novo Industries A/S (Denmark), those sold under the tradename Maxatase, Maxacal and Maxapern by Gist-Brocades, those sold by Genencor International, and those sold under the tradename Opticlean and Optimase by Solvay Enzymes. Protease enzyme may be incorporated into the composition herein at a level of from 0.0001% to 4% active enzyme by weight of the composition.

Preferred amylases include, for example, cc-amylases obtained from a special strain of B licheniformis, described in more detail in GB-1,269.839 (Novo). Preferred commercially available amylases include for example, those sold under the tradename Rapidase by Gist-Brocades, and those sold under the tradename Termamyl and BAN by Novo Industries A/S. Amylase enzyme may be incorporated into the composition herein at a level of from 0.0001% to 2% active enzyme by weight of the composition.

Lipolytic enzyme may be present at levels of actIve hpolytic enzyme of from 0.0001% to 10% by weight of the particle, preferably 0.001% to 3% by weight of the composition, most preferably from 0.001% to 0.5% by weight of the compositions.

The lipase may be fungal or bacterial in origin being obtained. for example, from a lipase producing strain of Hurnicola sp., Therinomyces sp. or Pseudomonas sp. including Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes or Pseudomas fluorescens. Lipase from chemically or genetically modified mutants of these strains are also useful herein. A 10 preferred lipase is derived from Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes, which is described in Granted European Patent, EP-B-0218272. Another preferred lipase herein is obtained by cloning the gene from Humicota lanuginosa and expressing the gene in Aspergillus orvza. as host, as described in 15 European Patent Application, EP-A-0258 068, which is commercially available from Novo Industri A/S, Bagsvaerd, Denmark, under the trade name Lipolase. This lipase is also described in US Patent 4,810,414, Huge-Jensen et al, issued March 7, 1989. Suds suppressing system 20 The composition may comprise a suds suppresser at a level less than 10%, preferably 0.001% to 10%, preferably from 0.01% to 8%, most preferably from 0.05% to 5%, by weight of the composition Preferably the suds suppresser is either a soap, paraffin, wax, or any combination thereof If the suds suppresser is a suds suppressing 25 silicone, then the detergent composition preferably comprises from 0.005% to 0.5% by weight a suds suppressing silicone. Suitable suds suppressing systems for use herein may comprise essentially any known antifoarn compound, including, for example silicone antifoam compounds 30 and 2-alkyl alcanol antifoarn compounds.

36 By antifoam compound it is meant herein any compound or mixtures of compounds which act such as to depress the foaming or sudsing produced by a solution of the composition herein, particularly in the presence of agitation of that solution.

Particularly preferred antifoarn compounds for use herein are silicone antifoam compounds defined herein as any antifoam compound including a silicone component. Such silicone antifoarn compounds also typically contain a silica component. The term "silicone" as used herein, and in general throughout the industry, encompasses a variety of relatively high molecular weight polymers containing siloxane units and hydrocarbyl group of various types. Preferred silicone antifoam compounds are the siloxanes, particularly the polydimethylsiloxanes having trimethylsilyl end blocking units. Preferably the composition herein comprises from 0.005% to 0.5% by weight suds suppressing silicone. Other suitable antifoam compounds include the monocarboxylic fatty acids

and soluble salts thereof These materials are described in US Patent 2, 954,347, issued September 27, 1960 to Wayne St. John. The monocarboxylic fatty acids, and salts thereof, for use as suds suppresser typicafly have hydrocarbyl chains of 10 to 24 carbon atoms, preferably 12 to 18 carbon atoms. Suitable salts include the alkali metal salts such as sodium, potassium, and lithium salts, and ammonium and alkanolammonium salts.

Other suitable antifoam compounds include, for example, high molecular weight fatty esters (e.g. fatty acid triglycerides), fatty acid esters of monovalent alcohols, aliphatic C I 8-C40 ketones (e.g. stearone) Nalkylated amino triazines such as tri- to hexa-alkylmelamines or di- to tetra alkyldiamine chlor-triazines formed as products of cyanuric chloride with two or three moles of a primary or secondary amine containing I to 24 carbon atoms, propylene oxide, bis stearic acid amide and 37 monostearyl di-alkali metal (e.g. sodium, potassium. lithium) phosphates and phosphate esters.

A preferred suds suppressing system comprises:

(a) antifoam compound, preferably silicone antifoam compound, most preferably a silicone antifoam. compound comprising in combination:

(i) polydimethyl siloxane, at a level of from 50% to 99%, preferably 75% to 95% by weight of the silicone antifoam compound; and (ii) silica, at a level of from 1% to 50%, preferably 5% to 25% by weight of the antifoam. compound; wherein said silica/silicone antifoam compound is incorporated at a level of less than 5%, preferably 0.01% to 5%, more preferably 0.05% to 4%, even more preferably 0. 1 % to 3%, by weight; (b) a dispersant compound, most preferably comprising a silicone glycol rake copolymer with a polyoxyalkylene content of 72-78% and an ethylene oxide to propylene oxide ratio of from L0.9 to 1: 1. 1, at a level of less than 5%, preferably 0.01% to 5%, more preferably 0.05% to 4%. even more preferably 0.1% to 3%, by weight; a particularly preferred silicone glycol rake copolymer of this type is DC0544, commercially available from DOW Corning under the tradename DC0544; (c) an inert carrier fluid compound, most preferably comprising a C 1 6-C 18 ethoxylated alcohol with a degree of ethoxylation of from 5 to 50, preferably 8 to 15, at a level of less than 5%, preferably 0.01% to 5%, more preferably 0.05% to 4%, even more preferably 0. 1 % to 3%. by weight; 38 A highly preferred particulate suds suppressing system is described in EP- A-0210731 and comprises a silicone antifoam compound and an organic carrier material having a melting point in the range 50'C to 85'C, wherein the organic carrier material comprises a monoester of glycerol and a fatty acid having a carbon chain containing from 12 to 20 carbon atoms. EP-A-0210721 discloses other preferred particulate suds suppressing systems wherein the organic carrier material is a fatty acid or alcohol having a carbon chain containing from 12 to 20 carbon atoms, or a mixture thereof, with a melting point of from 45'C to 80'C.

PolyLneric dye transfer inhibiting agents The composition herein may also comprise from 0.01% to 10 %, preferably from 0.05% to 0.5% by weight of polymeric dye transfer inhibiting agents. These 15 polymeric agents are in addition to the polymeric material of the water-soluble film.

The polymeric dye transfer inhibiting agents are preferably selected from polyamine N-oxide polymers, copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone and Nvinylimidazole, polyvinylpyrrolidonepolymers or combinations thereof a) PolyAmine N-oxide pol3g-ners Polyamine N-oxide polymers suitable for use herein contain units having the following structure formula:

P Ax R 39 wherein P is a pol-yrnerisable unit, and 00 0 A is NC, CO, C, -0-, -S-, -N-; x is 0 or 1; R are aliphatic, ethoxylated aliphatics, aromatic, heterocyclic or alicyclic groups or any combination thereof whereto the nitrogen of the N- 0 group can be attached or wherein the nitrogen of the N-0 group is part of these groups.

The N-0 group can be represented by the following general structures 0 A 0 (Rj) x -N-(R2)y A (R3)z or ----.-N-(Rl)x wherein RI, R2, and R3 are aliphatic groups, aromatic, heterocyclic or alicyclic groups or combinations thereof. x or/and y or/and z is 0 or I and wherein the nitrogen of the N-0 group can be attached or wherein the nitrogen of the N-0 group forms part of these groups. The N-0 group can be part of the polymerisable unit (P) or can be attached to the polymeric backbone or a combination of both.

Suitable polyamine N-oxides wherein the N-0 group forms part of the polymerisable unit comprise polyamine N-oxides wherein R is selected from aliphatic, aromatic, alicyclic or heterocyclic groups. One class of said polyarnine N-oxides comprises the group of polyarnine N-oxides wherein the nitrogen of the N-0 group forms part of the R-group. Preferred polyamine N-oxides are those wherein R is a heterocyclic group such as pyrridine. pyrrole. imidazole. pyrrolidine. piperidine. quinoline.

acridine and derivatives thereof.

Other suitable polyamine N-oxides are the polyamine oxides whereto the NO group is attached to the polymensable unit. A preferred class of these polyamine N-oxides comprises the polyamine N-oxides having the general formula (1) wherein R is an aromatic, heterocyclic or alicyclic groups wherein the nitrogen of the N- O functional group is part of said R group. Examples of these classes are polyamine oxides wherein R is a heterocyclic compound such as pyrridine, pyrrole, imidazole and derivatives thereof.

The polyamine N-oxides can be obtained in almost any degree of polymerisation.

The degree of polymerisation is not critical provided the material has the desired water-solubility and dye-suspending power. Typically. the average molecular weight is within the range of 500 to 1000,000.

b) Copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone and N-vinylimidazole Suitable herein are co-polymers of N-vinylimidazole and N- vinylpyrrolidone having an average molecular weight range of from 5,000 to 50,000. The preferred copolymers have a molar ratio of N-vinylimidazole to N-vinylpyrrolidone from 1 to 0.2.

c) Polvvinylpyrrolidone The composition herein may also utilise polyvinylpyrrolidone (7V7') having an average molecular weight of from 2,500 to 400,000. Suitable polyvinylpyrrolidones are commercially available from ISP Corporation, New York. NY and Montreal, Canada under the product names PVP K-15 (viscosity molecular weight of 10. 000), PVP K-30 (average molecular weight of 40,000), PVP K-60 (average molecular 41 weight of 160,000), and PVP K-90 (average molecular veight of 360,000). PVP K15 is also available from ISP Corporation. Other suitable polyvinylpyrrolidones which are commercially available from BASF Cooperation include Sokalan HP 165 and Sokalan HP 12.

d) Polyvinyloxazolidone The composition herein may also utilise polyvinyloxazolidones as polymeric dye transfer inhibiting agents. Said polyvinyloxazolidones have an average molecular weight of from 2,500 to 400,000.

e) Polyvinylimidazole The composition herein may also utilise poiy-%,inylimidazole as polymeric dye 15 transfer inhibiting agent. Said polyvinylimidazoles preferably have an average molecular weight of from 2,500 to 400,000.

Optical Brightener The composition herein may also optionally comprise from 0.005% to 5% by weight of certain types of hydrophilic optical brighteners. Hydrophilic optical brighteners useful herein include those having the structural formula: 25 R, R? N H H N N O-N-Q-C=C- N-ON 1 1 RN H S03M S03M H N 1:( R, 42 wherein R I is selected from anilino, N-2-bis-hydroxyeth-Y.1 and NFI-2- hydroxyethyl; R.) is selected from N-2-bis-hydroxyethvi, N-2 - hydroxyethyl -N-methyl amino, morphilino, chloro and amino; and M is a salt-forming cation such as sodium or 5 potassium.

When in the above formula, RI is anilino, R2 is N-2-bis-hydroxyethyl and M is a cation such as sodium, the brightener is 4.4',-bis[(4-anilino-6-(N-2bishydroxyethyl)-s-triazine-2-yl)amino]-2,2'-stilbenedisuifonic acid and disodium salt.

This particular brightener species is commercially marketed under the tradename Tinopal-UNPA-GX by Ciba-Geigy Corporation. Tinopal-UNPA-GX is the preferred hydrophilic optical brightener useful in the compositions herein.

When in the above formula, Rl is anilino, R2 is N-2-hydroxyethyl-N-2methylamino and M is a cation such as sodium, the brightener is 4,4'-bis[(4-anilino-6- (N-2 hydroxyethyi-N-methylamino)-s-triazine-2-yl)aminol2,2'-stilbenedisuifonic acid disodium salt. This particular brightener species is commercially marketed under the tradenarne Tinopal 5BM-GX by Ciba-Geigy Corporation.

When in the above formula, R I is anilino, R2 is morphilino and M is a cation such as sodium, the brightener is 4,4'-bis[(4-anilino-6-morphilino-s-triazine-2- yl)amino]2,2'stilbenedisulfonic acid, sodium salt. This particular brightener species is commercially marketed under the tradename Tinopal AMS-GX by Ciba Geigy Corporation.

Cationic fabric softening agents Cationic fabric softening agents are preferably present in the composition herein.

Suitable cationic fabric softening agents include the water insoluble tertiary amines or dilong chain arnide materials as disclosed in GB-A- 1 514 276 and EP-B- 0 0 11 43 340. Preferably, these water-insoluble tertiary amines or dilong chain amide materials are comprised by the solid component of the composition herein.

Cationic fabric softening agents are typically incorporated at total levels of from 0.5% to 15% by weight, normally from 1% to 5% by weight.

Other optional ingredients Other optional ingredients suitable for inclusion in the composition herein include perfumes, colours and filler salts, with sodium sulphate being a preferred filler salt.

Laundry washing method Preferably, the multi-compartment pouch dissolves or disintegrates in water to deliver the solid detergent ingredients and liquid detergent ingredients to the washing cycle. Typically, the multi-compartment pouch is added to the dispensing draw, or alternatively to the drum, of an automatic washing machine.

Preferably, the multi-compartment pouch comprises all of the detergent ingredients of the detergent composition used in the washing. Although it may be preferred that some detergent ingredients are not comprised by the multi- compartment pouch and are added to the washing cycle separately. In addition, one or more detergent compositions other than the detergent composition comprised by the multicompartment pouch can be used during the laundering process, such that said detergent composition comprised by the multi-compartment pouch is used as a pretreatment, main-treatment, post-treatment or a combination thereof during such a laundering process.

44 Example

Example 1

A piece of Chris-Craft M-8630 film is placed on top of a small mould and fixed in place. The small mould consists of a hemispherical shape and has a diameter of 3)3mm and a depth of 14.5mm. A Imm thick layer of rubber is present around the edges of the mould. The mould has some holes in the mould material to allow a vacuum to be applied A vacuum is applied to pull the film into the mould and pull 10 the film flush with the inner surface of the mould. 5ml of the liquid component of a detergent composition is poured into the mould. Next, a second piece of Chris-Craft M-8630 film is placed over the top of the small mould with the liquid component and sealed to the first piece of film by applying an annular piece of flat metal of an inner diameter of 34mm and heating that metal under moderate pressure onto the ring of 15 rubber at the edge of the mould to heat-seal the two pieces of film together to form a pre-sealed compartment comprising the liquid component. The metal ring is typically heated to a temperature of from I 35'C to 150C and applied for up to 5 seconds. The pre-sealed compartment has a 75mm rim of Chris-Craft film which extends in an outwardly direction from the seal away from the centre of the pre-sealed 20 compartment so that the pre-sealed compartment can be fixed into place and completely cover the opening of a mould with a larger diameter of 48.5mm. Next, a third piece of Chris- Craft M-86330 film is placed on top of a larger mould and fixed in place. The large mould consists of a cylindrical shape and has a diameter of 25 48.5mm. and a depth of 22mm. A Imm, thick layer of rubber is present around the edges of the mould. The mould has some holes in the mould material to allow a vacuum to be applied A vacuum is applied to pull the film into the large mould and pull the film flush with the inner surface of the mould to form an open compartment. 40g of the solid component of the detergent composition is poured into the open 30 compartment.

Next. the pre-sealed compartment is placed over the top of the large mould with the solid component and fixed into place so that the pre- sealed compartment covers the opening of the large mould and the rim of film of the pre-sealed compartment is suitably placed over the layer of rubber which is present around the edges of the large mould so that the rim of film can form part of the seal which closes the open compartment.

The rim of film of the pre-sealed compartment is sealed to the third layer of film by applying an annular piece of flat metal of an inner diameter of 50mm. and heating that metal under moderate pressure onto the ring of rubber at the edge of the mould to heat-seal the pieces of film together to form a pouch comprising two compartments, where a first compartment comprises the liquid component of the detergent composition and a second compartment comprises the solid component of the detergent composition. The metal ring is typically heated to a temperature of firom135T to 150T and applied for up to 5 seconds.

Example 11

A pouch was made by the process described in example I which comprises the following liquid component and solid component.

Liguid component detergent ingredient Amount (by weight of the liquid component) Nonionic surfactant 74% Solvent 12% Perfume 7% Water 2% Minors to 100% 46 Solid component detergent ingredient Amount (by weight of Athe solid component) Cationic surfactant 5% Bleaching agent 26% Chelating agent 0.8% Enzyme 6% Suds suppressor 1% Bleach activator 12% Sodium carbonate 6% Soap 1% Brightener 0.5% Zeolite 40% Minors to 100% Example 111

A pouch was made by the process described in example I which comprises the following liquid component and solid component.

Liquid component detergent ingredient Amount (by weight of liquid component) Nonionic surfactant 69% Solvent 9% Perfume 10% Water 3 % Minors to 100% 47 Solid component detergent ingredient Amount (by,seiRht of the solid component) Bleaching agent 36% Chelating agent 2% Enzyme 10% Suds suppressor 1% Sodium carbonate 6% Brightener 3% Zeolite 40% Minors to 100% 48

Claims (9)

Claims

1. A multi-compartment pouch made from a water-soluble film and ha'Ing at least two compartments, said multi-compartment pouch is obtainable by the process of 5 closing an open compartment with a pre-sealed compartment.

2. A multi -compartment pouch according to claim 1, whereby said watersoluble film comprises a polyvinyl alcohol polymer.

3. A multi -compartment pouch according to any preceding claim, whereby said process of closing forms a second seal on the pre-sealed compartment which is in a different position to the first seal of the pre-sealed compartment.

4. A multi -compartment pouch according to any preceding claim, whereby said process of closing forms a second seal on the pre-sealed compartment, said seal has a greater equivalent diameter than the first seal of the pre-sealed compartment.

5. A multi-compartment pouch according to any preceding claim, whereby said multi -compartment pouch comprises a composition, preferably a detergent 20 composition.

6. A multicompartment pouch according to claim 5, whereby said pre-sealed compartment comprises a liquid component. 25

7. A multi-compartment pouch according to claim 6, whereby said pre-sealed compartment comprises an air bubble.

8. A multi-compartment pouch according to any preceding claim, whereby said open compartment has a volume space that is greater than the volume space of said pre30 sealed compartment.

49

9. A process for making a multi-compartment pouch according to any preceding claim, said process comprises the step of closing an open compartment with a presealed compartment.