Enzyme-containing liquid detergents

Claim 2

A liquid detergent composition comprising surfactant, alkaline protease enzyme, and an enzyme-stabilising system, and characterised by the following additional features in combination: (a) a neat liquid pH of 9.5 or greater, (b) a solution pH of 8.5 or greater at 0.2% dilution in aqueous wash liquor, (c) titratable alkalinity of at least 0.5% wt. per g of product when expressed as % Na₂O and titrated to pH7, (d) an effective enzyme stabiliser system selected from i) polyols, ii) boron compounds selected from boric oxide, boric acid and alkali metal borates, iii) calcium ion, iv) polyfunctional amino compounds, and mixtures thereof, and (e) 5-80% water content, whereby said liquid detergent composition shows at least 25% of its initial enzyme activity after storage at 40.6°C (105°F) for 2 weeks.

Claim 3

A detergent liquid according to claim 1 further comprising at least 0.2% weight monoethanolamine buffer.

Claim 4

A detergent liquid according to any preceding claim wherein the surface active agent includes anionic and nonionic surfactants in a ratio of 1:1 to 10:1.

Claim 5

A detergent liquid according to any preceding claim wherein the neat liquid pH is about 10 or above.

Claim 6

A detergent liquid according to any preceding claim, in the form of an isotropic liquid.

Claim 7

A detergent liquid according to any preceding claim, wherein said protease is selected from the group consisting of Alcalase (Trade Mark), Savinase (Trade Mark), Maxatase (Trade Mark), and Maxacal (Trade Mark).

Claim 8

A detergent liquid according to any preceding claim, wherein said protease is selected from the group consisting of Savinase (Trade Mark) and Maxacal (Trade Mark).

Claim 9

A detergent liquid according to any preceding claim, wherein the formulation is essentially phosphate-free.

Claim 10

A detergent liquid according to any preceding claim, further comprising from about 3 to about 40% of builder.

Claim 11

A detergent liquid according to any preceding claim, comprising at least 0.2% monoethanolamine buffer and from about 3 to about 40% builder.

Claim 12

A detergent liquid according to any preceding claim, having a protease activity of 0.001 to 1 KNPU per gram of product.

Claim 13

A detergent liquid according to any preceding claim, wherein the surfactant includes an anionic selected from the group consisting of alkylaryl sulfonates and alcohol ethoxy sulfates.

Claim 14

A detergent liquid according to any preceding claim, wherein the stabilizers include borax or boric acid.

Claim 15

A detergent liquid according to any preceding claim, wherein the stabilizer includes calcium ion.

Claim 16

A detergent liquid according to any preceding claim, wherein the stabilizer includes borax.

Claim 17

A detergent liquid according to any preceding claim, wherein the stabilizer includes a polyol selected from the group consisting of propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, glycerine and mixtures thereof.

Claim 18

A liquid detergent composition according to claim 1, in the form of a heavy duty liquid detergent comprising: a) 10-25% anionic surfactant(s), b) 2-12% nonionic surfactant, c) 0.5 to 10% monoethanol, diethanolamine, triethanolamine or mixtures thereof, d) a neat liquid pH of 9.5 or greater, e) a solution pH of 8.5 or greater at 0.2% weight use level, f) 3 to 25% builder, g) titratable alkalinity of at least 0.5% weight per gram of product when expressed as % Na₂O as measured to pH 7, h) from 1-10% of a polyhydric alcolhol selected from the group consisting of propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, and glycerine, i) an effective level of enzymes to provide stain removal including at least one alkaline protease at an activity of 0.001 to 1 KNPU per gram of product capable of providing stain removal in a wash solution of pH 8.5 or greater at .2% wt. use level, j) from 0.1 to 10% borax, boric acid or mixtures thereof, k) 5-80% water.

Claim 19

A heavy duty liquid according to claim 17 comprising 0.2 to 5% weight monoethanolamine.

Claim 20

A liquid detergent composition according to claim 1, in the form of amine-free heavy duty liquid detergent comprising: a) 1-60% by weight of one or more surfactants, b) a neat liquid pH of 9.5 or greater, c) a solution pH of 8.5 or greater at 0.2% weight use level, d) titratable alkalinity of at least 0.5% weight per gram of product when expressed as % Na₂O as measured to pH 7, e) an effective level of enzymes to provide stain removal including at least one alkaline protease capable of providing stain removal in a wash solution of pH 8.5 or greater, f) an effective enzyme stability system including components selected from the group consisting of i) polyhydric alcohols, ii) boron compounds selected from the group consisting of boric oxide, boric acid and alkali metal borates, iii) calcium ion, and iv) mixtures thereof, and g) 5-80% water, said heavy duty detergent exhibiting atleast 25% of initial enzyme activity after 2 weeks at 105°F.

Claim 21

A heavy duty liquid according to claim 17 further comprising from about 0.5% to about 25% of an alkali metal carbonate.

Claim 22

A heavy duty liquid according to claim 17 further comprising from about 0.5% to about 25% of an alkali metal silicate.

Claim 23

A heavy duty liquid according to claim 19 further comprising from about 0.5% to about 25% of an alkali metal carbonate.

Claim 24

A heavy duty licuid according to claim 19 further comprising from about 0.5% to about 25% of an alkali metal silicate.