Unilever Home and Personal Care Usa, Division of Conopco, Inc.

Michel Gilbert Delroisse

Ronald Hage

Jean Hypolites Koek

Bernard Lucas Feringa

David Andrew Jones

Roelant Mathijs Hermant

Richard George Smith

Stephen William Russell

Jane Whittaker

Ronaldus Theodorus Vliet

Minze Theunis Rispens

Christiaan Lamers

Robertus Everardus Kalmeijer

John Francis Wells

A method for bleaching stained fabrics is provided by pretreating the stained fabric, before washing, with a pretreatment composition that comprises a ligand that forms a transition metal complex as bleach catalyst, the complex catalysing bleaching of stains by atmospheric oxygen. The pretreatment composition preferably comprises an iron complex comprising the ligand N,N-bis(pyridin-2-yl-methyl)-1,1-bis(pyridin-2-yl)-1-aminoethane. One or both of the pretreatment composition and the wash liquor are substantially devoid of peroxygen bleach or a peroxy-based or -generating bleach system. The pretreatment provides improved or broader stain profile bleaching.

Method of pretreating and bleaching stained fabrics

A method for bleaching stained fabrics is provided by washing a stained fabric in an aqueous wash liquor in the presence of a wash additive that comprises a ligand that forms a transition metal complex as bleach catalyst, the complex catalysing bleaching of stains by atmospheric oxygen. The wash additive preferably comprises an iron complex comprising the ligand N,N-bis(pyridin-2-yl-methyl)-1,1-bis(pyridin-2-yl)-1-aminoethane. One or both of the wash additive and the wash liquor are substantially devoid of peroxygen bleach or a peroxy-based or -generating bleach system. The wash additive provides improved or broader stain profile bleaching.

Method of bleaching stained fabrics

A detergent bleaching composition is provided comprising a compound inclug a specified pentadentate nitrogen-containing ligand. The compound can activate hydrogen peroxide or peroxyacids and provides favourable stain removal properties, particularly in the presence or iron, manganese or copper ions. In addition, an improved stability in alkaline aqueous environment has been obtained, in particular at the peroxy compound concentrations generally present in the fabric washing liquor.

Detergent bleaching composition comprising pentadentate ligand

A bleach and oxidation catalyst is provided comprising a catalytically ace iron, manganese or copper complex including a specified pentadentate nitrogen-containing ligand. The metal complex can activate hydrogen peroxide or peroxyacids and provides favourable stain removal properties. In addition, a considerably improved stability of these metal complex compounds in alkaline aqueous environment has been obtained, in particular at the peroxy compound concentrations generally present in the fabric washing liquor.

Bleach and oxidation catalyst

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Bebington Wirral, United Kingdom

Michel Gilbert Delroisse