Lever Brothers Company, Division of Conopco, Inc.

Lever Brothers Company

Rudolf J Martens

Ton Swarthoff

Marten R Van Vliet

Ronald Hage

Jean Hypolites Koek

Karin Van Der Helm-Rademaker

Thomas L Favre

Cornelis T Verrips

Charles Craig Nunn

Mark E Rerek

Cornelis A Lagerwaard

Johannes M Cornelissen

Cornelis G Van Kralingen

Marco L Giuseppin

Todd Domke

An enzymatic bleach composition is provided comprising an enzymatic hydrogen peroxide-generating system and a bleach catalyst which is a coordination complex comprising manganese (Mn) and/or iron (Fe) ions, and preferably comprising a ligand L which is a macrocyclic organic compound of formula (I): ##STR1## wherein t is an integer form 2 to 3; s is an integer from 3 to 4, u is zero or one; each R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are independently selected from H, alkyl, aryl, substituted alkyl, and substituted aryl.

Enzymatic bleach composition

Novel bleach and oxidation catalysts, a method of bleaching substrates using these catalysts and bleaching (detergent) compositions containing the catalysts are reported. The catalysts are manganese complexes of formula:

Bleach activation by manganese-based coordination complexes

Novel bleach and oxidation catalysts, a method of bleaching substrates using these catalysts and bleaching (detergent) compositions containing the catalysts are reported. The catalysts are a manganese-based co-ordination complex of the general formula:

Bleach activation multinuclear manganese-based coordination complexes

Concentrated detergent powder compositions having a bulk density of above 600 g/l, preferably at least 610 g/l, more preferably from 650 g/l to 1200 g/l, and comprising a surfactant, a detergency builder, enzymes, a peroxygen compound bleach, and a manganese complex as effective bleach catalyst are disclosed. Specifically preferred manganese complexes are:

Concentrated detergent powder compositions

Peroxy compound bleaching is activated by a catalytic amount of a transition metal complex of a transition metal (Mn, Co, Fe or Cu) with a non-(macro)-cyclic ligand of the formula: ##STR1## preferably 2,2'-bispyridylamine. Bleaching agent and bleach detergent compositions are also disclosed comprising a peroxy compound bleach and said transition metal complex. The transition metal complex is an effective catalyst for activating hydrogen peroxide compounds, peroxyacids and peroxyacid bleach precursors on removing a wide class of stains from substrates, especially texiles and fabrics.

Bleach activation

Detergent compositions, particularly low temperature bleach detergent compositions comprising an inorganic persalt and an organic peracid precursor (persalt activator) or an organic peracid in lieu thereof, containing less than 10 mg/kg, preferably not more than 5 mg/kg of reactive titanium (IV), based on the total weight of the composition, are disclosed. These compositions show improved peracid stability, thereby improving the peracid concentration during the washing and cleaning operation to give enhanced bleaching results. The detergent compositions preferably contain a silicate.

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Vlaardingen, Netherlands

Rudolf J Martens