Stable suspension of pigments in aqueous hypochlorite bleach compositions

Claim 1

An aqueous bleach composition comprising (a) from 3% to 8% sodium hypochlorite; (b) from 0.01% to 0.3% of a bleach stable pigment selected from the group consisting of Ultramarine Blue, chlorinated indanthrone and their equivalents: and (c) at least 80% water, characterized in that it further comprises (d) from 0.025% to 0.2% of an optical brightener having the formula : or the alkali metal salts thereof; (e) from 0.05% to about 2% of a surfactant selected from the group consisting of alkylaryl sulfonates having the formulas: and wherein R 1 is a C 8 -C 20 alkyl group, R 2 and R 3 are C 10 -C 16 alkyl groups, M is alkali metal and n is 0 or 1; and (f) from 0% to 0.5% of a bleach stable organic oil having a density of 0.8 to about 1.05 g/cc; wherein the pigment is uniformly dispersed in an aqueous system of said brightener and said surfactant; and wherein the said composition is made by a process comprising the steps of: 1. preparing an aqueous system containing said pigment, said optical brightener,. said surfactant, and said bleach stable organic oil; 2. adding slowly, and with low shear mixing, to the system of Step 1, a sufficient amount of aqueous sodium hypochlorite to produce a final composition comprising from 3% to . 8% sodium hypochlorite, from 0.01% to 0.3% of pigment, from 0.025% to 0.2% optical brightener, from 0.05% to 2% surfactant, and from 0% to 0.5% of said bleach stable organic oil.