Enzyme stabilizing composition and stabilized enzyme containing built detergent compositions

Claim 2

The liquid detergent composition of claim 1 wherein the detergency builder comprises an alkali metal polyphosphate.

Claim 3

The liquid detergent composition of claim 2 wherein the alkali metal polyphosphate is sodium tripolyphosphate.

Claim 4

The liquid detergent composition of claim 1 wherein the enzyme comprises a protease.

Claim 5

The liquid detergent composition of claim 1 wherein the enzyme stabilization system comprises (i) borax, (ii) citric acid and (iii) calcium chloride.

Claim 6

The liquid detergent composition of claim 5 wherein the enzyme stabilization system comprises from about 0.5 to about 8% by weight (i), from about 1.5 to about 2.5% by weight (ii) and (iii) in an amount sufficient to provide from about 22 to about 36 millimoles of calcium ion per liter of the composition.

Claim 7

The liquid detergent composition of claim 1 wherein the enzyme stabilization system comprises from about 0.5 to about 8% by weight (i), from about 1.5 to about 2.5% by weight (ii) and (iii) in an amount sufficient to provide from about 22 to about 36 millimoles of calcium ion per liter of the composition.

Claim 8

The liquid detergent composition of claim 1 which further comprises a softening effective amount of a clay softening agent.

Claim 9

The liquid detergent composition of claim 1 which comprises (A) from about 5 to about 30%, by weight, of a mixture of (a) non-soap anionic surface active compound and (b) nonionic surface active detergent compound at an (a):(b) ratio, by weight, of from about 1:4 to about 10:1.

Claim 10

The liquid detergent composition of claim 9 wherein the anionic (a) is an alkyl polyethoxy sulfate wherein the alkyl is from 10 to 18 carbon atoms and which includes from 3 to 11 ethoxy groups, and wherein the nonionic (b) is a mixed ethylene oxide-propylene oxide fatty alcohol condensation product of the formula RO(C₃H₆O) p (C₂H₄O) q H wherein R is a straight on branched, primary or secondary aliphatic hydrocarbon, of from 6 to 20 carbon atoms, p is a number of from 2 to 8 on average, and q is a number of from 2 to 12 on average.

Claim 11

The liquid detergent composition of claim 1 which further comprises one or more additional adjuvants selected from higher fatty acid of from about 10 to 22 carbon atoms, soil-suspending agents, hydrotropes, corrosion inhibitors, dyes, perfumes, silicates, optical brighteners, perfume, antifoaming agents, germicides, fabric softening agents, pH modifiers and pH buffers.

Claim 12

A built aqueous liquid enzyme containing cleaning composition comprising (A) from about 5 to about 30%, by weight, of at least one surface active detergent compound selected from the group consisting of anionic, nonionic and ampholytic detergent compounds; (B) from about 5 to about 25%, by weight, of at least one detergency builder salt selected from the group consisting of alkali metal polyphosphates, alkali metal carbonates, alkali metal nitrilotriacetates, polyacetal carboxylates, and mixtures thereof; (C) from about 0.1 to about 3%, by weight, of a protease, amylase, or mixed protease-amylase enzyme; (D) an enzyme stabilization system containing (i) from about 0.5 to about 8%, by weight, of boric acid, boric oxide or alkali metal borate; (ii) from about 1.5 to about 2.5%, by weight, of citric acid; and (iii) a water-soluble calcium salt in an amount sufficient to provide from about 22 to about 36 millimoles of calcium ion per liter of the composition; (E) from about 5 to about 20% by weight of a clay softening agent; and (F) water, and optionally perfume and other adjuvants.

Claim 13

A method of laundering stained or soiled fabrics comprising contacting the fabrics with the stabilized enzyme containing liquid detergent composition of claim 1.

Claim 14

A stabilized enzyme preparation useful as a laundry additive which consists essentially of at least one enzyme selected from the group consisting of proteases, amylases and mixtures thereof, and an enzyme stabilizing effective amount of an enzyme stabilization system consisting essentially of (i) from about 0.25 to about 10 parts by weight of a boron compound selected from the group consisting of boric acid, boron oxide, and alkali metal borates; (ii) from about 1 to about 3 parts by weight of an hydroxypolycarboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of aliphatic di- and tri-carboxylic acids with from 1 to 4 hydroxyl groups and with from 4 to 8 carbon atoms; and (iii) a water soluble calcium salt in an amount to provide from about 18 to about 50 millimoles of calcium ion per liter.

Claim 15

The stabilized enzyme preparation of claim 14 in the form of a powder.

Claim 16

The stabilized enzyme preparation of claim 14 in the form of an aqueous solution.

Claim 17

The stabilized enzyme preparation of claim 14 wherein the hydroxypolycarboxylic acid is citric acid.

Claim 18

The stabilized enzyme preparation of claim 17 wherein the enzyme stabilization system contains from about 0.5 to about 8 parts of (i), from about 1.5 to about 2.5 parts (ii) and (iii) in an amount sufficient to provide from about 22 to about 36 millimoles of calcium ion per liter.

Claim 19

The stabilized enzyme preparation of claim 18 wherein (i) is borax and (iii) is calcium chloride.

Claim 20

A composition for addition to a protease or amylase enzyme containing aqueous laundry detergent composition to stabilize the enzyme against degradation, said composition consisting essentially of (i) from about 0.25 to about 10 parts by weight of boric acid, boron oxide or alkali metal borate; (ii) from about 1 to about 3 parts by weight of citric acid, and a water soluble calcium salt in an amount to provide from about 18 to about 50 millimoles of calcium ion per liter when added to an aqueous laundry detergent composition containing up to about 5% by weight of said enzyme.

Claim 21

The composition of claim 20 in the form of a powder.

Claim 22

The composition of claim 20 in the form of an aqueous solution.