Bleach catalyst composition, manufacture and use thereof in detergent and/or bleach compositions

Claim 2

A bleach catalyst according to claim 1 wherein the manganese complex catalyst is of formula: wherein Mn is manganese which can independently be in the III or IV oxidation state; X is independently a coordinating or bridging species selected from the group consisting of H₂O, O₂²⁻, O²⁻, ⁻OH, HO₂⁻, SH⁻, S²⁻, >SO, Cl⁻, SCN⁻, N₃⁻, N³⁻, RSO₃⁻, RCOO⁻, NH₂⁻ and NR₃, with R selected from H, alkyl, aryl, both optionally substituted and R¹COO, where R¹ is an alkyl, aryl, both optionally substituted; L is a ligand which is an organic molecule containing a number of nitrogen which coordinates via all or some of its nitrogen atoms to the manganese centres; Z denotes the charge of the complex and is an integer which can be positive or negative; Y is a monovalent or multivalent counter-ion, leading to charge neutrality, which is dependent upon the charge of z of the complex; and q = z / [charge Y].

Claim 3

A bleach catalyst according to claim 1 wherein the manganese complex catalyst is of formula. [ LMn IV (OR) ₃] Y, wherein Mn is manganese in the +4 oxidation state; R is a C₁-C₂₀ radical selected from the group alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, benzyl and radical combinations thereof; at least two R radicals may also be connected to one another so as to form a bridging unit between two oxygens that coordinate with the manganese; L is a ligand selected from a C₃-C₆₀ radical having at least 3 nitrogen atoms coordinating with the manganese; and Y is an oxidatively-stable counterion dependent.

Claim 4

A bleach catalyst according to claim 1 wherein the manganese complex is of formula: [ L MnX p ] z Y q wherein Mn can be either in the II, III or IV oxidation state; X independently a coordinating species with the exception of RO⁻, selected from Cl⁻, Br⁻, I⁻, F⁻, NCS⁻, N₃⁻, I₃⁻, NH₃, RCOO⁻, RSO₃⁻-, RSO₄⁻ in which R is alkyl, aryl, both optionally substituted, OH⁻, O₂²⁻, HOO⁻, H₂O, SH, CN⁻, OCN⁻, S₄²⁻ and mixtures thereof; p is an integer from 1-3; z denotes the charge of the complex and is an integer which can be positive, zero or negative; Y is a counter-ion the type of which is dependent upon the charge z of the complex; q = z /[charge Y]; and L is a ligand being a macrocylic organic molecule of the following formula: [ NR³-(CR¹R²) t ] s wherein t is 2; s is 3 and R¹, R² and R³ can each independently be H, C₁-C₆ alkyl, aryl, both optionally substituted.

Claim 5

A bleach catalyst composition according to claim 1 comprising from 50 to 90% by weight of the inert salt.

Claim 6

A bleach catalyst composition according to claim 1 wherein the binding agent has a melting point above 30°C.

Claim 7

A bleach catalyst composition according to claims 1 or 6 wherein the binding agent is alkaline sodium silicate.

Claim 8

A bleach catalyst composition according to claim 1 wherein the inert salt is sodium carbonate.

Claim 9

A bleach catalyst composition according to claim 1 wherein the average particle size of catalyst within the granule is below 200 µm.

Claim 10

A bleach catalyst composition according to claim 1 wherein the granules are provided with a surface powder coating.

Claim 12

A detergent composition comprising (i) 0.02 to 0.08% by weight of a bleach catalyst composition according to claim 1; (ii) 0.5 to 50% by weight of a surface-active agent; and (iii) 5 to 80% by weight of a detergency builder.

Claim 13

A method for bleaching a stained substrate the method comprising contacting the stained substrate in aqueous medium with a detergent composition according to claim 1 .