Stabilized bleaching and laundering composition

Claim 2

A particulate bleaching detergent composition comprising: (a) a bleaching agent comprising an inorganic peroxygen compound in combination with an activator therefore: (b) from about 0.1 to about 5%, by weight based on the weight of the said detergent composition of a polymer containing monomeric units of the formula R' OH 1 c -C-C- 12 1 _R COOM wherein R' and R' each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group containing from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and M represents a hydrogen atom, or an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal or ammonium cation; and (c) at least one surface active agent selected from the group consisting of anionic, cationic, nonionic, 40 ampholytic and zwitterionic detergents.

Claim 3

A composition as claimed in Claim 1 in which the said bleaching agent also contains a peroxyacid compound.

Claim 4

A composition as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the polymer is an alkali metal poly alpha-hydroxyacrylate.

Claim 5

A composition as claimed in Claim 3 in which the concentration of polymer is from about 0.5 to about 3%, by weight.

Claim 6

A composition as claimed in anyone of Claims 1 to 4 also containing a detergent builder salt.

Claim 7

A composition as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5 in which the said surface active agent comprises an anionic detergent.

Claim 8

A composition as claimed in Claim 6 in which the said anionic detergent is a linear alkyl benzene sulphonate. 4 R 11 GB 2 129 456 A 11

Claim 9

A particulate bleaching detergent composition comprising: (a) from about 2 to about 50% by weight of a bleaching agent comprising an inorganic peroxygen compound in combination with an activator therefore; (b) from about 0. 1 to about 5%, by weight, of a polymer containing monomer units of the formula R' OH 1 c -C-C- 12 1 _R COOM wherein R' and R' each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group containing from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and M represents a hydrogen atom or an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal or ammonium cation; (c) from about 3 to 50% by weight, of at least one detergent surface active agent selected from the group consisting of anionic, cationic, nonionic, ampholytic and zwitterionic detergents.

Claim 10

A particulate bleaching detergent composition comprising: (a) from about 2 to about 50% by weight of a bleaching agent comprising an inorganic peroxygen compound in combination with an activator therefore; (b) from about 0. 1 to about 5%, by weight, of a polymer containing monomer units of the formula R' OH 1 c -C-C- 12 1 _R COOM wherein R' and R' each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group containing from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and M represents a hydrogen atom or an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal or ammonium cation; (c) from about 3 to 50% by weight, of at least one detergent surface active agent selected from the group consisting of anionic, cationic, nonionic, ampholytic and zwitterionic detergents.

Claim 11

A composition as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8 in which the said bleaching agent comprises an alkali metal perborate in combination with tetraacetyl ethylene diamine (TAED).

Claim 12

A composition as claimed in Claim 9 in which the said TAED is contained in granules in combination with a mixture of sodium and potassium triphosphate.

Claim 13

A composition as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 10 in which the said TAED has the 15 following particle size distribution; 0-20% greater than 150 micrometers; 10-100% greater than 100 microns but less than 150 microns; 0-50% less than 75 microns and 0-20% less than 50 microns.

Claim 14

A composition as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 11 in which about 50% of the particles of TAED have a size greater than 160 microns.

Claim 15

A composition as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 12 also containing a non-polymeric sequestering agent.

Claim 16

A composition as claimed in Claim 13 in which the said sequestering agent comprises ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA).

Claim 17

A composition as claimed in Claim 1 substantially as specifically described herein with 25 reference to Examples 1 to 7, 9 and 10.

Claim 18

A process for bleaching which comprises contacting the stained and/or soiled material to be bleached with an aqueous solution of a particulate bleachirig detergent composition as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 15. Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by the Courier Press, Leamington Spa, 1984. Published by the Patent Office, Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A 1 AY, from which copies may be obtained. . i.