Quaternary ammonium compounds for use in bleaching systems

Claim 1

A bleaching-detergent composition comprising: (i) from 2 to 40% by weight of a peroxide bleaching compound capable of yielding hydrogen peroxide in aqueous solution; (ii) from 0.1 to 20% by weight of a peroxycarboxylic acid precursor having the formula: ##STR16## wherein R 1 , R 2 and R 3 are each a radical selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, hydroxyalkyl and polyoxyalkylene containing from 1 to 18 carbon atoms; or two or more of R 1 , R 2 and R 3 together with the N-atom form an optionally substituted, nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring system; R 4 is a bridging group selected from ##STR17## wherein each n can individually be 0, 1 or 2; L is a leaving group, the conjugate acid of which has a pK a in the range of from 4 to 13, and Z - can be a chloride, bromide, hydroxide, nitrate, methosulphate, bisulphate, acetate, sulphate, citrate, borate or phosphate anion; (iii) from 0 to 50% by weight of a surface-active material selected from the group consisting of anionic, nonionic, amphoteric, zwitterionic and cationic surfactants and mixtures thereof; (iv) from 0 to 80% by weight of a detergency builder.