An aqueous fabric cleaning composition comprising a bacillus bacterial spore and an amino carboxylic acid or a phosphonate

Abstract

The present invention relates to an aqueous fabric cleaning composition. Particularly, it relates to malodour reduction from soft surfaces like fabric which may cleaned using a laundering process to deliver this benefit. This has been achieved through a fabric cleaning composition comprising a combination of a bacillus bacterial spore and select chelating agent in an aqueous surfactant containing composition.

Description

[0001] P0001173 CPL

[0002] 1

[0003] AN AQUEOUS FABRIC CLEANING COMPOSITION

[0004] Field of the Invention

[0005] The present invention relates to an aqueous fabric cleaning composition. Particularly, it relates

[0006] 5 to malodour reduction from soft surfaces like fabric which may cleaned using a laundering process to deliver this benefit.

[0007] Background of the Invention

[0008] Hard and soft surfaces in the homes including clothing need to be cleaned regularly to maintain a fresh and pleasant environment. Soft surfaces include those in the homes like upholstery, curtains, bedsheets, blankets, towels and mops used for cleaning and more importantly clothes worn by people are often cleaned with compositions that may contain harsh chemicals to render the surfaces fresh and free from germs.

[0009] Freshness of such surfaces after cleaning is often perceived as absence of malodour. Malodour may be of many types. Two main types of malodour are primary malodour and secondary

[0010] 15 malodour. Primarly malodour is the odour inherently present in certain foods like onion, garlic, eggs etc. If surfaces are stained by such foods, they instantly give off their primary odour which is perceived by most humans as unpleasant and are called primary malodour. Secondary malodour is produced by decaying organic matter like that produced due to degradation of foods waste in the garbage bins, and degradation of other organic soil in the implements like sponges

[0011] 20 used in the kitchen and mops used for cleaning surfaces in the homes. They develop over time on such surfaces (several hours to days) due to degradation of organic matter by microorganisms like bacteria and fungus present in them. Clothes worn by people get dirty due to soil, food stains and pollutants which may generate malodour due to interaction with sweat and sebum which are continuously secreted. Another type of secondary malodour is what is known as dank malodour perceived from clothes that have dried very slowly in high moist conditions to a relatively high residual moisture content. The present inventors were working to find a solution to reduce all such types of malodour from such fabric surfaces through the normal laundering process.

[0012] Normal laundering process involves washing the fabric by hand using a bucket along with a laundry detergent composition or by cleaning them in a washing machine. However, many of the

[0013] 30 malodours described above are not fully removed during washing or may be produced due to inefficient drying process. There is thus a need in the art for a composition that can be used for laundering fabrics which deliver more efficient malodour reduction. P0001173 CPL

[0014] 2

[0015] The present inventors have surprisingly found that a combination of a bacillus bacterial spore and select chelating agent in an aqueous surfactant containing composition is very effective in delivering such malodour reduction when the fabrics are laundered with such a composition.

[0016] 5 Summary of the Invention

[0017] The first aspect of the present invention relates to an aqueous fabric cleaning composition comprising

[0018] (i) 0.000005 to 1 wt% of a Bacillus bacterial spore;

[0019] (ii) 0.005 to 2 wt% a chelating agent selected from an aminocarboxylate or a phosphonate;

[0020] (iii) 3 to 30 wt% a surfactant selected from anionic, non-ionic, amphoteric or mixtures thereof; and

[0021] (iv) 50 to 90 wt% water; wherein Bacillus bacterial spore comprises Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus megaterium and Bacillus subtilis.

[0022] 15 Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of reducing malodour from a fabric comprising the step of contacting the surface with a composition of the first aspect preferably diluted with water followed by the step of rinsing said fabric with water to make it substantially free of the composition.

[0023] 20 Detailed Description of the Invention

[0024] For the avoidance of doubt, any feature of one aspect of the present invention may be utilised in any other aspect of the invention. The word "comprising" is intended to mean "including" but not necessarily "consisting of” or "composed of'. Thus, the term "comprising" is meant not to be limiting to any subsequently stated elements, but rather to optionally also encompass nonspecified elements of major or minor functional importance. In other words, the listed steps or options need not be exhaustive. Whenever the words "including" or "having" are used, these terms are meant to be equivalent to "comprising" as defined above. It is noted that the examples given in the description below are intended to clarify the invention and are not intended to limit the invention to those examples per se. Except in the examples, or where otherwise explicitly

[0025] 30 indicated, all numbers in this description indicating amounts of material or conditions of reaction, physical properties of materials and / or use are to be understood as modified by the word "about". Unless specified otherwise, numerical ranges expressed in the format "x to y" are understood to include x and y. When for a specific feature multiple preferred ranges are described in the format P0001173 CPL

[0026] 3

[0027] "x to y", it is understood that all ranges combining the different endpoints are also contemplated. Unless specified otherwise, amounts as used herein are expressed in percentage by weight based on total weight of the composition and is abbreviated as “wt%”.

[0028] 5 The present invention delivers the benefit of odour removal from surfaces. The surfaces may be soft surfaces like those in upholstery, curtains, bedsheets, blankets, towels and mops used for cleaning and more importantly clothes worn by people. They may be made from cotton, fabric made from synthetic polymer fiber or combinations of these or other fibers like wool, silk or similar material. Most preferably the fabric is made of cotton, synthetic polymer or combinations of these. The composition of the invention is especially useful for cleaning a soft surface like a fabric.

[0029] The composition of the invention comprises a Bacillus bacterial spore. As per the present invention, the composition comprises a combination of bacterial spores of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus megaterium, and Bacillus subtilis, preferably Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus pumilus and Bacillus subtilis. By a combination

[0030] 15 of bacterial spores, as per this invention, is meant that the spores of the bacteria may be included in the composition.

[0031] Yet another preferred aspect relates to a composition which additionally comprises one or both of Bacillus licheniformis, and Bacillus thuringiensis. An especially preferred aspect of the present

[0032] 20 invention relates to a combination of bacterial spores which comprises Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus pumilus and Bacillus thuringiensis.

[0033] It is preferred that each of the bacterial spores are present in 1 to 70%, more preferably in 5 to 40% of the total number of the the bacterial spores. An even more preferred aspect of the

[0034] 25 invention relates to the bacterial spores Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus megaterium, and Bacillus subtilis being included in 5 to 40% of the total number of the bacterial spores. An especially preferred aspect of the invention relates to the bacterial spores Bacillus pumilus and Bacillus thuringiensis each being included in 1 to 30%, preferably 5 to 20%, most preferably 5 to 15% of the total number of the bacterial spores.

[0035] 30 The bacterial spore is included in 0.000005 to 1%, preferably 0.00005 to 0.75%, further more preferably 0.0001 to 0.5% by weight of the composition. The bacterial spores for inclusion in the composition of the invention can be in powder form having a count of around 1011cfu / g, but there could be other methods of growing and introducing the spores in the composition which are well known to a person skilled in the art. Thus, in the composition, the bacterial spore is preferably P0001173 CPL

[0036] 4 included in 103to 1011cfu / g, more preferably 104to 109cfu / g, and most preferably 105to 108cfu / g of the composition.

[0037] The composition of the invention comprises a chelating agent selected from an aminocarboxylate or a phosphonate.

[0038] 5

[0039] Aminocarboxylates could have one of the two general chemical structures given below

[0040] HC(COOH)(R3)-N(RI)(R2) where Ri, R2are CxH2x-COOH, x=1 to 4 and Ri= R2or R R2and

[0041] Where R3= CyH2y+ior R3= CyH2yCOOH , y=1 to 4.

[0042] Or

[0043] 15 (Ri)(R2)N-CnH2n-N(Ri)(R2) , where n=1 to 4 and Ri= R2or R R2and

[0044] R1 is selected from H or alkyl carboxylic acids, 1 to 4 alkyl chain and mono or dicarboxylic acid

[0045] Preferred aminocarboxylates are one or more of trisodium methyl glycine diacetate (MGDA), L- glutamic acid N, N-diacetic acid tetrasodium (GLDA) and ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid

[0046] 20 (EDTA). The preferred chelating agent of the aminocarboxylate group is one or both of MGDA and GLDA.

[0047] Phosphonates have the chemical formula

[0048] 25 (PO3H2)2-C(R)(OH) where R = CnH2n+i, n=1 to 4.

[0049] The preferred chelating agents of the phosphonate class are hydroxy ethylidene di phosphonic acid (HEDP), Amino Trimethylene Phosphonic Acid (ATMP) and Phosphonobutane Tricarboxylic Acid (PBTC), preferably HEDP.

[0050] Of the two groups, the aminocarboxylate is preferred for use in the composition of the present invention. The more preferred chelating agents for use in the present invention are MGDA, GLDA, EDTA or HEDP. Further more preferably the chelating agent is MGDA, GLDA or EDTA. Most preferably the chelating agent is MGDA or GLDA. P0001173 CPL

[0051] 5

[0052] The composition comprises 0.005 to 2 wt%, preferably 0.01 to 1.5 wt% chelating agent by weight of the composition.

[0053] Preferably, the composition is a liquid detergent composition. More preferably, the composition

[0054] 5 is a laundry liquid unit dose composition.

[0055] The laundry detergent composition in which the present invention may be delivered in the liquid form. The term liquid may encompass emulsions, suspensions, and compositions having flowable yet stiffer consistency, known as gels or pastes. Pourable liquid detergent compositions preferably have a viscosity of from 200 to 1 ,500 mPa.s, preferably from 200 to 700 mPa.s. Such compositions generally have an aqueous continuous phase. Preferably, the composition comprises 50 to 85 wt%, more preferably 60 to 85 wt% water. More preferably it comprises at least 70% wt. water.

[0056] The composition of the invention includes a 3 to 30 wt% a surfactant selected from anionic,

[0057] 15 non-ionic, amphoteric or mixtures thereof.

[0058] The surfactant is preferably anionic in nature. Preferred anionic surfactants are of the organic sulfates and sulfonates having alkyl radicals containing from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms, the term “alkyl” being used to include the alkyl portion of higher acyl radicals. Examples of such materials include alkyl sulfates, alkyl ether sulfates, alkaryl sulfonates, alpha-olefin sulfonates

[0059] 20 and mixtures thereof. The alkyl radicals preferably contain from 10 to 18 carbon atoms and may be unsaturated. The alkyl ether sulfates may contain from one to ten ethylene oxide or propylene oxide units per molecule. The counterion for anionic surfactants is generally an alkali metal such as sodium or potassium; or an ammoniacal counterion such as monoethanolamine, (MEA) diethanolamine (DEA) or triethanolamine (TEA). Mixtures of such counterions may also be

[0060] 25 employed. Sodium and potassium are preferred.

[0061] Most preferred surfactants are of the alkylbenzene sulfonates type, particularly linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS) with an alkyl chain length of from 10 to 18 carbon atoms. Some alkyl sulfate surfactant (PAS) may be used, such as non-ethoxylated primary and secondary alkyl

[0062] 30 sulphates with an alkyl chain length of from 10 to 18.

[0063] Preferred anionic surfactants are selected from one or more of alkyl benzene sulphonate, alkyl sulphate and alkyl ether sulphate.

[0064] When anionic surfactant is included, it is preferably in 2 to 25%, more preferably 3 to 18%, further more preferably 4 to 15% by weight of the composition. P0001173 CPL

[0065] 6

[0066] Preferably, the composition comprises from 1 to 20%, more preferably 5 to 20 wt% non-ionic surfactant based on the total weight of composition. A preferred class of nonionic surfactant for use in the invention includes aliphatic Cs to Cis, more preferably C12 to C15 primary linear alcohol ethoxylates with an average of from 3 to 20, more preferably from 5 to 10 moles of ethylene oxide

[0067] 5 per mole of alcohol. A preferred non-ionic surfactant are the C16 / 18 Alcohol ethoxylates.

[0068] The non-ionic surfactant may be an alkyl polyglycosides, The alkyl chain length is generally defined as an average alkyl chain length. The alkyl chain length of the alkyl poly glycoside preferably comprises between 4 and 18 carbon atoms. The alkyl chain is preferably a linear alkyl chain. The alkyl chain is preferably derived from fatty alcohols, more preferably the alkyl chain is derived from natural fatty alcohols. The preferred alkyl polyglycoside is alkyl polyglucoside.

[0069] The surfactant may be an amphoteric surfactant. The amphoteric surfactant is preferably selected from one or both of alkyl amidopropyl betaine surfactant and amine oxide surfactant.

[0070] 15 Preferred alkyl amidopropyl betaine is cocoamido propyl betaine. The amine oxide may be any one of the C8 - C18 alkyl amine n-oxide (which is broadly referred to an amine oxide). The preferred amine oxide is one or both of lauramine oxide or lauryl / myristyl amido propyl amine oxide. The more preferred amine oxide is lauramine oxide.

[0071] Preferably, the composition preferably comprises 0.1 to 5 wt%, more preferably 0.1 to 3 wt%, of

[0072] 20 the amphoteric surfactant.

[0073] Liquid laundry detergent compositions also generally comprise agents like soil release polymers, hydrotropes, co-surfactants, builders, polymeric thickeners, and shading dyes in addition to the above described ingredients. Soil release polymers (SRP) help to improve the detachment of soils from fabric by modifying the fabric surface during washing. The SRP structure may also include capping groups to control molecular weight or to alter polymer properties such as surface activity. Preferred SRPs for use in the invention include copolyesters formed by condensation of terephthalic acid ester and diol, preferably 1 ,2 propanediol, and further comprising an end cap formed from repeat units of alkylene oxide capped with an alkyl group. The SRP, when included, may range from 0.1 to 10%, desirably from 0.3 to 7%, more preferably from 0.5 to 5% by weight

[0074] 30 of the composition.

[0075] The liquid laundry detergent composition may also optionally contain relatively low levels of organic detergent builder or sequestrant material. Examples include the alkali metal citrates, succinates, malonates, carboxymethyl succinates, carboxylates, polycarboxylates and polyacetyl P0001173 CPL carboxylates. If utilized, the organic builder materials may comprise from about 0.5 percent to 20 wt percent, preferably from 1 wt percent to 10 wt percent, of the composition.

[0076] The composition of the invention preferably includes an alkoxylated cationic or zwitterionic

[0077] 5 polyamine polymer. An alkoxylated cationic or zwitterionic di or polyamine polymer is one wherein the positive charge is provided by quaternisation of the nitrogen atoms of the amines, and the anionic groups (where present) by sulphation or sulphonation of the alkoxylated group.

[0078] Preferably the alkoxylate is selected from propoxy and ethoxy, most preferably ethoxy.

[0079] Preferably greater than or equal to 50 mol% of nitrogen amines are quaternised, preferably with a methyl group. Preferably the polymer contains 3 to 10, more preferably 3 to 6, most preferably 3 to 5 quaternised nitrogen amines. Preferably the alkoxylate groups are selected from ethoxy and propoxy groups, most preferably ethoxy.

[0080] 15

[0081] Preferably the polymer contains ester (COO) or acid amide (CONH) groups within the structure, preferably these groups are placed, so that when all the ester or acid amide groups are hydrolysed, at least one, preferably all of the hydrolysed fragments has a molecular weight of less than 4000, preferably less than 2000, most preferably less than 1000.

[0082] 20

[0083] Preferably the polymer is of the form:

[0084] Where Ri is a C3 to C8 alkyl group, X is an a (C2H4O)nY group where n is from 15 to 30, where m is from 2 to 10, preferably 2, 3, 4 or 5 and where Y is selected from H and SOa' and preferably the number of SOa' groups is greater than the number of H groups. Preferably there are from 0, 1 or 2 H groups. X and Ri may contain ester groups within them. X may contain a carbonyl group, preferably an ester group. There is preferably

[0085] 30 1 C2H4O unit separating the ester group from the N, such that the structural unit N- C2H4O-ester- (C2H4O)n-iY is preferred. P0001173 CPL

[0086] 8

[0087] Such polymers are described in WO2021239547 (Unilever), An example polymer is sulphated ethoxylated hexamethylene diamine and examples P1 , P2, P3, P4, P5 and P6 of WO2021239547. Ester groups may be included using lactones or sodium chloroacetate (Modified Williamson synthesis), addition to an OH or NH group, then subsequent ethoxylation.

[0088] 5

[0089] An example reaction scheme for inclusion of an ester group is

[0090] Addition of lactones is discussed in WO2021 / 165468.

[0091] Preferably, the polyamine is present at from 0.01 to 3% wt. of the composition.

[0092] A composition of the invention may contain further optional ingredients to enhance performance

[0093] 15 and / or consumer acceptability. Examples of such ingredients include foam boosting agents, preservatives (e.g. bactericides), polyelectrolytes, anti-shrinking agents, anti-wrinkle agents, antioxidants, sunscreens, anti-corrosion agents, drape imparting agents, anti-static agents, ironing aids, colorants, pearlisers and / or opacifiers, and shading dye. Each of these ingredients will be present in an amount effective to accomplish its purpose. Generally, these optional ingredients

[0094] 20 are included individually at an amount of up to 5% (by weight based on the total weight of the diluted composition) and so adjusted depending on the dilution ratio with water.

[0095] The pH of the composition as measured at 25 °C using a pH meter is preferably in the range of 7 to 11.5.

[0096] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of reducing malodour from a fabric comprising the step of contacting the fabric with a composition of the invention preferably diluted with water followed by the step of rinsing said fabric with water to make it substantially free of said composition.

[0097] 30 Preferably the process comprising treating the fabric with from 0.5 to 10 g / L, preferably from 1 to 8 g / L of an aqueous solution of a fabric cleaning and allowing it to remain in contact with the fabric for from 5 minutes to 1 day, preferably from 10 minutes to 2 hours, then rinsing and drying the fabric. P0001173 CPL

[0098] 9

[0099] The invention will now be illustrated with the help of the following non-limiting examples

[0100] Examples

[0101] Examples A-F, 1-4: Effect of the using the composition of the invention compared to those outside 5 the invention on dank malodour reduction.

[0102] Compositions as shown in Table - 1 below were prepared. They were tested for malodour reduction using the methodology as given below:

[0103] Autoclaved 10x10 cm polyester swatches are taken in a sterile petri plate. Cleaning compositions were prepared and swatches were soaked for 15 minutes. After incubation, the swatches were 10 washed with hard water (2 rinses) to mimic real life scenario and was left to air dry in petriplates inside the LAF. 200 .l of inoculum which includes culture mix ( M.osloensis and S.hominis), tryptone, mucin and BSA was inoculated dropwise covering all places on the swatch. The swatches were allowed to dry in LAF for 15 mins.

[0104] With the help of sterile forceps each swatch was put into sterile black screw cap bottle. 7ml of 15 hard water was added to it. Bottles were air tightly closed and incubated at 37 °C for 72 hours.

[0105] The bottles were then sniffed by 10 trained panelists and the average malodour score along with standard deviation was calculated.

[0106] Table -1 P0001173 CPL

[0107] 10

[0108] The composition of Table -1 (Fabwash base) above was combined with Bacillus spores (as below) and various chelating agents (as shown in Table -2) and the malodour score for each of the samples is given in table -2.

[0109] Bacillus spore refers to a mixture of bacillus spores included in the following amounts: Ba, Bm, 5 and Bs at 5 to 40%, and Bp and Bt at 5 to 15% of the total number of the bacterial spores included; where Bm is Bacillus megaterium, Bs is Bacillus subtilis, Bp is Bacillus pumilus, Bt is Bacillus thuringiensis and Bais Bacillus amyloliquifaciens.

[0110] Table -2

[0111] 10 The data in table -2 above indicates that compositions as per the invention (Example -1 to 4) deliver superior malodour reduction as compared to those outside the invention (Examples A -F).

Claims

P0001173 CPL11Claims1. An aqueous fabric cleaning composition comprising(i) 0.000005 to 1 wt% of a Bacillus bacterial spore;(ii) 0.005 to 2 wt% a chelating agent selected from an aminocarboxylate or a phosphonate;(iii) 3 wt% to 30 wt% a surfactant selected from anionic, non-ionic, amphoteric or mixtures thereof; and(iv) 50 to 90 wt% water; wherein Bacillus bacterial spore comprises Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus megaterium and Bacillus subtilis.

2. A composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein the Bacillus bacterial spore additionally comprises one or both of Bacillus pumilus and Bacillus thuringiensis3. A composition a claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the Bacillus bacterial spores comprises Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus pumilus and Bacillus thuringiensis.

4. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the chelating agent is one or more of trisodium methyl glycine diacetate (MGDA), L-glutamic acid N, N-diacetic acid tetrasodium salt (GLDA), ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA) or hydroxy ethylidene di phosphonic acid (HEDP).

5. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the anionic surfactant is selected from one or more of alkyl benzene sulphonate, alkyl sulphate and alkyl ether sulphate.

6. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said non-ionic surfactant is an alcohol ethoxylate or an alkyl polyglycoside.

7. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the amphoteric surfactant is a betaine preferably coco amido propyl betaine.

8. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims having a pH in the range of 7 to 11.5.P0001173 CPL129. A method of reducing malodour from a fabric comprising the step of contacting the fabric with a composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims preferably diluted with water followed by the step of rinsing said fabric with water to make it substantially free of said composition.

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