Laundry composition containing spores

Abstract

A concentrated laundry composition that is dilutable with water to form a liquid laundry detergent composition, the concentrated composition comprising a high concentration of surfactant, bacterial spores, and optionally a rheology modifier.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the field of laundry compositions. In particular, the present invention relates to a concentrated laundry composition containing bacterial spores. The present invention also relates to a method of performing laundry by diluting the concentrated composition. The compositions and methods of the present invention provide for the sustained reduction and / or prevention of malodors in fabrics.

Background Art

[0002] The problem that fabrics emit malodors even after being washed seems to occur repeatedly.

[0003] One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a product that improves the malodor of fabrics.

[0004] Bacterial endospores (hereinafter referred to as "spores") have been reported to provide an effect of preventing malodors in laundry compositions. However, this presents the problem of keeping the spores stable and dormant during storage without affecting their ability to germinate and grow after the product is used. For example, interventions to improve the storage stability of spores carry the risk of delaying subsequent germination and / or growth. One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a product that stabilizes spores within the product and germinates quickly when the product is used.

[0005] In some cases, it may be desirable to keep the composition in a concentrated form in order to reduce packaging and transportation costs and reduce the environmental impact. The concentrate should be stable during storage and should also be stable when diluted with water of different hardnesses. Therefore, another object of the present invention is to provide a composition that is stable as a concentrate (physical and chemical stability) and does not become unstable when diluted.

Summary of the Invention

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a concentrated laundry composition is provided. The concentrated laundry composition is dilutable with water to form a liquid laundry detergent composition. The concentrated composition comprises a) 10 to 85% by weight, preferably 22 to 80% by weight of a surfactant, and b) preferably 5 to 20% by weight of a rheology modifier of the composition, and c) about 1×10 2 to about 1×10 9 CFU / g of bacterial spores, and comprises.

[0007] According to second and third aspects of the present invention, a method of laundering is provided by preparing a detergent that can be used immediately by diluting the concentrated composition of the present invention. The method of the present invention provides for continuous malodor removal and / or prevention from fabrics over a long period of time.

[0008] The elements of the present invention described in connection with the first aspect of the present invention are accordingly also applicable to the other aspects of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention encompasses a concentrated laundry composition that is diluted prior to use. The composition provides a biotics effect, and in particular provides for long-lasting malodor reduction and / or prevention.

[0010] Preferred compositions according to the present invention are a) 22 to 80% by weight of a surfactant, and b) 5 to 20% by weight of a rheology modifier, and c) about 1×10 2 to about 1×10 9 CFU / g of bacterial spores, and comprises.

[0011] Preferred compositions according to the present invention are a) 25 to 75% by weight of a surfactant, and b) 5 to 10% by weight of a graft copolymer of an acrylic polymer and an aliphatic alcohol alkoxylate or a salt thereof or a mixture thereof, c) about 1×10 2 to about 1×10 9 CFU / g of bacterial spores, and comprises.

[0012] The present invention also encompasses a method of performing laundry using the concentrated composition of the present invention, the method requiring dilution of the concentrate to produce a dilute detergent for laundry. Preferably, the method includes a step of contacting a fabric with a cleaning liquid, the cleaning liquid having at least 1×10 2 CFU / liter, preferably about 1×10 2 to about 1×10 8 CFU / liter, preferably about 1×10 4 to about 1×10 7 CFU / liter of bacterial spores, preferably Bacillus spores.

[0013] As used herein, the articles "a" and "an" as used in the claims are understood to mean one or more of what is claimed or described. As used herein, the terms "include", "includes", and "including" are meant to be non-limiting. The compositions of the present disclosure may comprise, consist essentially of, or consist of the components of the present disclosure.

[0014] All percentages, ratios, and proportions used herein are, unless otherwise specified, weight % of the composition. All average values are calculated "by weight" of the composition, unless otherwise explicitly indicated. Unless otherwise specified, all ratios are calculated at the weight / weight level.

[0015] Unless otherwise specified, all measurements are carried out at 25°C.

[0016] Unless otherwise noted, all component or composition concentrations relate to the active portion of that component or composition, excluding impurities that may be present in commercial sources of such components or compositions, such as residual solvents or by-products.

[0017] Composition The present disclosure relates to a concentrated laundry composition. The "concentrated laundry composition" may also be referred to herein as the "composition of the present invention".

[0018] The composition is in liquid form. The composition may contain from about 15 wt% to about 70 wt% water of the composition. The pH of the composition may be optimized to promote the stability of bacterial spores.

[0019] The composition may be in the form of unit-dose articles such as pouches. Such pouches typically contain a water-soluble film that at least partially encloses the composition, such as a polyvinyl alcohol water-soluble film. Suitable films are available from MonoSol, LLC (Indiana, USA). The composition can be enclosed in a single-compartment pouch or a multi-compartment pouch. The multi-compartment pouch may have at least two, at least three, or at least four compartments. The multi-compartment pouch may include compartments arranged side by side and / or stacked. The pouch composition may have a relatively low amount of water, such as less than about 20 wt%, or less than about 15 wt%, or less than about 12 wt%, or less than about 10 wt%, or less than about 8 wt% water of the detergent composition, for example.

[0020] Bacterial spores The composition of the present invention contains from about 1×10 2 ~ about 1×10 9 CFU / g, preferably 1×10 3 ~ about 1×10 7 CFU / g, more preferably 1×10 4 ~ about 1×10 7 CFU / g of Bacillus spores.

[0021] The bacterial spores for use in this specification are capable of surviving the temperatures found in the washing process, ii) surviving on the fabric, and iii) having the ability to secrete enzymes. The spores have the ability to germinate to form cells after the concentrated composition is diluted and used in the washing process. The spores can be supplied in liquid or solid form. Preferably, the spores are in solid form.

[0022] Some Gram-positive bacteria have a two-stage life cycle, and bacteria growing under certain conditions, such as in response to nutrient deprivation, can experience an elaborate developmental process leading to sporulation or endospore formation. Bacterial spores are protected by a coat composed of approximately 60 different proteins assembled as a biochemically complex structure with interesting morphological and mechanical properties. The protein coat is regarded as a static structure that provides strong rigidity and mainly acts as a sieve to exclude large exogenous toxic molecules such as lytic enzymes. Spores play an important role in the long-term survival of the species because they are highly resistant to extreme environmental conditions. Spores can also remain metabolically dormant for long periods. Methods for obtaining bacterial spores from vegetative cells are well known in the art. In some examples, vegetative bacterial cells are grown in a liquid medium. From the late logarithmic or early stationary growth phase, the bacteria can initiate sporulation. When the bacteria have completed sporulation, their spores can be obtained from the medium, for example, by using centrifugation. Various methods can be used to sterilize or remove any remaining vegetative cells. The spores can be purified from cell debris and / or other materials or substances using various methods. Bacterial spores can be differentiated from vegetative cells, for example, using various techniques, phase contrast microscopy, automated scanning microscopy, high-resolution atomic force microscopy, or heat resistance methods.

[0023] Bacterial spores are generally environmentally resistant structures that are metabolically inactive or dormant and are thus easily selected and used in commercially available microbial products. Despite being robust and having an extremely long lifespan, spores can rapidly respond to the presence of specific small molecules known as germinants, which signal favorable conditions for interrupting dormancy by germinating, the initial stage of the process by which spores complete their life cycle by returning to vegetative bacteria. For example, commercially available microbial products can be formulated to be dispersed within an environment where spores come into contact with germinants present in the environment, germinate into vegetative cells, and perform the intended function. A variety of different bacteria can form spores. Bacteria from any of these groups can be used in the compositions, methods, and kits disclosed herein.For example, some bacteria of the following genera: Acetonema, Alkalibacillus, Ammonifilum, Amphibacillus, Anaerobacter, Anaerospora, Anoxybacillus, Anoxybacillus, Bacillus, Brevibacillus, Caldanaerobacter, Carolamaea, Caminicella, Cellulosibacillus, Clostridium, Clostridioisovalibacter, Cohnella, Dendrosporobacter, Desulfotomaculum, Desulfosporomus, Desulfosporosinus, Desulfovibrio, Desulfonatronum, Desulfonatronum, Desulfonatronum, Filifactor, Filobacillus, Geobacillus, Geosporobacter, Gracilibacillus, Halonatronum, Heliobacterium, Heliophilum, Laceyella, Lentibacillus, Lysinibacillus, Mahlera, Metabacterium, Moorella, Natroniera, Oceanobacillus, Orenia, Ornithinibacillus, Oxalophagus, Oxobacter, Paenibacillus, Paralithobius, Perosporobacter, Perotomaculum, Piscinibacillus, Planifilum, Pontibacillus, Propionispora, Salinibacillus, Salsuginibacillus, Seinonella, Shimazuella, Sporacetigenium, Sporoanaerobacter, Sporobacter, Sporobacterium, Sporohalobacter, Sporolactobacillus, Sporomus, Sporosarcina, Sporotalea, Sporotomaculum, Syntrophomonas, Syntrophosphaera, Tenuibacillus, Tepidibacter, Terribacillus, Thalassobacillus, Thermoacetogenium, Thermoactinomyces, Thermoalkalibacillus, Thermoanaerobacter, Thermoanaeromonas, Thermobacillus, Thermoflavimicrobium, Thermovenabulum, Tuberiibacillus, Virgibacillus, and / or Vulcanibacillus can form spores.

[0024] Preferably, the spore-forming bacteria are from the family Bacillaceae, such as Aeribacillus, Aliibacillus, Alkalibacillus, Alkalicoccus, Alkalihalobacillus, Alkalilactibacillus, Allobacillus, Alteribacillus, Alteribacter, Amphibacillus, Anaerobacillus, Anoxybacillus, Aquibacillus, Aquisalibacillus, Aureibacillus, Bacillus, Caldalkalibacillus, Caldibacillus, Calditercola, Caldifontibacillus, Camelibacillus, Cerasibacillus, Compostibacillus, Cytobacillus, Desertibacillus, Dominibacillus, Ectobacillus, Evansella, Falcibacillus, Ferdinandiella, Fermentibacillus, Fictibacillus, Filobacillus, Geobacillus, Geomicrobium, Gottfriedia, Gracilibacillus, Halalkalibacillus, Halobacillus, Halolactibacillus, Hendrickxia, Hydrogenibacillus, Redelbergia, Lentibacillus, Richfiella, Lottiedebacillus, Margalitia, Marinococcus, Mergilybacillus, Mesobacillus, Metabacillus, Microaerobacter, Natribacillus, Natronobacillus, Neobacillus, Nariaria, Oceanobacillus, Ornithinibacillus, Parageobacillus, Paraliobacillus, Paralcalibacillus, Paucisalibacillus, Pelagirabdus, Peribacillus, Piscibacillus, Polygonibacillus, Pontibacillus, Pradosia, Priesthia, Pseudogracilibacillus, Pueribacillus, Radiobacillus, Robertmurrayia, Roseiroseira, Saccharococcus, Salibacterium, Salimicrobium, Salinibacillus, Salipaldivacillus, Salirabdus, Salisediminibacterium, Saliteribacillus, Salsugineibacillus, Sediminibacterium, Siminoviitia, Sinibacillus, Sinobacillus, Streptohalobacillus, Saccharifera, Suwionibacillus, Tenuivibacillus, Tepidibacillus, Terribacillus, Terribilactibacillus, Texcoconibacillus, Thalassobacillus, Thalassorabdus, Thermolongibacillus, Virgibacillus, Viridibacillus, Vulcanibacillus, and species from the genus Virgibacillus. In various examples, the bacteria are Bacillus bacillus·acidicola, Bacillus·aureus, Bacillus·aureus,Bacillus aerophilus, Bacillus albus, Bacillus altitudinis, Bacillus alveayuensis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subsp., Bacillus anthracis, Bacillus aquiflavi, Bacillus atrophaeus, Bacillus australimaris, Bacillus badius, Bacillus benzoevorans, Bacillus cabrialesii, Bacillus canaveralis, Bacillus capparidis, Bacillus carboniphilus, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus chagannensis, Bacillus coahuilensis, Bacillus cytotocas, Bacillus decisisflorundis, Bacillus ectoiniformans, Bacillus enclinensis, Bacillus finkii, Bacillus fungorum, Bacillus glycinitfermentans, Bacillus gobiense, Bacillus halotolerans, Bacillus haynesii, Bacillus horsti, Bacillus inaquosorum, Bacillus infantis, Bacillus infernus, Bacillus isabeliae, Bacillus kekuae, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus lutei, Bacillus manuscensis, Bacillus marinisedimentorum, Bacillus mesophilus, Bacillus methanolicus, Bacillus mobilis, Bacillus mojavensis, Bacillus mycoides, Bacillus nakamurae, Bacillus nudiosporus, Bacillus nitratiredducens, Bacillus oleivorans, Bacillus pacificus, Bacillus pakistanensis, Bacillus paralicheniformis, Bacillus paramycoides, Bacillus paraanthracis, Bacillus pervagus, Bacillus pisticola, Bacillus proteolyticus, Bacillus pseudomycoides, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus safensis, Bacillus salensis, Bacillus salinarum, Bacillus salitolerans, Bacillus theohaensis, Bacillus shibae, Bacillus siamensis, Bacillus smithii, Bacillus solimangrovii, Bacillus soncensis, Bacillus sonorensis, Bacillus spizizenii, Bacillus spongiae, Bacillus stercoris, Bacillus stratosphericus, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus swuijii, Bacillus taeanensis, Bacillus tamaricis, Bacillus tequilensis, Bacillus thermocloacae,It may be a strain of Bacillus thermotolerans, Bacillus thuringiensis, Bacillus thiagens, Bacillus toyonensis, Bacillus tropicus, Bacillus vallismortis, Bacillus velezensis, Bacillus wiedmannii, Bacillus vdaliankensis, Bacillus kiamensis, Bacillus kiappensis, Bacillus zhangjousensis, or a combination thereof.,

[0025] In some examples, the spore-forming bacterial strain may be a Bacillus strain. Examples include Bacillus species strain SD-6991, Bacillus species strain SD-6992, Bacillus species strain NRRL B-50606, Bacillus species strain NRRL B-50887, Bacillus pumilus strain NRRL B-50016, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain NRRL B-50017, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain PTA-7792 (formerly classified as Bacillus atrophaeus), Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain PTA-7543 (formerly classified as Bacillus atrophaeus), Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain NRRL B-50018, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain PTA-7541, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain PTA-7544, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain PTA-7545, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain PTA-7546, Bacillus subtilis strain PTA-7547, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain PTA-7549, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain PTA-7793, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain PTA-7790, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain PTA-7791, Bacillus subtilis strain NRRL B-50136 (also known as DA-33R, ATCC accession number 55406), Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain NRRL B-50141, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain NRRL B-50399, Bacillus licheniformis strain NRRL B-50014, Bacillus licheniformis strain NRRL B-50015, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain NRRL B-50607, Bacillus subtilis strain NRRL B-50147 (also known as 300R), Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain NRRL B-50150, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain NRRL B-50154, Bacillus megaterium PTA-3142, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain ATCC accession number 55405 (also known as 300), Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain ATCC accession number 55407 (also known as PMX), Bacillus pumilus NRRL B-50398 (ATCC700385, also known as PMX-1 and NRRL B-50255, Bacillus cereus ATCC accession number 700386, Bacillus thuringiensis ATCC accession number 700387 (all of the above strains are available from Novozymes, Inc., USA), Bacillus amyloliquefaciens FZB24 (e.g., the isolates NRRL B-50304 and NRRL B-50349 TAEGRO® from Novozymes), Bacillus pumilus (e.g., the isolate NRRL B-50349 from Bayer CropScience), Bacillus amyloliquefaciens TrigoCor (also known as "TrigoCor 1448", e.g., the isolates Embrapa Trigo accession number 144 / 88.4Lev, Cornell accession number Pma007BR-97, and ATCC accession number 202152 available from Cornell University, USA), and combinations thereof.

[0026] In some examples, the spore-forming bacterial strain can be a Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain. For example, the strain can be from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain PTA-7543 (formerly classified as Bacillus atrophaeus), and / or Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain NRRL B-50154, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain PTA-7543 (formerly classified as Bacillus atrophaeus), Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain NRRL B-50154, or other Bacillus amyloliquefaciens microorganisms.

[0027] In some examples, the spore-forming bacterial strain may be of the genus Brevibacillus, such as Brevibacillus brevis, Brevibacillus formosus, Brevibacillus laterosporus, or Brevibacillus parabrevis, or a combination thereof.

[0028] In some examples, the spore-forming bacterial strain may be of the genus Paenibacillus, such as Paenibacillus alvei, Paenibacillus amylolyticus, Paenibacillus azotofixans, Paenibacillus cookii, Paenibacillus macerans, Paenibacillus polymyxa, or Paenibacillus validus, or a combination thereof.

[0029] Bacterial spores can have an average particle size of about 2 to 50 microns, preferably about 10 to 45 microns. Bacillus spores are commercially available in blends in an aqueous carrier in which they are insoluble. Other commercially available Bacillus spore blends include, but are not limited to, Freshen Free™ CAN (10X) available from Novozymes Biologicals, Inc., Evogen® Renew Plus (10X) available from Genesis Biosciences, Inc., and Evogen® GT (10X, 20X, and 110X) all available from Genesis Biosciences, Inc. In the foregoing list, the notations in parentheses (10X, 20X, and 110X) indicate the relative concentration of Bacillus spores.

[0030] The bacterial spores used in the compositions, methods, and products disclosed herein may or may not be heat-activated. In some examples, the bacterial spores are heat-activated. In some examples, the bacterial spores are not heat-inactivated. Preferably, the spores used herein are heat-activated. Heat activation can include heating the bacterial spores from room temperature (15-25 °C) to an optimal temperature of 25-120 °C, preferably 40-100 °C, and holding the optimal temperature for 2 hours or less, preferably 30 minutes at 70-80 °C.

[0031] For the methods and compositions disclosed herein, a population of bacterial spores is generally used. In some examples, the population of bacterial spores can include bacterial spores from a single strain of bacteria. Preferably, the population of bacterial spores can include bacterial spores from 2, 3, 4, 5, or more bacterial strains. Generally, the population of bacterial spores contains a majority of spores and a minority of vegetative cells. In some examples, the population of bacterial spores does not contain vegetative cells. In some examples, the population of bacterial spores may contain less than about 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 40%, or 50% vegetative cells, and the percentage of bacterial spores is calculated as ((number of vegetative cells / (number of spores in the population + number of vegetative cells in the population)) × 100). Generally, the population of bacterial spores used in the disclosed methods, compositions, and products is stable (i.e., not in the process of germinating), and at least some of the individual spores in the population are in a state capable of germinating.

[0032] Suitable cleaning components include at least one of surfactants, enzymes, enzyme stabilization systems, detergent builders, chelating agents, complexing agents, clay stain removal / redeposition inhibitors, polymer soil release agents, polymer dispersants, polymer grease cleaners, migration inhibitors, bleaching agents, bleach activators, bleach catalysts, fabric conditioners, clays, foam boosters, defoamers, foam suppressants, corrosion inhibitors, soil suspending agents, dyes, hue dyes, bactericides, anti-fogging agents, fluorescent brighteners, fragrances, saturated or unsaturated fatty acids, calcium cations, magnesium cations, visual signaling components, structuring agents, thickeners, starches, sands, gelling agents, or any combination thereof.

[0033] Surfactant The composition of the present invention contains 10 to 85% by weight, preferably 15 to 60% by weight, more preferably 20 to 50% by weight, and most preferably 20 to 35% by weight of a surfactant based on the total weight of the concentrated laundry composition. Suitable surfactants include anionic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, or mixtures thereof. Preferably, the composition of the present invention contains an anionic surfactant and a nonionic surfactant.

[0034] Anionic surfactants. Non-limiting examples of suitable anionic surfactants include any conventional anionic surfactant, such as linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS), α-olefin sulfonate (AOS), alkyl sulfate (aliphatic alcohol sulfate) (AS), alcohol ethoxysulfate (AEOS or AES), secondary alkane sulfonate (SAS), α-sulfo fatty acid methyl ester, alkyl- or alkenyl succinic acid, or soap.

[0035] Nonionic surfactants. Suitable nonionic surfactants useful herein can include any conventional nonionic surfactant. Other non-limiting examples of nonionic surfactants useful herein include C 8 ~C 18 alkyl ethoxylate (NEODOL®) nonionic surfactants (Shell), etc.; C 6 ~C 12Alkylphenol alkoxylate (the alkoxylate units can be ethyleneoxy units, propyleneoxy units, or combinations thereof); C 12 ~C 18 alcohol and C with ethylene oxide / propylene oxide block polymers 6 ~C 12 alkylphenol condensates (Pluronic®) (BASF), etc.; C 14 ~C 22 medium-chain branched alcohols (branched alcohol, BA); C 14 ~C 22 medium-chain branched MEA (BAE x ), where x is from 1 to 30; polyhydroxy fatty acid amides, and ether-terminated poly(oxyalkylated) alcohol surfactants. Suitable nonionic detergent surfactants also include alkyl alkoxylated alcohols. Suitable nonionic surfactants also include those sold by BASF under the trade name Lutensol®.

[0036] Preferably, the nonionic surfactant comprises an alkyl alcohol ethoxylate, a fatty acid alkanolamide, an alkoxylated glycerol ester, or a mixture thereof.

[0037] Preferably, the selection and amount of the surfactant are such that the concentrated and diluted laundry compositions are essentially isotropic.

[0038] Rheology modifier The composition of the present invention includes a rheology modifier. Preferably, the rheology modifier is a polymer. Preferably, the composition of the present invention includes 5 to 20% by weight of the rheology modifier, preferably 5 to 10% by weight of the rheology modifier of the composition. Most preferably, the composition of the present invention includes 5 to 10% by weight of a graft copolymer of the composition.

[0039] Preferred rheology-modifying polymers for use herein are graft copolymers, preferably graft copolymers of acrylic polymers and aliphatic alcohol alkoxylates. Preferably, the acrylic polymer is a homopolymer of acrylic acid. In another preferred embodiment, the acrylic polymer is a copolymer consisting of one or more monomers of C10-C30 alkyl acrylate and one of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, or their short-chain (C1-C4 alcohol) esters.

[0040] The graft copolymer can be obtained by grafting an aliphatic alcohol alkoxylate onto the acrylic polymer backbone. The aliphatic alcohol alkoxylate has the following formula, R 10 O-(CH2CH2O)a-(CHCH3CH2O)b-(CH2CH 2 O)c-H wherein, in the formula, R10 is a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group having 10 to 22 carbon atoms, preferably 12 to 18 carbon atoms, each of a and c is a number from 0 to 30, preferably 1 to 15, more preferably 1 to 10, and b is a number from 0 to 10, preferably 0 to 5, more preferably 0 to 2. The sum of a and c is in the range of 1 to 30, preferably 1 to 20, more preferably 1 to 10.

[0041] Preferably, the graft copolymer is a copolymer of an acrylic polymer and an aliphatic alcohol ethoxylate represented by the following formula,

[0042]

Chemical formula

[0043] Suitable physiologically acceptable salts of the graft copolymer include its sodium salt, magnesium salt, potassium salt, ammonium salt, and mono-, di-, and triethanolamine salts. When referring to the graft copolymer in the present disclosure, it should be noted that even if not explicitly stated, the corresponding physiologically acceptable salts of the graft copolymer are also included.

[0044] The graft copolymer preferably has a molecular weight of 1,000 to 300,000 g / mol, more preferably 10,000 to 100,000 g / mol. The graft copolymer suitable for use in the present invention can be prepared by known methods such as the method disclosed in Chinese Patent Application Publication No. 105154245, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0045] The concentrated laundry composition of the present invention contains the graft copolymer in an amount of 5 to 9.5% by weight, preferably 5.5 to 9.2% by weight, more preferably 6 to 9% by weight, and most preferably 6.5 to 9% by weight, based on the total weight of the concentrated laundry composition, including all ranges included therein.

[0046] The pH of the composition is strictly controlled so that the pH does not change upon dilution by the consumer and appropriate phase control is also provided upon dilution. The pH of the concentrated laundry composition is 5 to 9, preferably 6.0 to 8.5.

[0047] The concentrated laundry composition of the present invention may further contain another rheology-modifying polymer in addition to the graft copolymer already contained in the composition.

[0048] Preferred rheology-modifying polymers include ethoxylated sorbitan ester viscosity modifiers. Ethoxylated sorbitan esters provide improved rheological properties with respect to products that are diluted by consumers in a household environment. It should be noted that this is independent of any rheological behavior that is affected by pouring or otherwise using the diluted product. The concentrated laundry composition should be diluted by the user, and thus it is necessary for the concentrated laundry composition to behave rheologically appropriately.

[0049] More preferably, the ethoxylated sorbitan ester contains 50 to 1,000 ethoxylate units, more preferably 200 to 700, and most preferably 300 to 550 ethoxylate units.

[0050] Preferably, the ethoxylated sorbitan ester contains 1 to 5, more preferably 3 to 5 fatty acid esters. More preferably, the ethoxylated sorbitan ester contains fatty acids having 10 to 22 carbons, more preferably 14 to 20 carbons, and most preferably 18 carbons. The fatty acid may be straight-chain or branched-chain, saturated or unsaturated. The most preferred fatty acid group is the stearic acid group.

[0051] The most preferred ethoxylated sorbitan ester is sorbeth-450 tristearate, which is a triester of stearic acid and a polyethylene glycol ether of sorbitol having an average of 450 moles of ethylene oxide.

[0052] Preferably, the ethoxylated sorbitan ester is present at 0.01 to 8.0% by weight of the concentrated laundry composition.

[0053] Preferably, the composition contains a PEG ester fatty acid. The PEG fatty acid ester is included particularly for adjusting the rheological performance of the composition upon dilution. Preferred PEG ester fatty acids include PEG9 cocoate, PEG32, and PEG175.

[0054] Preferably, the PEG ester fatty acid is present in an amount of 0.01 to 5.0% by weight of the concentrated laundry composition.

[0055] A further rheology modifier suitable for use in the present invention is hydrogenated castor oil, for example, Thixin® sold by Elementis (East Windsor, NJ, USA).

[0056] A rheology modifier suitable for use in the present invention is also disclosed in International Publication No. WO 2017 / 075681.

[0057] Enzymes. Preferably, the composition contains one or more enzymes. Preferred enzymes provide cleaning performance and / or fabric care effects. Examples of suitable enzymes include, but are not limited to, hemicellulase, peroxidase, protease, cellulase, xylanase, lipase, phospholipase, esterase, cutinase, pectinase, mannanase, galactanase, pectate lyase, keratinase, reductase, oxidase, phenol oxidase, lipoxygenase, ligninase, pullulanase, tannase, pentosanase, mannanase, β-glucanase, arabinosidase, hyaluronidase, chondroitinase, laccase, and amylase, or mixtures thereof. Preferably, when the composition of the present invention is a laundry composition, it contains amylase and protease and optionally lipase. Preferably, the composition of the present invention does not contain glucanase.

[0058] Protease. Preferably, the composition contains one or more proteases. Suitable proteases include metalloproteases and serine proteases, for example, neutral or alkaline microbial serine proteases such as subtilisin (EC 3.4.21.62). Suitable proteases include those of animal, plant or microbial origin. In one embodiment, such suitable proteases may be of microbial origin. Suitable proteases include chemically or genetically modified variants of the aforementioned suitable proteases. In one embodiment, the suitable protease may be an alkaline microbial protease or / and a serine protease such as a trypsin-type protease. Examples of suitable neutral or alkaline proteases are as follows. (a) Subtilisin (EC 3.4.21.62), in particular, those derived from Bacillus species such as B. lentus, B. alkalophilus, B. subtilis, B. amyloliquefaciens, B. pumilus, B. gibsonii, and B. akibaii, as described in International Publication Nos. WO 2004 / 067737, WO 2015 / 091989, WO 2015 / 091990, WO 2015 / 024739, WO 2015 / 143360, US Patent Nos. 6,312,936 (B1), 5,679,630, 4,760,025, German Patent Publication Nos. DE 102006022216 (A1), DE 102006022224 (A1), International Publication Nos. WO 2015 / 089447, WO 2015 / 089441, WO 2016 / 066756, WO 2016 / 066757, WO 2016 / 069557, WO 2016 / 069563, WO 2016 / 069569. (b) Trypsin-type or chymotrypsin-type proteases such as trypsin (e.g., of porcine or bovine origin), including the Fusarium protease described in International Publication No. 89 / 06270, and the chymotrypsin protease derived from Cellumonas described in International Publications Nos. 05 / 052161 and 05 / 052146. (c) Metalloproteases, particularly those derived from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens described in International Publication No. 07 / 044993 (A2). Those derived from Bacillus, Brevibacillus, Thermoactinomyces, Geobacillus, Paenibacillus, Lysinibacillus or Streptomyces spp. described in International Publications Nos. 2014194032, 2014194054 and 2014194117, Kribella alluminosa described in International Publication No. 2015193488, and Streptomyces and Lysobacter described in International Publication No. 2016075078. (d) A protease having at least 90% identity to the subtilase derived from Bacillus sp. TY145, NCIMB 40339 described in International Publication No. 92 / 17577 (Novozymes A / S) (including the variants of the Bacillus sp. TY145 subtilase described in International Publications Nos. 2015024739 and 2016066757).

[0059] Suitable commercially available protease enzymes include those sold by Novozymes A / S (Denmark) under the trade names Alcalase®, Savinase®, Primase®, Durazym®, Polarzyme®, Kannase®, Liquanase®, Liquanase Ultra®, Savinase Ultra®, Ovozyme®, Neutrase®, Everlase®, and Esperase®; those sold by Dupont under the trade names Maxatase®, Maxacal®, Maxapem®, Properase®, Purafect®, Purafect Prime®, Purafect Ox®, FN3®, FN4®, Excellase®, and Purafect OXP®; those sold by Solvay Enzymes under the trade names Opticlean® and Optimase®; those available from Henkel / Kemira, namely, BLAP (the sequence shown in FIG. 29 of U.S. Patent No. 5,352,604); and KAP (Bacillus alkalophilus subtilisin having mutations A230V + S256G + S259N) available from Kao.

[0060] Amylase. Preferably, the composition may contain amylase. Suitable α - amylases include those of bacterial or fungal origin. Chemically or genetically modified variants are included. Preferred alkaline α - amylases are those derived from Bacillus species, such as Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus stearothermophilus, Bacillus subtilis, or other Bacillus sp., such as NCIB 12289, NCIB 12512, NCIB 12513, DSM 9375 (U.S. Patent No. 7,153,818), DSM 12368, DSMZ no.12649, KSM AP1378 (International Publication No. 97 / 00324), KSM K36, or KSM K38 (European Patent No. 1,022,334). Preferred amylases include the following. (a) Variants described in International Publication Nos. 94 / 02597, 94 / 18314, 96 / 23874, and 97 / 43424, particularly variants in which one or more of the following positions: 15, 23, 105, 106, 124, 128, 133, 154, 156, 181, 188, 190, 197, 202, 208, 209, 243, 264, 304, 305, 391, 408, and 444 are substituted with respect to the enzyme listed as SEQ ID NO: 2 in International Publication No. 96 / 23874. (b) Variants described in U.S. Patent No. 5,856,164, and International Publication Nos. 99 / 23211, 96 / 23873, 00 / 60060, and 06 / 002643, particularly with respect to the AA560 enzyme listed as SEQ ID NO: 12 in International Publication No. 06 / 002643, the following positions: A variant in which one or more of 26, 30, 33, 82, 37, 106, 118, 128, 133, 149, 150, 160, 178, 182, 186, 193, 203, 214, 231, 256, 257, 258, 269, 270, 272, 283, 295, 296, 298, 299, 303, 304, 305, 311, 314, 315, 318, 319, 339, 345, 361, 378, 383, 419, 421, 437, 441, 444, 445, 446, 447, 450, 461, 471, 482, 484 are substituted, preferably D183 * and a variant containing a deletion of G184 * . (c) A variant showing at least 90% identity with the wild-type enzyme from Bacillus sp. SP722, SEQ ID NO: 4 in WO 06 / 002643, particularly a variant having deletions at positions 183 and 184, and the variant described in WO 00 / 60060 incorporated herein by reference. (d) A variant showing at least 95% identity with the wild-type enzyme of Bacillus sp. 707 (SEQ ID NO: 7 in US Patent No. 6,093,562), particularly one containing one or more of the following mutations: M202, M208, S255, R172, and / or M261. Preferably, the amylase contains one or more of M202L, M202V, M202S, M202T, M202I, M202Q, M202W, S255N and / or R172Q. Those containing the M202L or M202T mutation are particularly preferred. (e) The variant described in WO 09 / 149130, preferably one showing at least 90% identity with SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2 in WO 09 / 149130, a wild-type enzyme derived from Geobacillus Stearophermophilus or a truncated form thereof. (f) A variant showing at least 89% identity with SEQ ID NO: 1 in WO 2016091688, particularly one containing a deletion at positions H183 + G184 and further containing one or more mutations at positions 405, 421, 422, and / or 428. (g) A variant showing at least 60% amino acid sequence identity with "PcuAmyl α-amylase" (SEQ ID NO: 3 of WO 2014 / 099523) derived from Paenibacillus curdlanolyticus YK9. (h) A variant showing at least 60% amino acid sequence identity with "CspAmy2 amylase" (SEQ ID NO: 1 of WO 2014 / 164777) derived from Cytophaga sp. (i) A variant showing at least 85% identity with AmyE derived from Bacillus subtilis (SEQ ID NO: 1 of WO 2009 / 149271). (j) A variant showing at least 90% identity with the wild-type amylase derived from Bacillus sp. KSM-K38 with accession number AB051102.

[0061] Suitable commercially available α - amylases include DURAMYL®, LIQUEZYME®, TERMAMYL®, TERMAMYL ULTRA®, NATALASE®, SUPRAMYL®, STAINZYME®, STAINZYME PLUS®, FUNGAMYL®, and BAN® (Novozymes A / S (Bagsvaerd, Denmark)), KEMZYM® AT 9000 (Biozym Biotech Trading GmbH (Wehlistrasse 27b A - 1200 Wien Austria), RAPIDASE®, PURASTAR®, ENZYSIZE®, OPTISIZE HT PLUS®, POWERASE®, and PURASTAR OXAM® (Genencor International Inc., (Palo Alto, California)), and KAM® (Kao (14 - 10 Nihonbashi Kayabacho, 1 - chome, Chuo - ku Tokyo 103 - 8210, Japan)). In one embodiment, suitable amylases include NATALASE®, STAINZYME®, and STAINZYME PLUS®, and mixtures thereof.

[0062] Lipase. Preferably, the composition comprises one or more lipases including "First Cycle Lipase" such as those described in U.S. Patent No. 6,939,702 (B1) and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009 / 0217464. A preferred lipase is a first - wash lipase. The composition may comprise a first - wash lipase.

[0063] Enzyme stabilization system. The composition may optionally contain an enzyme stabilization system in an amount of from about 0.001% to about 10% by weight of the composition. The enzyme stabilization system can be any stabilization system compatible with the detergency enzyme. In the case of an aqueous detergent composition containing protease, a reversible protease inhibitor such as a boron compound including borate, 4-formylphenylboronic acid, phenylboronic acid, and derivatives thereof, or compounds such as calcium formate, sodium formate, and 1,2-propanediol may be added to further improve the stability.

[0064] Builder. The composition may optionally contain a builder or a builder system. A detergent composition containing a builder typically contains at least about 1% builder based on the total weight of the composition. A liquid detergent composition may contain up to about 10%, and in some examples up to about 8% builder based on the total weight of the composition. A granular detergent composition may contain up to about 30%, and in some examples up to about 5% builder by weight of the composition.

[0065] Builders selected from aluminosilicates (e.g., zeolite builders such as zeolite A, zeolite P, and zeolite MAP) and silicates assist in controlling the mineral hardness of wash water, particularly calcium and / or magnesium, or in removing particulate soil from surfaces. Suitable builders can be selected from the group consisting of polyphosphates (e.g., sodium tripolyphosphate), particularly phosphates such as its sodium salts; carbonates, bicarbonates, sesquicarbonates, and carbonate minerals other than sodium carbonate or sesquicarbonate; organic mono-, di-, tri-, and tetracarboxylates, particularly water-soluble non-surfactant carboxylates in the form of acids, sodium, potassium, or alkanolammonium salts, and oligomeric or water-soluble low molecular weight polymeric carboxylates including aliphatic and aromatic types, and phytic acid. These may be complemented, for example, by borates for pH buffering purposes or by sulfates, particularly sodium sulfate, and any other fillers or carriers that may be important in the engineering of stable surfactant- and / or builder-containing cleaning compositions. Additional suitable builders can be selected from citric acid, lactic acid, fatty acids, polycarboxylate builders such as copolymers of acrylic acid, copolymers of acrylic acid and maleic acid, and copolymers of acrylic acid and / or maleic acid and other suitable ethylenic monomers having various additional functional groups. Also suitable for use as a builder herein is a synthetic crystalline ion exchange material or its hydrate having a chain structure and a composition represented by the general anhydrous form x(M 2 O)·ySiO 2 ·zM’O, where M is Na and / or K, M’ is Ca and / or Mg, y / x is from 0.5 to 2.0, and z / x is from 0.005 to 1.0.

[0066] Alternatively, the composition may be substantially free of builders.

[0067] Chelating agent. The composition may also contain a chelating agent for one or more metal ions. Suitable molecules include copper, iron, and / or manganese chelating agents and mixtures thereof. Such chelating agents can be selected from the group consisting of phosphonates, aminocarboxylates, aminophosphonates, succinates, polyfunctionally substituted aromatic chelating agents, 2-pyridinol-N-oxide compounds, hydroxamic acids, carboxymethyl inulin, and mixtures thereof. The chelating agent can exist in the form of an acid, or in the form of a salt, including alkali metal salts, ammonium salts, and substituted ammonium salts thereof, and mixtures thereof.

[0068] Additional amines: In the composition, various additional amines can be used to improve the removal of grease and particles from the soiled material. The composition can contain from about 0.1 wt% to about 10 wt% of the additional amine of the cleaning composition, in some examples from about 0.1 wt% to about 4 wt%, and in other examples from about 0.1 wt% to about 2 wt%. Non-limiting examples of additional amines may include, but are not limited to, polyamines, oligoamines, triamines, diamines, pentamines, tetraamines, or combinations thereof. Specific examples of suitable additional amines include tetraethylenepentamine, triethylenetetramine, diethylenetriamine, or mixtures thereof.

[0069] Anti-migration agent. The composition may further contain one or more anti-migration agents. Suitable anti-migration agents include, for example, polyvinylpyrrolidone polymers, polyamine N-oxide polymers, copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone and N-vinylimidazole, polyvinyl oxazolidone, polyvinylimidazole, manganese phthalocyanine, peroxidase, polyvinylpyrrolidone polymers, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA); diethylenetriaminepentamethylenephosphonic acid (DTPMP); hydroxyethanediphosphonic acid (HEDP); ethylenediamine N,N'-disuccinic acid (EDDS); methylglycine diacetic acid (MGDA); diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA); propylenediaminetetraacetic acid (PDTA); 2-hydroxypyridine-N-oxide (HPNO); or methylglycine diacetic acid (MGDA); glutamic acid N,N-diacetic acid (N,N-dicarboxymethylglutamic acid tetrasodium salt GLDA); nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA); 4,5-dihydroxy-m-benzenedisulfonic acid; citric acid and any of its salts; N-hydroxyethylethylenediaminetriacetic acid (HEDTA), triethylenetetraaminehexaacetic acid (TTHA), N-hydroxyethyliminodiacetic acid (HEIDA), dihydroxyethylglycine (DHEG), ethylenediamine tetrapropionic acid (EDTP), and derivatives thereof, or combinations thereof.

[0070] Bleaching compounds, bleaching agents, bleaching activators, and bleaching catalysts. The compositions described herein may contain a bleaching agent, a bleaching activator, and / or a bleaching catalyst. The bleaching component may be present at a concentration of about 1 wt% to about 30 wt%, and in some examples, about 5 wt% to about 20 wt% based on the total weight of the composition. When present, the amount of the bleaching activator may be about 0.1 wt% to about 60 wt% of the composition, and in some examples, about 0.5 wt% to about 40 wt%. If the composition is a laundry composition in powder form, the composition preferably contains a percarbonate bleaching agent and a bleaching activator, preferably TAED. If the composition is a laundry composition in liquid form, it is preferred that the liquid composition is substantially free of bleaching compounds.

[0071] Examples of bleaching agents include oxygen bleaching agents, perborate bleaching agents, percarboxylic acid bleaching agents, and their salts, peroxygen bleaching agents, persulfate bleaching agents, percarbonate bleaching agents, and mixtures thereof.

[0072] In some examples, the composition may also include a transition metal bleaching catalyst.

[0073] Bleaching agents other than oxygen bleaching agents are also known in the art and can be used in the composition. They include, for example, photoactivated bleaching agents, or preformed organic peracids such as peroxycarboxylic acids or their salts, or peroxymonosulfonic acids or their salts.

[0074] Whitening agents. Optical brightening agents or other whitening or bluing agents may be incorporated at a concentration of from about 0.01% to about 1.2% by weight of the composition.

[0075] Commercially available brightening agents that can be used herein can be classified into subgroups including, but not necessarily limited to, derivatives of stilbene, pyrazoline, coumarin, benzoxazole, carboxylic acid, methine cyanine, dibenzothiophene-5,5-dioxide, azole, 5- and 6-membered heterocycles, and various other agents.

[0076] In some examples, the optical brightener is selected from the group consisting of disodium 4,4'-bis{[4-anilino-6-morpholino-s-triazin-2-yl]-amino}-2,2'-stilbenedisulfonate (brightener 15, commercially available from Ciba Geigy Corporation under the trade name Tinopal AMS-GX), disodium 4,4'-bis{[4-anilino-6-(N-2-bis-hydroxyethyl)-s-triazin-2-yl]-amino}-2,2'-stilbenedisulfonate (commercially available from Ciba-Geigy Corporation under the trade name Tinopal UNPA-GX), disodium 4,4'-bis{[4-anilino-6-(N-2-hydroxyethyl-N-methylamino)-s-triazin-2-yl]-amino}-2,2'-stilbenedisulfonate (commercially available from Ciba-Geigy Corporation under the trade name Tinopal 5BM-GX). More preferably, the optical brightener is disodium 4,4'-bis{[4-anilino-6-morpholino-s-triazin-2-yl]-amino}-2,2'-stilbenedisulfonate.

[0077] The brightener may be added in particulate form or as a premix with a suitable solvent such as a nonionic surfactant, monoethanolamine, propanediol.

[0078] Fabric colorants. The composition may include a fabric colorant (which may also be referred to as a color agent, a bluing agent, or a whitening agent). Typically, the colorant provides a blue or blue-violet hue to the fabric. The colorant can be used either alone or in combination to create a particular hue of color and / or to impart a color to different types of fabrics. This can be achieved, for example, by mixing red and green-blue dyes to produce a blue or purple hue. The colorant can be selected from any known chemical classification of dyes including, but not limited to, acridine, anthraquinone (including polycyclic quinones), azine, azo including premetallized azo (e.g., monoazo, diazo, trisazo, tetrakisazo, polyazo), benzodifuran and benzodifuranone, carotenoid, coumarin, cyanine, diazahemicyanine, diphenylmethane, formazan, hemicyanine, indigoid, methane, naphthalimide, naphthoquinone, nitro and nitroso, oxazine, phthalocyanine, pyrazole, stilbene, styryl, triarylmethane, triphenylmethane, xanthene, and mixtures thereof.

[0079] Pro-fragrance materials The compositions of the present disclosure may include pro-fragrance materials, which may also be referred to as pro-fragrances or fragrance precursors. Pro-fragrance materials typically include a covalent bond between a carrier and one or more perfume raw materials (PRMs). When the spore germinates and is exposed to enzymes secreted by bacteria, one or more PRMs are released. Pro-fragrance materials can provide a long-term PRM release profile, resulting in a benefit of long-lasting freshness. Further, since the total amount of PRM is not released all at once or otherwise made available, the olfactory impact of the PRM is mitigated. In the compositions of the present invention, such a release profile can reduce what might otherwise be experienced as an overpowering odor due to a relatively high level of fragrance.

[0080] The pro-fragrance material of the composition of the present invention contains PRM. The pro-fragrance material can release PRM when exposed to an enzyme released by bacteria.

[0081] The pro-fragrance material may gradually release PRM when the spore germinates and the bacteria contained in the spore secrete the enzyme. Germination of the spore is not induced during storage of the product, but is induced only during and after use of the product. Good conditions for spore germination are found, for example, during wearing of the treated fabric, specifically when the user's body is sweating.

[0082] The pro-fragrance material for use herein can be selected from the group consisting of glycosides, phosphate esters, amino acid derivatives, and carboxylic acid derivatives, and mixtures thereof. Particularly preferred pro-fragrances for use in the compositions and methods of the present invention include glycoside pro-fragrances.

[0083] The composition of the present invention may preferably contain from about 0.01% to about 10% by weight, preferably from about 0.05% to about 5% by weight of the pro-fragrance, based on the weight of the composition.

[0084] Fragrance The composition of the present invention may preferably contain from about 0.001% to about 10% by weight, more preferably from about 0.001% to about 5% by weight of the fragrance, based on the weight of the composition.

[0085] The above-mentioned fragrance may contain a fragrance raw material selected from the group consisting of alcohol, ketone, aldehyde, ester, ether, nitrile alkene, and mixtures thereof. The fragrance may contain a fragrance raw material having a boiling point (B.P.) lower than about 250°C and a ClogP lower than about 3, a fragrance raw material having a B.P. higher than about 250°C and a ClogP higher than about 3, a fragrance raw material having a B.P. higher than about 250°C and a ClogP lower than about 3, a mixture having a B.P. lower than about 250°C and a ClogP higher than about 3, and a fragrance raw material selected from the group consisting of mixtures thereof. A fragrance raw material having a boiling point B.P. lower than about 250°C and a ClogP lower than about 3 is known as a Quadrant I fragrance raw material, a fragrance raw material having a B.P. higher than about 250°C and a ClogP higher than about 3 is known as a Quadrant IV fragrance raw material, a fragrance raw material having a B.P. higher than about 250°C and a ClogP lower than about 3 is known as a Quadrant II fragrance raw material, and a fragrance raw material having a B.P. lower than about 250°C and a ClogP higher than about 3 is known as a Quadrant III fragrance raw material. In one aspect, the fragrance contains a fragrance raw material having a B.P. lower than about 250°C. In one aspect, the fragrance contains a fragrance raw material selected from the group consisting of Quadrant I, II, III fragrance raw materials and mixtures thereof. In one aspect, the fragrance contains a Quadrant III fragrance raw material. Suitable Quadrant I, II, III, and IV fragrance raw materials are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 6,869,923 (B1).

[0086] In one aspect, the fragrance contains a Quadrant IV fragrance raw material. Without being bound by theory, it is believed that such a Quadrant IV fragrance raw material can improve the odor "balance" of the fragrance. The above-mentioned fragrance may contain less than about 30%, less than about 20%, or even less than about 15% of the Quadrant IV fragrance raw material based on the total weight of the fragrance.

[0087] The perfume raw materials and accords can be obtained from one or more of the following companies: namely, Firmenich (Geneva, Switzerland), Givaudan (Argenteuil, France), IFF (Hazlet, NJ), Quest (Mount Olive, NJ), Bedoukian (Danbury, CT), Sigma Aldrich (St. Louis, MO), Millennium Specialty Chemicals (Olympia Fields, IL), Polarone International (Jersey City, NJ), Fragrance Resources (Keyport, NJ), and Aroma & Flavor Specialties (Danbury, CT).

[0088] Encapsulation. The composition may contain an encapsulating agent. The encapsulating agent may include a core and a shell having an inner surface and an outer surface, and the core is encapsulated by the shell.

[0089] Other components. The composition may further contain a silicate. Suitable silicates can include, for example, sodium silicate, sodium disilicate, sodium metasilicate, crystalline phyllosilicate, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the silicate can be present at about 1 wt% to about 20 wt% based on the total weight of the composition.

[0090] The composition can further contain other conventional detergent components such as a foam booster, a defoaming agent, a corrosion inhibitor, a soil suspending agent, an anti-redeposition agent, a dye, a bactericide, an anti-clouding agent, and / or a fluorescent whitening agent.

[0091] The composition optionally contains saturated or unsaturated fatty acids, preferably saturated or unsaturated C 12 ~C24 Fatty acids; adhesion aids such as polysaccharides, cellulose polymers, poly(diallyldimethylammonium halide) (DADMAC), and copolymers of DADMAC with vinylpyrrolidone, acrylamide, imidazole, imidazolinium halide, and mixtures thereof in random or block configurations, cationic guar gum, cationic cellulose, cationic starch, cationic polyacrylamide, or combinations thereof may further be included. When present, the fatty acids and / or adhesion aids can each be present at 0.1 wt% to 10 wt% based on the total weight of the composition.

[0092] The composition may optionally include silicone or fatty acid-based antifoaming agents, hue-adjusting dyes, calcium and magnesium cations, visual signaling components, defoamers (0.001 wt% to about 4.0 wt% based on the total weight of the composition).

[0093] Washing method The method of the present disclosure may include contacting a fabric with a detergent obtained by diluting the concentrated composition of the present invention.

[0094] The concentrated washing composition of the present invention can be diluted 1 to 100 times with water (i.e., 1 part by weight of concentrate to 10 parts by weight of water), preferably 8 to 12 times, and a dilution of 1:10 is particularly preferred for forming the detergent. Subsequently, the detergent is introduced into a washing machine or used in a hand-washing tub. The concentrate can be placed in a water-soluble pouch or in a suitable container such as a bottle, and can also be placed in a separate container and then water is added to prepare the detergent composition.

[0095] The method of the present disclosure may include contacting a fabric with an aqueous treatment liquid. The aqueous treatment liquid contains about 1×10 2 colony forming units (CFU) to about 1×10 8 CFU per liter of wash liquor, preferably about 1×10 4 CFU to about 1×10 7It may contain total bacterial spores of CFU, preferably Bacillus spores.

[0096] The method of treating the fabric can be carried out in whole or in part in any suitable container, for example, in an automatic washing machine. Such a machine can be a top-loading machine or a front-loading machine. The method of the present invention is also suitable for hand washing applications.

[0097] The treatment step may be part of the washing cycle of an automatic washing machine. The detergent obtained by diluting the concentrated composition of the present invention may be added to the drawer or drum of the automatic washing machine during the washing cycle.

[0098] The fabric to be treated may be a synthetic fabric. Suitable synthetic fabrics include polyester, acrylic, nylon, rayon, acetate, spandex, latex, and / or auron fabrics. The compositions and methods of the present invention provide very good malodor removal and / or prevention on synthetic fabrics.

[0099] The fabric to be treated may contain synthetic fibers. Suitable synthetic fibers may include polyester, acrylic, nylon, rayon, acetate, spandex, latex, and / or auron fibers. The fibers may be elastic and / or may contain elastane. The fabric may contain a blend of synthetic fibers and natural fibers (e.g., a polycotton blend). The fabric may contain fibers that are relatively hydrophobic (e.g., compared to cotton fibers).

Examples

[0100] The following table shows the compositions according to the present invention.

[0101]

Table 1

[0102] Thioxome S-9: A graft copolymer of an acrylic polymer and an aliphatic alcohol ethoxylate, manufactured by Guangzhou Tinci Materials Technology Co., Ltd. This product contains 55% by weight of graft copolymer active substance.

[0103] Evozyme® P500 BS7: Bacillus spores, manufactured by Genesis Biosciences (Cardiff).

[0104] The dimensions and values disclosed in this specification should not be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise indicated, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as "40 mm" is intended to mean "about 40 mm".

Claims

1. A concentrated composition for laundry that is dilutable with water to form a liquid laundry detergent composition, said concentrated composition comprising: a) 15 to 85% by weight of a surfactant; and b) a rheology modifier. c) from about 1×10 ２ to about 1×10 ９ CFU / g of bacterial spores, and A concentrated composition for laundry.

2. The concentrated composition for laundry according to claim 1, wherein the composition contains Bacillus spores.

3. The Bacillus is selected from the group consisting of Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus thuringiensis, Bacillus mycoides, Bacillus tequilensis, Bacillus vallismortis, Bacillus mojavensis, and mixtures thereof. The concentrated composition for laundry according to claim 2.

4. The Bacillus is selected from the group consisting of Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus pumilus, and mixtures thereof. The concentrated composition for laundry according to claim 3.

5. The surfactant is selected from nonionic surfactants, anionic surfactants, and mixtures thereof. The concentrated composition for laundry according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The surfactant contains alcohol ethoxylate and alkylbenzene sulfonate. The concentrated composition for laundry according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The composition contains 25 to 55% by weight of a surfactant. The concentrated composition for laundry according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The composition contains 5 to 20% by weight of a rheology modifier. The concentrated composition for laundry according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The composition is a concentrated laundry composition according to any one of claims 1 to 8, which contains hydrogenated castor oil.

10. The rheology modifier contains 5 to 10% by weight of a graft copolymer of an acrylic polymer and an aliphatic alcohol alkoxylate or a salt thereof or a mixture thereof, and is the concentrated laundry composition according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. The rheology modifier further contains an ethoxylated sorbitan ester, and is the concentrated laundry composition according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. The rheology modifier further contains polyethylene glycol, and is the concentrated laundry composition according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. The composition contains an enzyme, and is the concentrated laundry composition according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. The composition contains an auxiliary agent containing one or more of a peroxy compound, a bleach activator, an anti-redeposition agent, a neutralizing agent, a fluorescent whitening agent, an antifoaming agent, a chelating agent, a bittering agent, an anti-migration agent, a soil release agent, a water softener for hard water, an electrolyte, a pH adjuster, a graying inhibitor, an anti-wrinkle component, a bleaching agent, a coloring agent, a fragrance, a processing aid, and a mixture thereof, and is the concentrated laundry composition according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

15. A method for performing laundry, comprising the steps of measuring a predetermined amount of the concentrated laundry composition according to any one of claims 1 to 14, diluting the composition 1 to 100 times, preferably 8 to 12 times to form a diluted detergent, and adding the diluted detergent to water to form a cleaning solution.

16. The cleaning liquid contains at least 1×10 ２ CFU / liter, preferably about 1×10 ２ to about 1×10 ８ CFU / liter, preferably about 1×10 ４ to about 1×10 ７ CFU / liter of bacterial spores, preferably Bacillus spores, according to claim 15.

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