A fabric treatment composition

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cleaning composition that is used to reduce malodour on surfaces, particularly to a composition that cleans soft surfaces like those of fabric. The composition ensures that the fabric is maintained free of malodour for a long time after the surface is cleaned with the composition. This is achieved through a combination of a rhamnolipid with a Bacillus bacterial spore in a surfactant containing composition.

Description

[0001] A FABRIC TREATMENT COMPOSITION

[0002] Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a composition that is used to reduce malodour on soft surfaces. Particularly, the present invention relates to a fabric treatment composition that ensures that soft surfaces like those of fabric remain fresh and free of malodour for long time after the surface is cleaned with the composition.

[0004] Background of the Invention

[0005] Washing fabrics also known as laundering is a daily chore for most people. Typically, a fabric is washed by contacting it with a laundry detergent composition either in neat or diluted form, rinsing the fabric one or more times with water; and finally, drying it. In the washing step, the fabric is cleaned by mechanically agitating it using hands and / or by using suitable cleaning means e.g. a brush, in so-called hand-wash method. Alternatively, in so-called machine-wash method, a fabric is cleaned by mechanical agitation carried out by a machine. After the wash step involving a detergent composition, the fabric is rinsed free of the composition using copious amounts of water, two or three time. During one or more of the rinsing steps, the fabric may be treated with a fabric conditioning composition to provide softening benefits to the fabric. The step of drying is then carried out either by using a drying machine; or simply by exposing the fabric to air, and if possible, under the sun. In spite of using good detergent compositions and sufficient drying, fabric at the end of the process often exudes a dank odour. It is observed that the quality of water e.g. hard water has a significant effect on the odour of the fabric washed in it.

[0006] Thus, in cleaning most surfaces there is a need to ensure sufficient cleaning and hygiene while ensuring that malodour developed over a course of time after the cleaning step, is reduced while at the same time using less harsh chemicals. The present inventors while searching for a solution to this problem hit upon a surprising combination of a bacterial spore of the Bacillus genus and a biosurfactant of the rhamnolipid class in a laundry treatment composition which not only cleaned the surface well but also ensured the fabric smells fresh for a long time and develops minimal malodour thereafter.

[0007] Cleaning composition comprising biosurfactant are known e.g. US7556654B1 which discloses a combination of this type of surfactant with an enzyme to product the cleaning benefit. The cleaning composition is shown to be formed by action of a bacteria and a yeast to lipopeptides and sophorolipids and an enzyme derived from sea kelp. It does not disclose that a combination of a rhamnolipid and a bacterial spore of the Bacillus genus ensured that malodour is significantly reduced long after the cleaning is done.

[0008] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide for a laundry treatment composition for cleaning fabric surfaces that provides malodour benefits for a long time after they have been cleaned.

[0009] Summary of the Invention

[0010] The first aspect of the present invention relates to a fabric treatment composition comprising

[0011] (i) 0.05 to 10 wt% a rhamnolipid; and

[0012] (ii) 0.000005 to 1 wt% of a Bacillus bacterial spore comprising Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus megaterium, and Bacillus subtilis', and

[0013] (iii) a fabric treatment active selected from an anionic surfactant or a fabric softening active.

[0014] According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of reducing malodour on a surface comprising the step of contacting the surface with a composition of the invention preferably diluted with water.

[0015] Detailed Description of the Invention

[0016] 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 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 "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%”. By a ‘fabric treatment composition’ is meant a composition used in any step of the process of washing fabrics. It may be a ‘laundry detergent composition’ or a ‘fabric conditioning composition’, as defined herein below.

[0017] By a ‘laundry detergent composition’ is meant a composition used for cleaning fabrics to make them free of soil and stains.

[0018] By a ‘fabric conditioning composition’ is meant a composition comprising conditioning actives which deliver softness to the fabric and is usually added after the step of cleaning the fabric.

[0019] By a ‘surfactant’ as per this invention is meant a surfactant other than the rhamnolipid claimed in the present invention.

[0020] The composition of the invention comprises a rhamnolipid. Rhamnolipids are a class of glycolipid. They are constructed of rhamnose combined with beta-hydroxy fatty acids. Rhamnose is a sugar. Fatty acids are ubiquitous in animals and plants.

[0021] Rhamnolipids are discussed in Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology (2010) 86:1323- 1336 by E. Deziel et al. Rhamnolipids are produced by Glycosurf, AGAE Technologies and Urumqi Unite Bio-Technology Co., Ltd. Rhamnolipids may be produced by strains of the bacteria Pseudomonas Aeruginosa. Rhamnolipids may also be produced by a recombinant cell of Pseudomonas Putida where the recombinant cell comprises increased activity of at least one of the enzymes a / P hydrolase, rhamnosyltransferase I or rhamnosyl-transferase II compared to the wild-type of the cell.

[0022] There are two major groups of rhamnolipids; mono-rhamnolipids and di-rhamnolipids. Monorhamnolipids have a single rhamnose sugar ring. A typical mono-rhamnolipid produced by P. aeruginosa is L-rhamnosyl-p-hydroxydecanoyl-p-hydroxydecanoate (RhaC C ). It may be referred to as Rha-Cw-Cw, with a formula of C26H48O9. Monorhamnolipids have a single rhamnose sugar ring.

[0023] The IUPAC Name is 3-[3-[(2R,3R,4R,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2- yl]oxydecanoyloxy]decanoic acid. Di-rhamnolipids have two rhamnose sugar rings. A typical di-rhamnolipid is L-rhamnosyl-L- rhamnosyl-p-hydroxydecanoyl-p-hydroxydecanoate (Rha2CioC ). It may be referred to as Rha- Rha-C- -C-10, with a formula of C32H58O13.

[0024] The IIIPAC name is 3-[3-[4,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-3-(3,4, 5-tri hydroxy-6-methyloxan-2- yl)oxyoxan-2-yl]oxydecanoyloxy]decanoic acid.

[0025] In practice, a variety of other minor components with different alkyl chain length combinations, depending upon carbon source and bacterial strain, exist in combination with the above more common rhamnolipids. The ratio of mono-rhamnolipid and di-rhamnolipid may be controlled by the production method. Some bacteria only produce monorhamnolipid, see US5767090: Example 1 , some enzymes can convert mono-rhamnolipid to di-rhamnolipid.

[0026] In various publications mono-rhamnolipids have the notation Rha-, which may be abbreviated as Rh or RL2. Similarly, di-rhamnolipids have the notation Rha-Rha or Rh-Rh or RL1. For historical reasons "rhamnolipid 2" is a mono-rhamnolipid and "rhamnolipid 1 "is a di-rhamnolipid. This leads to some ambiguity in the usage or "RL1 " and "RL2" in the literature.

[0027] Throughout this patent specification, we use the terms mono- and di-rhamnolipid in order to avoid this possible confusion. However, if abbreviations are used R1 is mono-rhamnolipid and R2 is di- rhamnolipid. For more information on the confusion of terminology in the prior art, see the introduction to US 4814272.

[0028] The following rhamnolipids have been detected as produced by the following bacteria: (C12:1 , C14:1 indicates fatty acyl chains with double bonds).

[0029] Rhamnolipids produced by P. aeruginosa (mono-rhamnolipids):

[0030] Rha-C8-C10, Rha-C10-C8, Rha-C10-C10, Rha-C10-C12, Rha-C10-C12:1 , Rha-C12-C10, Rha- C12:1-C10

[0031] Rhamnolipids produced by P. aeruginosa (di-rhamnolipids):

[0032] Rha-Rha-C8-C10, Rha-Rha-C8-C12:1 , Rha-Rha-C10-C8, Rha-Rha-C10-C10, Rha-Rha-C10-

[0033] C12:1 , Rha-Rha-C-10-C-12, Rha-Rha-C-12-C-10, Rha-Rha-C-12:1-C-12, Rha-Rha-C10-C14:1 Rhamnolipids produced by P. aeruginosa (unidentified as either mono- or di-rhamnolipids): C8- C8, C8-C10, C10-C8, C8-C12:1 , C12:1-C8, C10-C10, C12-C10, C12:1-C10 C12-C12, C12:1- C12, C14-C10, C14:1-C10, C14-C14.

[0034] Rhamnolipids produced by P. chlororaphis (mono-rhamnolipids only):

[0035] Rha-C10-C8, Rha-C10-C10, Rha-C12-C10, Rha-C12:1-C10, Rha-C12-C12, Rha-C12:1- C12, Rha-C14-C10. Rha-C- 14:1-010.

[0036] Rhamnolipids produced by Burkholdera pseudomallei (di-rhamnolipids only): Rha-Rha-C14-C14.

[0037] Rhamnolipids produced by Burkholdera (Pseudomonas) plantarii (di-rhamnolipids only): Rha-Rha-C14-C14.

[0038] There are over 100 strains of P. aeruginosa on file at the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC). There are also a number of strains that are only available to manufacturers of commercial Rhamnolipids. Additionally, there are probably thousands of strains isolated by various research institutions around the world. Some work has gone into typing them into groups. Each strain has different characteristics including how much rhamnolipid is produced, which types of rhamnolipids are produced, what it metabolizes, and conditions in which it grows. Only a small percentage of the strains have been extensively studied.

[0039] Through evaluation and selection, strains of P. aeruginosa can be isolated to produce rhamnolipids at higher concentrations and more efficiently. Strains can also be selected to produce less byproduct and to metabolize different feedstock or pollutants. This production is greatly affected by the environment in which the bacterium is grown.

[0040] A typical di-rhamnolipid is L-rhamnosyl-L-rhamnosyl-p-hydroxydecanoyl-p-hydroxydecanoate (Rha2CioC with a formula of C32H58O13).

[0041] In practice a variety of other minor components with different alkyl chain length combinations, depending upon carbon source and bacterial strain, exist in combination with the above more common rhamnolipids. The ratio of mono-rhamnolipid and di-rhamnolipid may be controlled by the production method. Some bacteria only produce monorhamnolipid, see US6767090: Example 1 , some enzymes can convert mono-rhamnolipid to di-rhamnolipid. Preferably the rhamnolipid is selected from:

[0042] Rhamnolipids produced by P. aeruginosa (mono-rhamnolipids):

[0043] Rha-C8-C10, Rha-C10-C8, Rha-C10-C10, Rha-C10-C12, Rha-C10-C12:1 , Rha-C12-C10, Rha- C12:1-C10

[0044] Rhamnolipids produced by P. chlororaphis (mono-rhamnolipids only):

[0045] Rha-C10-C8, Rha-C10-C10, Rha-C12-C10, Rha-C12:1-C10, Rha-C12-C12, Rha-C12:1- C12, Rha-C14-C10, Rha-C14:1-C10.

[0046] Mono-rhamnolipids may also be produced from P.putida by introduction of genes rhIA and rhIB from Psuedomonas aeruginosa [Cha et al. in Bioresour Technol. 2008. 99(7):2192-9]

[0047] Rhamnolipids produced by P. aeruginosa (di-rhamnolipids):

[0048] Rha-Rha-C8-C10, Rha-Rha-C8-C12:1 , Rha-Rha-C10-C8, Rha-Rha-C10-C10, Rha-RhaC10- C12:1 , Rha-Rha-C10-C12, Rha-Rha-C12-C10, Rha-Rha-C12:1-C12, Rha-Rha-C10- C14:1

[0049] Rhamnolipids produced by Burkholdera pseudomallei (di-rhamnolipids only):

[0050] Rha-Rha-C14-C14.

[0051] Rhamnolipids produced by Burkholdera (Pseudomonas) plantarii (di-rhamnolipids only):

[0052] Rha-Rha-C14-C14.

[0053] Rhamnolipids produced by P. aeruginosa which are initially unidentified as either mono- or di-rhamnolipids:

[0054] C8-C8, C8-C10, C10-C8, C8-C12:1 , C12:1-C8, C10-C10, C12-C10, C12:1-C10, C12-C12, C12:1-C12, C14-C10, C14:1-C10, C14-C14.

[0055] Preferably the Rhamnolipid is L-rhamnosyl-(3-hydroxydecanoyl-p-hydroxydecanoate (RhaC Cio with a formula of C26H48O9).

[0056] Preferably, the rhamnolipid comprises at least 50 wt.% di-rhamnolipid, more preferably at least 60 wt.% di-rhamnolipid, even more preferably 70 wt.% di-rhamnolipid, most preferably at least 80 wt.% di-rhamnolipid.

[0057] Preferably the rhamnolipid is a di-rhamnolipid of formula: Rha2Cs-i2C8-i2. The preferred alkyl chain length is from Cs to C12. The alkyl chain may be saturated or unsaturated. The most preferred di-rhamnolipid is an example of a di-rhamnolipid of formula: Rha2Cs-i2C8-i2, known as Rhamnolipid R2 herein, and can be supplied from Evonik. The composition comprises rhamnolipid in 0.05 to 10%, preferably 0.1 to 5%, more preferably 0.5 to 3% by weight of the composition.

[0058] The composition of the invention comprises 0.000005 to 1 wt% of a Bacillus bacterial spore comprising Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus megaterium, and Bacillus subtilis. A preferred aspect relates to a composition comprising a combination of bacterial spores of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus pumilus and Bacillus subtilis. By a combination of bacterial spores, as per this invention, is meant that the spores of the bacteria may be included in the composition.

[0059] 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 invention relates to a combination of bacterial spores which comprises Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus pumilus and Bacillus thuringiensis.

[0060] 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 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.

[0061] 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 included in 103to 1011cfu / g, more preferably 104to 109cfu / g, and most preferably 105to 108cfu / g of the composition.

[0062] The composition of the invention comprises a fabric treatment active selected from an anionic surfactant or a fabric softening active. When the composition is a laundry detergent composition, the fabric treatment active is an anionic surfactant. When the composition is delivered as a fabric conditioning composition, the fabric treatment active is a fabric softening active.

[0063] The composition may be delivered as a laundry detergent composition wherein the surfactant is an anionic surfactant. By use of the term ‘anionic surfactant’ is meant an anionic surfactant other than the rhamnolipid claimed in the present invention. The anionic surfactant is preferably included in 1 to 80 wt%. The laundry detergent composition may be delivered in the form of a solid or as a liquid.

[0064] The laundry detergent composition in which the present invention may be delivered is preferably 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 at least 50% wt. water and more preferably at least 70% wt. water. Water is generally present in an amount of 20% to 99.9% preferably from 40% to 80% by weight of the composition.

[0065] Liquid laundry detergent compositions generally comprise 1 to 30%, preferably from 2 to 15% by weight of one or more surfactants. The surfactant is generally 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 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, and preferably contain one to three ethylene 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 employed. Sodium and potassium are preferred.

[0066] 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 sulphates with an alkyl chain length of from 10 to 18. Preferably, the composition comprises from 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 per mole of alcohol. Preferred non-ionic surfactants are the C16 / 18 alcohol ethoxylates.

[0067] Liquid laundry detergent compositions also generally comprise agents like soil release polymers, hydroptropes, 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.

[0068] 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 of the composition.

[0069] A composition of the invention may incorporate non-aqueous carriers such as hydrotropes, cosolvents and phase stabilizers. Such materials are typically low molecular weight, water-soluble or water-miscible organic liquids such as C1 to C5 monohydric alcohols (such as ethanol and n- or i-propanol); C2 to C6 diols (such as monopropylene glycol and dipropylene glycol); C3 to C9 triols (such as glycerol); polyethylene glycols having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) ranging from about 200 to 600; C1 to C3 alkanolamines such as mono-, di- and triethanolamines; and alkyl aryl sulfonates having up to 3 carbon atoms in the lower alkyl group (such as the sodium and potassium xylene, toluene, ethylbenzene and isopropyl benzene (cumene) sulfonates). Nonaqueous carriers, when included, may be present in an amount ranging from 0.1 to 3%, preferably from 0.5 to 1% by weight of the composition. The preferred hydrotropes are monopropylene glycol and glycerol.

[0070] The liquid laundry detergent composition of the invention may contain one or more cosurfactants (such as amphoteric (zwitterionic) and / or cationic surfactants) in addition to the non-soap anionic and / or nonionic detersive surfactants described above. Such cosurfactant, when included, may be present in an amount ranging from 0.1 to 5% by weight of the composition. 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 aminocarboxylates and polyacetyl 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.

[0071] When the composition is a liquid laundry detergent composition, it may be diluted with water in ratios like 1 :50, 1 :100, 1 :200 to form the wash liquor.

[0072] Laundry detergent composition in solid form herein can take a variety of physical solid forms including forms such as powder, granule, ribbon, noodle, paste, tablet, flake, pastille and bar, and preferably the composition is in the form of powder, granule or a bar.

[0073] The solid laundry detergent composition according to the present invention may be made via a variety of conventional methods known in the art including dry-mixing, compaction such as agglomerating, extrusion, tableting, or spray-drying of the various compounds comprised in the detergent component, or combinations of these techniques. The powder or granule compositions preferably have a density of more than 350 grams / litre, more preferably more than 450 grams / litre or even more than 570 grams / litre.

[0074] Typical solid laundry detergent compositions comprise one or more of surfactants chosen from anionic, nonionic, zwitterionic, cationic, amphoteric types, preferably it is of the anionic type. These compositions in solid form typically comprise from 1 to 30% by weight anionic surfactants. Details on the various ingredients like the anionic and non-ionic surfactants, the SRPs, hydroptopes, builders etc which are described for the liquid detergent composition may also be included in the solid detergent composition. Additionally, they may also comprise other adjuvents to provide benefits to the fabric being washed e.g. antiredeposition polymers which together may be included in 0 to 5% by weight of the composition. Builders are generally included especially to counteract the ill effects of hardness of water being used to wash the fabric and these account for up to 50% typically 10 to 30% by weight of the composition. Other fabric benefit agents like shading dyes and optical brightener may be included in up to 1 % by weight of the composition. Bleaches may sometimes be included and when it is included it accounts for up to 10% by weight of the composition and fillers generally account for up to 40% by weight of the composition. The solid laundry detergent composition according to the present invention preferably has a pH from 7.0 to 10.5, preferably 7.0 to 10.2, still preferably from 8.5 to 10.2, when measured at 1 wt.% dilution in de-ionised water at 25°C. The composition may preferably include a buffer.

[0075] Fabric conditioning composition

[0076] The composition of the invention may also be delivered as a fabric conditioning composition in which the surfactant is a fabric softening active. The fabric softening active may be cationic or nonionic preferably it is cationic in nature. It is preferably included in 1 to 50 wt%.

[0077] The fabric conditioner composition is also referred to as a fabric softener. Fabric conditioners comprise active materials which soften or condition fabric. Examples of suitable fabric softening actives include: quaternary ammonium compounds, silicone polymers, polysaccharides, clays, amines, fatty esters, dispersible polyolefins, polymer latexes and mixtures thereof. The fabric softening active is preferably selected from a quaternary ammonium compound, or silicone polymer and mixtures thereof, more preferably a quaternary ammonium compound.

[0078] Fabric conditioning compositions for use in accordance with the invention may be dilute or concentrated. Dilute products typically contain up to about 6 wt.% of the composition softening compounds, generally about 1 to 5 wt%, whereas concentrated products may contain up to about 50 wt% of the composition softening compounds, preferably from about 5 to about 50 wt%, more preferably from 6 to 25 wt%. Overall, the products of the invention may contain from 1 to 50 wt%, preferably from 2 to 25 wt% of the composition softening compounds, more preferably 2 to 20 wt% of softening compounds.

[0079] The preferred softening compounds for use in fabric conditioner compositions of the invention are quaternary ammonium compounds (QAC). The QAC preferably comprises at least one chain derived from fatty acids, more preferably at least two chains derived from fatty acids. Generally, fatty acids are defined as aliphatic monocarboxylic acids having a chain of 4 to 28 carbons. Preferably the fatty acid chains are palm or tallow fatty acids. Preferably the fatty acid chains of the QAC comprise from 10 to 50 wt% of saturated C18 chains and from 5 to 40 wt% of monounsaturated C18 chains by weight of total fatty acid chains. In a further preferred embodiment, the fatty acid chains of the QAC comprise from 20 to 40 wt%, preferably from 25 to 35 wt% of saturated C18 chains and from 10 to 35 wt%, preferably from 15 to 30 wt% of monounsaturated C18 chains, by weight of total fatty acid chains. The preferred quaternary ammonium fabric softening compounds for use in compositions of the present invention are so called "ester quats". Particularly preferred materials are the ester-linked triethanolamine (TEA) quaternary ammonium compounds comprising a mixture of mono-, di- and tri-ester linked components.

[0080] The composition of the invention delivered as fabric conditioning compositions may further comprise a nonionic surfactant. Typically these can be included for the purpose of stabilising the compositions. Suitable nonionic surfactants include addition products of ethylene oxide and / or propylene oxide with fatty alcohols, fatty acids and fatty amines.

[0081] Preferably the nonionic surfactant has an HLB of from about 7 to about 20, more preferably from 10 to 18, e.g. 12 to 16. Genapol™ C200 (Clariant) based on coco chain and 20 EO groups is an example of a suitable nonionic surfactant.

[0082] If present, the nonionic surfactant is present in an amount from 0.01 to 10 wt%, more preferably 0.1 to 5 wt%, based on the total weight of the composition. Thus, the fabric conditioning composition of the invention preferably comprises 0.1 to 5 wt% of a non-ionic surfactant preferably an fatty alcohol ethoxylate.

[0083] Go-softeners may be used in the fabric conditioning composition. When employed, they are typically present at from 0.1 to 20 wt% and particularly at from 0.5 to 10 wt%, based on the total weight of the composition. Preferred co-softeners include fatty esters, and fatty N-oxides. Fatty esters that may be employed include fatty monoesters, such as glycerol monostearate, fatty sugar esters, such as those disclosed WO 01 / 46361 (Unilever).

[0084] The compositions of the present invention may comprise a fatty complexing agent. Especially suitable fatty complexing agents include fatty alcohols and fatty acids. Of these, fatty alcohols are most preferred. Preferably the composition of the present invention comprises 0.5 to 20 wt% perfume materials by weight of the composition, more preferably 1 to 15 wt% perfume materials, most preferably 2 to 10 wt% perfume materials.

[0085] The fabric conditioning composition is preferably in an aqueous form. The compositions preferably comprise from 75 to 95 wt% water The fabric conditioning composition may be used to treat fabrics either in a hand washing or a machine washing process. Preferably the fabric conditioner is used in the rinse stage of the washing process.

[0086] Preferably the clothes are treated with a 10 to 100 ml dose of fabric conditioner for a 4 to 7 kg load of clothes. More preferably 10 to 80 ml for a 4 to 7 kg load of clothes.

[0087] According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided method of reducing malodour on a surface comprising the step of contacting the surface with a composition of the invention preferably diluted with water.

[0088] The invention will now be illustrated with the help of the following non-limiting examples.

[0089] Examples

[0090] Rhamnolipid used in the experiments below was obtained as ZZDL-RHEANCE from Evonik Industries, Germany.

[0091] Examples A-F, 1-5: Effect of combination of bacterial spores and rhamnolipid on reduction of dank malodour measured with a sniff test.

[0092] The samples as shown in Table- 1 were taken and the malodour generated was measured using the following protocol.

[0093] Laundry Malodour assay:

[0094] • Autoclaved 10*10 cm polyester swatches are taken in a sterile petri plate

[0095] • 200 .l of culture mix containing Tryptone, Mucin and BSA was inoculated dropwise covering all places on the swatch

[0096] • It was then allowed to dry in LAF for 15 mins

[0097] • With the help of sterile forceps each swatch was picked and put into sterile black screw cap bottle

[0098] • 7ml of hard water was added to it

[0099] • Different concentration of treatment was inoculated into respective bottles

[0100] • Bottles were air tightly closed and incubated at 37 °C for 48-72 hours

[0101] • After incubation, each tube was sniffed and scored ranging from 0 to 5 (0 being no malodour and 5 being maximum malodour) Malodour detection by sniff test

[0102] Malodour was measured on a scale from 0 (No dank odour) and 5 (strong dank malodour). The untreated control has the maximum malodour. The odour scores were given by five expert panellists in a blinded test. The bacterial spores in the table below were used at a concentration of 107cfu / ml.

[0103] Table - 1 :

[0104] In the table above (and in subsequent tables) the following abbreviations are used for the various bacterial spores:

[0105] Ba: Bacillus amyloliquefaciens

[0106] Bm: Bacillus megaterium

[0107] Bs: Bacillus subtilis

[0108] Bl: Bacillus licheniformis Bp: Bacillus pumilus

[0109] Bt: Bacillus thuringiensis

[0110] Refers to the spores included in the following amounts: Ba, Bm, and Bs at 5 to 40%, and Bp and Bt at 5 to 15% of the total number of the bacterial spores included. The data in the table above indicates that the combination of various bacterial spores of the Bacillus genus and a rhamnolipid provides for synergistic interaction in reducing dank malodour on fabric. Examples G-K, 6-11 : Effect of combination of bacterial spores (at three different concentrations) and rhamnolipid (at two different concentrations) on reduction of dank malodour measured with a sniff test.

[0111] The samples as shown in Table-2 were taken and the malodour generated was measured using the Laundry Malodour assay as described earlier for examples A-F and 1-5 above^ The combination of bacterial spores ( indicated as “probiotic”) in the table below was Ba + Bm + Bs + Bp + Bt at the following concentration: Ba, Bm, and Bs at 5 to 40%, and Bp and Bt at 5 to 15% of the total number of the bacterial spores included.

[0112] Table - 2:

[0113] The data in the table above indicates that the invention is effective over a combination of bacterial spores and rhamnolipid each at various concentrations for reducing dank malodour on fabric.

Claims

Claims1. A fabric treatment composition comprising(i) 0.05 to 10 wt% a rhamnolipid; and(ii) 0.000005 to 1 wt% of a Bacillus bacterial spore comprising Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus megaterium, and Bacillus subtilis', and(iii) a fabric treatment active selected from an anionic surfactant or a fabric softening active.

2. A composition as claimed in claim 1 additionally comprising Bacillus pumilus,.

3. A composition as claimed in any one of claims 1 or 2 additionally comprising one or both of Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus thuringiensis.

4. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which is a laundry detergent composition wherein the surfactant is an anionic surfactant.

5. A composition as claimed in claim 4 comprising 1 to 80 wt% anionic surfactant.

6. A composition as claimed in claims 4 or 5 which is a liquid composition additionally comprising 5 to 20 wt% non-ionic surfactant.

7. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 1 to 3 which is a fabric conditioning composition wherein the fabric softening active is non-ionic or cationic in nature.

8. A composition as claimed in claim 7 wherein the fabric softening active is cationic in nature.

9. A composition as claimed in claim 7 or 89 comprising 1 to 50 wt% fabric softening active.

10. A method of reducing malodour on a surface comprising the step of contacting the surface with a composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims preferably diluted with water.

Images