Specification
FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See section 10; rule 13)
Title of the invention
Bleaching catalysts with unsaturated surfactant and antioxidant
HINDUSTAN LEVER LIMITED, a company incorporated under the Indian Companies Act, 1913 having its registered office at Hindustan Lever House, 165/166, Backbay Reclamation, Mumbai-400 020, State of Maharashtra, India
The following specification particularly describes the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed
3LEACHING CATALYSTS '"'ITK UNSA7UP.A7ED S'JP.FACTAKT AMD "ITT0:'.:K!7
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to the protection of an unsaturated
surfactant in a bleaching composition.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
The use of bleaching "catalysts for stain removal has been developed over recent years. The recent discovery that some catalysts are capable of bleaching effectively in the absence of an added peroxyl source has recently become the focus of some interest, for example: WO3955905; WO0GI2657; WCC012803; WO0029537, and, WO00S0045.
1UX patent application 0030877.5, filed 18-Dec-2000, discloses the use of an unsaturated surfactant as a bleach enhancement catalyst. However, there are stability problems associated with the interaction of the unsaturated surfactant and bleach enhancement catalyst.
SUMARY OF INVENTION
We have found that-- in some-- instances- an unsaturated surfactant is degraded by an air bleaching catalyst in a
ncn-desirable way. We have also fcund that in some
. . .1 . . . ■ . ,
instances a oeroxyJ- cJeacnmg cata.yst together with a
peroxyl species degrades an unsaturated surfactant in a non-desirable wav. A solution to this problem is provided by the presence of an antioxidant, the presence of which still cermits air bleaching tf. stains.
2
The present invention provides a bleaching composition comprising an organic liganc which forms a complex with a transition metal for bleaching a substrate with a group selected from:
a) atmospheric oxygen, the bleaching composition upon addition to an aqueous medium providing an aqueous bleaching mecium substantially devoid of a peroxygen bleach or a peroxy-based or peroxyl-generating bleach system; and,
b) a peroxygen bleach or source thereof,
together with a surfactant having an allylic hydrogen, said surfactant having -an HL3 of greater than 2, and an antioxidant.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention is provided a bleaching composition for bleaching a substrate, the bleaching composition comprising: (i) an organic ligar.d which forms a complex with a
transition metal for bleaching with oxygen sourced
from the air; (ii) 0.01 to 60 wt/wt% of a surfactant having an HLB of
greater than 15, the surfactant a sodium salt of an
unsaturated carbcxylic acid having an allylic
hydrogen,- and, (iii) 0.001 to 10%. wt/wt% of a phenolic antioxidant present
in the composition, said bleaching composition comprising less than 2% mMcl of peroxide per Kg, wherein -iter. sedition cf the bleaching composition to an acueous solution ar.c ir. the presence cf
-3
the substrate and least 10 H of any bleaching of the substrate is effected by oxygen. sourced from the air.
It i.s preferred that the bleaching composition is substantially devoid of a peroxycer. bleach or a peroxy-based or peroxyl-generating bleach system. Nevertheless, as another aspect of the present invention a peroxyl source may be present such that "air bleaching" is suppressed. Generally, "air bleaching" catalysts are capable of operating in a peroxyl bleaching mode.
The surfactant having an allylic hydrogen has an HL3 (hydrophilic/lipophilic balance) greater that 2, more . preferably greater than 5, and most preferably greater than 10. Ideally, if the surfactant is a charged species the H1B is greater than 15. Fcr a discussion of KLB the reader, is directed to and article by Griffin, w. C. in J. Sec. Cosmetic Chemists Vol. 1 page 211, 1545 and Navies, J. T. and Rideal, E. X. in Interracial Phenomena, Acad. Press, NY, 1961, pages 371 to 3S2. The KLB value requirement reflects the importance of the rate of solubility and dispersibiiity of the surf actant "having -air'ai'lyl-rc 'rrycb:erg-err-from ■ the ■ bleaching composition to the aquecus wash medium in conjunction with surface activity towards the substrate being wasned. The threshold value of KL3 as required excludes compounds that have an aliyiic which do not have the required surfactant. properties, fcr example linoleaic or oleic acid have an :-:L3 of 0.3.
It is-preferred'that the surfactant having an allylic hvdrocen has a CMC ;■; 2 :•: I3'': '■'. ;r less. It is most
4
preferred that the surfactant is anionic has a critical micelle concentration value of 3 x 10° M or less. Generally, a surfactant will form a micelle when present in an aqueous solution above a specific concentration that is intrinsic to the surfactant. A micelle is a neutral or electrically charged colloidal particle, consisting cf oriented molecules. Above what is known as the critical micelle concentration CMC amphiphilic compounds tend to adopt specific aggregates in aqueous solution. The tendency is to avoid contact between their hydrophobic alkyl chains and the aqueous environment and to form an internal hydrophobic phase. Such compounds can form monomoiecular layers [monolayers] at the air-water boundary and bimolecular layers [bilayers] between two aqueous compartments. Micelles are spherically closed monolayers. This CMC criterion is another aspect that aids reduction of catalyst deposit.
The property required is that the surfactant used in the present invention is and forms a micelle at a concentration of 2 x 10"2 M and. below in an aqueous solution at a temperature of 25°C. Cr.e skilled in the art will be aware that the standard CMC is measured in deionized water and that the .presence of other components in solution, e.g. surfactants or ions in,solution will perturb the CMC value. The CMC values and requirement therecf as described herein are measured under standard conditions (M. M. Van Cs, J. R. Kaak, and L. A. M Rupert, Pysico Chemical Properties of Selected Anionic Catior.ic and Monionic Surfactants Elsevier 1393; Kresheck, G. C. Surfactants-In \=:er a comparative treatise- (ed. ?. Franks! Chapter 2 re 95-157 Plenum Press 1371, New Ycrk; and, Mukeriee. P. and Xysels K. J. Critical
5"
Micelle Concentrations of Aqueous Surfactant Systems, NSRDS-N3S 36, National Bureau of Standards. US Gov. Print office 197l", Washington, DC).*
The present invention has particular utility as a bleaching composition in a commercial "air bleaching" liquid and granular'"air bleaching" or peroxyl bleaching format. The degradation of unsaturated'components during storage in the absence of an antioxidant often results in the formation of mal odour components due to the degradation of unsaturated compounds. The composition also serves to reduce the degradation of unsaturated compounds during the wash.
The composition of the present invention, in an air bleaching mode, is preferably substantially devoid of a peroxygen bleach or a peroxy-based or peroxyl-generating I bleach system. The term "substantially devoid of a peroxygen bleach or a peroxy-based cr peroxyl-generating bleach system" should be construed within spirit of the invention. It is preferred that the composition has as low a content of a peroxyl species present as possible. Nevertheless, autoxidation is something' that is very drfficul't" tu a-void' and as a result small levels of peroxyl species rr.ay be present. These snail levels may be as high as 2% but are preferably below 2%. The'level of peroxide present is expressed in mMol of hydroperoxide (-OCH) present per Kg. The additionally added organic compounds having labile CH's, for example allylic, benzylic, -C(C)K, and -CRH-C-R', are particularly susceptible :: autoxidaticn and her.ce nay contribute more to this level o-f oercxyl scecies than other corr.oonents. However the credence of an antioxidant in the
6
composition wiii likely serve ;o reduce che presence of adventitious peroxyl species by reducing chain reactions. The composition of the present invention bleaches a substrate with at least 10 %, pre.ferably at least 50 % and optimally at least 90 % of any bleaching of the substrate being effected by oxygen sourced from the air.
When only a peroxyacid is present as a peroxyl bleaching species in a bleaching medium with a bleaching catalyst [total peroxyl present] = [RC(0)OOH] + [RC(O)OO'] . When a nixture cf hydrogen peroxide and peroxyacid are present in this medium [total peroxyl present] = [RC(0)COH] + (RC(O)CO'j «■ r.H;03] - [H00"i . In some instances, the peroxy species fiill be relatively unreactive and hence the dominant conditions for "air bleaching" will be still be met by a relatively high level of peroxyl species present. The different proxyl species will react at different rates with an "air bleaching catalyst" but what is essential, fcr "air Dleachinc mode" -is that k[air cat] [peroxyl] is sufficiently small that k[air cat)[02] dominates to the extent that at least IC % of any bleaching of the substrate is .effected by oxygen sourced' from the air when the composition- rsr for use-in ar. air bleaching mode. When the composition is used in a peroxy mode there :;.s sufficient percxy species present to dominate and suocress i"air bleachinc" in the medium.
The present invention extends to a commercial package comprising the bleaching composition according to the oresent invention together wish instructions for its use.
7
Any suitable textile thai is susceptible to bleaching or one that one might wish to subject to bleaching nay be used. Preferably the textile is a laundry fabric or garment.
In a preferred embodiment, the method according to the present invention is carried cut on a laundry fabric using an aqueous treatment liquor. In particular, the treatment may be effected in a wash cycle for cleaning laundry. More preferably, the treatment is carried out in an aqueous detergent bleach wash liquid, preferably in a washing machine.
The composition cf the present invention v.hilst providing .an improved amount protection to unsaturated compounds permits a bleaching activity cf at least 25 %, preferably at least 50 %, equivalent to same composition devoid of antioxidant.
A unit dose as used herein is a particular amount of the bleaching composition used for a type of wash. The unit dose may be in the form of a defined volume of powder, granules or tablet or unit dose detergent liquid.
DETAILED, DESCRIPTION OF TKS INVENTION
Antioxidant '
The compositions cf the present invention will comprise an effective amount cf the anti-oxidant, preferably from about 0.C01 % more preferably frcm about 0.1%, most preferably frcm about C.2% to about 1C %, preferably to about 5%, more preferably tc about 1 "■< by veight cf an ar.ti-cxidar.t. Ar.ti-
8
oxidants are substances as described in Kirk-Othmers (Vol 3, pg 424) and in Uhlmans Encyclopedia (Vol 3, pg 91).
One class of anti-cxicar.ts suitable for use in the present invention is alkylated phenols having the general formula:
o:-:
wherein R is C1-C22 linear or branched alkyl, preferably methyl or branched C3-C5 alkyl; C3-C6 alkcxy, preferably methcxy; Rl is a C3-C6 branched alkyl, preferably tert-butyl; x is 1 or 2. Hindered phenolic cc-pounds are preferred as antioxidant.
Another class of ar.ti-oxidants suitable fcr use in the present invention is a benzcfuran cr benzcpyran derivative having the formula:
-J
? ?
wherein Rl and R2 are each independently alkyl cr Rl and R2
can be taken together to fcr~ a C5-C6 cyclic hydrocarbyl
moiety; B is absent or CH2; R4 is C1-C6 alkyl; R5 is
hydrogen or -C(0;R3 wherein. R3 is hydrogen or CI-C19 alkyl;
rcger. terrorising unit, =rred nitrogen comcrisinc
?.S is C1-C5 alkyl; P." is hydrogen cr CI-C: alkyl; X is -
CH2CH, or - CH2A wherein A is a ~i: ohehvi, or substituted oher.v'.. . Pre:
9
.A-Uiiics include amine, pyrrolidine, piperidino, morpholino, piperazino, and mixtures thereof.
Other suitable antioxidants are found as fellows. A derivative of a-tocophercl, 5-hydrcxy-2,5,7,8-tecra-methylchromar.-2-carboxylic acid (Trolox ). Anti-oxidants/radical scavengers■such as ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and its salts, tocopherol (vitamin E), tocopherol sorbate, other esters of tocopherol, butylated hydroxy benzoic acids and their salts, gallic acid and its alkyl esters, especially propyl gallate, uric acid and its salts and alkyl esters, sorbic acid and its salts, the ascorbyl esters of fatty acids, amines (e.g., N,N-diethylhydroxylamine, amino-guanidine), sulfhydryl compounds (e.g., glutathione), and dihydroxy fumaric acid and its salts may be used.
Nor.-limiting'examples of anti-oxidants suitable fcr use in the present invention include phenols inter alia 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol, 2,6-ci-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol, mixtures of 2 and 2- tert-butyl-4-methcxyphenol, and other ingredientsj including include propyl gal'i'ate, cert1 butylhydroquinone, benzoic acid derivatives such as methoxy-benzoic acid, methylbenzoic acid, dichloro benzoic acid, dimethyl benzoic acid, 5-hydroxy-2,2,4,6,7-pentamethyl-2 , 3-dihydro-l-benzof uran-3-or.e, 5-hydroxy-3-methylene-2,2,4,6,7-pentamethyl-2,3-cihycro-benzofuran, 5-benzyloxy-3-hydroxynerhyl-2 ,2,4,6, 7 -pentamethyL -2 , 3-dihydro-1 -ber.zof uran, 3 -hydroxyr.ethyl -5 -methoxy-2 ,2,4,5,7-penramethyl-2,3-dihydro-I-benzofuran, vitamin C'asccrbic acid), and Sthoxyquine ! 1, 2 -dihydro- £ -etr.cxy- 2 , 2 , 4 -
10
urimecnylchinoiin)marketed under the name Raluquin by the company Raschic
Preferred radical scavengers for use herein include di-tert-butyi hydroxy toluene {3KT), c-tccopherol. hydroquinone, 2,2,4 -trimethyl -1,2 -dihydroquir.olins, di-terc -butyl hydroquinone, mono-tert-butyl hydroquinone, tert-butyl-hydroxy anisole, benzoic acid and derivatives thereof, like alkoxylated benzoic acids, as for example, trimethoxy benzoic acid (TM3A) , toluic "acid, catechol, t-butyl • .' catechol, benzylamine, 1, 1, 3-tris (2-met'nyl-4-hydroxy-5-t-butylphenyl) butane, N-propyi-gallate or mixtures thereof ar.d highly preferred is di-tert-butyl hydroxy toluene.
Surfactant Having an Allylic Hydrogen
To benefit from the enhancement of bleaching activity it is preferred that the surfactant having an allylic hydrogen is present in the composition such that a unit dcse provides at least 0.C1 g/1, more preferably at least 0.5g /l, and most preferably at least 0. lg /l, concentration of the unsaturated organic compound in'a wash. The surfactant having an allylic hydrogen may be present in the composition in the range of 0.01 to 60%, preferably 0.1 to 20% and most preferably .10% w/w.
i !> ;
c i J.
There are many classes of surfactants having an allylic hydrogen that will work with the present invention to enhance air bleaching. As cr.e skilled i*"- the art is aware a surfactant having ar. allylic hydrogen (enhancer) may be found dr. ■. neutral species, and charged species, i.e., caticnit species, anionic spezies, and zwicterionic species.
11
It is preferred ;hac the surfactant having an allylic
hydrogen contains a hydrophiiic grcuc thereby providing the
organic co-pound ur.associated cr as a micelle in an aqueous
medium. Ic also is preferred chat the surfactant having an
allylic hydrogen is provided in the form of an alkali metal
salt, preferably sodium, of an unsaturated carboxyiic acid.
*
One skilled in the art will appreciate that benzene and
toluene are considered unsaturated but neither possess
allylic hydrogens per se. The homolytic bond dissociation
energy (3DE) for benzene (C6H5-H) is 11C.9 kcai/rnoi {298 K)
makes benzene moieties per se unsuitable to promote enhanced
bleaching. The surfactant used to enhance bleaching
according to the present invention has a hydrogen atom
covalently bound to an alpha-carbon that is alpha to a Sp2-
Sp2 hybridized bond (other than Sp2-3p2 hybridized bonds
found in a cyclic aromatic system) e.g., as shown as
underlined in the following formula CH2=CH-CH2-CH3. It is
most preferred that the surfactant having an allylic
hydrogen has a molecular weight of at least SO and a bond
dissociation energy of less than 95 kcal/mol, mcst
preferably below-50 "krcal/mol-, aTxx everr-raore-prefsrabvy- be-low--
85 kcal/mol. Below is a table of bend strengths (233 K)
obtained from.- The handbook of Chemistry and Physics 73rd
■i l t
edition, C?.C Press.
12
Compound I BDE 6'A Ce letter system,was 70% pure,- the values given in the table are corrected for this purity.
28
A SPME GC-MS analysis on a H? 6890 mass spectrometer (E.I.) (HP-1 column) was performed and some of the products analysed {e.g., no perfume components) are listed in the table below, after 1 day and after 5 days storage at 37 °C. The intensities of the signals were integrated and the typical error in the determinations was around 5%.
The GC results depicted in Table 2 have been obtained by ■using a different set-up:A Fiscns HRGC maga-2-series set-up
using a Chrompack CP-SIL 5 C3 column (50 ni x 0.32 mm, ?D 1.2 ' un) was usee. B-Hexanone was used as an internal standard.
The head-space analysis was done a: 70 °C.
The results presented in Table 2 are those of liquid formulations that have been stored at ambient conditions up ; till 7 weeks.
The GC-MS and GC results presented in cables 1 and 2 respectively depict a measure of stability of the unsaturated soap (detection of hexanal, heptanal and octanal) and of the iron catalyst in the formulation (pyridln-carboxyldehyie-- only-for the ••results, -presented ..in, i Table 1).
Therefore in all cases a lower value means a better stability, as the system (unsaturated materials or catalyst) employs a greater stability.
Further the bleach performance en tcmatc-cil stains was assessed bv usinc the method described below. The bleach
29
performance experiments'were done aft'er 6 days storage of the liquid under ambient conditions.
Bottles tests were done [25 mL solution), each bottle containing two tomato stained cloths (4x4 cm) . The cloths were washed for 30 min at 40 °C. The dosage of formulation A was 5 g/1. The water hardness used was 24 D?H. After the wash, the cloths were rinsed with water and subsequently dried, and the change in reflectance at 460 nm (.•as measured immediately after drying on a Minolta CM-3700d spectrophotometer including a UV-Vis filter before and after treatment (denoted as t=0 in the table). Subsequently, the washed cloths were stored for 24 hrs in a dry dark cupboard
:am
at ambient conditions and the cloths were measured
(after-wash bleaching process), denoted as t=l in the table. The difference in AR between both reflectance values gives a measure of the bleaching performance of the system on the stain, i.e. a higher AR value corresponds to an improved bleaching performance.
30
"he results for bleachina Derformance are shown in table 1
Table 1: Amounts o£ aldehydes_ detected by GC-MS and bleach results of the liquid detergent to rmu I a ticnir, containing catalyst and ant j-oxidants . Liquids stored at 37 °C. * Liquid stored at room temperature fox 6 days.
K,".|K< r i -
HI' -III
l 2 Cat . Anl: ioxidant
(?. in formulation) Days Octanal Hcptanal Hexanal Pyridyl-
ca v boxy 1 ••
aldehyde AR (t=0)« AR (t-l)"
+ - 7 371 211 71 0 17 3 4
- 7 5114 3 74 7 3181 195 2 5
3
' 4 ■i- 'Raluquin
■xo.i) 7 374 2 04 7 3
17 2b
+ Raluquin (0.1) 14 632 302 , 130 43 n.d. n.d.
\j + Trolox (0.1) 7 361 23.3 104 24 19 24
6 -i- Trolox (0.1) l'l 741 413 335 32 n.d. n.d.
7 ■i- Tocopherol (0.1) 1 529 103 03 20 n.d. n.d.
0 + Tocopherol (0.1) 7 3096 2181 3171 173 25 34
9 + Tocopherol-mix (0..17) 7 32 5 2 3 1 143 21 20 24
10 •i- Tocopherol -mix (0.17) 14 1135 341 516 40 n.d. n.d.
11 + Tocopherol -
acetate
(0.1) 1 3686 24 41 5429 1221 n.d. n.d.
12 -i- BHT (0:1) 1 6 4 66 2 04 106 154 n.d. n.d. ]
13 ■i- 13HT (0". 1)
2 7 07 177 5 2030 154 20 30
14 + Vitamin C (0.1) 1 415 2 a 1 104 20 n.d. n.d.
IS ■i- Vitamin C (0.1) 6 2472 16 2 a 2 0 81 614 2 3 3 5
Table 2: Amouncs o£ aldehydes detected by GC analysis of the liquid detergent formulations containing catalyst and anti-oxidants. Liquids stored at room temperature
5
Sxperi -ment Cat. Antioxidant
(% in
formul.) Weeks
storage Octanal Heptanal Kexanal
16 - - 7 0.16 0.05 0.20
17 + - 7 0.75 1.16 4 .64
18 •f Raluquin (0.05) 7 ■ 0.25 0.08 0.25
i I
19 + Raluquin (0.1) 7 0.20 0.07 0.27
20 + Trolox (0.05) 7 0.2 5 0.17 0.95
21 -i. Trolox (0.1) 7 0.27 0.10' 0.40
22 * Tocopherol -mix (0.17) 7 0.20 0.09 0.57
33
Composition formulation A:
component %
PAS 10%
Nonionic surfactant, ethoxylated alcohol type fatty 18.4%
Oleic acid 10%
Def locculating polymer, poly.ner AI EP345,995 1 from 1%
1
Silicon oil to control foam 0.03%
XOH 4.1 %
NaOK 0.9%
Citric acid.H20 5.5%
Glycerol 5%
Borax 1.9%
Anti-dye transfer polymer 0.3%
Protease 0.3%
Lipolase 0. 37%
Amylase
0.15%
rruns
-«a v-i 1-1.=
0.47!
From the..results, presented ..i.r. .the .cab l^, one can draw the following conclusions:
1. Addition of the iron catalyse leads co an increased
lormacion of various aldehydes (octanal,
>tar.~l
hexanal) as detected by C-C-M3. Without being bound to theorv,. one can infer that chest oroducts are most
J -
likely formed due .to degradation of the unsaturated
soao oresent uncer stcrace concicicns
•Th-
s assumotio:
tested by oreoarir.g
i1CU1G
: n t a i n i nc a full'
34
saturated soap added. No detectable amounts of these aldehydes with the catalyst added were observed after 3 days storage.
2. Under the same conditions a clear signal of pyridyl-• carboxaldehyde was observed. Without being bound to theory, one can infer that this is most likely caused by decomposition of the iron catalyst during storage.
3. Addition of the follov/ing anti-oxidants BHT, vitamine C, Trolox, tocopherol (pure or mixtures) and Raluquin leads to a dramatic decrease of the amounts of aldehydes (occanal, hepcanal, hexanal and pyridylcarboxaldehyde).
4. The performance of the liquid bleaching composition is stabilized whilst maintaining the bleach performance of the liquid bleaching composition.
5. The experiment with tocopherol acetate shews that a free phenolic site is preferred to exhibit the most efficient inhibicion" e'f feet"' on" aldehyde ■ format icrf. -
35
grvt/
Claims:
1. A bleaching composition comprising an organic ligand which forms a complex with a transition metal for bleaching with atmospheric oxygen, the bleaching composition upon addition to an aqueous medium providing an aqueous bleaching medium substantially devoid of a peroxygen bleach or a peroxy-based or peroxyl-generating bleach system, together with a surfactant having an allylic hydrogen, said surfactant having an HLB of greater than 2, and an antioxidant.
2. A bleaching composition according to any preceding claim, wherein the antioxidant is selected from the group consisting of: a phenol and an amine.
3. A bleaching composition according to claim 2, wherein the antioxidant is a- hindered phenol.
4.- A bleaching composition according to claim. 3, wherein the antioxidant is selected from the group consisting of: di-tert-butyl hydroxy toluene, Ethoxyquine, a-tocopherol, and 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetra-methylchroman-2-carboxylic acid.
5. A bleaching composition according to any preceding claim, wherein the antioxidant is present in the composition in the range 0.001 to 10%, preferably from about 0.1% to 10%, and most preferably from 0.2% to 5%.
6. A'bleaching- composition according to any preceding claim, wherein the surfactant is selected from the group of unsaturated neutral species.
7. A bleaching composition to any preceding claim, wherein the surfactant is selected from the group of unsaturated zwitterionic species.
8. A bleaching composition according to any preceding claim, wherein the surfactant has an HLB of greater than 5.
9. A bleaching composition according to claim 8, wherein the surfactant has an HL3 of greater than 10.
10. A bleaching composition according to any preceding claim, wherein the surfactant is present in the composition in an amount such that a unit dose provides at least 0.01 g/1 concentration of the unsaturated organic compound in a wash.
11. A bleaching composition according to any preceding claim, wherein the surfactant has a hydrogen atom covalently bound to an alpha-carbon that is alpha to a Sp2-.Sp2 hybridized bond, said hydrogen having a homolytic bond dissociation energy of less than 95 kcal/mol, most preferably below 90 kcal/mcl, and even more preferably below 85 kcal/mol.
12. A bleaching composition according to any preceding claim, wherein the organic substance is present in the
composition such that a unit dose provides at least 0.1 uM of the organic substance or transition metal complex thereof in a wash.
13 . A bleaching composition according to any preceding claim, wherein the surfactant has a CMC of 2 x 10"2 M or less .
14. A bleaching composition according to according to
any preceding claim, wherein the surfactant is anionic
and has a critical micelle concentration value of 3 x 1o
M or less.
15. A bleaching composition according to any preceding claim, wherein the surfactant has molecular weight of at least 80 and the allylic hydrogen has bond dissociation energy of less than 90 kcal/mol.
16. A bleaching composition according to any preceding claim., ..whexein.. the surfac.tan.t. .is..present., in the. composition in the range of 0.01 to '60 % wt/wt.
17. A bleaching composition according to claim 16, wherein the surfactant is present in the composition in the range of preferably 0.1 to 20% wt/wt. ,
IS. A. bleaching ..composition according to claim 1, wherein the organic substance is N, N-bis(pyridin-2-yl-methyl)-1,1-bis(pyridin-2-yl) -1-aminoethane.
I.9 A bleaching composition according co claim I, the
bleaching composition comprising:
(i) an organic ligand which, forms a complex with a
transition metal for bleaching with oxygen sourced
from the air; (ii) 0.01 to 60 wt/wt% of a surfactant having an HLB of
greater than 15, the surfactant a sodium salt of
an unsaturated carboxylic. acid having an allylic
hydrogen; and, (iii) 0.001 to 10% wt/wt% of.a phenolic antioxidant
present in-the composition, said bleaching composition comprising less than 2% mMol of peroxide per Kg, wherein-upon addition of the bleaching composition to an'aqueous solution and in the Dresence of the substrate and least 10 % of any bleaching
^ .
of the substrate is- effected by oxygen sourced rrom the
air.