Powdered automatic dishwashing composition containing enzymes

What is claimed is:

1. A free flowing powdered dishwashing composition having improved enzymes stability consisting essentially of a physical mixture of agglomerated beads having a maximum particle size of less than about 2,000 microns of at least one alkali metal detergent builder salt selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal carbonate and an alkali metal citrate and mixtures thereof, an alkali metal silicate, a low molecular weight noncrosslinked polyacrylate homopolymer, a low molecular weight non crosslinked polyacrylate copolymer, an alkali metal sulfate and a nonionic surfactant and a blend portion of the composition comprising at least one protease enzyme and an amylase enzyme, wherein the maximum particle size of the particles of said blend are less than about 2,000 microns, wherein the agglomerated beads comprises a core of at least one said alkali metal detergent builder salt, said alkali metal silicate, said low molecular weight non crosslinked polyacrylate polymer, said low molecular weight polyacrylate copolymer, and said alkali metal sulfate and a coating absorbed on said core of said alkali metal detergent builder salt, said alkali metal silicate, said low molecular weight noncrosslinked polyacrylate homopolymer, said low molecular weight polyacrylate copolymer, and said alkali metal sulfate, said coating comprising said nonionic surfactant, wherein the dishwashing composition consisting essentially of approximately by weight:

(a) 2 to 40 percent of at least one said alkali metal detergent builder salt;

(b) 3 to 30 percent of said alkali metal silicate;

(c) 1 to 10 percent of said low molecular weight non crosslinked polyacrylate homopolymer;

(d) 1.0 to 12.0 percent of said nonionic surfactant;

(e) 0 to 1.5 percent of said anti-foaming agent;

(f) 0.5 to 6.0% of said low molecular weight noncrosslinked polyacrylate copolymer, said copolymer being selected from the group consisting of a copolymer of an acrylate and olefin and a copolymer of an acrylate and maleic anhydride;

(g) 5 to 45% of said alkali metal sulfate;

(h) 0.5 to 15.0 percent of at least one said protease enzyme; and

(i) 0.3 to 8.0 percent of said amylase enzyme, said composition having less than 8.0 weight percent of water.

2. The composition according to claim 1 further including about 0.5 to about 17.0 weight percent of an alkali metal perborate, such alkali metal perborate being mixed in said blend portion of at least one said protease enzyme and said amylase enzyme.

3. The composition according to claim 2 further including 0.1 to 5.0 weight percent of an alkali metal perborate activator, said alkali metal perborate activator being mixed-in said blend of at least one said protease enzyme said amylase enzyme, and said alkali metal perborate.

4. The composition according to claim 2, further including 0 to about 8.0 weight percent of a lipase enzyme.

5. The composition according to claim 1 further including about 0.5 to about 20.0 weight percent of an alkali metal perborate, said alkali metal perborate being disposed in said core of said agglomerated beads.

6. The composition according to claim 1 further including about 0.1 to about 20.0 weight percent of a sodium alumino silicate.

7. A free flowing powdered dishwashing composition having improved enzymes stability consisting essentially of a physical mixture of agglomerated beads having a maximum particle size of less than about 2,000 microns of at least one alkali metal detergent builder salt selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal carbonate and an alkali metal citrate and mixtures thereof, an alkali metal silicate, a low molecular weight noncrosslinked polyacrylate homopolymer, a low molecular weight noncrosslinked polyacrylate copolymer, an alkali metal sulfate and a nonionic surfactant and a blend portion of the composition comprising at least one protease enzyme, and an amylase enzyme, wherein the maximum particle size of the particles of said blend are less than about 2,000 microns, wherein the agglomerated beads comprises a core of at least one said alkali metal detergent builder salt and said alkali metal silicate and a coating absorbed on said core of said alkali metal detergent builder salt and said alkali metal silicate, said coating comprising a mixture of said nonionic surfactant, said low molecular weight noncrosslinked polyacrylate homopolymer, said low molecular weight noncrosslinked polyacrylate copolymer, and said alkali metal sulfate, wherein the dishwashing composition consisting essentially of approximately by weight:

(a) 2 to 40 percent of at least one said alkali metal detergent builder salt;

(b) 3 to 30 percent of said alkali metal silicate;

(c) 1 to 10 percent of said low molecular weight non crosslinked polyacrylate homopolymer;

(d) 1.0 to 12.0 percent of said nonionic surfactant;

(e) 0 to 1.5 percent of said anti-foaming agent;

(f) 0.5 to 6% of a low molecular weight noncrosslinked polyacrylate copolymer, said copolymer being selected from the group consisting of a copolymer of an acrylate and olefin and a copolymer of an acrylate and maleic anhydride;

(g) 5 to 45% of an alkali metal sulfate;

(h) 0.5 to 15.0 percent of at least one said protease enzyme; and

(i) 0.3 to 8.0 percent of said amylase enzyme, said composition having less than 8.0 weight percent of water.

8. The composition according to claim 7 further including about 0.5 to about 17.0 weight percent of an alkali metal perborate, said alkali metal perborate being mixed in said blend portion of at least one said protease enzyme and said amylase enzyme.

9. The composition according to claim 8 further including 0.1 to 5.0 weight percent of an alkali metal perborate activator, said alkali metal perborate activator being mixed in said blend of at least one said protease enzyme, said amylase enzyme, and said alkali metal perborate.

10. The composition according to claim 7, further including 0 to about 8.0 weight percent of a lipase enzyme.

11. The composition according to claim 7 further including about 0.5 to about 20.0 weight percent of an alkali metal perborate, said alkali metal perborate being disposed in said core of said agglomerated beads.

12. The composition according to claim 7 further including about 0.1 to about 20.0 weight percent of a sodium alumino silicate.

13. A free flowing powdered dishwashing composition having improved enzymes stability consisting essentially of a physical mixture of agglomerated beads having a maximum particle size of less than about 2,000 microns of at least one alkali metal detergent builder salt selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal carbonate and an alkali metal citrate and mixtures thereof, an alkali metal silicate, a low molecular weight noncrosslinked polyacrylate homopolymer, a low molecular weight noncrosslinked polyacrylate copolymer, an alkali metal sulfate and a nonionic surfactant and a blend portion of the composition comprising at least one protease enzyme and an amylase enzyme wherein the maximum particle size of the particles of said blend are less than about 2,000 microns, wherein the agglomerated beads comprises a core of at least one said alkali metal detergent builder salt, said low molecular weight noncrosslinked polyacrylate homopolymer, said alkali metal sulfate and said low molecular weight non crosslinked polyacrylate copolymer and a first coating absorbed on said core of said alkali metal detergent builder salt, said low molecular weight noncrosslinked polyacrylate homopolymer, said alkali metal sulfate and said low molecular weight non crosslinked polyacrylate copolymer, said first coating comprising said nonionic surfactant and a second coating deposited on said first coating, said second coating comprising said alkali metal silicate, wherein the dishwashing composition consists essentially of approximately by weight:

(a) 2 to 40 percent of at least one said alkali metal detergent builder salt;

(b) 3 to 30 percent of said alkali metal silicate;

(c) 1 to 10 percent of said low molecular weight non crosslinked polyacrylate homopolymer;

(d) 1.0 to 12.0 percent of said nonionic surfactant;

(e) 0 to 1.5 percent of said anti-foaming agent;

(f) 0.5 to 6.0% of a said low molecular weight non crosslinked polyacrylate copolymer, said Copolymer being selected from the group consisting of a copolymer of an acrylate and olefin and a copolymer of an acrylate and maleic anhydride;

(g) 4 to 45% of said alkali metal sulfate;

(h) 0.5 to 15.0 percent of at least one said protease enzyme; and

(i) 0.3 to 8.0 percent of said amylase enzyme, said composition having less than 8.0 weight percent of water.

14. The composition according to claim 13 further including about 0.5 to about 17.0 weight percent of an alkali metal perborate, said alkali metal perborate being mixed in said blend portion of at least one said protease enzyme and said amylase enzyme.

15. The composition according to claim 14 further including 0.1 to 5.0 weight percent of an alkali metal perborate activator, said alkali metal perborate activator being mixed in said blend of at least one said protease enzyme, said amylase enzyme and said alkali metal perborate.

16. The composition according to claim 13, further including 0 to about 8.0 weight percent of a lipase enzyme.

17. The composition according to claim 13 further including about 0.5 to about 20.0 weight percent of an alkali metal perborate, said alkali metal perborate being disposed in said core of said agglomerated beads.

18. The composition according to claim 17 further including about 0.1 to about 5.0 weight percent of an alkali metal perborate activator, said alkali metal perborate activator being mixed in said blend of at least one said protease enzyme and said amylase enzyme.

19. The composition according to claim 13 further including about 0.1 to about 20.0 weight percent of a sodium alumino silicate.

20. A free tic;wing powdered automatic dishwashing composition which consists essentially of approximately by weight:

(a) 2.0 to 40.0 percent of at least one alkali metal detergent builder salt, said detergent builder salt being selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal carbonates and an alkali metal citrates and mixtures thereof; and

(b) 1 to 10.0 percent of a low molecular weight polyacrylate homopolymer;

(c) 1.0 to 12.0 percent of a liquid nonionic surfactant;

(d) 3 to 30.0 percent of an alkali metal silicate;

(e) 0 to 1.5 percent of an anti-foaming agent;

(f) 0.5 to 6% of a low molecular noncrosslinked polyacrylate copolymer, said copolymer being selected from the group consisting of a copolymer of an acrylate and olefin and a copolymer of an acrylate and maleic anhydride;

(g) 5 to 45% of an alkali metal sulfate;

(h) 0.5 to 15.0 percent of a protease enzyme derived from bacillus alcalophylus;

(i) 0.3 to 8.0 percent of an amylase enzyme, the individual powdered particles of said composition having a maximum particle size of less than about 2,000 microns and said composition having less than 8.0 weight percent of water.

21. The powdered dishwashing composition according to claim 20 wherein said dishwashing composition further contains 0 to about 8.0 weight percent of a lipase enzyme.

22. The powdered dishwashing composition according to claim 20 which further contains 0.5 to about 17 wt. percent of an alkali metal perborate.

23. The powdered dishwashing composition according to claim 22 which contains 0 to about 5 wt. percent of an alkali metal perborate activator.

24. The powdered dishwashing composition according to claim 22 which contains 0 to about 8.0 weight percent of a lipase enzyme.

25. The powdered dishwashing composition according to claim 22 further including 0 to about 20 weight percent of a sodium alumino silicate.

Description Submit all comments and votes

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an improved powdered phosphate-free automatic dishwashing detergent for dishwashing machines. More particularly, this invention relates to a concentrated powdered dishwashing composition which contains enzymes and is phosphate-free.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It has been found to be very useful to have enzymes in dishwashing detergent compositions because enzymes are very effective in removing food soils from the surface of glasses, dishes, pots, pans and eating utensils. The enzymes attack these materials while other components of the detergent will effect other aspects of the cleaning action. However, in order for the enzymes to be highly effective, the composition must be chemically stable, and it must maintain an effective activity a the operating temperature of the automatic dishwasher. Chemical stability such as to bleach agents is the property whereby the detergent composition containing enzymes does not undergo any significant degradation during storage. Activity is the property of maintaining enzyme activity during usage. From the time that a detergent is packaged until it is used by the customer, it must remain stable. Furthermore, during customer usage of the dishwashing detergent, it must retain its activity. Unless the enzymes in the detergent are maintained in a minimum exposure moisture and water, the enzymes will suffer a degradation during storage which will result in a product that will have a decreased activity. When enzymes are a part of the detergent composition, it has been found that the initial water content of the components of the composition should be as low a level as possible, and this low water content must be maintained during storage, since water will deactivate the enzymes. This deactivation will cause a decrease in the initial deactivity of the detergent composition.

After the detergent container is opened, the detergent will be exposed to the environment which contains moisture. During each instance that the detergent is exposed to the environment it could possibly absorb some moisture. This absorption occurs by components of the detergent composition absorbing moisture, when in contact with the atmosphere. This effect is increased as the container is emptied, since there will be a greater volume of air in contact with the detergent, and thus more available moisture to be absorbed by the detergent composition. This will usually accelerate the decrease in the activity of the detergent composition. The one way to keep a high activity is to start with an initial high activity of enzyme and to use components in the dishwashing composition which do not interact with the enzyme and which have a low water affinity which will minimize any losses in activity as the detergent is being stored or used.

Powdered detergent compositions which contain enzymes can be made more stable and to have a high activity, if the initial free water content of the detergent composition is less than about 10 percent by weight, more preferably less than about 9 percent by weight and most preferably less than about 8 percent by weight. Furthermore, the pH of a 1.0 wt. % aqueous solution of the powdered detergent composition should be less than about 10.5 more preferably less than about 10.0, and most preferably less than about 9.5. This low alkalinity of the dishwashing detergent should maintain the stability of the detergent composition which contains a mixture of enzymes, thereby providing a higher initial activity of the mixture of the enzymes and the maintenance of this initial high activity.

A major concern in the use of automatic dishwashing compositions is the formulation of phosphate-free compositions which are safe to the environment while maintaining superior cleaning performance and dish care. The present invention teaches the preparation and use of powdered automatic dishwashing compositions which are phosphate-free and have superior cleaning performance and dish care.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed to producing powdered phosphate-free enzyme-containing automatic dishwashing detergent compositions that have an increased chemical stability and essentially a high activity at wash operating temperatures of about 40.degree. C. to 65.degree. C., wherein the composition also can be used as a laundry presoaking agent. This is accomplished by controlling the alkalinity of the detergent composition and using a unique mixture of enzymes. An alkali metal silicate is used in the powdered dishwashing detergent compositions. The preferred builder system of the instant compositions comprises a mixture of sodium carbonate and/or sodium citrate and a low molecular weight polyacrylic polymer.

It is to be understood that the term powder in this invention includes within its definition tablets, soluble capsules and soluble sachet. It is also possible to use the instant compositions as a laundry presoaking powder.

Conventional powdered automatic dishwashing compositions usually contain a low foaming surface-active agent, a chlorine bleach, alkaline builder materials, and usually minor ingredients and additives. The incorporation of chlorine bleach requires special processing and storage precautions to protect composition components which are subject to deterioration upon direct contact with the active chlorine. The stability of the chlorine bleach is also critical and raises additional processing and storage difficulties. In addition, it is known that automatic dishwasher detergent compositions may tarnish silverware and damage metal trim on china as a result of the presence of a chlorine-containing bleach therein. Accordingly, there is a standing desire to formulate detergent compositions for use in automatic dishwashing operations which are free of active chlorine and which are capable of providing overall hard surface cleaning and appearance benefits comparable to or better than active chlorine-containing detergent compositions. This reformulation is particularly delicate in the context of automatic dishwashing operations, since during those operations, the active chlorine prevents the formation and/or deposition of troublesome protein and protein-grease complexes on the hard dish surfaces and no surfactant system currently known is capable of adequately performing that function.

Various attempts have been made to formulate bleach-free low foaming detergent compositions for automatic dishwashing machines, containing particular low foaming nonionics, builders, filler materials and enzymes. U.S. Pat. No. 3,472,783 to Smille recognized that degradation of the enzyme can occur, when an enzyme is added to a highly alkaline automatic dishwashing detergent.

French Patent No. 2,102,851 to Colgate-Palmolive, pertains to rinsing and washing compositions for use in automatic dishwashers. The compositions disclosed have a pH of about 6 to 7 and contain an amylolytic and, if desired, a proteolytic enzyme, which have been prepared in a special manner from animal pancreas and which exhibit a desirable activity at a pH in the range of about 6 to 7. German Patent No. 2,038,103 to Henkel & Co. relates to aqueous liquid or pasty cleaning compositions containing phosphate salts, enzymes and an enzyme stabilizing compound. U.S. Pat. No. 3,799,879 to Francke et al, teaches a detergent composition for cleaning dishes, with a pH of from 7 to 9 containing an amylolytic enzyme, and in addition, optionally a proteolytic enzyme.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,101,457, to Place et al., teaches the use of a proteolytic enzyme having a maximum activity at a pH of 12 in an automatic dishwashing detergent.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,162,987, to Maguire et al., teaches a granular or liquid automatic dishwashing detergent which uses a proteolytic enzyme having a maximum activity at a pH of 12 as well as an amylolytic enzyme having a maximum activity at a pH of 8.

U.S. Pat. No 3,827,938, to Aunstrup et al., discloses specific proteolytic enzymes which exhibit high enzymatic activities in highly alkaline systems. Similar disclosures are found in British Patent Specification No. 1,361,386, to Novo Terapeutisk Laboratorium NS. British Patent Specification No. 1,296,839, to Novo Terapeutisk Laboratorium A/S, discloses specific amylolytic enzymes which exhibit a high degree of enzymatic activity in alkaline systems.

Thus, while the prior art clearly recognizes the disadvantages of using aggressive chlorine bleaches in automatic dishwashing operations and also suggests bleach-free compositions made by leaving out the bleach component, said art disclosures are silent about how to formulate an effective bleach-free powdered automatic dishwashing compositions capable of providing superior performance during conventional use.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,821,118 and 3,840,480; 4,568,476, 4,501,681 and 4,692,260 teach the use of enzymes in automatic dishwashing detergents, as well as Belgian Patent 895,459; French Patents 2,544,393 and 1,600,256; European Patents 256,679; 266,904; 271,155; 139,329; and 135,226; and Great Britain Patent 2,186,884.

The aforementioned prior art fails to provide a powdered automatic dishwashing detergent which is phosphate-free and contains a mixture of enzymes for the simultaneous degradation of both proteins and starches, wherein the combination of enzymes have a maximum activity at a pH of less than about 10 as measured by Anson method and the powdered automatic dishwashing detergent has optimized cleaning performance in a temperature range of about 40.degree. C. to about 65.degree. C.

It is an object of this invention to incorporate an enzyme mixture in a phosphate-free, powdered automatic dishwasher detergent composition for use in automatic dishwashing operations capable of providing at least equal or better performance to conventional automatic dishwashing compositions at operating temperatures of about 40.degree. C. to about 65.degree. C.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a powdered automatic dishwashing detergent compositions which comprise a nonionic surfactant, alkali metal silicate, a phosphate-free builder system, a peroxygen compound with activator as a bleaching agent and a mixture of an amylase enzyme and at least one protease enzyme, wherein the powdered automatic dishwashing detergent composition has a pH of about 11 in the washing liquor at a concentration of 10 grams per liter of water and the powdered dishwashing detergent composition exhibits high cleaning efficiency for both proteins and starches at a wash temperature of about 40.degree. C. to about 65.degree. C.

The nonionic surfactants that can be used in the present powdered automatic dishwasher detergent compositions are well known. A wide variety of these surfactants can be used.

The nonionic synthetic organic detergents are generally described as ethoxylated propoxylated fatty alcohols which are low-foaming surfactants and are possibly capped, characterized by the presence of an organic hydrophobic group and an organic hydrophilic group and are typically produced by the condensation of an organic aliphatic or alkyl aromatic hydrophobic compound with ethylene oxide and/or propyleneoxide (hydrophilic in nature). Practically any hydrophobic compound having a carboxy, hydroxy, amido or amino group with a free hydrogen attached to the oxygen or the nitrogen can be condensed with ethylene oxide or propylene oxide or with the polyhydration product thereof, polyethylene glycol, to form a nonionic detergent. The length of the hydrophilic or polyoxy ethylene chain can be readily adjusted to achieve the desired balance between the hydrophobic and hydrophilic groups. Typical suitable nonionic surfactants are those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,316,812 and 3,630,929.

Preferably, the nonionic detergents that are used are the low-foaming polyalkoxylated lipophiles wherein the desired hydrophile-lipophile balance is obtained from addition of anhydrophilic poly-lower alkoxy group to a lipophilic moiety. A preferred class of the nonionic detergent employed is the poly-lower alkoxylated higher alkanol wherein the alkanol is of 9 to 18 carbon atoms and wherein the number of moles of lower alkylene oxide (of 2 or 3 carbon atoms) is from 3 to 15. Of such materials it is preferred to employ those wherein the higher alkanol is a high fatty alcohol of 9 to 11 or 12 to 15 carbon atoms and which contain from 5 to 15 or 5 to 16 lower alkoxy groups per mole. Preferably, the lower alkoxy is ethoxy but in some instances, it may be desirably mixed with propoxy, the latter, if present, usually being major (more than 50%) portion. Exemplary of such compounds are those wherein the alkanol is of 12 to 15 carbon atoms and which contain about 7 ethylene oxide groups per mole.

Useful nonionics are represented by the low foam Plurafac series from BASF Chemical Company which are the reaction product of a higher linear alcohol and a mixture of ethylene and propylene oxides, containing a mixed chain of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, terminated by a hydroxyl group. Examples include Product A(a C.sub.13 -C.sub.15 fatty alcohol condensed with 6 moles ethylene oxide and 3 moles propylene oxide). Product B (a C.sub.13 -C.sub.15 fatty alcohol condensed with 7 mole propylene oxide and 4 mole ethylene oxide), and Product C (a C.sub.13 -C.sub.15 fatty alcohol condensed with 5 moles propylene oxide and 10 moles ethylene oxide). Particularly good surfactants are Plurafac LF132 and LF 231 which are capped nonionic surfactants. Another liquid nonionic surfactant that can be used is sold under the tradename Lutensol SC 9713.

Synperonic nonionic surfactant from ICI such as Synperonic LF/D25 are especially preferred nonionic surfactants that can be used in the powdered automatic dishwasher detergent compositions of the instant invention.

Other useful surfactants are Neodol 25-7 and Neodol 23-6.5, which products are made by Shell Chemical Company, Inc. The later is a condensation product of a mixture of higher fatty alcohols averaging about 12 to 13 carbon atoms and the number of ethylene oxide groups present averages about 6.5. The higher alcohols are primary alkanols. Other examples of such detergents include Tergitol 15-S-7 and Tergitol 15-S-9 (registered trademarks), both of which are linear secondary alcohol ethoxylates made by Union Carbide Corp. The former is mixed ethoxylation product of 11 to 15 carbon atoms linear secondary alkanol with seven moles of ethylene oxide and the latter is a similar product but with nine moles of ethylene oxide being reacted.

Also useful in the present compositions as a component of the nonionic detergent are higher molecular weight nonionics, such as Neodol 45-11, which are similar ethylene oxide condensation products of higher fatty alcohols, with the higher fatty alcohol being of 14 to 15 carbon atoms and the number of ethylene oxide groups per mole being about 11. Such products are also made by Shell Chemical Company.

In the preferred poly-lower alkoxylated higher alkanols, to obtain the best balance of hydrophilic and lipophilic moieties the number of lower alkoxies will usually be from 40% to 100% of the number of carbon atoms in the higher alcohol, preferably 40 to 60% thereof and the nonionic detergent will preferably contain at least 50% of such preferred poly-lower alkoxy higher alkanol.

The alkyl polysaccharides are surfactants which are also useful alone or in conjunction with the aforementioned surfactants and have those having a hydrophobic group containing from about 8 to about 20 carbon atoms, preferably from about 10 to about 16 carbon atoms, most preferably from 12 to 14 carbon atoms, and polysaccharide hydrophilic group containing from 1.5 to about 10, preferably from about 1.5 to 4, and most preferably from 1.6 to 2.7 saccharide units (e.g., galactoside, glucoside, fructoside, glucosyl, fructosyl, and/or galactosyl units). Mixtures of saccharide moieties may be used in the alkyl polysaccharide surfactants. The number x indicates the number of saccharide units in a particular alkyl polysaccharide surfactant. For a particular alkyl polysaccharide molecule x can only assume integral values. In any physical sample can be characterized by the average value of x and this average value can assume non-integral values. In this specification the values of x are to be understood to be average values. The hydrophobic group (R) can be attached at the 2-, 3-, or 4- positions rather than at the 1-position, (thus giving e.g. a glucosyl or galactosyl as opposed to a glucoside or galactoside). However, attachment through the 1-position, i.e., glucosides, galactosides, fructosides, etc., is preferred. In the preferred product the additional saccharide units are predominately attached to the previous saccharide unit's 2position. Attachment through the 3-, 4-, and 6-positions can also occur. Optionally and less desirably there can be a polyalkoxide chain joining the hydrophobic moiety (R) and the polysaccharide chain, the preferred alkoxide moiety is ethoxide.

Typical hydrophobic groups include alkyl groups, either saturated or unsaturated, branched or unbranched containing from about 8 to about 20, preferably from about 10 to about 16 carbon atoms. Preferably, the alkyl group is a straight chain saturated alkyl group. The alkyl group can contain up to 3 hydroxy groups and/or the polyalkoxide chain can contain up to about 30, preferably less than 10, most preferably 0, alkoxide moieties.

Suitable alkyl polysaccharides are decyl, dodecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, and octadecyl, di-, tri-, tetra-, penta-, and hexaglucosides, galactosides, lactosides, fructosides, fructosyls, lactosyls, glucosyls and/or galactosyls and mixtures thereof.

The alkyl monosaccharides are relatively less soluble in water than the higher alkyl polysaccharides. When used in admixture with alkyl polysaccharides, the alkyl monosaccharides are solubilized to some extent. The use of alkyl monosaccharides in admixture with alkyl polysaccharides is a preferred mode of carrying out the invention. Suitable mixtures include coconut alkyl, di-, tri-, tetra-, and pentaglucosides and tallow alkyl tetra-, penta-, and hexaglucosides.

The preferred alkyl polysaccharides are alkyl polyglucosides having the formula:

R.sub.20 O(C.sub.n H.sub.2n O)r(Z).sub.x

wherein Z is derived from glucose, R is a hydrophobic group selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkylphenyl, hydroxyalkylphenyl, and mixtures thereof in which said alkyl groups contain from about 10 to about 18, preferably from 12 to 14 carbon atoms; n is 2 or 3 preferably 2, r is from 0 to about 10, preferable 0; and x is from 1.5 to about 8, preferably from 1.5 to 4, most preferably from 1.6 to 2.7. To prepare these compounds a long chain alcohol (R.sup.2 OH) can be reacted with glucose, in the presence of an acid catalyst to form the desired glucoside. Alternatively the alkylpolyglucosides can be prepared by a two step procedure in which a short chain alcohol (R.sub.1 OH) an be reacted with glucose, in the presence of an acid catalyst to form the desired glucoside. Alternatively the alkylpolyglucosides can be prepared by a two step procedure in which a short chain alcohol (C.sub.1-6) is reacted with glucose or a polyglucoside (x=2 to 4) to yield a short chain alkyl glucoside (x=1 to 4) which can in turn be reacted with a longer chain alcohol (R.sup.2 OH) to displace the short chain alcohol and obtain the desired alkylpolyglucoside. If this two step procedure is used, the short chain alkylglucoside content of the final alkylpolyglucoside material should be less than 50%, preferably less than 10%, more preferably less than 5%, most preferably 0% of the alkylpolyglucoside.

The amount of unreacted alcohol (the free fatty alcohol content) in the desired alkylpolysaccharide surfactant is preferably less than about 2%, more preferably less than about 0.5% by weight of the total of the alkylpolysaccharide. For some uses it is desirable to have the alkyl monosaccharide content less than about 10%.

The used herein, "alkyl polysaccharide surfactant" is intended to represent both the preferred glucose and galactose derived surfactants and the less preferred alkyl polysaccharide surfactants. Throughout this specification, "alkyl polyglucoside" is used to include alkyl- polyglycosides because the stereo chemistry of the saccharide moiety is changed during the preparation reaction.

An especially preferred APG glycoside surfactant is APG 625 glycoside manufactured by the Henkel Corporation of Ambler, PA. APG 25 is a nonionic alkyl polyglycoside characterized by the formula:

C.sub.n H.sub.2n+1 O(C.sub.6 H.sub.10 O.sub.5).sub.x H

wherein n=10(2%); n=12(65%); n=14(21-28%); n=16(4-8%) and n=18 x(degree of polymerization)=1.6. APG 625 has: a pH of 6-8(10% of APG 625 in distilled water); a specific gravity at 25.degree. C. of 1.1 grams/ml; a density at 25.degree. C. of 9.1 kgs/gallons; a calculated HLB of about 12.1 and a Brookfield viscosity at 35.degree. C., 21 spindle, 5-10 RPM of about 3,000 to about 7,000 cps. Mixtures of two or more of the liquid nonionic surfactants can be used and in some cases advantages can be obtained by the use of such mixtures.

The liquid nonaqueous nonionic surfactant is absorbed on a builder system which comprises a mixture of phosphate-free particles which is a builder salt and a low molecular weight polyacrylate type polymer such as a polyacrylate organic and/or inorganic detergent builders. A preferred solid builder salt is an alkali carbonate such as sodium carbonate or an alkali metal citrate sodium citrate or a mixture of sodium carbonate and sodium citrate. When a mixture of sodium carbonate and sodium citrate is used, a weight ratio of sodium citrate to sodium carbonate is about 9:1 to about 1:9, more preferably about 3:1 to about 1:3.

Other builder salts which can be mixed with the sodium carbonate and/or sodium citrate are gluconates, phosphonates and nitriloacetic acid salts. In conjunction with the alkali metal builder salts is used a mixture of low molecular weight polyacrylates polymers having a molecular weight of about 1,000 to about 20,000, more preferably about 2,000 to about 10,000. One of the lower molecular weight polyacrylates of the mixture is a homopolymer of polyacrylates Good Rite K759 manufactured by and having a molecular weight of about 2100. The other low molecular weight polyacrylates is Acusol 460 manufactured by Rohm and Haas and having a molecular weight of about 15,000. The Acusol 460 is a copolymer of a polyacrylate and maleic anhydride.

In place of the Acusol 460 can be used Sokalan.TM.CP45 which is a copolymer of an acrylic acid and an acid anhydride having a molecular weight of about 70,000. Such a material should have a water absorption at 380C and 78 percent relative humidity of less than about 40 percent and preferably less than about 30 percent. The builder is commercially available under the tradename of Sokalan.TM.CP45. This is a partially neutralized copolymer of polyacrylic acid and maleic anhydride sodium salt. Another class of builders useful herein at a concentration of 0 to about 20 weight percent, more preferably about 0.5 to about 20.0 weight percent are the aluminosilicates, both of the crystalline and amorphous type. Various crystalline zeolites (i.e. alumino-silicates) are described in British Patent No. 1,504,168, U.S. Pat. No. 4,409,136 and Canadian Patent Nos. 1,072,835 and 1,087,477. An example of amorphous zeolites useful herein can be found in Belgium Patent No. 835,351. The zeolites generally have the formula

(M.sub.2 O).sub.x (Al.sub.2 O.sub.3).sub.y (SiO.sub.2).sub.z wH.sub.2 O

wherein x is 1, y is from 0.8 to 1.2 and preferably 1, z is from 1.5 to 3.5 or higher and preferably 2 to 3 and w is from 0 to 9, preferably 2.5 to 6 and M is preferably sodium. A typical zeolite is type A or similar structure, with type 4A particularly preferred. The preferred aluminosilicates have calcium ion exchange capacities of about 200 milliequivalents per gram or greater, e.g. 400 meq/g.

The alkali metal silicates are useful anti-corrosion agents which function to make the composition anti-corrosive to eating utensils and to automatic dishwashing machine parts. Sodium silicates of Na.sub.2 O/SiO.sub.2 ratios of from 1:1 to 1:3.4, more preferably 1:1 to 1:2.8. Potassium silicates of the same ratios can also be used. The preferred silicates are sodium disilicate (anhydrous), sodium disilicate (hydrated) and sodium metasilicate and mixtures thereof, wherein the preferred silicate is a hydrated alkali metal disilicate.

Essentially, any compatible anti-foaming agent can be used. Preferred anti-foaming agents are silicone anti-foaming agents. These are alkylated polysiloxanes and include polydimethyl siloxanes, polydiethyl siloxanes, polydibutyl siloxanes, phenyl methyl siloxanes, dimethyl silinated silica, trimethysilanated silica and triethylsilanated silica. A suitable anti-foaming agent is Silicone SAG 1000 from Union Carbide. Other suitable anti-foaming agents are Silicone DB700 used at about 0 to about 1.0 percent by weight, more preferable 0.05 to 1.0 percent by weight sodium stearate used at a concentration level of about 0 to 1.0 weight percent and 1.0 weight percent, more preferably 0.1 to 1.0 percent by weight and LPKN 158 (phosphoric ester) sold by Hoechst used at a concentration level of about 0 to about 1.5 weight percent, more preferably about 0.05 to about 0.5 weight percent. The perfumes that can be used include lemon perfume and other natural scents. Essentially, any opacifier that is compatible with the remaining components of the detergent formulation can be used. A useful and preferred opacifier is titanium dioxide at a concentration level of about 0 to about 1.0 weight percent.

A key aspect is to keep the free water (non-chemically bonded water) in the detergent composition at a minimum. Absorbed and adsorbed water are two types of free water, and comprise the usual free water found in a detergent composition. Free water will have the affect of deactivating the enzymes. It will also serve to solubilize the available Na.sub.2 O and thus increase the alkalinity of the detergent composition. The composition can contain about 0 to 50% wt. %, more preferably 5 to 45 wt. % of an alkali metal sulfate filler such as sodium sulfate.

The detergent compositions of the present invention can include a peroxygen bleaching agent at a concentration level of about 0.1 to about 20.0 weight percent, more preferably about 0.5 to about 17 weight percent and most preferably at about 1.0 to about 14 weight percent. The oxygen bleaching agents that can be used are alkali metal perborate, percarbonate, perphthalic acid, perphosphates, and potassium monopersulfate. A preferred compound is sodium perborate monohydrate. The peroxygen bleaching compound is preferably used in admixture with an activator at a concentration level of 0 to about 5 wt. percent, more preferably about 0.1 to about 5 wt. percent. Suitable activators are those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,264,466 or in column 1 of U.S. Pat. No. 4,430,244, both of which are herein incorporated by reference. Polyacetylated compounds are preferred activators. Suitable preferred activators are tetra acetyl ethylene diamine ("TAED"), pentaacetyl glucose and ethylidenebenzo