Stain treating composition and process
A two-compartment dispenser comprising a first compartment containing an aqueous composition comprising hydrogen peroxide or an organic peracid and a second compartment containing an aqueous composition comprising an enzyme.
1 . A process for stain removal at a surface, comprising the steps of:
applying to the surface a mixture of at least two aqueous compositions:
component (a): an aqueous composition comprising a source of active oxygen having a pH of greater than 0 but less than 7 and
component (b): an aqueous composition comprising an enzyme,
wherein components (a) or (b) additionally comprise at least one surfactant or at least one water-soluble polymer wherein component (a) and component (b) are not mixed together more than two hours before being applied to the surface requiring stain removal.
2 . A process according to claim 1 wherein component (b) comprises at least one surfactant.
3 . A process according to claim 1 wherein the surfactant is a non-ionic surfactant.
4 . A process according to claim 1 wherein component (a) or component (b) additionally contains a polycarboxylate.
5 . A process according to claim 1 wherein the pH of component (b) is higher than the pH of component (a).
6 . A process according to claim 5 wherein component (a) does not contain a pH buffer.
7 . A process according to claim 5 wherein component (b) does contain a pH buffer.
8 . A process according to claim 1 wherein component (b) additionally comprises an effervescent agent.
9 . A process according to claim 8 wherein the effervescent agent is a base or is a peroxide reducing enzyme.
10 . A process according to claim 9 wherein the base is a carbonate or a bicarbonate.
11 . A process according to claim 8 wherein the surfactant produces a foam upon mixing components (a) and (b).
12 . A process according to claim 11 wherein the foam breaks.
13 . A process according to claim 11 wherein the foam reduces in volume by at least 50% in less than 5 minutes of its generation without any form of physical or chemical intervention.
14 . A process according to claim 2 wherein the surfactant is a nonionic surfactant having an HLB of greater than 10.
15 . A two-compartment dispenser comprising
a first compartment containing as component (a) an aqueous composition comprising hydrogen peroxide or an organic peracid and having a pH of greater than 0 but less than 7:
a second compartment containing as component (b) an aqueous composition comprising an enzyme and;
dispensing means adapted to dispense component (a) and component (b) onto a surface either sequentially or simultaneously to form a mixture thereof.