Enzyme-containing detergent composition

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to enzyme-containing detergent compositions and, more specifically, it relates to enzyme-containing detergent compositions suitable for use, as laundry detergents, in washing fabrics or clothes.

#2. Description of the Prior Art

#The present invention will be better understood from the description set forth below with reference to the accompanying FIGURE which is a triangular diagram illustrating the composition of (a) an olefin sulfonate having 10 to 20 carbon atoms, (b) an anionic surface active agent having an SO.sub.3 or SO.sub.4 group, except for said olefin sulfonate, and (c) a pyrophosphate.

#The .alpha.-olefin sulfonates used as the component (a), in the present invention include those which can be prepared in any conventional manner. For instance, .alpha.-olefins (including vinylidene type olefin) having 10 to 20 carbon atoms on average, which are prepared by wax cracking processes, ethylene oligomerization process utilizing Ziegler catalysts or improved processes thereof, are first sulfonated by gaseous sulfur trioxide diluted with an inert gas, and the sulfonated products are then neutralized with, for example, alkali metal hydroxides, followed by being hydrolyzed. Thus, .alpha.-olefin sulfonates are prepared. Typical examples of .alpha.-olefin sulfonates are alkali metals (e.g. Na, K), alkaline earth metals (e.g. Ca, Mg) and ammonium and alkanol amine salts, of 1-tetradecene sulfonate, 1-hexadecene sulfonate, 1-octadecene sulfonate and the like.

#The anionic surface active agents having an SO.sub.3 or SO.sub.4 group which are used, as the component (b), in the present invention include, for example, alkylbenzene sulfonates, alkane sulfonates, .alpha.-sulfo fatty acid methyl esters, higher alcohol sulfates, higher alcohol polyethyleneglycol ether sulfates and the like. Examples of the counter ions of the salts of these anionic surface active agents are alkali metals (e.g. Na, K), alkaline earth metals (e.g. Ca, Mg), and ammonium and alkanol amine salts.

#The pyrophosphates used, as the component (c), in the present invention include those which are generally incorporated, as detergent builders, into the conventional detergent compositions. Examples of such pyrophosphates are sodium pyrophosphate, potassium pyrophosphates and the like. Tripolyphosphates can not be used alone, as the component (c), in the present invention, since the desired effect of the present invention cannot be obtained if tripolyphosphates are so used. However, it is to be understood that up to approximately 10% by weight of the pyrophosphates used, as the component (c), can be replaced with tripolyphosphates.