Automatic dishwashing compositions comprising cobalt catalysts

An automatic dishwashing detergent composition comprising:

• (a) a catalytically effective amount of a cobalt catalyst having the formula:
• ›Co(NH.sub.3).sub.5 OAc!T.sub.y
• wherein T is one or more counteranions present in a number y, where y is 1 or 2;
• (b) an effective amount of a source of hydrogen peroxide selected from the group consisting of perborate, percarbonate, and mixtures thereof, and
• (c) automatic dishwashing detergent adjunct materials selected from the group consisting of one or more low foaming nonionic surfactants, proteases, amylases, water soluble silicates, bleach activators and mixtures thereof.

A method of washing tableware in a domestic automatic dishwashing appliance, said method comprising treating the soiled tableware in a automatic dishwasher with an aqueous alkaline bath comprising a source of hydrogen peroxide, a cobalt bleach catalyst having the formula:

• ›Co(NH.sub.3).sub.n (M).sub.m (B).sub.b !T.sub.y
• wherein cobalt is in the +3 oxidation state, n is 4 or 5;
• M is one or more ligands coordinated to the cobalt by one site;
• m is 0, 1 or 2;
• B is a ligand coordinated to the cobalt by two sites;
• b is 0 or 1, and when b=0, then m+n =6, and when b=1, then m=0 and n=4;
• and T is one or more appropriately selected counteranions present in a number y, where y is an integer from 0 to 3, to obtain a charge balanced salt;
• and wherein further said catalyst has a base hydrolysis rate constant of less than 0.23M.sup.-1 s.sup.-1 (25.degree. C.)and from about 0. 1% to about 10% by weight of the composition of a low foaming nonionic surfactant having a cloud point of a 1% solution in water of below about 32 degrees Celsius;
• wherein a 1% aqueous solution of said aqueous alkaline bath has a pH of less than 11.

An automatic dishwashing rinse aid composition comprising:

• (a) a catalytically effective amount of a cobalt catalyst having the formula:
• ›Co(NH.sub.3).sub.n (M).sub.m (B).sub.b !T.sub.y
• wherein cobalt is in the +3 oxidation state, n is 4 or 5;
• M is one or more ligands coordinated to the cobalt by one site;
• m is 0, 1 or 2;
• B is a ligand coordinated to the cobalt by two sites;
• b is 0 or 1, and when b=0, then m+n =6, and when b=1, then m=0 and n=4;
• and T is one or more appropriately selected counteranions present in a number y, where y is an integer from 0 to 3, to obtain a charge balanced salt;
• and wherein further said catalyst has a base hydrolysis rate constant of less than 0.23M.sup.-1 s.sup.-1 (25.degree. C.);
• (b) from about 30% to about 99.9% of automatic dishwashing adjunct materials and (c) from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of the composition of a low foaming nonionic surfactant having a cloud point of a 1% solution in water of below about 32 degrees Celsius;
• wherein a 1% aqueous solution of said automatic dishwashing rinse aid composition has a pH of less than 11.

A method of washing tableware in a domestic automatic dishwashing appliance, said method comprising treating the soiled tableware during a wash cycle of an automatic dishwasher with an aqueous alkaline bath comprising a source of hydrogen peroxide followed by treating the tableware during the subsequent rinse cycle with an aqueous alkaline bath comprising a cobalt bleach catalyst having the formula:

• ›Co(NH.sub.3).sub.n (M).sub.m (B).sub.b !T.sub.y
• wherein cobalt is in the +3 oxidation state, n is 4 or 5;
• M is one or more ligands coordinated to the cobalt by one site;
• m is 0, 1 or 2;
• B is a ligand coordinated to the cobalt by two sites;
• b is 0 or 1, and when b=0, then m+n =6, and when b=1, then m=0 and n=4;
• and T is one or more appropriately selected counteranions present in a number y, where y is an integer from 0 to 3, to obtain a charge balanced salt;
• and wherein further said catalyst has a base hydrolysis rate constant of less than 0.23M.sup.-1 s.sup.-1 (25.degree. C.) and from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of the composition of a low foaming nonionic surfactant having a cloud point of a 1% solution in water of below about 32 degrees Celsius;
• wherein a 1% aqueous solution of said aqueous alkaline bath comprising said catalyst has a pH of less than 11.