Granular proteolytic enzyme composition

Claim 2

A composition according to claim 1, in which the acidic substance is citric acid.

Claim 3

A composition according to claim 1, in which the amount of the acidic substance is from 2 to 8 percent by weight of the granule.

Claim 4

A detergent composition consisting essentially of a. from 2 to 20 percent by weight of an anionic detergent surfactant selected from the group consisting of alkylbenzenesulphonates with 12 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl group, alkylsulphonates with 10 to 24 carbon atoms in the alkyl group, olefinesulphonates with 10 to 20 carbon atoms, acylisethionates with 12 to 18 carbon atoms in the acyl group and acyltaurates with 12 to 18 carbon atoms in the acyl group. b. from 1 to 10 percent by weight of a nonionic detergent surfactant selected from the group consisting of the condensation products of ethylene oxide or propylene oxide with alcohols having from 12 to 24 carbon atoms in the alkyl group, with alkylphenols having from eight to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl group, with fatty acid amides with a C10-C24 fatty acid residue, with polyalkyleneglycols and with mixed alkylene oxide condensation products, c. from 1 to 10 percent by weight of an alkalimetal soap of C12-C22 fatty acids, d. from 20 to 50 percent by weight of a water-soluble alkalimetal builder salt, e. from 0 to 45 percent by weight of a bleaching agent, f. from 0.5 to 15 percent by weight of a granular proteolytic enzyme composition consisting essentially of i. a core of a non-acidic, non-hygroscopic, non-friable carrier material selected from the group consisting of alkalimetaltripolyphosphates, -pyrophosphates, -orthophosphates, alkalimetalsulphates, -borates, -silicates, -carbonates, gelatinized starch and starch derivatives, ii. a coating layer enrobing said core, consisting of a nonionic detergent surfactant selected from the group of alkyl phenols with eight to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain, and condensed with 8 to 15 moles of ethylene oxide, C8-C20 monohydric aliphatic alcohols condensed with 6 to 25 moles of ethylene oxide, secondary C11-C15 alcohols condensed with 9 moles of ethylene oxide, fatty acid mono- and dialkylol amides in the fatty acid residue, and ethoxylated derivatives thereof, iii. an acidic substance, dissolved or dispersed in said coating layer, said acidic substance having a pH of 4 to 6 in a 1%-aqueous solution, selected from the group consisting of citric acid and adipic acid, said acidic substance being present in an amount of 0.5 to 10 percent by weight of the granule, the weight ratio between the nonionic detergent surfactant coating layer and the acidic substance being from 10:1 to 1:1. iiii. proteolytic enzymes, attached to the coating layer of the core, in such an amount that the weight ratio between the proteolytic activity, calculated to a standard activity of 1.5 Anson unit/g, and the acidic substance is from 10:1 to 1:10.