ES2406068T3 - Coated detergent compositions and manufacturing process - Google Patents

Abstract

A unit coated detergent composition, wherein the detergent composition is coated with a water soluble or dispersible coating comprising at least 50% and up to 99% of a compound, selected from (A1) proteins or peptides, preferably gelatin or one of its peptides, (A3) shellac or (B) amino acid (s) or a mixture of at least two of them and a plasticizer selected from alkylene glycol monoalkyl ethers, glycerol, polyalcohols, propylene glycols, ethoxylated or propoxylated ethylene or propylene, glycerol esters , glycerol triacetate, polyethylene glycols, methyl esters and non-ionic surfactants.

Description

Coated detergent compositions and manufacturing process

The present invention relates to a coated detergent and / or additive composition, for example, dishwasher or washing machine tablets or water-softened tablets coated with a water-soluble or temperature-soluble material, and to its manufacturing process.

The traditional form of detergent and / or additive compositions for use in dishwashers or washing machines are granules or non-particulate solids such as bars or tablets or briquettes. Hereinafter, the term "pills" shall refer to any form of non-particulate solids. For dishwashers or automatic washing machines, said detergent tablets and / or additives granules are placed or poured respectively into the dispenser located in said machine or in a suitable dispensing device which is then placed in said machine.

Until now it has been very common to provide detergent tablets in the form of packaged parts, either in a package that must be opened before the tablets are placed in the dishwasher or washing machine, or packaged in a water-soluble container that is left around the pill when put in the machine. Water soluble packages comprising an agent for dispensing in an aqueous medium are known.

In order to simplify the dosing of detergents for a washing cycle in a machine and avoid loss due to spillage during the dosing action, EP-A 700 989 describes a unit-packed detergent. Said unit packaged detergent is a detergent packaged in a water-soluble polymeric film or sheet such that it is suitable for washing. This unit-packed detergent is placed in the machine's detergent dispenser without unwrapping the detergent contained in the package.

Avoiding the unwrapping of the detergent from the container has several advantages. First, said unit-packed detergent prevents spillage loss of the detergent and / or additive composition. Second, said unit-packed detergent eliminates the need for the user to estimate the necessary dosage of said composition and ensures that the user uses the correct dosage of said composition per wash cycle. Third, the user's fingers do not come in contact with the wrapped detergent composition.

WO 04/20509 describes a homogeneous non-water soluble polymer containing water soluble fillers for wrapping detergent compositions. The polymer is used in an injection molding process that uses a water soluble resin comprising a water soluble polymer and a water soluble filler.

Film residue or film paper used as a soluble wrapping material can dirty, for example, dishwashers, depending on the film or film used or the reaction products of the dirt with the dissolved coating. Regardless of the solubility of the films or film papers used to wrap / pack the detergent particles, the manufacturing process must include a wrapping / packaging stage, which affects the speed of the manufacturing process.

Uncoated tablets having a coating are mainly supplied for dishwashing compositions, in particular to increase the mechanical strength of the tablet and to stabilize them. WO 00/66701 describes shaped detergent tablets coated with various types of water soluble polymers, in particular with (co) polymers comprising acidic monomers and / or unsaturated monomers.

US 6,576,599 discloses dishwasher tablets having a water insoluble coating to improve the mechanical stability of the tablets.

WO 04/20569 A1 describes a detergent particle having a base layer of a fine powder dispersed in a binder on the surface of the particle, said base layer that is coated with a surface modifier.

WO 01/64829 A1 describes coated solid bodies comprising an adjuvant of an active composition and having a porous coating soluble or water dispersible.

The objective of the present invention was to provide a safe and easy to handle detergent composition by the user and a quick and simple production process for said composition.

This objective is met with a unit coated detergent composition, in which the detergent composition is coated with a water soluble or dispersible coating comprising at least 50% and up to 99% of a compound, selected from proteins or peptides, in particular gelatin, shellac or amino acid (s) or a mixture of at least two of them and a plasticizer as defined in claim 1.

In the following, any detergent and / or additive composition will be encompassed by the term "detergent". This detergent composition may be in the form of granules or any type of non-particulate solid such as bars or lozenges or briquettes. The word "pill" encompasses any form of non-particulate solid in the following. Said pill may have any shape. Preferably, said solid detergent tablet is

shaped in a way that ensures uniform dissolution of the tablet in the washing liquid. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the detergent and / or additive composition may comprise any principle known in the art for dishwashing, laundry or water softening. Such principles may include, for example, surfactants, soap foam suppressants, bleaching systems, chelating agents, adjuvants, enzymes, fillers and perfumes. However, it is not limited to these.

A particular preferred embodiment of the present invention is a shaped dough for an automatic dishwasher formed of a particulate detergent composition, wherein the detergent composition comprises any of the typical principles for said compositions. These principles do not limit the invention. However, examples of suitable principles are listed below.

In accordance with the present invention, a pre-dosed amount of detergent is coated with a soluble material.

or that dissolves in water to provide a coated detergent particle in the form of "unit coated detergent." The term "unit coated detergent" means an amount of detergent suitable for washing. However, two or more unit coated detergents according to the present invention can be used in a single wash to satisfy different washing conditions, such as washing dirt, washing amount, washer volume, water hardness , water temperature and type of detergent. Said coating is made of a material soluble in water or by temperature. The unit coated detergent according to the present invention may contain between 5 g and 60 g of detergent.

This unit coated detergent of the present invention is put into the machine without another additional handling step. This is possible, since said coating is made of a soluble material, which dissolves or is dispersible in water. Supplying the detergent in a coated form has several advantages. First, said unitary coated detergent prevents spillage loss of the detergent and / or additive composition. Spillage can occur during measurement and / or dispensing in the washer dispenser or dispensing device. Second, said unit coated detergent eliminates the need for the user to estimate the necessary dosage of said composition and ensures that the user uses the correct dosage of said composition per wash cycle. Therefore, the additional measuring and / or dosing devices are superfluous. Third, the user's fingers do not come into contact with the detergent composition, which means that the user avoids staining the fingers and / or hands. In case the water-soluble films are wrapped around the detergent unit, people can get confused and try to open that wrap.

As a feature of the present invention, the coating of the unit coated detergent is made of a material that is water soluble or dissolves in water or disperses in water, is safe for the user and can be processed at a high speed during coating manufacturing of detergent compositions.

In embodiments said coating material comprises

A) at least one polymer soluble or that dissolves in water selected from

A1) a protein (more than 100 amino acids up to "full length proteins", for example, up to 2500 amino acids) or a peptide having at least 10, preferably at least 50, more preferably at least 80, most preferably at least 100 amino acids, alternatively a protein or a peptide having a molecular weight of 20,000 to 350,000 g / mol, preferably between 100,000 and 300,000 g / mol. The most preferred protein is gelatin or one of its peptides. Enzymes in their active form are not preferred.

B) amino acid (s)

A3) shellac, preferably without grease. The coating may consist essentially of one of these polymers or a mixture of at least two of these.

In the case of coating compositions A) to B) said compositions comprise at least 50% by weight and up to 99% by weight, up to 95% by weight, up to 90% by weight or possibly up to 75% by weight of the materials mentioned in A) to B). The materials mentioned in A1) are preferred. The materials mentioned in A), in particular the materials mentioned in A1) are the most preferred because the materials are clearly non-toxic, are not expensive and can be dissolved easily and quickly in water or in a wash load, in particular in water / hot wash load as in an automatic dishwasher.

A preferred water soluble low molecular weight compound is any amino acid. A particular advantage of these materials is, on the one hand, their solubility / dispersibility in water, and on the other, the absence of toxicity of the compounds.

When used as a material for the formation of a water soluble / dispersible coating, it has been found that the use of gelatin and / or amino acid compounds as a soluble / water-dissolvable / dispersible material is particularly suitable, specifically when presenting a period of very short dissolution / dispersion, being innocuous (usual principles of food) and also producing a very low amount of remains during use. On the other hand, the use of such materials provides a

preparation procedure with a very high speed.

When referring to the material, soluble / dissolving / dispersible in water is defined herein when more than 99% of a coating (layer) of said material dissolves in 15 minutes, preferably in 5 minutes in a glass of precipitates containing 1 l of deionized water at 40 ° C which is stirred with a stirrer that rotates at 200 rpm. It is pointed out that, as principles for the coating, materials can be used that may not be soluble by themselves, but for example dispersible, as long as the coating comprising said material dissolves in water.

Preferred water soluble / dissolvable / dispersible materials are proteins or peptides (or at least 10meters), in particular gelatin or its derivatives or peptide fragments.

Another material is shellac, which is preferably used in its fat-free form.

Such materials can be used alone or as a mixture of the individual materials. In a preferred embodiment the material (s) mentioned from A) to B) can form a layer on the surface of the unit composition, in an alternative preferred embodiment the unit composition comprises at least two layers of the materials mentioned above, wherein the layers may comprise different materials selected from A) to B), as well as different combinations of the material (s) from A) to B) as mentioned above.

As an additional principle, for example, to reduce the adhesion of the coating, polymorphic SiO2 (for example, Aerosil type from Degussa, Germany) can be added to the coating.

In one embodiment, the above-mentioned soluble / water dispersible / dispersible compounds are used in combination with an additional water soluble or dispersible polymer. In case the water soluble / dispersible polymer is used, it will be appreciated that the water soluble polymer may comprise a homopolymer or a copolymer. In case the water soluble polymer comprises a copolymer, the copolymer can be a random or block copolymer.

A suitable additional water soluble polymer may comprise a cellulose derivative such as a cellulose ether, for example, hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, or the polymer comprises polyvinyl alcohol monomers, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl acetate, modified acrylic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, itaconic acid, aconitic acid, mesaconic acid, citraconic acid and methylenemalonic acid or its salts, maleic anhydride, acrylamide, alkylene, vinyl methyl ether or styrene. Said polymers may be homo- or copolymers of the monomer units mentioned. Preferred are polyvinylpyrrolidone homopolymers or polyvinyl alcohol copolymers, preferably polyvinyl alcohol and polycarboxylate copolymers, most preferred are polyvinyl alcohol copolymers with maleic acid

or (meth) acrylic acid.

The water soluble polymer preferably has dispersant, anti-redeposition, stain release and other detergency properties.

The additional water soluble polymer may also be a polymer comprising sulfonic acid groups such as the polymers described in EP-A 1 299 513, EP-A 1 363 986, WO 95/12654 or EP-A 0 877 002 .

The water soluble polymer system may comprise a dirt release agent.

Examples of polymeric soil release agents include those that have: (a) one or more non-ionic hydrophilic components consisting essentially of (i) polyoxyethylene segments with a polymerization degree of at least 2, or (ii) segments of oxypropylene or polyoxypropylene with a degree of polymerization between 2 and 10, wherein said hydrophilic segment does not encompass any oxypropylene unit unless it is attached to adjacent moieties at each end by ether bonds or (iii) a mixture of oxyalkylene units comprising oxyethylene and between 1 and 30 units of oxypropylene, said hydrophilic segments preferably comprising at least 25% of units of oxyethylene and more preferably, especially for said components having 20 to 30 units of oxypropylene, at least 50 % of oxyethylene units; or (b) one or more hydrophobic components comprising (i) C3 oxyalkylene terephthalate segments, in which, if said hydrophobic components also comprise oxyethylene terephthalate, the ratio of oxyethyleneterephthalate: C3 oxyalkylene terephthalate is 2: 1 or less, (ii) segments of C4-C6 alkylene or C4-C6 oxyalkylene, or mixtures thereof, (iii) segments of poly (vinyl ester), preferably polyvinyl acetate, having a polymerization degree of at least 2, or (iv) C1-alkyl ether substituents C4 or C4 hydroxyalkyl ether, or mixtures thereof, wherein said substituents are present in the form of derivatives of C1-C4 alkyl ether or C4 cellulose hydroxyalkyl ether, or mixtures thereof, or a combination of (a) and (b). Typically, the polyoxyethylene segments of (a) (i) will have a degree of polymerization between 1 and 200, although higher levels may be used, preferably between 3 and 150, more preferably between 6 and 100. Hydrophobic segments of C4- oxyalkylene Suitable C6 include, but are not limited to, caps of polymeric soil release agents such as MO3S (CH:) nCH: CH2O-, in which M is sodium and n is an integer between 4-6. Other soil release agents useful herein also include

cellulosic derivatives such as hydroxy ether cellulosic polymers, block copolymers of ethylene terephthalate or propylene terephthalate with polyethylene terephthalate oxide or propylene terephthalate oxide, and the like. Such agents are commercially available and include cellulose hydroxyethers such as METHOCEL (Dow). Cellulose soil release agents for use herein also include those selected from the group consisting of C1-C4 alkylcellulose and C4 hydroxyalkyl cellulose. Other suitable surfactants include water soluble ethoxylated cationic amino compounds with dirt / mud removal and / or anti-redeposition properties. Of these cationic compounds, ethoxylated cationic monoamines, diamines and triamines are particularly preferred.

A preferred coating system according to the invention satisfies one or more of the following physical parameters:

a) Very suitable for coated materials (for example, detergents) so that they provide an effective barrier for materials coated with it and that it is compatible with hygroscopic and caustic materials. b) High water solubility, for example, between 0.1-1 g of the material of the coating composition of the present invention dissolves in 10 minutes in a beaker of 1 l of water at 40 ° C when stirred at 200 rpm and in 20 minutes at 20 ° C under the same conditions. To satisfy these properties, the material may include an additive that modifies the solubility. Preferred examples of said additives include plasticizers.

In this regard, it will be appreciated that any of the additives is substantially soluble or dispersible in water so that the entire system retains its water solubility / water dispersibility.

The water soluble coating system contains a plasticizer with a content greater than 0.01%, preferably greater than 0.1%, more preferably greater than 0.5% and most preferably 1% or greater and up to 30% , preferably less than 30% by weight, more preferably 10% or less than 10%.

The plasticizers are selected from alkylene glycol monoalkyl lower ethers, glycerol, polyalcohols, propylene glycols, ethylene or ethoxylated or propoxylated propylene, glycerol esters, glycerol triacetate, polyethylene glycols, methyl esters and non-ionic surfactants.

One of the preferred types of plasticizers comprises medium molecular weight polyethylene glycols (PEG). Such materials preferably have molecular weights of at least 150. PEGs of a molecular weight ranging from 200 to 3000 are most preferred. Another type of preferred plasticizer comprises methyl esters of lower molecular weights. Such materials are those with the general formula: RC (O) -OCH3 in which R ranges from 1 to 18. Examples of suitable methyl esters of lower molecular weights include methyl acetate, methyl propionate, methyl octanoate, and dodecanoate. methyl.

Preferred non-ionic surfactants incorporated in the resin provide the benefit of suppressing the formation of foams. The condensation products of the alkylethoxylate of an alcohol with 1 to 80 moles of an alkylene oxide (C2 to C20 linear alkylene / optionally substituted aliphatic / aromatic branched) are suitable for this use. The alkyl chain of alcohol can be linear or branched, primary or secondary, and generally contains between 6 and 22 carbon atoms. Particularly preferred are the condensation products of alcohols having an alkyl group containing between 8 and 20 carbon atoms with between 2 and 10 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol. In this regard, suitable surfactants include POLY-TERGENT (R) SLF-18B non-ionic surfactants from Olin Corporation.

The C6-C18 ethoxylated fatty alcohols and the mixed C6-C18 ethoxylated / propoxylated fatty alcohols are suitable surfactants for use herein. Preferably the ethoxylated fatty alcohols are C10-C18 ethoxylated fatty alcohols with a degree of ethoxylation between 3 and 50, more preferably these are C10-C18 ethoxylated fatty alcohols with an ethoxylation degree between 3 and 40. Preferably, the ethoxylated fatty alcohols / mixed propoxylates have an alkyl chain length between 10 and 18 carbon atoms, an ethoxylation degree between 3 and 30 and a propoxylation degree between 1 and

10.

The condensation products of ethylene oxide with a hydrophobic base formed by the condensation of ethylene oxide with propylene glycol are suitable for use herein. The hydrophobic fraction of these compounds preferably has a molecular weight between 1500 and 1800 and is insoluble in water. Examples of compounds of this type include some of the commercially available Pluronic (TM) surfactants sold by BASF.

The condensation products of ethylene oxide with the product resulting from the reaction of propylene oxide and ethylenediamine are suitable for use herein. The hydrophobic moiety of these products consists of the reaction product of ethylenediamine and propylene oxide in excess, and generally has a molecular weight between 2500 and 3000. Examples of this type of non-ionic surfactants include some of the Tetronic (TM) compounds. ) commercially available, sold by BASF.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the polymer system may comprise a non-ionic mixed surfactant system.

Suitable compounds include fatty esters of mono or polyhydric alcohols having 1 to 40 carbon atoms in the hydrocarbon chain. The fatty acid fraction of the fatty ester can be obtained from mono or polycarboxylic acids having between 1 and 40 carbon atoms in the hydrocarbon chain. Suitable examples of monocarboxylic fatty acids include behenic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, myristic acid, lauric acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, isobutyric acid, valeric acid, lactic acid, glycolic acid and beta acid, beta'-dihydroxyisobutyric. Examples of suitable polycarboxylic acids include: n-butyl malonic acid, isocitric acid, citric acid, maleic acid, malic acid and succinic acid. The fatty alcohol radical in the fatty ester may be represented by mono- or polyhydric alcohols having 1 to 40 carbon atoms in the hydrocarbon chain. Examples of suitable fatty alcohols include: behenyl, arachidyl, cocoyl, oleoyl and lauryl alcohol, ethylene glycol, glycerol, ethanol, isopropanol, vinyl alcohol, diglycerol, xylitol, sucrose, erythritol, pentaerythritol, sorbitol or sorbitan. Preferably, the fatty acid and / or the fatty alcohol group of the fatty ester adjuvant material has 1 to 24 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain. Preferred fatty esters herein are esters of ethylene glycol, glycerol and sorbitan in which the fatty acid fraction of the ester normally comprises a species selected from behenic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid or myristic acid. Glycerol esters are also highly preferred. Specific examples of fatty alcohol esters for use herein include: stearyl acetate, palmitoyl pluri-lactate, cocoyl isobutyrate, oleyl maleate, oleyl dimaleate and tallow propionate. Fatty acid esters useful herein include: xylitol monopalmitate, pentaerythritol monostearate, sucrose monostearate, glycerol monostearate, ethylene glycol monostearate, sorbitan esters. Suitable sorbitan esters include sorbitan monostearate, sorbitan palmitate, sorbitan monolaurate, sorbitan monomiristate, sorbitan monobehenate, sorbitan monooleate, sorbitan dilaurate, sorbitan distearate, sorbitan dibehenate, sorbitan dioleate, and sorbitan monoleate and also mixed poly esters of tallowalkyl sorbitan. Glycerol monostearate, glycerol mono-oleate, glycerol monopalmitate, glycerol monobehenate, and glycerol distearate are preferred glycerol esters herein. Other suitable agents include triglycerides, mono or diglycerides, and their wholly or partially hydrogenated derivatives, and any of their mixtures. Suitable sources of fatty acid esters include vegetable and fish oils and animal fats. Suitable vegetable oils include soybean oil, cottonseed oil, castor oil, olive oil, peanut oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil, rapeseed oil, grapeseed oil, palm oil and oil of corn

Waxes, including microcrystalline waxes are possible lubricants, despite being much less preferred in the present invention due to their poor water solubility. Preferred waxes have a melting point in the range of 35 ° C to 110 ° C and generally comprise between 12 and 70 carbon atoms. Paraffinic and microcrystalline-type petroleum waxes that are composed of saturated long-chain hydrocarbon compounds are preferred.

The addition of a plasticizer allows the reduction of the water content in the coating composition before / during application of the composition to the detergent tablet. Since the detergent tablet itself consists of water soluble / dispersible components, it is not desirable to apply a large amount of water to the tablet during the coating process. In addition, the plasticizer provides the coating after drying with greater softness and elasticity, resulting in less fragility and more comfortable handling of the tablet.

The coating may include a dye. The dye, when present as a resin component, is preferably present at a level between 0.001% by weight and 1.5% by weight, preferably between 0.01% by weight and 1.0% by weight. weight, most preferably between 0.1% by weight and 0.3% by weight.

The dye may comprise a dye or a pigment. Examples of suitable pigments include reactive pigments, direct pigments, azo pigments. Preferred pigments include phthalocyanine pigments, anthraquinone pigments, quinoline pigments, monoazo pigments, diazo and polyazo. More preferred pigments include anthraquinone, quinoline and monoazo pigments. Preferred pigments include SANDOLAN E-HRL 180% (trade name), SANDOLAN MILLING BLUE (trade name), TURQUOISE ACID BLUE (trade name) and SANDOLAN BRILLIANT GREEN (trade name) all available in Clariant, RU, HEXACOL QUINOLINE YELLOW (name commercial) and HEXACOL BRILLIANT BLUE (trade name) both available in Paintings, RU, ULTRA MARINE BLUE (trade name) available in Holliday or LEVAFIX TURQUISE BLUE EBA (trade name) available in Bayer, USA and liquid dyes such as the type Liquitit® by Miliken.

The article preferably comprises a cleaning composition or a water softening composition. The cleaning composition may be a detergent or an automatic dishwashing additive, a detergent or a laundry additive, a hard surface cleaning composition (such as a multipurpose cleaner) or a bath cistern cleaner.

It has been found that said coated article is particularly suitable since the coating material is formed of components that allow rapid decomposition of the coating; during use it

He has found that the article overcomes the problems of formation of residues on the objects being cleaned, said residue that is formed from the material of the package that has a poor solubility.

The cleaning composition may comprise, inter alia, an adjuvant system, a bleaching system, a system that protects silver, a system that protects glass (against glass corrosion), an enzymatic system, a viscosity modifier , a perfume or a system for controlling odors, one or more dyes, an acidity modifier, a bactericide / fungicide, a surfactant system, and a polymeric system comprising a support polymer with characteristics regarding stain formation and / or a support polymer with tracing characteristics (as for example described in EP-A 1299 513, 1 363 986, WO 95/12654 or EP-A 0 877 002) and a disintegration of pills without being limited to these

10 principles However, the principles of the composition do not limit the present invention and any detergent composition suitable for different purposes can be used. Typical components of the automatic dishwashing compositions are disclosed, for example, in EP-A 1 268 729, EP-A 1 299 513, EP-A 1 571 198, EP-A 1 520 908 and EP-A 1 524 313. All components described in those documents may be part of the coated compositions according to the present invention.

The composition can be formulated taking into account that the user does not come into contact with the composition, either by inhalation or by skin contact. For example, the composition may include an enzyme, without worrying about physical contact between the composition containing the enzyme, and the user.

Dishwashing compositions are preferred, in particular preferred dishwashing compositions comprising silver protection systems, a low phosphate content and a polymeric system that

20 provides good characteristics as regards the formation of spots and the formation of traces.

A rapid dissolution rate is achieved by a thin coating of said material that dissolves in water. Preferably, the present invention uses coatings of materials that dissolve in water with a thickness between 5 μm and 1000 μm, more preferably between 20 μm and 600 μm.

Accordingly, the coating corresponds to a weight of about 0.1% to about 10% by weight about the total amount of the detergent unit.

As options, said unitary coated detergent can be supplied in a bag containing substantially loose detergent particles. Preferably, said unit packaged detergents are supplied in a container made of any material, such as cardboard, plastic or metal, if necessary supplied with a coating.

As an additional option, said unit coated detergent may comprise an additive that provides an unbearably bitter taste, in particular in the case of coatings comprising some sugar. This additive can be coated on said detergent composition, either as part of a water soluble coating or as a separate coating. This improves the prevention of children accidentally swallowing the entire detergent.

The unit coated detergent according to the present invention can be manufactured as follows:

The detergent composition is prepared in its granular or particulate form; The granular or particulate detergent composition can be formed in a tablet of the desired shape and size by any of the procedures known in the art, for example, selected from the group of: compression, extrusion and molding, while said detergent composition is homogeneously distributed by

40 the entire tablet or comprises different layers or phases of certain detergent principles; a water soluble or dispersible material is prepared in the form of an aqueous or organic solution or dispersion (which means that the material is dissolved or dispersed in an aqueous system or a system comprising at least one organic solvent such as alcohol or the like) or a melt (for example, in the case of sugars); then said detergent in granular or tablet form is coated with said solution, dispersion or

Melted of the soluble material or dissolved in water to form the unit coated detergent; optionally the unit coated detergent passes to a drying stage and / or a stabilization / solidification stage, the last two stages mentioned (coating and drying) which can optionally be repeated to provide more than one, preferably at least two layers of the soluble material or dispersible in water.

The water-soluble material, prepared in the form of a solution, melt or dispersion comprising all the desired components to be found in the coating, is coated on the material by any suitable procedure. Preferably the material is coated by spraying, soaking, immersion or the like.

Example

55 A coating composition is prepared by combining

33% by weight of lime-treated bone jelly with a Bloom value of 120 (corresponds to 80,000 to

150,000 g / mol of gelatin) 23.5% by weight of Isomalt (100% pure, solid) 10.5% by weight of glycerol (99% by weight)

5 33% by weight of water

The composition is heated in a water bath of approximately 60 ° C to 95 ° C and applied to a detergent tablet by means of a brush. After drying the composition, a stable coating on the tablet was obtained.

During the application of the composition the detergent tablet did not show any swelling or damage, since only

10 very little water is provided with the coating. Most of the water is absorbed by gelatin and isomaltitol, resulting in a stable and uniform coating on the tablet without affecting the detergent.

Claims (6)

1. A unit coated detergent composition, wherein the detergent composition is coated with a water soluble or dispersible coating comprising at least 50% and up to 99% of a compound, selected from (A1) proteins or peptides, preferably gelatin or one of its peptides, (A3) shellac or (B) 5 amino acid (s) or a mixture of at least two of them and a plasticizer selected from alkylene glycol monoalkyl ethers, glycerol, polyalcohols, propylene glycols, ethylene or propylene ethoxylated or propoxylated, glycerol esters, glycerol triacetate, polyethylene glycols, methyl surfactants and methyl esters nonionic 2. A method of manufacturing a detergent composition of claim 1, comprising the step of coating the detergent unit with an aqueous or organic solution or dispersion or a melt comprising the water soluble or dispersible material and the plasticizer. 3. Composition or process according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the detergent composition is a dishwashing detergent composition, a laundry detergent composition or a water softening composition. 4. Composition or method according to claim 3, wherein the dishwashing composition is boron free.

5.

 Composition or method according to claims 3 or 4, wherein the dishwashing composition is in the form of a tablet.

6.

 Composition or process according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the water soluble or dispersible material provides one, or at least two layers.

Method according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the coating step (s) is selected from spraying, soaking and immersion.