JPH0768549B2 - Liquid bleach composition - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a liquid detergent containing an aqueous base, a detergent active and a bleaching substance.

It has been proposed in EP 293,040 (P & G) to formulate a liquid detergent composition comprising a perborate bleaching substance and a water-soluble solvent system for increasing the stability of the bleaching agent in the aqueous phase. Similar solvents in combination with bleaching agents have been proposed in EP 294,904 (P & G), but this specification also discloses the in situ preparation of perborate by reacting the metaborate with hydrogen peroxide. . French Patent No. 2,140,82
No. 2 describes stabilizing bleach by using 5-15% borax.

We have noted that when formulating liquid aqueous detergent compositions containing bleaching agents, bleach instability problems sometimes arise. Also, although not fully understood, it is believed that this instability is caused by dissolution of the bleach in the aqueous phase and subsequent decomposition of the dissolved bleach.

Surprisingly, it has now been found that a liquid aqueous detergent composition containing a stable bleaching agent can be formulated if that composition also contains the specific boron electrolyte obtained by using the metaborate salt. is doing.

Therefore, the present invention provides an aqueous base, a bleaching agent, and 2 to
Contains 60% by weight of detergent actives, metaborate electrolyte,
Alternatively, it relates to a liquid detergent composition also containing a boron electrolyte obtained by using a metaborate electrolyte.

Bleaching Material The composition of the present invention contains a bleaching material, preferably a peroxygen bleaching agent. The bleach component is present in the system in dissolved form, but preferably only a portion of the peroxygen bleach is dissolved and the remainder is preferably present as solid peroxygen particles which are suspended in the system.

Examples of suitable bleaching agents include hydrogen peroxide, perborates, persulfates, peroxydisulfates, perphosphates, and crystalline peroxy compounds formed by reacting hydrogen peroxide with urea or alkali metal carbonates. A hydrate is mentioned. In addition, encapsulated bleach may be used.
Preferred bleaching agents are only partially soluble in the system. Particular preference is given to using perborate or percarbonate bleaches.

The bleaching composition is preferably added in an amount corresponding to 0.1 to 15% by weight of active oxygen, more preferably 0.5 to 10% by weight of active oxygen, generally 1.0 to 5.0% by weight of active oxygen.
Common amounts of bleach are 1 to 40% by weight of the composition, more preferably 7 to 30% and especially 10 to 25% by weight of the aqueous composition.

Metaborate Electrolyte The composition of the present invention further contains a metaborate electrolyte or a boron electrolyte obtained by using a metaborate. Suitable metaborate compounds include, for example, metaboric acid, alkali metal metaborate and alkaline earth metal metaborate.

Surprisingly, because of its ability to stabilize bleaching systems,
From the class of boron compounds, it has been found to be particularly preferable to use metaborates and their derivatives. Although not yet fully understood, the metaborate electrolyte has a dual function: first it prevents solubilization of the bleaching material, thereby minimizing the amount of labile dissolved bleaching agent. Secondly, it is believed to delay the decomposition of dissolved bleach.

The level of metaborate electrolyte is preferably 0.1% of the composition.
% Or more, particularly preferred is 0.2% or more by weight of the composition, and most preferred is 0.4% or more. In general,
The level of metaborate electrolyte is less than 10%, more preferably less than 7%, particularly preferably less than 5%. Typical levels of metaborate electrolytes are 0.5-5%.

The percentage of metaborate electrolyte is calculated based on the anhydrous metaborate equivalent weight of the electrolyte. For purposes of this invention, metaborate levels are preferably determined by measuring the boron content of the formulation and then calculating the corresponding levels of metaborate at a standard pH of 11. The calculated level of metaborate at that pH is then preferably defined as the metaborate level in the composition.

Preferably, the metaborate or its equivalent boron to hydrogen peroxide (if any) in a ready-to-use composition
The molar ratio of is 1: 1 or more, preferably 2: 1 or more, and most preferably 5: 1 or more.

Detergent Actives The compositions of the present invention also contain detergent actives. Surprisingly, it has been found that the combination of the bleaching substance with the metaborate electrolyte or its boron derivative is suitable for use in ready-to-use aqueous liquid detergent compositions.

In its broadest definition, a detergent active may generally contain one or more surfactants, and may be anionic, cationic, nonionic, zwitterionic, and amphoteric, and ( It can be selected from the mixture (if it is mutually compatible). For example, they can be any class, subclass, as well as “Surface Active Agent” Vol.1 by Schwartz.
& Perry, Interscience 1949, and “Surface Active
Agent "Vol.1 by Schwartz, Perry & Berch (Inters
cience 1958), "McCutcheon's Emulsifiers & D
etergents "published by the McCutcheon division
to the latest version of Manufacturing of Confectioners Company or "Tensid-Taschenburch", H.Stache, 2nd Ed
n., Carl Hanser Verlag, Munchen & Wien, 1981.

Suitable anionic surfactants are generally water-soluble alkali metal salts of organic sulphates and sulphonates having alkyl groups containing about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms, the term alkyl being higher acyl. Used to include the alkyl portion of the group. Examples of suitable synthetic anionic detergent compounds include:
Alkyl sulfates of sodium and potassium, especially such as higher generated from tallow or coconut oil (C ₈ ~C ₁₈₎ those obtained by sulfating the alcohols; sodium and alkyl potassium (C ₉ ~C ₂₀₎ benzene sulphonates, particularly linear secondary alkyl (C ₁₀ ~C ₁₅₎ benzenesulfonic acid sodium; alkyl glyceryl ether sodium sulfate, especially tallow or coconut oil synthetic alcohols derived from, and ethers of synthetic alcohols derived from petroleum; sodium coconut oil fatty monoglyceride sulfates and sulfonates; higher (C ₈ ~C ₁₈₎ fatty alcohol - alkylene oxides, especially sodium sulfate and potassium salts of ethylene oxide reactants; esterified with isethionic acid, sodium hydroxide Anti-fatty acid such as coconut fatty acid neutralized Response generating material; sodium and potassium salts of methyl taurine fatty acid amides; alpha - olefins (C ₈ ~C ₂₀₎ and those obtained by the reaction of sodium bisulfite, and is reacted with paraffins and SO ₂ and Cl _2, Alkane monosulfonates such as are then obtained by hydrolysis with bases to produce any sulfonates; as well as olefin sulfonates (this term refers to olefins, especially C ₁₀ -C ₂₀ alpha-olefins and SO ₃ Is used to describe a substance produced by reacting the reaction product, and then neutralizing and hydrolyzing the reaction product). Preferred anionic detergent compounds are (C ₁₁ -C ₁₅ ) sodium alkylbenzene sulphonate, and the first (C ₁₀ -C) of sodium or potassium.
₁₈ ) Alkyl sulfonate.

Alkali metal soaps of fatty acids, especially acids having 12 to 18 carbon atoms, such as oleic acid, lysonolic acid, and castor oil, alkyl succinic acid, rapeseed oil, peanut oil, coconut oil,
Soaps of fatty acids obtained from palm kernel oil, or mixtures thereof, are also possible and sometimes preferred. Sodium or potassium soaps of these acids are used.

The total detergent active is 2-60% by weight of the total composition, eg 5
-40% by weight, generally 10-30% by weight. However, one preferred class of compositions is at least 20%, most preferably at least 20% by weight of the total composition.
It contains 25%, especially at least 30% of detergent actives.

Optional Ingredients The compositions of the present invention have no well-defined structure (isotropic) or have well-defined structure. The structured liquids of the present invention are either internal structural, whose structure is constituted by the detergent actives in the composition, or external structural, whose structure is provided by an external structure. Preferably, the compositions of the present invention are internal structural.

Some of the different possible types of active structuring are described in the reference, HABarnes, "Detergents", Ch.2.in K. Walter.
s (Ed), “Rheometry: Industrial Applications”, JW
iley & Sons, Letchworth 1980. Generally, the degree of ordering of such systems increases with increasing surfactant and / or electrolyte concentration. At very low concentrations, the surfactants can be present as a molecular solution or as a solution of spherical micelles, both of which are isotropic. Adding further surfactants and / or electrolytes,
A structured (anti-isotropic) system can be formed.

They are rod micelle, planar lamella structure,
It is referred to by various terms such as lamellar droplets and liquid crystalline phase. Often, the same structure has actually been used by different researchers in different terms. For example, European Patent Application No. 151,
In 884, lamellar droplets are called "spherulites". The presence and identification of the surfactant structuring system in the liquid is determined by methods known to those skilled in the art, such as optical techniques, various rheometry, X-ray or neutron diffraction, and sometimes electron microscopy. .

When the composition has a lamellar structure, it is often preferred that the aqueous dispersion medium contains a dissolved electrolyte. As used herein, the term electrolyte means any ionic water soluble material. However, not all electrolytes are necessarily dissolved in the lamellar dispersion, but they are suspended as solid particles because the total electrolyte concentration of the liquid is above the solubility limit of the electrolyte. A mixture of electrolytes may be used with one or more electrolytes present in the dissolved aqueous phase and one or more electrolytes present substantially only in the suspended solid phase.
Two or more electrolytes may be distributed between these two phases in approximately proportional proportions. In part, this depends on the processing, eg the order of addition of the components. On the other hand, the term "salt", whether or not they are ionic,
Includes all organic and inorganic substances that may be included except surfactants and water, and this term includes a small group of electrolytes (water soluble substances).

The choice of surfactant types and their properties to produce stable liquids with the required structure is well within the ability of those skilled in the art. However, it can be said that an important subclass of useful compositions is to include a mixture of surfactants with different detergent actives. Typical mixtures useful in textile cleaning compositions include those in which the first surfactant contains a nonionic and / or nonalkoxylated anionic and / or alkoxylated anionic surfactant. .

In the case of a mixture of surfactants, the exact proportions of each component that results in such stability and viscosity is dependent on the type and amount of electrolyte, as is the case with conventional structured liquids.

Nevertheless, preferably, the composition contains 1 to 60%, especially 10 to 45% of salting-out electrolyte. Salting-out electrolyte has the meaning attributed to European Patent Application No. 79,646. That is, the salting-out electrolyte has a syneresis number of less than 9.5. Optionally, a type and amount compatible with the other ingredients, provided that the composition is in accordance with the definition of the invention described herein, certain salt-soluble electrolytes (such as those described below). ) May be contained. Some or all of the electrolyte (salted or salted out), or any substantially water soluble salt that may be present, has detergent builder properties. In all cases, it is preferred that the compositions of the present invention contain a detergent builder material, some or all of which are electrolytes. The builder material may reduce the level of free calcium ions in the wash liquor, and preferably has other beneficial properties such as the development of alkaline pH, suspension of soil removed from textiles, and dispersion of textile soft viscous materials. There is provided a composition having: Preferably, the salting-out electrolyte contains citrate.

Examples of phosphorus-containing inorganic detergent builders, if present, include water-soluble salts, especially alkali metal clown phosphates, orthophosphates, polyphosphates, and phosphonates.
Specific examples of inorganic phosphate builders include sodium and potassium tripolyphosphates, phosphates, and hexametaphosphates. A phosphonate sequestrant builder may be used.

Examples of non-phosphoric acid containing inorganic detergent builders (if present) include water soluble alkali metal carbonates, bicarbonates, silicates,
And crystalline and amorphous aluminosilicates. Specific examples include sodium carbonate (calcite seed crystals are sometimes used), potassium carbonate, sodium and potassium bicarbonates, silicates, and zeolites.

In this context of inorganic builders, it is preferred to use electrolytes that promote dissolution of other electrolytes, for example the use of potassium salts to promote the dissolution of sodium salts. Thereby, the amount of dissolved electrolyte is
It is significantly increased (crystal dissolution) as described in 2,543.

Examples of organic detergent builders (if present) include alkali metal, ammonium and substituted ammonium polyacetates, carboxylates, polycarboxylates, polyacetylcarboxylates, and polyhydroxysulfonates. Specific examples include ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, nitriletroacetic acid, oxydisuccinic acid, CMOS, TMS, T
DS, melitic acid, benzene polycarboxylic acid, and citric acid sodium, potassium, lithium, ammonium,
And substituted ammonium salts.

Preferably, the level of non-soap builder material is 0-50% by weight of the composition, more preferably 5-40% by weight and most preferably 10-35% by weight.

In this context of organic builders, European Patent No.
It is desirable to incorporate polymers that are only partially soluble in the aqueous dispersion medium as described in 301,882. This reduces the viscosity (depending on the polymer being dissolved),
On the other hand, instability that occurs when substantially all is dissolved is incorporated in sufficient quantity to achieve the second advantage, in particular building, so that the insoluble part does not cause instability. Typical amounts are 0.5-4.5% by weight.

Further, in the composition of the present invention, in place of or in addition to the partially soluble polymer, substantially all dissolved in the aqueous phase and more than 5 grams of nitrilotritrix in 100 ml of a 5% by weight aqueous polymer solution. Having an electrolyte resistance of sodium acetate and a vapor pressure equal to or less than the vapor pressure of an aqueous solution of 2% by weight or more of polyethylene glycol, wherein the secondary polymer is an additional 20% aqueous solution and averages The secondary polymer has a vapor pressure of less than or equal to that of an aqueous solution of 2% by weight or more of a reference of polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of 6000, and the secondary polymer has a molecular weight of at least 1000. The use of such polymers is generally
It is described in our European Patent No. 301,883. Typical levels are 0.5-4.5% by weight.

The viscosity of the composition of the present invention is preferably less than 1500 mPas, more preferably less than 1000 mPas, particularly preferably 21 s ^-1 3
It is 0 to 900 mPas.

One way to control the viscosity and stability of the compositions of the present invention is to include a viscosity modifying polymeric material.

Preferred viscosity and / or stability modifying polymers for incorporation into the compositions of the present invention include peptizer polymers having a hydrophilic backbone and at least one hydrophobic side chain. Such polymers are described, for example, in our co-pending European Patent Application No. 89201530.6 (European Patent No. 346,995).
No.).

Peptizer polymers for use in the detergent formulations of the present invention are those that have anionic, nonionic, or cationic properties. Anionic peptizer polymers are preferred.

The hydrophilic backbone of the polymer is generally a homo-, co-, containing a carboxylic acid group (or more preferably its salt form).
Or ter-polymers, such as maleate or acrylate polymers, or copolymers thereof with or with other monomer units such as vinyl ethers, styrenes and the like. The hydrophobic chain or chains are generally
For example, polyethoxy, polypropoxy, or butyloxy (or mixtures thereof) selected from saturated or unsaturated alkyl chains having 5 to 24 carbon atoms and having an alkoxylene or polyalkoxylene bond, such as 1 to 50 alkoxylene groups. ) Optionally attached to the main chain via a bond. Thus, in some forms, the side chains necessarily have the properties of nonionic surfactants. A preferred anionic polymer is our co-pending European patent application EP
89201530.6 (European Patent No. 346,995).

Preferably the amount of viscosity modifying polymer is from 0.1 to 0.1% of the total composition.
It is 5% by weight, more preferably 0.2 to 2%.

Advantageously, the compositions of the present invention contain a polyhydric alcohol having 1 to 5 carbon atoms per molecule. Preferred C _1-5 alcohols are di- or tri-alcohols having 3 or 4 carbon atoms per molecule. Particularly preferred is the use of polyethylene glycol and glycerol.

Preferably, the C _1-5 polyhydric alcohol is 1% by weight of the composition.
The above is preferably 2% by weight or more, and particularly preferably 3% by weight or more. In general, the compositions according to the invention contain less than 30% by weight of polyhydric alcohols, preferably less than 20%, particularly preferably less than 15%. Typical levels are 4-10% by weight of the composition.

The composition of the present invention further contains a substance for adjusting the pH. To lower the pH, weak acids, especially organic acids, more preferably C _1-8 carboxylic acids, most preferably citric acid are used. These pH-lowering agents are particularly preferred when the composition of the present invention contains enzymes such as amylase, protease, and lipolase.

Apart from the components already mentioned, a number of optional components, for example foaming agents such as alkanolamides, especially monoethanolamide obtained from palm kernel fatty acids and coconut fatty acids, viscosities, amines, and fibers such as amine oxides. Softeners, antifoams, inorganic salts such as sodium sulphate, and fluorescent agents, fragrances, germicides, colorants, usually present in trace amounts
And enzymes such as proteases, cellulases, amylases, and lipases (including Lipolase ™ (Novo)). Suitable examples of protease enzymes are cevinase (Novo), maxatal (gist-brocades), opticulin (MKC), or AP122 (Showa Denko), alcalase, maxatase, esperase, optimase, proteinase K, and subtilisin BPN. Suitable lipolases are, for example, lipolase (Novo), Amano lipase, Meito lipase, lopozyme, SP 225, SP 28.
5, Toyo Jozo is a lipase. The preferred amylase is
Examples are Termamyl (trademark of Novo) and Maxamil. Suitable cellulases include cellzymes (Novo).

These optional ingredients as described above include agents for which lamellar dispersions without deflocculant polymer are very stable and can be admixed in larger and more useful amounts according to the invention. To be These agents cause problems because they tend to promote the aggregation of lamellar droplets.
Examples of such agents include Blankophor PKH, Tinop
There are fluorescent agents such as al LMS, and Tinopal DMS-X and Blankophor BBM, and especially metal chelators of the phosphonate type, for example the Dequest series sold by Monsanto.

The composition of the present invention preferably contains 10-80% by weight, more preferably 15-60% by weight, most preferably 20-50% by weight of water.

The liquid detergent composition of the present invention is preferably after production at 25 ° C.
It is physically stable such that it exhibits less than 2% by volume phase separation when stored for 21 days.

The liquid detergent composition of the present invention is preferably less than 25%, preferably 10% during storage at a temperature of 20 to 37 ° C. for 3 months after production.
The capacity is stable so as to show a capacity increase of less than%, more preferably less than%.

In order to obtain good volume stability, the compositions according to the invention preferably additionally contain a secondary stabilizer for the bleach component. Suitable stabilizers are well known in the art,
EDTA, magnesium silicates and phosphonates, eg
Dequest series (Monsanto), and Naphthol (Merck)
Is mentioned. Preferably, the amount of these stabilizers is 0.05-5% by weight of the composition, more preferably 0.05-1% by weight.

The compositions of the present invention may contain one or more bleach precursors. A well known example of such a drug is TAED. Preferably, the bleach precursor is present in the system in at least partially undissolved form. One way to ensure that the precursor is present in undissolved form is to increase the amount of electrolyte in the composition, thereby reducing the solubility of the precursor in the system. Suitable electrolytes for this purpose are, for example, at least partially water-soluble carbonates, sulphates and halogenide salts.

When the detergent composition of the present invention is used, for example, when it is used in a washing machine, it is diluted with washing water to prepare a washing liquid. The concentration of the liquid detergent composition in the laundry liquid is preferably 0.05 to 10% by weight, more preferably 0.1 to 3% by weight.

To ensure effective detergency, the liquid detergent composition is preferably alkaline and, when used in an aqueous solution of the composition at the recommended concentration, has a concentration of about 7.0-12, preferably about 8-11. It is preferable to provide a pH within the range. To meet these requirements, the undiluted liquid composition should preferably have a pH of 7 or higher, such as a pH of about 8.0-12.5. For household safety, excessively high pH, e.g. pH
It should be noted that a pH above 13 is less desirable. When hydrogen peroxide is present in the liquid composition, the pH is generally 7.5 to 10.to ensure good detergency and the combined effect of good physical and chemical stability.
5, preferably 8-10, especially 8.5-10. The ingredients in any such highly alkaline detergent composition are, of course, selected for alkaline stability, especially for pH sensitive substances such as enzymes, especially suitable proteolytic enzymes. The pH is adjusted by adding a suitable alkaline or acidic substance.

The compositions of the present invention are prepared by any method of making a liquid detergent composition. Preferred methods include one or more of the other ingredients of any of the formulations. The bleach material is preferably added as a predispersion.

The invention is further described in the following examples. For all examples, all percentages are by weight unless otherwise stated.

The following names are registered trademarks: symperonic, socolan, savinase, maxatar,
Opticlean, Alcalase, Maxatase, Esperase, Optimase, Lipozyme, Maxamil, Cellzyme, Blancophore, Tinopal, Dequest, and Proxol.

Example 1 This example illustrates the stability of bleach in aqueous systems containing bleach in combination with an additive. The aqueous system used contains the same, relative amounts of ingredients present in the corresponding ready-to-use aqueous liquid detergent composition. For example, Composition A contains 20 parts bleach material and 40 parts water; the corresponding liquid detergent composition contains 20 parts bleach, 40 parts water, and 40 (up to 100) parts detergent activity. Contains substances in combination with other ingredients. Although the absolute stability of the bleach in a composition without detergent actives differs from the absolute stability of the bleach in the corresponding detergent composition, a comparison with systems without detergent actives shows that It provides a good indication of the relative bleach stability of compositions containing substances.

Compositions A-D were prepared by adding the components to water in the order listed with stirring. The result is a physically unstable perboric acid dispersion in which undissolved bleach material precipitates. The electrolyte dispersion medium containing the dissolved components was isolated and assessed for bleach content and bleach stability. The results obtained for the decomposed electrolyte phase are indicative of the total bleach stability in the system, since only soluble amounts of bleach are involved in the decomposition of the bleach.

The amount of dissolved bleach in the decomposed electrolyte phase was determined by iodometric titration, and the half-life was measured based on the measured amount of dissolved bleach in the decomposed electrolyte phase as a function of time.

The following results were obtained: These results indicate that Composition A containing bleach in water in the absence of metaborate produces high levels of dissolved bleach in the separated electrolyte phase and very short-lived dissolved bleach. Indicates. Composition D, which contains glycerol and bleach dissolved in water in the absence of metaborate, also provides a high level of dissolved bleach that decomposes in less than 1 day. Composition B
Contains metaborate in combination with bleach,
This results in low levels of dissolved bleach and long-lived dissolved bleach. The total amount of decomposed bleach is low. Composition C; additionally containing glycerol, which has the advantage of low pH; this is particularly preferred for enzyme-containing liquid detergent compositions. Moreover, the composition is more stable than the corresponding composition without metaborate. These results indicate that the liquid detergent composition corresponding to the test composition has greater stability in the presence of metaborate.

Example 2 A composition was prepared as in Example 1 and the amount of dissolved bleach and its stability were measured.

The following results were obtained: This example illustrates the effect of pH-lowering agents on bleach stability. Tests FG and J show that the pH of the bleach and metaborate compositions is beneficially reduced with citric acid; the resulting compositions have acceptable stability.

Decrease the pH of the composition with sulfuric acid (tests HI)
And the bleach becomes unstable, especially at low pH values.

Example 3 A composition was prepared as in Example 1 and the amount of dissolved bleach and its stability were assessed.

The following results were obtained: These results indicate that the stability of the bleaching agent can be further improved in the presence of metaborate by adding further stabilizers such as Dequest or Mg-silicate.

Example 4 The following liquid detergent composition is formulated by adding each component to water in the order listed: Example 5 The following formulation is prepared as in Example 4: Example 6 The following detergent composition is prepared as in Example 4.

Examples 7-12 The following compositions were added to water at elevated temperature with electrolytes along with minor components except perfume and enzymes, then the detergent actives were added as a total mixture with stirring, then the mixture was added to the mixture. Prepared by cooling and adding enzyme, flavor and bleach.

Example 13 The composition of Example 7 was prepared using CaCl ₂ in combination with 0.8% enzyme at a level of 1%. In this case, the following types of enzymes were used.

Esperase solution (Esperase L8.0 (Novo)) Savenase solution (Savenase 16.0 LDX (Novo)) Savenase slurry (Savenase 16.0 SL (Novo)) Alcalase solution (Alcalase 2.34 LDX (Novo)) Enzyme stability is the enzyme used It was found that an increase in the stability of the enzyme was found in the following order, depending on the type of Escherichia coli: Esperase> sabinase slurry> sabinase solution> alcalase.

Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Internal reference number FI Technical display location D06L 3/02 (72) Inventor Swartov, Ton Netherlands, 3223 TA Herrehoetz Luis, Debziestrad 3 (56) Reference JP-A-3-200899 (JP, A) JP-A-62-116696 (JP, A)

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. Containing water, a peroxygen bleaching substance, 2 to 60% by weight of detergent active substance, and a stabilizing substance, which stabilizing substance is a metaborate electrolyte (in the case of containing sulfuric acid, the amount thereof is 0.65).
Liquid detergent composition. 2. A liquid detergent composition according to claim 1, wherein the bleaching material is only partially soluble in the composition. 3. A liquid detergent composition according to claim 1, which contains from 1 to 40% by weight of a bleaching substance. 4. A liquid detergent composition according to claim 1, which contains 0.1 to 10% by weight of metaborate electrolyte. 5. The liquid detergent composition according to claim 1, which contains 1 to 60% by weight of a salting-out electrolyte. 6. A liquid detergent composition according to claim 1 containing 5 to 50% by weight of non-soap builder material. 7. A liquid detergent composition according to claim 1 containing 0.1-5% by weight of a deflocculant polymer. 8. A liquid detergent composition according to claim 1 having a pH of 8.0 to 12.5 and a viscosity of less than 1,500 mPas at 21 s ^-1 , the composition being further physically stable and volume stable.