(19)

(11)

EP 0 998 548 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 10.05.2000 Bulletin 2000/19 (21) Application number: 98940267.2 (22) Date of filing: 13.07.1998

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: C11D 3/00, C11D 3/37 (86) International application number: PCT/EP9805/002 (87) International publication number: WO 9905/248 (04.02.1999 Gazette 1999/05)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT DE FR IT NL (30) Priority: 23.07.1997 US 898758 11.05.1998 US 75548 (71) Applicant: UNILEVER N.V. 3013 AL Rotterdam (NL)	(72) Inventors: TARTAKOVSKY, Alla Edgewater, NJ 07020 (US) CARNALI, Joseph Oreste Edgewater, NJ 07020 (US) GARY, Richard, Gerald West New York, NJ 07093 (US) WINTERS, John Robert Edgewater, NJ 07020 (US) (74) Representative: Tansley, Sally Elizabeth  Unilever PLC,Patent Division,Colworth House Sharnbrook,Bedford MK44 1LQ Sharnbrook,Bedford MK44 1LQ (GB)