Treating an electrocoat system with a biosurfactant

• US 20040231982A1
• Filed: 03/04/2004
• Published: 11/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Swimc, LLC (The Sherwin-Williams Company)
• Original Assignee: Valspar Sourcing, Inc. (Sherwin-Williams Company)
• Inventors: Bourdeau, Michael J., Contos, Michael A., Pillar, Lonnie L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,413,643 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 204/400
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/18 Liquid substances or solutions comprising solids or dissolved gases

Abstract

A method of treating an electrocoating process by exposing at least a portion of the process to a biosurfactant admixed in a solution. Methods of treating a surface of an apparatus within an electrocoating operation using a biosurfactant to remove or prevent sessile microorganism growth on the apparatus are provided.

Claims

1. A method of treating an electrocoating process comprising:

admixing an effective amount of biosurfactant into a solution; and

exposing at least a portion of the electrocoating process to the admixture of biosurfactant and solution.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electrocoating process comprises an apparatus having a surface, the surface comprising a population of sessile microorganisms;

and wherein the biosurfactant is available at a concentration sufficient to break down the adherence between at least a portion of the sessile microorganism population and the surface.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the concentration of the biosurfactant in the admixture is about 5 to about 10000 ppm.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the concentration of the biosurfactant in the admixture is about 10 to about 1000 ppm.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the solution has a temperature of about 75°

F. to about 200°

F.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the solution has a temperature of about 90°

F. to about 125°

F.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising applying heat to the admixture of biosurfactant and solution.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising circulating the admixture of biosurfactant and solution through at least a portion of the electrocoating process.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the admixture of biosurfactant and solution is circulated for at least about 4 hours.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising adding a biocide to a liquid stream within the electrocoating process.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the solution comprises water.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising

determining a level of microorganisms presence in a liquid stream within the electrocoating process.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising

identifying the type of microorganisms present in a liquid stream within the electrocoating process.

14. The method according to claim 1, further comprising

determining a first level of microorganism presence in a liquid stream within the electrocoating process prior to exposing the at least a portion of the process to the admixture of biosurfactant and solution;

and

determining a second level of microorganism presence in the liquid stream after exposing the at least a portion of the process to the admixture of biosurfactant and solution,

wherein the second level is less than the first level.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of admixing is performed within the electrocoating process.

16. A method of removing microorganisms from an apparatus of an electrocoating process comprising:

applying a biosurfactant to a surface of the apparatus.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the apparatus is a post-rinse system, and the method further comprises:

draining a tank of the post-rinse system to expose a surface of the system prior to exposing the surface with the biosurfactant.

18. A method of inhibiting micro-organism growth in an electrocoating operation comprising:

applying a biosurfactant to a surface of an apparatus within the electrocoating operation; and

admixing an amount of a biocide to a liquid stream within the electrocoating operation.

19. An electrocoating operation comprising:

a surface preparation system;

an electrocoat system following the surface preparation system;

a post rinse system following the electrocoat system;

a curing system following the post rinse system; and

a microorganism inhibiting system integrated with at least one of the surface preparation, electrocoat, post rinse, and curing systems.

20. The operation of claim 19 wherein the microorganism inhibiting system comprises a dispensing apparatus configured to add an effective amount of a biosurfactant to a desired portion of the electrocoating system.

21. The operation of claim 19 wherein the microorganism inhibiting system comprises a dispensing apparatus configured to add an effective amount of a biocide to a desired portion of the electrocoating system.