WATER TREATMENT SYSTEM AND DOWNSTREAM CLEANING METHODS
First Claim
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1. A method for reducing solubilized water hardness in a water source, said method comprising:
- (a) contacting the water source having a pH of between about 6 and about 9 with a composition comprising a solid conversion agent, wherein the conversion agent causes calcium hardness ions in the water source to substantially precipitate in a non-calcite crystalline form that does not need to be removed from the water source, such that the solubilized water hardness is substantially reduced.
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Abstract
The present invention provides methods for treating an aqueous system comprising contacting the aqueous system with a composition comprising a conversion agent. The methods of the present invention reduce the solubilized water hardness and/or reduce or inhibit scale formation in an aqueous system. Further, the methods of the present invention impact the chemistries needed in downstream cleaning processes employing water treated in accordance with the methods of the present invention.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. A method for reducing solubilized water hardness in a water source, said method comprising:
(a) contacting the water source having a pH of between about 6 and about 9 with a composition comprising a solid conversion agent, wherein the conversion agent causes calcium hardness ions in the water source to substantially precipitate in a non-calcite crystalline form that does not need to be removed from the water source, such that the solubilized water hardness is substantially reduced. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of using a treated water source to clean an article said method comprising:
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(a) treating a water source with a composition comprising a conversion agent, wherein the conversion agent causes calcium hardness ions in the water source to substantially precipitate in a non-calcite crystalline form that does not need to be removed from the water source, such that the solubilized hardness of the water is substantially reduced; (b) forming a use solution with the treated water and a detergent; and (c) contacting the article with the use solution such that the article is cleaned. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An apparatus for treating a water source for use in an automatic warewashing machine comprising:
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(a) an inlet for providing the water source to a treatment reservoir; (b) a treatment reservoir comprising a conversion agent; (c) an outlet for providing treated water from the reservoir; and (d) a treated water delivery line for providing the treated water to the automatic warewashing machine. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A system for use in a cleaning process, said system comprising:
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(a) providing a water source to an apparatus for treating the water source said apparatus comprising; (i) an inlet for providing the water source to a treatment reservoir; (ii) a treatment reservoir comprising a conversion agent; (iii) an outlet for providing treated water from the reservoir; and (iv) a treated water delivery line for providing the treated water to the automatic washing machine; and (b) providing treated water to an automatic washing machine from the treated water delivery line of the apparatus; and (c) combining the treated water with a detersive composition to provide a use composition. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42)
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- 43. A method for reducing scale formation in an aqueous system comprising contacting the aqueous system with a composition consisting essentially of a solid conversion agent, wherein the conversion agent causes calcium hardness ions in the water source to substantially precipitate in a non-calcite crystalline form that does not need to be removed from the water source, such that scale formation in the aqueous system is reduced.
Specification