IN-SITU CLEANING SYSTEM

• US 20110067732A1
• Filed: 09/22/2010
• Published: 03/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Inventors: Olson, Erik C., Smith, Kim R., Rischmiller, Michael S., Olson, Keith E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,459,275 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/10
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/08 the liquid having chemical or dissolving effect substances used, see the relevant classes
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/10 with additional treatment of the liquid or of the object being cleaned, e.g. by heat, by electricity or by vibration
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/001 Processes for the treatment of water whereby the filtration technique is of importance C02F1/44 takes precedence; construction of filters in general B01D24/00 - B01D41/00
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/42 by ion-exchange ion-exchange in general B01J
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/4618 for producing "ionised" acidic or basic water
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/4672 by electrooxydation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/5236 using inorganic agents
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/68 by addition of specified substances, e.g. trace elements, for ameliorating potable water medicinal water A61K
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2001/425 using cation exchangers
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/02 Non-contaminated water, e.g. for industrial water supply
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/4618 Supplying or removing reactants or electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 5/08 Treatment of water with complexing chemicals or other solubilising agents for softening, scale prevention or scale removal, e.g. adding sequestering agents
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/0005 Other compounding ingredients characterised by their effect
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/0057 Oven-cleaning compositions
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/10 Carbonates ; Bicarbonates
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/3942 Inorganic per-compounds C11D3/3902 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/395 Bleaching agents

Abstract

In situ cleaning systems and methods of use are disclosed and provide cleaning use solutions with minimal chemical additives providing environmentally-friendly cleaning compositions. The in situ cleaning system provides one or more in situ cleaning components, including water treatment components, oxidizing agent generating component and/or alkalinity generating component, providing a cleaning use solution to a washing system.

Claims

1. An in situ cleaning system comprising:

(a) an inlet capable of providing feed water to an in situ cleaning component;

(b) an in situ cleaning component comprising one or more of;

(i) a water treatment component;

(ii) an oxidizing agent generating component; and

(iii) an alkalinity generating component; and

(c) an outlet in fluid communication with a washing system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more in situ cleaning components are provided in a single housing.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more in situ cleaning components are provided in a plurality of housings.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the cleaning system is positioned external to the washing system.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the cleaning system is positioned internally to the washing system.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the water treatment component is capable of reducing a source of solubilized water hardness in the feed water.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the water treatment component comprises a threshold agent.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the water treatment component is a treatment reservoir comprising one or more conversion agents selected from the group of metal oxides, metal hydroxides, and mixtures thereof.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the conversion agent is a solid and is agitated in a bed of the treatment reservoir by a method selected from the group consisting of the flow of water through the column, fluidization, mechanical agitation, high flow backwash, recirculation, and combinations thereof.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the water treatment component comprises one or more catalysts positioned inside a treatment reservoir and is selected from the group consisting of a source of magnesium, aluminum, zinc, and titanium ions and is bound to a supporting material.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the supporting material comprises a weak acid cation resin selected from the group consisting of an acrylic acid polymer, a methacrylic acid polymer, and mixtures there.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the water treatment component comprises a removable cartridge.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the water treatment component comprises an alkaline source to increase the pH of the water source to greater than about 9.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the water treatment component includes an inlet for providing a water soluble source of magnesium to the feed water.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the oxidizing agent generating component comprises an electrochemical unit capable of producing an oxidizing agent selected from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, ozone, a peracid, a halogen bleach, and mixtures thereof and further comprises a bypass line fluidly connected between the oxidizing agent generating component and the washing system.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the electrochemical unit further provides a source of alkalinity.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the alkalinity generating component comprises a decomposition agent selected from the group consisting of a source of manganese, a source of silver, and combinations thereof, wherein the decomposition agent catalyzes the decomposition of an oxidizing agent to form a source of alkalinity when contacted with the oxidizing agent.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the decomposition agent is provided on a support medium comprising an inert support bed having low water solubility and is selected from the group consisting of magnesium oxide, magnesium hydroxide, zinc oxide, titanium oxide, silicon oxide, aluminum silicate, ceramic, carbon, polymeric material and combinations thereof.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the decomposition agent is provided on a support medium comprising a fabric selected from the group consisting of a sponge, a non-woven material, a woven material, an extruded film, a laminate, and combinations thereof.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the alkalinity generating component comprises an electrochemical unit capable of producing a source of alkalinity, and an inlet in fluid communication with the electrochemical cell, wherein the inlet provides a source of alkali metal carbonate, bicarbonate, and mixtures thereof to the electrochemical cell.

21. The system of claim 1, further comprising an additional ingredient inlet in fluid communication with the outlet, wherein the additional ingredient inlet is capable of providing an additional ingredient to the washing system and consists essentially of a surfactant and/or is substantially free of a source of alkalinity and/or a builder.

24. A method for in situ cleaning use solution generation comprising:

(a) replacing the need for chemicals selected from the group consisting of sources of alkalinity in a detergent, builders, polymers, chlorinated bleach and mixtures thereof;

(b) providing feed water to an in situ cleaning system according to claim 1; and

(c) generating an in situ cleaning use solution from said in situ cleaning system.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the water treatment component of the in situ cleaning system replaces the need for builders, polymers and mixtures thereof, wherein the oxidizing agent generating component of the in situ cleaning system replaces the need for chlorinated bleach, and wherein the alkalinity generating component of the in situ cleaning system replaces the need for sources of alkalinity in a detergent.

22. A method for cleaning using a cleaning compound from an in situ cleaning system comprising:

(a) providing feed water to an in situ cleaning system said cleaning system comprising one or more of;

(i) a water treatment component;

(ii) an oxidizing agent generating component; and

(iii) an alkalinity generating component;

wherein the cleaning system provides a use solution, and

(b) contacting an article with the use solution, such that the article is cleaned.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the use solution comprises at least one of a source of oxidizing agent, a source of alkalinity, water having a reduced solubilized hardness level, and combinations thereof.