Two-Soak Wash

• US 20130118532A1
• Filed: 08/22/2011
• Published: 05/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Novozymes A/S (Novozymes)
• Original Assignee: Novozymes A/S (Novozymes)
• Inventors: Baltsen, Lillian Eva Tang, Damhus, Ture
• Application Number:
  US13/810,284
• Publication Number:
  US 20130118532A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/26
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/04 Cleaning involving contact with liquid
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 2111/12 Soft surfaces, e.g. textile
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 2111/44 Multi-step processes
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/386 Preparations containing enzymes , e.g. protease or amylase

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for cleaning an object comprising the steps: (a) distributing to the object a first soak solution comprising at least one surfactant and at least one enzyme followed by a first soak period wherein the concentrations of the at least one surfactant and the at least one enzyme are higher relative to their concentrations in a subsequent wash solution; (b) adding to the object a second soak solution comprising at least one component that is different from any of the components comprised in the soak solution of (a) followed by a second soak period; (c) furthermore adding to the object water to obtain a wash solution followed by a wash period; and (d) rinsing the object; wherein step (b) is conducted either before or after step (c), and wherein said method has a wash performance corresponding to any of (i) a Relative Wash Performance (RWP) of at least 1; (ii) a Process Related Cleaning Index (PRCI) of more than 1; or (iii) a Relative Wash Performance (RWP) of at least 1 and a Process Related Cleaning Index (PRCI) of more than 1.

Claims

1-15. -15. (canceled)

16. A method for cleaning an object comprising the steps:

(a) distributing to the object a first soak solution comprising at least one surfactant and at least one enzyme followed by a first soak period wherein the concentrations of the at least one surfactant and the at least one enzyme are higher relative to their concentrations in a subsequent wash solution;

(b) adding to the object a second soak solution comprising at least one component that is different from any of the components comprised in the soak solution of (a) followed by a second soak period;

(c) furthermore adding to the object water to obtain a wash solution followed by a wash period; and

(d) rinsing the object;

wherein step (b) is conducted either before or after step (c), and wherein said method has a wash performance corresponding to any of (i) a Relative Wash Performance (RWP) of at least 1;

(ii) a Process Related Cleaning Index (PRCI) of more than 1;

or (iii) a Relative Wash Performance (RWP) of at least 1 and a Process Related Cleaning Index (PRCI) of more than 1.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one component is selected from the group containing:

bleaching system components, proteases, and polymers.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein bleaching system components include bleaching catalysts, photobleaches, bleach activators, hydrogen peroxide, preformed peracids and mixtures thereof.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein no agitation or other mechanical action is applied during the soak period after the initial agitation for the purpose of distributing the soak solution and wetting the object.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the concentration of the at least one enzyme in the wash solution is obtained by diluting the soak solution with a factor of at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the soak period is from 1 to 120 minutes.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein the wash period is from 5 to 120 minutes.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein the first soak period and/or the second soak period and/or the wash period individually is conducted at a temperature below 40°

C.

24. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one enzyme is selected from the group consisting of:

hemicellulases, peroxidases, proteases, cellulases, xylanases, lipases, phospholipases, esterases, cutinases, pectinases, mannanases, pectate lyases, keratinases, reductases, oxidases, phenoloxidases, lipoxygenases, ligninases, pullulanases, tannases, pentosanases, malanases, beta-glucanases, arabinosidases, hyaluronidases, chondroitinases, laccases, and amylases, or any combination thereof.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the at least one enzyme is a mixture comprising an amylase, a cellulase, a lipase and a protease.

26. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one enzyme is used at an amount from 0 to 20 milligrams enzyme protein per gram textile.

27. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one surfactant is selected from the group consisting of:

anionic surfactants;

cationic surfactants;

zwitterionic surfactants;

amphoteric surfactants;

nonionic surfactants or any combinations thereof.

28. The method of claim 16, wherein the concentration of the at least one surfactant is from 0 to 500 milligrams per gram textile.

29. The method of claim 16, wherein the object is fabric/textile.