Foaming Drain Cleaner Enzyme Reaction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial and residential drains often become clogged due to the accumulation of fatty substances, proteins, cellulose fibers, and other debris, leading to bacterial growth, odors, and pest attraction, posing sanitary issues and regulatory risks, especially in facilities subject to health and sanitation regulations.
Innovation Solution
A foaming drain cleaner system comprising two parts: one containing hydrogen peroxide and the other with catalase, amylase, protease, and a surfactant, which react to generate a stable foam that effectively cleans and sanitizes drain surfaces by decomposing hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen, ensuring prolonged contact with the drain sidewalls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a drain cleaner is simply poured down the drain, then the application process is simple, but the cleaner does not distribute evenly on the sidewalls and cannot maintain contact for sufficient time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the drain cleaner from liquid to foam. The foam formulation allows the cleaner to be poured down the drain (maintaining ease of operation) while the foam structure enables even distribution on sidewalls and prolonged contact time (improving cleaning effectiveness).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates air bubbles within the liquid cleaner to create foam. This pneumatic approach allows the cleaner to expand and adhere to vertical sidewalls, improving distribution and contact time without complicating the application process.
2Ease of operation
If the foam acts too quickly and pushes through the trap, then the application process is simple, but the foam cannot maintain contact with the sidewalls for sufficient time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts the foam stability parameters by selecting specific surfactants and controlling foam density. The foam is formulated to rise slowly and maintain stability, ensuring prolonged contact with sidewalls (at least 5 minutes) while still being able to push through the trap eventually to clean the entire drain system.
3Reliability
If multiple separate products are used for cleaning and sanitizing, then each product can be optimized for its specific function, but the process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines cleaning agents (enzymes, surfactants) and sanitizing agents (oxidizing agents, biocides) into a single foam formulation. This merging allows both cleaning and sanitizing functions to be performed simultaneously in one application step, reducing process complexity while maintaining functional effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The drain cleaner foam is designed with multi-functionality, incorporating both cleaning capabilities (breaking down organic matter) and sanitizing capabilities (killing bacteria and pathogens). This universal formulation eliminates the need for separate cleaning and sanitizing steps.
4Area of stationary object
If the foam is made to fill the drain completely, then cleaning coverage is improved, but the foam may discharge from the drain before completing the cleaning process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent controls foam density and rise rate parameters to optimize the balance between filling coverage and residence time. The foam is formulated to rise slowly enough to maintain contact with sidewalls for adequate cleaning time, yet eventually push through the trap to achieve complete drainage and prevent standing foam.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides a fast-acting, stable foam that completely fills the drain, allowing for simultaneous cleaning and sanitizing, reducing bacterial populations by 99.9% within five minutes, while maintaining effectiveness over extended storage periods.
Implementation Method 1
a second part that contains catalase to catalyze decomposition of the hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen
Implementation Method 2
catalyze decomposition of the hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen
Implementation Method 3
One or both of the parts may contain a variety of components to perform cleaning functions and to build and maintain the foam such as, e.g., an amylase, a protease, and a surfactant
Implementation Method 4
One or both of the parts may contain a variety of components to perform cleaning functions such as, e.g., an amylase, a protease
Data Source
AI summary
A drain cleaner may be used on a periodic basis to clean soil residues from residential and commercial waste drains. The drain cleaner may chemically self-foam to fill a waste drain with the foam. For example, the drain cleaner may be provided in two or more parts that are physically intermixed during use of the drain cleaner. One part may include hydrogen peroxide and water while another part may include a catalase, an amylase, a protease, and an enzyme stabilizer. The drain cleaner may also include a surfactant present in at least one of the first part and the second part. Additionally, in some examples, the drain cleaner includes a sanitizing agent present in either of the two parts or in yet a third physically separate part. During use, the different drain cleaner parts can be dispensed simultaneously into a drain to generate a cleaning and/or sanitizing foam in-situ.