Moderately Alkaline Cleaning Compositions for Low-Temperature Soil Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current alkaline cleaning compositions face challenges in effectively removing protein and fat soils at low temperatures, particularly below 120°F, due to the limitations of traditional alkalinity and chlorine ratios, which affect cleaning performance and efficiency in manual cleaning operations.
Innovation Solution
The development of moderately alkaline cleaning compositions with optimized chlorine and alkalinity ratios, specifically a reversal of traditional chlorine to alkalinity ratios greater than 1:1, and the use of long chain amine oxide surfactants to enhance protein and fat soil removal at low temperatures without compromising cleaning performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If highly alkaline cleaning compositions are used to remove protein soils, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but corrosion and wear on surfaces increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the cleaning composition by using moderately alkaline materials (pH 8-11) instead of highly alkaline materials, and optimizes the chlorine to alkalinity ratio to greater than 1:1. This parameter change maintains cleaning effectiveness while reducing corrosivity to surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite cleaning system by combining moderately alkaline materials with chlorine in specific ratios, along with surfactants and other additives. This composite approach allows the formulation to achieve effective protein and fat removal through multiple mechanisms while the moderate alkalinity reduces harmful corrosion effects.
2Loss of energy
If low temperature cleaning is used to reduce energy costs, then energy consumption is reduced, but cleaning performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes chemical parameters including chlorine concentration, alkalinity levels, and surfactant ratios to enhance cleaning performance at low temperatures. The optimized chlorine to alkalinity ratio greater than 1:1 and specific surfactant selections enable effective soil removal without requiring high temperature energy input.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces surfactants as intermediary substances that facilitate soil removal at low temperatures by reducing surface tension and enabling emulsification of fats and proteins. These intermediaries allow the cleaning process to proceed effectively without the need for thermal energy to break down soil-surface bonds.
3Device complexity
If traditional chlorine to alkalinity ratios are used, then formulation simplicity is maintained, but cleaning performance at low temperatures deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional chlorine to alkalinity ratio to greater than 1:1, which is a significant parameter change from conventional formulations. This ratio optimization, combined with specific surfactant selections, enables superior low-temperature cleaning performance while maintaining a relatively simple two-component base formulation.
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
These compositions demonstrate superior cleaning performance at temperatures as low as 50°F, reducing corrosion and wear on surfaces while maintaining effective soil removal, thus offering significant cost savings and improved efficiency in food processing and other industrial applications.
Implementation Method 1
Chlorine is typically employed to degrade protein by oxidative cleavage and hydrolysis of the peptide bond
Implementation Method 2
Chlorine is typically employed to degrade protein by oxidative cleavage and hydrolysis of the peptide bond
Implementation Method 3
Proteins hydrate and swell when they come into contact with water which helps alkalis to react with them, forming soluble salts
Implementation Method 4
highly alkaline institutional cleaners that chemically saponify fats and remove the saponification reaction products
Implementation Method 5
Wetting agents can also be used to increase the wettability and suspendability of proteins
Implementation Method 6
increasing the temperature decreases the strength of bonds between the soil and the surface, decreases viscosity and increases turbulent action, increases the solubility of soluble materials, and increases chemical reaction rates
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention comprises chlorinated and non-chlorinated alkaline cleaning compositions for removal of proteinaceous and fatty soils at low temperature, i.e. less than 120° F., with little or no deleterious affect on cleaning performance. According to the invention, applicants have found that adding additional alkalinity makes protein removal more difficult and reducing the amount of alkalinity actually improves performance. According to the invention optimized combinations of chlorine and alkalinity components for low temperature cleaning as well as a surfactant system optimized for low temperature fatty soil removal are disclosed.