The Clorox Company

James D Mitchell

Daniel T Carty

James R Latham

Katie K Chow

Jack P Hall

Robert J Iliff

Vincent E Alvarez

Brian J Olson

James M Rubenstein

David Merrill

Alfred G Zielske

Dale S Steichen

Stephen Bradford Kong

David L Deleeuw

William L Smith

Thomas W Kaaret

Lafayette D Foland

James E Deline

Michael J Petrin

Frank M Knafelc

Kevin A Klotter

Thomas Gerret Dewees

James W Arbogast

Thomas M Lipton

James P Farr

R Gregory Taylor

Jeffery P Caddell

Towanda W Yancy

Max F Eckert

Robert C Doster

Michael L Himmelfarb

Samuel J Mitchell

Bottle

Set of interlocking bottles

Upper portion of a bottle

Nitrile activators, such as N-alkyl ammonium acetonitrile activators, are combined with a source of active oxygen as cleaning and bleaching compositions. Preferred activator embodiments of the invention include salts of N-methyl morpholinium acetonitrile, N-butyl morpholinium acetonitrile, N-hexyl morpholinium acetonitrile, and N-octyl morpholinium acetonitrile. A particularly preferred activator embodiment is an N-methyl morpholinium acetonitrile salt. The nitrile and active oxygen react to form a bleaching agent which is applied to a stain on an article. The treated stain is contacted with dense gas so as to provide substantially non-aqueous stain removal. One embodiment is a composition in which the nitrile and active oxygen are disposed in the dense carbon dioxide.

N-alkyl ammonium acetonitrile activators in dense gas cleaning and method

Charcoal briquet

The invention provides a cleaning agent and method for removing stains from fabrics comprising a combination of dense gas, a source of hydrogen peroxide and an organic bleach activator therefor.

Cleaning through perhydrolysis conducted in dense fluid medium

A dry cleaning system particularly suited for employing supercritical CO.sub.2 as the cleaning fluid consisting of a sealable cleaning vessel containing a rotatable drum adapted for holding soiled substrate, a cleaning fluid storage vessel, and a gas vaporizer vessel for recycling used cleaning fluid is provided. The drum is magnetically coupled to a motor so that it can be rotated during the cleaning process. The system is adapted for automation which permits increased energy efficiency as the heating and cooling effect associated with CO.sub.2 gas condensation and expansion can be channeled to heat and cool various parts of the system.

Liquid/supercritical carbon dioxide/dry cleaning system

The invention provides a cleaning method in which a solvent such as densified carbon dioxide can be used for rapid and efficient cleaning, but with decreased damage to solid components such as buttons. The method comprises contacting a substrate to be cleaned with a first fluid, removing the first fluid from contact with the substrate while replacing with a second fluid, and recovering the substrate substantially free of the first and second fluids and from the contaminant. The first fluid is a densified gas while the second fluid is a compressed gas. A preferred embodiment of the method includes the use of a pretreatment designed for compatibility with the densified first fluid.

Liquid/supercritical cleaning with decreased polymer damage

The invention provides a method and composition for the removal of nonpolar stains from a fabric comprising:

Method and composition using densified carbon dioxide and cleaning

A dry cleaning system particularly suited for employing supercritical CO.sub.2 as the cleaning fluid consisting of a sealable cleaning vessel containing a rotatable drum adapted for holding soiled substrate, a cleaning fluid storage vessel, and a gas vaporizer vessel for recycling used cleaning fluid is provided. The drum is magnetically coupled to a motor so that it an be rotated during the cleaning process. The system is adapted for automation which permits increased energy efficiency as the heating and cooling effect associated with CO.sub.2 gas condensation and expansion can be channeled to heat and cool various parts of the system.

Liquid/supercritical carbon dioxide dry cleaning system

The invention relates to a bleaching composition containing an oxidant bleach and enzyme granules, in which enzyme stability is prolonged without undue loss of solubility despite intimate contact of said enzyme granules with said oxidant bleach. In the invention, an oxidant is selected from the group consisting of alkali metal perborates, alkali metal percarbonates, hydrogen peroxide adducts, and mixtures thereof, and combined with an enzyme which is coated substantially completely by a water soluble polymer, in which an additive selected from the group consisting of reducing agents, a transition metal, and mixtures thereof is incorporated to enhance enzyme stability.

Encapsulated enzyme in dry bleach composition

The invention relates to a bleaching composition containing an oxidant bleach and enzyme granules, in which enzyme stability is prolonged without undue loss of solubility despite intimate contact of said enzyme granules and said oxidant bleach, comprising:

Aqueous peroxide bleaching compositions that include surfactant, fluorescent whiteners and dyes are effectively stabilized by the addition of a heavy metal chelating agent and a free radical scavenging agent. Both agents must be present to achieve maximum stability. Particularly preferred chelating agents are the amino polyphosphonates. Particularly preferred free radical scavenging agents are the hydroxybenzenes and especially substituted phenols. Not only is the peroxide oxidizing agent stabilized, but surfactant, fluorescent whitener, and dye as well.

Stabilized liquid hydrogen peroxide bleach compositions

Storage-stable, low temperature-active liquid hydrogen peroxide laundry bleaching compositions are provided. The compositions contain a dispersion of a solid particulate peracid activator in acidic aqueous hydrogen peroxide. The activator is insoluble at the acidic conditions of storage but dissolves and activates the hydrogen peroxide at the alkaline conditions of use in laundry. Optionally the bleaching compositions can contain optical brighteners, surfactants, and/or fabric softeners.

Liquid hydrogen peroxide/peracid precursor bleach: acidic aqueous medium

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Alamo, CA, United States of America

James D Mitchell