Ecolab Inc.

Ecolab USA Inc.

Other

Economics Laboratory, Inc.

Keith Edward Olson

Kim R Smith

Steven Eugene Lentsch

Victor F Man

Erik Christian Olson

Bryan Michael Anderson

Robert D P Hei

Michael Bartelme

G Jason Wei

Keith Darrell Lokkesmoe

Michael E Besse

Michael S Rischmiller

Minyu Li

Lee J Monsrud

Lisa Maureen Sanders

Brenda Lynn Tjelta

Sherri Tischler

Burton M Baum

Terence P Everson

Howie Kestell

Kristen Mills

Paul R Kraus

Thomas R Mohs

Kim R Solomon

Eric Richard Balz

Gregory G Griese

Tina O Outlaw

Anthony Wayne Erickson

Joy G Herdt

Mark Peterson

Bryan M Anderson

Richard K Staub

David D McSherry

Mark Dennis Levitt

Yvonne Marie Killeen

James L Copeland

Robert J Ryther

Catherine Hanson

Paul J Mattia

Elizabeth J Gladfelter

Erin Jane Dahlquist

Erin Jane Dahlquist Howlett

James J Tarara

James E Skavnak

Deborah A Ihns

Dan N Tallman

Kent Richard Brittain

Tami Jo Tadrowski

Andrew Steven Wold

Stephen A Morganson

Scott Timothy Russell

Allan L Schuman

Brandon J Schirmer

Scott I DeFields

Thomas W Richardson, Sr

Kelvin D Sundeen

Victoria Jeanne Jackson

Marda K Kirkwood

Douglas J Prideaux

Beth E Benson

James Thorson

Diane K Johnson

Elizabeth A Trinkle

Steven J Lentsch

Helmut J Kammerer

Tom R Oakes

Bill George Mizuno

Howie Kestel

Michael J Bartelme

The present invention is related to methods, apparatuses, and compositions for controlling water hardness. The methods, apparatuses and compositions also reduce scale formation. The present invention includes substantially water insoluble resin materials. The resin materials may be loaded with a plurality of cations.

Methods and apparatus for controlling water hardness

A method of creating a protective coating on an alkali metal hydroxide-containing solid is provided. The method includes providing carbon dioxide to an alkali metal hydroxide-containing solid and allowing the alkali metal hydroxide and carbon dioxide to react thereby forming a carbonate or bicarbonate-containing layer on the exterior of the solid wherein the carbonate or bicarbonate-containing layer is non-hygroscopic and water soluble, and wherein greater than 80% of the hydroxide in the hydroxide-containing solid does not react with the carbon dioxide, and further wherein the alkali metal hydroxide-containing solid is substantially free of lithium hydroxide. A method of testing for the presence of carbonate-containing coating on an alkali metal hydroxide containing solid is also provided. The method includes exposing the coated solid to 95 weight percent ethanol, collecting the ethanol effluent and testing the effluent for alkali metal hydroxide. A suitably coated solid does not have dissolved alkali metal hydroxide in the ethanol effluent or is substantially free of alkali metal hydroxide.

Methods of forming protective coatings for detersive agents

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.

In situ cleaning system

A fluid product dispenser is sized to removably receive a product package containing a supply of the fluid product. The product package includes an internally integrated fluid pump, and the dispenser includes a drive unit powered by flow of a fluid. Flow of the fluid powers the drive unit, which in turn drives the pump internal to the product package, resulting in dispensation of the fluid product in a product/fluid ratio that is independent of the fluid flow rate.

Chemical product dispensing independent of drive fluid flow rate

Methods for using in situ cleaning systems which reduce water hardness and minimize chemical additives are provided. According to the methods and systems, the methods of using may comprise providing feed water to an in situ cleaning system including water treatment components, oxidizing agent generating components and/or alkalinity generating components, contacting one or more articles with a use solution generated by the in situ cleaning system, and washing the one or more articles in a washing system. In addition to the methods of using, the systems for in situ cleaning are provided.

Protective coatings for detersive agents and methods of forming and detecting the same

A soil resistant laminate composition and a soil resistant treatment use composition are provided. In particular, a laminate composition comprising a multilayer composition of a clean surface and a dried layer of a soil resistant agent are disclosed. Soil resistant agents according to the invention include copolymers of a maleic/olefin, an olefin/acrylate and combinations thereof and are suitable for delivery with a water or other organic solvent carrier. A kit and methods for treating a clean surface using a soil resistant laminate composition and a soil resistant treatment use composition are provided by the present invention.

Soil resistant surface treatment

The present invention relates to methods, apparatuses, and systems for treating water. The methods, apparatuses and systems reduce scaling associated with solubilized water hardness using a sequence of water treatment agents, including an inlet, one or more treatment reservoirs containing a first treatment agent that is an exhausted ionic resin that is incapable of performing ion exchange and a second treatment agent consisting of a metal oxide and/or hydroxide compound, an outlet, and a treated water delivery line.

Synergistic interaction of weak cation exchange resin and magnesium oxide

A dilute chemical solution may be prepared in response to a dispense request by combining multiple concentrated chemicals with a diluent. In one example, a target amount of diluent is dispensed into a container until a measured weight of the diluent reaches a target weight. A first concentrated chemical is also dispensed into the container until a measured weight of the first concentrated chemical reaches a target weight. The liquid solution containing the diluent and the first concentrated chemical is withdrawn from the container and applied on a second concentrated chemical that is a solid state product so as to cause the second concentrated chemical to at least partially dissolve and enter the container. In some applications, the first and second concentrated chemicals react with one another to generate an active molecule in the chemical solution that is not present in either of the two concentrated chemicals.

Chemical dilution system

The present invention relates to methods, apparatuses, and systems for treating water. The methods, apparatuses and systems reduce scaling associated with solubilized water hardness using a sequence of water treatment agents, including a first threshold agent shedding weak cation exchange resin and a second magnesium compound conversion agent water treatment. The system or apparatus and methods according to the invention provide synergistic reduction of hard water scaling and elimination of cementing on the insoluble magnesium compound.

The invention discloses compositions, methods and systems for generating alkalinity in situ. The compositions, methods and systems relate to the use of a silver decomposition agent to catalyze the decomposition of a dilute peroxygen source providing highly alkaline cleaning compositions in situ. Methods of cleaning are also disclosed.

Compositions, systems and method for in situ generation of alkalinity

The invention discloses compositions, methods and systems for generating alkalinity in situ. The compositions, methods and systems relate to the use of a manganese decomposition agent to catalyze the decomposition of a dilute peroxygen source providing highly alkaline cleaning compositions in situ. Methods of cleaning are also disclosed.

The invention discloses compositions and methods for generating alkalinity in situ. The compositions and methods relate to the use of a fabric source containing a decomposition agent to catalyze the decomposition of a dilute peroxygen source. The methods provide a highly alkaline cleaning composition produced at a desired time and place of use. Methods of cleaning are also disclosed.

Peroxygen catalyst-containing fabric and use for in situ generation of alkalinity

Growing community of inventors

Apple Valley, MN, United States of America

Keith Edward Olson