Ecolab Inc.

Lynne A Olson

Elizabeth J Gladfelter

Patricia M Stanley

Wendell D Burch

Kim R Smith

Minyu Li

Scott Randall Olson

Keith D Johnson

Paul J Mattia

Wendy M Wiseth

Daniel J Donovan

Robert Dp Hei

The present invention provides a composition that is suitable for lowering the alkalinity of a textile. The composition is also suitable for cleansing or treating a hard surface or a porous surface. The composition exhibits stability as a solution or as a dispersion at a temperature of about 0&deg; C. to about 8&deg; C. The composition includes a carrier, an acid, and a quaternary phosphonium compound, or a suitable salt or solvate thereof. The present invention also provides a method for cleansing or treating a surface. The method includes contacting the surface with an effective amount of a composition of the present invention to provide a treated or cleansed surface having a pH below about 7.5. The present invention also provides a method for preparing a composition of the present invention. The method includes combining the carrier, the acid, and the quaternary phosphonium compound, or a suitable salt or solvate thereof, in any order, to provide the composition.

Stabilized oxalic acid sour

A blood removing cleaning composition which may take the form of a detergent builder, detergent additive, or detergent pre-spotter, generally including an amount of amine compound effective to remove blood from fabric; and, optionally, an effective soil degrading amount of enzyme, wherein the composition is generally free of any neutral salt. In other preferred forms, the compositions disclosed herein may comprise surfactants, sources of alkalinity, and sequestrants, among other adjuvants.

Removal of blood stains

A sanitizing fabric sour composition can comprise a peracid material. The sanitizing sour materials of the invention can be used in a laundry process in which soiled garments are contacted with the sanitizing sour following an alkaline detergent in a cleaning step. In the souring step, the garments are contacted with the peracid material that both neutralizes alkaline components and sanitizes the cleaned garment. The fabric sour process of the invention can be conducted at reduced temperatures while obtaining sufficient sanitization.

Sanitizing laundry sour

An alkaline emulsion detergent composition with improved phase stability, useful viscosity and excellent soil removal properties can comprise in an aqueous phase, an emulsion comprising a source of alkalinity, a nonionic surfactant blend, a water conditioning agent and an alkyl polyglucoside. The improved stable emulsions can be used in laundry applications or other soil removal processes. The compositions are typically prepared by forming an alkaline nonionic blend combining the blend with a water conditioning agent and the alkyl polyglucoside and shearing the resulting aqueous mixture to form an emulsion characterized by a preferred particle size and viscosity.

Stable alkaline emulsion cleaners

A liquid dispensing apparatus (10) includes a container (70) for holding a liquid product to be dispensed. A docking station (20) receives the container (70). A reservoir tank (50) is positioned in the docking station (20) for receiving the liquid to be dispensed. A docking cup is connected to the docking station for opening a bottle insert (90) which is contained in the container (70). By use of the present invention, contact with the product to be dispensed is reduced as is chemical odor. The lockout feature prevents the wrong product from being dispensed. The product, independent of the viscosity, may be completely emptied from the package.

Closed package liquid dispensing system

A process for creating decolorized areas in dyed fabric, the process comprising the step of contacting wet dyed fabric with a pelletized decolorizing agent and optionally also including quenching the active decolorant present in the decolorizing pellet with a decolorant neutralizer.

Decolorizing dyed fabric or garments

Aqueous processes and compositions of the invention for obtaining a 'stone-washed', distressed or 'used and abused' look in clothing, particularly in the panels and seams of denim jeans and jackets involve compositions that are stone-free that avoid mechanical abrasion of the fabric. In particular, the process and composition of the invention used to obtain the distressed, 'stone-washed' or 'acid washed look' are free of common pumice or pumice-bleach compositions, used in large institutional-size laundry machines, and rely solely on the chemical action of aqueous treatment compositions. The aqueous treatments can be made from liquid or solid concentrates.

Compositions and methods that introduce variations in color density into

Aqueous processes and compositions of the invention for obtaining a 'stone-washed', distressed or 'used and abused' look in clothing, particularly in the panels and seams of denim jeans and jackets involve compositions that are stone-free that avoid mechanical abrasion of the fabric. In particular, the process and composition of the invention used to obtain the distressed, 'stone-washed' or 'acid washed look' are free of common pumice or pumice-bleach compositions, used in large institutional-size laundry machines, and rely solely on the chemical action of aqueous treatment compositions. The aqeuous treatments can be made from liquid or solid concentrates.

Cellulase compositions and methods that introduce variations in color

Denim having a stone washed appearance is produced without stones by treating with a cellulase enzyme. Unsewn dyed denim fabric or a newly manufactured garment made of dyed denim fabric is contacted with an aqueous composition containing at least about 2500 CMCS units of cellulase per liter, and subjected to mechanical action. Preferably, the aqueous composition provides at least about 6000 CMC units of cellulase per pound of unsewn fabric or garment. The aqueous may also contain an electrolyte, a buffer, a builder salt a cellulase activator, an antioxidant and a solubilizer.

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Mendota Heights, MN, United States of America

Lynne A Olson