PRODUCT AND METHOD FOR THE REMOVAL OF BIOFILMS

1 . A composition for removing biofilms present on a substrate, characterized in that it comprises:

at least one detergent component comprising a sequestrant, a wetting agent and a dispersant;

at least one enzymatic component containing at least one protease, at least one laccase and at least one polysaccharidase

2 . The composition according to claim 1 , characterized in that the composition, after dilution in an aqueous phase, is intended to form a cleaning solution having a pH of between approximately 8 and 11.

3 . The composition according to claim 1 , characterized in that the composition, after dilution in an aqueous phase is intended to form a cleaning solution having a pH of between approximately 6.5 and 7.5 and more particularly of about 7.

4 . The composition according to any of claims 1 to 3 wherein said at least one enzymatic component comprises a proportion of protease(s) of between 10 and 50%, a proportion of laccase(s) of between 5 and 35% and a proportion of polysaccharidase(s) of between 5 and 20% by weight relative to the total weight of the enzymatic component, and optionally a conventional excipient or solvent in an amount to reach 100%.

5 . The composition according to any of claims 1 to 4 , characterized in that said at least one polysaccharidase is an alpha-amylase.

6 . The composition according to any of claims 1 to 5 , characterized in that said at least one detergent component comprises a proportion of sequestrant of between 1 and 10% by weight relative to the total weight of the detergent component.

7 . The composition according to any of claims 1 to 6 , characterized in that said at least one detergent component comprises a proportion of dispersant of between 1 and 10% by weight relative to the total weight of the detergent component.

8 . The composition according to any of claims 1 to 7 , characterized in that said at least one detergent component comprises a proportion of wetting agent of between 1 and 15% by weight relative to the total weight of the detergent component.

9 . The composition according to any of claims 1 to 8 wherein said wetting agent is a non-foaming wetting agent when hot and is preferably chosen from the group of C 6 to C 10 sodium alkyl sulphates, C 6 to C 10 alcohol ether sulphates and C 6 to C 10 alkyl aryl sulphonates.

10 . The composition according to any of claims 1 to 9 wherein said dispersant is a polymer soluble or partly soluble in water such as polyethylene glycol, cellulose derivatives or a polymer comprising at least one acrylic acid or acrylic ester repeat unit, in particular a polymer comprising at least one acrylic acid or acrylic ester repeat unit of general formula —(CH 2 —CH—COOR)— where R represents a hydrogen, alkyl or substituted alkyl, aryl or substituted aryl group, more preferably a polymer having a weight average molecular weight of between approximately 500 and 10000, preferably a polymer of acrylic acid, in particular a homopolymer of acrylic acid having a weight average molecular weight approximately of between 2000 and 6000.

11 . A method for removing biofilms present on a substrate, characterized in that it comprises the following steps of:

-a) providing a detergent composition comprising a sequestrant, a wetting agent and a dispersant, and an enzymatic component containing at least one protease, at least one laccase and at least one polysaccharidase;

-b) placing the detergent component in solution in an aqueous phase;

-c) placing the enzymatic component in solution in the solution formed at step b) to form the solution of said composition according to any of claims 1 to 10 ;

or:

-b′) placing the enzymatic component in solution in an aqueous phase;

-c′) placing the detergent component in solution in the solution formed at step b′) to form the solution of said composition according to any of claims 1 to 10 ;

-d) applying the solution of said composition formed at step c) or c′) to the substrate for a predetermined period of time, in particular of between 15 minutes and 4 hours.

12 . The method according to claim 11 , characterized in that the pH of the solution of said composition formed at step c) or c′) is between approximately 8 and 11.

13 . The method according to claim 11 , characterized in that the pH of the solution of said composition formed at step c) or c′) is between approximately 6.5 and 7.5, and in that a basic solution is added after said application d) of the solution of said composition to said substrate during said predetermined period of time so as to increase the pH to about 8 to 9.

14 . The method according to any of claims 11 to 13 , characterized in that it further comprises a subsequent step to apply a biocide to the substrate.

15 . The use of a composition according to any of claims 1 to 10 to remove biofilms present on a substrate.

16 . The use according to claim 15 to clean floors and surfaces, for cleaning by clean-in-place or by immersion.

17 . A kit to remove biofilms present on a substrate characterized in that it comprises:

at least one sample of detergent component in solution or in solid form, containing a sequestrant, a wetting agent and a dispersant; and

at least one sample of enzymatic component in solution or in solid form containing at least one protease, at least one laccase and at least one polysaccharidase.

18 . The kit according to claim 17 , characterized in that the sample of enzymatic component is an aqueous solution having a pH of approximately between 8 and 10.

19 . The kit according to claim 17 or 18 , characterized in that the sample of detergent component is an aqueous solution having a pH of between approximately 10 and 14, preferably between 12.8 and 13.8.

20 . The kit according to any of claims 17 to 19 further comprising a biocide.