IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,735,657
Granted Patent B2
US 12,735,657 · App. 16/948,765 · Granted Sep 15, 2026

Stabilized enzymatic detergent compositions

Inventors: Wendy Lo (Saint Paul, MN); David Riehm (Saint Paul, MN); Erik C. Olson (Saint Paul, MN); Sarah Cronin (Saint Paul, MN); Michael S. Rischmiller (Saint Paul, MN); Carter M. Silvernail (Saint Paul, MN); Devon Beau Hammel (Saint Paul, MN); Jack Lehman (Saint Paul, MN); Jesse Ray Murphy (Saint Paul, MN)
Assignee: ECOLAB USA INC.
C11D3/38618C11D1/72C11D3/044C11D3/10C11D3/2048C11D3/2065C11D3/2082C11D3/30C11D3/349C11D3/3707C11D3/38627C11D17/0008C11D2111/16C11D2111/18
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,735,657
App. No.
16/948,765
Granted
Sep 15, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a stable, low-foaming enzymatic detergent compositions and methods of making and using the same. In a preferred embodiment, the enzymatic detergent compositions are particularly useful for cleaning medical and dental instruments. In a preferred embodiment, the enzymatic detergent compositions demonstrate stability after storage for at least about 4 weeks and at temperatures greater than room temperature.

Claims (28)

1 . A low-foaming, enzymatic liquid detergent composition comprising:

from about 10 wt. % to about 60 wt. % of a polyol, wherein the polyol is a mixture comprising glycerin, sorbitol and propylene glycol;

from about 1 wt. % to about 5 wt. % of an enzyme; wherein the enzyme comprises a protease, a lipase and an amylase;

from about 1 wt. % and about 15 wt. % of a buffer, wherein the buffer comprises a mixture of an alcohol amine and a C1-C6 polycarboxylic acid; wherein the alcohol amine comprises ethanolamine, wherein the C1-C6 polycarboxylic acid comprises citric acid;

from about 0.1 wt. % to about 10 wt. % of a preservative, wherein said preservative is an isothiazolinone; and

from about 15 wt. % to about 75 wt. % water;

wherein the composition is a liquid and provides a pH of between about 6.5 and about 9.5 during use; wherein the composition during use provides about ½ of an inch or less of foam at about 40° C. after about 15 seconds; wherein the composition has less than 0.5 wt. % of borate containing compounds; wherein the composition has less than 0.5 wt. % of an amine oxide; and wherein the composition has less than 0.5 wt. % of an alkyl polyglucoside.

2 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the polyol is in a concentration between about 15 wt. % and about 60 wt. %.

3 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the enzyme is in a concentration of between about 2 wt. % and about 4 wt. %.

4 . The composition of claim 3 , wherein the enzyme is in a concentration between about 2 wt. % and about 3.5 wt. %.

5 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a corrosion inhibitor, a defoamer, a water conditioning agent, a short chain alkylbenzene and/or alkyl naphthalene sulfonate, or a combination thereof.

6 . The composition of claim 5 , wherein the water conditioning agent is a polyacrylic acid polymer.

7 . The composition of claim 5 , wherein the defoamer comprises an EO/PO block copolymer.

8 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition has a pH of between about 7 and about 9.

9 . The composition of claim 7 , wherein the composition further comprises a C8-C13 branched alcohol alkoxylate.

10 . A method of manufacturing the enzymatic detergent composition of claim 1 comprising:

combining and mixing the polyol; the enzyme; the buffer; and the water to form the detergent composition.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the enzyme is combined and mixed last.

12 . A method of cleaning a surface comprising:

diluting the composition of claim 1 to form a cleaning solution, wherein the cleaning solution has a concentration of between about 500 ppm to about 5000 ppm;

contacting the surface with the cleaning solution;

rinsing the surface with water.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the contacting step comprises submerging the surface in the cleaning solution.

14 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising a presoak step prior to the contacting step.

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the diluting step is at a dilution ratio of between about 1/32 oz/gal and about 1 oz/gal.

16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the surface is an instrument, wherein the instrument is soiled with blood and/or mammalian tissue; wherein the blood and/or mammalian tissue are removed from the instrument during the contacting and/or rinsing steps; wherein the contacting step is performed at a temperature between about 50° F. and about 150° F.; wherein the cleaning solution has a concentration of between about 1000 ppm and about 4000 ppm; and wherein the method further comprising a disinfecting step; and wherein the disinfecting step is performed with a sanitizer and/or at a temperature greater than about 200° F.

17 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the surface is ware; wherein the cleaning solution has a concentration of between about 100 ppm and about 5000 ppm; and wherein the contacting step is performed at a temperature between about 50° F. and about 180° F.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the cleaning solution has a concentration of between about 250 ppm and about 2500 ppm; and wherein the cleaning solution has a pH of between about 6.5 and about 9.5; and wherein the cleaning solution provides about ½ of an inch or less of foam at about 40° C. after about 30 seconds.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 30, 2023
From: LO, WENDY; RIEHM, DAVID; OLSON, ERIK C.; CRONIN, SARAH; RISCHMILLER, MICHAEL S.; SILVERNAIL, CARTER M.; HAMMEL, DEVON BEAU; LEHMAN, JACK; MURPHY, JESSE
To: ECOLAB USA INC.
Reel/Frame 064129/0396 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62907931 · Sep 30, 2019
Related Publication 20210095231A1 · Apr 1, 2021
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