Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – Enzyme component of specific activity or source
Reexamination Certificate
2001-08-27
2003-04-08
Gupta, Yogendra N. (Department: 1751)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
Enzyme component of specific activity or source
C510S220000, C510S221000, C510S226000, C510S229000, C435S264000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06544941
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a dishwashing composition. More particularly, the invention is directed to a dishwashing composition comprising an enzyme mixture. The enzyme mixture comprises serine protease and metallo-protease, and the dishwashing composition formulated with the same unexpectedly displays excellent protein soil removal in both domestic and industrial dishwashing applications.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Traditional domestic and industrial dishwashing compositions rely on a combination of high alkalinity detergent washes and chlorine bleach for cleaning and sanitizing dishware. Such systems perform well on bleachable stains; however, they can be deficient at removing protein-comprising soils like those often found on dishware in domestic kitchens, hospitals, cafeterias, catering industries and the like. In addition, such highly alkaline and chlorine-containing compositions are not considered consumer or environmentally friendly.
Attempts have been made to create dishwashing compositions that are effective at handling protein-comprising soils. These compositions typically employ proteases under alkaline conditions (e.g., pH of at least 9.5). Such compositions, however, have a significant drawback in that they are difficult to formulate in liquid or gel form. This is true because alkaline conditions are known to destroy enzyme stability in compositions that are in the liquid or gel form. Additionally, alkaline dishwashing compositions can be classified as irritants and thus not consumer friendly.
Other attempts have been made to create low pH (e.g., pH less than 9.5) dishwashing compositions. These compositions are safer, environmentally friendly and capable of being made in liquid or gel form. However, dishwashing compositions of low pH have proven to be very ineffective at removing protein-comprising soils, even when high amounts of enzymes, such as proteases, are formulated within the compositions.
It is of increasing interest to develop a dishwashing composition that nay be in the form of a powder, tablet, liquid, paste or gel and that displays excellent protein-comprising soil removal in both domestic and industrial dishwashing applications. Moreover, it is desirable to develop a dishwashing composition that is a safer, environmentally friendly and effective at removing protein-comprising soils. This invention, therefore, is directed to a dishwashing composition that unexpectedly displays superior protein-comprising soil removal, even at pH levels that are conducive to enzyme stability in liquids.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Efforts have been disclosed for making stable enzyme systems. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,511,490, cooperative enzymes comprising alkaline or mixtures of alkaline and neutral proteases, in the absence of stabilizers, are shown.
Other efforts have been disclosed for making dishwashing compositions. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,719,112, a dishwashing composition comprising lipase and a hydrophobically modified (co)polymer of acrylic acid is described.
Even further, attempts have been made to make proteolytic enzyme cleaners. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,197,739, compositions for use as soil removing agents in the food processing industry are disclosed.
In WO 00/60042, detergent compositions with a metello-protease are disclosed wherein the metallo-protease has more than 15 AU/mg of caseinolytic activity.
None of the references above describe a dishwashing composition with an enzyme mixture having a serine protease and a metallo-protease that unexpectedly displays excellent protein soil removal in both domestic and industrial dishwashing applications.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a first aspect, the present invention is directed to a dishwashing composition effective at removing protein-comprising soils, the dishwashing composition comprising:
(a) a serine protease; and
(b) a metallo-protease.
In a second aspect, the present invention is directed to a method for cleaning soiled items (e.g., removing protein-comprising soils) whereby the method uses the dishwashing composition of the first aspect of this invention.
In a third aspect, the present invention is directed to a low pH dishwashing composition effective for removing protein-comprising soils.
Dishwashing as used herein, can include machine or automatic dishwashing, industrial warewashing and hand dishwashing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
There is generally no limitation with respect to the serine protease that may be used in this invention other than that the serine protease is one which may be used in a dishwashing composition. Such proteases are typically derived from
Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus lentus
(alcalophilus), and
Bacillus subtilis
. Other serine proteases which may be used in this invention include those which may be derived from the visceral organs of animals, like the yellowfin tuna, and from vegetables (e.g., cruciferous vegetable abstracts) like broccoli. Often, the serine protease which is used in this invention is selected from the group consisting of chymotrypsin, trypsin, subtilisin and mixtures thereof.
The serine proteases which may be used in this invention include Novozymes A/S enzymes sold as Alcalase, Esperase, Savinase, and Relase. Subtulisin BPN and BPN′ may also be used, as well as Maxatase and Maxapem 15, Properase, Purafect, and Purafect Ox, all of which are made commercially available from suppliers like Genencor International. Other serine proteases which may be used in this invention include those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,207,631, 5,470,733 and 5,030,378, and WO 01/44452, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
It is particularly noted herein, therefore, that serine proteases classified as I-S1 and I-S2 proteases can be used in the dishwashing composition of this invention. Moreover, protein engineered versions (i.e., “derivatives” having amino acid insertions, deletions or substitutions or a combination thereof) of the serine proteases described herein may also be used in the dishwashing compositions of this invention. Preferred serine proteases which may be used in this invention include those made available by Novozymes A/S and sold under the name Savinase, Relase, Properase and Purafect. Especially preferred serine proteases which may be used in this invention are selected from the above-described and are those having a maximum activity at an alkaline pH, whereby alkaline pH is a pH from about 7.0 to about 11.5, and preferably, from about 7.5 to about 11.0, and most preferably, from about 8.0 to about 11.0, including all ranges subsumed therein.
The metallo-protease that may be used in this invention includes any of those which may be used in a dishwashing composition. These metallo-proteases are, for example, derived from bacterium selected from the group consisting of
bacillus amyloliquefaciens, bacillus subtilis, bacillus stearothermophilus
and
bacillus thermoproteolyticus
, and fungi selected from the group consisting of
Aspergillus oryzae
and
Aspergillus niger.
Such metallo-proteases are made commercially available from suppliers like Novozymes A/S, Röhm Enzyme, Godo Shusei Co., Ltd., Solvay Enzymes, Genencor International, and Amano Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. The metallo-proteases are sold under the names Neutrase, Corolase (Corolase 7089 being especially preferred), Godo-BNP, HT Proteolytic, Panazyme, Veron PS, and Fungal Protease P. Especially preferred metallo-proteases which may be used in this invention are those selected from the above-described and are those having a maximum activity at a pH from about 5.0 to about 10.0, and preferably, from about 5.5 to about 9.5, and most preferably, from about 6.0 to about 9.0, including all ranges subsumed therein. Furthermore, similar to the serine protease that may be used in this invention, it is within the scope of the invention to use protein engineered versions (i.e., “derivatives” having amino acid insertions, deletions or substitutions or a combination thereof) of the above-described metallo-proteas
Ghatlia Naresh Dhirajlal
Lee Christine Marie Nixon
Gupta Yogendra N.
Koatz Ronald A.
Kumar Preeti
Unilever Home & Personal Care USA , division of Conopco, Inc.
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