Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – Enzyme component of specific activity or source
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-16
2003-08-05
Douyon, Lorna M. (Department: 1751)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
Enzyme component of specific activity or source
C510S441000, C510S530000, C435S176000, C435S187000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06602841
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Recently the use of enzymes, especially of microbial origin, has become more and more common. Enzymes are used in several industries including, for example, the starch industry, the dairy industry, and the detergent industry. It is well known in the detergent industry that the use of enzymes, particularly proteolytic enzymes, has created industrial hygiene concerns for detergent factory workers, particularly due to the health risks associated with dustiness of the available enzymes.
Since the introduction of enzymes into the detergent business, many developments in the granulation and coating of enzymes have been offered by the industry. See for example the following patents relating to enzyme granulation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,106,991 describes an improved formation of enzyme granules by including within the composition undergoing granulation, finely divided cellulose fibers in an amount of 2-40% w/w based on the dry weight of the whole composition. In addition, this patent describes that waxy substances can be used to coat the particles of the granulate.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,689,297 describes enzyme containing particles which comprise a particulate, water dispersible core which is 150-2,000 microns in its longest dimension, a uniform layer of enzyme around the core particle which amounts to 10%-35% by weight of the weight of the core particle, and a layer of macro-molecular, film-forming, water soluble or dispersible coating agent uniformly surrounding the enzyme layer wherein the combination of enzyme and coating agent is from 25-55% of the weight of the core particle. The core material described in this patent includes clay, a sugar crystal enclosed in layers of corn starch which is coated with a layer of dextrin, agglomerated potato starch, particulate salt, agglomerated trisodium citrate, pan crystallized NaCl flakes, bentonite granules or prills, granules containing bentonite, Kaolin and diatomaceous earth or sodium citrate crystals. The film forming material may be a fatty acid ester, an alkoxylated alcohol, a polyvinyl alcohol or an ethoxylated alkylphenol.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,740,469 describes an enzyme granular composition consisting essentially of from 1-35% by weight of an enzyme and from 0.5-30% by weight of a synthetic fibrous material having an average length of from 100-500 micron and a fineness in the range of from 0.05-0.7 denier, with the balance being an extender or filler. The granular composition may further comprise a molten waxy material, such as polyethylene glycol, and optionally a colorant such as titanium dioxide.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,254,283 describes a particulate material which has been coated with a continuous layer of a non-water soluble, warp size polymer. U.S. Pat. No. 5,324,649 describes enzyme-containing granules having a core, an enzyme layer and an outer coating layer. The enzyme layer and, optionally, the core and outer coating layer contain a vinyl polymer.
WO 91/09941 describes an enzyme containing preparation whereby at least 50% of the enzymatic activity is present in the preparation as enzyme crystals. The preparation can be either a slurry or a granulate.
WO 97/12958 discloses a microgranular enzyme composition. The granules are made by fluid-bed agglomeration which results in granules with numerous carrier or seed particles coated with enzyme and bound together by a binder.
However, even in light of these developments offered by the industry (as described above) there is a continuing need for low-dust enzyme granules which have additional beneficial characteristics. Additional beneficial characteristics needed in the enzyme granulation industry are low-residue granule formulations (where low residue is defined as a reduced tendency to leave noticeable undissolved residues on clothes or other material), and improved stability formulations. Accomplishing all these desired characteristics simultaneously is a particularly challenging task since, for example, many delayed release or low-dust agents such as fibrous cellulose or warp size polymers leave behind insoluble residues.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide low-dust, low residue, highly soluble enzyme granules having increased stability. It is another object of the present invention to provide processes which afford the formation of such improved granules.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One embodiment of the present invention is a granule that includes a protein core and a hydrated barrier material with moderate or high water activity. The hydrated barrier material can be in one or more layers and/or can be included in the protein core.
A further embodiment of the present invention is a granule that includes an enzyme core and a hydrated barrier material with moderate or high water activity. The hydrated barrier material can be in one or more layers and/or can be included in the enzyme core.
Another embodiment is a method of producing the above granule.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a granule with improved stability having low dust. The granule includes a protein core and a hydrated barrier material with moderate or high water activity.
A “protein core” or an “enzyme core” can be homogenous such as that described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/995,457, now abandoned, or layered as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,324,649.
Proteins that are within the scope of the present invention include pharmaceutically important proteins such as hormones or other therapeutic proteins and industrially important proteins such as enzymes.
Any enzyme or combination of enzymes may be used in the present invention. Preferred enzymes include those enzymes capable of hydrolyzing substrates, e.g. stains. These enzymes are known as hydrolases which include, but are not limited to, proteases (bacterial, fungal, acid, neutral or alkaline), amylases (alpha or beta), lipases, cellulases and mixtures thereof. Particularly preferred enzymes are subtilisins and cellulases. Most preferred are subtilisins such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,760,025, EP Patent 130 756 B1 and EP Patent Application WO 91/06637, which are incorporated herein by reference, and cellulases such as Multifect L250™ and Puradax™, commercially available from Genencor International. Other enzymes that can be used in the present invention include oxidases, transferases, dehydratases, reductases, hemicellulases and isomerases.
As noted, the barrier material can be coated over the protein core in one or more layers or made part of the protein core in order to insulate or to impede transport of water and inactivating substances to the protein. When the barrier material is part of the protein core, it can be dispersed throughout the core or as a layer in the core.
Suitable hydrated barrier materials with moderate or high water activity can include salts of an inorganic or organic acid, sugars, polysaccharides, lipids, proteins or synthetic polymers, preferably salts.
The term “water activity”, symbolized a
w
, refers to the fractional relative humidity of an atmosphere in equilibrium with a solid or liquid phase material, i.e., the ratio of the partial pressure of water vapor to that present above pure water at the same temperature. In all phases between which water distribution has reached equilibrium, it is by definition equal. The term “relative humidity” is generally used to describe the water in the atmosphere or gas phase in equilibrium with the solid, and is expressed as a percentage, with 100% as the relative humidity of pure water in a closed system. Thus, for any water activity value, there is a corresponding relative humidity given by %RH=100 * a
w
.
Water activity can be readily measured by methods known in the art, typically by placing a sample of the material inside the temperature-controlled chamber of a water activity meter, such as the Water Activity System Model D2100 available from Rotronic Instrument Corp. (Huntington, N.Y.), and allowing the measurement to reach equilibrium as indicated on the display.
A “hydrated” barrier material contains wat
Becker Nathaniel T.
Christensen, Jr. Robert I.
Dale Douglas A.
Gaertner Alfred L.
Ghani Mahmood M.
Douyon Lorna M.
Genencor International Inc.
Genencor International Inc.
LandOfFree
Granule with hydrated barrier material does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Granule with hydrated barrier material, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Granule with hydrated barrier material will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3107894