Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology – Process of utilizing an enzyme or micro-organism to destroy... – Cleaning using a micro-organism or enzyme
Reexamination Certificate
2001-02-23
2004-03-16
Beisner, William H. (Department: 1744)
Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology
Process of utilizing an enzyme or micro-organism to destroy...
Cleaning using a micro-organism or enzyme
C435S286500, C435S286700, C435S289100, C210S614000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06706518
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the clearing of grease by means of a grease solvent, in particular with enzymes and bacteria as the grease solvent and for the clearing of drainage pipes and grease traps.
2. Background of the Invention
The incidence of grease in different businesses is quite considerable. This applies, for example, in slaughterhouses, sausage and meat product factories, restaurants, fish processing plants, industrial undertakings in which oils and fats are processed and barrel-washing plants. The incidence of grease is seen as a significant problem. As an example, reference is made to the description “In Situ Bioremediation of Food-Service Waste Grease” by Bobby F. Dowden.
According to DIN 4041 a grease trap is prescribed for these businesses so that any grease introduced does not get into the public sewer network/drainage system.
There are also corresponding regulations in other countries. The separated grease must be removed regularly. Even today, the grease in the grease trap is sometimes still removed by skimming off. Skimming off is a very unpalatable task. Added to this are hygiene problems in the grease trap, above all with animal and vegetable fats. Finally, the skimmed-off grease has to be disposed of.
Dowden's description already refers to the use of enzymes for the degradation of grease. There has been a biological alternative to manual cleaning for several years.
Grease-degrading bacteria and enzymes are measured out into the drainage pipe as a solution in an aqueous nutrient solution. These convert the grease into harmless solids, which can pass into the drainage system without any problems. This technique is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,225,083 and likewise in U.S. Pat. No. 4,925,564, U.S. Pat. No. 4,237,003, U.S. Pat. No. 4,810,385, U.S. Pat. No. 4,670,149, U.S. Pat. No. 4,882,059, U.S. Pat. No. 5,171,687, German Patent No. 3906124, European Patent No. 0178931A1, European Patent No. 185528A2.
Enzymes and bacteria occur naturally. They are to be found on an appropriate culture medium. Perishable goods can be used in the search for and isolation of suitable enzyme and bacterial strains. Amongst these are meat and sausage. A greater or lesser number of enzymes and bacteria can be found on the surviving meat and sausage samples. These bacteria can be isolated and propagated in incubators until a technically useable quantity of enzymes and bacteria have been produced.
Starch, amongst other things, is suitable as a nutrient for the enzymes and bacteria. The propagation of the enzymes and bacteria is very successful in the presence of damp and moderate warmth.
The use of enzymes and bacteria in an aqueous nutrient solution is an advantage. However, the technique has not been widely implemented. This is due to the fact that the technique used up till now leaves much to be desired in practice.
The greatest deficiency is the relatively low efficiency in comparison with traditional chemical pipe cleaning agents and grease solvents.
An enzymatic cleaning agent for drains in the home and in commerce is known from Federal Republic of Germany Patent Publication DE-A-3906124. Here, use is made of enzyme mixtures made from pectinases, amylases, cellulases, polygalactoses, lipases and proteases. When common cleaning agents are prepared in liquid form, provision is made to preserve the enzymes until they are used, preferably with salts of sorbic acid and benzoic acid. When the enzymes come to be used, the preservative must be removed once more. This is achieved using enzyme-tolerant tensides. The cleaning agent was developed in 1989 and has not been generally accepted up to the present day.
The same is true of the cleaning agent known from the International Patent Publication WO 97/07190. Here too, the use of enzymes for the cleaning of milk residues is proposed. Before being used for cleaning, the enzymes are dissolved in water for some time and also heated.
Notwithstanding this, the invention seeks to retain the enzyme technique as this technique promises ecological advantages.
In this regard, the invention turns to an older idea. According to this, a solution/suspension containing enzymes is fed at intervals into the drainage pipe or into a grease trap. This idea is based on a preventative degradation of the grease before the build-up of grease leads to a problem in operation. However, this technique has not yet been adopted in practice.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is thus to develop the enzyme technique further. In doing so, the invention starts from the consideration of reducing the transportation and storage volumes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, this object is accomplished by a process for the clearing or cleaning of grease and/or fat by means of a grease solvent with enzymes and bacteria in an aqueous form as the grease solvent and for the clearing of drainage pipes and/or grease traps, characterised in that the grease solvent is produced in situ by combining dry concentrate and water, the water and the dry concentrate first being put into an activator container and activated there, and subsequently introduced into the drainage pipe and/or the grease trap.
The grease solvent made from enzymes and bacteria is supplied and stored in a dry state and is prepared in situ by combining with water, the water and the dry concentrate first being fed into an activator container where they are activated and subsequently fed into the drainage pipe and/or the grease trap. In this case, in situ means in the grease trap or optionally before the grease trap in the direction of flow, if possible immediately at the point where the grease enters.
Advantageously, the introduction of grease solvents can also be used to prevent a damaging build-up of grease in the drainage system without a grease trap so that the installation of a grease trap can be omitted, where this is permissible. The introduction of grease solvents then takes place preferably as close as possible to the point at which the grease enters the drainage system, at the latest at the point where a significant deposition of grease from the waste water is to be expected, this being the grease trap when fitted or the point at which a grease trap would most sensibly be positioned.
The amount of dry concentrate in relation to a liter of water is between 4 and 100 grams, for example. At the same time, the possible mixing in of a filler material is of considerable importance. The filler material can be sawdust.
The dry concentrate is preferably obtained by freeze-drying and not by heating the nutrient liquid in which the enzymes and bacteria are bred, because the enzymes and bacteria can only be subjected to low levels of heat. Advantageously, the nutrient used for breeding the enzymes or bacteria remains in the concentrate when drying so that it is only necessary to add water/moisture to again activate the enzymes and bacteria.
The process according to the invention is based on the knowledge that the grease solvent in the aqueous solution only makes up a small percentage of it. By reducing the transportation and storage to a dry concentrate, the costs for packing and delivery are dramatically reduced. While conventional liquids are delivered by lorry or carrier on account of their volume and weight, the dry concentrate according to the invention can be transported by post with a very great absolute cost advantage due to its low weight in spite of higher specific transport costs. The result is that the process according to the invention exhibits great advantages.
With less of an economic advantage, it is also possible to supply a liquid concentrate and to dilute it in-situ with water. However, this technology (fluid technology) is not comparable with the use of dry concentrate (dry technology) because, with fluid technology, comprehensive cooling of the concentrate must take place during storage and transportation. Otherwise an unwanted activation of the enzymes and bacteria would occur. The further capability
Lang Albrecht
Lorenz Hans-Eberhard
Lüling Manuel
Ophardt Heiner
Beisner William H.
Nils H. Ljungman & Associates
Ophardt Product GmbH & Co. KG
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