Signal-based electrochemical methods for automatic dishwashing

A method of improved cleaning, sanitizing, and/or stain removal of tableware in an automatic dishwashing appliance comprising at least one attached, integrated, signal-sensing electrochemical cell and/or at least one attached, integrated electrolytic device comprising said signal-sensing cell for producing electrolyzed water, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) placing tableware in need of treatment into said appliance;
• (b) providing said signal-sensing cell comprising at least one inlet opening and one outlet opening, and at least one pair of electrodes defining at least one cell gap comprising at least one cell passage formed therebetween through which an aqueous electrolytic solution can flow;
• (c) providing said aqueous electrolytic solution in said appliance in fluid communication with said signal-sensing cell and/or device;
• (d) providing at least one activator and/or deactivator selected from the group consisting of timer, sensor, signal-providing chemical, signal-providing detergent composition and combinations thereof.
• (e) intermittently activating said signal-sensing cell and/or device via said activator at least one specific time in the wash and/or rinse cycle;
• (f) electrolyzing said aqueous electrolytic solution in said signal-sensing cell to produce at least some electrolyzed water;
• (g) discharging said electrolyzed water into the wash and/or rinse liquor via a washing basin in said appliance during at least one specific time in the wash and/or rinse cycle(s);
• (h) interrupting electrolyzation of said aqueous electrolytic solution and/or not releasing said electrolyzed water at other times in the wash and/or rinse cycle(s);
• (i) contacting said tableware in need of treatment with said wash and/or rinse liquor comprising said electrolyzed water;
• (j) intermittently deactivating said signal-sensing cell via said deactivator during at least one specific time in the wash and/or rinse cycle(s);
• (k) optionally contacting said tableware with a wash and/or rinse liquor comprising a bleach-scavenging agent and/or metal-protecting agent;
• and
• (l) optionally repeating steps (c) through (k).

A method of improved cleaning, sanitizing, and/or stain removal of tableware in an automatic dishwashing appliance comprising a signal-sensing electrochemical cell and/or a signal-sensing an electrolytic device comprising said signal-sensing cell, said method using a signal system comprising a signal sensor, a signal-providing detergent composition in conjunction with said signal-sensing cell and/or device, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) placing tableware in need of treatment in said appliance
• (b) providing a signal-sensing system;
• wherein said signal-sensing cell comprises at least one inlet opening and one outlet opening, and at least one pair of electrodes defining at least one cell gap comprising at least one cell passage formed therebetween through which an aqueous electrolytic solution can flow, wherein said signal sensor can be activated and/or deactivated by said signal-providing composition, wherein said sensor is located within said appliance, said signal-sensing cell, said signalsensing device, and combinations thereof;
• (c) providing said aqueous electrolytic solution in fluid communication with said signalsensing cell via tap water, wash and/or rinse liquor, and/or mixtures thereof;
• (d) providing at least one activator and/or deactivator in the form of said signal-providing composition comprising a signal-providing agent in said wash and/or rinse liquor;
• (e) optionally contacting said signal sensor with said signal-providing composition in order to activate and/or deactivate said least one signal-sensing cell, wherein said signal-sensing cell activation and/or deactivation starts or stops electrolyzed water production in said signal-sensing cell;
• (f) optionally contacting said signal sensor of said signal-sensing electrolytic device with said at least one signal-providing composition in order to activate a timer to delay said electrolyzed water production in said signal-sensing signal-sensing cell for a specific time period, wherein after said timed delay said at least one signal-sensing cell is activated;
• (g) passing said aqueous electrolytic solution through at least one activated signal-sensing cell to generate at least some electrolyzed water in the wash and/or rinse liquor of said appliance;
• (h) contacting said tableware with said electrolyzed water in the wash and/or rinse cycle of said appliance;
• (i) optionally contacting said signal sensor of said electrolytic device with said signal-providing composition comprising said signal-providing agent to deactivate said at least one signal-sensing cell in order to stop production of said electrolyzed water;
• (j) optionally contacting said tableware with a wash and/or rinse liquor comprising a chlorine-bleach-scavenging agent or metal-protecting agent;
• and
• (k) optionally repeating steps (c) through (j) until the tableware needing treatment are treated.

A composition of matter consisting essentially of the in the wash and/or rinse liquor of an automatic dishwashing appliance comprising a signal-sensing system comprising a sensor, a signal-sensing electrochemical cell and/or electrolytic device comprising said signal-sensing cell, for improved tableware cleaning, sanitizing, and/or stain removal, said composition of matter comprising:

• (a) at least some electrolyzed water comprising halogen-containing mixed-oxidant species;
• (b) a composition comprising a compound selected from the group consisting of an electrolytic composition comprising halogen ions, an electrolytic composition comprising halogen-containing salts having the formula (M)x(XO2)y and/or (M)x(X)y wherein X is Cl, Br, or I and wherein M is a metal ion or cationic entity and wherein x and y are chosen such that the salt is charge balanced, an electrolysis precursor compound, a halogen-containing salt with low water solubility, an electrolysis precursor compound contained within a medium for controlled release, and mixtures thereof;
• (c) a signal-providing detergent composition comprising a signal-providing agent selected from the group consisting of nanoparticles, colloidal particles, functionalized surface molecules, polymers, salts, surfactants, metal ions, proteins, dyes, UV-active materials, fluorescent materials, organic acids, organic bases, inorganic acids, inorganic bases, organic solvents, builders, bleaches, bleach activators, bleach catalysts, enzymes, non-activated enzymes, enzyme stabilizing systems, chelants, optical brighteners, soil release polymers, wetting agents, dispersants, suds suppressors, gases, perfumes, colorants, filler salts, hydrotropes, photoactivators, fluorescers, hydrolyzable cosurfactants, anti-oxidants, germicides, fungicides, halide ions, color speckles, silvercare, anti-tarnish and/or anti-corrosion agents, alkalinity sources, solubilizing agents, carriers, pefumes, processing aids, pigments, and pH control agents, and mixtures thereof;
• and
• (d) optionally, adjunct ingredient.