# US 2014/0190526 A1 · Methods of using enzyme compositions

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- Number: US 2014/0190526 A1
- Document ID: US20140190526A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/736,809
- Filed: 2013-01-08
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2013-01-08
- Assignees: Ecolab USA Inc.
- Applicants: Ecolab USA Inc.
- Inventors: Nathan R. Ortmann; Katherine Vetter; Thomas R. Mohs; Tony Erickson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190526A1

## CPC

- B08B 3/08: the liquid having chemical or dissolving effect
- C11D 3/10: Carbonates {; Bicarbonates}
- B08B 3/10: with additional treatment of the liquid or of the object being cleaned, e.g. by heat, by electricity or by vibration
- C11D 1/66: Non-ionic compounds {(C11D1/002, C11D1/004, C11D1/008 take precedence)}
- C11D 3/38609: {Protease or amylase in solid compositions only}
- C11D 3/38618: {Protease or amylase in liquid compositions only}
- C11D 2111/14: Hard surfaces
- B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
- C11D: DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL

## Abstract

The present disclosure relates to compositions and methods for cleaning medical and dental instruments. The disclosed compositions are preferably non-foaming or generate low foam to allow visual inspection of the cleaning process as well as safe handling of the instruments. The disclosed compositions preferably employ select proteases, a carbonate and a nonionic surfactant.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of cleaning a medical or dental instrument comprising:
a) dissolving a solid composition in water to form a use solution, the solid composition comprising
i) from about 0.1 wt. % to 30 wt. % of a mixture of a first protease and a second protease,
ii) carbonate, and
iii) from about 1 wt. % to 25 wt. % nonionic surfactant;
b) soaking the instrument in the use solution for at least 10 seconds and up to about 5 minutes;
c) washing the instrument with a detergent composition; and
d) rinsing the instrument.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the carbonate in the solid composition is present from about 0.1 wt. % to 50 wt. %.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first protease is derived from the Bacillus licheniformis with activity in a pH range from about 6.5 to about 8.5 and temperature range from about 45° C. to about 65° C.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the second protease is an alkaline protease derived from the Bacillus sp. with activity in a temperature range from about 50° C. to about 85° C.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first protease and the second protease are present in a ratio from about 1:1 to about 6:1.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the nonionic surfactant is a C6 to C20 alcohol ethoxylate with 2 to 14 moles of ethoxylation.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the surfactant has a cloud point between 10 and 50° C.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the temperature of the use solution is above the cloud point of the surfactant.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, where the carbonate is selected from the group consisting of carbonate, bicarbonate, sesquicarbonate, and salts and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the solid composition further comprises a corrosion inhibitor.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the corrosion inhibitor is a powdered silicate.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

A method of claim 1, wherein the pH of the use solution is from about 6 to about 9.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, where the instrument is selected from the group consisting of forceps, scissors, shear, saw, hemostat, knife, chisel, rongeur, file, nipper, drill, drill bit, rasp, burr, spreader, breaker, clamp, needle holder, carrier, clip, hook, gouge, curette, retractor, straightener, punch, extractor, scoop, keratome, expressor, trocar, dilator, cage, catheter, cannula, plug, stent, arthroscope, and combinations thereof.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises an additional material selected from a group consisting of a solidifying agent, a chelating agent, a sequestrant, a builder, a defoaming agent, an additional enzyme, a preservative, dye, fragrance, water, and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 15

(canceled)