# US 2020/0399567 A1 · Low alkaline low temperature ware wash detergent for protein removal and reducing scale build-up > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2020/0399567 A1 - Document ID: US20200399567A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/948,079 - Filed: 2020-09-02 - Published: 2020-12-24 - Earliest claimed: 2012-10-26 - Assignees: Ecolab USA Inc. - Applicants: Ecolab USA Inc. - Inventors: Erin Jane Dahlquist Howlett; STEVEN E. LENTSCH; Terrence P. Everson; Carter M. Silvernail - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200399567A1 ## CPC - A01N 59/08: Alkali metal chlorides; Alkaline earth metal chlorides - B08B 3/08: the liquid having chemical or dissolving effect - C11D 3/48: Medical, disinfecting agents, disinfecting, antibacterial, germicidal or antimicrobial compositions - C11D 7/14: Silicates - C11D 7/16: Phosphates including polyphosphates - C11D 7/265: {Carboxylic acids or salts thereof} - C11D 7/3245: {Aminoacids} - C11D 7/36: containing phosphorus - B08B 2203/007: Heating the liquid - C11D 2111/14: Hard surfaces - A01N: PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTS THEREOF (preservation of food or foodstuff A23); BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES OR AS HERBICIDES (preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes which kill or prevent the growth or proliferation of unwanted organisms A61K); PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS - 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 Caustic-free detergent compositions are provided. Detergent compositions including an aminocarboxylate, water conditioning agent, non-caustic source of alkalinity and water beneficially do not require the use of additional surfactants and/or polymers to provide suitable detergency and prevent scale build-up on treated surfaces and enhance protein removal from the treated surfaces. Beneficially the detergent compositions have a concentrate pH less than about 11.5. The detergent compositions are used with a sanitizer to employ the low alkaline detergent compositions are particularly suitable for use as low temperature ware wash detergents that beneficially reduce scale build-up. Methods of employing the low alkaline detergent compositions are also provided. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-6 (canceled) ### Claim 7 A low alkaline detergent composition comprising: an aminocarboxylate; a water conditioning polymer; a builder; a non-caustic alkalinity source; and water, wherein the water conditioning polymer is a polyacrylate, polycarboxylate, or polycarboxylic acid and wherein the builder is a condensed phosphate, phosphonate or organic phosphonate. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the aminocarboxylate is an aminocarboxylic acid and/or a salt. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The composition of claim 2, wherein the aminocarboxylate is methylglycinediacetic acid or trisodium salt of methylglycinediacetic acid. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the detergent composition provides an effective sanitizing effect at wash temperatures that are not heated above about 140° F. when employed with a sanitizer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition is free of surfactants. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein a use solution of the composition has a pH of below about 11.5. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition reduces or eliminates scale build-up and enhances protein removal on treated surfaces. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the non-caustic alkalinity source is an alkali metal silicate. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the ratio of the aminocarboxylate to the water conditioning polymer to the builder is in a ratio of from about 1:1:1 to about 5:1:10. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition comprises between about 0.1 wt-% and about 15 wt-% aminocarboxylate, between about 0.1 wt-% and about 15 wt-% water conditioning polymer, between about 0.1 wt-% and about 15 wt-% builder, between about 5 wt-% and about 80 wt-% non-caustic alkalinity source, and between about 20 wt-% and about 80 wt-% water. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the water conditioning polymer is a polycarboxylic acid, and wherein the builder is a 2-phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A method of cleaning comprising: providing the low alkaline detergent composition of claim 1, and washing a surface or article with the detergent composition. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the low alkaline detergent composition is diluted to form a use solution prior to providing the use solution to a surface or article for washing. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the use solution comprises from about 1 ppm to about 250 ppm aminocarboxylate, from about 1ppm to about 250 ppm water conditioning polymer, from about 1 ppm to about 250 ppm builder, from about 5 ppm to about 1000 non-caustic alkalinity source, and water. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the detergent composition is not heated above 140° F. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the aminocarboxylate is methylglycinediacetic acid or a sodium salt of the methylglycinediacetic acid. ### Claim 23 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the water conditioning polymer is a polycarboxylic acid, and wherein the builder is a 2-phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid. ### Claim 24 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising rinsing said surface with a rinse solution. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the method further comprises a sanitizer in the washing step or a sanitizer formulated in the detergent. ### Claim 26 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the use solution has a pH between about 8 and between about 9.5.