Product and method for removal of biofilms

Abstract

A method for removing a biofilm present on a substrate includes providing a detergent component comprising a sequestrant, a wetting agent and a dispersant, and an enzymatic component containing at least one protease, and at least one polysaccharidase in solution in an aqueous phase in sequence or simultaneously, and applying the solution to the substrate for a predetermined period of time to effect biofilm removal from the substrate.

1 . A method for removing a biofilm present on a substrate, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a detergent component comprising a sequestrant, a wetting agent and a dispersant, and providing an enzymatic component containing at least one protease, and at least one polysaccharidase;   (b) placing the detergent component in solution in an aqueous phase;   (c) placing the enzymatic component in solution in the solution formed at step (b) to form a solution comprising the sequestrant, the wetting agent, the dispersant, the at least one protease, and the at least one polysaccharidase; or   (b′) placing the enzymatic component in solution in an aqueous phase;   (c′) placing the detergent component in solution in the solution formed at step (b′) to form a solution comprising the sequestrant, the wetting agent, the dispersant, the at least one protease, and the at least one polysaccharidase,   or   optionally steps (b) and (c), or steps (b′) and (c′), are conducted simultaneously to provide a solution comprising the sequestrant, the wetting agent, the dispersant, the protease, and the polysaccharidase;   (d) applying the solution formed at step (c) or (c′) to the substrate for a predetermined period of time to effect biofilm removal from the substrate,   
       wherein the said sequestrant is selected from the group consisting of a phosphonate, a phosphinate, a phosphate, glucono-delta-lactone, sodium gluconate, potassium gluconate, calcium gluconate, a citrate, a salt thereof, and a mixture thereof, wherein said wetting agent is non-foaming. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein biofilm removal from the substrate removes microorganisms from the substrate. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising applying a biocide to the substrate. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein applying the solution to the substrate at step (d) comprises applying the solution to surface of a food production line. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein applying the solution to the substrate at step (d) comprises circulating the solution within piping. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is a floor or surface. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method is a clean-in-place method. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method is an immersion method. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the biofilm is a food industry biofilm and the substrate is a floor or surface in a food production line. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined period of time is between 15 minutes and 4 hours, preferably between approximately 30 to 50. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one enzymatic component of the solution formed at step (c) or (c′) comprises a proportion of protease(s) the at least one protease of between 10 and 50%, and a proportion of polysaccharidase(s) the at least one polysaccharidase of between 5 and 20% by weight relative to the total weight of the enzymatic component. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the solution formed at step (c) or (c′) comprises about 1% by weight detergent component relative to the total weight of the solution and about 0.05% by weight enzymatic component relative to the total weight of the solution. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one polysaccharidase is an alpha-amylase. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one detergent component comprises a proportion of sequestrant of between 1 and 10% by weight relative to the total weight of the detergent component. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one detergent component comprises a proportion of dispersant of between 1 and 10% by weight relative to the total weight of the detergent component. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one detergent component comprises a proportion of wetting agent of between 1 and 15% by weight relative to the total weight of the detergent component. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said dispersant is a polymer soluble or partly soluble in water and is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol, cellulose derivatives, a polymer comprising at least one acrylic acid or acrylic ester repeat unit, a polymer comprising at least one acrylic acid or acrylic ester repeat unit of general formula —(CH 2 —CH—COOR)— where R represents a hydrogen, alkyl or substituted alkyl, aryl or substituted aryl group, a polymer of acrylic acid, and a homopolymer of acrylic acid having a weight average molecular weight approximately of between 2000 and 6000. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the dispersant is a polymer comprising at least one acrylic acid or acrylic ester repeat unit. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said dispersant is a polymer having a weight average molecular weight of between approximately 500 and 10000. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said wetting agent is non-foaming wetting agent when hot. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said wetting agent is selected from the group consisting of C 6  to C 10  sodium alkyl sulphates, C 6  to C 10  alcohol ether sulphates, C 6  to C 10  alkyl aryl sulphonates and sucrose esters. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the enzymatic component is in the form of a dry solid, a powder, or a lyophilizate. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the enzymatic component further comprises a laccase.