Composition removes metal oxide soil from surfaces

F O C US I&I cleaning Gems Hygiene meats butchers’ cleaning needs Gems Hygiene is enjoying a growing slice of the meat industry, as it experiences record demand for its cleaning products among UK butchers. During 4Q 2009, the company has sold more than 300 litres of its multipurpose surface cleaner Combat Plus to butchers, and sales continue to rise. The cleaner, which contains both cationic and nonionic surfactants, is effective against Salmonella and E. coli, which are both problems for the industry, and contains a built-in degreaser that helps to break down meat fats. Gems is also noticing the increasing popularity of its drain cleaner, Blast, among butchers, with many adding this product to their orders. Like COMBAT Plus, Blast breaks down the meat fats and blood that can cause blockages and maintains clear drains if used regularly. Press release from: Gems Hygiene Supplies, The Business Centre, 79 Leigh Street, Sheffield, S9 2PR, UK, tel: +44 114 261 8187, fax: +44 114 261 1489, website: http://www.gemshygiene.co.uk (14 Jan 2010)

Ecolab develops cleaning solution for food processing plants utilizing zero trans fat oils Ecolab Inc has developed Exelerate ZTF, a ‘breakthrough cleaning programme’ to help food manufacturers address the growing problem with cleaning zero trans fat food oil residue from processing equipment and environmental surfaces. The patent-pending programme cut the cleaning time in half during initial testing and is the first product of its kind to address the emerging issue of cleaning difficult zero trans fat oil versus traditional oils for food manufacturers. ‘As the use of zero trans fat oils has rapidly increased, removal of cooked-on oil from processing equipment has proven to be a time-consuming and difficult challenge for food processors’, says Timothy P Mulhere, Ecolab’s senior vice president and general manager, Food & Beverage North America. ‘Ecolab developed Exelerate ZTF as part of our ongoing effort to deliver the solutions food processors need to produce safer, high-quality products MARCH 2010

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and measurably improve operational efficiency.’ Processing food with zero trans fat oils has created the unexpected consequence of coating processing equipment and environmental surfaces with stubborn soils as the oil breaks down during the frying and baking process. Food processors are discovering that equipment and surfaces that come into contact with the zero trans fat oils, or the oil mist from the cooking process, become covered with a sticky, varnish-like coating. These soils are very difficult to clean using traditional methods and can pose both food safety and worker safety issues due to slippery, sticky surfaces and their potential as a fire hazard. Exelerate ZTF breaks down difficult polymerized oil soils on fryers, ovens, mixers and other plant surfaces enabling them to be cleaned more thoroughly. The gelled product application clings to equipment and surfaces to dissolve zero trans fat soils, making it easier to clean hard-to-reach areas, including fryer hood vents, walls, ceilings and plant catwalks. Press release from: Ecolab Inc, 370 Wabasha Street N, St Paul, MN 55102, USA, website: http://www.ecolab.com) (11 Jan 2010)

Other New concrete admixture fights shrinkage and freeze/thaw cycles An additive for reducing concrete shrinkage, freeze/thaw cycles and accelerated cracking has been developed by Flowric Co. The agent consists of non-soluble compounds and nonionic surfactants, such as ethylene oxide and propylene oxide products. Market-available shrinkagecontrol agents have an adverse effect on concrete’s capacity to endure freeze/thaw cycles. Japan Chemical Web, 14 Jan 2010, (Website: http://www.japanchemicalweb.jp)

supply oilfield chemicals such as demulsifiers, deoilers, and flocculants, scale and corrosion inhibitors, surfactants, and resins. Chevron plans to produce 200,000 bbl/day of crude oil via the Duri project, which will become the largest steam flood operation globally and a significant source of oil in Indonesia. Chemical Week, 18/25 Jan 2010, (Website: http://www.chemweek.com)

PATENTS Clorox patents natural heavy-duty cleaners Clorox has been granted US Patent No 7,608,573 B1 for natural heavyduty cleaning compositions of pH 713. They consist of an anionic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant, hydrophilic and hydrophobic syndetics, and a solvent, and a variety of optional ingredients such as defoamers, bleaches and thickeners. The cleaning composition can be used to clean laundry, soft and hard surfaces, and is claimed to clean as well or better than commercial compositions containing synthetically derived cleaning agents. HAPPI, Household & Personal Products Industry, Dec 2009, 46 (12), 34

Composition removes metal oxide soil from surfaces US Patent No 7,611,588 B2 has been awarded to Ecolab Inc for methods and compositions for removing metal oxide soils from the surfaces of processing equipment used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Designed for clean-in-place processes, the composition includes an anionic surfactant, a carrier and a pH adjuster to provide a use pH of 7 or below. HAPPI, Household & Personal Products Industry, Dec 2009, 46 (12), 34

Clariant bags oil field services contract in Indonesia

Skin cleanser

Houston-based Clariant Oil Services has been awarded a contract by Chevron to supply oil recovery products and services to the Duri steam flood oilfield in Indonesia. The contract, which is valid for four years from Dec 2009, is worth around $65 M. Under the contract, Clariant will

UK firm Deb IP Ltd has received US Patent No 7,612,027 B2 for a formulation intended for use as a heavy-duty hand cleanser with a high level of biodegradability and little or no ecotoxicity. It also provides maximum skin tolerance and no systemic toxicity. The cleanser is 5