EP0231632A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Sanitizing process
Assignee: Unilever PLC
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Filing: 1986-12-18
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2006-12-18
Abstract
Abstract Performic acid is used as an industrial sanitizer, especially in the food industry. Preferably, this use comprises reacting a pair of precursors to form the peracid which is then applied to the surface to be sanitized, either substantially immediately or within a period before degradation results in a peracid concentration below that which is microbiocidally effective.
Inventors
- 👤 Dirk Groenewegen
- 👤 Philip John Hall
- 👤 Martin Vincent Jones
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:06
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23G; A23G9/00; A23G9/04; A23G9/22; A23G9/30; A01; A01N; A01N37/00; A01N37/16; A23G7/00; A61; A61L; A61L2/00; A61L2/16; A61L2/18; A61L2/186
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
9 words
The industrial use of performic acid as a sanitizer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
9 words
The industrial use of performic acid as a sanitizer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The industrial use of performic acid as claimed in claim 1, when in the food industry.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The industrial use of performic acid as claimed in claim 2, when in the dairy industry.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The industrial use of performic acid as claimed in claim 3, to sanitize ultra high temperature milk sterilization equipment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The industrial use of performic acid as claimed in claim 2, when in the brewing industry.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The industrial use of performic acid as claimed in claim 5, to sanitize bright beer tanks.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
Industrial use of performic acid as claimed in any of claims 2-6, as part of a cleaning-in-place process.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The industrial used of performic acid as claimed in claim 1, to sterilize asceptic packaging.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
An industrial process for sanitizing a surface, characterised by preparing performic acid and applying it at an effective concentration to the surface to be sanitized, before, during or after an industrial operation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
An industrial process for sanitizing a surface, characterised by preparing performic acid and applying it at an effective concentration to the surface to be sanitized, before, during or after an industrial operation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
An industrial process as claimed in claim 9, further characterised in that the industrial operation is a manufacturing, processing or packaging operation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
An industrial process as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10, further characterised in that the performic acid is applied to the surface simultaneously with, or within a relatively short period after, initiating the preparation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
An industrial process as claimed in claim 11, further characterised in that the time between initiating the preparation and first applying the solution to the surface is in the range of from 15 minutes to 3 days.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 12, further characterised in that the time is in the range of from 15 minutes to 48 hours.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
An industrial process as claimed in any of claims 9-13 further characterised in that the performic acid is prepared on the site where the surface to be sanitized is located.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
An industrial process as claimed in claim 14, further characterised in that the performic acid is prepared in a reaction vessel located adjacent to the surface to be sanitized.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
An industrial process as claimed in claim 15, further characterised in that after mixing of reactants to initiate preparation, the performic acid is applied substantially immediately via a direct link from the reaction vessel to said surface.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
An industrial process as claimed in claim 15, further characterised in that after preparation, the performic acid is stored in the reaction vessel, prior to application to the surface to be sanitized.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
An industrial process as claimed in claim 15, further characterised in that after preparation, the performic acid is stored in a separate storage vessel, prior to application to the surface to be sanitized.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
An industrial process as claimed in any of claims 9-18, further characterised by comprising the step of removing the performic acid from the surface, subsequent to application.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
An industrial process according to any of claims 9-19, further characterised in that the performic acid solution is prepared at a concentration in the range of from 2 to 8% by weight.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
An industrial process according to any of claims 9-20, further characterised in that the concentrations is in the range from 3 to 7% by weight.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
56 words
An industrial process according to any of claims 9-21, further characterised in that the preparation of the performic acid comprises the steps:- (i) reacting hydrogen peroxide or a solution thereof, with formic acid or a solution thereof; and if necessary to achieve the desired effective concentration in solution - (ii) diluting the reaction product with water.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
33 words
An industrial process according to any of claims 9-22, further characterised in that the performic acid is applied to the surface at a concentration in the range of from 2 to 300 ppm.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
An industrial process according to claim 23, further characterised in that the applied concentration is in the range of from 30 to 150 ppm.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
An industrial process according to any of claims 9-24, further characterised in that the performic acid is applied to the internal surface of equipment as part of a cleaning-in-place operation.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
32 words
An industrial process according to claim 25, further characterised in that the performic acid is applied to the internal surface, simultaneously with, or subsequent to application of another substance to the surface.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
An industrial process according to claim 26, further characterised in that the other substance is a surfactant.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
29 words
An industrial process according to any of claims 25-27, further characterised in that the performic acid is applied to the surface substantially at the working temperature of the equipment.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
33 words
An industrial process according to any of claims 25-28, further characterised in that the contact time of the performic acid on the surface is in the range of from 1 to 30 minutes.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
24 words
An industrial process according to claim 29, further characterised in that the contact time is in the range of from 2 to 10 minutes.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
121 words
A preparation for use as claimed in any of claims 1-8, comprising:- (i) a container of hydrogen peroxide as from 10 to 50% by weight in aqueous solution; (ii) a container of formic acid as from 5 to 100% by weight in aqueous solution; (iii) a catalyst capable of catalysing the reaction of hydrogen peroxide with formic acid to form performic acid, said catalyst being in admixture with either the solution in container (i) or the solution in container (ii), or both, and wherein the volumes of liquid in containers (i) and (ii) are such that the weight concentration ratio between the hydrogen peroxide per se and the formic acid per se is in the range of from 1:6 to 1:1.5.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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