| (19) |
 |
|
(11) |
EP 0 844 301 A3 |
| (12) |
EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
| (88) |
Date of publication A3: |
|
03.03.1999 Bulletin 1999/09 |
| (43) |
Date of publication A2: |
|
27.05.1998 Bulletin 1998/22 |
| (22) |
Date of filing: 12.11.1997 |
|
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| (84) |
Designated Contracting States: |
|
AT BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE |
|
Designated Extension States: |
|
AL LT LV MK RO SI |
| (30) |
Priority: |
26.11.1996 US 756034
|
| (71) |
Applicants: |
|
- UNILEVER N.V.
3000 DK Rotterdam (NL)
BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GR IT LI NL PT SE AT
- UNILEVER PLC
London EC4P 4BQ (GB)
GB IE
|
|
| (72) |
Inventor: |
|
- Rouillard, Carol A.
Plymouth, MI 48170 (US)
|
| (74) |
Representative: Rosen Jacobson, Frans Lucas M. et al |
|
Unilever N.V.,
Patent Division,
P.O. Box 137
3130 AC Vlaardingen
3130 AC Vlaardingen (NL) |
|
| |
|
| (54) |
Method of removing mold from plastic bottles and mold removing additive |
(57) Mold removal from plastic bottles such as polyester and polycarbonate bottles is
significantly enhanced by adding to a typical caustic soaking solution an effective
amount of a complex polyphosphate such as sodium tripolyphosphate and a surfactant.
The combination of the phosphate and the surfactant significantly enhances mold removal.
Mold removal can be further enhanced by combining with the phosphate and surfactant
either a phosphonate and/or a chelating agent such as sodium glucoheptonate. This
combination signficantly improves mold removal, but does not increase stress cracking
of the plastic bottle.