Abstract: Liquid hard-surface cleaning compositions are disclosed which provide outstanding cleaning performance to the hard-surfaces cleaned therewith. The compositions comprise a polyalkoxylene glycol diester according to formula (I) wherein the substituents R1 and R2 each independently are substituted or unsubstituted, saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched hydrocarbon chains having from 1 to 36 carbon atoms and wherein n is an integer form 10 to 400, and an amphoteric surfactant according to the formula (II): RaRbRcN or RaRbRcN+X wherein the substituent Ra is a substituted or unsubstituted, saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched hydrocarbon chain having from 6 to 22 carbon atoms, wherein the substitutents Rb and Rc each independently are a C1 to C6 aklyl carboxylic acid group, which may be the same or different, and wherein X is hydrogen.

Abstract: A method for removing stains or odors and for disinfecting plastics, dishware, countertops, appliances, and other substrates by activating a bleaching composition with microwaves and applying the activated composition to the substrate to be cleaned, deodorized, and/or sanitized is presented. This method provides enhanced cleaning and improved stain removal as compared to the conventional use of cleaning compositions applied directly to a substrate.

Abstract: The invention provides pesticidal, algicidal, herbicidal and/or fungicidal compositions, containing a complexing agent containing ethylene diamine disuccinic acid and one or selected metal ions, preferably cobalt, zinc or ions. The invention also relates to an aqueous pesticidal, algicidal, herbicidal, fungicidal composition comprising specific levels of calcium ions and complexing agent, containing a complex of a specific metal ion and a complexing a compound.

Abstract: A psychrophilic protease is here disclosed which has the following physicochemical properties: (a) specific activity and substrate specificity: the protease acts on casein, gelatin, hemoglobin and albumin to specifically decompose them, and the substrate specificity decreases in the order of casein, gelatin, hemoglobin and albumin; (b) optimal pH: 8.0; (c) pH stability: the protease is stable in the range of pH 6.5 to pH 10.0 at 30° C. for 1 hour; (d) optimal temperature: about 40° C.; (e) temperature stability: at pH 7 for 1 hour, the protease is active at a temperature up to 30° C., but it is inactivated at 40° C. as much as about 40% and completely inactivated at 50° C. in about 10 minutes; (f) enzyme activity: the protease has 50% or more of its maximum activity at about 20° C.; (g) the active center of the enzyme is serine; and (h) the molecular weight of the protease is about 70 kDa as measured by SDS-PAGE.

Abstract: Fabrics are laundered in detergent compositions containing a mixture of &agr;-amylase enzymes to remove malodorous materials.

Abstract: Granular detergent compositions contain a bleach and a cellulase enzyme derived from Trichodenna SPP. The compositions are especially useful in a fabric laundering process where bleaching activity is desired.

Abstract: Aqueous liquid detergent compositions are described which comprising a proteolytic enzyme wherein the proteolytic activity is reversibly inhibited by a protease inhibitor selected from the group consisting of aldehydes and trifluoromethyl ketones.