Abstract: A capillary pump is provided for producing pressurized and unpressurized vapor emissions from liquid feed. In its simplest form, the capillary pump incorporates a liquid feed intake, a porous vaporization component, and a heat transfer component. Additional components, such as an insulator component, a feed pre-heat component, a liquid feed reservoir and/or delivery system, an integrated or associated heater component, a vapor collection chamber, a heat distribution component, an orifice component and/or vapor release component, may also be associated with or integrated in the improved capillary pumps. Capillary pump arrays are provided, and numerous applications for capillary pumps are disclosed.

Abstract: A stable liquid peracid precursor composition for delivering a bleaching and cleaning material is provided in which the liquid peracid precursor composition combines a dispersion medium which comprises a stabilizing effective amount of a liquid matrix and an emulsifier, and a dispersed phase that comprises a peracid precursor. The bleaching and cleaning material comprises either a hydrophobic or hydrotropic generated mono- or diperoxyacid, or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is a thickened viscoelastic cleaning composition comprising, in aqueous solution:(a) 0.1 to 15.0 weight percent of an active cleaning compound; and(b) 0.2 to 7.5 weight percent of a viscoelastic thickening system comprising about 0.1 to 5.0 weight percent of a hexadecyl di (C.sub.1-2 alkyl) amine oxide having an alkyl chain length of at least 80% C.sub.16, and about 0.1 to 2.5 weight percent of an organic counterion selected from aryl or C.sub.2-6 alkyl carboxylates, sulfated C.sub.2-6 alkyl or aryl alcohols and mixtures thereof; where the aryl group is derived from benzene or naphthalene and is substituted or substituted with C.sub.1-4 alkyl groups, C.sub.1-4 alkoxy groups, halogens, nitro groups or mixtures thereof;wherein the ratio of amine oxide to counterion is between 4:1 and 1:2, the system possesses a Trouton ratio of at least about 50 at a shear rate of 500-10,000 sec.sup.-1, an initial viscosity measured at 21.degree. C.

Abstract: A thickened liquid bleach composition and methods of use and manufacture are disclosed wherein the hypochlorite bleach composition includes about 0.1-10% by weight hypochlorite and is thickened by a thickening component including a cross-linked polyacrylate polymer in an amount effective for thickening the composition, effectively reducing bleach odor when the composition is dispensed onto a surface to be cleaned and also maintaining stability of the composition, the cross-linked polyacrylate polymer preferably forming about 0.2-2.0% by weight and more preferably about 0.4-0.8% by weight of the composition, the composition also including a stabilizer for the cross-linked polyacrylate polymer. The composition is adapted for being directed onto hard surfaces to be cleaned. The composition preferably exhibits shear sensitivity or plasticity facilitating its use in the spray-type dispenser.

Abstract: A method for opening drains using a phase stable, viscoelastic drain opening composition includes introducing to a drain pipe restriction or clog a mixture having a cleaning active and a viscoelastic thickening system containing a quaternary ammonium compound, an organic counterion, and a free amine. The amount of free amine in the composition is limited, and is based on the amount of the quaternary ammonium compound present, in order to maintain phase stability and to achieve further enhanced rheological and aesthetic properties in the composition. The viscoelastic quality of the composition permits rapid penetration of the formulation through standing water with minimal dilution to deliver actives to the clog material, thus providing advartageous utility as a drain opener.

Abstract: A stable liquid peracid precursor composition for delivering a bleaching and cleaning material is provided in which the liquid peracid precursor composition combines a dispersion medium which comprises a stabilizing effective amount of a liquid matrix and an emulsifier, and a dispersed phase that comprises a peracid precursor. The bleaching and cleaning material comprises either a hydrophobic or hydrotropic generated mono- or diperoxyacid, or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides a high water liquid enzyme prewash composition essentially free of hydrotropes, solvents, dispersants and surfactants, other than nonionic surfactants, combining: a hydrolase enzyme stabilized with a first enzyme stabilizer, wherein the first enzyme stabilizer is a soluble alkaline earth salt; a more hydrophilic, first nonionic surfactant having an HLB of greater than about 11; a more hydrophobic, second nonionic surfactant having an HLB of less than or equal to about 11; and at least about 80-99% water; wherein the difference in HLB between the first and the second nonionic surfactants is at least 2; the nonionic surfactants interact with the water to form an opalescent, structured liquid; the first and the second nonionic surfactants are selected from the group consisting of alkoxylated alcohols and alkoxylated alkylphenols; the structured liquid both suspends the hydrolase and protects the hydrolase against deactivation with water.

Abstract: A stable liquid peracid precursor composition for delivering a bleaching and cleaning material is provided in which the liquid peracid precursor composition combines a dispersion medium which comprises a stabilizing effective amount of a liquid matrix and an emulsifier, and a dispersed phase that comprises a peracid precursor. The bleaching and cleaning material comprises either a hydrophobic or hydrotropic generated mono- or diperoxyacid, or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A solid fuel briquet, such as a charcoal briquet for cooking, which displays selected ignition and burn characteristics over a variety of shapes and compositions, as well as a method for forming such a briquet, are provided. The briquet is defined by an ignition phase of less than about 18 minutes, preferably less than about 15 minutes and a burn phase of greater than about 35 minutes, preferably 40 minutes and most preferably 45 minutes, with respect to any desired briquet shape. The briquet is made by predensifying a coal portion of the briquet into pellets. The pellets are then blended with wood char and any other optional ingredients and compacted into briquets. The resulting briquet contains dense coal regions, surrounded by regions of char and any adjunct briquet ingredients.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a thickened viscoelastic cleaning formulation comprising, in aqueous solution: (a) an active cleaning compound; and (b) a viscoelastic thickening system comprising a tetradecyldialkylamine oxide and a hydrophobic organic counterion; wherein the formulation has a viscosity of at least 500 cP at 20.degree. C. The present invention is characterized as a means for reducing the characteristic "bleach odor" found in hypochlorite cleaning compositions of the prior art, particularly those which are volatilized upon dispensing. The compositions of the present invention may further be formulated to have utility as a hard surface cleaner, or as a drain opener.

Abstract: Aqueous cleaning compositions and methods of use are disclosed with a thickening agent including an alkyl ether sulfate surfactant forming about 0.1 to about 10% by wt. of the composition, about 0.1-5.0% by wt. of a cothickening surfactant comprising an alkali metal fatty acid sulfate and/or an alkoxylated alkylphenol sulfate salt, a solvent selected from the class consisting of terpene derivatives including a functional group and tertiary alcohols forming about 0.01 to about 10% by wt. of the composition and an electrolyte component in an amount effective for enhancing thickening effects of the alkyl ether sulfate surfactant and solvent. The electrolyte component preferably includes an alkali metal hypochlorite, more preferably at least one additional multivalent electrolyte, and most preferably sodium carbonate. With the electrolyte component including a hypochlorite, additional electrolytes and the solvent are selected to be bleach stable, the solvent also preferably being a fragrance for the composition.

Abstract: A system for removing extraneous, random free-flowing dyes from laundry washing applications which comprises a novel unitary dosing laundry article that can freely circulate among items being laundered. The laundry article further comprises a dye absorber and a dye transfer inhibitor which are introduced into a wash liquor via a support matrix. The dye absorber maintains a relational association with the support matrix in the wash liquor, whereas the dye transfer inhibitor is delivered up from the support matrix to the wash liquor and may be evenly distributed throughout the wash liquor. The laundry article of the present invention provides a method for preventing the redeposition of extraneous dyes onto other wash items, while simultaneously providing an indicator system for the manifestation of such scavenging process.

Abstract: The invention provides a phase stable liquid detergent containing at least one particulate oxidant, comprising:a) a liquid phase which comprises: i) an effective amount of at least one surfactant selected from the group consisting of anionic, nonionic, cationic, amphoteric, zwitterionic surfactants, and mixtures thereof; ii) a liquid carrier therefore, comprising organic Solvents, water, or a mixture thereof;b) an effective amount of a particulate oxidant stably suspended in said liquid phase, which maintains oxidative stability, said oxidant being selected from the group consisting of alkali metal perborate and percarbonates; andc) an oxidant stabilizer selected from the group consisting of alkali metal chloride, alkali metal borate, boric acid and mixtures thereof.