Abstract: A drain cleaner may be used on a periodic basis to clean soil residues from residential and commercial waste drains. The drain cleaner may chemically self-foam to fill a waste drain with the foam. For example, the drain cleaner may be provided in two or more parts that are physically intermixed during use of the drain cleaner. One part may include hydrogen peroxide and water while another part may include a catalase, an amylase, a protease, and an enzyme stabilizer. The drain cleaner may also include a surfactant present in at least one of the first part and the second part. Additionally, in some examples, the drain cleaner includes a sanitizing agent present in either of the two parts or in yet a third physically separate part. During use, the different drain cleaner parts can be dispensed simultaneously into a drain to generate a cleaning and/or sanitizing foam in-situ.

Abstract: The invention is directed towards methods and apparatus for improving the accuracy of monitors measuring the property of spray water used to cool a molten metal strand in a continuous casting operation. The method utilizes a highly effective slid-sieve to remove particles from sample water that would otherwise jam the monitor or would break the monitor. This particle removal results in the monitor providing more accurate measurements which in turn results in lower operating expenses, reduced maintenance costs, and production costs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of membrane separation processes and clean in place compositions for cleaning such membranes. The cleaning compositions can remove proteins, fats, and other food, beverage, and brewery based soils and offer an environmentally friendly alternative surfactant system to NPE. According to the invention, surfactants and polymers useful for this process are unpredictable and specific surfactants, polymers, and combinations of the same are disclosed for use alone, as part of a cleaning composition. Methods of use of the same are also included.

Abstract: Methods for facilitating the removal of mercury from flue gases by converting elemental mercury to oxidized mercury and subsequently capturing the oxidized mercury. In one aspect, a method of removing mercury from a mercury-containing flue gas may include the steps of introducing into the flue gas a sulfide source in an effective amount to convert elemental mercury to gaseous oxidized mercury and then capturing the gaseous oxidized mercury.

Abstract: Provided are automated methods for measuring soluble magnesium concentration in water using fluorescence. The methods employ the use of a pH-buffered liquid and a magnesium coordinating fluorescing reagent. In certain embodiments, the methods may further employ measuring total hardness concentration of the water by displacing any soluble calcium with soluble magnesium and then re-measuring the soluble magnesium concentration. Optionally, the soluble calcium concentration can be determined by subtracting the measured soluble magnesium concentration from the measured total hardness concentration.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of recovering a low molecular weight alcohol or alcohol containing fluid in natural gas and oil production and transmission. Disclosed herein are also methods of recovering hydrocarbon fluid from a well, using fluids comprising an effective foam-forming amount of a fluorosurfactant compound.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to systems, methods, and devices useful for monitoring and controlling water to be used, for example, in oil and natural gas production and hydraulic fracturing processes. An on-line unit for measuring, controlling, and optimizing the quality of water being used during the hydrocarbon production or hydraulic fracturing processes is also disclosed. Optimizing and controlling can include measuring one or more properties associated with the production water to be sure that the one or more properties are within an acceptable range and, if the one or more properties are not within the acceptable range for each respective property being measured, causing a change in flow of one or more water sources and/or one or more chemicals.

Abstract: Methods for dispersing foulants are disclosed herein. Various effective dispersant compositions are also disclosed. The dispersant composition can include a silt dispersant and a hydrocarbon dispersant. Generally, the silt dispersant can be a homopolymer or a copolymer of one or more monomers, and the monomers can be one or more of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, ?-halo acrylic acid, maleic acid, itaconic acid, vinyl acetic acid, allyl acetic acid, fumaric acid, ?-carboxylic acrylate, and their salts. The silt dispersant can also be a terpolymer of acrylic acid, acrylamide, and sulfonated acrylamide. The hydrocarbon dispersant can be a non-ionic surfactant or a nonylphenol or a nonylphenol ethoxylate, such as a high EO 9 Nonyl phenol resin. Also disclosed are methods for preventing or reducing fouling in equipment that contacts water used during a hydrocarbon production process.

Abstract: Provided are methods of inhibiting microbial fouling and improving efficiency in biocide dosing in an industrial process containing an aqueous liquid having a biocide demand. In exemplary embodiments, the methods comprise treating an aqueous liquid having a biocide demand with a biocide, monitoring the biocide demand of the aqueous liquid, and filtering a stream of the aqueous liquid. The filtering may be performed in a full-flow or side stream manner.

Abstract: A dishwashing detergent composition is provided for consumer use for in cleaning of alkaline sensitive metals such as aluminum or aluminum containing alloys. The compositions include alternatives to sodium tripolyphosphate and/or other phosphorus containing raw materials, while retaining cleaning performance and corrosion prevention. According to the invention, a phosphinosuccinic acid oligomer or mixture thereof is used as a corrosion inhibitor and can be included for aluminum protection in a number of different detergent compositions.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system for providing and dispensing various hand care alternatives from a common point of dispension, such as a faucet, for standardizing the hand care, washing, sanitizing, and drying process is disclosed. Included is a liquid flow path having an inlet in fluid communication with a liquid source and an outlet in fluid communication with a user reception point. A secondary flow path has an inlet in communication with one or more hand care alternatives and an outlet in communication with the user reception point. A first pump operatively connected to the hand care alternative and a second pump, independent from the first, pumps air. The air and hand care alternative may be mixed and foamed. In use, the air pump can provide clearing, drying and mixing functions independent from the first pump.

Abstract: A drain cleaner may be used on a periodic basis to clean soil residues from residential and commercial waste drains. The drain cleaner may chemically self-foam to fill a waste drain with the foam. For example, the drain cleaner may be provided in two or more parts that are physically intermixed during use of the drain cleaner. One part may include hydrogen peroxide and water while another part may include a catalase, an amylase, a protease, and an enzyme stabilizer. The drain cleaner may also include a surfactant present in at least one of the first part and the second part. Additionally, in some examples, the drain cleaner includes a sanitizing agent present in either of the two parts or in yet a third physically separate part. During use, the different drain cleaner parts can be dispensed simultaneously into a drain to generate a cleaning and/or sanitizing foam in-situ.

Abstract: An optical sensor may have multiple detection channels to detect different characteristics of a fluid. For example, an optical sensor used in industrial cleaning and sanitizing applications may have multiple detection channels to detect when a system is both clean and properly sanitized. In one example, an optical sensor includes an optical emitter that directs light into a fluid, a first optical detector that detects light transmitted through the fluid, a second optical detector that detects light scattered by the fluid, and a third optical detector that detects fluorescent emissions emitted by the fluid. The optical emitter and optical detectors can be positioned around an optical analysis area. Depending on the application, the optical emitter may be positioned to direct light adjacent a wall of the optical analysis area rather than at a center of the optical analysis area, which may increase the strength of signal on the detection channels.

Abstract: A primary outer housing component for equipment is disclosed. The housing may be configured to include two or more opposing continuous curvature forms, a form outlined generally defined by a series of arcs, a forward facing primary surface having a compound curve, and a secondary surface having a compound curve. The primary surface may be configured to have at least one roundtangle feature and one or more primary touch points.

Abstract: Methods for monitoring scale deposition in a water-containing industrial process are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the water-containing industrial process is an aqueous cooling system. In certain embodiments, the methods incorporate fluorometric monitoring and control techniques along with a piezoelectric microbalance sensor. A particular embodiment of a piezoelectric microbalance sensor is additionally disclosed, along with at least one method for using the particular embodiment that is independent of whether fluorometric monitoring and control techniques are utilized.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides chemical compositions useful for minimizing or preventing the precipitation of sludge, such as asphaltenes, maltenes, or similar asphaltic components, during an acidizing treatment. Methods for preventing or minimizing sludge formation are also disclosed. The anti-sludge compositions can be added to an aqueous acidic solution before injecting the solution into a well for treatment. The compositions can include a formulated dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid, a cationic surfactant, a corrosion inhibitor, and an iron reducing agent, in addition to other additives.

Abstract: A clean-in-place process may begin with a pre-rinse step in which soil (e.g., contaminants, residual product) is flushed from industrial equipment prior to circulating a cleaning agent through the equipment. To determine when the equipment has been suitably flushed, pre-rinse fluid exiting the industrial equipment and containing soil may be fluorometrically analyzed. A concentration of the soil is determined from fluorescent emissions emitted by the soil itself. Based on this information, the pre-rinse flushing process can be controlled, for example, to minimize water usage, maximize pre-rinse cleaning, or based on any other suitable metric.

Abstract: A floor monitoring device monitors the condition of various flooring substrates. The floor monitoring device may traverse a route through an environment and collect data concerning the condition of the floor. The device may also communicate the floor condition data to another computing device. In some examples, the floor monitoring device may analyze the floor condition data and identify any notable floor conditions within the monitored environment. Alternatively or in addition, the computing device may analyze the floor condition data and identify and/or address notable floor conditions within the monitored environment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dispensing a solution of a solid product in a fluid. A freestanding apparatus comprises an inlet portion through which fluid enters, a reaction portion in which the fluid encounters and dissolves the product to form a solution, and an outlet portion from which the solution exits the apparatus. Fluid may encounter product from a single direction or multiple directions. The apparatus may be configured to receive a particularly shaped solid product, and may comprise a lid or gate to prevent fluid from contacting the product undesirably.

Abstract: A cleaning composition is provided including an alkalinity source, builder, surfactant, water, a reducing agent and amylase in the ratio of from about 1:1 to about 1:3 wherein the total amount of amylase in the composition is equal to or less than about 1.0 weight percent; and wherein the composition is substantially free of polyols, alkanolamine, phosphates, and boric acid. A method of presoaking soiled substrates is further provided. The method including the steps of providing presoak solution to a soiled substrate at a temperature of between about 65.5° C. up to about 80° C., the presoak solution including the provided composition; draining the presoak solution from the substrate; providing a detergent to a soiled substrate including the composition of the present invention; and removing or draining the detergent; and rinsing the substrate with water.