Patents by Inventor Peter J. Fernholz

Peter J. Fernholz has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9845447
    Abstract: The invention is directed to methods of generating carbonate in situ in a use solution under an enriched CO2 atmosphere. In another aspect, the invention is directed to methods of cleaning food processing surfaces under an enriched CO2 atmosphere comprising contacting a food processing surface with a cleaning composition comprised of an alkalinity source, a surfactant, and water, monitoring the pH during the wash cycle and adjusting the pH by recirculating a use solution, adding a secondary alkalinity source, or both recirculating a use solution and adding a secondary alkalinity source, to generate carbonate in situ in the use solution. In a particular embodiment of the invention the alkalinity source is an alkali metal carbonate and the secondary alkalinity source is an alkali metal hydroxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony W. Erickson, Peter J. Fernholz
  • Patent number: 9752237
    Abstract: Methods of cleaning sugar evaporators with a cleaning composition comprising a sugar or sugar-moiety containing compound are disclosed. The methods are capable of improved scale and fouling removal from treated surfaces, including scale containing calcium oxalate, calcium dihydrogen phosphate, silica and/or other components from sugar evaporators. The methods reduce time required for scale removal without the need for highly alkaline cleaning compositions, elevated temperatures and/or mechanical force applied to the scale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: ECOLAB USA INC.
    Inventors: Kim R. Smith, Peter J. Fernholz
  • Publication number: 20170240928
    Abstract: A process for the use of peracid compositions to eliminate and/or control the growth of undesirable bacteria, including contaminating bacteria, in the fermentation production of alcohol is disclosed. Beneficially, the peracid compositions and methods of use of the same do not interfere or inhibit the growth or replication of yeast and have low or no adverse environmental impact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: Peter J. Fernholz, Jay Kummet
  • Patent number: 9677093
    Abstract: A process for the use of peracid compositions to eliminate and/or control the growth of undesirable bacteria, including contaminating bacteria, in the fermentation production of alcohol is disclosed. Beneficially, the peracid compositions and methods of use of the same do not interfere or inhibit the growth or replication of yeast and have low or no adverse environmental impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Peter J. Fernholz, Jay Kummet
  • Publication number: 20170144198
    Abstract: A method of cleaning equipment such as heat exchangers, evaporators, tanks and other industrial equipment using clean-in-place procedures comprising applying a pre-treatment solution prior to the application of an override use solution. A gas generating use solution is present in either the pretreatment or the override use solution. The gas generating use solution is capable of releasing gas on and in a soil, resulting in a soil disruption effect and enhanced cleaning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Applicant: ECOLAB USA INC.
    Inventors: Peter J. Fernholz, Anthony W. Erickson
  • Publication number: 20170028449
    Abstract: A method for cleaning a piece of equipment in place includes a plurality of cleaning cycles and optionally a rinse, where each cleaning cycle includes applying a first cleaning solution from a first supply tank through a first set of nozzles; and applying a second cleaning solution from a second supply tank through a second set of nozzles. The first cleaning solution may be applied for about 20 s to about 10 min, and the second cleaning solution for about 1 min to about 60 min. The cleaning cycle can be repeated from 5 to 150 times, and the first and second cleaning solutions can be recirculated during the process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventors: Peter J. Fernholz, Christopher Nagel, Eric Schmidt, Anthony W. Erickson
  • Patent number: 9416375
    Abstract: A process for the use of peracid compositions to eliminate and/or control the growth of undesirable bacteria, including contaminating bacteria, in the fermentation production of alcohol is disclosed. Beneficially, the peracid compositions and methods of use of the same do not interfere or inhibit the growth or replication of yeast and have low or no adverse environmental impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: ECOLAB USA INC.
    Inventors: Peter J. Fernholz, Jay Kummet
  • Publication number: 20160102275
    Abstract: The present invention provides for the use of activator complexes to enhance lower temperature cleaning in alkaline peroxide cleaning systems. Compositions including at least one of an activator complex, an active oxygen source, and a source of alkalinity are applied to the surface to be cleaned at temperatures between about 5° C. and about 50° C. The methods and compositions of the present invention provide for enhanced soil removal with reduced energy, water, and chemistry consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Applicant: ECOLAB USA INC.
    Inventors: Anthony W. Erickson, Thomas R. Mohs, Peter J. Fernholz, Robert J. Ryther
  • Publication number: 20160060577
    Abstract: The invention is directed to methods of generating carbonate in situ in a use solution under an enriched CO2 atmosphere. In another aspect, the invention is directed to methods of cleaning food processing surfaces under an enriched CO2 atmosphere comprising contacting a food processing surface with a cleaning composition comprised of an alkalinity source, a surfactant, and water, monitoring the pH during the wash cycle and adjusting the pH by recirculating a use solution, adding a secondary alkalinity source, or both recirculating a use solution and adding a secondary alkalinity source, to generate carbonate in situ in the use solution. In a particular embodiment of the invention the alkalinity source is an alkali metal carbonate and the secondary alkalinity source is an alkali metal hydroxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: ANTHONY W. ERICKSON, PETER J. FERNHOLZ
  • Publication number: 20160024531
    Abstract: A process for the use of peracid compositions to eliminate and/or control the growth of undesirable bacteria, including contaminating bacteria, in the fermentation production of alcohol is disclosed. Beneficially, the peracid compositions and methods of use of the same do not interfere or inhibit the growth or replication of yeast and have low or no adverse environmental impact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Peter J. Fernholz, Jay Kummet
  • Patent number: 9206380
    Abstract: The invention is directed to methods of generating carbonate in situ in a use solution under an enriched CO2 atmosphere. In another aspect, the invention is directed to methods of cleaning food processing surfaces under an enriched CO2 atmosphere comprising contacting a food processing surface with a cleaning composition comprised of an alkalinity source, a surfactant, and water, monitoring the pH during the wash cycle and adjusting the pH by recirculating a use solution, adding a secondary alkalinity source, or both recirculating a use solution and adding a secondary alkalinity source, to generate carbonate in situ in the use solution. In a particular embodiment of the invention the alkalinity source is an alkali metal carbonate and the secondary alkalinity source is an alkali metal hydroxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: ECOLAB USA INC.
    Inventors: Anthony W. Erickson, Peter J. Fernholz
  • Publication number: 20150345032
    Abstract: Methods of cleaning sugar evaporators with a cleaning composition comprising a sugar or sugar-moiety containing compound are disclosed. The methods are capable of improved scale and fouling removal from treated surfaces, including scale containing calcium oxalate, calcium dihydrogen phosphate, silica and/or other components from sugar evaporators. The methods reduce time required for scale removal without the need for highly alkaline cleaning compositions, elevated temperatures and/or mechanical force applied to the scale.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Kim R. Smith, Peter J. Fernholz
  • Publication number: 20150338026
    Abstract: During the production of consumable liquids such as milk, soup, and juice, the liquid consumable may be transferred from one location to another location through a fluid conduit. For example, a consumable liquid may be transferred from a storage tank to another destination through piping. At the end of the process, the piping may be purged with a flushing fluid to push the liquid consumable remaining in the piping to the end destination, thus preventing the volume of liquid remaining in the piping from being wasted. To control the flushing processing, fluid flowing through the piping may be fluorometrically analyzed to determine a concentration of product in the fluid. The flushing liquid can then be controlled based on the determined concentration. For example, the supply of flushing liquid may be terminated when the concentration of product falls below a threshold, indicating the flushing liquid is diluting the liquid consumable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Inventors: Peter J. FERNHOLZ, Anthony ERICKSON, Rodney H. BANKS
  • Publication number: 20140349359
    Abstract: A process for the use of peracid compositions to eliminate and/or control the growth of undesirable bacteria, including contaminating bacteria, in the fermentation production of alcohol is disclosed. Beneficially, the peracid compositions and methods of use of the same do not interfere or inhibit the growth or replication of yeast and have low or no adverse environmental impact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Peter J. Fernholz, Jay Kummet
  • Publication number: 20140261550
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: ECOLAB USA INC.
    Inventors: Anthony ERICKSON, Peter J. FERNHOLZ
  • Publication number: 20140261546
    Abstract: The invention is directed to methods of generating carbonate in situ in a use solution under an enriched CO2 atmosphere. In another aspect, the invention is directed to methods of cleaning food processing surfaces under an enriched CO2 atmosphere comprising contacting a food processing surface with a cleaning composition comprised of an alkalinity source, a surfactant, and water, monitoring the pH during the wash cycle and adjusting the pH by recirculating a use solution, adding a secondary alkalinity source, or both recirculating a use solution and adding a secondary alkalinity source, to generate carbonate in situ in the use solution. In a particular embodiment of the invention the alkalinity source is an alkali metal carbonate and the secondary alkalinity source is an alkali metal hydroxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony W. Erickson, Peter J. Fernholz
  • Patent number: 8835140
    Abstract: A process for the use of peracid compositions to eliminate and/or control the growth of undesirable bacteria, including contaminating bacteria, in the fermentation production of alcohol is disclosed. Beneficially, the peracid compositions and methods of use of the same do not interfere or inhibit the growth or replication of yeast and have low or no adverse environmental impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Peter J. Fernholz, Jay Kummet
  • Publication number: 20130344556
    Abstract: A process for the use of peracid compositions to eliminate and/or control the growth of undesirable bacteria, including contaminating bacteria, in the fermentation production of alcohol is disclosed. Beneficially, the peracid compositions and methods of use of the same do not interfere or inhibit the growth or replication of yeast and have low or no adverse environmental impact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventors: Peter J. Fernholz, Jay Kummet
  • Patent number: 8398781
    Abstract: A method of cleaning equipment such as heat exchangers, evaporators, tanks and other industrial equipment using clean-in-place procedures and a pre-treatment solution prior to the conventional CIP cleaning process. The pre-treatment step improves the degree of softening of the soil, and thus facilitates its removal. The pre-treatment solution can be a strong acidic solution, a strong alkaline solution, or comprise a penetrant. A preferred strong acidic solution is an acid peroxide solution. In some embodiments, the pre-treatment may include no strong alkali or acid ingredient; rather, the penetrant provides acceptable levels of pre-treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Brandon Leon Herdt, Peter J. Fernholz
  • Patent number: 8247363
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for removing or preventing scale formation in a liquid food processing operation. The present invention also relates to methods and compositions for increasing the solubility of insoluble calcium salts in an acidic environment. Aqueous antiscalant solutions comprising soluble magnesium salts are used to prevent the precipitation of insoluble calcium salts and/or to increase the solubility of insoluble calcium salts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Peter J. Fernholz, John W. Bolduc, Paul F. Schacht, Michael E. Besse, Anthony W. Erickson, Eric V. Schmidt