Abstract: A process for automated and improved proteinaceous soil removal in a wash water solution wherein alkali is first added to the wash water solution to bring the pH thereof to slightly below a selected target pH value in the range of 10 to 11 that will be effective to react with and solubilize the proteinaceous soil. To that wash water solution 5 to 50 milligrams of hypohalous halogen per liter of wash water solution and sufficient alkali is added to raise the pH of the wash water solution to the target pH value. The wash water solution is monitored to detect a drop in pH of at least 0.02 pH units occurring after the addition of the hypohalous halogen. If there is no such drop in pH then the process is terminated. If there is at least a 0.02 pH units drop in pH then an incremental amount of hypohalous halogen and sufficient alkali are added to the solution to again raise the pH of the water solution to the target pH. This cycle continues until there is less then 0.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatic end-point detection in tripolyphosphate sequestration of hardness are disclosed. A desired approximate 1:1 molar ratio of the hardness elements calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) to sodium tripolyphosphate in a wash water solution is achieved by adding to the wash water solution sodium tripolyphosphate at a preselected rate as the electrical conductivity of the wash water solution is monitored.