received by the International Bureau on 28 April 2020 (28.04.2020)

We Claim:

1. A method of cleaning an automated recirculation system and using waste effluent produced therefrom, the method comprising:

cleaning the automated recirculation system having its surface substantially free of burnt-in soil, with a cleaning solution that has a conductivity of up to 8 mS/cm at 25°C and comprises an acidic agent or an alkaline agent;

generating a waste effluent; and

using the waste effluent as irrigation water without reducing conductivity of the waste effluent prior to irrigation use,

wherein the method provides at least the same cleaning performance as a method that uses a cleaning solution comprising 1% by weight of caustic soda at 50% active or a cleaning solution comprising 1% by weight of nitric acid at 53% active.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the automated recirculation system comprises a clean-in-place (CIP) process.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the automated recirculation system is in a processing plant for processed food, dairy, brewing, or beverage.

4. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the method further comprises preparing the cleaning solution from a cleaner composition by diluting the cleaner composition with a diluent, preferably water.

5. A method of cleaning an equipment and using waste effluent produced therefrom, the method comprising:

preparing a cleaning solution having a conductivity of up to 8 mS/cm at 25°C that comprises an acidic agent or alkaline agent; contacting the equipment to be cleaned with the cleaning solution for a time needed to achieve a desired extent of soil removal and generating a waste effluent, wherein the surface of the equipment to be cleaned is substantially free of burnt-in soil; discharging the generated waste effluent from the equipment; and

using the waste effluent without reducing conductivity of the waste effluent prior to use, wherein the waste effluent has a conductivity of no more than 8 mS/cm at 25°C, and

wherein the method provides at least the same cleaning performance as a method that uses a cleaning solution comprising 1% by weight of caustic soda at 50% active or a cleaning solution comprising 1% by weight of nitric acid at 53% active..

6. The method of claim 5, wherein using the waste effluent comprises using the waste effluent as irrigation water without reducing conductivity of the waste effluent prior to irrigation use.

7. The method of claim 5 or 6, wherein the equipment includes a processing equipment in a processed food, dairy, brewing, or beverage processing operation.

8. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cleaning solution has a conductivity up to 5 mS/cm at 25°C, preferably up to 3 mS/cm at 25°C, more preferably up to 1 mS/cm at 25°C.

9. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cleaning solution comprises the acidic agent, and wherein the acidic agent fulfills at least one of the following:

(A) the acidic agent comprises methane sulfonic acid, methane sulfonic acid derivative, sulfamic acid, sulfamic acid derivative, alpha-hydroxy acid, alpha-hydroxy acid derivative, formic acid, formic acid derivative, acetic acid, acetic acid derivative citric acid, citric acid derivative, propionic acid, propionic acid derivative, glutamic acid, glutamic acid derivative, gluconate,

26 gluconate derivative, glycolic acid, glycolic acid derivative, or any combination thereof;

(B) the acidic agent is present in an amount of up to 5 wt%, preferably from about 0.01 wt% to about 5 wt%, more preferably from about 0.01 wt% to about 3 wt% based on total weight of the cleaning solution.

10. The method of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the cleaning solution comprises the alkaline agent, and wherein the alkaline agent fulfills at least one of the following:

(a) the alkaline agent comprises ammonia, monoethanolamine, triethanolamine, diglycolamine, or any combination thereof;

(b) the alkaline agent is present in an amount of up to 5 wt% of an alkalinity agent, preferably from about 0.01 wt% to about 5 wt%, more preferably from about 0.01 wt% to about 3 wt% based on total weight of the cleaning solution;

(c) the alkaline agent comprises monoethanolamine in an amount of up to 5 wt%, preferably from about 0.01 wt% to about 5 wt%, more preferably from about 0.01 wt% to about 3 wt%, based on total weight of the cleaning solution; or

(d) the alkaline agent comprises triethanolamine in an amount of up to 5 wt%, from preferably from about 0.01 wt% to about 5 wt%, more preferably from about 0.01 wt% to about 3 wt%, based on total weight of the cleaning solution.

11. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cleaning solution further comprises a buffer, a hydrotrope, a sequestrant, a solvent, a stabilizer, a biocide, a surfactant, a degreaser, an optically active dye, or any mixture thereof.

12. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the method further comprises collecting the waste effluent, or diluting the waste effluent solution with a diluent, or both, before using the waste effluent solution as irrigation water.

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13. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the method further comprises:

analyzing fluid stream of the automated recirculation system or equipment to determine a concentration of the cleaning solution, preferably the analyzing is performed by an in-line measurement; and

implementing at least one process change required to achieve a desired concentration of the cleaning solution in the fluid stream.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein implementing at least one process change comprises: adjusting a concentration of the cleaner composition used for preparing the cleaning solution, adjusting a dosage volume of the cleaner composition used for preparing the cleaning solution, changing flow rate of the fluid stream in the automated recirculation system or processing equipment, adjusting a cleaning temperature, or any combination thereof.

15. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the method further comprises

cleaning the automated recirculation system or equipment with a second cleaning solution before using the waste effluent for the irrigation use, and

wherein the second cleaning solution has a lower conductivity than the cleaning solution having a conductivity of up to 8 mS/cm at 25°C.

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