AMENDED CLAIMS

received by the International Bureau on 15 August 2018 (15.08.2018)

That which is claimed:

1. A formulation for a cleaning solution for use in a reduced temperature dairy equipment cleaning operation comprising:

the formulation having a sequestrant, a surfactant, a product stabilization solvent, and a degreaser/emulsifier solvent; and

the cleaning solution having an alkalinity agent

wherein the reduced temperature is about 50°C or less and the degreaser/emulsifier solvent is miscible with the product stabilization solvent. 2. The formulation of claim 1, wherein a concentration of the alkalinity agent in the cleaning solution is from about 0.1 wt% to about 0.5 wt% by weight of the cleaning solution.

3. The formulation of claim 1, wherein a concentration of the alkalinity agent in the cleaning solution is from about 0.1 wt% to about 0.3 wt% by weight of the cleaning solution.

4. The formulation of claim 1, wherein the reduced temperature is about 40°C or less. 5.

6.

7. The formulation of claim 1, the formulation additionally comprising a hydrotrope.

8. The formulation of claim 7, wherein the formulation comprising up to about 97.7 wt% of the product stabilization solvent, from about 1 wt% to about 20 wt% of the

degreaser/emulsifier solvent, from about 1 wt% to about 20 wt% of the hydrotrope, from about 0.1 wt% to about 20 wt% of the sequestrant, and from about 0.2 wt% to about 20 wt% of the surfactant all by weight of the formulation.

9. The formulation of claim 7, wherein the formulation comprising from about 45 wt% to about 92.5 wt% of the product stabilization solvent, from about 3 wt% to about 12 wt% of the degreaser/emulsifier solvent, from about 3 wt% to about 20 wt% of the hydrotrope, from about 1 wt% to about 15 wt% of the sequestrant, and from about 0.5 wt% to about 18 wt% of the surfactant all by weight of the formulation. 47

10. The formulation of claim 7, wherein the formulation comprising from about 40 wt% to about 82.5 wt% of the product stabilization solvent, from about 8 wt% to about 10 wt% of the degreaser/emulsifier solvent, from about 5.5 wt% to about 20 wt% of the hydrotrope, from about 3 wt% to about 12 wt% of the sequestrant, and from about 1 wt% to about 18 wt% of the surfactant all by weight of the formulation.

11. The formulation of claim 8, wherein the product stabilization solvent comprises water; the degreaser/emulsifier solvent comprises at least one of an alcohol and a glycol; the hydrotrope comprises any one or more of a salt of cumene sulfonic acid, a salt of xylene sulphonic acid, a glycolic acid and a salt of a fatty acid; the sequestrant comprises any one or more of an ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), a methylglycine diacetic acid (MGDA) and a poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) (M=4.5k); and the surfactant comprises any one or more of an alcohol alkoxylate that includes an ethylene oxide/propylene oxide (EO/PO) and an alcohol alkoxylate that includes an ethylene oxide/butyl ene oxide (EO/BO).

12. The formulation of claim 11, wherein the degreaser/emulsifier solvent comprises a dipropylene glycol methyl ether.

13. The formulation of claim 1, wherein the formulation additionally comprises a hydrotrope functional surfactant.

14. The formulation of claim 13, wherein the hydrotrope functional surfactant comprises at least one of an amphoteric surfactant and a nonionic surfactant. 15. The formulation of claim 14, wherein the nonionic surfactant comprises an alkyl polyglucoside.

16. The formulation of claim 14, wherein the formulation comprising up to about 97.7 wt% of the product stabilization solvent, from about 1 wt% to about 20 wt% of the degreaser/emulsifier solvent, from about 0.1 wt% to about 20 wt% of the hydrotrope functional surfactant, from about 0.1 wt% to about 20 wt% of the sequestrant, and from about 0.2 wt% to about 20 wt% of the surfactant all by weight of the formulation.

17. The formulation of claim 14, wherein the formulation comprising from about 45 wt% to about 92.5 wt% of the product stabilization solvent, from about 3 wt% to about 12 wt% of the degreaser/emulsifier solvent, from about 0.2 wt% to about 15 wt% of the hydrotrope functional surfactant, from about 1 wt% to about 15 wt% of the sequestrant, and from about 0.5 wt% to about 18 wt% of the surfactant all by weight of the formulation.

18. The formulation of claim 14, wherein the formulation comprising from about 40 wt% to about 82.5 wt% of the product stabilization solvent, from about 8 wt% to about 10 wt% of the degreaser/emulsifier solvent, from about 0.5 wt% to about 5 wt% of the hydrotrope functional surfactant, from about 3 wt% to about 12 wt% of the sequestrant, and from about 1 wt% to about 18 wt% of the surfactant all by weight of the formulation.

19. The formulation of claim 1, wherein the formulation additionally comprising any one or more of a stabilizer, a biocide, and a buffer. 20. The formulation of claim 1, wherein the formation comprises the alkalinity agent.

21. The formulation of claim 20, wherein the cleaning solution comprises another alkalinity agent.

22. The formulation of claim 20, wherein the formulation comprising up to about 97.7 wt% of a product stabilization solvent, from about 1 wt% to about 20 wt% of a degreaser emulsifier solvent, from about 1 wt% to about 20 wt% of a hydrotrope, from about 0.1 wt% to about 30 wt% of a sequestrant, from about 0.2 wt% to about 20 wt% of a surfactant and from about 4 wt% to about 40 wt% of an alkalinity agent all by weight of the formulation.

23. The formulation of claim 20, wherein the formulation comprising from about 41.5 wt% to about 81 wt% of a product stabilization solvent, from about 4 wt% to about 6 wt% of a degreaser emulsifier solvent, from about 4.5 wt% to about 12 wt% of a hydrotrope, from about 2.25 wt% to about 27 wt% of a sequestrant, from about 0.75 wt% to about 2.5 wt% of a surfactant and from about 7.5 wt% to about 11 wt% of an alkalinity agent all by weight of the formulation.

24. The formulation of claim 23, wherein the product stabilization solvent comprises water; the degreaser/emulsifier solvent comprises at least one of an alcohol and a glycol; the hydrotrope comprises any one or more of a salt of cumene sulfonic acid, a salt of xylene sulphonic acid, a glycolic acid and a salt of a fatty acid; the sequestrant comprises any one or more of an ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), a methylglycine diacetic acid (MGDA) and a poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) (M=4.5k); the surfactant comprises any one or more of an alcohol alkoxylate that includes an ethylene oxide/propylene oxide (EO/PO) and an alcohol alkoxylate that includes an ethylene oxide/butyl ene oxide (EO/BO); and the alkalinity agent comprises any one or more of a caustic soda (NaOH), a soda ash (NaC0₃) and a caustic potash (KOH).

25. The formulation of claim 23, wherein the degreaser/emulsifier solvent comprises a dipropylene glycol methyl ether.

26. The formulation of claim 1, wherein a dairy equipment of the reduced temperature dairy equipment cleaning operation does not substantially comprise burnt-in soil at the surface of the dairy equipment.

27. A method of cleaning a dairy processing equipment comprising:

providing a formulation having a sequestrant, a surfactant, a product stabilization solvent, and a degreaser emulsifier solvent;

combining the formulation and an alkalinity agent in water to form a cleaning solution;

injecting the cleaning solution in the dairy processing equipment to be cleaned; and raising a temperature of water of the cleaning solution to less than about 50°C, wherein the degreaser emulsifier solvent is miscible with the product stabilization solvent.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein a concentration of the alkalinity agent in the cleaning solution is from about 0.1 wt% to about 0.5 wt% by weight of the cleaning solution. 29. The formulation of claim 27, wherein a concentration of the alkalinity agent in the cleaning solution is from about 0.1 wt% to about 0.3 wt% by weight of the cleaning solution.

30.

31.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein the formulation additionally comprises a hydrotrope.

33. The method of claim 27, additionally comprising holding the cleaning solution in the dairy processing equipment for a rinse time needed to achieve a desired extent of soil removal, and discharging the cleaning solution from the dairy processing equipment.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein the temperature of the water is raised to less than about 40°C.

35. The method of claim 27, wherein the formulation additionally comprising any one or more of a stabilizer, a biocide, and a buffer. 36. The method of claim 27, wherein the formulation additionally comprises any one or more of a stabilizer, a biocide, and a buffer.

37. The method of claim 32, wherein a weight ratio of the formulation to the alkalinity agent in the cleaning solution is from about 5: 1 to about 1 :5.

38. The method of claim 32, wherein a weight ratio of the formulation to the alkalinity agent in the cleaning solution is from about 1 : 1 to about 2:5.

39. The method of claim 32, wherein a weight ratio of the formulation to the alkalinity agent in the cleaning solution is from about 3 :4 to about 1 :2.

40. The method of claim 32, wherein the formulation comprising up to about 97.7 wt% of the product stabilization solvent, from about 1 wt% to about 20 wt% of the

degreaser/emulsifier solvent, from about 1 wt% to about 20 wt% of the hydrotrope, from about 0.1 wt% to about 20 wt% of the sequestrant, and from about 0.2 wt% to about 20 wt% of the surfactant all by weight of the formulation.

41. The method of claim 32, wherein the formulation comprising from about 45 wt% to about 92.5 wt% of the product stabilization solvent, from about 3 wt% to about 12 wt% of the degreaser/emulsifier solvent, from about 3 wt% to about 20 wt% of the hydrotrope, from about 1 wt% to about 15 wt% of the sequestrant, and from about 0.5 wt% to about 18 wt% of the surfactant all by weight of the formulation.

42. The method of claim 32, wherein the formulation comprising from about 40 wt% to about 82.5 wt% of the product stabilization solvent, from about 8 wt% to about 10 wt% of the degreaser/emulsifier solvent, from about 5.5 wt% to about 20 wt% of the hydrotrope, from about 3 wt% to about 12 wt% of the sequestrant, and from about 1 wt% to about 18 wt% of the surfactant all by weight of the formulation

43. The method of claim 40, wherein the product stabilization solvent comprises water; the degreaser/emulsifier solvent comprises at least one of an alcohol and a glycol; the 51 hydrotrope comprises any one or more of a salt of cumene sulfonic acid, a salt of xylene sulphonic acid and a glycolic acid; the sequestrant comprises any one or more of an ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), a methylglycine diacetic acid (MGDA) and a poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) (M=4.5k); and the surfactant comprises any one or more of an alcohol alkoxylate that includes an ethylene oxide/propylene oxide (EO/PO) and an alcohol alkoxylate that includes an ethylene oxide/butyl ene oxide (EO/BO).

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the degreaser/emulsifier solvent comprises a dipropylene glycol methyl ether.

45. The method of claim 27, wherein the formulation additionally comprises a hydrotrope functional surfactant.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the hydrotrope functional surfactant comprises at least one of an amphoteric surfactant and a nonionic surfactant.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the nonionic surfactant comprises an alkyl polyglucoside. 48. The method of claim 46, wherein the formulation comprising up to about 97.7 wt% of the product stabilization solvent, from about 1 wt% to about 20 wt% of the

degreaser/emulsifier solvent, from about 0.1 wt% to about 20 wt% of the hydrotrope functional surfactant, from about 0.1 wt% to about 20 wt% of the sequestrant, and from about 0.2 wt% to about 20 wt% of the surfactant all by weight of the formulation. 49. The method of claim 46, wherein the formulation comprising from about 45 wt% to about 92.5 wt% of the product stabilization solvent, from about 3 wt% to about 12 wt% of the degreaser/emulsifier solvent, from about 0.2 wt% to about 15 wt% of the hydrotrope functional surfactant, from about 1 wt% to about 15 wt% of the sequestrant, and from about 0.5 wt% to about 18 wt% of the surfactant all by weight of the formulation. 50. The method of claim 46, wherein the formulation comprising from about 40 wt% to about 82.5 wt% of the product stabilization solvent, from about 8 wt% to about 10 wt% of the degreaser/emulsifier solvent, from about 0.5 wt% to about 5 wt% of the hydrotrope functional surfactant, from about 3 wt% to about 12 wt% of the sequestrant, and from about 1 wt% to about 18 wt% of the surfactant all by weight of the formulation. 52

51. The method of claim 27, wherein the dairy processing equipment has not been operated at a higher temperature such that a surface of the dairy processing equipment is substantially free of burnt-in soil.

52. A method of cleaning a dairy processing equipment comprising:

providing a formulation having a sequestrant, surfactant, a product stabilization solvent and a degreaser emulsifier solvent and an alkalinity agent;

combining the formulation in water to form a cleaning solution;

injecting the cleaning solution in the dairy processing equipment to be cleaned; and raising a temperature of water of the cleaning solution to less than about 50°C, wherein the degreaser emulsifier solvent is miscible with the product stabilization solvent.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein a concentration of the alkalinity agent in the cleaning solution is from about 0.1 wt% to about 0.5 wt% by weight of the cleaning solution.

54. The method of claim 52, wherein a concentration of the alkalinity agent in the cleaning solution is from about 0.1 wt% to about 0.3 wt% by weight of the cleaning solution.

55. The method of claim 52, wherein the cleaning solutions comprises another alkalinity agent.

56.

57. 58. The method of claim 52, wherein the formulation additionally comprises a hydrotrope.

59. The method of claim 52, additionally comprising holding the cleaning solution in the dairy processing equipment for a rinse time needed to achieve a desired extent of soil removal, and discharging the cleaning solution from the dairy processing equipment. 60. The method of claim 52, wherein the temperature of the water of the cleaning solution is raised to less than about 40°C.

61. The method of claim 52, wherein the formulation additionally comprising any one or more of a stabilizer, a biocide, and a buffer. 53

62. The method of claim 58, wherein a weight ratio of all non-alkalinity agent compounds in the formulation to an alkalinity agent included in the formulation is from about 25: 1 to about 5:2.

63. The method of claim 58, wherein a weight ratio of all non-alkalinity agent compounds in the formulation to an alkalinity agent included in the formulation is from about 10: 1 to about 3 : 1.

64. The method of claim 58, wherein a weight ratio of all non-alkalinity agent compounds in the formulation to an alkalinity agent included in the formulation is from about 25: 1 to about 5:2. 65. The method of claim 58, wherein a weight ratio of all non-alkalinity agent compounds in the formulation to an alkalinity agent included in the formulation is from about 10: 1 to about 3 : 1.

66. The method of claim 58, wherein the formulation comprising up to about 93.7 wt% of a product stabilization solvent, from about 1 wt% to about 20 wt% of a degreaser emulsifier solvent, from about 1 wt% to about 20 wt% of a hydrotrope, from about 0.1 wt% to about 30 wt% of a sequestrant, from about 0.2 wt% to about 20 wt% of a surfactant and from about 4 wt% to about 40 wt% of an alkalinity agent all by weight of the formulation.

67. The method of claim 58, wherein the formulation comprising from about 28.5 wt% to about 89.5 wt% of a product stabilization solvent, from about 2 wt% to about 10 wt% of a degreaser emulsifier solvent, from about 2.5 wt% to about 15 wt% of a hydrotrope, from about 0.5 wt% to about 27.5 wt% of a sequestrant, from about 0.5 wt% to about 5 wt% of a surfactant and from about 5 wt% to about 15 wt% of an alkalinity agent all by weight of the formulation.

68. The method of claim 58, wherein the formulation comprising from about 41.5 wt% to about 81 wt% of a product stabilization solvent, from about 4 wt% to about 6 wt% of a degreaser emulsifier solvent, from about 4.5 wt% to about 12 wt% of a hydrotrope, from about 2.25 wt% to about 27 wt% of a sequestrant, from about 0.75 wt% to about 2.5 wt% of a surfactant and from about 7.5 wt% to about 11 wt% of an alkalinity agent all by weight of the formulation. 54

69. The method of claim 66, wherein the product stabilization solvent comprises water; the degreaser/emulsifier solvent comprises at least one of an alcohol and a glycol; the hydrotrope comprises any one or more of a salt of cumene sulfonic acid, a salt of xylene sulphonic acid, a glycolic acid and a salt of a fatty acid; the sequestrant comprises any one or more of an ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), a methylglycine diacetic acid (MGDA) and a poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) (M=4.5k); the surfactant comprises any one or more of an alcohol alkoxylate that includes an ethylene oxide/propylene oxide (EO/PO) and an alcohol alkoxylate that includes an ethylene oxide/butyl ene oxide (EO/BO); and the alkalinity agent comprises any one or more of a caustic soda (NaOH), a soda ash (NaCCb) and a caustic potash.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein the degreaser/emulsifier solvent comprises a dipropylene glycol methyl ether.

71. The method of claim 52, wherein the formulation additionally comprises a hydrotrope functional surfactant. 72. The method of claim 71, wherein the hydrotrope functional surfactant comprises at least one of an amphoteric surfactant and a nonionic surfactant.

73. The method of claim 72, wherein the nonionic surfactant comprises an alkyl polyglucoside.

74. The method of claim 72, wherein the formulation comprising up to about 97.7 wt% of the product stabilization solvent, from about 1 wt% to about 20 wt% of the

degreaser/emulsifier solvent, from about 0.1 wt% to about 20 wt% of the hydrotrope functional surfactant, from about 0.1 wt% to about 20 wt% of the sequestrant, and from about 0.2 wt% to about 20 wt% of the surfactant all by weight of the formulation.

75. The method of claim 72, wherein the formulation comprising from about 45 wt% to about 92.5 wt% of the product stabilization solvent, from about 3 wt% to about 12 wt% of the degreaser/emulsifier solvent, from about 0.2 wt% to about 15 wt% of the hydrotrope functional surfactant, from about 1 wt% to about 15 wt% of the sequestrant, and from about 0.5 wt% to about 18 wt% of the surfactant all by weight of the formulation.

76. The method of claim 72, wherein the formulation comprising from about 40 wt% to about 82.5 wt% of the product stabilization solvent, from about 8 wt% to about 10 wt% of the 55 degreaser/emulsifier solvent, from about 0.5 wt% to about 5 wt% of the hydrotrope functional surfactant, from about 3 wt% to about 12 wt% of the sequestrant, and from about 1 wt% to about 18 wt% of the surfactant all by weight of the formulation.

77. The method of claim 52, wherein the dairy processing equipment has not been operated at a higher temperature such that a surface of the dairy processing equipment is substantially free of burnt-in soil.

78. A method of cleaning a dairy processing equipment comprising:

providing a formulation having a sequestrant, a surfactant, a product stabilization solvent and a degreaser emulsifier solvent;

combining the formulation and an alkalinity agent in water to form a cleaning solution; and

injecting the cleaning solution in the dairy processing equipment to be cleaned;

wherein the degreaser emulsifier solvent is miscible with the product stabilization solvent and a concentration of the alkalinity agent in the cleaning solution is from about 0.1 wt% to about 0.5 wt% by weight of the cleaning solution.

79. The formulation of claim 78, wherein a concentration of the alkalinity agent in the cleaning solution is from about 0.1 wt% to about 0.3 wt% by weight of the cleaning solution.

80. The method of claim 78, additionally comprising raising a temperature of water of the cleaning solution to less than about 50°C. 81.

82.

83. The method of claim 78, wherein the formulation additionally comprises a hydrotrope.

84. The method of claim 78, additionally comprising holding the cleaning solution in the dairy processing equipment for a rinse time needed to achieve a desired extent of soil removal, and discharging the cleaning solution from the dairy processing equipment.

85. The method of claim 78, wherein the temperature of the water is raised to less than about 40°C. 56

86. The method of claim 78, wherein the formulation additionally comprising any one or more of a stabilizer, a biocide, and a buffer.

87. The method of claim 78, wherein the formulation additionally comprises any one or more of a stabilizer, a biocide, and a buffer. 88. The method of claim 78, wherein a weight ratio of the formulation to the alkalinity agent in the cleaning solution is from about 3 :4 to about 1 :2.

89. The method of claim 83, wherein the formulation comprising up to about 97.7 wt% of the product stabilization solvent, from about 1 wt% to about 20 wt% of the

degreaser/emulsifier solvent, from about 1 wt% to about 20 wt% of the hydrotrope, from about 0.1 wt% to about 20 wt% of the sequestrant, and from about 0.2 wt% to about 20 wt% of the surfactant all by weight of the formulation.

90. The method of claim 83, wherein the formulation comprising from about 45 wt% to about 92.5 wt% of the product stabilization solvent, from about 3 wt% to about 12 wt% of the degreaser/emulsifier solvent, from about 3 wt% to about 20 wt% of the hydrotrope, from about 1 wt% to about 15 wt% of the sequestrant, and from about 0.5 wt% to about 18 wt% of the surfactant all by weight of the formulation.

91. The method of claim 83, wherein the formulation comprising from about 40 wt% to about 82.5 wt% of the product stabilization solvent, from about 8 wt% to about 10 wt% of the degreaser/emulsifier solvent, from about 5.5 wt% to about 20 wt% of the hydrotrope, from about 3 wt% to about 12 wt% of the sequestrant, and from about 1 wt% to about 18 wt% of the surfactant all by weight of the formulation.

92. The method of claim 89, wherein the product stabilization solvent comprises water; the degreaser/emulsifier solvent comprises at least one of an alcohol and a glycol; the hydrotrope comprises any one or more of a salt of cumene sulfonic acid, a salt of xylene sulphonic acid and a glycolic acid; the sequestrant comprises any one or more of an ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), a methylglycine diacetic acid (MGDA) and a poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) (M=4.5k); and the surfactant comprises any one or more of an alcohol alkoxylate that includes an ethylene oxide/propylene oxide (EO/PO) and an alcohol alkoxylate that includes an ethylene oxide/butyl ene oxide (EO/BO). 57

93. The method of claim 89, wherein the degreaser/emulsifier solvent comprises a dipropylene glycol methyl ether.

94. The method of claim 78, wherein the formulation additionally comprises a hydrotrope functional surfactant. 95. The method of claim 94, wherein the hydrotrope functional surfactant comprises at least one of an amphoteric surfactant and a nonionic surfactant.

96. The method of claim 95, wherein the nonionic surfactant comprises an alkyl polyglucoside.

97. The method of claim 95, wherein the formulation comprising up to about 97.7 wt% of the product stabilization solvent, from about 1 wt% to about 20 wt% of the

degreaser/emulsifier solvent, from about 0.1 wt% to about 20 wt% of the hydrotrope functional surfactant, from about 0.1 wt% to about 20 wt% of the sequestrant, and from about 0.2 wt% to about 20 wt% of the surfactant all by weight of the formulation.

98. The method of claim 95, wherein the formulation comprising from about 45 wt% to about 92.5 wt% of the product stabilization solvent, from about 3 wt% to about 12 wt% of the degreaser/emulsifier solvent, from about 0.2 wt% to about 15 wt% of the hydrotrope functional surfactant, from about 1 wt% to about 15 wt% of the sequestrant, and from about 0.5 wt% to about 18 wt% of the surfactant all by weight of the formulation.

99. The method of claim 95, wherein the formulation comprising from about 40 wt% to about 82.5 wt% of the product stabilization solvent, from about 8 wt% to about 10 wt% of the degreaser/emulsifier solvent, from about 0.5 wt% to about 5 wt% of the hydrotrope functional surfactant, from about 3 wt% to about 12 wt% of the sequestrant, and from about 1 wt% to about 18 wt% of the surfactant all by weight of the formulation.