Importance

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Abstract

Chemical etching of bottles in a bottle washer is minimized by soaking the bottles in a highly caustic composition which does not include any phosphorus compounds, ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid or nitrilotriacetic acid. The soaking composition includes the sodium hydroxide dissolved in water, in combination with polycarboxylic acid crystal growth inhibitors. Preferably, the soaking solution further includes a nonionic surfactant such as an alkyl polyglucoside, as well as a chelant such as a gluconate, glucoheptonate, or boroheptonate. The soaking solution can be added by either combining a liquid or powder built detergent composition which also forms a portion of the present invention or, alternately, an additive package, not including the sodium hydroxide, can be added. These compositions effectively clean the bottles and significantly reduce the dissolution of the glass which can, in turn, cause a hazing and weight loss. This also reduces the amount of silicate scale formed in the bottle washing apparatus.

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First Claim