The present invention relates to compositions comprising high molecular weight polymers, particularly polyethylene oxide polymers, wherein the high molecular weight polymer serves as an anti-misting agent to reduce the potential of aerosol generation from a composition when used in a desired environment. The invention further relates to methods of decreasing enzyme exposure from a personal care or cleaning product comprising a high molecular weight polymer.

Description of the Invention

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment the present invention concerns a reduced aerosol generating formulated personal care or cleaning product comprising a high molecular weight polymer and one or more personal care or cleaning product components, wherein said polymer acts as an anti-misting agent and increases the Dv.sub.50 of the formulated personal care or cleaning product by 10-200% over the Dv.sub.50 of the corresponding non-formulated personal care or cleaning product.

In another embodiment the present invention concerns a method of reducing aerosol generation from a personal care or cleaning product comprising incorporating into said product an aqueous composition comprising a high molecular weight polymer having a molecular weight from about 0.8.times.10.sup.6 to 4.0.times.10.sup.7, resulting in a formulated product wherein the Dv.sub.50 of said formulated product is between 10 to 200% greater than the Dv.sub.50 of the corresponding non-formulated personal care or cleaning product.

In a further embodiment the invention concerns a method of decreasing enzyme exposure from a personal care product comprising reformulating a personal care product which includes one or more enzymes with an aqueous composition which comprises a polyethylene oxide polymer having a molecular weight of about 0.8.times.10.sup.6 to 4.0.times.10.sup.6 wherein said polymer acts as an anti-misting agent.

In yet another embodiment the invention concerns an aqueous anti-misting enzyme composition comprising from about 1.times.10.sup.-4 to 25 wt % of one or more high molecular weight polymers; and from about 1.times.10.sup.-3 to 25 wt % of an effective amount of one or more enzymes.

In still a further embodiment the invention relates to a shower gel comprising a high molecular weight polymer wherein said polymer has a molecular weight from about 0.8.times.10.sup.6 to 4.0.times.10.sup.7 and comprises from about 0.0001% to about 10% of the shower gel; a protease comprising about 0.0001% to about 10% of the shower gel; and one or more further personal care product ingredients wherein said shower gel has a Dv.sub.50 that is 10-200% greater than a corresponding shower gel lacking the high molecular weight polymer.

The invention further relates to a method for producing a reduced aerosol generating composition comprising combining a high molecular weight polymer having a molecular weight of about 0.8.times.10.sup.6 to about 4.times.10.sup.7 with an enzyme to obtain a polymer/enzyme composition.

Additionally, the invention relates to a method for producing a reduced aerosol generating composition comprising combining a high molecular weight polymer having a molecular weight of about 0.8.times.10.sup.6 to about 4.times.10.sup.7 with an enzyme to obtain a polymer/enzyme composition; incorporating the polymer/enzyme composition with a personal care or cleaning product composition; and obtaining a formulated personal care or cleaning product composition wherein when said formulated product is used in a desired environment. The generation of aerosols produced by the formulated product is reduced compared to a corresponding non-formulated product.

Another embodiment of the invention relates to a method of reducing the generation of aerosols comprising combining a high molecular weight polymer having a molecular weight of about 0.8.times.10.sup.6 to about 4.times.10.sup.7 with an enzyme to obtain a polymer/enzyme composition; combining the polymer/enzyme composition with a personal care or cleaning product formulation; and using the formulation in a desired environment wherein the mean particle aerosol size of the formulation is between 65-150 .mu.m.

In still yet another embodiment the invention relates to a method of reducing aerosol generation of a formulation comprising reformulating a personal care formulation or cleaning formulation with a composition comprising a polyethylene oxide polymer having a molecular weight from about 0.8.times.10.sup.6 to about 4.0.times.10.sup.6 and comprising from about 0.0001% to about 10% of the formulation, wherein the addition of the polymer increases the Dv.sub.50 of the personal care or cleaning formulation by 10-200% resulting in reduced aerosol generation from the personal care or cleaning formulation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The compositions and formulations of the invention typically comprise a high molecular weight polymer and are referred to herein as anti-misting compositions. In one embodiment the anti-misting compositions include a high molecular weight polymer combined with an enzyme in an aqueous composition. The anti-misting compositions of the invention may contain a variety of other optional ingredients as described herein below:

A. Components

High Molecular Weight Polymers

Various examples of high molecular weight polymers include a) polyethylene oxides, such as POLYOX, supplied by Dow Chemical Co. Midland, Mich.; b) polyacrylamides, such as TARGET LC, supplied by Loveland Industries, Greeley, Co., having a molecular weight between 2.5.times.10.sup.7 and 4.0.times.10.sup.7; c) hydroxypropyl guar gum, such as AgRHO DR2000, supplied by Rhodia, France; d) substituted acrylamides containing sulfonate groups, such as poly(2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid), also known as POLYMER 2000, supplied by Clariant, Charlotte, N.C.); e) other acrylamide copolymers, such as poly(acrylamide/acrylic acid); f) other gums, for example, locust bean and guar gums; and g) mixtures thereof.

In one preferred aspect, the high molecular weight polymer is a polyethylene oxide. Polyethylene oxides (PEOs) are also known in the art as polyethylene glycols (PEGs). The PEOs useful herein have a molecular weight of from 0.4.times.10.sup.6 to 7.times.10.sup.6; 0.8.times.10.sup.6 to 4.times.10.sup.6, and 1.times.10.sup.6 to 3.0.times.10.sup.6. Most preferably the molecular weight is about 1.5.times.10.sup.6 to 2.5.times.10.sup.6. These materials are available for example, under the name POLYOX from Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Mich. One preferred POLOXY is known by the INCI name PEG-45M. The polymers can be prepared by the polymerization of ethylene oxide, utilizing an alkaline earth metal oxide as a catalyst. In one preferred aspect the level of PEO in the compositions is about 1.0.times.10.sup.-4% to about 10%, about 1.0.times.10.sup.-4% to about 5%, about 1.0.times.10.sup.-4% to about 2%, about 1.0.times.10.sup.-4% to about 1.5%, about 1.0.times.10.sup.-3% to about 10%, about 1.0.times.10.sup.-2% to about 10%, about 1.0.times.10.sup.-2% to about 5%, about 0.1% to about 5%, about 0.1% to about 2% and about 0.5% to about 5%. In another preferred aspect, the high molecular weight polymer is a polyacrylamide. Exemplary polyacrylamides are those sold under the names TARGET LC supplied by Loveland Industries, Greeley, Co., molecular weight 2.5.times.10.sup.7 to 4.0.times.10.sup.7. These polymers can be prepared by the polymerization of acrylamide. The general properties of acrylamide polymers as well as their methods of preparation are disclosed in THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF POLYMER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING vol.1, John Wiley & Sons, (1985) pgs 169-211. In one preferred aspect the level of polyacrylamide or copolymer thereof in the compositions is about 1.0.times.10.sup.-4% to about 25%; about 1.0 .times.10.sup.-4% to about 10%, about 1.0.times.10.sup.-4% to about 5%, about 1.0.times.10.sup.-4% to about 2%, about 1.0.times.10.sup.-4% to about 1.5%, about 1.0.times.10.sup.-3% to about 10%, about 1.0.times.10.sup.-2% to about 10%, about 1.0.times.10.sup.-2% to about 5%, about 0.1% to about 5%, about 0.1% to about 2% and about 0.5% to about 5%.

When an aqueous droplet is directed against a target material at a velocity (V1) there are two phases involved in the droplet break-up process. The first phase is the impaction and expansion phase. In this phase the degree of droplet break-up is directly proportional to inertial factors, such as density of the liquid (.rho.), impact velocity of the liquid (V.sub.l) and the initial droplet diameter (D.sub.o) and inversely proportional to the resistance factors of surface tension (.sigma.) and viscosity (.eta.). The higher the surface tension (.sigma.) and the higher the viscosity the less the tendency to form small droplets on break-up. Viscosity can take on two forms, shear viscosity (.eta..sub.s) and elongationalviscosity (.eta..sub.e). The provision of the flexible water-soluble polymers of the present invention is believed to enhance at least elongational viscosity

The second phase in the droplet break-up process is the retraction phase where after a droplet reaches a maximum diameter (Dmax), the droplet retracts and can cause additional small droplet formation in the process. The greater the retraction velocity the greater the tendency to form very small particles called fines. The retraction velocity is inversely proportional to the elongational viscosity and directly proportional to the surface tension.

Other factors which may control the breakup of the delivered mist droplet include roughness amplitude of the surface, roughness wavelength of the surface and the advancing and receding contact angles between the liquid and the target surface. For further discussion of these properties reference is made to Rioboo, et al., (2001) Atomization and Sprays, 11: 155-165 and Bergeron et al., (2000) Nature 405:722-775.

While not meant to be limited to any particular theory, it is believed that the mechanism of action of the high molecular weight polymers as an anti-misting agent may be due to an increase in either, or both, shear viscosity or elongational viscosity.

Enzymes and Enzyme Formulations

One or more enzymes that may be incorporated into the compositions of the invention include enzymes selected from amylolytic enzymes, proteolytic enzymes, cellulytic enzymes, and oxidoreductase enzymes. Examples of these enzymes include, but are not limited to, amylases, proteases, lipases, laccases, phenol oxidases, oxidases, cellulases, esterases, peroxidases, phytases, isomerases, mannases, and pectinases. Preferably the enzyme to be included in the anti-misting compositions, which include compositions of formulated personal care products and cleaning products, are proteases, lipases, cellulases and amylases, particularly proteases.

Proteases may be naturally occurring proteases or recombinant proteases. Two types of proteases are well known and these include neutral (or metalloproteases) and alkaline (or serine proteases). Serine proteases are enzymes which catalyze the hydrolysis of peptide bonds in which there is an essential serine residue at the active site. The serine proteases have molecular weights in the 25,000 to 30,000 range (Priest (1977) Bacteriol. Rev. 41:711). A preferred serine protease is subtilisin. A wide variety of subtilisins have been identified and sequenced from bacterial and fungal sources. Examples of bacterial sources of subtilisin include Bacillus species such as. B. subtilis, B. licheniformis, B. lentus, and B. amyloliquefaciens. Well known subtilisins include but are not limited to, subtilisin 168, subtilisin BPN', subtilisin 147, subtilisin 309, subtilisin PB92, and subtilisin Carlsberg. For a review of subtilisin like serine proteases reference is made to Siezen et al. (1991) Protein Engineering 4:719 and to the more recent reviews of Siezen et al. (1997) Protein Sci. 6:501 and P. N. Bryan (2000) Biochim. Et. Biophy. Acta. 1543:203.

One of general skill in the art is aware that the amino acid sequences of the subtilisin members are not entirely homologous, but this class of serine proteases shares a common amino acid sequence defining a catalytic triad which distinguishes them from other related classes of serine proteases. The relative order of these amino acids, reading from the amino to carboxy terminus, is aspartate-histidine-serine. Thus, subtilisin herein refers to a serine protease having the catalytic triad of subtilisin related proteases.

"Recombinant," "recombinant subtilisin" or "recombinant protease" refers to an enzyme, subtilisin or protease in which the DNA sequence encoding the enzyme, subtilisin or protease is modified to produce a variant (or mutant) DNA sequence which encodes the substitution, deletion or insertion of one or more amino acids in the naturally-occurring amino acid sequence. Reference is made to the following publications which teach variant proteases: U.S. Pat. No. 4,760,025 (U.S. RE 34,606); U.S. Pat. No. 5,185,258; 5,204,015 ; 5,441,882; 5,631,217 5,665,587; 5,700,676; 5,741,694; 5,880,080; 6,197,567; 6,218,165; WO 89/06279; WO 92/10755; WO 99/49056 and WO 01/07579. In a preferred embodiment, the subtilisin of the compositions are native-type or recombinant subtilisins which have been further modified.

Proteases are used in many products, and commercially available proteases include those sold under the trade names MAXACAL, MAXAPEM, MULTIFECT, PROPERASE, PURAFECT, OPTICLEAN, and OPTIMASE (Genencor International, Inc., Palo Alto, Calif.) and ALCALASE, SAVINASE, PRIMASE, DURAZYM, ESPERASE (Novozymes A/S Denmark).

Commercially available amylase enzymes include those sold under the trade names MAXAMYL and PURAFECT (Genencor International, Inc., Palo Alto, Calif.) and TERMAMYL and BAN (Novozymes A/S Denmark). Amylase enzymes are also disclosed in WO 96/23873.

Commercially available lipases include those sold under the trade names LIPOMAX and LUMAFECT (Genencor International, Inc.) and LIPOLASE (Novozymes A/S, Denmark). Lipase enzymes are also described in EP-B-0218272.

Commercially available cellulases include those sold under the trade names CAREZYME and CELLUZYME (Novozymes A/S, Denmark) and PURADAX and Detergent cellulase L (Genencor International, Inc.).

In one embodiment the anti-misting compositions include compositions comprising one or more enzymes combined with the high molecular weight polymer. In this embodiment the amount of enzyme comprising the composition may be between about 1.0.times.10.sup.-4% to about 25%; between about 1.0.times.10.sup.-3% to about 20%; between about 1.0.times.10.sup.-3% to about 15%; between about 1.0.times.10.sup.-3% to about 10%; and between about 1.0.times.10.sup.-3% to about 5% enzyme. The amount of high molecular weight polymer comprising the anti-misting composition is about 1.0.times.10.sup.-4% to about 25%; about 1.0.times.10.sup.-4% to about 10%; about 1.0.times.10.sup.-4% to about 5% or about 1.0.times.10.sup.-4% to about 1% whether or not an enzyme is included in the composition. When one or more enzymes are included the ratio of enzyme to polymer in the compositions may be about 1:250 to about 250:1; about 1:100 to about 100:1; about 1:50 to about 50:1; about 1:25 to about 25:1; about 1:10 to about 10:1; about 1:5 to about 5:1; about 1:1 to about 4:1; and about 1:1 to about 2:1.

Other Ingredients

The anti-misting compositions including one or more enzymes and/or the high molecular weight polymer may further include other adjunct ingredients. These ingredients include but are not limited to a) stabilizers for example, to prevent degradation of the polymer to lower molecular weight species; b) alkali metal salts such as calcium, potassium and sodium salts; c) enzyme protecting agents, cofactors or inhibitors, such as propylene glycol, glycerol, sorbitol, sucrose, trehalose, sodium formate, sodium acetate, sodium borate, betaine, ammonium sulfate, ammonium citrate, urea, guanidine hydrochloride, guanidine carbonate, guanidine sulfamate, thiourea dioxide, monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, amino acids such as glycine, sodium glutamate and the like, phenylboronic acid and phenyl boronate derivatives, peptide inhibitors and the like, calcium salts such as calcium chloride, calcium formate and the like; d) scavengers of chlorine, hypochlorite, hydrogen peroxide and other pro-oxidants which can be detrimental to enzymes, e.g. ammonium sulfate, amino acids, ascorbic acid, sodium citrate, salts of iron and other heavy metals and the like; and e) other minor ingredients such as proteins e.g. bovine serum albumin, casein and the like; surfactants including anionic surfactants, ampholytic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, cationic surfactants and long-chain fatty acid salts; metallic salts for example to avoid excessive gelling of the polymer in a dispensing device; builders; alkalis or inorganic electrolytes; caking inhibitors and solubilizers such as nonionic surfactants and hydrotropes; activators; antioxidants; dyes; bleaching agents; bluing agents whiteners; inhibitors; binders; and fragrances. One skilled in the art is referred to McCutcheon's, DETERGENTS AND EMULSIFIERS , Vol 1. and FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Vol. 2 International and North American Editions (1999), MC Publishing Co.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,421,769 and WO 00/24372.

Table 1 (see Original Patent) lists non-limiting examples of anti-misting compositions according to the invention.

These concentrate compositions containing the enzymes and/or high molecular weight polymer may be further formulated into formulated personal care products or formulated cleaning products as discussed herein below.

B. Methods of Making the Invention

Preparation of anti-misting compositions according to the invention may be accomplished with apparatus and techniques known in the art. Various general embodiments are disclosed below.

In a first embodiment, a high molecular weight polymer is mixed with various water miscible organic solvents, such as propylene glycol or glycerol until the polymer is fully dispersed. Water is added to the mixture followed by other solid ingredients such as calcium chloride, sodium formate, sodium borate or other enzyme stabilizers. An enzyme, or enzyme formulation, is then added to the mixture, followed by other excipients if desired. All ingredients are mixed until homogenous. One skilled in the art is well aware that a similar composition may be prepared which lacks an enzyme.

In a second embodiment, the high molecular weight polymer according to the invention is first prepared as an aqueous solution (i.e. 2-5%) which can then be added to a mixture of water miscible organic solvents, such as propylene glycol or glycerol and other solid ingredients as mentioned above. If an enzyme is included, it is added at this point and mixed until homogeneous.

In a third embodiment, water miscible organic solvent such as, propylene glycol or glycerol is first combined with water until homogeneous, and then mixed with other solid ingredients as mentioned above. Enzyme is added followed by the high molecular weight polymer and all ingredients are mixed until homogenous.

In a fourth embodiment, if an enzyme is combined with the high molecular weight polymer, the enzyme may be added directly to the polymer mixture or an enzyme composition can be prepared first and then the polymer mixture is added to the enzyme composition.

In a fifth embodiment, the high molecular weight polymer is first prepared as an aqueous solution (e.g., 2-5%) and then added to an aqueous polyol solution (e.g. 5-50% sucrose, sorbitol, trehalose or other sugar). Other ingredients, such as calcium chloride are added and followed by addition of an enzyme such as amylase. The composition is mixed until homogenous.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that preparation of the anti-misting formulations of the present invention may be performed using procedures which include conditions selected to maintain the molecular weight of the selected polymer. Such conditions include, for example, mixing methods, mixing times and temperatures that do not unduly disrupt the bonds of the selected polymer. Suitable preparation methods for polyethylene oxides include, but are not limited to, manufacturing instructions provided by Dow Chemical Co. (Midland, Mich.) for POLYOX, and the earlier cited methods in The Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Engineering vol. 1 (previously cited).

Preferably once the compositions, as generally described above are prepared, they are further incorporated into a personal care or cleaning product to form formulated compositions thereof. It is further emphasized that the high molecular weight polymer compositions according to the invention may be formulated with a personal care or cleaning product wherein the high molecular weight polymer composition does not include an enzyme. Further an enzyme composition may be combined directly with a high molecular weight polymer composition and then incorporated into the personal care or cleaning product. Additionally an enzyme composition may be stored separately from the high molecular weight polymer composition and separately be incorporated into the personal care or cleaning product.

C. Methods of Using the Invention

The high molecular weight polymer compositions as disclosed above impart desirable anti-misting properties that reduce protein exposure during manufacturing of the compositions, and the composition impart desirable anti-misting properties to further compositions or formulations when added to said compositions or formulations.

Resulting compositions will include other ingredients known in the art for the particular type of formulation and said ingredients are provided in amounts that will yield a desirable effect. The resulting compositions may comprise one or more enzymes which have been included in the composition prior to formulation with the high molecular weight polymer.

The resulting anti-misting compositions according to the present invention may be packaged in pump spray devices, pressured aerosol sprays and various containers well known in the art.

The resulting anti-misting compositions of the invention are commonly dispensed onto a target material using a pump spray. In general, when the orifice or spray head valve is open pressure forces the aqueous contents through the orifice. Both the pressure of the dispensing means and the orifice valve geometry will influence the aerosol spray pattern and particle size distribution.

While pumping and spraying are primary mechanisms contributing to the formation of aerosols, the anti-misting compositions of the invention may be applied by pouring, by hand application or may be further incorporated onto a fiber cloth, wash cloth, wipe or other solid dispensing substrate designed for direct rubbing or contact on to the target material. In such applications, the generation of aerosols may occur by subsequent processes such as rinsing, spraying showering or other direct impingement of water or aqueous solutions upon a target material already coated or covered with the anti-misting composition.

The resulting anti-misting compositions of the invention generally fall into two groups; formulated personal care products and formulated cleaning products.

(1) Personal Care Formulations

The aqueous high molecular weight polymer compositions according to the invention incorporated into a personal care formulation imparts aerosol control.

Personal care products include but are not limited to shower and bath gels; shaving creams or gels; hair products such as shampoos, conditioning shampoos, cream rinses and hairsprays; bar soaps; liquid hand soaps; body or face lotions and creams; facial masques; toothpaste; and mouthwash. In particular when these products are used in a shower environment there is a potential for aerosolization, particularly product bounce-off.

Typically, the personal care formulation will be prepared according to the customary protocol for the product. For example, if the anti-misting compositions are included in a shower gel, the shower gel may be formulated first and then the anti-misting composition is added to the shower gel formulation. However, the anti-misting composition may also be formulated concurrently with the ingredients comprising the shower gel to form the finished product. Upon completion of the formulation of the finished product, the formulation will be packaged in a suitable form.

When the anti-misting compositions are formulated with a personal care product, the formulations may include a final concentration of about 0.0001% to about 10% high molecular weight polymer. Preferably about 0.0001% to about 5.0% high molecular weight polymer, about 0.001% to about 1.0%, about 0.001% to about 0.5%; and about 0.01% to about 0.1% high molecular weight polymer. When the anti-misting compositions include both enzyme and high molecular weight polymer, the formulations include about 0.0001% to about 20% enzyme; about 0.0001% to about 10% enzyme; about 0.001% to about 10% enzyme; about 0.01% to about 10% enzyme; about 0.01% to about 5.0% enzyme; about 0.1% to about 10%; about 0.1% to about 5% enzyme; or about 0.5% to about 5% enzyme.

Additionally, in one embodiment, the Dv.sub.50 of the formulated compositions will be between 10-200% greater than the Dv.sub.50 of the corresponding formulation without the high molecular weight polymer.

The volume of product mist from direct spray, plus/minus rebound, will be decreased from about 5 to 95%; about 10 to 90%, about 10 to 80%, or about 10 to 50%. The volume of product mist from direct spray, plus/minus rebound, can be easily measured when an enzyme is combined with the cleaning product formulation by measuring the amount of enzyme collected by an air sample before and after the high molecular weight polymer composition is added to the personal care product.

A comprehensive list of ingredients that may be included in personal care products is found in the International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary and Handbook, 9th Ed. (2002) Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association. Reference is also made to U.S. Pat. No. 5,863,597. Non-limiting examples of personal care formulations including the anti-misting compositions according to the invention include -- see Original Patent.

In this example a shower gel formulation is combined with a protease/PEO composition in a 10:1 ratio. "Minors" are inclusive of:pH modifiers, preservatives, viscosity modifiers, dyes, and perfumes. Amounts represent approximate weight percent, unless otherwise indicated, and are not intended to indicate significant digits.

(2)--Cleaning Formulations

The aqueous high molecular weight polymer compositions according to the invention added to a cleaning product formulation impart aerosol control. Cleaning formulations include but are not limited to detergent formulations, such as liquid laundry detergents and fine fabric detergents; hard surface cleaning formulations, such as for glass, wood, ceramic and metal counter tops and windows; carpet cleaners; oven cleaners; fabric fresheners; fabric softeners; and textile and laundry pre-spotters.

When these products are used in a desired environment there is a potential for both aerosol generation by dispensing the product onto a target material and by product bounce off. For example, when a glass cleaning formulation is used on a countertop, one may be exposed to aerosol generation from spraying the formulation on to the counter top and one may also be exposed to aerosol generation from the formulation bouncing off the counter top. In another example when a pre-spotter is used on a target material such as cotton cloth, one may be exposed to aerosol generation from the formulation by bouncing off the cloth. The invention as described herein reduces the aerosol generation from these formulated products.

As described above typically, the cleaning formulation will be prepared according to the customary protocol for the product. For example, if the anti-misting compositions are included in a pre-spotter cleaning product, the pre-spotter may be formulated first and then the anti-misting composition is added to the pre-spotter formulation. If the cleaning formulation must be heated to aid in the solubility of any ingredients, the anti-misting composition will be added after the pre-spotter formulation is completed. However, the anti-misting composition may also be formulated concurrently with the ingredients comprising the pre-spotter to form the finished product. Upon completion of the formulation the finished product will be packaged in a suitable form.

When the anti-misting compositions are formulated with a cleaning care product, the formulations may include a final concentration of about 0.0001% to 10% high molecular weight polymer. Also about 0.0001% to about 5.0%; about 0.001% to about 1.0%; about 0.001% to about 0.5%; and about 0.01% to about 0.1%. When the anti-misting compositions include both an enzyme and a high molecular weight polymer the formulations may include about 0.001% to about 10% enzyme. Also about 0.001% to about 5.0%; about 0.01% to about 10% enzyme; about 0.01% to about 5.0%; about 0.1% to about 5% enzyme; about 0.1% to about 1.0%; or about 0.5% to about 5% enzyme.

Additionally, in one embodiment the Dv.sub.50 of the formulated compositions will be between about 10-200% greater than the Dv.sub.50 of the corresponding formulation without the high molecular weight polymer.

The volume of product mist from direct spray, plus/minus bounce-off, of a target material will be decreased from about 5 to 95%; about 10 to 90%; about 10 to 80% or 10 to 50%. The volume of product mist from direct spray, plus/minus bounce-off, can be easily measured when an enzyme is combined with the cleaning product formulation by measuring the amount of enzyme collected by air sample before and after the high molecular weight polymer composition is added to the cleaning formulation.
 

Claim 1 of 35 Claims

1. A reduced aerosol generating personal care or cleaning product comprising a) 0.0001% to about 1.5% of high molecular weight polyethylene oxide by weight; b) an enzyme; c) an enzyme protecting agent and d) one or more personal care or cleaning product components, wherein the personal care or cleaning product is a liquid, wherein said polyethylene oxide is an anti-misting agent and the D.sub.v50 of the personal care or cleaning product is increased by 10%-200% over a corresponding personal care or cleaning product, wherein the corresponding personal care or cleaning product comprises the enzyme, the enzyme protecting agent and the one or more personal care or cleaning product components but does not comprise the high molecular weight polyethylene oxide.

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