A surface treatment composition including from about 1×10.sup.2 to about 1×10.sup.9 CFU/g of the composition of Bacillus spores; from about 0.01% to about 15% by weight of the composition of a pro-perfume material including a glycoside, a phosphate acid ester, an amino-acid derivative, a carboxylic acid derivative, or a combination thereof; and a perfume.

Surfactants based on a newly discovered class of compounds include a hydrophobic lipid oligomer covalently linked to a peptide or peptide-like chain and a carbohydrate moiety, and a serine-leucinol dipeptide linked to the lipid oligomer. Such surfactants can be used to create an oil-in-water or water-in-oil emulsion by mixing together a polar component; a non-polar component; and the surfactant. Biosurfactants of the newly discovered class can be made by isolating and culturing a microorganism which produces the biosurfactant, and then isolating the biosurfactant from the culture. A microorganism can be engineered to produce biosurfactant of this newly discovered class by expressing a set of heterologous genes involved in the biosynthesis of the biosurfactant in the microorganism.

An article is provided. The article comprises a nonwoven substrate having a copolymer grafted thereto, and a dried coating adhered to the substrate. The copolymer comprises interpolymerized monomer units of a quaternary ammonium-containing ligand monomer, an amide monomer, and an oxy monomer. The coating comprises a plurality of test microorganisms. Optionally, the coating further comprises a water-soluble or water-dispersible polymeric binding agent. A process challenge device comprising a body having a hollow channel with said article fixed disposed therein is also provided. Methods of using the article or the process challenge device for determining the efficacy of a disinfection process are also provided.

Novel methods and compositions for treating textiles and other materials are disclosed in which persistent odor or other symptoms of biofilm presence can be reduced through the use of compositions comprising N-acetyl cysteine or other agents in combination with certain enzymes.

The invention provides a method for preparing a plurality of granules comprising a biological active and a non-volatile liquid by using mixer-granulation, wherein the granules exhibit reduced dust release upon exposure to mechanical stress.

Surfactant-containing compositions are described which include a protein component that has the effect of improving the surface-active properties of the surfactants contained in the compositions. The surfactant-containing compositions having the protein component demonstrate significantly lower critical micelle concentrations (CMC), reduced surface tensions, and reduced interfacial tensions than do comparable compositions having no protein component. In addition, the surfactant-containing compositions having the protein component has the effect of converting greasy waste contaminants to surface active materials.

A concentrated bioenzymatic cleaning product is provided which maintains a homogenous composition under static conditions and does not require shaking or mixing prior to dilution. The concentrated bioenzymatic cleaning product includes bacillus spores, a suspending and/or rheology modifying agent, an odor control agent, a pH adjuster, and water. The types and amounts of ingredients are selected to maintain the bacillus spores in suspension under static conditions, enabling the concentrated bioenzymatic cleaning product to be diluted using a proportioner system.

A composition for removing spillage on asphalt paving of hydrocarbon substances which includes modifiers, chemical oxidizers and bacteria which metabolizes both the spillage and a softened top layer of asphalt paving to aid in rehardening the surface of the mat while not metabolizing the underlying asphalt paving unaffected by the spillage.

A composition for use in stain removal comprising at least one probiotic, bleach, and an enrichment medium.

A method of treating a fabric in a dryer, the method including placing the fabric in the dryer and delivering at least 1×10.sup.2 CFU of cleaning microorganisms into the dryer.