Acidic Cleaning Composition With Ternary Solvent Mixture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cleaning compositions for hard surfaces are ineffective in removing a broad range of deposits and stains, such as grease, lime scale, soap scum, and rust, as they often require specific pH ranges that can damage surfaces or reduce effectiveness, and most commercial acidic cleaners have poor activity on greasy stains.
Innovation Solution
A composition combining a stronger acid (pKa < 3) with a weaker acid (pKa > 3) and a nonionic surfactant, maintaining a pH of less than 2.5, which effectively removes grease, lime scale, soap scum, and rust from hard surfaces like enamel, ceramic, and metal surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a low pH is used to remove mineral deposits effectively, then cleaning activity against lime scale and soap scum is improved, but surface damage and harm to the applicator increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the cleaning composition by using a mixture of acids with different pKa values (strong acid with pKa < 3 and weak acid with pKa > 3) instead of a single strong acid. This allows the composition to maintain effective cleaning activity while reducing the harmful effects associated with extremely low pH values.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite acid system by combining two different acids (strong and weak) with different chemical properties. This composite approach allows the composition to achieve both effective mineral deposit removal and reduced surface damage, as the weak acid provides buffering capacity and less aggressive cleaning action.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a higher pH is used to reduce surface damage, then safety is improved, but cleaning effectiveness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the pH parameter by using a buffered acid system where the weak acid (pKa > 3) helps maintain a stable pH in the effective range (1.5-3.0) without requiring extremely low pH values. This buffering action ensures cleaning effectiveness is maintained while reducing harmful effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different acid strengths at different stages of the cleaning process - the strong acid provides initial aggressive attack on mineral deposits, while the weak acid maintains sustained cleaning activity at moderate pH levels, creating a multi-stage cleaning action within a single composition.
3Reliability
If conventional acidic cleaners are used, then mineral deposit removal is effective, but grease and rust stain removal is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal cleaning composition that can effectively remove multiple types of stains (mineral deposits, grease, and rust) through the synergistic combination of strong and weak acids along with surfactants and chelating agents, making a single product suitable for diverse cleaning needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple cleaning mechanisms into a single composition - the strong acid attacks mineral deposits, the weak acid provides sustained action and rust removal, surfactants handle grease, and chelating agents enhance overall stain removal capability, creating a multi-functional cleaning system.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If organic acids are used, then safety is improved, but rust stain removal activity is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite acid system combining organic weak acids (for safety and sustained action) with strong acids (for effective rust removal). This composite approach allows the composition to maintain safety benefits while achieving effective rust stain removal that organic acids alone cannot provide.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The composition stably maintains activity against multiple types of stains at effective pH levels, providing enhanced cleaning performance on hard surfaces without damaging them, including effective grease removal.
Implementation Method 1
A composition combining a stronger acid (pKa < 3) with a weaker acid (pKa > 3) and a nonionic surfactant, maintaining a pH of less than 2.5
Implementation Method 2
a nonionic surfactant in an amount by weight of 1-7%
Implementation Method 3
Acidic cleansers are known which have been formulated to provide activity against mineral deposits, e.g., lime scale or soap scum
Data Source
AI summary
A composition comprising a mixing product of:(i) a first acid having a pKa of less than 3, in an amount by weight of 1-10%,(ii) a second acid having a pKa of greater than 3, in an amount by weight of 1-10%,(iii) a nonionic surfactant in an amount by weight of 1-7%; and(iv) water;wherein the composition has a pH of less than 2.5. The composition can be used for the removal of grease, lime scale, soap scum, and rust on hard surfaces.