Alkaline Cleaner Foam Stability via Hydrotrope and Sequestrant Balance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing alkaline cleaning compositions face challenges in stability, pH instability, and compatibility with components like oxidants and surfactants, especially at high alkaline levels, which affects their cleaning performance and shelf life.
Innovation Solution
A high foaming liquid alkaline cleaner concentrate is formulated with a balanced composition of alkalinity sources, hydrotrope surfactants, wetting and soil emulsification surfactants, foam volume generating surfactants, foam boosting surfactants, and sequestrants, ensuring stability, solubility, and effective foam generation while avoiding undesirable compounds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If increased active alkali content is used to improve cleaning performance, then cleaning efficacy is improved, but pH instability of components occurs and shelf life is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the formulation by using alternative cleaning agents with lower alkali content, adjusting concentrations of surfactants and chelating agents to achieve optimal cleaning performance without requiring high pH levels, thus maintaining compositional stability and shelf life
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite cleaning system combining multiple components (surfactants, chelating agents, oxidants, enzymes) that work synergistically to provide effective cleaning at reduced alkali levels, where the combination of materials compensates for the lower individual alkali content while maintaining stability
2Productivity
If highly alkaline compositions are used to enhance cleaning properties, then cleaning efficacy is improved, but compatibility of components (oxidants, surfactants, hydrotropes) is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts the pH parameter to a lower, more compatible range that allows oxidants, surfactants, and hydrotropes to coexist stably while maintaining effective cleaning performance through optimized concentrations and synergistic interactions among components
3Ease of operation
If concentrated, highly alkaline cleaning compositions are diluted, then ease of use is improved, but cleaning performance deteriorates and compatibility profiles worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent formulates a concentrated composition with optimized parameters that maintains stability and cleaning efficacy upon dilution, using pH-stable components and synergistic ingredient combinations that perform effectively across a range of concentrations, allowing easy dilution without performance loss
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 cleaner achieves stable foam with excellent volume and cling properties, maintaining cleaning efficacy even at low use concentrations, and ensures compatibility with various surfaces, including aluminum, while avoiding environmental and health hazards.
Implementation Method 1
one or more foam volume generating surfactants, one or more foam boosting surfactants, and one or more sequestrants having foam stabilizing properties
Implementation Method 2
one or more surfactants comprising a hydrotrope, one or more soil emulsifying surfactants
Implementation Method 3
one or more soil emulsifying surfactants
Implementation Method 4
one or more sequestrants having foam stabilizing properties
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
A high foaming liquid alkaline cleaner comprises one or more alkalinity sources; one or more surfactants comprising a hydrotrope, one or more wetting and soil emulsifying surfactants, one or more foam volume generating surfactants, and one or more foam boosting surfactants and one or more sequestrants. Optionally, an organic solvent can be utilized. The high foaming liquid alkaline cleaning composition is generally prepared in a concentrated form and can be diluted as with water. The alkaline cleaner provides effective cleaning properties, with respect to fats, oils, and organic soils.