Alkoxylated Polyol Fabric Care for Biodegradable Sebum Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laundry detergent compositions rely heavily on non-biodegradable or poorly biodegradable polymers, posing environmental concerns and struggling to achieve effective cleaning, especially with hydrophobic soils like sebum and grease.
Innovation Solution
A fabric care composition comprising linear alkylbenzene sulphonate (LAS), an enzyme, and alkoxylated polyol with a polyol core modified by alkylene oxide branches, providing enhanced biodegradability and improved cleaning performance, including strong sebum stain removal and whiteness maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional laundry detergent compositions use non-biodegradable or poorly biodegradable polymers, then cleaning performance is maintained, but environmental persistence and harm increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the molecular structure of polyols by controlling the degree of alkylation and using specific polyol cores (glycerol, trimethylolpropane, pentaerythritol) with defined molecular weights (100-500 g/mol). These parameter changes enable the polymers to be biodegradable while maintaining effective cleaning performance through optimized hydrophilic-lipophilic balance
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates composite detergent formulations combining biodegradable alkoxylated polyols with surfactants (anionic, nonionic, cationic, or amphoteric), enzymes, and other cleaning agents. This composite approach ensures both environmental compatibility and reliable cleaning performance through synergistic interactions between components
2Object-affected harmful factors
If more biodegradable materials are incorporated into detergent formulations, then environmental biodegradability improves, but cleaning effectiveness especially with hydrophobic soil deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) of biodegradable polymers by controlling alkylation degree (0.1-10 mol alkylene oxide per mol -OH groups) and selecting appropriate polyol cores. This parameter optimization allows the polymers to effectively interact with hydrophobic soils like sebum and grease while maintaining biodegradability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces specific functional groups and molecular structures at localized positions within the polymer molecules. The alkoxylated polyols contain both hydrophobic alkyl groups (for interacting with oily soils) and hydrophilic alkoxy groups (for water solubility and biodegradability), creating local quality variations that enable effective cleaning with biodegradable materials
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 demonstrates high biodegradability, effective cleaning of sebum and clay soils, and maintains fabric whiteness, with a good suds profile, comparable to current products while reducing environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
The inventors have found alkoxylated polyol based on polyol core having only three -OH groups, and modified with certain alkylene oxide branches, show improved biodegradability
Implementation Method 2
Fabric compositions, such as laundry detergents, are widely used in households to remove soil from garments. These compositions typically contain a combination of surfactants, solvents, builders, and polymers to facilitate overall cleaning performance
Implementation Method 3
Fabric care compositions comprising polymers having improved biodegradability and deliver strong stain removal and/or whiteness maintenance performance
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a fabric care composition that has linear alkylbenzene sulphonate (LAS), enzyme; and a specific alkoxylated polyol.