VOC-Free Alkyl Ester Cleaning Compositions
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for cleaning compositions that significantly reduce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) while maintaining or improving their cleansing power and reducing toxicity and environmental impact compared to prior art compositions.
Innovation Solution
The development of cleaning compositions that are substantially free of VOCs, utilizing alkyl esters, particularly methyl esters derived from C12-C14 fatty acids, along with optional fragrances, surfactants, and coupling agents, which are packaged in aerosol dispensers with propellants like carbon dioxide, ensuring low VOC content and enhanced solvency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If traditional solvents (hydrocarbon, halogenated, oxygenated) are used in cleaning compositions, then solvency and cleansing power are achieved, but volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions increase and environmental/toxicity concerns arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the solvent system by using alkyl esters (particularly C12-C18 fatty acid esters) instead of traditional VOC-based solvents. This parameter change maintains solvency through ester functional groups while eliminating VOC emissions, directly resolving the contradiction between harmful emissions and cleansing effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite cleaning formulations combining alkyl esters with surfactants, solubilizers, and other auxiliary agents. This composite approach ensures that the VOC-free ester-based system achieves cleansing power comparable to or exceeding traditional solvent systems through synergistic interactions among components
2Object-generated harmful factors
If VOC-free solvents like alkyl esters are used, then environmental compliance and reduced toxicity are achieved, but solvency and cleansing power may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the chain length parameters of alkyl esters (specifically C12-C18) to achieve optimal balance between solvency and environmental compliance. This parameter optimization ensures that the esters have sufficient molecular weight and structure to provide effective cleaning while maintaining VOC-free status and environmental compliance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces surfactants and solubilizers as intermediary substances that enhance the solvency of alkyl ester-based systems. These intermediaries facilitate the interaction between the ester solvent and various soils/contaminants, ensuring effective cleansing power is achieved despite using environmentally benign base solvents
3Reliability
If cleaning compositions are formulated without VOCs, then regulatory compliance is improved, but the broad solvent versatility and availability of traditional chemical solvents is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent demonstrates that alkyl esters can serve multiple cleaning functions across diverse applications (industrial degreasing, household cleaning, automotive care, etc.), replacing the need for multiple different VOC-based solvent systems. This multi-functionality approach maintains broad applicability while ensuring regulatory compliance across all uses
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
These compositions demonstrate increased solvency and cleansing power, with reduced toxicity and environmental impact, as evidenced by higher Kauri-butanol values and compliance with environmental regulations, while minimizing VOC emissions and fire hazards.
Implementation Method 1
The solvent generally comprises alkyl esters or mixtures of alkyl esters... having a Kauri-butanol (Kb) value greater than about 70... which are substantially free of volatile organic compounds (VOC's)
Implementation Method 2
packaged in aerosol dispensers with propellants like carbon dioxide
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is generally related to cleaning compositions and methods of using same. More particularly, the invention is related to cleaning compositions which are substantially free of volatile organic chemicals.