Alkyl Polyglucoside and Ethanol Cleaning Composition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning compositions fail to achieve effective cleaning performance with a limited number of natural ingredients, requiring multiple surfactants, solvents, and builders, which is not feasible with natural-based cleaners.
Innovation Solution
A hard surface cleaning composition comprising 0.5 to 5% alkyl polyglucoside, 0.5 to 5% ethanol, 0.05 to 0.4% lemon oil or d-limonene, less than 0.2% builder, and water, with optional dyes and preservatives, which provides effective cleaning with a minimum number of natural ingredients.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple surfactants, solvents, and builders are used in cleaning formulations, then cleaning performance is improved, but the number of ingredients increases and natural-based formulation becomes infeasible
Solution Approach 1:
The alkyl polyglucoside surfactant serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides primary cleaning action, acts as a builder chelator for hard water, and functions as a solubilizer for essential oils. This multi-functionality allows a single ingredient to replace what would traditionally require multiple separate components (surfactant, builder, solvent), thereby maintaining effective cleaning performance while reducing the total number of ingredients and enabling natural-based formulation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If natural ingredients are used in cleaning compositions, then renewability and safety are improved, but cleaning performance becomes inadequate compared to synthetic formulations
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a composite cleaning system by combining naturally-derived alkyl polyglucoside surfactant with essential oils (such as lemon oil or orange oil) and optional natural builders like citric acid or sodium carbonate. This composite approach leverages the synergistic effects of different natural components: the alkyl polyglucoside provides surfactant action, the essential oils provide solubility and additional cleaning benefits, and the natural builders handle water hardness. Together, these composite natural materials achieve cleaning performance comparable to synthetic formulations while maintaining high natural ingredient content.
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 achieves superior cleaning performance with a high percentage of natural ingredients, comparable to complex synthetic formulations, while maintaining low residue and improved consumer satisfaction.
Implementation Method 1
0.5 to 5% alkyl polyglucoside
Implementation Method 2
0.5 to 5% ethanol
Implementation Method 3
0.05 to 0.4% lemon oil or d-limonene
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning composition with a limited number of natural ingredients contains alkyl polyglucoside and ethanol. The cleaning composition optionally contains glycerol. The cleaning composition optionally contains essential oil. The cleaning composition optionally has a small amount of buffer, such as a natural inorganic buffer. The cleaning composition can be used to clean hard surfaces and cleans as well or better than commercial compositions containing synthetically derived cleaning agents.