Natural Cleaning Composition Using Alkyl Polyglucoside and Lactic Acid
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing natural cleaning compositions face challenges in achieving effective cleaning performance with a limited number of ingredients, often requiring multiple surfactants, solvents, and builders, which can lead to environmental concerns and inferior performance compared to synthetic formulations.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning composition comprising greater than 2% alkyl polyglucoside, 0.5 to 10% 2-hydroxycarboxylic acid, and 0.05 to 2.0% lemon oil or d-limonene, with optional dyes, colorants, and preservatives, but no additional surfactants, organic builders, solvents, or disinfectants, maintaining a pH between 2 and 3.5, to provide effective cleaning with a minimal ingredient list.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple surfactants, solvents, and builders are used to achieve adequate consumer performance, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the number of ingredients increases and environmental concerns arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functional ingredients into a single integrated formulation. Specifically, it merges the cleaning functions of multiple surfactants, solvents, and builders into one composition that uses only water, lactic acid, and alkyl polyglucoside, eliminating the need for separate synthetic components while maintaining cleaning effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a multi-functional cleaning composition where a limited set of natural ingredients performs multiple roles. Lactic acid serves both as a cleaning agent and pH adjuster, while alkyl polyglucoside provides surfactant functionality, replacing the need for multiple specialized ingredients with universal natural components.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If natural ingredients are used to reduce environmental impact, then environmental friendliness is improved, but cleaning performance deteriorates compared to synthetic formulations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the concentration parameters of natural ingredients to achieve synthetic-level performance. By precisely controlling the amounts of lactic acid (0.5-10%) and alkyl polyglucoside (2-10%), the formulation achieves pH levels (2-3.5) and cleaning effectiveness comparable to synthetic products while maintaining natural ingredient status.
3Quantity of substance
If a limited number of natural ingredients are used, then environmental friendliness is improved, but achieving acceptable consumer performance becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite natural cleaning system by combining lactic acid, alkyl polyglucoside, and water in specific ratios. This composite formulation leverages the synergistic effects of natural ingredients, where lactic acid provides acid-based cleaning and pH control, while alkyl polyglucoside provides surfactant action, together achieving performance that neither ingredient could achieve alone.
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 reduced ingredient count, minimizing environmental impact and maintaining stability, outperforming many commercial natural cleaning products while adhering to natural ingredient standards.
Implementation Method 1
greater than 2% alkyl polyglucoside
Implementation Method 2
0.5 to 10% 2-hydroxycarboxylic acid; wherein the pH is between 2 and 3.5
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning composition with a limited number of natural ingredients contains alkyl polyglucoside, a 2-hydroxylcarboxylic acid, and a fragrance containing lemon oil or d-limonene. The cleaning composition optionally has a small amount of dye, colorant, and preservative. The cleaning composition can be used to clean hard surfaces and cleans as well or better than commercial compositions containing synthetically derived cleaning agents.