Anhydrous Detergent Base Composition for Stable Compact Liquids

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Solution Overview

Problem

Compact liquid laundry detergents face challenges in incorporating sufficient detergent ingredients while maintaining performance, stability, and rheological properties, as well as manufacturing complexities due to reduced solvent levels which can lead to phase formation issues and altered rheology when diluting or adding late-stage additives.

Innovation Solution

A process involving a pre-neutralized sulphate detersive surfactant syrup with a high percentage of pre-neutralization using mono-ethanol amine, followed by the addition of a sulphonate detersive surfactant in acid form, and an organic solvent to create an anhydrous detergent base composition that can be diluted without compromising rheology, allowing for a compact, high-active detergent with improved stability and handling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If compacted liquid laundry detergent products are formulated with reduced solvent content, then concentration and performance are improved, but undesired phase formation occurs in the base composition

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconcentration of detergent ingredientsVSAvoidphase stability of base composition

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-neutralizing the sulphate detersive surfactant before incorporating it into the base composition. This pre-neutralization step ensures that the surfactant is in a stable, non-acidic form from the outset, preventing subsequent acid-catalyzed phase separation and middle phase formation that would otherwise occur during storage or upon addition of acidic ingredients.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the pH parameter of the base composition by using pre-neutralized surfactants and controlling the addition of neutralizing agents. This parameter change maintains the composition in a stable pH range that prevents undesired phase formation, allowing for reduced solvent content while maintaining compositional stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Volume of moving object

If bulk detergent ingredients like surfactants and builders are restricted to reduce formulation space, then compactness is improved, but cleaning performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveformulation space of detergent productVSAvoidcleaning performance of detergent product

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses composite material principles by formulating a base composition that integrates multiple functional ingredients - pre-neutralized sulphate detersive surfactants, sulphonate detersive surfactants, and builders - into a synergistic system. This composite approach allows concentrated formulations to maintain effective cleaning performance through ingredient interactions that enhance overall efficacy beyond what individual components could achieve alone.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Productivity

If a common base composition is used that can be diluted later, then manufacturing efficiency is improved, but rheological properties become unmanageable after post-addition of solvent

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing efficiency of detergent productionVSAvoidrheological manageability of base composition

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing the optimal rheological foundation in the base composition through pre-neutralized surfactants and carefully selected co-solvents. This preliminary rheological optimization ensures that subsequent dilution with water or additional solvents during finishing operations maintains manageable flow properties, enabling both manufacturing efficiency and operational ease.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 process results in a compact, high-active detergent with enhanced stability and rheological properties, enabling efficient use in small doses while maintaining effective cleaning performance and storage stability, allowing for versatile formulation and easy handling.

Implementation Method 1

at least 50%, preferably at least 60%, more preferably at least 70% and especially 100% of the sulphate detersive surfactant is pre-neutralized with an organic neutralizing agent, preferably with mono-ethanol amine

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNeutralization reaction: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

a pre-neutralized sulphate detersive surfactant syrup wherein at least 50% of the sulphate detersive surfactant is pre-neutralized

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurfactant action: Surfactant

Data Source

PatentUS20110252574A1Process for making a detergent based composition

Publication Date: 2011.10.20 PROCTER & GAMBLE CO

AI summary

A process for making an anhydrous laundry liquid detergent base composition comprising detersive surfactant, the process comprising the steps of:a) providing a pre-neutralized sulphate detersive surfactant syrup wherein at least 50% of the sulphate detersive surfactant is pre-neutralized with an organic neutralizing agent;b) adding a neutralizing agent to the sulphate detersive surfactant syrup; andc) adding a sulphonic detersive surfactant in acid form to the mixture resulting from step b).