Anhydrous Laundry Detergent Concentrate in Stable Solid Forms
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The environmental impact of single-use plastic packaging in liquid laundry detergents and inefficiencies in packaging and resource waste necessitate the development of stable, anhydrous laundry detergent concentrates in solid forms that reduce waste and maintain cleaning efficacy.
Innovation Solution
Formulations of stable, anhydrous laundry detergent concentrates in solid forms such as tablets, granules, or sachets, comprising specific ratios of acidic and basic cleaners, surfactants, enzymes, and optional additives like disintegrants and flow aids, prepared through direct compression, eliminating water and reducing packaging waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If liquid laundry detergent is packaged in single-use plastic vessels, then the product is convenient for consumers and maintains stability, but it generates significant packaging waste and environmental harm
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the detergent from liquid to solid form. This transformation eliminates the need for plastic packaging vessels while maintaining product stability through the solid matrix structure that prevents premature reactions between ingredients
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes phase transition by converting the detergent formulation from liquid phase to solid phase. The solid form allows the product to be stored and transported without plastic packaging, and the detergent dissolves in water during use, transitioning back to liquid phase for effective cleaning
2Loss of substance
If water is removed from laundry detergent formulations to create anhydrous concentrates, then packaging waste is reduced and resource efficiency improves, but formulation stability becomes more difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite material principles by creating a multi-component solid formulation where acidic cleaners, basic cleaners, surfactants, and enzymes are combined in a water-free matrix. This composite structure allows incompatible ingredients to coexist stably without water-induced degradation or premature reactions
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts water from the traditional detergent formulation, removing the medium that causes instability and packaging needs. The anhydrous formulation eliminates water-related degradation pathways and removes the requirement for water-resistant plastic packaging
3Object-generated harmful factors
If solid anhydrous detergent formulations are developed, then packaging waste is eliminated and environmental sustainability improves, but the cleaning performance may be reduced compared to traditional liquids
Solution Approach 1:
The solid anhydrous formulation is designed to dissolve and react in water during the washing process. The ingredients are pre-positioned in optimal ratios in the solid state, and when water is added during use, the formulation quickly dissolves to provide effective cleaning action, matching or exceeding liquid detergent performance
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to stable, anhydrous laundry detergent concentrated formulation in solid forms.