Anionic–Nonionic Detergent Composition for Fast, Gel-Free Dissolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Concentrated liquid laundry detergents face challenges in maintaining good flowability and fast dissolution speed while reducing solvent use and high anionic surfactant content, leading to viscosity issues and gelling during dilution, which complicates manufacturing, packaging, and cleaning performance.
Innovation Solution
A detergent composition comprising at least one anionic surfactant and a primary alcohol-initiated nonionic surfactant with specific formula (I) is used, achieving a high surfactant concentration of at least 50% by weight, with reduced organic solvent content and maintaining viscosity below 1000 cP, ensuring good flowability and quick dissolution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the proportion of anionic surfactants is reduced to mitigate gelling tendency, then gelling is reduced, but formulation design freedom is diminished and performance is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a specific nonionic surfactant (Guerbet alcohol initiated alkoxylated nonionic surfactant) as an intermediary substance that mediates between anionic and cationic surfactants. This intermediary surfactant prevents direct interaction between anionic and cationic surfactants that would otherwise cause gelling, allowing high proportions of anionic surfactants to be used without gelling issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite surfactant system comprising anionic surfactant, cationic surfactant, and Guerbet alcohol initiated alkoxylated nonionic surfactant in specific proportions. This composite formulation combines multiple surfactant types with complementary properties, where the nonionic surfactant component provides flowability while the anionic and cationic surfactants provide cleaning performance.
2Ease of operation
If organic solvents are added to reduce viscosity and improve flowability, then flowability is improved, but formulation cost increases and no detergency is provided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive organic solvents with a cost-effective alternative: Guerbet alcohol initiated alkoxylated nonionic surfactant. This surfactant provides the required flowability and viscosity control without the high cost associated with organic solvents, while also contributing to the detergency performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The Guerbet alcohol initiated alkoxylated nonionic surfactant serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a flowability enhancer, viscosity controller, and detergency contributor. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate organic solvents that would only provide flowability without cleaning action.
3Ease of operation
If Guerbet alcohol initiated alkoxylated nonionic surfactants are used to improve flowability, then flowability is improved, but detergency is weakened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple surfactant types by combining Guerbet alcohol initiated alkoxylated nonionic surfactant with anionic and cationic surfactants in specific proportions. The nonionic surfactant provides flowability while the anionic and cationic surfactants provide strong detergency, and their synergistic combination achieves both good flowability and high cleaning performance simultaneously.
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 exhibits improved detergency, flowability, and prevents gelling during dissolution, even at high surfactant concentrations, reducing solvent usage and maintaining low viscosity, thus enhancing manufacturing, packaging, and cleaning efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
at least one primary alcohol-initiated nonionic surfactant having formula (I)... The combinations of these three surfactants tend to form high-viscosity phase at a high concentration (30-70% wt.) and form a gel phase during dilution with water
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a detergent composition, comprising: (a) at least one anionic surfactant; and (b) a primary alcohol-initiated nonionic surfactant having formula (I): where R′ is selected from the group consisting of a linear primary alcohol having C8-18 alkyl chain; R″ is methyl or ethyl group; x is an integer selected from 2 to 4; y is an integer selected from 1 to 30; and z is an integer selected from 1 to 50; wherein components (a) and (b) are in amount of at least 50% by weight based on the total weight of the detergent composition; and component (b) is in amount of at least 50% by weight of the sum of components (a) and (b). The detergent composition can maintain good flowability of unstructured or nonaqueous ultra-concentrated detergents as well as no gelling formation during dissolution with a reduced amount of solvents, high proportion of anionic surfactants, meanwhile, good detergency.