Antimicrobial Composition for Greasy Surface Cleaning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current antibacterial household compositions lack efficiency and environmental friendliness, particularly in cleaning tough greasy surfaces and providing shine without streaks, while also requiring improved safety profiles for food contact surfaces.

Innovation Solution

Aqueous antimicrobial composition comprising a modified amino acid and optionally a surfactant and organic solvent, suitable for hard surfaces, with a pH adjusted to enhance antimicrobial efficacy and biodegradability, which can be used as a ready-to-use spray or wipe, providing effective cleaning and shine.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional antibacterial compositions are used, then sanitization is provided, but cleaning efficacy on tough greasy soils is insufficient and surfaces are not left shiny or streak-free

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantibacterial efficacyVSAvoidcleaning performance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a composite active ingredient system combining a quaternary ammonium compound (for antimicrobial activity) with a specific surfactant system (for cleaning and shine). This composite approach allows the composition to simultaneously achieve reliable antibacterial efficacy and effective cleaning of tough greasy soils, resolving the contradiction between sanitization and cleaning performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention optimizes specific parameter ranges including pH (adjusted to enhance both antimicrobial and cleaning performance), concentration of quaternary ammonium compound (0.1-10%), and surfactant ratios. These parameter changes enable the composition to deliver both reliable antibacterial action and superior cleaning efficacy on greasy surfaces, leaving surfaces shiny and streak-free.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If stronger antibacterial agents are used to improve sanitization, then antimicrobial efficacy increases, but environmental and human safety profile deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantibacterial efficacyVSAvoidenvironmental and human safety

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a quaternary ammonium compound at optimized concentrations (0.1-10%) which provides strong antibacterial efficacy while maintaining a favorable environmental and human safety profile. The pH is also adjusted to enhance the antimicrobial activity of this milder agent, allowing effective sanitization without the harshness of traditional strong antibacterials, thus resolving the contradiction between efficacy and safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the composition is formulated for strong antimicrobial activity, then antibacterial efficacy improves, but cleaning performance on greasy surfaces deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantimicrobial efficacyVSAvoidcleaning performance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention creates a composite formulation where a quaternary ammonium compound (providing antimicrobial activity) is combined with specifically selected surfactants in optimized ratios. This composite system ensures that strong antimicrobial efficacy and effective cleaning of greasy surfaces are achieved simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between these two performance aspects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention optimizes the pH parameter to enhance both the antimicrobial activity of the quaternary ammonium compound and the cleaning performance of the surfactant system. This parameter adjustment allows the composition to deliver both strong antibacterial efficacy and effective cleaning on tough greasy soils without compromising either function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Object-affected harmful factors

If biodegradable and gentle actives are used, then environmental friendliness improves, but antimicrobial efficacy and cleaning performance deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental friendlinessVSAvoidantimicrobial efficacy

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a quaternary ammonium compound at optimized concentrations (0.1-10%) with adjusted pH to enhance its antimicrobial activity, achieving strong sanitization with a biodegradable and environmentally friendly active ingredient. This resolves the contradiction between environmental friendliness and antimicrobial efficacy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention combines a biodegradable quaternary ammonium compound with a surfactant system to create a composite formulation that maintains strong antimicrobial efficacy and cleaning performance while being environmentally friendly. This composite approach allows gentle, biodegradable actives to deliver the required performance levels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP4289268A1Antimicrobial composition

Publication Date: 2023.12.13 PROCTER & GAMBLE CO

AI summary

An antimicrobial composition comprising an amide modified amino acid.