Auto-Emulsifying Dibasic Ester Cleaning Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current environmentally friendly cleaning solvents face challenges in removal due to low volatility and limited solubility in water, leading to inefficient rinsing and residue issues, particularly when trying to remove stains like paint and ink from surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A surfactant blend that spontaneously emulsifies dibasic ester solvents in water, comprising anionic and cationic surfactants soluble in both organic and aqueous phases, allowing for efficient auto-emulsification upon contact with water, reducing the amount of water required for rinsing and mechanical energy needed for emulsification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If environmentally friendly solvents with low volatility are used, then health and safety profile improves, but removal efficiency deteriorates due to high boiling point making evaporation slow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces water as an intermediary substance to remove the environmentally friendly solvent. Instead of relying on evaporation, the system uses water to dissolve and rinse the low-VOC solvent from surfaces, enabling efficient removal while maintaining the health and safety benefits of the environmentally friendly solvent formulation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If environmentally friendly solvents with limited water solubility are used, then environmental friendliness improves, but rinsing efficiency deteriorates leaving oily residue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs water as a mediating substance that interacts with the low-VOC solvent. By using water for rinsing, the system enables effective removal of the environmentally friendly solvent without compromising its environmental benefits, overcoming the limitation of limited water solubility through the rinsing action.
3Productivity
If large quantity of water is used for rinsing low solubility solvent, then removal completeness improves, but resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the self-service principle by formulating the cleaning composition so that it automatically emulsifies with water upon contact. This self-emulsification property allows the solvent to be easily removed with minimal water, eliminating the need for large quantities of water for rinsing while maintaining complete removal effectiveness.
4Productivity
If mechanical energy is used for emulsification, then emulsification efficiency improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by designing the cleaning composition to automatically emulsify with water through spontaneous mixing. This eliminates the need for external mechanical energy input such as stirring or agitation, achieving efficient emulsification while minimizing energy consumption to zero.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical emulsification systems with a chemical self-emulsification mechanism. The cleaning composition is formulated to spontaneously emulsify with water through chemical affinity, substituting the need for mechanical mixing and energy input with a self-driven chemical process.
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 surfactant blend enables effective removal of cleaning solvents from surfaces with reduced water usage and energy consumption, forming a stable three-phase system that simplifies the cleaning process and manufacturing, while maintaining environmental friendliness.
Implementation Method 1
Dibasic esters, and in particular, the dibasic ester blend incorporated into the present invention, have emerged as a promising environment friendly alternative to many commonly used organic solvents in a range of cleaning applications... the surfactant blend consists of an organic anion neutralized with an organic cation... the complex of which is soluble in the dibasic ester solvent blend... the surfactant blend enables effective removal of cleaning solvents from surfaces with reduced water usage and energy consumption, forming a stable three-phase system
Data Source
AI summary
An auto-emulsifying cleaning composition capable of emulsifying upon contact with water, the composition in one typical embodiment comprising, based on the total weight of the composition, (a) from about 1% to about 99% by weight a blend of dibasic esters; (b) from about 1% to about 40% by weight of a blend of surfactants consisting of an organic anion neutralized with an organic cation, where either or both of the anion and the cation have surfactant properties, and the complex of which is soluble in the dibasic ester solvent blend. The blend of surfactants is typically a cationic surfactant and an anionic surfactant, which may or may not be used in conjunction with non-ionic surfactants. The dibasic esters are be derived from a blend of adipic, glutaric, and succinic diacids, and, in one particular embodiment, the blend comprises dialkyl adipate, dialkyl methylglutarate and dialkyl ethylsuccinate, wherein the alkyl groups individually comprise a C1-C12 hydrocarbon group.