Biodegradable Cleaning Solution for Direct Environmental Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cleaning solutions used outdoors often bypass sewage treatment and/or septic systems, posing environmental risks due to their lack of compliance with stringent safety and environmental standards, particularly for direct release into aquatic environments.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning solution comprising highly purified or deionized water, a thickener, hydrogen peroxide, surfactants, and pH adjusters like sodium metasilicate, formulated to meet EPA's Safer Choice Standards, ensuring minimal environmental impact and safety for aquatic life, with configurations for both ready-to-use and concentrated forms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional cleaning solutions are used for outdoor cleaning, then cleaning effectiveness is achieved, but environmental safety deteriorates due to harmful chemical release into aquatic environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reformulates cleaning solutions by changing chemical parameters - replacing traditional harsh chemicals with biodegradable surfactants and adjusting pH levels to be less harmful to aquatic life while maintaining cleaning effectiveness through optimized ingredient concentrations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent promotes use of biodegradable cleaning agents that break down quickly in the environment, effectively treating them as short-living substances that lose their harmful properties after serving their cleaning function, thereby reducing long-term environmental impact
2Object-affected harmful factors
If cleaning solutions are formulated to be environmentally friendly for direct release, then aquatic toxicity is reduced, but cleaning performance may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates composite cleaning formulations combining multiple biodegradable ingredients - surfactants, chelating agents, and pH adjusters - that work synergistically to achieve effective cleaning while maintaining environmental safety, rather than relying on single harsh chemicals
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces biodegradable surfactants as intermediary substances that bridge the gap between cleaning effectiveness and environmental safety, allowing the cleaning solution to effectively remove dirt and grime while breaking down harmlessly in aquatic environments
3Reliability
If traditional cleaning chemicals are used, then cleaning power is maintained, but compliance with EPA Safer Choice Standards deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent systematically adjusts chemical parameters including pH levels, surfactant concentrations, and ingredient compositions to meet specific EPA Safer Choice Standard thresholds while preserving cleaning power through optimized formulation ratios
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 solution effectively cleans surfaces while adhering to environmental regulations, reducing aquatic toxicity and ensuring safe release into aquatic environments, meeting the EPA's direct release requirements and maintaining the integrity and shine of cleaned items.
Implementation Method 1
hydrogen peroxide
Implementation Method 2
surfactants
Implementation Method 3
chelating agent
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning solution and method of manufacturing a cleaning solution is set forth herein whereby the cleaning solution is environmentally friendly and meets direct release requirements so that the cleaning solution may be directly released into the environment. In one preferred embodiment, the cleaning solution includes water; a thickener; hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) a surfactant; and a pH adjuster.