Bleach Co-Granules for Dishwashing Stability
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing bleaching agent granules for automatic dishwashing detergents have low storage stability and require separate granules for bleach activators and catalysts, leading to inefficient bleaching performance and increased manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
The development of co-granules comprising 50-85% bleach activators, 0.1-20% metal-containing bleaching catalysts, 5-20% organic acids, and 1-20% binders, which enhance storage stability and allow for easier production by ensuring homogeneous distribution and reducing moisture absorption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate granules for bleach activators and catalysts are used, then storage stability is improved, but bleaching performance deteriorates due to parallel reactions and inefficient distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines bleach activators and catalysts into a single co-granule formulation, integrating two previously separate components. This merging ensures homogeneous distribution of both components throughout the detergent matrix and enables synchronized release during the washing cycle, eliminating the parallel reaction problem while maintaining storage stability through the granulated structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite granule structure containing multiple functional components (bleach activators, catalysts, and optionally persalts) in a single formulated unit. This composite approach allows optimized ratios of components to be locked together, ensuring consistent performance and homogeneous distribution while the granule structure itself provides the storage stability benefits.
2Reliability
If large amounts of inert carriers and binders are used in bleach catalyst granules, then storage stability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases due to additional equipment requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functional components into a single co-granule formulation that can be produced using conventional mixing and granulation equipment. By integrating bleach activators, catalysts, and optional persalts into one formulation step, the need for separate granulation processes and specialized equipment like fluidized bed systems is eliminated, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining storage stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the formulation parameters by using minimal or no inert carriers and binders, relying instead on the functional components themselves (bleach activators, catalysts, persalts) to form the granule structure. This parameter change reduces the need for additional processing steps and equipment while maintaining the storage stability benefits of granulated form.
3Manufacturing precision
If co-granules are produced to ensure homogeneous distribution, then bleaching performance is improved, but production costs increase due to additional processing steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines bleach activators, catalysts, and optional persalts into a single co-granule formulation that can be produced using conventional mixing and granulation equipment. This single-step integration achieves homogeneous distribution of all components throughout the granule population without requiring multiple separate granulation processes or specialized equipment, thereby controlling production costs while ensuring consistent performance.
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 co-granules exhibit improved storage stability and bleaching performance, maintaining activity over time and simplifying production processes while allowing for the incorporation of hygroscopic components without affecting stability.
Implementation Method 1
The co-granules exhibit improved storage stability and bleaching performance, maintaining activity over time
Implementation Method 2
1 to 20% by weight of one or more binders which are not organic acids according to component c)
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to co-granules containing a) at least one bleach activator, b) at least one metal-containing bleach catalyst, and c) at least 5 wt. % of at least one organic acid. The co-granules are easy to produce, have a high stability in storage and are advantageously suitable for producing cleaning products and detergents and especially products for cleaning crockery in a machine.