Bleaching Catalyst Co-Granules for Stable Dosing and Storage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bleaching catalysts in laundry and dishwasher detergents face challenges with accurate dosing and homogeneous distribution, leading to underdosing or overdosing, and instability during storage, particularly when basic zinc salts are used with highly soluble manganese catalysts.

Innovation Solution

The use of less basic zinc or bismuth salts, such as zinc sulfate or bismuth sulfate, combined with highly water-soluble manganese catalysts, along with a binder and bleaching activator, forms storage-stable co-granules that maintain stability and enhance bleaching activity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If basic zinc salts (e.g., ZnCO3) are used in granules with highly soluble Mn bleaching catalysts, then glass corrosion control is achieved, but storage stability deteriorates due to catalyst decomposition

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveglass corrosion controlVSAvoidstorage stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the zinc salt from basic (ZnCO3) to less basic forms (ZnSO4, ZnCl2, Zn(NO3)2), fundamentally altering the pH characteristics and reactivity profile to prevent catalyst decomposition while maintaining glass protection functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes one class of zinc salts for another with different chemical properties, copying the glass protection function while eliminating the harmful interaction with the manganese catalyst through parameter substitution

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Measurement precision

If small amounts of catalyst are used to achieve effective bleaching, then dosing precision is improved, but distribution homogeneity worsens leading to underdosing or overdosing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedosing accuracyVSAvoiddistribution homogeneity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite granule system integrating the manganese catalyst with zinc salts and binders in a unified solid structure, ensuring homogeneous distribution of all components throughout the detergent formulation while maintaining precise dosing control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the catalyst system into a discrete granule format, allowing for precise dosing control while the internal composite structure ensures homogeneous distribution of catalyst particles throughout the bulk formulation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If highly soluble Mn catalysts are used to enhance bleaching activity, then catalytic effectiveness is improved, but storage stability worsens due to premature decomposition

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebleaching activityVSAvoidstorage stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces less basic zinc salts as intermediary substances that mediate between the highly soluble manganese catalyst and the storage environment, preventing direct decomposition pathways while allowing the catalyst to maintain its high solubility and catalytic activity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies protective chemistry in advance by incorporating less basic zinc salts into the granule formulation before storage, creating a protective chemical environment that cushions the manganese catalyst against premature decomposition during storage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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 increased bleaching performance compared to conventional formulations, ensuring consistent catalyst distribution and activity.

Implementation Method 1

Transition metal complexes, such as manganese catalysts based on triazacyclononane ligands are known to be active catalysts in the bleaching of stains

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCatalysis: Catalysis

Implementation Method 2

The co-granules and bleaching formulations comprising them are suitable for use in catalysing oxidation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDecomposition: Decomposition (biological)

Data Source

PatentEP4678725A1Co-granules comprising bleaching catalyst, bleaching activator, binder and zinc or bismuth salt, and bleaching and cleaning agent comprising same

Publication Date: 2026.01.14 CATEXEL GMBH

AI summary

Disclosed are co-granules comprising a) a Manganese complex salt comprising at least one selected carbo-aza-cyclic ligand, a selected non-coordinating counter ion and having a water-solubility of at least 30 g/L at 20° C, b) a seleted zinc or bismuth salt having a water-solubility of at least 30 g/L at 20° C, c) a binder, and d) a bleaching activator. The co-granules and formulations comprising these are suitable for use in catalysing oxidation, for example as a component of a laundry or dishwasher bleaching composition. The invention further relates to cleaning agents, preferably ADW formulations, comprising the co-granules described herein.