1,3-Butylene Glycol Purification for Cosmetic Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
1,3-Butylene glycol products currently used in cosmetics can cause skin sensitization and color changes when mixed under basic conditions, limiting their application in the industry.
Innovation Solution
The product 1,3-butylene glycol is produced by suppressing the concentration of specific impurities through a hydrogenation treatment and subsequent purification steps, ensuring that the sum of n-dodecane equivalent concentrations of certain peaks is 25 ppm or less in gas chromatography analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If 1,3-butylene glycol is used in cosmetic applications, then moisturizing performance is improved, but skin sensitization occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes specific harmful impurities (aldehydes and acetal compounds) from 1,3-butylene glycol through controlled purification processes. By selectively removing these problematic substances while retaining the main product, the patent eliminates skin sensitization causes while preserving the moisturizing benefits of 1,3-butylene glycol.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the purity parameters of 1,3-butylene glycol by establishing specific concentration limits for impurities (aldehydes ≤50 ppm, acetals ≤75 ppm). This parameter control transforms the product from a potentially sensitizing substance to a safe cosmetic ingredient while maintaining its functional properties.
2Adaptability or versatility
If 1,3-butylene glycol is mixed under basic conditions, then cosmetic formulation flexibility is improved, but color changes occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary purification to remove aldehydes and acetal compounds before the cosmetic product is formulated or used. This advance removal of color-reactive impurities prevents subsequent color changes during basic condition mixing, allowing formulation flexibility without compromising color stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by removing the substances that would cause color changes (aldehydes and acetals) before they can react under basic conditions. This preventive approach eliminates the harmful reaction pathway while preserving the desired formulation flexibility.
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
This approach significantly reduces skin sensitization and prevents color changes under basic conditions, making the product safer and more stable for cosmetic applications.
Implementation Method 1
a production method for 1, 3-butylene glycol in which crude 1, 3-butylene glycol is purified by a hydrogenation treatment
Data Source
AI summary
A product 1, 3-butylene glycol, in which, in a gas chromatography analysis by a splitless injection method under specific conditions, when a relative retention time of n-dodecane is regarded as 1.00, a sum of n-dodecane equivalent concentrations of peaks that appear within a relative retention time range of 0.80 to 0.99, excluding a peak of an acetal form between methyl ethyl ketone and 1, 3-butylene glycol, is 25 ppm or less.