Carbamide Laundry Detergent Reduces Enzyme Cost and Environmental Impact

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cleaning agents for closed systems, such as dishwashers and laundry detergents, rely heavily on expensive enzymes that are sensitive to temperature and pH ranges, have stability issues, and pose environmental concerns due to uncontrolled wastewater entry, while also being costly and potentially allergenic.

Innovation Solution

A cleaning agent with a high carbamide (urea) content, ranging from 10 to 80% by weight, is used, which replaces enzymes and reduces the need for bleaching agents, maintaining effectiveness across a wide pH range and being environmentally friendly by binding CO2 and decomposing into harmless salts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If enzymes are used in cleaning agents, then cleaning effect is improved, but cost increases and stability problems occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectVSAvoidcost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive enzyme preparations with a much cheaper carbamide-based cleaning agent formulation. Carbamide is a low-cost, readily available compound that provides effective cleaning action without the high cost associated with enzyme sourcing, purification, and stabilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the chemical basis of the cleaning agent from protein-based enzymes to carbamide-based chemistry. This fundamental parameter change allows the cleaning agent to function effectively across a broader temperature and pH range while eliminating enzyme-specific stability issues and reducing cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If enzymes are used in cleaning agents, then cleaning effect is improved, but stability problems occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectVSAvoidstability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive enzyme preparations with a much cheaper carbamide-based cleaning agent formulation. Carbamide is a low-cost, readily available compound that provides effective cleaning action without the high cost associated with enzyme sourcing, purification, and stabilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the chemical basis of the cleaning agent from protein-based enzymes to carbamide-based chemistry. This fundamental parameter change allows the cleaning agent to function effectively across a broader temperature and pH range while eliminating enzyme-specific stability issues and reducing cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If enzymes are used in cleaning agents, then cleaning effect is improved, but environmental harm increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectVSAvoidenvironmental harm

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent addresses environmental concerns by replacing enzymes with carbamide, which decomposes into harmless substances (carbon dioxide, water, and ammonia) that can be naturally assimilated by soil and water systems. This eliminates the risk of uncontrolled enzyme discharge into wastewater while maintaining cleaning effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

4Adaptability or versatility

If cleaning agents are made effective across wide pH range, then versatility is improved, but formulation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovepH rangeVSAvoidformulation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical basis of the cleaning agent from protein-based enzymes to carbamide-based chemistry. This fundamental parameter change allows the cleaning agent to function effectively across a broader temperature and pH range while eliminating enzyme-specific stability issues and reducing cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 carbamide-based cleaning agent provides a high cleaning effect, is surface-friendly, and environmentally benign, reducing enzyme and bleaching agent usage, while ensuring stability and safety, thus addressing the limitations of traditional agents.

Implementation Method 1

through the binding of CO 2 gas during the technical production, the use as a cleaning agent and the disposal in nature as harmless salts (in particular carbonates and hydrogen carbonates)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCO2 binding: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

it can be broken down into its components through chemical decomposition

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChemical decomposition: Decomposition (biological)

Data Source

PatentEP3192860B2Use of a cleaning agent containing carbamide as a laundry detergent

Publication Date: 2024.12.11 BBT BERGEDORFER BIOTECHN

AI summary

The invention relates to the use of a cleaning agent as a laundry detergent for washing machines, comprising: (a) 10 to 80% by weight of carbamide; (b) 5 to 70% by weight of one or more electrolyte(s); (c) 0.5 to 30% by weight of one or more surfactant(s); (d) 0.01 to 20% by weight of one or more complexing agent(s); and (e) up to 10% by weight of one or more enzyme(s).