Cleaning Agent Mixing Sequence to Prevent Surfactant Clumping
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Users face uncertainty in selecting the right cleaning product for their needs, and commercially available cleaning products often result in significant water waste, plastic waste, and an unfavorable packaging-to-cleaning-agent ratio due to low active ingredient concentration and large, single-use plastic bottles.
Innovation Solution
A mixing system set comprising separately stored surfactant, solvent, acidic, and alkaline components, along with a mixing device, allows users to produce customized cleaning agents on-site, reducing plastic waste by using reusable containers and ensuring easy handling and safe application through controlled mixing sequences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If cleaning agents are produced in large, single-use plastic bottles with low active ingredient concentration, then packaging and distribution are simplified, but plastic waste and water waste increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning agent is segmented into multiple separate components (surfactant component, solvent component, acidic component, alkaline component) that are stored individually and mixed at the point of use. This segmentation eliminates the need for large single-use plastic bottles while reducing waste, as users only mix the components needed for each cleaning task rather than disposing of entire bottles.
Solution Approach 2:
The mixing system provides a universal platform that can produce multiple types of cleaning agents (glass cleaner, bathroom cleaner, dish soap, all-purpose cleaner, floor cleaner) from a single set of components. This multi-functionality reduces the need for multiple separate product packages, thereby reducing plastic waste while maintaining ease of use.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple cleaning agent types are offered in separate packages, then users have more product variety, but selection complexity and uncertainty increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single mixing system set with four basic components can produce multiple types of cleaning agents (glass cleaner, bathroom cleaner, dish soap, all-purpose cleaner, floor cleaner). This universal approach simplifies the selection process by providing one system that adapts to various cleaning needs rather than requiring users to choose from many separate products.
Solution Approach 2:
The system includes a control unit that guides users through the mixing process and provides feedback on the correct proportions and sequences for different cleaning agent types. This feedback mechanism eliminates selection uncertainty by clearly indicating how to mix components for specific cleaning purposes.
3Productivity
If surfactant component is mixed directly with water, then the cleaning agent is activated, but lump formation occurs that complicates handling
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary mixing by first combining the surfactant component with the solvent component before adding water or other components. This preliminary action prevents lump formation by ensuring the surfactant is properly solubilized in the solvent before water is introduced, thereby maintaining ease of handling while activating the cleaning agent.
Solution Approach 2:
The solvent component acts as an intermediary between the surfactant component and water. By first mixing the surfactant with the solvent, the system creates a stable intermediate mixture that prevents lump formation when water is subsequently added, ensuring easy handling throughout the mixing process.
4Ease of operation
If cleaning agents are prepared in advance for storage, then convenience is improved, but preservatives and stabilizers are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables users to prepare cleaning agents on-demand at the point of use, eliminating the need for advance preparation and long-term storage. This self-service approach removes the requirement for preservatives and stabilizers while maintaining convenience, as users mix components only when needed and use them immediately.
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
Enables on-demand production of customized cleaning agents with reduced plastic waste, improved cleaning performance, and transparency, while eliminating the need for preservatives and stabilizers, and preventing lump formation during mixing.
Implementation Method 1
By first dispensing the surfactant and solvent components together in the mixing device, and then mixing the resulting premix with water, the formation of gel clumps by the surfactant component upon mixing with water is prevented.
Implementation Method 2
subsequently dose and mix the acidic component and/or alkaline component with the premix of solvent component and surfactant component
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention relates to a mixing system set for the production of several cleaning agents (9), comprising: several separately stored components, comprising a surfactant component (1), a solvent component (2), an acidic component (3), and an alkaline component (4); and a mixing device (7), which is designed and configured to dose and mix the several components according to predetermined proportions for the respective cleaning agent (9), wherein the mixing device (7) is designed to first dose and premix the solvent component (2) and surfactant component (1), and subsequently to dose and mix the acidic component (3) and/or alkaline component (4) with the premix of solvent component (2) and surfactant component (1) when the surfactant component (1) is used to produce one of the cleaning agents.Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for producing a cleaning agent based on a mixing system set comprising separately a surfactant component (1), a solvent component (2), an acidic component (3), an alkaline component (4) and water (6), wherein the solvent component (2) and surfactant component (1) are first dosed and premixed and the premixed solvent and surfactant components (2, 1) are then mixed with water (6).