Aqueous Cleaning Composition pH Stability via Sequestrant Buffering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional buffer systems fail to effectively prevent or reduce pH drift in non-ionic surfactant comprising aqueous cleaning compositions, which is crucial for maintaining a neutral pH and skin mildness, especially in eco-friendly and biodegradable cleaning products.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating sequestrants such as MGDA and GLDA, along with organic acids like citric acid, to stabilize the pH of the cleaning compositions, ensuring they remain within a neutral range of 6 to 8 and preventing significant pH changes during storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional buffer systems are used to maintain neutral pH, then skin mildness is improved, but pH drift occurs during storage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the buffer system by replacing traditional buffers with a specific combination of sequestrant (MGDA or GLDA) and organic acid (citric, lactic, acetic, malonic, adipic, glutaric, or glycolic acid). This parameter change achieves both neutral pH (6-8) and pH stability during storage, resolving the contradiction between skin mildness and pH stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite buffering system combining sequestrant (MGDA/GLDA) with organic acids. This composite approach leverages the chelating properties of sequestrants and the buffering capacity of organic acids to maintain pH stability without causing drift, thereby maintaining both skin mildness and composition stability.
2Reliability
If eco-friendly and biodegradable ingredients are used, then environmental profile is improved, but pH stability during storage deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent selects specific eco-friendly parameters: MGDA or GLDA as sequestrant and specific organic acids (citric, lactic, acetic, malonic, adipic, glutaric, or glycolic acid) as buffering agents. These biodegradable ingredients maintain pH stability during storage while preserving the environmental profile, resolving the contradiction between reliability and stability.
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 use of sequestrants and organic acids effectively reduces or prevents pH drift, maintaining the cleaning product's skin mildness and environmental profile over its lifespan, ensuring stability and performance.
Implementation Method 1
Incorporating sequestrants such as MGDA and GLDA, along with organic acids like citric acid, to stabilize the pH of the cleaning compositions, ensuring they remain within a neutral range of 6 to 8 and preventing significant pH changes during storage.
Implementation Method 2
c. 0.05 to 10 wt% sequestrant selected from MGDA, GLDA and combinations thereof
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to aqueous cleaning compositions comprising non-ionic surfactant, quaternary ammonium compound and sequestrant selected from MGDA, GLDA and combinations thereof, and organic acid, wherein the non-ionic surfactant comprises at least one alkyl polyglycoside surfactant. The compositions show a reduced pH drift. The invention also relates to a method and use to achieve the same.