Liquid Cleansing Composition Antibacterial Synergy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional liquid cleansing compositions with high concentrations of antibacterial agents often irritate the skin, strip moisture, and negatively affect sensory properties such as foaming, making it challenging to balance antibacterial efficacy with skin compatibility and aesthetics.

Innovation Solution

A liquid cleansing composition incorporating an antibacterial system comprising phenoxyethanol as the antibacterial agent and lactic acid as the enhancing agent, with a weight ratio of 0.41:1 to 0.56:1, which synergistically reduces gram+ and gram- bacteria while maintaining or enhancing sensory properties like foaming.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If high concentrations of antibacterial agents are incorporated to control pathogenic microorganisms, then antibacterial efficacy is improved, but skin irritation and moisture stripping increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveantibacterial efficacyVSAvoidskin irritation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the concentration parameters of antibacterial agents to lower levels (0.1-5% phenoxyethanol, 0.1-5% lactic acid) while maintaining efficacy through synergistic interactions, thereby reducing skin irritation and moisture stripping effects

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite antibacterial system combining phenoxyethanol and lactic acid that work synergistically together, achieving enhanced antibacterial efficacy at lower individual concentrations, thus reducing harmful effects on skin

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If high concentrations of antibacterial agents are used to control pathogenic microorganisms, then antibacterial efficacy is improved, but sensory properties such as foaming deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveantibacterial efficacyVSAvoidsensory property degradation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the concentration parameters of antibacterial agents to lower ranges (0.1-5% each component) and adjusts their ratio (1:9 to 9:1), maintaining antibacterial efficacy while preserving foaming and other sensory properties

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent develops a composite antibacterial system where phenoxyethanol and lactic acid work synergistically, achieving effective pathogen control at low concentrations that do not compromise foaming or other aesthetic sensory properties

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the concentration of antibacterial agents is reduced to minimize skin irritation, then skin compatibility is improved, but antibacterial efficacy decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveskin irritationVSAvoidantibacterial efficacy
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges phenoxyethanol and lactic acid into a combined antibacterial system where the two components work synergistically together, achieving effective pathogen control at lower total concentrations that minimize skin irritation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite antibacterial material system combining phenoxyethanol and lactic acid that produces synergistic effects, maintaining reliable antibacterial efficacy while using lower individual concentrations to protect skin compatibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 antibacterial system effectively reduces gram+ and gram- bacteria by 5-log, while the composition exhibits enhanced or comparable sensory properties, such as greater foaming, compared to compositions without this specific ratio of antibacterial agents.

Implementation Method 1

The antibacterial system includes an antibacterial agent and an antibacterial enhancing agent... effectively reduces gram+ and gram- bacteria by 5-log

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAntibacterial action:

Data Source

PatentEP3490682B1Liquid cleansing compositions with an antibacterial system and method of manufacturing thereof
Publication Date: 2025.03.05 COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO

AI summary

A liquid cleansing composition and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The liquid cleansing composition includes a cleansing component and an antibacterial system. The antibacterial system includes an antibacterial agent and an antibacterial enhancing agent. The weight ratio of the antibacterial agent to the antibacterial enhancing agent is greater than or equal to 0.30:1 and less than or equal to 0.65:1.