Coated Bleach Catalyst Granulate for Storage Stability

Solution Overview

Problem

Metal-containing bleach catalysts in cleaning compositions, such as automatic dishwashing detergents, face stability issues during storage, leading to decreased cleaning performance over time, as they are sensitive to oxidation and interaction with other components.

Innovation Solution

A co-granulate formulation comprising a core with a metal-containing bleach catalyst and a binder, optionally with a bleach activator, coated with a water-soluble polymer layer that protects the catalyst from oxidation and separation from other detergent ingredients, ensuring stability during storage and rapid release during use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If metal-containing bleach catalysts are included in cleaning compositions, then cleaning performance is improved, but stability during storage deteriorates due to oxidation sensitivity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning performanceVSAvoidstability during storage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning composition is segmented into distinct functional components: a bleach catalyst component containing metal complex, a bleach activator component, and a bleaching agent component. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently for its specific function while reducing unwanted interactions that would compromise stability during storage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A bleach activator serves as an intermediary between the stable bleach catalyst and the bleaching agent. The catalyst remains stable in storage, the activator protects it from oxidation, and during use the activator triggers the catalyst's activity to generate the active bleaching species from the bleaching agent.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If bleach catalyst and bleach activator are separated from bleaching agent, then stability during storage is improved, but bleaching effectiveness may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability during storageVSAvoidbleaching effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The bleach catalyst and bleach activator are prepared and stabilized in advance during storage. Upon contact with the bleaching agent during the cleaning process, the preliminary-prepared catalyst-activator system rapidly generates the active bleaching species, ensuring effective bleaching action when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system utilizes changes in chemical parameters (such as pH, oxidation state, or molecular structure) upon contact between components to trigger the transformation from stable storage form to active bleaching form. This parameter change ensures that the catalyst remains inactive and stable during storage but becomes highly effective when the components interact during use.

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 co-granulate design maintains the stability and effectiveness of metal-containing bleach catalysts during long-term storage, ensuring consistent cleaning performance by isolating the catalyst from oxidizing agents and releasing it effectively when needed.

Implementation Method 1

Metal-containing bleach catalysts in cleaning compositions, such as automatic dishwashing detergents, face stability issues during storage, leading to decreased cleaning performance over time, as they are sensitive to oxidation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Implementation Method 2

A co-granulate formulation comprising a core with a metal-containing bleach catalyst and a binder, optionally with a bleach activator, coated with a water-soluble polymer layer that protects the catalyst from oxidation and separation from other detergent ingredients

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDissolution: Solvation

Data Source

PatentEP3190168B1Coated bleach catalyst

Publication Date: 2019.04.10 DALLI-WERKE GMBH & CO KG

AI summary

The present invention refers to a granulate comprising a core comprising or consisting of one or more bleach catalyst(s), one or more binder(s), optionally a bleach activator and further a coating comprising or consisting of a polymer or a carboxylic acid as well as a detergent composition comprising such a granulate, a method for preparing said granulate and the use of such a granulate in cleaning compositions.