Concentrated Cleaner Stability in Water-Soluble Pouches
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Solution Overview
Problem
Concentrated cleaning compositions stored in water-dissolvable plastic pouches face challenges with stability over extended storage times, rapid dissolution of the pouch, and compatibility with colorants and fragrances, leading to safety concerns and increased production costs.
Innovation Solution
A concentrated liquid cleaning composition is developed, comprising a linear alkyl benzene sulfonic acid anionic surfactant, a nonionic ethoxylated alcohol surfactant, an iso or non-linear alkanol amine, water, and optional non-aqueous solvents, colorants, and fragrances. This composition achieves improved stability, safer toxicity and irritancy, and greater interchangeability of color and fragrance, while maintaining effective cleaning performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high amounts of surfactants and solvents are used to improve cleaning efficiency, then cleaning performance is improved, but the stability of the composition deteriorates and the pouch dissolution rate is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the concentration ranges of specific surfactants (anionic surfactant at 5-50 wt%, nonionic surfactant at 5-50 wt%) and solvents (water-soluble solvent at 40-90 wt%, non-aqueous solvent at 10-50 wt%). This systematic adjustment of compositional parameters achieves both improved cleaning efficiency and enhanced stability during storage, while maintaining rapid pouch dissolution. The balanced formulation resolves the contradiction by finding optimal parameter values that satisfy multiple competing requirements simultaneously.
2Productivity
If high amounts of surfactants and solvents are used to improve cleaning efficiency, then cleaning performance is improved, but the dissolution rate of the pouch is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction through parameter changes by carefully controlling the concentration of surfactants and solvents within specific ranges, and by selecting surfactants with appropriate molecular structures. The balanced formulation ensures that the pouch dissolves rapidly (within seconds to minutes) while the composition maintains high cleaning efficiency. The key is optimizing the concentration parameters and selecting surfactant types that do not interfere with pouch dissolution kinetics.
3Productivity
If concentrated amounts of surfactants and solvents are used, then cleaning efficiency is improved, but the stability of fragrance and colorant is affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the concentration ranges of surfactants and solvents, and by selecting specific types of these components with compatible chemical properties. The balanced formulation creates a stable environment that preserves fragrance and colorant integrity during storage, while maintaining high cleaning efficiency upon use. This resolves the contradiction by finding compositional parameters that are compatible with both cleaning performance and additive stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining specific types of anionic surfactants (such as linear alkyl benzene sulfonic acid salts) with nonionic surfactants (such as ethoxylated alcohols) in a balanced formulation. This composite surfactant system provides synergistic effects that enhance cleaning efficiency while creating a stable matrix that protects fragrance and colorant components. The composite nature of the formulation allows simultaneous achievement of high cleaning performance and additive stability.
4Productivity
If concentrated cleaners are used to reduce production costs and improve cleaning efficiency, then productivity is improved, but toxicity and irritancy to users increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the concentration and selection of surfactants and solvents to achieve high cleaning efficiency at lower concentrations. The balanced formulation uses water-soluble solvents (40-90 wt%) and specifically selected surfactants that provide effective cleaning with reduced toxicity and irritancy compared to conventional concentrated cleaners. This resolves the contradiction by finding compositional parameters that maintain productivity while reducing harmful effects on users.
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 composition exhibits enhanced stability during storage, maintains compatibility with the plastic pouch, allows for a wide range of colorants and fragrances, and provides better cleaning efficiency compared to conventional concentrated cleaners, while being safer for users.
Implementation Method 1
The alkanol/alkyl amine and linear alkyl benzene sulfonic acid components react so that the sulfonic group is added to the amine
Implementation Method 2
the pouch dissolves allowing the concentrated cleaning composition to become diluted in the water
Data Source
AI summary
Concentrated liquid cleaning fluid compositions for hard surface cleaning which are particularly suited for storage and dispensing from water-dissolvable plastic pouches. In use the pouches are placed in water whereupon the plastic pouch dissolves allowing the concentrated composition to become diluted in the water to provide a cleaner. The concentrated cleaning composition has good stability and does not affect the plastic or rate of dissolution of the pouch, and allows use of a variety of colorants and fragrances with a base product formulation. The formulation includes a linear alkyl benzene sulfonic acid (LABSA), a nonionic ethoxylated alcohol surfactant, and an alkanol amine or alkyl amine capable of reacting with the LABSA so that the sulfonic group is added to the amine.