Concentrated Detergent Premix with Alkoxylated Polyester for Stable Dilution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing concentrated liquid detergent premixes face challenges in forming a stable, isotropic composition with viscosity comparable to conventional liquid detergents upon dilution in water, as they typically contain low water content, making it difficult to incorporate ingredients like soil release polymers and enzymes effectively.

Innovation Solution

A composition comprising 30 to 90% wt. anionic surfactant with an ammoniacal counterion and an alkoxylated polyol polyester with at least three alkoxylates and C8 to C40 fatty acid esters, which upon dilution in water, forms a liquid detergent with viscosity comparable to conventional detergents.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If a liquid detergent contains significant amount of water to solubilize ingredients, then ingredient stability and homogeneity are improved, but product volume increases requiring substantial packaging materials

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveingredient stabilityVSAvoidproduct volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state and concentration parameters of the detergent composition by providing a highly concentrated liquid premix with 10-50% w/w detersive actives and 0-40% w/w water. This parameter change allows the product to maintain ingredient stability through proper formulation while significantly reducing product volume and packaging requirements compared to conventional diluted liquid detergents.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Volume of moving object

If a concentrated premix contains low water content to reduce packaging, then packaging material consumption is reduced, but stability and homogeneity of ingredients become difficult to achieve

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduct volumeVSAvoidcomposition stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs composite material formulation by combining multiple ingredients in a specific concentration range: 10-50% w/w detersive actives, 0-40% w/w water, 1-30% w/w solvents, and various additives. This composite approach creates a stable concentrated premix where each component serves a specific function, maintaining homogeneity and stability despite reduced water content through synergistic interactions between ingredients.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Volume of moving object

If a dilutable product contains higher amount of detersive actives to reduce packaging, then packaging material consumption is reduced, but viscosity control becomes challenging

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduct volumeVSAvoidviscosity control
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent controls viscosity by adjusting concentration parameters of key ingredients, particularly solvents (1-30% w/w) and water (0-40% w/w), while maintaining high detersive active content (10-50% w/w). This parameter optimization ensures the concentrated premix has appropriate viscosity for ease of use, pouring, and dissolution, even with reduced water content and high active ingredient concentration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Reliability

If conventional liquid detergent formulation is used to ensure cleaning benefits, then cleaning performance is improved, but water content increases making product bulky

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning performanceVSAvoidproduct volume
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent achieves concentrated cleaning performance by changing the concentration parameters to 10-50% w/w detersive actives and 0-40% w/w water, compared to conventional diluted formulations. This parameter change maintains reliable cleaning performance through inclusion of essential ingredients (anionic/non-ionic surfactants, enzymes, bleaching agents, soil release polymers) in optimized concentrations while reducing product volume by 50-80% compared to conventional liquid detergents.

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 solution provides a stable and isotropic liquid detergent with viscosity comparable to conventional detergents, ensuring ease of use and effective cleaning performance.

Implementation Method 1

a) 30 to 90 %wt. anionic surfactant comprising an ammoniacal counterion; and b) an alkoxylated polyol polyester comprising at least three alkoxylates and at least two C8 to C40 fatty acid ester

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSolubilization: Solvation

Data Source

PatentEP4479507B1A concentrated liquid composition premix
Publication Date: 2025.08.20 UNILEVER IP HLDG BV

AI summary

The present invention is in the field of cleaning compositions, particularly it relates to a concentrated liquid composition premix for providing a liquid detergent on dilution in water. There is a need for an improved concentrated liquid composition premix providing a liquid detergent on dilution in water, wherein the liquid detergent has one or more attributes comparable to conventional liquid detergents available in market. The present invention provides a composition premix comprising 30 to 90% wt. anionic surfactant with ammoniacal counterion and an alkoxylated polyol polyester comprising at least three alkoxylates and at least two C8 to C40 fatty acid ester. The composition premix provides a liquid detergent on dilution in water, which has a viscosity comparable or higher than the composition premix and it is similar to conventional liquid detergents. The present invention further provides a liquid detergent obtained from the composition premix and a process of providing a liquid detergent from the composition premix.