Concentrated Detergent Composition for Starch Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional warewashing detergents are highly alkaline and phosphate-based, posing hazards and environmental concerns, and struggle to effectively remove starch soil and coffee/tea stains.
Innovation Solution
A concentrated detergent composition comprising alkali metal carbonate as a source of alkalinity, alkali metal percarbonate as a peroxygen bleach compound, and an iron or manganese complex as a peroxidation catalyst, which provides a mild alkaline and efficient solution for starch removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If highly alkaline phosphate-based detergents are used, then cleaning performance is improved, but safety hazards and environmental harm increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pH parameter from highly alkaline (pH 12-14) to mildly alkaline (pH 9-11) by replacing traditional hydroxide bases with carbonate-based systems. This parameter change maintains cleaning effectiveness while reducing corrosiveness and environmental harm, directly resolving the contradiction between cleaning performance and safety hazards
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes harmful phosphate compounds from the detergent formulation, replacing them with alternative cleaning agents such as percarbonate and perborate. This extraction eliminates the environmental harm associated with phosphate discharge while maintaining cleaning performance through the alternative oxygen-releasing compounds
2Reliability
If chlorine bleach is used, then disinfection performance is improved, but safety hazards and environmental harm increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful chlorine bleach into beneficial oxygen-based bleaching agents (percarbonate, perborate) that release active oxygen. This transformation maintains the disinfection and whitening performance while eliminating the harmful effects of chlorine, including toxic fumes and environmental contamination
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces organic bleach activators as intermediaries that work with peroxide compounds to generate peracetic acid in situ. This intermediary system provides chlorine-like disinfection performance without using chlorine, as the organic activator mediates between the safe peroxide compound and the desired bleaching/disinfection effect
3Reliability
If phosphate compounds are used, then cleaning performance is improved, but environmental harm increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts phosphate compounds from the formulation and replaces them with alternative builders such as citrate, gluconate, and other environmentally compatible chelating agents. These alternatives provide water softening and cleaning performance without the environmental harm of phosphate discharge, directly resolving the contradiction between cleaning performance and environmental harm
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 effectively removes starch soil at mildly alkaline pH and moderate temperatures, outperforming traditional caustic-based detergents in both short and extended washing cycles.
Implementation Method 1
an iron or manganese complex as a peroxidation catalyst
Implementation Method 2
alkali metal percarbonate as a peroxygen bleach compound
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a concentrated detergent composition comprisingalkali metal carbonate, alkali metal percarbonate, and a peroxidation catalyst according to formula (I) [(LpMq)nXr]Ys, wherein each L independently is an organic ligand containing at least three nitrogen atoms that coordinate with the metal M;M is Mn or Fe; each X independently is a coordinating or bridging group selected from the group consisting of H2O, OH−, SH−, HO2−, O2−, O22−, S2−, F−, Cl−, Br−, I−, NO3−, NO2−, SO42−, SO32−, PO43−, N3−, CN−, NR3, NCS−, RCN, RS−, RCO2−, RO−, andwith R being hydrogen or a C1 to C6 alkyl group; p is an integer from 1 to 4; q is an integer from 1 to 2; r is an integer from 0 to 6; Y is a counter ion; and s is the number of counter ions. The invention also relates to the use of said concentrated detergent composition as a warewashing detergent for the removal of starch soil.