Liquid Laundry Detergent Amine Additives pH Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid laundry detergent compositions, typically adjusted to an alkaline pH using sodium hydroxide or other bases, do not provide optimal performance in stain removal and soil release, as disclosed in prior references.
Innovation Solution
A liquid laundry detergent composition comprising 10-30 wt% linear alkyl benzene sulfonate, 4-18 wt% linear alcohol ethoxylate, 2-10 wt% of specific amines (formulas I and II), and water, with a pH range of 7.5 to 10, optimized with citrate salts and solvents, to enhance cleaning efficacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sodium hydroxide is used to adjust pH in liquid laundry detergent compositions, then the composition achieves alkaline pH, but stain removal and soil release performance is suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameter of the pH adjusting agent from inorganic base (sodium hydroxide) to organic amine compounds with specific molecular structures (formulas I and II). This parameter change transforms the pH adjustment method while achieving both optimal alkaline pH and superior stain removal performance, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and cleaning efficacy.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite amine structures combining specific functional groups (amino, hydroxyl, carboxyl) in defined molecular architectures. These composite molecular structures provide multiple functions: pH regulation, surfactant compatibility, and enhanced stain removal through specific chemical interactions, thereby resolving the performance limitation of conventional single-function bases.
2Productivity
If conventional bases are used for neutralization, then the detergent composition achieves required pH, but cleaning efficiency is not optimized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the concentration parameter of amine additives within specific ranges (0.1-10% wt, preferably 0.5-5% wt) to achieve maximum cleaning efficiency. This quantitative optimization resolves the contradiction by finding the optimal balance point where sufficient base concentration provides needed pH adjustment while avoiding excessive concentration that would not further improve and may worsen performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces local chemical functionality through specific amine molecular structures that provide enhanced cleaning action at the stain-detergent interface. The localized functional groups (amino, hydroxyl, carboxyl) in formulas I and II create specific chemical environments at the cleaning front, improving cleaning efficiency without requiring proportional increases in overall base concentration.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid laundry detergent composition comprising: (a) 10 to 30 wt% of a linear alkyl benzene sulfonate; (b) 4 to 18 wt% linear alcohol ethoxylate, and (c) 2 to 10 wt% of an amine having formula (I) wherein R1 is C1-C4 alkyl or C1-C4 hydroxyalkyl; or formula (II) wherein R2 is C1-C4 alkyl and R3 is C2-C8 alkyl; or a combination thereof; and (d) water.