Detergent Particle Coating with Bitrex to Prevent Nozzle Blockage
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Solution Overview
Problem
The inclusion of Bitrex in fragrance oils sprayed on large detergent particles causes spray nozzles to become blocked, hindering the coating process in detergent manufacturing.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating Bitrex into a near-saturated sodium carbonate solution, which is then sprayed onto the detergent particles and dried in a fluidized bed, creating a coated particle with a sodium carbonate coating that prevents nozzle blockage and maintains particle dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If Bitrex is included in fragrance oils for spraying on detergent particles, then the bittering agent is effectively applied, but spray nozzles become blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses fragrance oil as an intermediary carrier to deliver Bitrex to the detergent particles. The fragrance oil dissolves Bitrex and enables spray application without direct contact between the bittering agent and spray nozzle components that would cause blockage. This mediator approach allows effective Bitrex application while maintaining spray system functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and concentration parameters by using a dilute fragrance oil solution (0.1-5% Bitrex in fragrance oil) rather than pure Bitrex. This parameter modification reduces viscosity and prevents crystallization in the spray system, eliminating nozzle blockage while maintaining effective bittering agent delivery to the detergent particles.
2Productivity
If a concentrated Bitrex solution is sprayed onto large detergent particles, then coating efficiency is improved, but spray nozzles become blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the concentration parameter by formulating a dilute Bitrex solution in fragrance oil (0.1-5% w/w) rather than using concentrated Bitrex. This parameter change maintains adequate coating efficiency while preventing the high concentration that would cause spray nozzle blockage and increased maintenance complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Fragrance oil serves as an intermediary carrier that solubilizes Bitrex and enables smooth spray application. This mediator prevents direct deposition of crystalline Bitrex that would block nozzles, while still achieving effective coating of the detergent particles with the bittering agent.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If Bitrex is added to detergent formulation, then safety against ingestion is improved, but manufacturing process complexity increases due to nozzle blockage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses fragrance oil as an intermediary vehicle to deliver Bitrex through the spray drying process. This mediator enables the safety benefit of Bitrex incorporation while avoiding direct handling of pure Bitrex that would cause manufacturing complexity and nozzle blockage issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct mechanical spraying of Bitrex with a chemical solution approach, where Bitrex is dissolved in fragrance oil and applied through standard spray drying equipment. This substitution eliminates the need for specialized equipment or process modifications, maintaining simple manufacturing while achieving ingestion safety.
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
This method allows for effective coating of detergent particles with Bitrex without clogging spray nozzles, ensuring consistent particle size and improved storage stability by reducing agglomeration and deterioration, while enabling the use of Bitrex in detergent formulations.
Implementation Method 1
The coating applied as an aqueous solution spray and dried in a fluidized bed. The coating is provided by spraying a sodium carbonate solution... and the aqueous element substantially evaporated in a fluidized bed to provide a coated large particle
Implementation Method 2
dried in a fluidized bed
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a high active laundry bitter pill treatment composition. Coated detergent particles having perpendicular dimensions x, y and z, the core comprises from 65 to 95 wt% of surfactant and adjuncts and is coated with from 5 to 30 wt % of sodium carbonate and from 20 and 1000 ppm of denatonium benzoate.