Particulate Laundry Detergent Coating With Acidified Starch Perfume

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for incorporating starch/perfume mixtures into laundry detergent powders result in discoloration and equipment corrosion, particularly when using alkenyl succinic starch, and do not maintain a good freshness profile.

Innovation Solution

A process involving the preparation of alkenyl succinic starch by gelatinizing starch, reacting it with alkenyl succinic anhydride, and adjusting pH with carboxylic acid to form a concentrated acidic mixture, which is then emulsified and sprayed onto detergent particles to create a particulate laundry detergent composition.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If starch/perfume mixture is sprayed onto base detergent particles, then the process avoids the complexity and energy requirements of spray-drying SEA particles, but the laundry powder discolours after storage forming yellow spots

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocess simplicityVSAvoidcolour stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an acidifying agent as an intermediary substance to adjust the pH of the starch/perfume mixture to below 4.5 before spraying. This acidifying agent mediates between the starch/perfume mixture and the base detergent particles, preventing direct harmful interactions that cause discoloration while allowing the simplified spray process to continue.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the pH parameter of the starch/perfume mixture by adding an acidifying agent to achieve a pH below 4.5. This parameter change stabilizes the mixture and prevents the formation of yellow spots during storage, resolving the discoloration issue while maintaining the simplified manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If alkenyl succinic starch is used in the starch/perfume mixture, then the process provides improved hygiene performance, but it causes corrosion of steel equipment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehygiene performanceVSAvoidequipment corrosion

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The acidifying agent serves as a protective intermediary that creates an acidic environment (pH below 4.5) which prevents the alkenyl succinic starch from causing corrosion to steel equipment. This intermediary layer protects the equipment while allowing the hygiene benefits of alkenyl succinic starch to be retained.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the pH parameter to below 4.5 by adding an acidifying agent, which transforms the corrosive effect of alkenyl succinic starch into a non-corrosive environment. This parameter change eliminates equipment corrosion while preserving the improved hygiene performance provided by the alkenyl succinic starch.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If perfume is incorporated by spraying onto base particles, then the perfume coats the base particles effectively, but the freshness profile deteriorates due to discoloration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveperfume incorporation efficiencyVSAvoidfreshness profile

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The acidifying agent acts as a protective intermediary in the perfume incorporation process, enabling effective coating of base particles while preventing the discoloration that would otherwise deteriorate the freshness profile. This maintains both the ease of operation and the stability of the freshness profile.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 process prevents discoloration and equipment corrosion while maintaining a good freshness profile, resulting in a stable and effective laundry detergent composition.

Implementation Method 1

subjecting the concentrated acidic mixture to a perfume emulsification step to emulsify the perfume to form an emulsified perfume mixture in fluid form

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEmulsification: Emulsion

Implementation Method 2

spraying the emulsified perfume mixture in fluid form onto base detergent particles so that the emulsified perfume mixture at least partially coats the base detergent particles

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpray deposition: Deposition (physical)