Detergent composition for liquid carbon dioxide based cleaning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current liquid carbon dioxide-based cleaning methods are inadequate for removing diverse contaminants, including water-based and oil-based organic pollutants and inorganic contaminants, due to insufficient solubility of detergents in liquid carbon dioxide and limited cleaning power.

Innovation Solution

A detergent composition comprising a fluorine-based organic solvent and contaminant removers, such as dimethyl carbonate and polyoxy ethylene dodecanyl ether, which are dissolved in liquid carbon dioxide to enhance solubility and cleaning efficiency, with a composition that includes 80% or more organic solvent and 1-20% contaminant remover by weight.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If liquid carbon dioxide-based cleaning is used, then eco-friendliness and energy efficiency are improved, but cleaning power is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveeco-friendlinessVSAvoidcleaning power
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite detergent composition by dissolving multiple contaminants removers (surfactants, solvents, enzymes) in liquid carbon dioxide. This composite approach combines the eco-friendly nature of CO2 with the cleaning power of multiple chemical agents, achieving both environmental benefits and effective cleaning performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes parameter changes by controlling pressure and temperature to maintain carbon dioxide in a liquid state for cleaning, then allowing it to vaporize for easy removal. This phase change parameter control enables the system to achieve both effective cleaning and easy drying without additional energy input.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If conventional water-based washing is used, then water-based contaminants are removed effectively, but fabric deformation and luster loss occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidfabric deformation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fundamental parameter of the cleaning medium from water to liquid carbon dioxide. This parameter change allows cleaning to occur without water-induced fabric deformation while maintaining effective contaminant removal through specially selected contaminants removers that are soluble in CO2.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent exploits the phase transition of carbon dioxide from liquid to gas. The cleaning process occurs in liquid form, and the fabric is then rapidly dried as the CO2 vaporizes, eliminating the need for traditional drying processes that cause fabric deformation and luster loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #36Phase transitions

3Reliability

If traditional dry cleaning solvents are used, then oily contaminants are removed effectively, but safety and environmental harm worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoily contaminant removalVSAvoidsafety and environmental harm
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent fundamentally changes the solvent parameter from traditional organic solvents (perchloroethylene, petroleum-based solvents) to liquid carbon dioxide. This parameter change maintains effective oily contaminant removal through CO2-soluble contaminants removers while eliminating the safety hazards and environmental harm associated with traditional dry cleaning solvents.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Reliability

If detergent concentration is increased to improve cleaning power, then contaminant removal improves, but solubility in liquid carbon dioxide decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning powerVSAvoidsolubility in liquid carbon dioxide
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite detergent system where multiple contaminants removers are combined in specific proportions (surfactants: 0.1-5%, solvents: 1-10%, enzymes: 0.01-1%). This composite approach ensures adequate solubility in liquid carbon dioxide while achieving effective cleaning power through the synergistic action of multiple agents.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by selecting specific types of contaminants removers with different functionalities (surfactants for general cleaning, solvents for oily stains, enzymes for protein stains) and optimizing their individual concentrations to achieve overall effective cleaning while maintaining solubility in the liquid carbon dioxide medium.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 both oil-based and water-based contaminants, maintaining a homogeneous phase and ensuring safety for human health and the environment with improved cleaning efficiency and no flammability.

Implementation Method 1

A detergent composition comprising a fluorine-based organic solvent and contaminant removers, such as dimethyl carbonate and polyoxy ethylene dodecanyl ether, which are dissolved in liquid carbon dioxide to enhance solubility and cleaning efficiency

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDissolution: Solvation

Implementation Method 2

Liquid carbon dioxide contained in the laundry may be vaporized quickly at low pressure and removed from the laundry. Accordingly, the liquid carbon dioxide-based cleaning may be a cleaning method that needs no drying process

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhase change: Phase Change

Data Source

PatentEP4019617B1Detergent composition for liquid carbon dioxide based cleaning
Publication Date: 2024.10.30 LG ELECTRONICS INC

AI summary

The present invention relates to a detergent composition having excellent usability for high-pressure liquid carbon dioxide cleaning, more particularly, a liquid carbon dioxide-based cleaning detergent composition that has excellent solubility of detergent components in liquid carbon dioxide and can excellently remove both oil-based and water-based contaminants