Detergent composition for use in automatic dishwasher
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dishwashers face challenges in effectively washing protein-based soils, such as egg yolk, due to their tendency to solidify and adhere strongly, especially under short-time washing conditions, and existing methods often require strong alkalinity, which is undesirable for worker and environmental safety.
Innovation Solution
A detergent composition for automatic dishwashers containing a reducing agent with an oxidation-reduction potential of +71 mV or less and a low-foaming anionic surfactant, allowing for effective protein soil removal at neutral to weak alkaline pH levels, and a chelating agent with specific calcium stability constants to cleave disulfide and phosphoric acid-Ca cross-links, facilitating protein dispersion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If strong alkalinity conditions are used to wash protein-based soils, then washing effectiveness is improved, but worker safety and environmental safety deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the washing system by introducing a reducing agent with specific oxidation-reduction potential (+71 mV or less) that enables effective protein soil removal at neutral to weak alkaline pH levels, eliminating the need for strong alkalinity while maintaining washing effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the chemical mechanism of strong alkaline hydrolysis with a redox-based mechanism using reducing agents (such as sulfites, thiosulfates, or iodides) that cleave disulfide bonds in proteins through electron transfer, achieving soil removal through a different chemical pathway that is inherently safer
2Productivity
If short-time washing is used in dishwashers, then productivity is improved, but washing effectiveness deteriorates for stubborn protein soils
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the reducing agent pre-cleave disulfide bonds in protein soils before the main washing action occurs, weakening the soil structure in advance so that subsequent short-time mechanical washing and surfactant action can effectively remove the compromised protein soils
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a reducing agent as an intermediary substance that mediates between the washing system and stubborn protein soils by chemically modifying the disulfide cross-linked protein structure, making it susceptible to removal under short-time washing conditions without requiring extended washing durations
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
Enables effective washing of protein-based soils, including heat-denatured egg yolk, without significant reduction in washing power even when the washing liquid is reused, maintaining effectiveness at neutral to weak alkaline pH, thus improving washing efficiency and safety.
Implementation Method 1
containing a reducing agent with an oxidation-reduction potential of +71 mV or less
Implementation Method 2
a chelating agent with specific calcium stability constants to cleave disulfide and phosphoric acid-Ca cross-links
Implementation Method 3
a low-foaming anionic surfactant
Data Source
AI summary
A detergent composition, containing the following component (a), the following component (c1), and water: component (a): a reducing agent with an oxidation-reduction potential of +71 mV or less, and component (c1): a low-foaming anionic surfactant. The composition has a content of the component (a) of 3 mass % or more, a content of water of 20 mass % or more, and a pH of 6 or more and 11 or less at 25° C.