Liquid Detergent Composition with Fatty Acid Ester for Foam Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional liquid detergent compositions require large amounts of water to rinse off foam residues, which is inefficient in water-scarce conditions, and struggle to maintain foaming capability while preventing soil redeposition during cleaning.
Innovation Solution
A liquid detergent composition comprising ethoxylated alkyl ether sulfate, alkylbenzene sulfonate, and a fatty acid ester, which forms a rich, creamy foam that can be easily removed with minimal rinsing water and effectively removes grease from surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high foaming detergent composition is used, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but large quantities of water are required to rinse off foam residues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by incorporating specific low-foaming surfactants (alkyl polyglucosides with 8-12 carbon atoms, alkyl sulfosuccinates) and foam control agents (silicones, polyethylene glycol distearates) to modify the foaming characteristics of the detergent, achieving reduced foam that requires less rinsing water while maintaining cleaning effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite surfactant systems combining multiple types of surfactants (anionic, nonionic, amphoteric) along with foam control agents and builders to create a synergistic formulation that provides both effective cleaning and reduced foaming, allowing easy rinsing with minimal water
2Reliability
If liquid detergent composition provides sustained foaming in dilute cleaning liquid, then cleaning performance is improved, but foam residue removal becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the foaming parameters by selecting surfactants with specific hydrophilic-lipophilic balance and incorporating foam breakdown agents that allow the foam to be sustained during cleaning but easily broken down and removed during rinsing, improving both cleaning performance and ease of foam residue removal
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 achieves sustained foaming in dilute cleaning solutions while allowing for efficient foam removal with limited rinsing water, enhancing cleaning effectiveness and water conservation.
Implementation Method 1
a first anionic surfactant which is an ethoxylated alkyl ether sulfate... a second anionic surfactant which is a linear alkylbenzene sulfonate... and a fatty acid ester
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a liquid detergent composition comprising: a) a first anionic surfactant which is an ethoxylated alkyl ether sulfate; b) a second anionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of C8-22 alkylbenzene sulfonates, C8-22 alkyl sulfates and combinations thereof; c) 0.1 to 2.5 % by weight based on the total weight of the liquid detergent composition of a fatty acid ester according to formula (II): R2-C(O)-O-R3 wherein R2 represents a linear C8-22 alkyl group; R3 represents a linear or branched C1-C4 alkyl group; d) at least 50 % by weight based on the total weight of the liquid detergent composition of water; wherein the first anionic surfactant and the second anionic surfactant together comprise 12 to 30 % by weight based on the total weight of the liquid detergent composition. This liquid detergent composition is very effective in removing soil from surfaces and, upon dilution with water, readily produces a cleaning liquid with a rich, creamy foam, which foam can easily be removed from the cleaned surface using only a limited amount of rinsing water.