Concentrated Detergent Premix for Viscous Diluted Liquids

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing concentrated liquid detergents require significant packaging due to high water content, leading to resource consumption, and there is a need for a stable, viscous liquid detergent on dilution that mimics conventional liquid detergents in viscosity and performance.

Innovation Solution

A concentrated liquid composition premix comprising 30 to 90% surfactant, alkoxylated polyol polyester with at least three alkoxylates and C8 to C40 fatty acid esters, and C4 to C18 fatty alcohol, which forms a stable liquid detergent on dilution in water with viscosity comparable to conventional detergents.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If conventional liquid detergent formulation with significant water content is used, then the product provides good pourability and dissolution, but the product becomes bulky requiring substantial packaging material

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater contentVSAvoidpackaging volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts water from the conventional liquid detergent formulation, providing a concentrated premix that contains only the necessary active ingredients (surfactants, builders, enzymes, fragrances, colors) without the bulk water component. This extraction principle directly reduces the quantity of substance while maintaining the functional properties of the detergent.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the concentration parameter of the detergent formulation from typical commercial concentrations (5-15% active ingredients) to highly concentrated forms (80-95% active ingredients). This parameter change allows the same cleaning performance to be achieved with significantly reduced volume, thereby reducing packaging requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Volume of stationary object

If concentrated premix formulation is used to reduce packaging, then the product reduces packaging material consumption, but the viscosity may not be comparable to conventional liquid detergents

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepackaging volumeVSAvoidviscosity stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of stationary objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces thickening agents and viscosity modifiers as intermediary substances that bridge the gap between concentrated formulation and desired viscosity. These intermediaries adjust the rheological properties of the premix to achieve viscosity comparable to conventional liquid detergents, ensuring stable composition and proper flow characteristics despite the concentrated nature of the formulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If high concentration of surfactant is used in premix, then the detergent effectiveness is improved, but the viscosity control becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetergent effectivenessVSAvoidviscosity control
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses composite material systems that combine multiple surfactants with different rheological properties, along with builders, fillers, and viscosity modifiers. This composite approach allows the high surfactant concentration needed for effectiveness to be balanced with components that control viscosity, creating a synergistic system where the whole performs better than the sum of its parts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 provides a stable, viscous liquid detergent with viscosity comparable to conventional detergents, reducing packaging needs and resource consumption while maintaining performance attributes.

Implementation Method 1

an alkoxylated polyol polyester which has a viscosifying effect

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectViscosifying:

Implementation Method 2

a fatty alcohol which forms a complex with said alkoxylated polyol polyester

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectComplex formation:

Implementation Method 3

30 to 90% wt. surfactant

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSurfactant action: Surfactant

Data Source

PatentEP4479506B1A concentrated liquid composition premix
Publication Date: 2026.01.21 UNILEVER IP HLDG BV

AI summary

The present invention is in the field of cleaning compositions, particularly it relates to a concentrated liquid composition premix for providing a liquid detergent on dilution in water. There is a need for an improved concentrated liquid composition premix providing a liquid detergent on dilution in water, wherein the liquid detergent has one or more attributes comparable to conventional liquid detergents available in market. The present invention provides a composition premix comprising 30 to 90% wt., an alkoxylated polyol polyester comprising at least three alkoxylates and at least two C8 to C40 fatty acid ester; and a C4 to C18 fatty alcohol. The composition premix provides a liquid detergent on dilution in water, which has a viscosity comparable or higher than the composition premix and it is similar to conventional liquid detergents. The present invention further provides a liquid detergent obtained from the composition premix and a process of providing a liquid detergent from the composition premix.