Enzyme Denaturation in Liquid Detergent Reblending

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Solution Overview

Problem

Enzymes in liquid detergent compositions can break down other detergent ingredients, leading to reduced cleaning or care abilities, and reblending processes are compromised by the presence of enzymes, which can negatively affect the composition's integrity.

Innovation Solution

A process involving heating a first liquid detergent composition containing enzymes to a temperature between 50° C. and 90° C. for 1 minute to 360 minutes, followed by optional cooling, to selectively denature the enzymes before reblending it into a second liquid detergent composition.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If enzymes are present in the first liquid detergent composition to be reblended, then cleaning and care benefits are provided, but the enzymes break down other detergent ingredients acting as substrates, negatively affecting composition integrity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning and care abilityVSAvoidcomposition integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by heating the first liquid detergent composition to denature enzymes before reblending occurs. This pre-treatment step inactivates the enzymes that would otherwise break down substrate ingredients during storage and reblending, preventing composition degradation while preserving cleaning benefits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by using heat to denature enzymes before they can exert their harmful effect on substrate ingredients. This counter-action neutralizes the enzyme activity that would otherwise compromise composition stability during the reblending process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Stability of the object's composition

If the first liquid detergent composition is heated to denature enzymes, then composition stability is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomposition stabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing heating parameters (temperature range of 40-90°C and time of 1-360 minutes) to achieve enzyme denaturation with minimal energy input. By adjusting these parameters, the process balances composition stability improvement against energy consumption, finding an optimal operating window that is both effective and energy-efficient.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If the first liquid detergent composition is cooled after heating, then reblending into the second composition is facilitated, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereblending facilitationVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by implementing optional cooling only when necessary for reblending compatibility. The cooling step is not always required - it is applied selectively based on the temperature requirements of the second liquid detergent composition, thereby reducing unnecessary processing time while still facilitating reblending when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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

This method effectively denatures enzymes without affecting other ingredients, ensuring the reblended composition maintains its cleaning and care abilities, thereby improving the reblending process efficiency and product stability.

Implementation Method 1

heating the first liquid detergent to a temperature between 50° C. and 90° C. for between 1 minute and 360 minutes

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 2

the denaturing process is selective to enzyme denaturation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDenaturation:

Data Source

PatentUS10323219B2Process for reblending a first liquid detergent composition into a second liquid detergent composition
Publication Date: 2019.06.18 PROCTER & GAMBLE CO

AI summary

A process for reblending a first liquid detergent composition into a second liquid detergent composition.