Detergent Sheet Composition with Cellulose Ether and Swellable Disintegrant
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional detergent products, particularly those in sheet format, often compromise on cleaning efficacy due to the inability to include ingredients like sequestrants and surfactants that are not compatible with polyvinyl alcohol, and they also contribute significantly to environmental waste through non-renewable packaging.
Innovation Solution
A detergent sheet comprising a water-soluble polymer made from cellulose ether derivatives and a swellable disintegrant with high water absorption ratio, along with surfactants and sequestrants, which dissolves quickly in water and maintains cleaning efficacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If polyvinyl alcohol is used as the water-soluble polymer matrix in detergent sheets, then the sheet format is achieved, but cleaning efficacy is compromised due to incompatibility with sequestrants and certain surfactants
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameter of the water-soluble polymer from polyvinyl alcohol to cellulose ether derivatives (such as hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose). This parameter change resolves the incompatibility issue with sequestrants and anionic surfactants, enabling the formulation to achieve both sheet format and effective cleaning performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite detergent sheet formulation by combining cellulose ether derivatives with sequestrants (such as EDTA salts, citrate salts) and surfactants (anionic, nonionic, amphoteric). This composite approach allows all ingredients to coexist compatibly in the sheet matrix, overcoming the limitations of polyvinyl alcohol-based formulations.
2Stability of the object's composition
If conventional detergent products use substantial amount of carrier material and inert fillers, then the product is complete and stable, but the product becomes bulky and consumes significant packaging materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates inert fillers and excessive carrier materials from the detergent formulation. By using cellulose ether derivatives as the functional water-soluble polymer matrix, the formulation achieves both structural integrity and cleaning functionality without requiring bulky inert materials, thus reducing product volume and packaging requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The cellulose ether derivative serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the water-soluble polymer matrix for sheet formation, provides cleaning efficacy through surfactant compatibility, and eliminates the need for separate inert fillers. This multi-functionality reduces overall product bulk while maintaining stability.
3Ease of operation
If detergent sheets are designed to dissolve quickly in water, then ease of use is improved, but maintaining sufficient quantity of detersive active and other ingredients for effective cleaning becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the molecular structure and properties of cellulose ether derivatives to achieve balanced dissolution characteristics. The specific cellulose ether derivatives selected provide appropriate water solubility and dissolution speed while maintaining the ability to carry sufficient concentrations of detersive actives, enzymes, and other functional ingredients in the sheet formulation.
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 detergent sheet provides enhanced cleaning performance comparable to conventional products while being eco-friendly and reducing packaging waste, with improved dissolution and handling properties.
Implementation Method 1
a swellable disintegrant having water absorption ratio greater than 1
Implementation Method 2
a detergent sheet providing a cleaning composition on dissolution in water
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is in the field of cleaning compositions. More particularly, the present invention relates to a detergent sheet for providing a cleaning composition on dissolution. There is a need to provide an improved ‘eco-friendly’ detergent sheet having detergent adjuncts for delivering a cleaning efficacy at par with conventional products. It is found that a water-soluble polymer comprising a cellulose ether derivative and a swellable disintegrant having high water absorption ratio provides a stable ‘eco-friendly’ detergent sheet containing a sequestrant and surfactant. The sheet dissolves quickly in water and provides enhanced cleaning efficacy. Further it does not stick to each other on storage, thus easy to use. The present invention further describes a process of making the detergent sheet and a process of providing a cleaning composition from the detergent sheet.