Preservative-Free Liquid Detergent via Surfactant-Alkanolamine Synergy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid detergent compositions face challenges in achieving microbial stability without using conventional preservatives, particularly in reducing boron compounds and maintaining cleaning performance.
Innovation Solution
A boron-free liquid detergent composition comprising at least one anionic surfactant and at least one alkanolamine, with a water content of at least 50 wt.%, and a pH value in the range of 6 to 10, which eliminates the need for conventional preservatives by utilizing the combination of anionic surfactants and alkanolamines for microbial stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional preservatives are used to achieve microbial stability in liquid detergent compositions, then the storage stability is improved, but the allergenicity and environmental impact increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes conventional preservatives from the detergent composition entirely, extracting the harmful component while maintaining microbial stability through alternative means (surfactant-alkanolamine system). This directly addresses the contradiction by eliminating the source of allergenicity while preserving the essential function of microbial stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary system consisting of the synergistic combination of anionic surfactants and alkanolamines, which mediate the microbial stability function previously provided solely by preservatives. This intermediary system achieves the same protective effect without the harmful side effects.
2Stability of the object's composition
If boron compounds are used as enzyme stabilizing compounds in detergent compositions, then the enzyme stability is improved, but the health safety deteriorates due to accumulation in organisms
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts boron compounds from the formulation, removing the harmful substance that accumulates in organisms. The enzyme stability function is then maintained through alternative components (surfactant-alkanolamine system) that do not pose health risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the chemical parameters of the formulation by replacing boron-based stabilization with a surfactant-alkanolamine system operating at pH 6-10. This parameter change maintains enzyme stability through different chemical mechanisms that are safe for human health.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the content of conventional preservatives is reduced to decrease allergenicity, then the environmental friendliness is improved, but the microbial stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The surfactant-alkanolamine combination acts as an intermediary system that provides microbial stability without relying on conventional preservatives. This intermediary mechanism allows the formulation to maintain low allergenicity while achieving adequate microbial stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite approach by combining anionic surfactants with alkanolamines to create a synergistic system that provides microbial stability. This composite formulation achieves the desired effect through the interaction of multiple components rather than a single preservative agent.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If aqueous liquid detergent compositions are formulated without preservatives, then the environmental impact is reduced, but the storage stability deteriorates due to bacterial and fungal growth
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts conventional preservatives from the formulation to reduce environmental impact and allergenicity, while compensating for the loss of protective function through the surfactant-alkanolamine system.
Solution Approach 2:
The surfactant-alkanolamine system provides self-service by inherently providing microbial stability as part of its functional mechanism, eliminating the need for separate preservative components. This self-service approach maintains storage stability while simplifying the formulation.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to aqueous liquid detergent compositions, wherein the compositions exhibit a high microbial stability without the use of conventional preservatives. The liquid detergent composition of the invention is particularly useful for washing laundry, where a good cleaning performance is needed and where the consumer takes into account the environmental impact of the detergent composition. The composition is boron-free and compres (i) at least one anionic surfactant, preferably selected from the group of sulfonates, ether sulfates, and/or alkyl sulfates, and salts of fatty acids (soap), and combinations thereof, (ii) at least one alkanolamine, preferably ethanolamine, even more preferred monoethanolamine, (iii) at least 50 wt.% water, wherein said composition has a pH value in the range from 6 to 10, and wherein said composition comprises less than 0.05 wt.% of a total amount of conventional preservative(s) of the group comprising benzoic acid, benzoates, phenoxyethanol, sorbates, sulfites, phenoxyethanol, sodium or zinc pyrithione, bronopol, iodopropynylbutylcarbamate, formaldehyde and formaldehyde releaser, glyoxal, glutaral and isothiazolinones. The use of alkanolamines and of the combination of alkanolamines (ii) and anionic surfactant(s) (i) to reduce/inhibit microbial growth in aqueous systems, preferably in aqueous detergent compositions, more preferred in boron-free aqueous detergent compositions, which are free of any conventional preservative, is also disclosed.