Liquid Detergent Composition With Tuned Surfactant Ratios for Pourability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Formulating liquid laundry detergents with low surfactant levels (15% or less) poses challenges in achieving a consumer-preferred viscosity, as they often pour like water and are perceived as inferior, while higher surfactant levels can result in excessively high viscosity that complicates production and transport.
Innovation Solution
A liquid detergent composition comprising nonionic alcohol ethoxylate surfactants with specific carbon chain lengths and ethoxylation levels, combined with anionic surfactants, achieves a viscosity range of 250 cP to 800 cP by optimizing the ratio of nonionic to anionic surfactants, thereby enhancing pourability and consumer acceptance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If low surfactant levels (15% or less) are used in liquid detergent formulation, then cleaning efficacy is improved, but viscosity becomes too low causing the composition to pour like water and be perceived as inferior
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the surfactants, specifically using nonionic alcohol ethoxylate surfactants with average carbon chain lengths of 13-15 and average ethoxylation levels of 6.8-8.25, combined with specific ratios of nonionic to anionic surfactants (0.8:1 to 5:1), to achieve the desired viscosity range of 250-800 cP at low surfactant concentrations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite surfactant system combining nonionic alcohol ethoxylate surfactants with anionic surfactants in specific ratios, where the interaction between these different surfactant types produces a synergistic effect that achieves both low surfactant content and acceptable viscosity
2Ease of operation
If higher surfactant levels are used to increase viscosity, then pourability is improved, but the composition becomes too thick complicating production and transport
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the surfactant concentration parameter to the specific range of 0.5%-15% and controls the nonionic to anionic surfactant ratio within 0.8:1 to 5:1, achieving the target viscosity of 250-800 cP without requiring excessive surfactant levels that would complicate manufacturing and transport
3Ease of operation
If nonionic alcohol ethoxylate surfactants with specific carbon chain lengths and ethoxylation levels are used, then viscosity is optimized for consumer preference, but formulation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies precise parameter ranges for the nonionic alcohol ethoxylate surfactants (average carbon chain length of 13-15, average ethoxylation of 6.8-8.25) and their ratio to anionic surfactants (0.8:1 to 5:1), which provides a systematic approach to achieving target viscosity while managing formulation complexity through defined specifications
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 a preferred viscosity range that improves pourability and consumer satisfaction, balancing cleaning efficacy with manufacturing ease, while avoiding issues associated with high surfactant levels.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid detergent composition comprising: a) from about 0.5% to about 15%, of surfactant; wherein the surfactant comprises an anionic surfactant, and a nonionic alcohol ethoxylate surfactant with an average carbon chain length of about 13 to about 15 and an average level of ethoxylation of about 6.8 to about 8.25
Implementation Method 2
the viscosity of the liquid detergent composition is from 250 cP to about 800 cP, when measured at 25°C at 20/s, wherein the surfactant further comprises an amine oxide surfactant
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
Liquid laundry detergent compositions can include about 15% or less of surfactant, wherein the surfactant includes a nonionic alcohol ethoxylate surfactant with an average carbon chain length of about 13 to about 15 and an average level of ethoxylation of about 6.8 to about 8.25.