Liquid Detergent Surfactant System for Stainless Steel Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a hard surface cleaning composition with a good environmental profile that provides effective cleaning performance and visual cues like foam formation and water sheeting on stainless-steel surfaces without compromising consumer satisfaction, while avoiding the use of alkylbenzene sulphonates and ensuring a high Renewable Carbon Index (RCI) and Biorenewable Carbon Index (BCI).
Innovation Solution
A liquid detergent composition comprising a surfactant system with a primary anionic surfactant (surfactant A and surfactant B) and a secondary amphoteric surfactant (betaine), along with inorganic salts and enzymes, which is free of alkylbenzene sulphonates, and has a surfactant ratio ranging from 4:1 to 13:1, ensuring a high RCI and BCI.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If surfactant systems with high RCI/BCI (like APG and rhamnolipids) are used, then the environmental profile is improved, but the cleaning performance and foam formation may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite surfactant system combining multiple surfactants (alkyl ether sulphate, alkyl sulphate, and alkylbenzene sulphonate) to achieve both high cleaning performance and high RCI/BCI. This composite approach allows the formulation to meet environmental requirements while maintaining effective cleaning performance that single surfactants cannot achieve alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the weight ratio parameters of the surfactant components (specifically the ratio of alkyl ether sulphate to alkyl sulphate/alkylbenzene sulphonate between 4:1 to 13:1) to achieve the desired balance between environmental profile and cleaning performance. This parameter optimization ensures adequate foam formation and water sheeting while maintaining high RCI/BCI.
2Reliability
If alkylbenzene sulphonates are used to improve cleaning performance, then the cleaning efficacy is improved, but the RCI and BCI are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent carefully controls the concentration and ratio of alkylbenzene sulphonate in the formulation, using it only in small amounts as part of a larger surfactant system with high RCI components. This allows the inclusion of effective cleaning agents while maintaining overall high RCI/BCI of the surfactant system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines alkylbenzene sulphonate (lower RCI) with high RCI surfactants like alkyl ether sulphate and alkyl sulphate in specific ratios. This composite surfactant system achieves synergistic cleaning performance while the overall RCI/BCI remains high due to the predominance of renewable carbon surfactants in the formulation.
3Ease of operation
If consumers use visual cues like foam formation to assess cleaning effectiveness, then consumer satisfaction is improved, but the formulation complexity increases to achieve adequate foam
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite surfactant system specifically designed to produce adequate foam formation, which serves as a visual cue for consumers. The combination of different surfactants (alkyl ether sulphate, alkyl sulphate, and alkylbenzene sulphonate) works synergistically to generate foam that satisfies consumer expectations while maintaining environmental credentials.
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 adequate foam formation and water sheeting on stainless-steel surfaces, providing effective cleaning performance and an eco-friendly profile, while maintaining consumer satisfaction.
Implementation Method 1
a surfactant system providing for good foam and cleaning performance on stainless-steel hard surfaces
Implementation Method 2
water will be repelled if the surface is rendered hydrophobic, e.g. because of traces of fatty soil. This will show as 'water splitting'
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to liquid aqueous detergent compositions comprising a surfactant system comprising a primary surfactant being anionic surfactant and a secondary surfactant being amphoteric surfactant, and one or more enzymes whilst the surfactant system is free of alkylbenzene sulphonates and derivatives thereof. The invention further relates to a method of cleaning a stainless-steel hard surface using the composition of the invention, as well as the use thereof.