Concentrated Detergent Unit Dose Film Stability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Formulating water-soluble unit dose detergent compositions that are stable, easy to manufacture, and compatible with water-soluble films while minimizing solvent content to reduce costs and carbon footprint, as excessive solvents can lead to physical and chemical instabilities and incompatibility with the film.
Innovation Solution
A concentrated detergent composition comprising 45% to 65% non-soap surfactant system with linear alkylbenzene sulfonate, 1% to 6% fatty acid, 5% to 20% organic solvent, and 5% to 25% water, with a nonionic surfactant as alcohol alkoxylate, and a water-soluble film that dissolves in water to release the detergent, ensuring stability and compatibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If the amount of solvent in the detergent composition is reduced to lower costs and carbon footprint, then the environmental impact and cost are reduced, but the composition becomes physically and chemically unstable and incompatible with the water-soluble film
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameters of the detergent composition by reducing solvent content from typical levels (e.g., 70-80%) to 5-20%, while simultaneously adjusting surfactant concentrations (45-65% non-soap surfactant system) and adding specific stabilizers (fatty acids 1-6%, chelating agents 0.1-5%) to maintain composition stability and film compatibility at the lower solvent level
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite detergent system combining multiple functional components: non-soap anionic surfactants (linear alkylbenzene sulphonate), nonionic surfactants (alcohol alkoxylates), fatty acids, chelating agents, and organic solvents in optimized proportions to achieve stable formulation with reduced overall solvent content while maintaining all required functions
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the amount of solvent in the detergent composition is reduced to lower costs and carbon footprint, then the environmental impact and cost are reduced, but the water-soluble film becomes incompatible and may rupture prematurely
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical parameters of the detergent composition to reduce organic solvent content to 5-20% while adjusting surfactant and additive levels to maintain appropriate plasticization of the water-soluble film, preventing premature rupture while still reducing environmental impact
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary substances (fatty acids, chelating agents, and specific surfactant combinations) that mediate between the reduced solvent content and the water-soluble film, ensuring the film receives adequate plasticization and protection without requiring high levels of traditional solvents
3Quantity of substance
If the detergent composition is concentrated with higher active ingredient content, then the cleaning performance per unit is improved, but the viscosity and dissolution characteristics become difficult to control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes concentration parameters by formulating a detergent composition with 45-65% surfactant system, 5-20% organic solvent, 1-6% fatty acid, and 0.1-5% chelating agent, achieving high active ingredient content while controlling viscosity and dissolution through balanced formulation of multiple components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent develops a composite detergent system where multiple ingredients work synergistically: nonionic surfactants (alcohol alkoxylates) control viscosity, linear alkylbenzene sulphonate provides cleaning power, fatty acids stabilize the system, and chelating agents maintain water quality, allowing concentrated formulation with manageable manufacturing properties
4Quantity of substance
If the detergent composition is concentrated with higher active ingredient content, then the cleaning performance per unit is improved, but the dissolution rate and profile in water become suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts dissolution parameters by controlling the concentration and type of surfactants (45-65% non-soap surfactant system with specific C12-C18 chain lengths), organic solvents (5-20% for rapid dissolution), and water content (5-25%) to achieve fast and complete dissolution despite high active ingredient concentration
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite formulation where alcohol alkoxylate nonionic surfactants provide rapid wetting and dissolution, linear alkylbenzene sulphonate delivers strong cleaning, and the balanced combination ensures the concentrated composition dissolves quickly and completely in water without leaving residue or showing poor dissolution characteristics
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 solution achieves a stable and efficient detergent release without premature film rupture, maintaining product performance while reducing solvent content, thus lowering costs and environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
When the water-soluble unit dose detergent article is added to water, the film dissolves/disintegrates releasing the detergent into the surrounding water to create a cleaning liquor
Implementation Method 2
These solvents can help to prevent physical phase instability, to control viscosity to enable dosebility during manufacture as well as good dissolution profile upon use
Implementation Method 3
to secure proper water-soluble film plasticization to prevent premature rupture
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A water-soluble unit dose article comprising a concentrated laundry detergent composition, wherein the laundry detergent composition comprises from 45% to 65% by weight of the composition of non-soap surfactant comprising anionic non-soap surfactant and nonionic surfactant, wherein the anionic non-soap surfactant comprises linear alkylbenzene sulphonate; from 1% to 6% by weight of the composition of fatty acid; from 5% to 20% by weight of the composition of organic solvent; and from 5% to 25% by weight of the composition of water, wherein the nonionic surfactant comprises alcohol alkoxylate surfactant and the weight ratio of non-soap anionic surfactant to non-ionic surfactant is less than 2:1.