Dilutable Acidic Cleaning Composition Viscosity Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning compositions, particularly hand dishwashing liquids, face challenges in maintaining desired viscosity and bacterial preservation when diluted, as preservatives become insufficient upon dilution, and viscosity can become too high, leading to gel formation and delayed foam generation.
Innovation Solution
An aqueous, acidic, self-preserving liquid cleaning composition with a specific ratio of anionic and amphoteric surfactants, acidity, and solvent levels that maintain a stable viscosity range from concentrated to diluted forms, preventing gel formation and ensuring effective preservation across a wide dilution range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If the composition is sold in concentrated form to reduce packaging waste, then packaging waste and transportation costs are reduced, but the composition becomes susceptible to bacterial growth upon dilution due to insufficient preservative levels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameter of the preservative system by using a preservative blend containing organic acids (such as benzoic acid, sorbic acid) and their salts, which maintain effective preservative levels across dilution. The preservative blend is formulated to provide broad-spectrum protection while remaining effective at the lower concentrations present in diluted compositions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite preservative system combining multiple preservative agents (organic acids, inorganic acids, and their salts) that work synergistically. This composite approach ensures comprehensive bacterial protection across the entire dilution range, with each component contributing to different aspects of preservation efficacy.
2Reliability
If the composition is formulated with high surfactant content to provide good cleaning and foaming properties, then cleaning performance is improved, but the viscosity becomes too high causing gel formation and delayed foam generation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts the chemical composition parameters by incorporating specific ratios of anionic surfactants (30-50% by weight) combined with nonionic surfactants and co-surfactants. This parameter optimization provides the desired cleaning and foaming performance while controlling viscosity to prevent gel formation and ensure rapid foam generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite surfactant system combining anionic surfactants (such as alkyl sulfonates, alkyl ethoxysulfates) with nonionic surfactants and co-surfactants. This composite approach balances cleaning efficacy, foaming properties, and viscosity control, preventing gel formation while maintaining effective cleaning performance.
3Reliability
If preservatives are added to preserve the initial concentrated composition, then preservation of the concentrated form is achieved, but upon dilution the preservative concentration becomes too low to preserve the diluted composition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a preservative blend specifically designed to maintain effectiveness across dilution. The preservative system is pre-formulated with organic acids and inorganic acids that provide broad-spectrum protection in both concentrated and diluted states, anticipating the need for preservation after dilution occurs during consumer use.
4Ease of operation
If the composition is diluted to achieve desired viscosity and pourability, then consumer acceptance is improved, but gel formation may occur and foam generation is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the chemical composition parameters including surfactant ratios, solvent content, and viscosity modifiers to ensure that upon dilution, the composition achieves the desired viscosity range for optimal pourability. The formulation parameters are specifically tuned to prevent gel formation and ensure rapid foam generation at the diluted concentration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite formulation system combining multiple surfactant types, solvents, and optional viscosity modifiers that work together to provide the right balance of viscosity and foaming performance. This composite approach ensures pourability is optimized while preventing gel formation and maintaining rapid foam generation capability.
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 stable, consumer-acceptable viscosity and preservation across dilution, preventing gel formation and ensuring consistent cleaning performance, while reducing packaging waste through concentrated form sales.
Implementation Method 1
at least one acid to provide an initial pH for the composition of 2.5 to 5
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of surfactants, the surfactants including surfactant active components comprising from greater than 39% to up to 55% by weight
Data Source
AI summary
This application relates to an aqueous, acidic, self-preserving, liquid cleaning composition, typically a dishwashing liquid, having a pH for the composition within the range of 2.5 to 5 initially and upon dilution, which composition comprises a plurality of surfactants, the surfactants including surfactant active components comprising from greater than 39% to up to 55% by weight, based on the weight of the composition, wherein the composition has a viscosity of from 80 to 3000 mPas as measured at 25° C., and the composition is dilutable with water to form a non-gelling diluted composition having up to five times the volume of the undiluted composition and a viscosity within the range of 80 to 3000 mPas as measured at 25° C. at any dilution up to the five times dilution.