Automatic Dishwasher Detergent Composition for Enzyme Thermal Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Automatic dishwashing agents face challenges in maintaining stability and performance under temperature fluctuations, particularly affecting heat-sensitive enzymes when stored in dosing devices within dishwashers, leading to phase separation and reduced activity.

Innovation Solution

A cleaning agent combination comprising two surfactant-containing preparations, one with an enzyme, and a rinsing composition, both containing non-ionic surfactants, which are designed for automatic dosing and storage in dishwashers, using specific surfactant formulations to enhance stability and performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If enzyme-containing cleaning agents are stored in dosing devices within dishwashers, then cleaning performance is improved, but enzyme stability deteriorates due to temperature fluctuations causing phase separation and loss of activity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenzyme stabilityVSAvoidtemperature fluctuations
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a protective colloid system consisting of at least two different protective colloids with different HLB values (one with HLB 3-15 and another with HLB 16-20) as intermediary substances that mediate between the enzyme and the fluctuating temperature environment. These protective colloids form a stable microenvironment that protects the enzyme from temperature-induced denaturation and phase separation, allowing the enzyme to maintain its cleaning function while stored in the dishwasher dosing device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If multiple dosing devices are used to simplify consumer operation, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedosing simplicityVSAvoiddosing device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent describes dosing devices containing cleaning agent compositions with extended shelf life and enhanced stability, allowing the devices to function as reusable components rather than single-use items. The protective colloid system prevents phase separation and maintains enzyme activity over extended periods, enabling the dosing devices to be stored in dishwashers and reused across multiple wash cycles without degradation, thereby reducing the frequency of replacement and simplifying consumer operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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 effectively prevents phase separation and maintains activity under temperature fluctuations, improving cleaning and rinsing performance while allowing for multiple wash cycles without significant loss of effectiveness.

Implementation Method 1

A cleaning agent combination for automatic dosing in automatic dishwashing, comprising: a cleaning agent preparation B further comprising: b1) at least one non-ionic surfactant; and b2) at least one active cleaning enzyme; and, a rinsing composition C, further comprising: c1) at least one non-ionic surfactant

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSurfactant: Surfactant

Data Source

PatentUS20120090644A1Machine dishwasher detergent
Publication Date: 2012.04.19 HENKEL KGAA

AI summary

Cleaning agent combinations comprising a cleaning agent preparation B further comprising: (b1) at least one non-ionic surfactant; and (b2) at least one active cleaning enzyme; and a rinsing composition C further comprising: (c1) at least one non-ionic surfactant, are by virtue of their thermal stability particularly suitable for automatic dosing in automatic dishwashing. The cleaning agent combinations of the present invention also have the characterizing feature of markedly improved cleaning performance in comparison to conventional methods.