Hand Dishwashing Composition With Low-Dioxane Suds Stability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid hand dishwashing compositions face challenges in achieving good suds mileage, grease removal, and low temperature stability while minimizing 1,4-dioxane by-products, particularly when dealing with greasy particulate soils.
Innovation Solution
A liquid hand dishwashing detergent composition comprising an alkyl glycol sulfate anionic surfactant and a betaine co-surfactant, which are produced through a process that avoids ethoxylation, resulting in a narrow distribution of ethylene glycol units, thereby reducing 1,4-dioxane formation and enhancing suds mileage and low temperature stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If alkyl ethoxylated sulfate anionic surfactants are used to provide good sudsing and grease cleaning, then suds mileage and grease removal are improved, but 1,4-dioxane by-product is generated during manufacturing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the harmful by-product formation mechanism by replacing the ethoxylation process with an alternative sulfation process using alkyl glycol sulfates, thereby removing the source of 1,4-dioxane generation while preserving the desired surfactant functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the manufacturing process parameters by using a different chemical pathway (sulfation instead of ethoxylation) and controlling the degree of ethoxylation to be less than 1.0, thereby reducing 1,4-dioxane formation while maintaining surfactant performance
2Object-generated harmful factors
If alkyl sulfate anionic surfactants devoid of ethoxylation are used to reduce 1,4-dioxane, then 1,4-dioxane content is reduced, but suds mileage performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite surfactant system combining alkyl glycol sulfates (anionic) with alkyl polyglucosides (nonionic), where the synergistic interaction between the two surfactant types compensates for the reduced suds mileage of the anionic component alone, while maintaining low 1,4-doxane content
3Reliability
If traditional ethoxylated surfactants are used to achieve grease removal, then grease cleaning is improved, but low temperature stability is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the molecular structure parameters of the surfactants by controlling the carbon chain length (C12-C18), the degree of ethoxylation (less than 1.0), and the hydrophilic-lipophilic balance, thereby achieving effective grease removal while maintaining formulation stability at low temperatures
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 provides enduring suds and good low temperature stability, even in the presence of greasy particulate soils, while being environmentally sustainable by minimizing 1,4-dioxane content.
Implementation Method 1
the choice of surfactants plays a critical role in determining performance characteristics such as suds mileage, soil removal efficacy, and low temperature stability
Implementation Method 2
Processes to make such alkyl ether sulfate anionic surfactants may result in trace residual amounts of 1,4-dioxane by-product being present
Data Source
AI summary
The need for a liquid hand dishwashing composition which is more environmentally sustainable while also providing good suds mileage, even in the presence of greasy particulate soils, is met by formulating the liquid hand dishwashing detergent composition using alkyl glycol sulfate anionic surfactant and a betaine co-surfactant.