Disinfecting Composition Clouding Agent Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing disinfecting compositions face challenges in providing a visual cue for readiness upon dilution, often relying on phenolic or pine-oil based products that are costly or aesthetically unsuitable, and have high cloud points that change with environmental conditions, making them unappealing to consumers.
Innovation Solution
Aqueous disinfecting composition comprising 0.01 to 15 wt% antimicrobial agent, 0.1 to 7 wt% carboxylic acid or its salt, 0.01 to 15 wt% clouding agent (including propylene butyl glycol ether and fatty alcohol), 1 to 30 wt% alcohol, and 0.01 to 10 wt% non-ionic surfactant, which upon dilution provides a significant clouding effect with a low cloud point, ensuring visual readiness and aesthetic consistency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If phenolic or pine-oil based clouding agents are used to provide visual cue on dilution, then clouding effect is achieved, but cost increases or aesthetic appearance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of clouding agents by selecting specific esters (isopropyl myristate, isopropyl palmitate, isopropyl stearate) with controlled molecular weights and hydrophobicity. This parameter optimization enables clouding effect at lower concentrations while maintaining aesthetic appearance and avoiding the drawbacks of phenolic or pine-oil based agents.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite clouding agent systems comprising multiple ester components (isopropyl myristate, isopropyl palmitate, isopropyl stearate) in specific ratios. This composite approach synergistically enhances clouding effect while maintaining low cloud point and aesthetic appearance, overcoming the limitations of single-component systems.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional clouding agents are used to indicate readiness, then visual cue is provided, but cloud point increases making product sensitive to environmental conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the molecular weight and hydrophobicity parameters of clouding agents by selecting specific esters with controlled carbon chain lengths. This parameter control reduces the cloud point to below 10°C, making the product aesthetically stable across a wide temperature range while still providing effective visual indication on dilution.
3Reliability
If transparent or visually clear concentrates are used, then aesthetic appearance is maintained, but consumers cannot judge readiness of diluted liquor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes optical property changes (clouding/turbidity) as a visual indicator system. The clouding agents remain dissolved in the concentrated form maintaining transparency, but upon dilution with water, they precipitate to form a cloudy appearance. This color/optical change provides clear readiness information to consumers without compromising the aesthetic appearance of the stored product.
4Ease of manufacture
If clouding effect is enhanced on dilution, then visual cue is improved, but product becomes hazy at higher temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent carefully balances the hydrophobicity and concentration parameters of clouding agents to achieve optimal performance. The selected esters provide strong clouding effect on dilution at low concentrations, reducing the risk of premature hazing at elevated temperatures while maintaining intense visual indication when needed.
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 effectively provides a visual cue for readiness and maintains aesthetic appeal across various environments, offering enhanced antimicrobial efficacy on both animate and inanimate surfaces without using costly actives, while maintaining a low cloud point and high consumer acceptance.
Implementation Method 1
Generation of cloudiness or clouding on dilution is one of such cues. Visual cues are certain change in the appearance of the liquid.
Implementation Method 2
cloud point of the product is an important parameter. Commonly, cloud point refers to the temperature below which a transparent liquid product turns hazy.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a disinfecting composition which is diluted in water and be used for disinfecting both animate and inanimate surfaces. It describes an aqueous disinfecting composition comprising: 0.01 to 15 wt% of an antimicrobial agent; 0.1 to 7 wt% of a carboxylic acid or its salt having a pKa value in the range from 1.0 to 5.5; 0.01 to 15 wt% of a clouding agent comprising polypropylene butyl glycol ether and at least one more clouding agent selected from fatty alcohol having 6 to 20 carbon atoms, fatty acid, and diethyl hexyl malate; 1 to 30 wt% of an alcohol having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and 0.01 to 10 wt% of a non-ionic surfactant. It further describes a method of disinfecting a surface comprising the steps of diluting the composition with water in a weight ratio of 1 :10 to 1 :400, applying the diluted composition on to the surface, and optionally rinsing the surface with water.