Enzymatic Cleaning Concentrate With Chelation for Corrosion Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cleaning agents, particularly mildly alkaline enzymatic agents, suffer from unsatisfactory cleaning performance and high application concentrations, and can be corrosive to metal surfaces, while strongly alkaline agents are aggressive on sensitive surfaces.

Innovation Solution

A liquid cleaning agent concentrate comprising phosphonate, two different chelating agents, and an enzyme, with a pH of 9 or higher, which is diluted to create a ready-to-use solution for effective cleaning with low concentration and high material compatibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If mildly alkaline enzymatic cleaning agents are used, then material compatibility is improved, but cleaning performance deteriorates and application concentration increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial compatibilityVSAvoidcleaning performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple cleaning mechanisms (enzymatic action, chelating agents, surfactants, and alkaline components) into a single formulation that achieves both high material compatibility and superior cleaning performance, eliminating the need to choose between mildness and effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning agent uses a composite formulation containing enzyme mixtures (proteolytic, amylolytic, lipolytic enzymes), multiple chelating agents (EDTA, HEDTA, DTPA), surfactants, and alkaline substances that work synergistically to provide both gentle material compatibility and high cleaning performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If strongly alkaline cleaning agents are used, then cleaning performance is improved, but material compatibility deteriorates due to corrosive effects on metal surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning performanceVSAvoidcorrosion on metal surfaces

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the pH parameter to be mildly alkaline (pH 9-11) rather than strongly alkaline, and adjusts the concentration of alkaline substances within specific ranges (0.1-5% NaOH equivalent) to achieve effective cleaning while preventing corrosion of metal surfaces

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces chelating agents (EDTA, HEDTA, DTPA) as intermediary substances that bind metal ions and prevent direct interaction between alkaline components and metal surfaces, thereby reducing corrosion while maintaining cleaning effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If enzymatic cleaning agents are used, then material compatibility is improved, but application concentration increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial compatibilityVSAvoidapplication concentration

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple enzymatic activities (proteolytic, amylolytic, lipolytic enzymes) in a synergistic formulation that achieves high cleaning performance at low application concentrations (0.1-5% v/v), eliminating the need for high concentrations of single enzymes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning agent uses a composite enzyme mixture containing different types of enzymes (proteases, amylases, lipases) along with other cleaning components that work together to provide high efficacy at low application concentrations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 concentrate achieves superior cleaning performance and corrosion inhibition on various materials, including metal surfaces, allowing cold water dispensing without excessive foam, and maintains pH stability.

Implementation Method 1

the phosphonate shows the advantageous effect as corrosion inhibitor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCorrosion inhibition:

Implementation Method 2

the phosphonate serves to stabilize the cleaning formulation. Without phosphonate, considerable fluctuations in the pH in the liquid cleaning agent concentrate are observed

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectpH buffering:

Implementation Method 3

a first chelating agent selected from (hydroxyethyl)ethylenediaminetriacetic acid, methylglycinediacetic acid and salts thereof

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChelation:

Implementation Method 4

at least one enzyme, preferably proteolytic enzyme

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEnzymatic degradation: Enzyme

Data Source

PatentUS12545858B2Liquid cleaning agent concentrate, ready-to-use solution, uses thereof and cleaning method

Publication Date: 2026.02.10 CHEM FAB DR WEIGERT

AI summary

Liquid cleaning agent concentrate comprising: a. at least one phosphonate, b. a first complexing agent selected from aminopolycarboxylic acids, hydroxycarboxylic acids, hydroxypolycarboxylic acids and their salts, and c. at least one enzyme, preferably proteolytic enzyme, a pH of the liquid cleaning agent concentrate being 9 or >9). The invention also relates to a ready-to-use solution; to uses thereof for cleaning and/or disinfecting objects and to cleaning methods.