Enzyme Particles for Laundry Detergent Customization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Consumers face challenges in customizing enzyme levels in laundry detergents, as enzymes are often incompatible with each other and in solid forms, leading to issues with activity and airborne particles, making it difficult to conveniently control enzyme delivery for stain removal and fabric care.
Innovation Solution
A particulate composition comprising 40% to 99% carrier and 0.0001% to 3% enzyme by weight, with particles sized between 5 mg and 200 mg, allowing for controlled enzyme delivery and compatibility, reducing airborne issues and enhancing handling convenience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If enzymes are provided as a single component in liquid or powder detergent composition, then enzyme function is provided, but consumer customization of enzyme level is limited and other benefit agents must be adjusted accordingly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the detergent formulation by providing enzymes as separate particulate compositions rather than mixing all components into a single homogeneous formula. This allows consumers to add enzyme particles independently to customize enzyme levels without affecting other benefit agents like surfactants, perfumes, and brighteners that remain in the base detergent composition.
Solution Approach 2:
The enzyme component is extracted from the traditional integrated detergent formula and provided as a separate particulate product. This extraction enables independent dosing and customization of enzyme levels while maintaining the integrity of the base detergent composition with its other functional ingredients.
2Adaptability or versatility
If different enzymes are combined in a single detergent composition, then multiple functions are provided, but enzyme incompatibility decreases activity
Solution Approach 1:
Different enzymes are segmented into separate particulate compositions rather than being mixed in a single formulation. Each enzyme particle composition can be optimized independently, allowing multiple enzyme functions to be provided without mutual interference or incompatibility issues that would reduce activity.
Solution Approach 2:
Each particulate enzyme composition is formulated with local quality optimized for its specific enzyme type, including appropriate carriers, stabilizers, and protective coatings tailored to that enzyme's requirements. This localized optimization maintains maximum activity for each enzyme while enabling multi-functional detergent applications.
3Productivity
If small enzyme particles are used, then enzyme surface area is increased, but particles become airborne and are difficult to handle
Solution Approach 1:
The particle size parameter is changed from fine powders to larger granules or beads while maintaining high enzyme surface area through porous structures or surface coatings. This parameter change eliminates airborne issues and improves handling convenience while preserving the high surface area needed for enzyme activity.
Solution Approach 2:
Enzymes are incorporated into composite particulate materials that combine enzyme-containing cores with outer layers or coatings. These composite structures provide large surface area through porous or textured surfaces while the overall particle size and density are optimized for easy handling and minimal airborne generation.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
Composition comprising plurality of particles (90) comprising (a) 40-99% by wt. carrier, (b) 0.0001-5% by wt. enzyme, (c) 0.1-20% by wt. perfume, mean particle mass 1 mg-5000 g, standard deviation of mass <30 mg. Process for forming the particles comprising the steps of providing a precursor material (2), providing a distributor (30) having plurality of apertures (60), passing precursor material through apertures, providing a moving conveyor (80) beneath said distributor, depositing precursor material onto moving conveyor, and cooling precursor material to form particles; precursor material comprises water soluble polymer, 0.0001-5 % by wt. enzyme, and 0.1-20% by wt. perfume, precursor material is provided at a temperature < 70 °C. Process for treating laundry articles with said particles comprising the steps of placing a dose of particles in a dosing cup and dispensing said dose of particles into a washing machine, each particle having a mass between 1 mg to 5 grams.