EPEI Stabilizer in High Anionic Liquid Laundry Compositions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid laundry compositions face challenges in being physically stable, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective, particularly for high anionic, high foaming compositions, where traditional stabilizers like hydrotropes or nonionic surfactants can negatively impact foamability and chemical usage.
Innovation Solution
Increasing the level of EPEI (ethoxylated polyethyleneimine) above 2% weight percentage allows for a reduction in non-ionic surfactant levels without affecting foamability, maintaining isotropic phase behavior and stability in a concentrated liquid laundry composition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If traditional stabilizers like hydrotropes or nonionic surfactants are used to stabilize high anionic compositions, then physical stability is improved, but foamability is negatively impacted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameter by substituting traditional stabilizers (hydrotropes and nonionic surfactants) with EPEI (ethoxylated polyethyleneimine). This parameter change maintains physical stability through a different mechanism that does not interfere with foam generation, thereby resolving the contradiction between stability and foamability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs EPEI as a more cost-effective stabilizing agent compared to traditional nonionic surfactants and hydrotropes. This substitution reduces chemical usage costs while avoiding the foamability suppression issues associated with conventional stabilizers
2Stability of the object's composition
If high levels of nonionic surfactants are used to stabilize concentrated liquid laundry composition, then isotropic phase behavior is maintained, but chemical usage increases and foamability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts or removes nonionic surfactants from the formulation by replacing them with EPEI. This extraction eliminates the need for high levels of nonionic surfactants while maintaining isotropic phase behavior through the stabilizing properties of EPEI, thereby reducing overall chemical usage
Solution Approach 2:
EPEI serves multiple functions in the composition: it acts as a stabilizer maintaining isotropic phase behavior, a foam booster enhancing foamability, and a cost-effective alternative to traditional surfactants. This multi-functionality allows the formulation to achieve stability without relying on high levels of nonionic surfactants
3Object-generated harmful factors
If concentrated liquid laundry composition is formulated with high anionic content for high foaming performance, then foamability is improved, but physical stability becomes challenging to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
EPEI acts as an intermediary substance that mediates between the high anionic surfactant content and the physical stability requirement. It provides the necessary stabilization mechanism that allows high anionic formulations to maintain both their high foaming performance and physical stability without contradiction
Data Source
AI summary
A concentrated liquid laundry composition comprising at least 2.0% wt. a polyamine cleaning polymer, from 30 to 35% wt. of the composition anionic surfactant, optional non-ionic surfactant, and water and wherein the non-ionic surfactant, it is present at less than 10% wt. of the total weight of non-ionic surfactant and anionic surfactant.