Etheramine Cleaning Composition for Cold Water Grease Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing laundry detergents fail to effectively remove grease stains at low temperatures and often redeposit grease on fabrics, especially in cold water washes, which limits their cleaning performance and fabric care benefits.

Innovation Solution

The development of a cleaning composition containing an etheramine formed through reductive cyanoethylation of an alkoxylated 1,3-diol mixture with acrylonitrile, followed by hydrogenation, which provides enhanced grease removal and antiredeposition benefits, even in cold water conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional amine-containing detergents are used to improve grease removal, then grease stain removal is enhanced, but redeposition of grease on fabric occurs and whiteness negatives appear on white fabrics

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegrease removal efficiencyVSAvoidredeposition and whiteness negatives

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the chemical structure of amine compounds by introducing ether groups at specific positions (using formulas I and II with defined R groups and x+y ratios), which changes the properties of the amine to reduce redeposition and whiteness negatives while maintaining grease removal efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention combines ether groups with amine functional groups to create composite amine structures (etheramines) that exhibit both effective grease removal and reduced harmful effects like redeposition and whiteness negatives on fabrics

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Loss of energy

If low-temperature washing is used to reduce energy consumption and protect fabrics, then energy costs decrease and fabric care is improved, but grease stain removal becomes insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidgrease removal efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs etheramine compounds with specific molecular structures (formulas I and II with controlled x+y values and R group configurations) that maintain low critical micelle concentration and high solubility at low temperatures, enabling effective grease removal in cold water washes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 etheramine-based composition effectively removes grease stains and prevents redeposition on fabrics, maintaining cleaning performance in cold water washes and avoiding issues seen with conventional amine-containing detergents, such as whiteness negatives on white fabrics and poor stain removal.

Implementation Method 1

cleaning compositions containing an etheramine that is suitable for removal of stains from soiled materials

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurfactant action: Surfactant

Implementation Method 2

enhance the detergent power of conventional surfactants, so as to improve the removal of grease stains

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEmulsification: Emulsion

Implementation Method 3

provides surprisingly effective grease removal and antiredeposition benefits

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectStabilization:

Data Source

PatentUS11274267B2Compositions containing an etheramine

Publication Date: 2022.03.15 PROCTER & GAMBLE CO

AI summary

The present disclosure relates generally to cleaning compositions and, more specifically, to cleaning compositions containing an etheramine that is suitable for removal of stains from soiled materials.