Etheramines for Cold Water Grease Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laundry detergents struggle to effectively remove grease stains at low temperatures without impacting fabric whiteness or causing negative cleaning effects on hydrophilic bleachable stains like coffee, tea, or wine.
Innovation Solution
Development of etheramines with specific molecular structures, obtained through alkoxylation and amination of 1,2-dialcohols, which are used in cleaning compositions to enhance detergent performance at temperatures as low as 30°C, including pretreatment of grease stains before cold water washing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional amine compounds are used to improve grease removal at low temperatures, then grease stain removal is enhanced, but fabric whiteness is negatively impacted
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical structure parameters of the amine compound by specifying exact molecular formulas (C12-C20 alkyl groups with specific ether linkages and amine positions), thereby modifying the compound's interaction properties with both grease and fabric to achieve grease removal without whiteness loss
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite molecular structure combining specific alkyl chains (C12-C20), ether linkages, and amine groups in a defined architecture, where the synergistic interaction of these components enables selective grease removal while preserving fabric whiteness
2Loss of energy
If conventional surfactants are used for cold water washing, then energy consumption is reduced, but detergent power is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention modifies the temperature parameter of the washing process to 30°C or lower, and compensates for reduced thermal energy by optimizing the chemical structure of the etheramine to enhance its detergent activity at low temperatures, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining cleaning power
3Productivity
If conventional amine-based detergents are used to remove grease stains, then cleaning efficacy is improved, but hydrophilic bleachable stains are negatively affected
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by designing the amine compound to have specific local functional regions: the C12-C20 alkyl group targets grease interaction, while the ether linkages and amine positions are configured to selectively interact with grease stains only, leaving hydrophilic stains unaffected
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to etheramines of formula (I) or formula (II) or a mixture of etheramines of formula (I) and formula (II) based on 1,2-dialcohols, wherein R1 is a linear or branched alkyl group with 2 to 16 carbon atoms, R2 is a hydrogen or an alkyl group with 1 to 16 carbon atoms, x≥1 and y≥1 and the sum of x+y is between 2 and 10, and A1, A2, A3 and A4 are independently selected from the group consisting of linear and/or branched alkylenes having 2 to 18 carbon atoms and wherein Z1-Z4 are independently selected from OH, NH2, NHR′ or NR′R″, wherein at least one of Z1-Z2 and at least one of Z3-Z4 is NH2, NHR′ or NR′R″, wherein R′ and R″ are independently selected from alkylenes having 2 to 6 carbon atoms.The invention further relates to etheramines obtainable by the alkoxylation and amination of 1,2-dialcohols.