Antimicrobial Foam Soap with Malic and Levulinic Acids

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Solution Overview

Problem

Antimicrobial hand soaps are perceived as harsh and aggressive, leading to inadequate hand washing due to user concerns over skin compatibility and safety, and liquid compositions struggle with retention on the skin, resulting in incomplete antimicrobial activity.

Innovation Solution

A mild, antimicrobial foam hand soap composition combining malic acid and levulinic acid with lactic acid as an additional antimicrobial agent, formulated with a high water content and polysaccharide or polysaccharide surfactants to enhance tactility and retention on the skin.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional antimicrobial agents are used at high concentrations to ensure effectiveness, then antimicrobial activity is improved, but skin compatibility and safety deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveantimicrobial effectivenessVSAvoidskin irritation and toxicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters by using a combination of three organic acids (malic acid, levulinic acid, and lactic acid) instead of conventional high-concentration antimicrobial agents. This parameter change allows achieving antimicrobial effectiveness through a synergistic mechanism while maintaining skin compatibility, as all three acids occur naturally in the body and have mild properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies the composite materials principle by combining three different organic acids in specific proportions (malic acid 0.1-2%, levulinic acid 0.1-2%, lactic acid 0.01-1%). This composite approach creates a synergistic antimicrobial effect that is more effective than individual acids alone, while the natural compatibility of all components ensures skin safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of operation

If liquid soap compositions are used for hand washing, then ease of application is improved, but retention on skin deteriorates leading to incomplete antimicrobial activity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of applicationVSAvoidretention time on skin
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state parameter by formulating the composition as a foam rather than a liquid. This parameter change improves retention on skin because foam adheres better to skin surfaces and remains in contact longer, ensuring complete antimicrobial activity. The foam is generated from the liquid composition using a foaming agent, combining the ease of liquid application with the retention benefits of foam.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If antimicrobial soap is formulated to be effective, then antimicrobial activity is improved, but user perception of mildness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveantimicrobial activityVSAvoidperceived harshness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the potential harm of using strong antimicrobial agents into a benefit by selecting organic acids that occur naturally in the human body (malic acid in muscles, lactic acid in skin, levulinic acid in metabolism). These acids provide antimicrobial activity while their natural occurrence makes them perceived as safe and mild by users, eliminating the harshness associated with conventional antimicrobial soaps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 combination of malic acid, levulinic acid, and lactic acid in the foam hand soap composition significantly increases user engagement during hand washing, with users spending twice as long using soaps with either acid and three times longer with a combination, ensuring prolonged exposure to antimicrobial agents.

Implementation Method 1

The composition includes at least 0.5% of mixtures of malic acid and levulinic acid, with lactic acid as an additional anti-microbial agent

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAntimicrobial action:

Implementation Method 2

formulated with a high water content and polysaccharide or polysaccharide surfactants to enhance tactility and retention on the skin

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP4039783B1Mild antimicrobial foam soap comprising malic acid and levulinic acid
Publication Date: 2024.08.28 IDEAL STANDARD INT

AI summary

The current patent application describes an aqueous foamable antimicrobial hand soap composition with an improved tactility, which comprises an antimicrobial agent, a foamable cleansing composition comprising one or more surfactants which readily foam with water and air, and water, and which additionally comprises a tactility improving component selected from malic acid, levulinic acid, and a combination thereof. By this aqueous foamable antimicrobial hand soap composition, an improved tactility on the hand is achieved so that the user of the soap tends to keep the soap during its application on the hand for a prolonged time with a prolonged exposure of the antimicrobial agent to the hand. The current patent application also describes the use of the aqueous foamable antimicrobial hand soap composition as a liquid soap.