Foaming Tablet Composition for Fast Dissolution With Low Surfactant
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for solid tablet compositions that can quickly dissolve into a use solution within 10 minutes or less and provide high foaming with a significantly smaller amount of surfactant active ingredients, addressing the challenges of delayed dissolution and excessive surfactant use in existing liquid formulations.
Innovation Solution
The tablet compositions comprise an alkali metal carbonate alkalinity source, an acid component, an anionic surfactant, an amphoteric surfactant, and glycerin, with specific weight-% ratios to achieve rapid dissolution and stabilized foaming, optionally including magnesium sulfate, resulting in a use solution with a pH between 2 and 11 and less than 1000 ppm total active surfactant concentration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If solid tablet compositions are used to replace liquid formulations, then packaging reduction and shipping cost reduction are achieved, but dissolution time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tablet is segmented into multiple functional components (surfactants, alkalinity sources, acids, builders, solubility enhancers) that work together to achieve rapid dissolution. The surfactant mixture with specific HLB ratios creates micro-emulsification that accelerates breakdown, while acid-base reactions provide effervescence to further fragment the tablet structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes physical and chemical parameters of the tablet composition to optimize dissolution speed. This includes adjusting the HLB ratio of surfactant mixtures, controlling particle size distribution, optimizing crystal structure of ingredients, and balancing pH-generating components to create effervescence that accelerates dissolution within 10 minutes.
2Ease of manufacture
If high foaming is achieved with conventional liquid formulations, then cleaning performance is maintained, but surfactant concentration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite surfactant systems combining multiple surfactant types (anionic, nonionic, amphoteric) with complementary HLB values. This composite approach creates synergistic foaming effects where the combination produces higher foam volume and stability than individual surfactants alone, enabling reduced total surfactant concentration while maintaining cleaning performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The surfactant blend performs multiple functions simultaneously: generating high foam volume, providing cleaning action, stabilizing the foaming structure, and accelerating tablet dissolution. This multi-functionality allows a single surfactant package to achieve what would traditionally require separate components, reducing overall surfactant quantity needed.
3Quantity of substance
If tablet formulations use conventional surfactant levels, then foaming is adequate, but dissolution speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces solubility enhancers and co-surfactants that act as intermediaries to accelerate the dissolution process. These components facilitate the transition from solid tablet to aqueous solution by reducing surface tension, promoting wetting, and creating micro-emulsified structures that speed up mass transfer, enabling fast dissolution with reduced surfactant levels.
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 compositions provide fast dissolution times of about 15 minutes or less and stabilized foam with a significantly smaller amount of surfactant, enhancing convenience and efficiency in consumer and institutional uses.
Implementation Method 1
anionic surfactant, an amphoteric surfactant, and glycerin, wherein the weight-% ratio of the components provides stabilized foam
Implementation Method 2
provide high foaming with a significantly smaller amount of surfactant active ingredients
Implementation Method 3
an alkali metal carbonate alkalinity source, an acid component
Implementation Method 4
quickly dissolve into a use solution within 10 minutes or less
Implementation Method 5
glycerin, wherein the weight-% ratio of the components in the solid tablet composition provides fast dissolution times
Data Source
AI summary
Pressed tablet compositions providing stabilized foaming and fast dissolution times of the tablets are provided. In particular, high foaming tablet compositions with a significantly smaller amount of surfactant active ingredients are provided along with methods of use thereof that are suitable for use as detergent compositions, foaming hand soap compositions, hard surface cleaning compositions, and carpet shampoo compositions for consumer and institutional uses.