Formaldehyde Odour Control in Metalworking Cleaners via Polymer Complexation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Concentrates for cleaning and disinfection in the metal working industry with high formaldehyde content often have an intense and unpleasant odor, limiting their use due to the pungent formaldehyde smell, and existing systems require a high water content for effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A low-water or water-free concentrate comprising alkyl alcohol alkoxylates, formaldehyde donor compounds, biocidal active ingredients, and glycols, which reduces formaldehyde odor and allows for effective use at lower dilution concentrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the content of formaldehyde donor compounds is increased to achieve high cleaning and microbicidal effectiveness, then the active ingredient fraction and effectiveness are improved, but the formaldehyde odour becomes intense and unpleasant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces water-soluble polymers as intermediary substances that complex with formaldehyde donor compounds. These polymers act as mediators that reduce the volatility and odour of formaldehyde while maintaining its microbicidal effectiveness. The polymer-formaldehyde complex serves as an intermediate form that delivers the active ingredient without the unpleasant odour characteristics of free formaldehyde.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the formaldehyde donor compounds by incorporating them into water-soluble polymer structures. This parameter change transforms the volatile, odorous formaldehyde molecules into non-volatile polymer complexes, fundamentally altering their odour properties while preserving their biocidal function at low concentrations.
2Reliability
If the water content is reduced to achieve better storage stability and lower transportation costs, then the concentrate becomes more stable and economical, but the formaldehyde odour intensifies
Solution Approach 1:
Water-soluble polymers serve as intermediary carriers that bind formaldehyde donor compounds, preventing their direct volatilization. This intermediary complexation allows the concentrate to maintain low water content for stability while the polymer matrix controls formaldehyde release, preventing intense odour even in concentrated form.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite concentrate formulation where water-soluble polymers and formaldehyde donor compounds form an integrated complex. This composite structure combines the stability benefits of low-water concentrates with the odour-control properties of polymer-bound formaldehyde, achieving both storage stability and acceptable odour characteristics.
3Reliability
If multiple active ingredients are combined to achieve good microbicidal effectiveness, then the cleaning performance is improved, but the device complexity and formulation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functional components into a single integrated water-soluble polymer complex that contains formaldehyde donor compounds and biocidal agents. This combining approach consolidates what would otherwise be separate formulations into one unified concentrate, reducing formulation complexity while maintaining comprehensive microbicidal effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The water-soluble polymer complex serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a carrier for formaldehyde donor compounds, provides odour control, contributes to the microbicidal activity, and stabilizes the concentrate. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate additives for each function, simplifying the overall formulation.
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 solution provides a low-odour, high-efficiency cleaning and disinfection product with excellent storage stability and effective germicidal activity even at lower use concentrations, significantly reducing formaldehyde emissions and maintaining active ingredient effectiveness over time.
Implementation Method 1
comprises a high fraction of formaldehyde donor compound... which can be cleaved off
Data Source
AI summary
A concentrate for cleaning and disinfecting includes (i) one or more alkyl alcohol alkoxylates, (ii) one or more formaldehyde donor compounds, (iii) optionally one or more biocidal, in particular fungicidal, active ingredient(s), (iv) optionally one or more glycols and (v) optionally up to 10% by weight of water. Concentrates according to the invention can be formulated with a high content of formaldehyde donor compound without an undesired formaldehyde odor arising.