GLDA-Enhanced Antimicrobial Cleaning Agents
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing antimicrobially active washing and cleaning agents, particularly those containing biocidal quaternary ammonium compounds, exhibit poor activity against gram-negative bacteria and other microorganisms, especially at low temperatures and in moist environments, leading to inadequate sterilization of textiles and surfaces.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating tetracarboxylic acids or their salts, such as glutamic acid diacetic acid, into washing or cleaning agents enhances the antimicrobial activity of quaternary ammonium compounds, achieving a synergistic effect that rivals the hygiene performance of bleach-containing agents at higher temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If quaternary ammonium compounds are used as antimicrobial agents in washing agents, then antimicrobial activity is provided, but the activity level is poor especially against gram-negative bacteria at low temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the washing agent by introducing tetracarboxylic acids or their salts as synergistic components. This chemical parameter change enhances the antimicrobial activity of quaternary ammonium compounds, particularly against gram-negative bacteria, enabling effective sterilization at low temperatures without requiring high temperature washing processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite antimicrobial system by combining quaternary ammonium compounds with tetracarboxylic acids or their salts. This composite formulation produces a synergistic effect where the combination of substances achieves superior antimicrobial activity compared to the individual components, especially against difficult-to-eliminate gram-negative bacteria.
2Strength
If washing temperature is reduced to 30 or 40°C to protect delicate textiles, then textile damage is prevented, but microorganisms are not safely killed off
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the washing agent by incorporating tetracarboxylic acids or their salts, which enable effective microbial elimination at low temperatures. This allows the use of gentle washing temperatures (30-40°C) that protect delicate textiles while still achieving reliable microbial sterilization through the enhanced antimicrobial action of the modified detergent formulation.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If liquid washing agents free of bleaching agents are used, then textile damage and odor problems are reduced, but antimicrobial activity is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent develops a composite antimicrobial system combining quaternary ammonium compounds with tetracarboxylic acids or their salts, creating a formulation that provides sufficient antimicrobial activity without requiring bleaching agents. This composite approach enables the use of gentle, bleach-free liquid washing agents that protect textiles from damage and prevent odor formation while maintaining effective microbial elimination.
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 tetracarboxylic acids or their salts with quaternary ammonium compounds in washing agents significantly improves antimicrobial efficacy, effectively reducing microorganisms on textiles and hard surfaces even at low temperatures, comparable to bleach-containing agents at higher temperatures.
Implementation Method 1
Surprisingly, it has been shown that an improved antimicrobial effect of the quaternary ammonium compounds can be achieved by means of tetracarboxylic acids or salts thereof, although tetracarboxylic acids or salts thereof are not antimicrobially active themselves. Surprisingly, a synergistic effect has been found between the quaternary ammonium compounds and tetracarboxylic acids or salts thereof.
Data Source
AI summary
A detergent or cleaning agent that has an antimicrobial effect and includes at least one tetracarboxylic acid or the salts thereof in combination with at least one biocidal quaternary ammonium compound.