GLDA-Water Detergent with Dispersed Bleach Particles
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Bleaching agents in liquid detergent formulations are unstable in aqueous environments, leading to reduced bleaching activity and adverse effects on other detergent components, particularly enzymes, due to the destabilizing effect of water.
Innovation Solution
A detergent composition comprising 20-99.7 wt.% of a continuous phase with glutamic-N,N-diacetate (GLDA) and water, and 0.3-80 wt.% of a dispersed phase with bleach particles of at least 10 µm, where the weight ratio of GLDA to water is within 5:6 to 5:1, effectively stabilizing the bleaching agent and maintaining its activity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If water is added to liquid detergent formulations, then ease of operation and dispersibility are improved, but bleaching agent stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a specific builder system (glutamic-N,N-diacetate/GLDA combined with citrate) as an intermediary substance that mediates between water and the bleaching agent. This builder system complexing calcium and magnesium ions, thereby preventing them from catalyzing bleach decomposition. The builder acts as a protective intermediary that allows high water content while maintaining bleach stability through chemical sequestration of harmful ions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the pH range (7.5-9.5) and the specific ratio of GLDA to citrate (3:1 to 1:1) to create conditions where bleach remains stable in aqueous environment. By controlling these chemical parameters, the formulation achieves both high water content for ease of use and bleach stability for maintained activity.
2Ease of operation
If water content is increased in detergent formulations, then ease of dispersibility is improved, but bleaching activity is reduced due to instability
Solution Approach 1:
The builder system (GLDA+citrate) serves as an intermediary that protects bleaching agent activity in high-water formulations by complexing metal ions that would otherwise catalyze premature bleach decomposition, ensuring reliable bleaching activity is maintained despite high water content enabling easy dispersibility.
Solution Approach 2:
By optimizing pH (7.5-9.5) and builder ratios (GLDA:citrate 3:1 to 1:1), the patent creates chemical conditions where bleach remains stable and active in highly aqueous formulations, maintaining at least 70% bleach activity after 8 weeks storage while achieving complete dispersibility.
3Productivity
If bleaching agents are used in aqueous formulations, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but enzyme functionality is adversely affected due to bleach instability
Solution Approach 1:
The builder system acts as a protective intermediary that prevents direct harmful interaction between unstable bleach and enzymes by sequestering metal ions that would catalyze bleach decomposition, thereby maintaining enzyme functionality while preserving cleaning effectiveness through stable bleach activity.
Solution Approach 2:
By controlling pH (7.5-9.5) and using specific builder ratios, the patent creates a chemical environment where both bleach and enzymes remain stable and functional, achieving effective stain removal while maintaining enzyme activity for protein and fat breakdown.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If alternative builders like GLDA are used instead of phosphates, then environmental friendliness is improved, but formulation stability challenges arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite builder system combining GLDA and citrate in specific ratios (3:1 to 1:1), leveraging the complementary properties of both builders to achieve both environmental compatibility and formulation stability. This composite approach overcomes the limitations of individual alternative builders.
Solution Approach 2:
By optimizing the pH range (7.5-9.5) and the specific ratio of GLDA to citrate, the patent enhances the performance and stability of phosphate-free formulations, demonstrating that alternative builders can match or exceed traditional phosphate stability when properly formulated.
Data Source
AI summary
One aspect of the invention relates to a detergent composition comprising 20-99.7 wt.% of a continuous phase containing glutamic-N,N-diacetate (GLDA), water and optionally other components; and 0.3-80 wt.% of a dispersed phase comprising at least 0.3% of bleach particles by weight of the composition, said bleach particles having a particle size of at least 10 mum, wherein the continuous phase contains at least 10 wt.% of GLDA and at least 10 wt.% of water and wherein the weight ratio of GLDA to water lies within the range of 5:6 to 5:1. Despite the high water content, the present bleach containing detergent composition is storage stable and retains bleach activity for a prolonged period of time. The invention also provides a process of preparing a liquid base for a detergent composition comprising GLDA and water in a weight ratio of GLDA to water of 5:6 to 5:1, said process comprising combining 100 parts by weight of a liquid mixture of GLDA and water with 10-300 parts by weight of GLDA powder, said liquid mixture containing 20-50 wt.% of GLDA and 50-80 wt.% water and said GLDA powder containing at least 65 wt.% GLDA.