Glycerol Ester Stain Treatment Additive for Oily Stains
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing textile cleaning compositions are ineffective in removing oily and fatty stains due to the lack of a suitable solvent for oil solubilization, and known formulations for oily stain removal may be impractical or unsatisfactory.
Innovation Solution
A stain treatment additive comprising an ester of glycerol alkoxylated with 6 to 10 moles of alkylene oxide and a C12 to C30 fatty acid, with at least 50% isostearic acid, combined with surfactants to enhance solubility in both water and oil, improving the ability to dissolve and remove oily or fatty stains.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional textile cleaning compositions are used, then general cleaning is effective, but oily and fatty stains cannot be removed due to lack of suitable solvent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the cleaning composition by incorporating esters of glycerol alkoxylated with 6 to 10 moles of alkylene oxide and C12 to C30 fatty acid (at least 50% isostearic acid). This parameter change enables the composition to solubilize oils and fats while maintaining fabric compatibility and effective cleaning performance.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If known compositions specifically formulated for oily stain removal are used, then oil solubilization is improved, but they are impractical to use or provide unsatisfactory results
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite cleaning system by combining multiple components: esters of glycerol alkoxylated with 6 to 10 moles of alkylene oxide and C12 to C30 fatty acid (at least 50% isostearic acid), surfactants (at least 10wt% in total), and auxiliary cleaning agents. This composite formulation achieves both effective oil solubilization and practical ease of use in textile cleaning.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the fatty acid chain length is increased to improve hydrophobicity, then oil solubility increases, but water solubility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a molecule with distinct functional regions: the C12 to C30 fatty acid portion (at least 50% isostearic acid) provides hydrophobic character for oil solubility, while the glycerol alkoxylated with 6 to 10 moles of alkylene oxide provides hydrophilic character for water solubility. This local differentiation of molecular properties enables the single compound to function effectively in both aqueous and oily environments.
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 additive effectively removes oily and fatty stains from textiles by balancing hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties, providing improved stain removal performance compared to conventional compositions.
Implementation Method 1
the balance between the chain length of the fatty acid (generally hydrophobic) portion and the amount of the alkylene oxide (generally hydrophilic) portion included in the stain treatment additive may allow the stain treatment additive to have some degree of solubility in water while also retaining enough solubility in oil and grease
Implementation Method 2
the amount of the alkylene oxide (generally hydrophilic) portion included in the stain treatment additive may allow the stain treatment additive to have some degree of solubility in water
Implementation Method 3
the chain length of the fatty acid (generally hydrophobic) portion... retaining enough solubility in oil and grease
Implementation Method 4
The one or more surfactants may include at least one non-ionic surfactant. The ratio of non-ionic surfactant to stain treatment additive may be at least 0.5:1 by weight... The non-ionic surfactant may assist in keeping the stain treatment additive stably soluble in an aqueous-based formulation
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a stain treatment additive which comprises an ester of glycerol and/or polyglycerol and a C12 to C30 fatty acid, wherein the glycerol and/or polyglycerol has been alkoxylated with up to 30mols of an alkylene oxide and its use in a textile cleaning composition, a laundry detergent composition, a stain remover composition and a method of cleaning a textile.