Antimicrobial Cleaning Composition with Glycol Solvent Residue Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional antimicrobial compositions for hard surfaces are often fast-acting but leave residues that reduce surface shine and are not suitable for food-contact surfaces, as they typically contain high levels of antimicrobial actives and solvents that interfere with surface cleanliness and appearance.
Innovation Solution
A hard surface cleaning composition comprising a detersive surfactant, an antimicrobial agent, and a glycol solvent, such as propylene glycol, which reduces residue size to be invisible to the naked eye, improving surface shine and being suitable for food-contact surfaces without leaving visible streaks or residues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high levels of antimicrobial actives are used to achieve fast-acting broad spectrum activity, then antimicrobial efficacy is improved, but surface shine is reduced and visible residues are left
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the harmful residue-forming components (high levels of antimicrobial actives and conventional solvents) while retaining the essential antimicrobial function through a refined formulation that uses lower concentrations combined with a novel solvent system that prevents residue deposition
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the formulation by introducing a specific solvent system comprising glycol ethers and/or glycol esters, which alters the evaporation and drying characteristics to prevent visible residue formation while maintaining antimicrobial effectiveness at optimized concentration levels
2Reliability
If high levels of antimicrobial actives and solvents are used to achieve fast-acting broad spectrum activity, then antimicrobial efficacy is improved, but the composition becomes unsuitable for food-contact surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters by selecting specific solvents (glycol ethers and/or glycol esters) and optimizing antimicrobial active concentrations to achieve a formulation that is both effective against microbes and safe for food-contact surfaces, expanding the application versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite cleaning composition that integrates multiple components (surfactants, antimicrobial actives, glycol ethers, and/or glycol esters) in specific proportions to achieve both antimicrobial efficacy and food-safety compliance, making the composition suitable for diverse surface applications including food-contact surfaces
3Speed
If conventional solvents are used in antimicrobial compositions, then fast-acting broad spectrum activity is achieved, but surface streaks and visible residues are left
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the solvent system by using glycol ethers and/or glycol esters instead of conventional solvents, which have different evaporation rates and residue-forming properties, thereby achieving rapid action without leaving visible streaks or residues
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of solvent residues into a benefit by selecting glycol ethers and/or glycol esters that, upon evaporation, leave no visible residue or streaks, thus transforming the drying process from a source of surface defects to a means of achieving a clean, streak-free finish
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 composition effectively reduces surface streaks and improves shine while maintaining antimicrobial efficacy, making it suitable for use on food-contact surfaces without compromising cleanliness or appearance.
Implementation Method 1
a glycol solvent, wherein the glycol solvent is selected from the group consisting of C1-C6 diols, C1-C6 triols, and mixtures thereof
Implementation Method 2
leaving the hard surface to dry without rinsing the surface
Data Source
AI summary
The need for a fast acting and broad spectrum antimicrobial composition which does not reduce surface shine and does not leave visible residues on the surface, which is also preferably suitable for surfaces which contact food, is met by formulating the antimicrobial composition according to the present invention.