Green Micro-Emulsion Disinfectant Spontaneous Formation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cleaning and disinfecting compositions often compromise between cleaning and disinfecting performance, with harsh chemicals and poor ecological profiles, and require energy-intensive processes, while eco-friendly alternatives lack stability and effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

A micro-emulsion-based composition using green surfactants, natural disinfecting agents like essential oils and colloidal silver, and other natural ingredients, which forms spontaneously at room temperature without mechanical or heat energy, enhancing both cleaning and disinfecting performance while improving ecological profile.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional harsh chemicals are used for disinfection, then disinfecting performance is improved, but ecological profile and human safety deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisinfecting performanceVSAvoidtoxicity and ecological harm

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the traditionally harmful role of synthetic chemicals into a beneficial natural system by using plant-derived essential oils and plant-based surfactants. These natural ingredients provide effective disinfection while being environmentally benign and safe for human contact, thus converting the harm of chemical toxicity into the benefit of natural safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters from synthetic petrochemical-based ingredients to plant-derived natural ingredients. This parameter change maintains disinfecting efficacy while fundamentally improving the ecological profile and human safety characteristics of the composition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If essential oils are used as natural disinfectants, then ecological profile is improved, but stability and solubility deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveecological safetyVSAvoidsolubility and stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces plant-based surfactants as intermediary substances that mediate between the hydrophobic essential oils and the aqueous environment. These surfactants act as emulsifiers and solubilizers, enabling the essential oils to remain stably dispersed in water-based formulations without compromising their natural origin or disinfecting properties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite formulation combining multiple natural ingredients: essential oils for disinfection, plant-based surfactants for stability and solubility, and complementary natural components. This composite approach leverages the synergistic properties of each ingredient to achieve both ecological safety and compositional stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Productivity

If multi-purpose cleaners with good cleaning performance are used, then cleaning efficiency is improved, but disinfecting performance and ecological profile deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning efficiencyVSAvoiddisinfecting performance

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs a truly multi-functional composition that simultaneously delivers effective cleaning, disinfection, and sanitization using only natural ingredients. The combination of plant-based surfactants (for cleaning), essential oils (for disinfection), and complementary natural components creates a universal product that performs all three functions without relying on harsh synthetic chemicals, thus improving both disinfecting performance and ecological profile compared to conventional cleaners.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 achieves comparable or superior performance to conventional products with a significantly improved ecological profile, demonstrating effective disinfection and stability without the need for additional energy consumption.

Implementation Method 1

The composition may be present as a micro-emulsion... which forms spontaneously at room temperature without mechanical or heat energy

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSelf-assembly: Self-Assembly

Implementation Method 2

The composition may be present as a micro-emulsion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMicro-emulsion: Microemulsion

Implementation Method 3

because essential oils and colloidal silver are generally immiscible with water, compositions based thereon typically include surfactants and/or solvents to disperse or solubilize the essential oils or colloidal silver

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurfactant action: Surfactant

Data Source

PatentUS8778860B2Green disinfection/sanitization compositions and processes of making thereof

Publication Date: 2014.07.15 SC JOHNSON & SON INC

AI summary

Cleaning and disinfecting compositions containing one or more “green” surfactants are disclosed. The compositions may be present as micro-emulsions that generally include green disinfecting agents, green surfactants, and water. The composition may also contain other green ingredients such as linkers, pH adjusting agents, natural fragrances, natural insecticides, and other natural organic actives such as natural oils. The composition may be used as a green cleaning and disinfecting composition with performance comparable or superior to conventional cleaning and disinfecting products with less desirable ecological profiles.