Waterless Hand Cleaning Wipe with Dibasic Ester Microemulsion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional waterless hand cleaners contain high levels of organic solvents and emulsifiers, leading to environmental impact, skin irritation, and reduced effectiveness in removing a broad range of lipophilic substances like inks and asphaltic soils, while also requiring secondary water washing to remove residual debris.
Innovation Solution
A hand cleaning composition impregnated into a towel with 0.5 to 15% non-ionic surfactant, 0.1 to 10% dibasic ester microemulsion, and 0.1 to 15% organic co-solvent, primarily composed of water, with optional additives for improved cleaning and reduced VOC content, combined with an abrasive for mechanical removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional waterless hand cleaners use high concentrations of organic solvents and emulsifiers to remove hydrophobic materials, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but VOC content increases and skin irritation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by replacing high VOC organic solvents with water-based formulations containing C12-C15 alkyl ethoxylated alcohols and dibasic ester microemulsions. This parameter change maintains cleaning effectiveness for hydrophobic soils while reducing VOC content below detectable levels and minimizing skin irritation through gentler surfactant chemistry
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite cleaning system combining multiple surfactant types (C12-C15 alkyl ethoxylated alcohols with 3-7 ethoxylation groups and dibasic ester microemulsions) working synergistically. This composite approach provides broad-spectrum effectiveness against various hydrophobic soils including inks and asphaltic materials while maintaining low VOC and reduced skin irritation
2Reliability
If conventional waterless hand cleaners use high loading of emulsifiers to solubilize grease and soil, then cleaning ability is improved, but residual film formation increases causing skin irritation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes emulsifier concentration parameters to lower levels than conventional formulations, using specifically selected C12-C15 alkyl ethoxylated alcohols and dibasic ester microemulsions that provide effective soil solubilization at reduced concentrations. This prevents excessive residual film formation while maintaining cleaning ability against grease and hydrophobic soils
Solution Approach 2:
The patent formulates the cleaner as a disposable wipe product where the cleaning composition is applied and then removed with the same wipe, eliminating the need for separate rinsing. This approach accepts controlled residual film that is removed with the disposable wipe, avoiding skin irritation from repeated exposure to emulsifier residues
3Reliability
If gelatinous hand cleaners are used to remove material from skin surface, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but subsequent water washing is required to remove residual debris
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the hydrophobic cleaning action from water-based gel formulations and concentrates it in oil-soluble surfactant systems within disposable wipes. The cleaning composition effectively removes hydrophobic soils from skin and is then removed together with the disposable wipe, extracting the need for secondary water washing that is required with gelatinous cleaners
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs disposable wipes as single-use carriers for the cleaning composition. Each wipe is used once to apply the cleaner and remove soils, then discarded with all residues, eliminating the need for secondary water washing required by reusable gel cleaners and simplifying the cleaning process
4Reliability
If low viscosity liquid waterless hand cleaners are used with abrasive articles, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but organic solvent content remains high causing environmental impact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent fundamentally changes the solvent system parameters from high VOC organic solvents to a water-based formulation with oil-soluble surfactants. This maintains the liquid consistency needed for effective cleaning when used with abrasive articles while reducing VOC content below detectable levels, eliminating the environmental impact associated with conventional organic solvent-based cleaners
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 removes paints, resins, oils, and inks with low VOC content, reducing environmental impact and skin irritation, while maintaining or improving cleaning efficacy compared to prior art, and allowing for use without secondary water washing.
Implementation Method 1
A hand cleaning composition impregnated into a towel with 0.5 to 15% non-ionic surfactant, 0.1 to 10% dibasic ester microemulsion
Implementation Method 2
Conventional waterless cleaning compositions often contain as much as 45% by weight of organic solvents and high loadings of emulsifiers in order to solubilize grease and soil
Implementation Method 3
0.5 to 15 total weight percent of a first non-ionic surfactant that is a C12-C15 alkyl ethoxylated alcohol having an average degree of ethoxylation of from 3 to 7
Implementation Method 4
Low viscosity, liquid waterless hand cleaners have proven popular and effective when used in conjunction with an abrasive article that retains the liquid in contact with the skin surface and provides mechanical action to disrupt soil or grease films
Data Source
AI summary
A hand cleaning article is provided that includes a towel presenting two opposing surfaces. A hand cleaning composition is impregnated into the towel and includes a first non-ionic surfactant that is a C12-C15 alkyl ethoxylated alcohol having an average degree of ethoxylation of from 3 to 7. A solvent is present of a dibasic ester microemulsion, R1—C(O)N(CH3)2 where R1 is a C2-C20 alkane, C3-C20 alkene, C6-C20 diene, or R2—C(O)O—(CH2)n where a C1-C20 alkane, C3-C20 alkene, or C6-C20 diene, and n is an integer of between 1 and 10, or a combination of the dibasic ester microemulsion and R1—C(O)N(CH3). An organic co-solvent is provided of: a C4-C28 acid ester, C9-C16 hydrocarbons having a boiling in the range of 150° C. to 290° C., butyl 3-hydroxynutyrate, or a combination thereof. The majority of the composition is water.