Hard-Surface Rhamnolipid–Glutamate Composition for Low-Streak Cleaning

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hard surface cleaning compositions struggle to provide effective cleaning performance while minimizing film/streak properties, and there is a need for sustainable ingredients derived from renewable sources.

Innovation Solution

A hard surface cleaning composition comprising rhamnolipids and alkyl glutamate anionic surfactant, with specific ratios, providing good cleaning ability and low film/streak formation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the amount of surfactants in cleaning compositions is increased to improve cleaning performance, then cleaning ability is improved, but film/streak formation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning performanceVSAvoidfilm/streak formation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters by selecting specific types of surfactants (rhamnolipids with specific HLB values and alkyl glutamates with specific chain lengths) and optimizing their concentration ratios. This allows achieving effective cleaning performance while minimizing film/streak formation through precise parameter control rather than simply increasing overall surfactant quantity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite surfactant systems combining rhamnolipids and alkyl glutamates in specific ratios. This composite approach leverages the complementary properties of different surfactant types to achieve both effective cleaning and low film/streak properties, resolving the trade-off between cleaning performance and surface quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If renewable raw materials are used to improve environmental friendliness, then sustainability is improved, but cleaning performance may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental friendlinessVSAvoidcleaning performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes parameters such as HLB values of rhamnolipids (selected from specific ranges) and chain lengths of alkyl glutamates to ensure that renewable surfactants achieve cleaning performance comparable to or exceeding conventional fossil fuel-based surfactants. This demonstrates that sustainability and performance are not mutually exclusive when parameters are properly optimized

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 at least 75% cleaning efficiency with film/streak scores of 1.0 or less on ceramic and 3.0 or less on polypropylene surfaces, using biorenewable ingredients.

Implementation Method 1

hard surface cleaning compositions that comprise biolipids, such as rhamnolipids... comprising rhamnolipids and an alkyl glutamate anionic co-surfactant... provide both good cleaning performance and low film/streak properties

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurfactant: Surfactant

Data Source

PatentUS20250223517A1Hard surface cleaning compositions comprising rhamnolipids and glutamate co-surfactant

Publication Date: 2025.07.10 STEPAN COMPANY

AI summary

Hard surface cleaning compositions that contain at least one rhamnolipid, at least one alkyl glutamate anionic surfactant, and at least one builder are disclosed. The compositions provide a combination of good soil removal and low film/streak properties, and are useful for soil removal applications including, but not limited to, cleaning bathroom and kitchen articles and/or surfaces.