HEIDA Chelant Mixture for Alkaline Composition Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Highly alkaline liquid compositions containing chelating agents tend to form crystals or solid materials during storage, limiting the concentration of alkali metal hydroxide and chelating components due to solubility issues, which increases transportation and storage costs.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a HEIDA component, such as hydroxyethyliminodiacetic acid, into the compositions to enhance the solubility and storage stability of chelating components, allowing for higher concentrations of alkali metal hydroxide and chelating agents without solid material formation, thereby maintaining the compositions as liquid solutions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the concentration of alkali metal hydroxide and chelating components is increased, then the effectiveness and utility of the composition is improved, but crystal formation occurs during storage reducing solubility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconcentration of alkali metal hydroxide and chelating componentsVSAvoidsolubility and storage stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary substance (sugar alcohol or polyol) that acts as a mediator between the alkali metal hydroxide and chelating components. This intermediary prevents crystal formation by interfering with the crystallization process while maintaining the high concentration of active ingredients, thus resolving the contradiction between quantity and stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the composition by adding sugar alcohols or polyols, which alter the solubility characteristics and prevent crystallization. This parameter change allows maintaining high concentrations of alkali metal hydroxide and chelating components without the harmful crystal formation effect.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of energy

If the concentration of alkali metal hydroxide and chelating components is increased, then transportation and storage costs are reduced, but the composition forms solid materials during storage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransportation and storage costsVSAvoidcrystal and solid material formation

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sugar alcohol or polyol serves as an intermediary that prevents the harmful crystallization effect while allowing high concentrations of active ingredients. This enables reduced transportation and storage costs through higher concentration without generating the harmful solid material formation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potential harm of high concentration (crystal formation) into a benefit by using sugar alcohols or polyols to prevent crystallization. The high concentration that would normally cause harm is transformed into a beneficial state where cost savings are achieved without solid material formation.

Inventive Principle:

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

3Stability of the object's composition

If sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide are used together to enhance solubility, then chelating component solubility is improved, but the cost of the composition increases substantially

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechelating component solubilityVSAvoidcost of composition

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses cheap sugar alcohols or polyols instead of expensive combinations of sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide. These inexpensive substances effectively enhance solubility and prevent crystallization, providing a cost-effective solution that maintains chelating component solubility without substantially increasing composition cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the approach to enhancing solubility by using sugar alcohols or polyols rather than expensive alkali metal hydroxide combinations. This parameter change in the composition strategy achieves the desired solubility enhancement at lower cost.

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 inclusion of a HEIDA component increases the solubility and storage stability of chelating components, enabling more concentrated alkaline compositions that remain in solution form for extended periods, reducing transportation and storage costs while maintaining effectiveness as alkali builders in the laundry industry.

Implementation Method 1

HEIDA component in an amount effective to increase the solubility of the chelating component in the composition

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChelation:

Data Source

PatentUS8293696B2Alkaline composition comprising a chelant mixture, including HEIDA, and method of producing same

Publication Date: 2012.10.23 ECOLAB INC

AI summary

Compositions, such as alkali builder compositions for the laundry industry, are provided and include water, an alkali metal hydroxide component, a chelating component and a hydroxyethyliminodiacetic acid (HEIDA) component. Methods for producing such compositions are also disclosed.