Iminodisuccinic Acid Rheology Control in Unit Dose Detergents

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Solution Overview

Problem

Unit dose laundry pacs face challenges in maintaining physical stability and rheology control due to high surfactant concentrations, leading to viscosity issues that affect dissolution and clogging, with existing solutions like higher non-aqueous solvent concentrations being inefficient and costly.

Innovation Solution

A synergistic combination of iminodisuccinic acid, ethanol, and polyethylene glycol with molecular weights between 200 to 1,000 Daltons is used to modify the viscosity of liquid detergents, ensuring desired flowability and dispersion in unit dose pacs, with a rheology modification system comprising less than 20% water and specific weight percentages of these components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If higher concentration of non-aqueous solvents is used to control rheology, then viscosity is reduced and flowability is improved, but the volume available for other detergent components is reduced and cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveflowabilityVSAvoidvolume for detergent components

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the rheology control system by introducing iminodisuccinic acid as a new functional component that works synergistically with ethanol and PEG400. This allows achieving the same rheology control effect with lower total solvent concentration, thereby preserving volume for detergent actives.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite rheology control system combining iminodisuccinic acid (0.1-10% wt), ethanol (5-50% wt), and PEG400 (5-30% wt) that works synergistically. This composite approach provides superior viscosity control compared to using individual solvents, allowing reduced overall solvent content while maintaining flowability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of operation

If higher concentration of non-aqueous solvents is used to control rheology, then viscosity is reduced and dispersion is improved, but expense increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovedispersionVSAvoidcost

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the concentration parameters of solvent components, achieving effective dispersion with ethanol (5-50% wt) and PEG400 (5-30% wt) in the presence of iminodisuccinic acid, which enhances the dispersing efficiency per unit of solvent used, thereby reducing overall material cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

Iminodisuccinic acid serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a rheology control agent, a dispersing agent, and a viscosity modifier. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate additives, simplifying the formulation and reducing overall manufacturing cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If traditional liquid detergent formulations are concentrated for unit dose pacs, then packaging and storage efficiency is improved, but physical stability and rheology control deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepackaging efficiencyVSAvoidphysical stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the rheological parameters of concentrated detergent formulations by incorporating iminodisuccinic acid (0.1-10% wt) with ethanol and PEG400, which controls viscosity and prevents excessive thickening even at high surfactant concentrations, thereby maintaining physical stability in concentrated unit dose formats.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The rheology control system using iminodisuccinic acid, ethanol, and PEG400 maintains continuous viscosity control throughout the concentration range, ensuring that the formulation remains physically stable from concentrated storage form through to diluted application, preventing phase separation or precipitation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 combination effectively reduces viscosity, maintaining it below 1,000 cp at 1.08 reciprocal seconds, enhancing the physical stability and flowability of the detergent composition, preventing clogging and ensuring complete dissolution in wash water.

Implementation Method 1

a synergistic combination of iminodisuccinic acid, ethanol, and polyethylene glycol having molecular weight in the range from about 200 to about 1,000 Daltons that can modify, and in particular, reduce, the viscosity of liquid detergents

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectViscosity reduction through synergistic interaction:

Data Source

PatentUS11795416B2Synergistic effects of iminodisuccinic acid on an ethanol and PEG400 blend for rheology control

Publication Date: 2023.10.24 HENKEL KGAA

AI summary

A method for controlling rheology of a unit dose liquid detergent composition includes providing a detergent composition containing less than 20% water, a detergent surfactant, and a rheology modification system comprising iminodisuccinic acid (IDS), ethanol, and polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of 200 to 1,000 Daltons; and encapsulating the detergent composition in a pouch made of a water soluble film. The viscosity of a mixture of 2 parts of a low water detergent composition to 1 part water can be maintained below 1,000 cp at 1.08 reciprocal seconds where the detergent composition includes about 1% to about 10% by weight of a mixture of IDS, ethanol, and polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of 200 to 1,000 Daltons.