Ionic Liquid-Alcohol Blend Rheology Modification for SLES
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial sodium laureth ether sulfate (SLES) has high viscosity, making it difficult to handle, and its use as a blend with ethanol poses a fire hazard due to ethanol's low flash point.
Innovation Solution
A blend of an ionic liquid and an alcohol is added to SLES, significantly reducing its viscosity and allowing for safer handling, while minimizing the amount of flammable alcohol required.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If ethanol is added to reduce viscosity of SLES, then the SLES becomes easier to handle and process, but the fire safety deteriorates due to ethanol's low flash point
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces ionic liquids as intermediary substances that mediate between SLES and ethanol. The ionic liquid forms a blend with ethanol that has elevated flash point compared to pure ethanol, while still maintaining the viscosity reduction effect. This intermediary blend allows the system to achieve ease of handling without the severe fire hazards of pure ethanol.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the alcohol component by using ionic liquid-modified alcohols or alcohol blends with ionic liquids. These parameter changes include increasing the flash point while maintaining adequate solvating power to reduce SLES viscosity, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of handling and fire safety.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If neat SLES is used, then the fire safety is improved by eliminating flammable solvents, but the viscosity becomes too high for easy handling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite material system consisting of SLES blended with ionic liquids and minimal amounts of alcohol. This composite approach allows the system to maintain the fire safety benefits of reduced alcohol content while achieving the handling properties of lower viscosity through the rheology-modifying effects of the ionic liquid component.
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 ionic liquid and alcohol blend synergistically reduces the viscosity of SLES, enabling easier processing and handling, while improving fire safety by reducing the amount of ethanol needed.
Implementation Method 1
Experimental data generated by the inventors show that this is because a synergistic effect on the viscosity reduction has occurred when an ionic liquid and an alcohol are both employed to modify the rheology of a polyethoxylated alcohol sulfate
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
In one embodiment, a polyethoxylated alcohol sulfate composition is provided which includes a polyethoxylated alcohol sulfate, such as sodium laureth ether sulfate (SLES), water, an ionic liquid, and an alcohol. The ionic liquid and the alcohol form a synergistic blend, enabling a significant reduction of the viscosity of the polyethoxylated alcohol sulfate composition. Also provided is an embodiment of a method for modifying the rheology of polyethoxylated alcohol sulfate by use of an ionic liquid and alcohol blend. Finally provided is an embodiment of a detergent composition which is prepared by use of the polyethoxylated alcohol sulfate composition described herein, in addition to other commonly known ingredients.