Segmented Laundry Additive Particles to Prevent Discoloration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laundry additives containing perfume, enzymes, and bacterial spores face issues of undesirable discoloration due to negative interactions between these components, affecting consumer perception and product appearance.
Innovation Solution
A particulate laundry additive composition comprising two types of particles: particle A, which is free of bacterial spores and enzymes, and particle B, which contains Bacillus spores and enzymes, is developed. Particle A includes a carrier and perfume, while particle B includes a carrier and spores, ensuring minimal interaction and maintaining visual appeal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If perfume, enzymes and bacterial spores are included together in the laundry additive, then malodour control and cleaning benefits are improved, but discoloration of the additive occurs due to negative interactions between components
Solution Approach 1:
The laundry additive is divided into two distinct particle types: Particle A containing perfume and carrier materials, and Particle B containing enzymes and bacterial spores with minimal perfume. This segmentation prevents direct contact between large amounts of perfume and enzymes/spores, eliminating the discoloration reaction while maintaining all functional benefits when particles are combined in use.
2Device complexity
If perfume is included in the same particles as enzymes and spores, then the additive structure is simplified, but consumer perception is adversely impacted due to discoloration
Solution Approach 1:
The additive uses separate Particle A and Particle B formulations that are visually distinct but functionally complementary. This segmentation maintains visual appeal by preventing discoloration while preserving the simplified benefit of a combined product that delivers all functions simultaneously during use.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the additive composition have different properties: Particle A is optimized for perfume delivery with appropriate carrier materials, while Particle B is optimized for enzymatic and microbial action with minimal perfume. This local quality differentiation ensures each component performs its function optimally without causing discoloration.
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 manages negative interactions, retaining the desired visual appeal of the additive and enhancing consumer satisfaction by harnessing the synergistic benefits of perfume, enzymes, and bacterial spores while reducing malodors and improving laundering ease.
Implementation Method 1
The spores seem to deposit on the laundry articles during the wash and in the presence of heat seem to germinate and to reduce malodor.
Implementation Method 2
Particle B comprises a carrier, Bacillus spores and enzymes
Data Source
AI summary
Particulate laundry additive composition having a plurality of particles wherein each of said particles has a mass between about 1 mg to about 5000 mg, the composition including:i) at least about 60% by weight of the composition of particle A, wherein particle A includes at least 40% by weight of the particle of a carrier, from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of the particle of perfume and the particle is substantially free of Bacillus spores and enzymes; andii) at least about 2% by weight of the composition of particle B, wherein particle B includes at least about 40% by weight of the particle of a carrier, from about 0.0001% to about 5% by weight of the particle of Bacillus spores and enzymes and less than about 0.01% by weight of the particle of perfume.