Concentrated Laundry Composition with Bacterial Spores
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry compositions face challenges in maintaining the stability of bacterial spores during storage without affecting their ability to germinate and provide long-lasting malodor reduction, especially when in concentrated form and diluted in water of varying hardness.
Innovation Solution
A concentrated laundry composition comprising 10-85% surfactant, 5-20% rheology modifier, and 1×10^2 to 1×10^9 CFU/g of bacterial spores, which can be diluted to form a liquid detergent, ensuring the spores remain dormant during storage and quickly germinate upon use, providing sustained malodor removal and prevention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If spores are kept in a dormant state during storage to maintain stability, then storage stability is improved, but germination speed upon use may be slowed down
Solution Approach 1:
The spores are pre-conditioned during manufacturing to be in a dormant state suitable for long-term storage stability, while simultaneously being primed with germinants or placed in an environment that enables rapid germination upon contact with water during use. This preliminary preparation resolves the contradiction by optimizing both storage stability and subsequent germination speed.
2Quantity of substance
If the laundry composition is concentrated to reduce packaging and transport costs, then packaging and transport costs are reduced, but stability during storage and upon dilution may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The composition uses specific parameter ranges: surfactant at 10-85% w/w, rheology modifier at 5-20% w/w, and spores at 1×10² to 1×10⁹ CFU/g. These optimized parameters enable the concentrate to maintain stability during storage and upon dilution in water of varying hardness, while achieving concentration for reduced packaging and transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite system combining surfactant, rheology modifier, and bacterial spores in specific proportions. This composite formulation ensures that the concentrated composition remains stable during storage and maintains functionality when diluted, resolving the contradiction between concentration and stability.
3Reliability
If spores are added to provide malodor reduction benefits, then malodor removal capability is improved, but spore stability and germination capability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The rheology modifier acts as an intermediary substance that creates a protective environment for the spores within the detergent composition. This intermediary maintains spore stability during storage while preserving their germination capability, ensuring reliable malodor removal without compromising spore viability.
Data Source
AI summary
A concentrated laundry composition which is dilutable in water to form a liquid laundry detergent composition wherein the concentrated composition includes a high level of surfactant, bacterial spores, and optionally a rheology modifier.