Laundry Liquid Composition with Alkyl Ether Sulphate for Cotton Whiteness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid laundry detergents based on anionic and non-ionic surfactants tend to cause greater yellowing of cotton fabrics compared to polyester, necessitating an enhanced deposition of dye polymers on cotton fibers to maintain fabric whiteness.
Innovation Solution
A liquid laundry detergent formulation comprising a mixture of anionic and non-ionic surfactants with a specific ratio of Alkyl Ether Sulphate, combined with a dye polymer of polyethylene imine covalently bound to a reactive blue or violet dye, where the Alkyl Ether Sulphate has less than 2 EO groups but at least 1 EO group, to enhance dye deposition on cotton fibers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If Alkyl Ether Sulphate with 2 or more EO groups is used, then the washing performance is improved, but the relative deposition of dye polymer to cotton over polyester decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of EO group number in Alkyl Ether Sulphate from 2 or more to specifically 1 or 2 EO groups. This parameter modification optimizes the balance between washing performance and dye deposition efficiency, achieving enhanced relative deposition to cotton while maintaining adequate washing performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a dynamic optimization approach by carefully controlling the ratio of Alkyl Ether Sulphate to total anionic surfactant (0.3 to 0.8) and the specific EO group number, allowing the formulation to adapt to different washing conditions while maintaining optimal dye deposition on cotton fibers.
2Illumination intensity
If dye polymer deposition on cotton is increased to counteract yellowing, then the whiteness of cotton is improved, but the formulation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The Alkyl Ether Sulphate with 1 or 2 EO groups serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides washing performance, enhances dye polymer deposition to cotton, and contributes to the overall stability of the formulation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized additives, thereby simplifying the overall formulation while achieving improved whiteness.
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 formulation achieves a higher relative deposition of the dye polymer on cotton fibers compared to polyester, thereby improving the perceived whiteness of cotton fabrics.
Implementation Method 1
Such dye polymers deposits to polyester and cotton clothes under wash conditions and thereby whitening the fabric via a shading effect
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention concerns liquid laundry compositions with specific surfactant mixtures and dye polymers covalently bound to a polyethylene imine substituted by groups selected from ethyl alcohol and iso-propyl alcohol. The present invention is also related to a domestic laundry method.