Self-Preserved Liquid Laundry Detergent With Alkaline pH Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Laundry detergent compositions cause skin and eye irritation due to surfactants, and water-based products are prone to mold and bacteria growth, necessitating preservatives that can further irritate sensitive skin.

Innovation Solution

A self-preserved liquid laundry detergent composition with a Zein score of not more than 2% dissolved zein, comprising anionic and non-ionic surfactants, fatty acids, and optional additives like sodium chloride and ascorbic acid, without preservatives, achieving a pH of 9 to 12 to maintain cleaning efficacy and prevent microbial growth.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If preservatives are added to prevent mold and bacteria growth, then product safety and stability are improved, but skin irritation and itching increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduct safetyVSAvoidskin irritation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes preservatives from the detergent composition entirely, extracting the harmful preservative component while maintaining product safety through alternative means (surfactant system design and pH control)

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The detergent composition achieves self-preservation through its surfactant system and pH control mechanisms, eliminating the need for external preservatives. The formulation self-regulates to prevent microbial growth without adding separate preservative agents

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If surfactants are used to provide cleaning performance, then cleaning efficacy is improved, but skin and eye irritation increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning performanceVSAvoidskin irritation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the chemical parameters of the surfactant system by selecting specific anionic and nonionic surfactant combinations with controlled concentrations, adjusting the formulation to achieve effective cleaning while reducing irritative properties through optimized surfactant selection and ratios

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If liquid detergent formulation is used for effective cleaning, then cleaning capability is improved, but susceptibility to mold and bacteria growth increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning capabilityVSAvoidmicrobial stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The liquid detergent formulation achieves self-preservation through its surfactant system and pH control, eliminating the need for external preservatives. The formulation self-regulates to prevent microbial growth without adding separate preservative agents

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 cleans textiles while being mild on skin, reducing microbial growth with a greater than 3 log reduction in bacteria and fungi, avoiding preservative-related irritation.

Implementation Method 1

Laundry detergent compositions contain surfactants which impart good cleaning performance

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurfactant action: Surfactant

Implementation Method 2

wherein the detergent composition has a pH of about 9 to about 12

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAlkaline environment inhibition:

Data Source

PatentUS20250326988A1Self-preserved, mild liquid laundry detergent formulas

Publication Date: 2025.10.23 HENKEL KGAA

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a mild, self-preserving detergent composition that comprises a combination of materials such as salt, ethanol, acid, pH adjusters and antioxidants to overcome potential bacteria or fungal growth in the detergent product. The detergent composition has a Zein score of not more than about 2% dissolved zein when tested on a 10% dilution.