Liquid Detergent Grease Cleaning via Alkoxylated Polymer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing liquid dishwashing detergents face challenges in effectively cleaning grease from dish surfaces while maintaining a high suds profile, leading to frequent replacement due to low sudsing levels.

Innovation Solution

A liquid detergent composition comprising an alkoxylated polyethyleneimine polymer and a sulphate or sulphonate surfactant, which provides improved grease cleaning while maintaining acceptable suds levels, ensuring sustained sudsing throughout the washing process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional liquid detergents are used to maintain high suds profile, then sudsing performance is improved, but grease cleaning effectiveness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesudsing performanceVSAvoidgrease cleaning effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple surfactant types (anionic, nonionic, and amphoteric) with specific alkoxylated polyethyleneimine polymers to create a composite detergent system. This composite formulation achieves synergistic effects where the combination provides both high sudsing performance and effective grease cleaning, resolving the contradiction between maintaining suds profile and improving grease removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent specifies precise parameter ranges for each ingredient including surfactant concentrations (5-40% anionic, 1-20% nonionic, 0.1-10% amphoteric), polymer molecular weight (400-10000), and alkoxylation degrees (1-40 moieties). By optimizing these parameters within defined ranges, the formulation achieves both high sudsing and effective grease cleaning simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-generated harmful factors

If detergent composition is optimized for grease cleaning, then grease removal is improved, but suds profile deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegrease removalVSAvoidsuds profile
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs multi-functional surfactant components that simultaneously provide both sudsing and grease cleaning capabilities. The anionic surfactants (sulphates, sulphonates) provide primary cleaning action, while nonionic surfactants contribute to suds stability and emulsification. The amphoteric surfactants and polyethyleneimine polymers enhance both cleaning and suds properties, creating a universally effective formulation that delivers dual functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If light-duty liquid detergent is used, then ease of operation is improved, but grease cleaning performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of useVSAvoidgrease cleaning performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The detergent formulation incorporates ingredients that provide self-enhancing cleaning action. The alkoxylated polyethyleneimine polymers with specific molecular weights and alkoxylation degrees (1-40 moieties per nitrogen atom) automatically adjust their cleaning effectiveness based on the grease load, providing sufficient power for tough grease spots while maintaining light-duty ease of use for normal washing scenarios.

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 grease from dish surfaces with improved performance and extended suds duration, reducing the need for frequent detergent replacement.

Implementation Method 1

a liquid detergent composition comprising: (a) from 0.1% to 10% by weight of the composition of an alkoxylated polyethyleneimine polymer... and (b) from 5% to 40% by weight of the composition of a sulphate or sulphonate surfactant

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSurfactant: Surfactant

Data Source

PatentEP2021452B1Liquid detergent composition for improved grease cleaning
Publication Date: 2018.03.21 PROCTER & GAMBLE CO
  • EP2021452B1 patent drawing
  • EP2021452B1 patent drawing
  • EP2021452B1 patent drawing

AI summary

A liquid detergent composition having alkoxylated polyethyleneimine polymer and alkyl or hydroxyalkyl sulphate or sulphonate surfactants to provide improved grease cleaning.