Liquid Laundry Detergent Surfactants for Reduced 1,4-Dioxane
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry detergent compositions using a combination of sulfonate and alkyl ethoxylated sulfate anionic surfactants face challenges in effectively removing greasy stains while minimizing 1,4-dioxane by-products and maintaining physical stability, especially at lower temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A liquid laundry detergent composition comprising a surfactant system with a combination of alkyl alkanolamide sulfate and sulfonate anionic surfactants, optimized to enhance greasy stain removal without introducing 1,4-dioxane, using alkyl chains derived from renewable sources and controlled ethoxylation levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If alkyl ethoxylated sulfate anionic surfactants are used to improve greasy stain removal, then cleaning performance is improved, but 1,4-dioxane by-product levels increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the harmful 1,4-dioxane by-product from the surfactant formulation by replacing alkyl ethoxylated sulfate anionic surfactants with alkyl sulfate anionic surfactants that have little or no ethoxylation, thereby removing the source of dioxane formation while maintaining cleaning effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the ethoxylation parameter of the alkyl sulfate anionic surfactant from high (in alkyl ethoxylated sulfates) to low or zero levels, which eliminates 1,4-dioxane by-product formation while preserving the surfactant's grease-removing capabilities through optimized surfactant composition
2Object-generated harmful factors
If alkyl sulfate anionic surfactants with little or no ethoxylation are used to reduce 1,4-dioxane levels, then 1,4-dioxane content is reduced, but greasy stain removal performance and physical stability at lower temperatures deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite surfactant system combining alkyl sulfate anionic surfactants (with little or no ethoxylation) and alkyl aryl sulfonate anionic surfactants, where the synergistic interaction between these components restores and enhances greasy stain removal performance and low-temperature physical stability while maintaining reduced 1,4-dioxane levels
3Productivity
If conventional surfactant combinations are used to achieve good stain removal, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but formulation complexity and manufacturing processes increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent simplifies the formulation by changing the surfactant parameters to use alkyl sulfate anionic surfactants with little or no ethoxylation combined with alkyl aryl sulfonate anionic surfactants, eliminating the need for complex ethoxylation processes and subsequent 1,4-dioxane removal steps while maintaining effective stain removal performance
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 removes both hydrophobic and hydrophilic stains with reduced 1,4-dioxane levels, maintaining stability and performance across various temperatures.
Implementation Method 1
the surfactant system comprises anionic surfactant, wherein the anionic surfactant comprises a combination of alkyl alkanolamide sulfate anionic surfactant and sulfonate anionic surfactant
Data Source
AI summary
The need for liquid laundry detergent compositions which provide good removal of both hydrophobic and hydrophilic stains, while also comprising reduced levels of 1,4-dioxane, or even no 1,4-dioxane, is met by formulating the laundry detergent composition with a combination of sulfonate anionic surfactant and an alkyl alkanolamide sulfate anionic surfactant.