Liquid Detergent pH Stabilization via Inorganic Organic Base Merging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Highly concentrated liquid detergents face stability issues due to challenges in maintaining optimal pH values, which can lead to phase separations or precipitation, especially with the use of inorganic bases increasing electrolyte content and organic bases causing pH drift over time.
Innovation Solution
A combination of inorganic and organic bases in specific molar ratios (1:2 to 1:8, preferably 1:3 to 1:5) is used to adjust the pH of liquid detergents with surfactant concentrations between 32 to 38% by weight, ensuring a stable pH range of 8.2 to 8.6 and minimizing pH drift during storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If inorganic base is used to adjust pH, then pH adjustment effectiveness is improved, but electrolyte content increases causing cloudiness and instability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines inorganic base (e.g., NaOH) and organic base (e.g., ethanolamine) in a specific molar ratio range of 1:2 to 1:8 to achieve both effective pH adjustment and formulation stability. This merging of two base types allows the inorganic base to provide strong pH control while the organic base mitigates the cloudiness and instability issues, resolving the contradiction between pH adjustment effectiveness and formulation stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the molar ratio parameter of the base combination within the range of 1:2 to 1:8 (inorganic base:organic base). By carefully controlling this parameter, the formulation achieves both effective pH adjustment (pH 8.2-8.6) and improved stability, preventing the cloudiness and phase separation that would occur with high inorganic base content alone.
2Reliability
If organic base is used to adjust pH, then formulation clarity is improved, but pH value changes over time causing stability problems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges organic base (providing clarity) with inorganic base (providing pH stability) in a specific molar ratio range of 1:2 to 1:8. This combination allows the organic base to maintain formulation clarity while the inorganic base component prevents pH drift over time, resolving the contradiction between formulation clarity and pH stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The inorganic base acts as a stabilizing intermediary that counteracts the pH drift tendency of the organic base. By introducing the inorganic base component, the system achieves a balance where the organic base provides clarity benefits while the inorganic base mediates pH stability, preventing time-dependent pH changes.
3Productivity
If surfactant concentration is increased to reduce volume, then resource efficiency is improved, but product stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the pH parameter (maintaining it within 8.2-8.6 through controlled base combination) to enable higher surfactant concentrations (32-38% by weight) without compromising stability. By carefully controlling the pH parameter through the base ratio, the formulation achieves both high concentration (improved resource efficiency) and stability (preventing phase separation and precipitation).
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 solution stabilizes the pH of highly concentrated liquid detergents, preventing phase separations and precipitation, and maintaining enzyme stability over long storage periods, thus enhancing the detergents' performance and stability.
Implementation Method 1
a combination of inorganic and organic bases in certain molar ratios to adjust the pH value is used
Implementation Method 2
In common liquid detergents, either an inorganic base, such as sodium hydroxide (NaOH), or an organic base, such as mono- or triethanolamine, is used to adjust the pH
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to highly concentrated liquid detergents with a surfactant content greater than or equal to 30 wt.%, having an optimised product stability and an optimally adjusted and stable pH value, wherein, for adjusting the pH value, a combination of at least one inorganic and at least one organic base is used. The invention also relates to methods for washing textiles using the described detergents and to the use thereof.