Liquid Soap Silver Compounds Antibacterial Activity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current soap-based liquid cleansing formulations have limited biocidal activity against Gram positive bacteria, particularly at high pH levels and short contact times typical of wash-off cleansing applications, such as 30 seconds or less.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating selected silver (I) compounds with specific solubility values into liquid soap formulations, at concentrations as low as 0.1 to 100 ppm, to enhance biocidal activity against Gram positive and negative bacteria, while maintaining a pH range of 8 to 11, thereby modifying the microbial environment to enable soap molecules to act as biocides.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high pH liquid soap compositions are used for cleansing, then effective cleansing/detergency action is achieved, but biocidal action against Gram positive bacteria is considerably limited within typical contact times
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the chemical composition parameters of the liquid soap - specifically incorporating silver compounds at optimized concentrations (0.1-100 ppm) and adjusting the pH range (8-11) to enhance biocidal activity against Gram positive bacteria while maintaining effective cleansing performance within short contact times
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite cleansing formulation by combining traditional soap ingredients with silver compounds (such as silver nitrate, silver sulfate, or silver acetate) to produce a liquid soap composition that exhibits both effective detergency and enhanced biocidal activity against Gram positive bacteria, achieving dual functionality in a single product
2Reliability
If silver compounds are added to enhance biocidal activity, then antibacterial effectiveness is improved, but formulation complexity and manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes specific parameter ranges for silver compound concentration (0.1-100 ppm) and pH (8-11) that optimize antibacterial activity while providing manufacturing flexibility. These parameter specifications enable consistent product performance without requiring extreme manufacturing precision, as the effective range is sufficiently broad to accommodate normal production variations
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 use of these silver compounds achieves a Log10 Reduction of at least 2.5 against S. aureus at 30 seconds and 1.5 at 10 seconds, providing effective antibacterial activity with significant cost benefits and sensory advantages.
Implementation Method 1
Incorporating selected silver (I) compounds with specific solubility values into liquid soap formulations, at concentrations as low as 0.1 to 100 ppm, to enhance biocidal activity against Gram positive and negative bacteria
Implementation Method 2
Soap compositions, for example, bars and liquids, are known to have antibacterial benefits largely associated with the removal of organisms from the skin through the cleansing/detergency action of such products
Data Source
AI summary
Method of cleansing human skin employing an aqueous soap composition comprising of fatty acid soap, at least one silver (I) compound having a silver ion solubility (in water at 25° C.) of at least 1×10−4 mol/L, and water, which composition provides biocidal activity against Gram positive bacteria in particular S. aureus, in relatively short contact periods.