Low pH Laundry Detergent Composition with CMC Buffering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laundry detergent powders with high pH profiles achieve good cleaning performance but struggle to balance fabric care and appearance retention, necessitating a formulation approach that addresses undesirable cleaning performance skews at lower pH levels.
Innovation Solution
A solid free-flowing particulate laundry detergent composition with a pH range of 6.5 to 9.0, incorporating anionic detersive surfactant, zeolite builder, phosphate builder, sodium carbonate, sodium silicate, organic acid, and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), which balances cleaning and fabric care performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high pH profile (pH 10.5 or higher) is used in laundry detergent, then cleaning performance is improved through grease saponification and fabric fibre swelling mechanisms, but fabric care profile and fabric appearance performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pH parameter from traditional high pH (10.5 or higher) to low pH (6.5-9.0) range, fundamentally altering the chemical environment to reduce fabric damage while maintaining cleaning effectiveness through alternative mechanisms that do not rely on high pH saponification and fibre swelling
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the traditionally harmful effect of low pH (poor cleaning performance) into a benefit by demonstrating that low pH formulations can achieve good cleaning performance through carefully selected surfactant combinations and builder systems, while simultaneously eliminating the fabric damage caused by high pH
2Object-affected harmful factors
If low pH profile (pH 6.5-9.0) is used in laundry detergent, then fabric care profile and fabric appearance performance are improved, but cleaning performance deteriorates due to undesirable cleaning performance skews
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite material strategies by combining multiple surfactant types (anionic, non-ionic, amphoteric) with specific builders (zeolite, phosphate, sodium carbonate, sodium silicate) and carboxymethyl cellulose to create a synergistic formulation that achieves effective cleaning at low pH without relying on traditional high pH mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces carboxymethyl cellulose and specific builder systems as intermediary substances that facilitate cleaning performance at low pH by providing alternative soil removal mechanisms that do not require high pH conditions, thereby mediating between the low pH environment and effective cleaning
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 achieves improved cleaning performance and fabric care by maintaining a stable pH, reducing undesirable cleaning skews, and enhancing fabric appearance and shape retention.
Implementation Method 1
the composition when formulated using a specific base detergent particle, specific formulation features and a specific cellulosic polymer, namely carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)... the composition at 1wt% dilution in deionized water at 20°C, has an equilibrium pH in the range of from 6.5 to 9.0
Implementation Method 2
anionic detersive surfactant... (a) from 4wt% to 35wt% anionic detersive surfactant
Implementation Method 3
from 0wt% to 8wt% zeolite builder... (b) from 1wt% to 8wt% zeolite builder
Implementation Method 4
from 4wt% to 20wt% organic acid; (f) from 1wt% to 10wt% organic acid... has an equilibrium pH in the range of from 6.5 to 9.0
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a solid free flowing particulate laundry detergent composition comprising: (a) anionic detersive surfactant; (b) from 0wt% to 8wt% zeolite builder; (c) from 0wt% to 4wt% phosphate builder; (d) from 0wt% to 8wt% sodium carbonate; (e) from 0wt% to 8wt% sodium silicate; (f) from 4wt% to 20wt% organic acid; and (g) carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), wherein the composition at 1wt% dilution in deionized water at 20°C, has an equilibrium pH in the range of from 6.5 to 9.0, wherein the composition comprises from 30wt% to 90wt% base detergent particle, wherein the base detergent particle comprising (by weight of the base detergent particle): (a) from 4wt% to 35wt% anionic detersive surfactant; (b) optionally, from 1wt% to 8wt% zeolite builder; (c) from 0wt% to 4wt% phosphate builder; (d) from 0wt% to 8wt% sodium carbonate; (e) from 0wt% to 8wt% sodium silicate; (f) from 1wt% to 10wt% organic acid; and (g) optionally, from 1wt% to 10wt% magnesium sulphate.