Low-Water Cleaning Composition for Pumpable Cold-Wash Performance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional liquid cleaning compositions have high water content, leading to increased costs in packaging and shipping, and poor performance in cold or warm water without agitation, making them inefficient and environmentally unfriendly. Additionally, existing pumpable detergent formulations are cumbersome due to high viscosity, which hinders effective dispensing.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning composition with a surfactant system comprising nonionic and anionic surfactants, a polyalcohol solvent system, and low water content, allowing for effective cleaning in a concentrated form with minimal agitation and heat, and a low viscosity that enables easy dispensing through a handheld pump.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional liquid cleaning compositions use high water content, then the composition is easy to dispense and apply, but the cost of packaging and shipping increases due to more energy use and handling efforts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the water content parameter from conventional high levels (70-90 wt%) to reduced levels (10-50 wt%), creating a concentrated cleaning composition that maintains dispensability while significantly reducing packaging and shipping energy costs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite solvent system combining polyalcohols (glycol, glycerin) with water to replace conventional high water content formulations, achieving both concentrated stability and ease of dispensing through the synergistic properties of multiple solvents
2Ease of operation
If conventional liquid cleaning compositions are formulated for use in cold or warm water without agitation, then the composition is convenient for use, but the cleaning performance is mediocre or poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the surfactant system parameters by combining specific nonionic surfactants (alkyl polyglucosides) with anionic surfactants (alkyl sulfonates) in optimized ratios, enabling effective cleaning in cold water without requiring agitation or heat
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite surfactant system where nonionic and anionic surfactants work synergistically, with the nonionic surfactants providing cold water solubility and the anionic surfactants providing cleaning power, achieving reliable performance across varying water temperatures
3Quantity of substance
If pumpable detergent formulations use high viscosity to prevent product running and provide appearance of higher concentration, then the product appears more concentrated and adheres better, but the product becomes more difficult to pump
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts the viscosity parameter by optimizing the polyalcohol content and surfactant ratios, achieving a balanced viscosity that provides sufficient product adherence and concentration appearance while maintaining pumpability through handheld dispensers
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses polyalcohols as intermediary substances that mediate between the conflicting requirements of viscosity and pumpability, providing the necessary thickening and adherence properties while maintaining fluidity for easy pumping through the use of low-viscosity polyalcohol compounds
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 provides consistent cleaning efficacy across varying concentrations and temperatures, reducing energy consumption and substrate damage, while allowing for efficient packaging and use, and is environmentally friendly with reduced active ingredient requirements.
Implementation Method 1
a solvent system comprising a polyalcohol, the solvent system being present in an amount effective to solubilize the surfactant system in the water
Implementation Method 2
a surfactant system comprising a nonionic surfactant in combination with an anionic surfactant
Implementation Method 3
an enzyme present in an amount of less than about 15 wt %
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning composition according to one embodiment includes a surfactant system comprising a nonionic surfactant in combination with an anionic surfactant; water present in an amount from 0 to about 40 wt % based on a total weight of the cleaning composition; a solvent system comprising a polyalcohol, the solvent system being present in an amount effective to solubilize the surfactant system in the water; and an enzyme present in an amount of less than about 15 wt %; wherein the cleaning composition is in a form of a water-in-oil emulsion, wherein the cleaning composition is characterized as exhibiting about a constant cleaning efficacy as measured using test procedure ASTM D4265 when the cleaning composition is added to 69 liters of exterior water in amounts ranging from about 9 to about 22 grams of cleaning composition. Methods for pretreating and cleaning laundry and nontextile surfaces are also presented.