Low-Water Cleaning Composition for Pumpable Cold-Wash Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional liquid cleaning compositions have high water content, leading to increased packaging and shipping costs, energy consumption, and poor performance in cold or warm water without agitation, and existing pumpable detergents face challenges due to high viscosity, making them difficult to handle and dispense effectively.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning composition with a surfactant system comprising nonionic and anionic surfactants, a polyalcohol solvent system, and low water content, which maintains constant cleaning efficacy across varying dosages and temperatures, allowing for efficient packaging and 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 packaging and shipping costs increase 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 reducing packaging and shipping energy requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite solvent system combining polyalcohols (glycol, glycerin) with water to replace conventional high-water formulations, achieving both reduced water content and maintained ease of dispensing through the synergistic properties of the solvent mixture
2Reliability
If conventional liquid cleaning compositions are formulated for effectiveness, then cleaning performance is achieved, but the composition requires heat and agitation which consumes more energy and increases wear and damage to substrates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters by incorporating specific surfactant blends and solvent systems that enable effective cleaning at lower temperatures and with reduced agitation, directly addressing the energy consumption issue while maintaining cleaning reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces polyalcohol solvents as intermediaries that enhance the effectiveness of surfactants, allowing the cleaning composition to work effectively with minimal heat and agitation by improving the solubilization and distribution of cleaning agents
3Quantity of substance
If pumpable detergent is formulated with high viscosity to prevent product runout 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 optimizes the viscosity parameter by adjusting the solvent system composition (polyalcohol to water ratio) and surfactant selection, achieving a balanced viscosity that provides adequate concentration appearance and adhesion while remaining pumpable through handheld dispensers
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a concentrated cleaning composition that replicates the performance characteristics of high-viscosity formulations while using a lower-viscosity base that is easier to pump, effectively copying the desired properties without the pumping difficulties
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 effective cleaning with lower active doses, reduced energy consumption, and minimal agitation, while its low viscosity enables easy dispensing and targeting of stains, addressing the limitations of conventional detergents in terms of cost, performance, and handling.
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 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 continuous phase, 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.