Mesitylene Sulfonate Stabilizes Hypochlorite Cleaning Formulations

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Solution Overview

Problem

Sodium hypochlorite-based cleaning compositions are prone to degradation and react with desirable adjuvants, leading to stability issues and undesirable side effects such as caustic pH levels, limiting their effectiveness and safety for surface treatment.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a soluble salt of 2,4,6 mesitylene sulfonate into the compositions, which significantly enhances the stability of hypohalite or hypohalous acid bleach components, reducing reactivity with adjuvants and maintaining stability without increasing pH levels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If sodium hydroxide or other soluble, strong base hydroxides are added to aqueous liquid compositions to increase stability, then the stability of hypochlorite is improved, but the pH greatly increases causing caustic damage to surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability of hypochloriteVSAvoidcaustic damage to surfaces

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameter by using sodium carbonate (pH 11.5) instead of sodium hydroxide (pH 14), achieving stable hypochlorite formulation at a lower, less caustic pH level that prevents surface damage while maintaining formulation stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs sodium carbonate, a readily available and inexpensive stabilizer, replacing expensive or problematic strong bases like sodium hydroxide, achieving cost-effective stability without the harmful side effects

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Productivity

If adjuvants are added to enhance cleaning performance, then the effectiveness is improved, but they quickly react with hypochlorite reducing stability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidstability of hypochlorite

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses sodium carbonate as an intermediary substance that mediates between the hypochlorite and adjuvants, creating a stable environment where adjuvants can perform their cleaning functions without rapidly reacting with and degrading the hypochlorite

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies prior cushioning by pre-formulating the composition with sodium carbonate to create a buffered environment that protects the hypochlorite from rapid degradation when adjuvants are introduced, preventing instability before it occurs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentUS9120999B2Mesitylene sulfonate compositions and methods for cleaning a surface

Publication Date: 2015.09.01 THE CLOROX CO

AI summary

The invention relates to compositions including a hypohalite or hypochlorous acid and a soluble salt of 2,4,6 mesitylene sulfonate. The compositions may include a surfactant, a buffer, or combinations thereof. Other adjuvants may also be present. Such compositions do not require the inclusion of high concentrations of sodium hydroxide or other soluble hydroxide salts to drastically increase pH (and thus stability), although such hydroxides may be present if desired.