Metathesis-Derived Surfactants for Hard Surface Cleaners
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hard surface cleaners face challenges in achieving effective degreasing and disinfection without leaving streaks or films, particularly with the need for environmentally friendly and economically viable surfactants that can handle greasy soils effectively.
Innovation Solution
Development of hard surface cleaners utilizing metathesis-derived C10-C17 monounsaturated acids and their ester derivatives to create anionic and nonionic surfactants, which are superior in performance to commercial standards in washability tests, including the use of C10 or C12 amides as solvents in industrial degreasers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional surfactants are used in hard surface cleaners, then cleaning performance can be achieved, but environmental friendliness and cost-effectiveness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of surfactants by using metathesis-derived C10-C17 monounsaturated acids instead of conventional surfactant ingredients. This parameter change maintains cleaning performance while improving environmental compatibility and cost-effectiveness through renewable feedstock utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs readily available metathesis-derived feedstocks that can be produced cost-effectively at scale, replacing expensive or environmentally problematic conventional surfactants. The use of renewable oil-based feedstocks provides an economically viable and environmentally friendly alternative.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If metathesis-derived surfactants are used, then environmental friendliness and cost-effectiveness improve, but cleaning efficacy may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the chain length parameter of metathesis-derived surfactants to C10-C17 range, which provides the right balance between hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties. This parameter optimization ensures effective grease removal while maintaining environmental friendliness, resolving the contradiction between efficacy and environmental impact.
3Reliability
If large carbon chain fatty esters or amides are used, then surfactant function is provided, but the compounds behave as soil under cleaning conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the carbon chain length parameter from conventional C16-C22 fatty esters to metathesis-derived C10-C17 monounsaturated acids. This parameter reduction prevents the surfactant molecules from behaving as soil themselves, while still maintaining adequate surfactant function for effective cleaning.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If environmentally friendly builders and buffers are used, then environmental compliance improves, but cleaning performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pH range parameter to 5-9 using environmentally friendly buffers, and compensates for any performance loss by optimizing the metathesis-derived surfactant structure. The C10-C17 chain length provides optimal cleaning performance within the environmentally compliant pH range, resolving the contradiction between compliance and performance.
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 surfactants derived from natural oil metathesis outperform commercial counterparts in Gardner straight-line washability tests, demonstrating improved cleaning efficacy and compatibility with other cleaner components, while being environmentally friendly and cost-effective.
Implementation Method 1
metathesis relies on conversion of olefins into new products by rupture and reformation of carbon-carbon double bonds mediated by transition metal carbene complexes
Implementation Method 2
Recent improvements in metathesis catalysts provide an opportunity to generate reduced chain length, monounsaturated feedstocks
Implementation Method 3
the mere handful here illustrates the diverse area: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,770,549 (non-solvent cleaner using 3-67% of a sugar surfactant and 1-3% of a C 6 -C 12 alcohol ethoxylate)
Data Source
AI summary
Aqueous hard surface cleaner compositions derived from metathesized natural oil feedstocks are disclosed. In one aspect, the compositions comprise at least one anionic surfactant derived from a metathesis-derived C10-C17 monounsaturated acid, octadecene-1,18-dioic acid, or their ester derivatives. Particular classes of sulfonated materials (e.g., certain amide sulfonates, sulfonated fatty ester alkoxylates, amidoamine sulfonates, amidoamine betaine sulfonates, sulfo-estolides) are identified as having value as the anionic surfactant. In another aspect, aqueous hard surface cleaners comprising at least one nonionic or amphoteric surfactant derived from a metathesis- derived C10-C17 monounsaturated acid, octadecene-1,18-dioic acid, or their ester derivatives are disclosed. Particular classes of these surfactants (e.g., certain amides, imidazoline quat sulfonates, fatty ester alkoxylates, and amine oxides, betaines, amidoamine sulfobetaines) are also identified. The aqueous cleaners noted above rival or outperform commercial baselines in a Gardner straight-line washability test. Industrial degreasers comprising a C10 or C12 amide solvent and derived from a metathesis-derived C10-C17 monounsaturated acid are superior to commercial standards.