Phosphate-Free Dishwasher Detergent Composition with Manganese Catalyst

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Solution Overview

Problem

Phosphate-free machine dishwash detergents using amino (poly)carboxylic compounds like MGDA, GLDA, and IDS face reduced wash performance in terms of degreasing and grease build-up prevention compared to phosphate-based compositions, and often result in foaming issues.

Innovation Solution

A phosphate-free machine dishwash detergent composition combining 15-70 wt% of a non-phosphate builder system with MGDA, GLDA, or IDS, 0.1-15 wt% of a nonionic surfactant system including C10-C18 alkyl dimethylamine oxide and alkylpolyethylene glycol ether nonionic surfactants, and at least one bleaching agent or enzyme, with a manganese complex bleach catalyst for enhanced cleaning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If phosphate-free builder systems (MGDA, GLDA, IDS) are used in machine dishwash detergent, then environmental friendliness is improved, but wash performance (degreasing and grease build-up prevention) deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental friendlinessVSAvoidwash performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple nonionic surfactants (amine oxides, alkylpolyethylene glycol ethers, and optionally carboxylic acid derivatives) with the phosphate-free builder system to create a synergistic formulation that compensates for the reduced degreasing performance of amino (poly)carboxylic compounds while maintaining environmental benefits

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The detergent composition uses a composite surfactant system comprising at least two different nonionic surfactants working together with the builder system, creating a multi-component formulation that achieves both environmental compatibility and effective cleaning performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If phosphate-free builder systems are used in machine dishwash detergent, then environmental friendliness is improved, but foaming control deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental friendlinessVSAvoidfoaming
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent selects specific nonionic surfactants with appropriate cloud points and foaming characteristics, using amine oxides and alkylpolyethylene glycol ethers in controlled concentrations to modulate foam stability and achieve low-foaming performance compatible with phosphate-free formulations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If nonionic surfactants with high cloud point are used in machine dishwash detergent, then cleaning performance is improved, but foaming increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning performanceVSAvoidfoaming
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines amine oxide surfactants (which provide good cleaning performance) with alkylpolyethylene glycol ether surfactants (which have lower foaming tendencies) to create a balanced surfactant system that achieves effective cleaning while controlling foam generation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Different surfactants are assigned different functional roles: amine oxides handle the cleaning/degreasing function while alkylpolyethylene glycol ethers provide foam control and surface activity, creating local functional specialization within the surfactant system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 and degreasing performance while maintaining spotting and filming performance, reducing foaming issues and enhancing stain removal, particularly with the inclusion of a manganese complex bleach catalyst.

Implementation Method 1

a nonionic surfactant system comprising i) a C10-C18 alkyl dimethylamine oxide, ii) an alkylpolyethylene glycol ether nonionic surfactant

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSurface tension reduction: Surfactant

Implementation Method 2

a non-phosphate containing builder system comprising at least one of MGDA, GLDA and IDS

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChelation:

Implementation Method 3

with a manganese complex bleach catalyst for enhanced cleaning

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCatalysis: Catalysis

Implementation Method 4

at least one bleaching agent or enzyme

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Data Source

PatentEP2997121B1Machine dishwash detergent composition
Publication Date: 2018.12.05 UNILEVER NV

AI summary

The present invention concerns a machine dishwash detergent composition comprising an amino polycarboxylic compound such methylglycine diacetic acid (MGDA), glutamic diacetic acid (GLDA) and imino disuccinic acid (IDS), and at least two different nonionic surfactants.