Micellar Laundry Detergent Formulation for Biocide Compatibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Formulating laundry detergents with biocides is challenging due to interference from anionic surfactants and long-chain nonionic surfactants, which can impede biocide efficacy and cleaning performance, necessitating the development of ingredients that enhance biocidal impact while maintaining cleaning effectiveness and pour viscosity.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating amine oxide with nonionic surfactants and quaternary ammonium salts in specific ratios, forming micellar structures that enhance the biocidal activity of quaternary ammonium biocides while maintaining high surfactant levels for effective cleaning and viscosity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If anionic surfactants or long chain nonionic surfactants are used in laundry detergent formulations, then cleaning performance is improved, but biocide efficacy is impeded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebiocide efficacyVSAvoidsurfactant interference

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes anionic surfactants from the formulation entirely and replaces them with amine oxide surfactants. This extraction of the problematic component (anionic surfactant) eliminates its interfering effect on biocide efficacy while maintaining cleaning performance through the use of alternative surfactant chemistry that is compatible with quaternary ammonium biocides.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the surfactant type parameter from anionic to amine oxide, and specifies a particular ratio range (1:4 to 4:1) between amine oxide and nonionic surfactant. This parameter change in surfactant chemistry and formulation ratio enables biocide efficacy to be achieved while maintaining effective cleaning performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If minimum amount of biocide is used, then safety and cost are improved, but desired biocidal task may not be achieved due to interference

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebiocidal task achievementVSAvoidbiocide amount

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The amine oxide surfactant acts as an intermediary that enhances biocide efficacy. By using amine oxide instead of anionic surfactants, the formulation creates a synergistic environment where lower amounts of biocide (0.1-5% range) can achieve the desired biocidal effect. The amine oxide mediates between the biocide and the aqueous environment, improving biocide availability and effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If high surfactant levels are used for effective cleaning, then cleaning performance is improved, but pour viscosity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning performanceVSAvoidpour viscosity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a composite surfactant system combining amine oxide and nonionic surfactant in specific ratios. This composite approach allows the formulation to achieve effective cleaning performance through synergistic surfactant action while managing viscosity through the balanced composition of different surfactant types with complementary properties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS12553009B2Detergent formulations

Publication Date: 2026.02.17 PROCTER & GAMBLE CO

AI summary

A laundry detergent composition can include a nonionic surfactant, an amine oxide, and a quaternary ammonium salt biocide, where the composition is micellar.