Microcapsule Membrane Crosslinking for Detergent Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing microencapsulation techniques for detergent components in liquid detergent concentrates fail to achieve optimal protection and timely release, often resulting in either premature release or impermeable membranes that prevent enzyme migration, leading to storage stability issues and incompatibility problems.

Innovation Solution

The use of microcapsules with a semipermeable membrane formed by cross-linking polybranched polyamines, which allows for the encapsulation and stabilization of detergent components, enabling controlled release upon dilution in water, thus protecting sensitive components from enzyme degradation and incompatibilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If coacervation is used to form the shell, then protection of detergent components is improved, but the shell becomes either too impermeable or too permeable, failing to achieve controlled release

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection performanceVSAvoidcontrolled release performance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fundamental parameter of membrane formation from coacervation to interfacial polymerization. This parameter change enables precise control over membrane permeability and strength, resolving the contradiction between protection performance and controlled release capability that plagues coacervation-based systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite material structures with core-shell architecture, where the shell is formed by interfacial polymerization of specific monomers. This composite approach allows optimization of both protective function and release control by selecting appropriate core materials and shell-forming monomers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Stability of the object's composition

If the shell is made impermeable to protect components, then storage stability is improved, but release upon dilution is prevented

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage stabilityVSAvoidrelease speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a dynamic membrane system through interfacial polymerization that adapts its permeability in response to environmental changes, specifically dilution. The membrane maintains impermeability during storage for stability but becomes permeable upon dilution for rapid release, resolving the contradiction between storage stability and release speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If the shell is made permeable to enable release, then release performance is improved, but premature release occurs during storage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverelease performanceVSAvoidstorage stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by forming a protective membrane through interfacial polymerization that prevents premature release during storage. The membrane is designed to maintain its integrity under storage conditions while being pre-programmed to release contents upon dilution, thus preventing the harmful effect of premature release while preserving release performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

4Reliability

If high specific surface area membranes are used to protect components, then protection is improved, but enzyme migration through the membrane occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection performanceVSAvoidenzyme migration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the membrane formation mechanism from coacervation to interfacial polymerization, which fundamentally alters the membrane's molecular structure and pore characteristics. This parameter change creates a membrane with appropriate pore size and chemical properties that prevents enzyme migration while maintaining high specific surface area for effective protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 microcapsules effectively stabilize sensitive detergent components during storage and ensure timely release during use, enhancing the stability and performance of enzymes and other labile compounds in liquid detergents by controlling water activity and membrane permeability.

Implementation Method 1

cross-linking of a polybranched polyamine having a molecular weight of more than 800 Da

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCross-linking: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

microcapsules with a semipermeable membrane formed by cross-linking polybranched polyamines

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSemipermeable membrane formation: Semipermeable Membrane

Implementation Method 3

controlling water activity and membrane permeability

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWater activity control: Osmosis

Data Source

PatentEP3137589B1Microencapsulation of detergent components

Publication Date: 2019.07.31 NOVOZYMES AS

AI summary

The present invention provides a microcapsule composition produced by crosslinking of a polybranched polyamine, which is used for stabilizing non-enzymatic detergent components.