Washing method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional textile washing processes fail to effectively utilize concentrated surfactant solutions, leading to suboptimal cleaning performance due to high dilution rates and inefficient surfactant usage, which results in reduced interfacial tension and poor grease stain removal.
Innovation Solution
A washing process utilizing a microemulsion system in conjunction with water-insoluble solid particles, specifically polyalkanes, polyesters, or polyamides, that forms a Winsor II system at high concentration and transitions to a Winsor I system upon dilution, allowing for improved surfactant efficiency and grease solubilization without the need for excessive surfactant input.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional washing processes use high dilution rates, then water consumption is high, but surfactant efficiency decreases and cleaning performance is suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the concentration parameter of the washing liquor by using highly concentrated surfactant solutions (up to 100% active substance) instead of conventional diluted solutions. This parameter change enables effective cleaning with significantly reduced water consumption, as the concentrated surfactants maintain low interfacial tension and high cleaning efficiency even at minimal dilution
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-moistening the laundry with concentrated surfactant solution before the main washing cycle. This preliminary treatment allows the surfactants to penetrate and act on the soiled surfaces in advance, improving cleaning performance while reducing the total water volume needed during the washing process
2Reliability
If conventional processes use high surfactant input, then cleaning performance improves, but surfactant consumption and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the concentration parameter by using extremely concentrated surfactant formulations (up to 100% active substance) that require minimal quantities for effective cleaning. This reduces surfactant consumption while maintaining or improving cleaning performance due to the high activity and low interfacial tension achieved at these concentrations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes water from the conventional washing system, using only minimal amounts of water (or no water at all in some embodiments) combined with highly concentrated surfactants. This extraction of the water component reduces both water consumption and the total volume of washing liquor, thereby reducing surfactant consumption while maintaining cleaning effectiveness
3Reliability
If microemulsions are used to reduce interfacial tension, then grease solubilization improves, but system complexity and formulation requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the concentration parameter by using highly concentrated surfactant solutions that inherently achieve low interfacial tension without requiring complex microemulsion formulations. The high surfactant concentration itself produces the desired thermodynamic conditions for grease solubilization, simplifying the formulation while maintaining effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes water from the microemulsion system, using anhydrous or minimal-water concentrated surfactant formulations. This eliminates the need for complex water-oil-surfactant microemulsion formulations while achieving equivalent or superior grease solubilization through the high concentration and low interfacial tension of the surfactant-rich phase
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
This approach enhances washing performance by maintaining low interfacial tension and high surfactant efficiency, effectively removing grease stains while reducing surfactant consumption and water usage, overcoming the limitations of single-phase microemulsions.
Implementation Method 1
The present invention relates to a textile washing process in a washing machine using an aqueous washing liquor which contains a large number of water-insoluble solid polymer particles and a liquid phase, wherein the liquid phase contains a microemulsion
Implementation Method 2
In order to remove dirt, the interfacial tension between water and the grease component of the dirt must be reduced
Implementation Method 3
The microemulsion used in the process according to the invention contains 0.1 to 5% by weight of surfactants
Implementation Method 4
effectively removing grease stains while reducing surfactant consumption
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an aqueous washing liquid in a device for cleaning soiled textile substrates containing a plurality of water-insoluable solid particles and a liquid phase, which contains a microemulsion, and to a textile washing method using said type of washing liquid.