Mild Liquid Detergent Formulations via Composite Mildness Indicator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current liquid laundry detergents often cause skin and eye irritation due to their surfactant compositions, and there is a need for mild yet effective formulations that balance cleaning performance with mildness.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a composite mildness indicator (CMI) derived from Zein test, corneosurfametry, and cytokine release tests is used to determine and formulate mild aqueous laundry detergent compositions, incorporating surfactants like alcohol ethoxysulfate, linear alkylbenzenesulfonate, and nonionic surfactants, with specific ratios and adjustments to achieve desired mildness and cleaning efficacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional surfactant compositions are used in liquid laundry detergent, then good cleaning performance is achieved, but skin and eye irritation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the surfactant composition by specifying particular surfactants (e.g., alcohol ethoxysulfate with 2-10 moles of ethylene oxide, linear alkylbenzenesulfonate with specific carbon chain lengths) and their concentration ranges. These parameter changes result in formulations that maintain cleaning effectiveness while reducing skin irritation, as evidenced by improved Zein scores and corneosurfametry values.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite surfactant systems combining multiple surfactant types (anionic surfactants like AES and LAS, nonionic surfactants like alcohol ethoxylates) in specific ratios. This composite approach synergistically maintains cleaning performance while the combined formulation reduces individual surfactant-related irritation issues, achieving both cleaning efficacy and mildness.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If mild surfactant formulations are developed to reduce skin irritation, then skin and eye mildness is improved, but cleaning performance may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes parameters such as surfactant concentration (e.g., AES at 5-30%, LAS at 5-20%), ethoxylation degree (2-10 moles EO), and pH range (6.0-8.5) to achieve formulations that are both mild to skin and effective cleaners. The composite mildness indicator (CMI) methodology is used to guide these parameter selections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism through the composite mildness indicator (CMI) which integrates multiple test results (Zein score, corneosurfametry, cytokine release) to evaluate and guide formulation adjustments. This feedback loop enables iterative optimization of both mildness and cleaning performance.
3Measurement precision
If multiple testing methods are employed to evaluate mildness, then accurate mildness assessment is achieved, but formulation development complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate mildness evaluation methods (Zein test, corneosurfametry, cytokine release assay) into a unified composite mildness indicator (CMI) framework. This integration allows comprehensive mildness assessment while streamlining the evaluation process through a single composite metric that guides formulation development.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite mildness indicator serves multiple functions: it evaluates protein denaturation potential (via Zein), skin barrier interaction (via corneosurfametry), and inflammatory response (via cytokine release). This multi-functional assessment tool simplifies formulation development by providing a comprehensive mildness evaluation in a unified framework.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides methods for determining mild aqueous laundry detergent formulations, mild liquid laundry detergent formulations, and methods for preparing the same. The formulations comprise various surfactants and have a low detergent mildness indicator, derived from combining results from Zein test, corneosurfametry test, and in vitro cytokine release test.