Modified Amino Acid Antimicrobial Composition for Greasy Surface Cleaning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current antibacterial household compositions lack efficiency and environmental friendliness, particularly in cleaning tough greasy surfaces and providing shine without streaks, while also requiring improved safety profiles for food contact surfaces.

Innovation Solution

An antimicrobial composition comprising an aqueous solution with a modified amino acid antimicrobial agent, surfactants, and a pH-adjusting agent, suitable for hard surfaces, which provides effective cleaning and shine while being environmentally friendly and safe for food contact surfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional antibacterial compositions are used, then basic sanitization is achieved, but cleaning efficacy on tough greasy soils is insufficient and surfaces do not leave a shiny streak-free finish

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantibacterial efficacyVSAvoidcleaning performance on greasy surfaces

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The composition combines multiple surfactants (anionic and nonionic) with modified amino acid antimicrobials to create a composite formulation that simultaneously achieves greasy soil removal, shine, and antibacterial efficacy. This composite approach allows the composition to address multiple performance requirements that cannot be met by single ingredients.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the amino acid structure by adding hydrophobic groups to enhance grease removal capability while maintaining antimicrobial activity. This structural parameter change allows the antimicrobial agent to also function as a grease-cutting component, resolving the contradiction between sanitization and cleaning performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If stronger antimicrobial agents are used to improve antibacterial efficacy, then sanitization performance increases, but environmental and human safety profiles deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesanitization performanceVSAvoidenvironmental and human safety

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The amino acid structure is modified by adding hydrophobic groups (such as alkyl chains) to enhance antimicrobial potency against tough soils while maintaining biodegradability and reduced toxicity. This parameter modification allows achieving stronger sanitization with improved safety profiles compared to conventional synthetic antimicrobials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the typically harmful effect of strong antimicrobials on the environment into a benefit by using modified amino acids that maintain potency but enhance biodegradability and reduce ecotoxicity. The modification transforms a potential harm (environmental persistence) into a benefit (enhanced breakdown and safety).

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Productivity

If formulations are designed for strong cleaning power on greasy surfaces, then cleaning efficacy improves, but the compositions become less environmentally friendly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning efficacy on greasy soilsVSAvoidenvironmental friendliness

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The surfactant molecules are structurally modified to balance hydrophobic cleaning power with biodegradability. The modified amino acid structure provides strong grease removal through enhanced hydrophobic interaction while the amino acid backbone ensures rapid environmental breakdown, resolving the contradiction between cleaning power and environmental friendliness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Illumination intensity

If compositions are formulated to provide shine and streak-free finish, then surface appearance improves, but antibacterial efficacy may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurface shine and streak-free finishVSAvoidantibacterial activity

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the functions of shine provision and antibacterial action into a single integrated composition. The modified amino acids serve dual purposes: they provide the surface activity needed for streak-free shine while simultaneously delivering potent antimicrobial activity. This merging eliminates the need to choose between appearance and sanitization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 strong antibacterial efficacy, effective cleaning on greasy surfaces, and leaves surfaces shiny and streak-free, with improved environmental and human safety profiles.

Implementation Method 1

The present invention is in the field of antimicrobial compositions... comprising a modified amino acid antimicrobial active

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCell membrane disruption:

Implementation Method 2

An antimicrobial composition comprising an aqueous solution with a modified amino acid antimicrobial agent, surfactants

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurface tension reduction: Surface Tension

Implementation Method 3

comprising an aqueous solution with a modified amino acid antimicrobial agent, surfactants, and a pH-adjusting agent

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectpH adjustment:

Data Source

PatentEP4289269A1Antimicrobial composition

Publication Date: 2023.12.13 PROCTER & GAMBLE CO

AI summary

An antimicrobial composition comprising an antimicrobial system, the antimicrobial system comprising from about 0.01 to about 10% by weight of the composition of a surfactant selected from the group consisting of non-ionic, cationic, amphoteric and a mixture thereof; from about 0.01 to about 10% by weight of the composition of a non-aqueous solvent; and an antimicrobial agent comprising a modified amino acid according to Formula I, the composition further comprises at least 50% by weight of the composition of water and has a pH of less than 9 as measured at 25°C.