Multipurpose Acidic Cleaning Compositions for Difficult Soils
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing acidic cleaning compositions are not effective for general-purpose cleaning and require hazardous use precautions, and specialty alkaline detergents with additives are costly and not necessary for all cleaning applications.
Innovation Solution
A multipurpose acidic composition comprising organic acids, surfactants, and solvents with a pH between 1 and 5, suitable for pre-spray or spot treatments to remove difficult soils and enhance general-purpose cleaning without PPE requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If specialty alkaline detergents with additives are used to remove difficult soils, then cleaning efficacy is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by using acidic compositions (pH 1-5) instead of alkaline detergents to remove difficult soils including polymerized soils, carbonized soils, and baked-on soils. This inversion achieves superior cleaning efficacy while avoiding the need for expensive specialty additives, directly resolving the contradiction between cleaning performance and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the pH parameter from the conventional alkaline range to an acidic range (pH 1-5), fundamentally altering the chemical mechanism of soil removal. This parameter change enables effective cleaning of difficult soils through acid-based mechanisms such as dissolution and chelation, eliminating the need for costly specialty additives while maintaining or improving cleaning efficacy.
2Reliability
If strong acidic compositions are used for cleaning, then de-liming and de-staining performance is improved, but safety hazards increase requiring PPE
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the pH parameter to a moderate acidic range (pH 1-5) rather than using strong acids, and combines it with specific solvents and surfactants to achieve effective de-liming and de-staining performance. This parameter optimization maintains cleaning efficacy while reducing safety hazards to eliminate PPE requirements, resolving the contradiction between performance and safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite cleaning composition combining organic acids, solvents, and surfactants that work synergistically. The acid provides de-liming and de-staining capability, the solvent enhances penetration and soil removal, and the surfactant improves wetting and emulsification. This composite approach achieves superior performance while maintaining safety by avoiding strong corrosive acids.
3Reliability
If conventional acidic compositions are used for paint stripping, then paint removal capability is achieved, but contact time required increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts the pH parameter to an optimized acidic range (pH 1-5) and incorporates specific solvents that enhance penetration and reaction kinetics. This parameter optimization accelerates the paint removal process significantly, reducing required contact time from overnight or extended periods to much shorter durations, while maintaining effective paint stripping capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces solvents as intermediary substances that facilitate faster penetration into paint layers and accelerate the removal process. The solvent acts as a mediator between the acid and the paint, enhancing the overall reaction rate and reducing the time required for effective paint stripping, thereby resolving the time consumption issue.
4Adaptability or versatility
If acidic compositions are used for general-purpose cleaning, then hazardous precautions are required, but if alkaline detergents are used, then they are costly and not necessary for all applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a multipurpose acidic composition capable of performing multiple cleaning functions including de-greasing, de-liming, de-staining, and general-purpose cleaning of various surfaces. The formulation achieves this versatility through a balanced combination of organic acids, solvents, and surfactants, all while maintaining safety without PPE requirements by operating in the moderate pH range (1-5), thus resolving the contradiction between versatility and safety.
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 effectively removes polymerized soils, hard water deposits, and other stains with superior cleaning efficacy and safety, reducing the need for specialty additives and hazardous precautions.
Implementation Method 1
Acidic compositions are not generally used for general purpose cleaning or removal difficult soils such as polymerized soils. Instead, specialty alkaline detergents are more commonly formulated with specialty additives for treating these types of soils.
Implementation Method 2
The acidic compositions can include at least one organic acid and a solvent or solvent system.
Data Source
AI summary
Multipurpose acidic compositions for cleaning and/or sanitizing are provided. The acidic compositions are liquids that remove polymerized soils, hard water deposit (e.g., calcium carbonate), soap scum, rust and other stains (e.g., coffee and tea), including assisting in general cleaning of difficult soils, such as fats, oils, cosmetics, and other difficult soils. The acidic compositions can include at least one organic acid and a solvent or solvent system, and if desired, can be PPE free compositions. Methods for using the acidic compositions as pre-treatments, soaks and/or application in machine and manual warewash are also provided. Methods for using the acidic compositions for removing polymerized oils, carbonized soils, fats, oils, stains (e.g., coffee and tea), hard water scale/deposits, and cosmetics are also provided.