Organic Complexing Agent Use in Phosphate-Free Dishwashing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automatic dishwashing detergents face challenges in effectively removing baked-on, burnt-on soils, particularly those containing proteins like egg and cheese, especially when phosphate-free, and often leave residues on stainless steel items.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating 3 to 6 grams of methyl glycine diacetic acid as an organic complexing agent, along with protease and sulfonated polymer, in a phosphate-free dishwashing composition to enhance the removal of proteinaceous soils and prevent film formation on stainless steel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If phosphate-free detergent composition is used, then environmental safety is improved, but removal effectiveness of baked-on burnt-on soils deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by incorporating specific organic complexing agents (MGDA at 3-6g, GLDA at 2-5g) and protease enzymes (0.1-50mg) to replace phosphate-based cleaning mechanisms. This parameter substitution maintains phosphate-free environmental safety while achieving effective removal of baked-on burnt-on soils through alternative chemical pathways.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite detergent formulation combining multiple functional components: organic complexing agents (MGDA, GLDA), protease enzymes, sulfonated polymers, and surfactants. This composite approach synergistically addresses the removal challenge by combining soil-loosening, protein-digesting, and cleaning functions in a phosphate-free system.
2Productivity
If higher level of complexing agent is used, then removal of proteinaceous soils is improved, but cost of composition increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the concentration parameters of complexing agents to specific ranges (MGDA: 3-6g, GLDA: 2-5g) rather than using excessive amounts. This parameter optimization achieves effective proteinaceous soil removal while controlling formulation cost by avoiding over-dosing of expensive ingredients.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple complexing agents (MGDA and GLDA) with protease enzymes and sulfonated polymers to create a synergistic system. This merging allows each component to work at optimized lower concentrations while achieving superior overall performance, reducing the total cost compared to relying on a single high-dose ingredient.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If phosphate-free composition is used, then environmental safety is improved, but film formation on stainless steel occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical composition by excluding phosphates and citrates that cause film formation, and instead incorporating organic complexing agents with different chemical properties. This parameter change eliminates the film-forming mechanism while maintaining phosphate-free environmental safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts or removes the problematic components (phosphates and citrates) from the formulation that cause film formation on stainless steel. By taking out these harmful elements and replacing them with alternative cleaning agents, the patent achieves both environmental safety and prevention of stainless steel film formation.
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 baked-on, burnt-on soils, including protein-based soils, while maintaining a stable pH and avoiding residue formation on stainless steel, even in phosphate-free formulations.
Implementation Method 1
a complexing agent is a compound capable of binding polyvalent ions such as calcium, magnesium, lead, copper, zinc, cadmium, mercury, manganese, iron, aluminium and other cationic polyvalent ions to form a water-soluble complex
Implementation Method 2
The composition comprises a high level of protease, from 0.1 to 50 mg of active protease
Implementation Method 3
the composition comprises more than 0.8, more preferably more than 1 and especially 1.2 or more grams of sulfonated polymer
Data Source
AI summary
Use of from about 3 grams to about 6 grams of an organic complexing agent in an enzymatic automatic dishwashing detergent composition for the removal of baked-on burnt-on soils from dishware in automatic dishwashing.