Palm-Reduced Wash Composition With Amino Acid Surfactant Lather
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wash compositions that are low or free of sulfates and reduce palm kernel oil-derived surfactants face challenges in delivering consumer-desirable lather and stability while being mild on surfaces, and contribute to environmental issues like deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions.
Innovation Solution
A wash composition comprising anionic dicarboxylates such as glutamate and aspartate, optionally with isethionates, taurates, and zwitterionic surfactants, formulated to be pH 4.5 to 8.0, with reduced palm kernel oil-derived surfactants, achieving a mild, stable, and lathering effect.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If wash compositions are formulated to be low or free of sulfates and reduce palm kernel oil-derived surfactants, then environmental impact is reduced and mildness on surfaces is improved, but lather quality and stability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical parameters of the surfactant system by using glutamates and aspartates with specific molecular structures and properties. These amino acid-based surfactants have different hydrophilic-lipophilic balance compared to traditional sulfates, enabling mild cleaning action while producing acceptable lather. The specific parameter changes include using surfactants with pKa values between 3-5 and molecular weights of 300-500 Da, which optimize both environmental compatibility and lather performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite surfactant system combining multiple anionic surfactants (glutamates, aspartates, isethionates, taurates, glycinates) in specific ratios. This composite approach allows the formulation to achieve synergistic effects where the combination provides both the desired mildness and lather quality that individual components cannot achieve alone. The composite material strategy enables reducing palm kernel oil-derived surfactants while maintaining performance through careful selection and combination of alternative surfactant types.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If palm kernel oil-derived surfactants are reduced, then environmental concerns like deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions are addressed, but lather characteristics and consumer desirable properties deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention modifies the surfactant composition parameters by replacing palm kernel oil-derived surfactants with amino acid-based alternatives having different molecular characteristics. The glutamates and aspartates used have specific charge densities, hydrophobic tail lengths (C12-C18), and head group structures that differ from traditional surfactants, enabling the formulation to achieve lather generation through different mechanistic pathways that do not rely on palm kernel oil.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces intermediary substances such as amino acid derivatives and their salts as mediators to bridge the gap between environmental sustainability and lather performance. These intermediary surfactants serve as functional substitutes that can perform the lather-generation role traditionally filled by palm kernel oil-derived surfactants, while having reduced environmental impact. The intermediaries include specific salts like sodium and potassium salts of glutamates and aspartates.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If sulfate-free formulations are used, then mildness on skin and textiles is improved, but lather generation and washing duration deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes physical-chemical parameters of the surfactant system by selecting amino acid-based surfactants with specific properties including pKa values of 3-5, molecular weights of 300-500 Da, and controlled hydrophobic chain lengths. These parameter optimizations enable the sulfate-free formulation to maintain adequate lather generation and washing duration while preserving the mildness advantage. The specific parameter ranges are critical to achieving both mildness and sufficient washing performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs a composite surfactant system combining multiple anionic surfactant types (glutamates, aspartates, and optionally isethionates, taurates, and glycinates) to achieve synergistic performance. This composite approach allows the formulation to compensate for the reduced lather-generating capability of individual sulfate-free surfactants by leveraging the combined effects of multiple surfactant types, thereby maintaining adequate washing duration and lather quality while preserving mildness.
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 provides a soft and smooth sensation, maintains stability, and delivers consumer-desirable lather even with reduced palm kernel oil-derived surfactants, addressing environmental concerns.
Implementation Method 1
The wash composition comprises anionic dicarboxylate comprising a glutamate, aspartate or both... Total anionic surfactant used in the wash composition is from 1 to 9% by weight whereby the wash composition is mild, stable, lathers well
Implementation Method 2
an amphoteric or zwitterionic surfactant or both... yields such consumer desirable characteristics even when formulated with reduced levels of surfactants that are palm kernel oil derived
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is directed to a wash composition substantially free of sulfates and that comprises glutamate, aspartate or both, and optionally additional anionic surfactant selected from isethionates, taurates and/or glycinates. Total surfactant used in the wash composition is 9% and the by weight the wash composition is mild but surprisingly with displays good lather characteristics while being formulated with reduced palm kernel oil derived surfactants.