pH-Controlled Solid Laundry Detergent Unit Dose
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Solution Overview
Problem
Water-soluble unit dose articles with solid laundry detergent compositions face limitations in cleaning performance due to space constraints, leading to under-performance and instability issues when attempting to add more detergent, as increasing size compromises convenience and structural stability.
Innovation Solution
A water-soluble unit dose article with a pH-controlled solid laundry detergent composition containing a non-soap anionic surfactant and optical brightener 49, which maintains an equilibrium pH between 6.5 and 8.8, ensuring improved fabric whiteness performance without the need for additional detergent.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If additional detergent composition is added to increase cleaning performance, then cleaning performance is improved, but the unit dose article becomes bigger and less convenient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pH parameter of the detergent composition (maintaining equilibrium pH between 6.5-8.5) to optimize the performance of whitening agents. This allows improved cleaning and whiteness performance without increasing the quantity of detergent, thus avoiding the need to enlarge the unit dose article while maintaining convenience.
2Quantity of substance
If additional detergent composition is added to increase cleaning performance, then cleaning performance is improved, but the structural stability of the unit dose article is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By optimizing the pH parameter of the detergent composition, the patent achieves improved cleaning performance without adding more detergent material. This avoids the need to stretch or enlarge the water-soluble film, thereby maintaining the structural stability and integrity of the unit dose article.
3Quantity of substance
If the unit dose article is made bigger to accommodate more detergent, then cleaning performance is improved, but dissolution is impaired due to increased water soluble film
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the pH parameter of the detergent composition to enhance cleaning efficiency without increasing the detergent quantity. This avoids the need to increase the water-soluble film size, thereby maintaining fast and complete dissolution properties of the unit dose article.
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 pH-controlled composition enhances fabric whiteness and cleaning performance by maintaining the stability and convenience of the unit dose article, providing a more effective wash liquor without the need for increased detergent levels.
Implementation Method 1
Upon exposure to water, the water-soluble film dissolves/disintegrates releasing the laundry detergent composition into the surrounding water
Implementation Method 2
the solid composition at 1wt% dilution in deionized water at 20°C, has an equilibrium pH in the range of from 6.5 to 8.8
Data Source
AI summary
Water-soluble unit dose article containing solid laundry detergent composition and water-soluble film; the solid detergent composition comprises a whitening agent and has a low pH.