Phosphate Functionalized Alkyl Polyglucosides for Biodegradable Soil Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional detergents used in warewashing and laundering industries, such as alkyl phenol ethoxylates, pose environmental concerns due to their non-biodegradability and estrogen-like properties, necessitating a biodegradable and environmentally friendly alternative for hardsurface cleaning.

Innovation Solution

A hardsurface cleaner composition comprising a C12 phosphate functionalized alkyl polyglucoside, a water conditioning agent, and water, which is free of alkyl phenol ethoxylates, effectively removes soils containing proteins, lard, and oils without the need for solvents, providing enhanced degreasing capabilities while being environmentally acceptable.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If alkyl phenol ethoxylates (APEs) are used as cleansers and degreasers, then grease removal effectiveness is improved, but environmental harm increases due to non-biodegradability and estrogen-like properties

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegrease removal effectivenessVSAvoidenvironmental harm

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by replacing APEs with phosphate functionalized alkyl polyglucosides (PFAPGs). This substitution maintains the surfactant properties needed for grease removal while fundamentally altering the molecular structure to be biodegradable and environmentally safe, thus resolving the contradiction between effectiveness and environmental harm

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs biodegradable surfactants that break down naturally in the environment, effectively treating them as 'short-living' substances that fulfill their cleaning function and then decompose without persistent environmental harm, contrasting with the indefinite persistence of APEs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Reliability

If conventional APE-based detergents are used, then cleaning performance is maintained, but biodegradability is poor leading to indefinite environmental persistence

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning performanceVSAvoidenvironmental persistence

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the chemical parameters by selecting PFAPGs with specific carbon chain lengths (C10-C18) and phosphate functional groups that inherently provide both effective cleaning performance and rapid biodegradability, eliminating the need for long-term environmental persistence while maintaining cleaning reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If phosphate functionalized alkyl polyglucosides are used to replace APEs, then environmental friendliness is improved, but degreasing capability must be maintained or enhanced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental friendlinessVSAvoiddegreasing capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses composite surfactant systems combining phosphate functionalized alkyl polyglucosides with specific carbon chain lengths (C10-C18) and hydrophilic-lipophilic balance properties. This composite approach ensures that the environmentally friendly PFAPG molecules possess sufficient lipophilic character to effectively solubilize and remove grease while maintaining biodegradability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes specific parameters of the PFAPG molecules including carbon chain length (C10-C18), degree of substitution, and phosphate group positioning to achieve the right balance between environmental safety and degreasing effectiveness, ensuring the surfactant can penetrate and emulsify grease films

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 cleaner effectively removes soils with up to 20% protein content, offering improved degreasing performance without solvent dependency and is environmentally friendly, making it a suitable replacement for conventional detergents.

Implementation Method 1

phosphate functionalized alkyl polyglucoside... used for enhanced food soil removal... effectively removes soils containing proteins, lard and oils

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurfactant: Surfactant

Data Source

PatentUS8969285B2Phosphate functionalized alkyl polyglucosides used for enhanced food soil removal

Publication Date: 2015.03.03 ECOLAB USA INC

AI summary

A method of removing food soil using a cleaning composition including a C12 phosphate functionalized alkyl polyglucoside, a water conditioning agent and water. In one embodiment, the cleaning composition is substantially free of alkyl phenol ethoxylates. The cleaning composition is capable of removing soils including up to 20% proteins.