Phosphorus free low temperature ware wash detergent for reducing scale build-up
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing alkaline detergents, particularly those used in institutional and commercial settings, cause heavy scale formation due to hard water, which is difficult to control, and there is a need for phosphorus-free, low temperature detergents that reduce or eliminate scale build-up while being environmentally safe and energy-efficient.
Innovation Solution
Phosphorus-free detergent compositions comprising aminocarboxylates, water conditioning polymers, and alkalinity sources, which work synergistically to prevent scale formation at low temperatures without surfactants, enzymes, or additional polymers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional high alkalinity detergents are used in hard water, then cleaning efficacy is improved, but scale build-up increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes phosphates and NTA-containing compounds from the detergent formulation, replacing them with alternative water conditioning polymers that provide scale prevention without the harmful scale build-up associated with conventional high alkalinity detergents
Solution Approach 2:
The invention modifies the chemical composition parameters by eliminating phosphorus-containing compounds and adjusting the alkalinity level, using alternative polymers that change the way scale is prevented while maintaining cleaning effectiveness
2Reliability
If elevated temperatures are used for washing, then cleaning performance is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent formulates a detergent composition that maintains effective cleaning performance at lower temperatures by using alternative water conditioning polymers and adjusting the chemical composition to enhance cleaning efficacy without requiring high thermal energy input
3Object-generated harmful factors
If phosphates are used as hardness sequestrants, then scale control is improved, but environmental safety deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes phosphates from the detergent formulation, replacing them with environmentally safer alternative water conditioning polymers that provide equivalent or superior scale control without the environmental harm associated with phosphate discharge
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the limitation of needing phosphate-free formulations (which traditionally had poor scale control) into a benefit by developing alternative polymer systems that provide effective scale prevention while being environmentally safe, thus turning a regulatory constraint into a performance advantage
4Object-generated harmful factors
If NTA-containing compounds are used as binding agents, then scale prevention is improved, but health safety deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes NTA-containing compounds from the detergent formulation and replaces them with alternative water conditioning polymers that provide scale prevention without the carcinogenic health risks associated with NTA
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 compositions effectively reduce or eliminate scale build-up on treated surfaces at low temperatures, providing improved safety and energy efficiency, and do not require separate products for detergency or scale hardness control.
Implementation Method 1
phosphorus-free detergent compositions which replace phosphate and/or other phosphorus containing detergent materials... use of chelating agents and/or threshold agents for use with high alkaline detergent compositions because of their ability to solubilize metal salts and/or prevent water hardness from scaling and/or precipitating
Implementation Method 2
use of chelating agents and/or threshold agents for use with high alkaline detergent compositions because of their ability to solubilize metal salts and/or prevent water hardness from scaling and/or precipitating
Implementation Method 3
control of such water hardness presents additional difficulty in ware wash applications employing high alkalinity and/or use at elevated temperatures... phosphorus-free detergent compositions are low temperature ware wash detergents that beneficially reduce scale build-up
Data Source
AI summary
Phosphorus-free detergent compositions are provided. Detergent compositions including an aminocarboxylate, water conditioning agent, source of alkalinity and water beneficially do not require the use of additional surfactants and/or polymers to provide suitable detergency and prevent scale build-up on treated surfaces. The detergent compositions are used with a sanitizer to employ the phosphorus-free detergent compositions for use as low temperature ware wash detergents that beneficially reduce scale build-up. Methods of employing the phosphorus-free detergent compositions are also provided.