Polyalkoxylated Polyamines for Fruit Stain Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current detergents and cleaning agents face challenges in effectively removing soiling from fruit-containing preparations due to their thickener and fruit content, which is difficult to clean, especially when using existing surfactants and detergents.

Innovation Solution

The use of polyalkoxylated polyamines, specifically those obtained by reacting polyamines with ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, where the proportion of propylene oxide is between 2 mol% to 18 mol%, is introduced to enhance the primary detergency of detergents or cleaning agents for washing textiles or cleaning hard surfaces against fruit-containing soiling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional surfactants and detergents are used to wash textiles, then the washing process can be completed, but the removal of fruit-containing soiling is insufficient due to the thickener and fruit content making it difficult to clean

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovedetergencyVSAvoidfruit-containing soiling
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the detergent by introducing polyalkoxylated polyamines with specific propylene oxide content (2-18 mol%). This parameter change enhances the detergent's ability to bind and remove fruit-containing soiling, transforming the insufficient detergency into effective cleaning performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite detergent system by combining polyalkoxylated polyamines with conventional surfactants and other detergent components. This composite approach leverages the specific cleaning properties of the polyamine while maintaining the overall effectiveness of the detergent formulation against tough soiling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If polyalkoxylated polyamines with high propylene oxide content are used, then the primary detergency is enhanced, but the proportion of propylene oxide must be controlled within a specific range to achieve optimal effect

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprimary detergencyVSAvoidpropylene oxide proportion control
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent establishes an optimal parameter range for propylene oxide content (2-18 mol%) in the polyalkoxylated polyamine structure. By controlling this parameter within the specified range, the detergent achieves enhanced primary detergency while avoiding negative effects that would result from excessive propylene oxide content.

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 polyalkoxylated polyamines significantly improve the washing or cleaning power, particularly when used in conjunction with synthetic anionic surfactants, enhancing the removal of tough fruit-containing dirt, as demonstrated by improved reflectance values in washing tests.

Implementation Method 1

Amphiphilic water-soluble alkoxylated polyamines with an inner polyoxyethylene block and an outer polyoxypropylene block are known from international patent application WO 2006/108856 A1

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAmphiphilic properties: Amphiphiles

Implementation Method 2

Such auxiliary substances also include substances whose presence increases the detergency of surfactants without them generally having to exhibit surfactant behavior themselves. The same applies to cleaning products for hard surfaces. Such substances are often referred to as detergent boosters.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSynergistic interaction:

Data Source

PatentEP2922943B1Polyalkoxylated polyamines which improve primary detergency
Publication Date: 2018.04.11 HENKEL KGAA

AI summary

The primary detergency of detergents and cleaning products is to be improved in particular against stains from preparations containing fruit. This is substantially achieved by incorporating polyalkoxylated polyamines which can be obtained by reacting polyamines with ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, the percentage of propylene oxide relative to the total quantity of the alkylene oxide ranging from 2 mol.% to 18 mol.%.