Polyglycerol Ester Surfactant Composition Stable at Skin-Friendly pH

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing surfactant compositions are harsh on skin and environmentally detrimental due to their synthetic nature, toxicity, and inability to biodegrade, often requiring harsh formulations and leading to environmental pollution.

Innovation Solution

A naturally derived surfactant system comprising anionic dicarboxylates (glutamate or aspartate) and nonionic polyglycerol esters, stable at pH 4.8 to 6.5, which are biodegradable and gentle on skin, eliminating the need for polyglycosides, betaines, and sulfates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If traditionally synthesized surfactants from petroleum derivatives are used, then cleaning effectiveness is achieved, but environmental harm and skin harshness increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental harm and skin harshnessVSAvoidcleaning effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical composition parameters by using naturally derived surfactants (glutamate, aspartate, polyglycerol esters) instead of petroleum-based surfactants. This substitution maintains cleaning effectiveness while reducing environmental harm and skin irritation, as the natural surfactants are biodegradable and gentler on skin.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite surfactant system combining multiple naturally derived components (anionic surfactants from amino acids and nonionic polyglycerol esters) to achieve synergistic effects. This composite approach ensures both cleaning effectiveness and environmental friendliness, resolving the contradiction between performance and harm reduction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If surfactants are formulated for strong cleaning power, then cleaning effectiveness improves, but skin harshness increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidskin harshness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention formulates a composite surfactant system combining anionic surfactants (glutamate, aspartate) with nonionic polyglycerol esters. The anionic components provide strong cleaning power while the nonionic components contribute to mildness and skin compatibility, achieving both effective cleaning and reduced skin harshness simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention optimizes the pH parameter of the formulation to be close to the natural pH of skin (typically around 5.5), which reduces skin harshness while maintaining cleaning effectiveness. The naturally derived surfactants allow formulation at skin-friendly pH levels unlike many conventional surfactants.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Stability of the object's composition

If conventional surfactants are used to ensure stability, then formulation stability is achieved, but biodegradability and environmental friendliness decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveformulation stabilityVSAvoidenvironmental pollution and non-biodegradability

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical structure parameters by using naturally derived amino acid-based surfactants and polyglycerol esters that are inherently biodegradable. These surfactants maintain formulation stability through proper molecular design while being readily degraded by environmental microorganisms, thus achieving both stability and environmental friendliness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention employs surfactants that are designed to be biodegradable and environmentally transient, breaking down into harmless natural substances after use. This approach ensures that while the surfactants provide stable cleaning performance during use, they do not persist in the environment, resolving the contradiction between stability and environmental harm.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

4Object-affected harmful factors

If surfactants are formulated at pH close to natural skin pH, then skin mildness improves, but stability of the surfactant system becomes difficult to achieve

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveskin mildnessVSAvoidsurfactant system stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The invention creates a composite surfactant system where anionic amino acid-based surfactants are combined with nonionic polyglycerol esters. This combination is particularly stable at pH levels close to natural skin pH (around 5.5), as the nonionic component does not undergo pH-dependent ionization that could compromise stability, while the anionic component remains effective. This composite approach simultaneously achieves skin mildness and formulation stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS12533305B2Naturally derived surfactant system with polyglycerol esters and compositions comprising the same

Publication Date: 2026.01.27 CONOPCO INC

AI summary

The present invention is directed to a naturally derived surfactant system and an end use composition comprising the surfactant system. The naturally derived surfactant system comprises an anionic and nonionic surfactant comprising polyglycerol ester that is stable in an end use composition having a pH from 4.8 to 6.5. Such end use compositions are mild, have excellent lathering characteristics, and do not require glycinates, polyglycosides, betaines, sultaines and sulfates.