Polyglycerol Graft Polymers for Hard Water Scale Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional detergents used in industries face challenges due to environmental and health concerns related to phosphates, NTA, and EDTA, necessitating an alternative that effectively prevents hard water scale accumulation and soil redeposition without harming the environment.

Innovation Solution

The use of polyglycerol graft polymers containing a polyglycerol and a residue of carboxylic acid or carboxylate compounds, which are biobased and biodegradable, as mineral dispersants and soil antiredeposition agents to inhibit hard water scale formation and prevent soil redeposition.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If phosphates, NTA, and EDTA are used in detergents to prevent hard water scale accumulation, then hard water scale control is improved, but environmental and health concerns arise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehard water scale controlVSAvoidenvironmental and health concerns

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by replacing conventional phosphates, NTA, and EDTA with polyglycerol graft polymers containing carboxylic acid residues. This substitution maintains the hard water scale control function while eliminating the harmful environmental and health effects associated with the original chemicals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses composite material structure by combining polyglycerol backbone with carboxylic acid residues to create a polymer that integrates the beneficial properties of both components. This composite approach achieves effective hard water scale inhibition while providing environmental compatibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If conventional detergents are used to remove soils and sequester metal ions, then detergency is improved, but environmental persistence issues arise

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovedetergencyVSAvoidenvironmental persistence

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs biodegradable polyglycerol graft polymers that can be discarded safely in the environment without causing persistence. The polymer structure is designed to break down naturally, eliminating the environmental persistence problem while maintaining effective soil removal and metal ion sequestration capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses biodegradable polymers that serve their function and then decompose naturally, similar to disposable items. This approach provides effective detergency during use while ensuring environmental compatibility through natural degradation, avoiding long-term environmental persistence.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Reliability

If polyglycerol graft polymers with high carboxylic acid content are used, then hard water scale control is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehard water scale controlVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the carboxylic acid content parameter to a specific range (5-40% by weight) that balances hard water scale control effectiveness with manufacturing feasibility. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction by finding the sweet spot where performance is achieved without excessive manufacturing complexity.

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 polyglycerol graft polymers effectively prevent hard water scale accumulation and soil redeposition on various surfaces, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional detergents by maintaining hardness ions in solution and providing similar performance to petroleum-based polymers.

Implementation Method 1

Phosphates, NTA and EDTA are components commonly used in detergents to remove soils and to sequester metal ions such as calcium, magnesium and iron

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSequestration:

Implementation Method 2

The ability of NTA, EDTA and polyphosphates to remove metal ions facilitates the detergency of the solution by preventing hardness precipitation, assisting in soil removal and/or preventing soil redeposition into the wash solution or wash water

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDispersion: Dispersion (of waves)

Data Source

PatentUS8802617B2Polyglycerol graft polymers with low concentrations of carboxylic acid containing monomers and their applications

Publication Date: 2014.08.12 ECOLAB USA INC

AI summary

The present invention includes a cleaning composition that includes at least one alkalinity source, at least one surfactant, water and at least one polyglycerol graft polymer. The polyglycerol graft polymer includes a polyglycerol and a residue of at least one carboxylic acid or carboxylate containing compound in an amount less than or equal to about 40% by weight of the polyglycerol graft polymer.