Pourable Liquid Laundry Detergent Composition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing concentrated liquid laundry detergents containing saturated long chain alkyl ether carboxylates are solid at room temperature, making them difficult to use as pourable liquids, which is undesirable for ease of use and further processing.
Innovation Solution
A liquid laundry detergent composition comprising 50-80 wt.% linear alkyl benzene sulfonic acid surfactant, 15-45 wt.% alkyl ether carboxylic acid surfactant, less than 10 wt.% water, and 0-20 wt.% non-ionic surfactant, with a specific weight ratio and pH range, ensuring the detergent remains pourable at room temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If saturated long chain alkyl ether carboxylates with high degrees of ethoxylation are used to enhance cleaning of sebum soil, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the formulation becomes solid waxy at room temperature and loses pourability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters by selecting specific alkyl chain lengths (C12-C22, preferably C14-C18) and controlling the degree of ethoxylation (n=5-30, preferably n=10-20) to achieve a balance between cleaning effectiveness and pourability at room temperature
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite surfactant system combining linear alkyl benzene sulfonic acid (50-80 wt.%) with alkyl ether carboxylic acid (15-45 wt.%) to achieve synergistic effects that maintain both cleaning performance and liquid pourability, where the combination prevents the waxy solidification that occurs with high ethoxylation alone
2Weight of moving object
If water content is reduced to create highly concentrated detergent for weight reduction in transportation, then transportation efficiency is improved, but formulation stability and ease of use may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the concentration parameters by formulating a highly concentrated detergent with minimal water content (less than 10 wt.%, preferably less than 5 wt.%) while adjusting the surfactant ratio and pH (0.3-2.0) to maintain formulation stability and pourability, ensuring ease of use despite the concentrated nature
3Reliability
If saturated long chain alkyl ether carboxylates with high degrees of ethoxylation are used to provide enhanced cleaning, then cleaning performance is improved, but the material becomes solid waxy requiring additional processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the manufacturing parameters by selecting specific alkyl chain lengths (C12-C22) and controlling ethoxylation degrees (n=5-30) to produce surfactants that remain pourable liquids at room temperature, eliminating the need for additional processing steps to maintain liquid form
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite surfactant system combining linear alkyl benzene sulfonic acid with alkyl ether carboxylic acid in specific ratios (weight ratio 1.5:1 to 5:1, preferably 2:1 to 4:1) to achieve the desired cleaning performance while maintaining liquid pourability, simplifying the manufacturing process
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid laundry detergent composition comprising: (i) 50-80 wt.% of a linear alkyl benzene sulfonic acid surfactant; (ii) 15-45 wt.% of an alkyl ether carboxylic acid surfactant of the following structure: R1-(OCH2CH2)n-OCH2-COOH, wherein: R1 is selected from saturated C16 to C22 linear or branched alkyl chains, and wherein n is selected from 10 to 24; (iii) less than 10 wt.% water; and (iv) 0-20 wt.% non-ionic surfactant of the following structure: R2-(OCH2CH2)n-OH, wherein: R2 is selected from saturated C12 to C22 linear or branched alkyl chains, and wherein n is selected from 5 to 30; and wherein the pH of the formulation is from 0.3 to 2.0; and wherein the weight ratio of linear alkyl benzene sulfonic acid surfactant to the alkyl ether carboxylic acid surfactant is from 1.5:1 to 5:1.