Powdered Cleaning Composition for Rapid Dissolution and Safe Flushing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toilet bowl cleaners often fail to dissolve completely, leading to inconveniences for consumers and potential damage to sewer and septic systems, and may scratch the toilet bowl or break apart prematurely.
Innovation Solution
A powdered cleaning composition comprising citric acid, anionic surfactants, and specific fillers such as salts, sugars, and clays, with controlled water content, ensuring rapid dissolution and structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional powdered cleaners are used, then they can be flushed, but they fail to dissolve completely and may damage sewer and septic systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters by incorporating specific acids (citric, glycolic), anionic surfactants, and filler materials (salts, sugars, clays) in optimized ratios to enhance dissolution characteristics while maintaining safety for sewer and septic systems
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite powdered cleaning composition by combining multiple functional ingredients (acids, surfactants, fillers) that work synergistically to achieve complete dissolution and prevent damage to plumbing infrastructure
2Reliability
If cleaners are formulated to dissolve rapidly, then they can be flushed safely, but they may lack structural integrity and break apart prematurely
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the water content parameter (maintaining less than 15 wt%) and adjusts the composition ratios of acids, surfactants, and fillers to achieve the right balance between dissolution rate and structural integrity, preventing premature breaking while enabling safe flushing
Solution Approach 2:
The filler materials (salts, sugars, clays) act as intermediaries that provide structural support and control dissolution behavior, allowing the tablet to maintain integrity during handling and transport while dissolving rapidly once exposed to water during flushing
3Productivity
If the composition includes more fillers to improve dissolution, then dissolution rate increases, but the tablet hardness and structural integrity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the filler content parameter (10-80 wt%) and selects specific filler types (salts, sugars, clays) that enhance dissolution without excessive compromise to tablet hardness, achieving the optimal balance between dissolution rate and structural integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite filler systems combining multiple materials (salts, sugars, clays) that work together to provide both dissolution enhancement and structural support, allowing high dissolution rates while maintaining adequate tablet hardness
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 composition achieves at least 12% dissolution in 5 minutes and maintains structural integrity, allowing safe flushing and effective cleaning without damaging surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
at least one anionic surfactant present in an amount of from about 5 to about 50 wt % actives based on a total weight of the composition
Implementation Method 2
at least one acid chosen from citric acid, glycolic acid, and combinations thereof and present in an amount of from about 1 to about 30 wt % actives based on a total weight of the composition, for biocidal effects
Implementation Method 3
at least two fillers chosen from a salt, a sugar, and a clay and present in a total amount of from about 10 to about 80 wt % actives based on a total weight of the composition
Data Source
AI summary
A powdered cleaning composition includes at least one acid chosen from citric acid, glycolic acid, and combinations thereof and present in an amount of from about 1 to about 30 wt % actives based on a total weight of the composition, at least one anionic surfactant present in an amount of from about 5 to about 50 wt % actives based on a total weight of the composition, and at least two fillers chosen from a salt, a sugar, and a clay and present in a total amount of from about 10 to about 80 wt % actives based on a total weight of the composition, wherein the composition comprises water in an amount of less than about 15 wt % based on a total weight of the composition, and wherein the composition has a dissolution percentage of at least about 12% after about 5 minutes in water at about 25° C.