Propoxylated Polyol for Low-Temperature Detergent Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current detergent formulations face challenges in removing oily/fatty and clay soils at low temperatures, with reduced surfactant levels and the need for biodegradable polymers that provide both primary and secondary cleaning benefits, while also ensuring environmental sustainability and reduced CO2 emissions.
Innovation Solution
Development of propoxylated polyols with a polyol core consisting of four to five hydroxyl groups, modified with polypropylene oxide branches, which demonstrate excellent wash performance and significant biodegradability, allowing for effective soil removal and whiteness maintenance in laundry detergents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If surfactant levels are reduced in cleaning detergents, then environmental sustainability and cost are improved, but oily/fatty stain removal capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a composite cleaning system combining propoxylated polyol (a biodegradable polymer) with reduced levels of traditional surfactants. The polyol component provides grease cleaning capabilities through its amphiphilic structure, while the reduced surfactant formulation decreases environmental harm. This composite approach allows the detergent to maintain effective oily stain removal while achieving lower anionic surfactant content for improved sustainability.
2Use of energy by stationary object
If washing temperature is decreased, then energy consumption and environmental sustainability are improved, but grease cleaning capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical parameters of the cleaning system by introducing propoxylated polyol with specific molecular weight and hydroxyl group content. This polymer provides cold water solubility and effective grease cleaning at low temperatures through its unique structure, enabling the detergent to maintain grease removal performance without requiring high washing temperatures, thus reducing energy consumption.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If biodegradable polymers are used, then environmental sustainability is improved, but cleaning performance may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes specific parameters of the biodegradable polymer including molecular weight (700-10,000 g/mol), hydroxyl group content (4-5 groups), and propylene oxide unit count (16-30 units). These parameter optimizations ensure the polymer achieves adequate biodegradability while maintaining effective cleaning performance for both oily/fatty and particulate soils, resolving the trade-off between environmental sustainability and cleaning efficacy.
4Loss of substance
If detergent formulations are compacted, then water usage and transportation costs are reduced, but weight-efficiency requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The propoxylated polyol provides high weight-efficiency cleaning performance, allowing reduced detergent dosing in compacted formulations. The polymer's multi-functionality (grease cleaning, particulate soil removal, whiteness maintenance) means smaller amounts are needed to achieve effective cleaning, enabling detergent compaction while maintaining or improving weight-efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
Biodegradable polyol propoxylates, their preparation, uses, and compositions including them.This invention deals with biodegradable polyol propoxylates based on polyols possessing four to five —OH groups, their manufacture and uses, for example in laundry or dishwashing.