Pulp-Based Cleaning Wipes with High MABDF for Uniform Biocide Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning wipes based on synthetic or blended fiber substrates tend to quickly deplete their cleaning composition and fail to provide uniform disinfection, often due to cationic biocide release agents that cause streaking and other issues, while also binding quaternary ammonium compounds, reducing their efficacy.
Innovation Solution
The development of pre-moistened wipes with a substrate comprising greater than 70% pulp fibers, optimized with a high mileage absorbency/desorbency factor (MABDF) that retains a quaternary ammonium compound-based cleaning composition, avoiding cationic biocide release agents and utilizing a localized texture and larger pore sizes to ensure uniform composition delivery and enhanced microefficacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cationic biocide release agents are used to enhance quaternary ammonium compound release, then microefficacy is improved, but streaking and filming occur, and hand feel deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes cationic biocide release agents from the cleaning composition entirely, relying instead on the intrinsic properties of the quaternary ammonium compound and the substrate structure to achieve controlled release and eliminate streaking and filming issues
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adjusts the pH of the cleaning composition to be from about 3 to about 11, which optimizes the release characteristics of the quaternary ammonium compound without requiring cationic biocide release agents, thereby preventing streaking and improving hand feel
2Reliability
If cleaning composition is loaded at high concentration to improve disinfection efficacy, then microefficacy is enhanced, but composition depletes quickly, reducing mileage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a porous substrate with controlled pore size distribution that acts as a reservoir for the cleaning composition, allowing gradual release of the active ingredients over time, thereby extending mileage while maintaining disinfection efficacy
Solution Approach 2:
The substrate structure enables periodic release of the cleaning composition during the wiping process, delivering active ingredients continuously across multiple surfaces rather than depleting all at once, thus extending the useful life of the wipe
3Strength
If synthetic fiber substrates are used to provide durability and structure, then mechanical strength is improved, but composition retention and uniform delivery deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite substrate made from blended fibers including synthetic fibers for structural integrity and natural fibers for absorbency and composition retention, combining the advantages of both material types to achieve both durability and uniform composition delivery
Solution Approach 2:
The substrate is designed with specific local properties including zones of varying fiber composition and pore density that optimize both mechanical strength in load-bearing areas and composition retention and uniform delivery in contact areas
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 pulp-based wipes exhibit improved composition retention and delivery, achieving a 3-log reduction in Staphylococcus aureus within 5 minutes without cationic biocide release agents, providing better hand feel, increased mileage, and consistent disinfection across surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
a substrate comprising greater than 70% pulp fibers... retains a quaternary ammonium compound-based cleaning composition
Implementation Method 2
retains a quaternary ammonium compound-based cleaning composition
Implementation Method 3
utilizing a localized texture and larger pore sizes to ensure uniform composition delivery
Data Source
AI summary
Pre-moistened wipes that include one or more characteristics correlated to desired properties, such as high durability, mileage, cleaning composition retention, efficacy, or the like are described. Pulp substrates typically include an anionic charge, which can result in binding or retention of a cationic biocide such as a quaternary ammonium compound while the remainder of the composition is released from the wipe (e.g., through squeezing, wiping or other compression). The present wipes are specifically tailored to include a mileage absorbency/desorbency factor (“MABDF”) value that is greater than 50. Such characteristics correlate to wipes and substrates that exhibit various desirable properties, such as good handfeel characteristics, improved, more uniform dosing of composition loaded therein, good microefficacy characteristics, and the like.