Reactive leuco compounds and compositions comprising the same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional whitening agents in laundry care compositions lose efficacy due to interactions with other formulation components and suffer from poor deposition on textile substrates, leading to a need for effective whitening agents that can enhance the apparent whiteness of textiles without causing irritation or sensitization.
Innovation Solution
The use of reactive leuco compounds, which are initially colorless but transform into intense colored forms upon exposure to physical or chemical triggers, are incorporated into laundry care compositions to enhance whiteness and deposition on textiles, with hydrolyzed derivatives offering reduced irritation risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If traditional whitening agents are used to enhance textile whiteness, then the apparent whiteness of textiles is improved, but the agents lose efficacy upon storage due to interactions with other formulation components
Solution Approach 1:
The whitening agent is applied to the textile substrate during the washing process, allowing it to deposit directly onto the fabric before any storage-related degradation can occur. This preliminary application ensures the agent is already in position to provide whiteness enhancement when needed, rather than relying on stability during storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent separates the whitening function from the laundry detergent formulation by using a depositing whitening agent that is applied directly to the textile. This extraction removes the problematic interaction between whitening agents and other detergent components, allowing the whitening function to operate independently on the fabric surface.
2Illumination intensity
If traditional whitening agents are used to enhance textile whiteness, then the apparent whiteness is improved, but the agents suffer from poor deposition on textile substrates
Solution Approach 1:
The whitening agent is designed to deposit specifically on the textile substrate surface rather than remaining in the bulk detergent solution. This localized deposition ensures concentrated whiteness enhancement exactly where needed on the fabric, improving deposition quality and effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a depositing whitening agent with modified properties that enable it to transfer from the detergent solution onto the textile substrate. This parameter change in deposition behavior ensures reliable and consistent application of the whiteness-enhancing material onto the fabric surface.
3Manufacturing precision
If reactive compounds are used to provide whiteness benefit, then deposition on textiles is improved, but there is increased risk of irritation and sensitization of skin and respiratory tract
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a hydrolyzed derivative of the reactive leuco compound as an intermediary substance. This derivative maintains the beneficial deposition properties of reactive compounds while reducing their irritant and sensitizing effects on skin and respiratory tract, serving as a safer mediator between the whitening function and human health.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful reactive compounds into hydrolyzed derivatives that retain the deposition benefits while eliminating the harmful irritation and sensitization effects. This transformation turns a harmful substance into a beneficial and safe whitening agent.
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 reactive leuco compounds effectively increase the perceived whiteness of textiles while minimizing skin and respiratory irritation, providing a stable and efficient whitening solution that maintains performance over time.
Implementation Method 1
These types of compounds are provided in a stable, substantially colorless state and then may be transformed to an intense colored state upon exposure to certain physical or chemical changes such as, for example, exposure to oxygen
Implementation Method 2
transformed to an intense colored state upon exposure to certain physical or chemical changes such as, for example, exposure to light
Implementation Method 3
The reactive moiety preferably is sufficiently electrophilic to react with a nucleophilic moiety selected from the group consisting of amine groups, hydroxy groups, and sulfhydryl groups
Implementation Method 4
hydrolyzed derivatives of such reactive leuco compounds can be used to impart the desired consumer whiteness benefit with the prospect of reducing the risk of irritation and/or sensitization
Data Source
AI summary
A leuco composition comprises at least one reactive leuco compound, which reactive leuco compound comprises a leuco moiety and at least one reactive moiety covalently bound to the leuco moiety. A laundry care composition comprises a laundry care ingredient and a leuco composition. A method of treating a textile comprises the steps of (i) treating a textile with an aqueous solution containing a leuco composition, (ii) optionally, rinsing the textile, and (iii) drying the textile.