Renewable Anionic Surfactants for Low Dosage Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current detergents and cleaning agents often rely on petrochemically-based surfactants, which can compete with food resources and do not offer optimal performance with low surfactant use, while there is a need for surfactants with superior application properties derived from renewable materials.
Innovation Solution
Development of anionic surfactants based on renewable raw materials, specifically those of the general formula (I), which are produced through sulfation of compounds like 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)tetrahydrofuran, offering low critical micelle formation concentrations and low interfacial tensions, and can be combined with other surfactants and builders to enhance performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If petrochemically-based surfactants are used, then high cleaning performance is achieved, but food resource competition occurs and sustainability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of surfactants by using renewable raw materials (fatty acids, sugars, amino acids) instead of petrochemical sources, while maintaining or improving cleaning performance through optimized molecular structures and combinations of biogenic surfactants
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs composite surfactant systems combining multiple biogenic surfactant types (sulfonates, carboxylates, sulfates) with complementary properties to achieve high cleaning performance equivalent to petrochemical surfactants, while all components derive from renewable resources
2Quantity of substance
If low amounts of surfactant are used, then environmental benefits are achieved, but cleaning performance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes surfactant molecular parameters (hydrophobic chain length, hydrophilic head group type, HLB value) to maximize surface activity and micelle formation efficiency, enabling high cleaning performance at reduced concentrations
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses synergistic combinations of different biogenic surfactants where the composite system achieves enhanced effectiveness per unit mass, allowing lower total surfactant dosages while maintaining or improving cleaning performance
3Object-affected harmful factors
If renewable raw materials are used for surfactants, then sustainability is improved, but application performance may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent systematically adjusts key parameters of biogenic surfactants including chain length, degree of unsaturation, head group composition, and salt form to optimize interfacial tension reduction and wetting properties for specific cleaning applications
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates performance-optimized composite formulations combining multiple biogenic surfactant classes with builders, solvents, and auxiliary agents to achieve application performance matching or exceeding conventional petrochemical-based products
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 surfactants provide high-performance detergents and cleaning agents with reduced surfactant usage, avoiding food resource competition and offering improved washing and cleaning capabilities across various applications.
Implementation Method 1
Surfactants of the general formula (I) can be prepared by sulfation of a compound of the general formula (II), in which n has the meaning given above, with a sulfating agent, for example chlorosulfonic acid
Implementation Method 2
The use of surfactants to reduce the surface tension of water, to form dispersions and to promote solubilization has long been known in the field of detergents and cleaning agents
Implementation Method 3
a surfactant of the general formula (I), in which n represents a number from 5 to 21, preferably a number from 7 to 17
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to detergents and cleaning agents containing an anionic surfactant of general formula (I), in which n is a number from 5 to 21 and X+ is a charge-balancing cation. Also disclosed are an agent or a use, characterised in that, in the compound of general formula (I), X+ is selected from the group comprising the proton, alkali metal cations and the group N+R1R2R3, where R1, R2 and R3 are, independently of one another, hydrogen, an alkyl group with 1 to 6 C atoms or a hydroxyalkyl group with 2 to 6 C atoms.