SLES Viscosity Reduction Using Polyol Mono-Alcohol Hybrid
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial sodium laureth ether sulfate (SLES) has high viscosity, making it difficult to handle and process, and its use as a blend with ethanol poses a fire hazard due to ethanol's low flash point, necessitating safer alternatives for industrial use.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the addition of a polyol and a mono-alcohol to SLES, creating a synergistic effect that reduces viscosity and minimizes the amount of flammable alcohol needed, thereby improving safety and handling during manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If ethanol is added to SLES to reduce viscosity, then the viscosity is reduced and processability is improved, but the fire hazard increases due to ethanol's low flash point
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a polyol as an intermediary substance that mediates between the viscosity reduction function and fire safety requirement. The polyol serves as a safer alternative to ethanol, providing rheology modification without the low flash point hazard. This intermediary approach allows the system to achieve viscosity reduction while eliminating the fire risk associated with traditional ethanol-based solutions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the SLES blend by substituting ethanol with a polyol. This parameter change fundamentally alters the flash point characteristic of the mixture while maintaining the viscosity modification effect. The polyol's higher flash point parameter resolves the fire hazard issue while the concentration and molecular weight parameters are optimized to achieve the desired rheology improvement.
2Reliability
If neat SLES is used to maintain purity and effectiveness, then cleaning and emulsification performance is maximized, but handling and processing become difficult due to high viscosity
Solution Approach 1:
The polyol acts as an intermediary additive that enables neat SLES to be handled easily without compromising its cleaning and emulsification effectiveness. By introducing this intermediary substance in controlled amounts, the system achieves both goals: maintaining the high reliability of neat SLES while overcoming its handling difficulties through rheology modification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite material system consisting of SLES and polyol. This composite approach allows the combination of neat SLES's superior cleaning performance with the polyol's flow-enhancing properties. The composite formulation achieves synergistic effects where the polyol modifies the rheology without interfering with SLES's functional performance in cleaning and emulsification applications.
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 method effectively reduces the viscosity of SLES to a manageable level, enhancing its processability and safety by using less flammable alcohol, thus addressing the handling and fire hazard issues associated with commercial SLES blends.
Implementation Method 1
the addition of a polyol and a mono-alcohol to SLES, creating a synergistic effect that reduces viscosity
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a polyethoxylated alcohol sulfate composition is provided which includes a polyethoxylated alcohol sulfate, such as sodium laureth ether sulfate (SLES), water, a mono-alcohol, and a polyol. The two alcohols form a synergistic blend, enabling a significant reduction of the viscosity of the polyethoxylated alcohol sulfate composition. Also provided is an embodiment of a method for modifying the rheology of polyethoxylated alcohol sulfate by use of a mono-alcohol and a polyol simultaneously. Finally provided is an embodiment of a detergent composition which is prepared by use of the polyethoxylated alcohol sulfate composition described herein, in addition to other commonly known ingredients.