Laundry Detergent Soap Particle Size Control for Suds Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning compositions fail to maintain optimal suds levels during the wash cycle while effectively reducing suds during the rinse cycle, particularly in handwashing applications, due to the limitations of soap particle sizes and surfactant combinations.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating soap particles with specific particle sizes ranging from 125 to 355 microns, combined with non-soap surfactants like C10-20 linear alkylbenzene sulphonate and alkyl sulphates, to enhance the suds profile by boosting wash suds and suppressing rinse suds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If soap particles of conventional sizes are used in cleaning compositions, then the composition can reduce suds during the rinse cycle, but it fails to maintain optimal suds levels during the wash cycle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the particle size parameter of soap particles to a specific range (125-355 microns) to simultaneously achieve high wash suds volume and rapid rinse suds reduction. This parameter optimization allows the soap particles to dissolve at controlled rates that maintain suds during washing while enabling quick suds breakdown during rinsing.
2Quantity of substance
If soap particles with specific size range (125-355 microns) are used, then wash suds volume is maintained and rinse suds are reduced, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies a concrete particle size range (125-355 microns) that can be achieved through standard industrial grinding and classification equipment. This parameter definition balances performance requirements with manufacturing feasibility, avoiding overly restrictive specifications that would excessively complicate production.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a balanced surfactant ratio is used to maintain performance across diverse water hardnesses, then the composition becomes more complex, but cleaning performance is improved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple surfactant types (soap particles, C10-20 linear alkylbenzene sulphonate, and alkyl sulphates) in specific ratios to create a composite surfactant system. This composite approach leverages the complementary properties of each surfactant to maintain effective cleaning performance across a wide range of water hardness conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The surfactant combination is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: C10-20 linear alkylbenzene sulphonate provides primary cleaning and foaming, alkyl sulphates enhance foam stability and provide water softening, while soap particles contribute to suds control and cleaning. This multi-functional system adapts to various water hardness levels without requiring formulation changes.
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 described composition achieves an improved suds profile by maintaining high wash suds volume and rapidly reducing rinse suds, making it suitable for handwashing, while using a balanced surfactant ratio to maintain performance across diverse water hardnesses.
Implementation Method 1
soap particles having particle sizes within the range of 125-355 microns when used at a sufficiently high amount are not only effective in reducing foam or suds during the rinse cycle of a cleaning process, but are also capable of maintaining or boosting the foam or suds during the wash cycle
Implementation Method 2
from about 5% to about 50% of one or more non-soap surfactants... from about 1.5% to about 10% of soap particles
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning composition, preferably a granular laundry detergent composition, contains 1.5 wt％to 10 wt％of soap particles characterized by a particle size distribution with from 35 wt％to 100 wt％of soap particles having particle sizes ranging from about 125 microns to about 355 microns. Soap particles with such a particle size distribution are surprisingly more effective in boosting suds volume of the cleaning composition during a fabric washing cycle.