Antimicrobial Cleaning Composition Using Sodium Aluminate
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current hard surface cleaning compositions often require high concentrations of commercial antibacterial agents and are not effective against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and they generate excessive foam due to high surfactant content.
Innovation Solution
A composition with a small quantity of non-soap surfactant and a specific alkaline builder, sodium aluminate, providing broad-spectrum antibacterial benefits while minimizing foam generation, with a total fatty matter less than 10 wt%, and a preferred ratio of non-soap surfactant to sodium aluminate from 1:0.4 to 1:20000 parts by weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high concentrations of commercial antibacterial agents are used, then antimicrobial efficacy is improved, but the composition becomes harsh and less safe for household use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters by using sodium aluminate (an inorganic alkaline material with pH > 11 and reserve alkalinity > 45) instead of commercial antibacterial agents like bleach and phenols. This substitution maintains antimicrobial efficacy through alkaline action while reducing harshness and improving safety for household use.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a simple, readily available inorganic compound (sodium aluminate) that acts as an effective antimicrobial agent without requiring complex commercial formulations. This approach uses a basic, short-acting alkaline material rather than persistent chemical biocides, achieving disinfection while minimizing residual harshness.
2Productivity
If high surfactant content is used, then cleaning capability is improved, but excessive foam is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces the surfactant concentration parameter to a small quantity (0.0001 to 5 wt%) while compensating for cleaning capability through the strong alkaline action of sodium aluminate. This parameter change maintains effective cleaning while minimizing foam generation to practically negligible levels.
3Ease of operation
If conventional surfactant-based compositions are used, then cleaning action is provided, but broad-spectrum antibacterial action is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite system combining a small quantity of non-soap surfactant (anionic, amphoteric, or cationic) with sodium aluminate (inorganic alkaline material). This composite provides both cleaning action from the surfactant and broad-spectrum antibacterial action from the alkaline builder, achieving dual functionality that neither component achieves alone.
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 composition achieves at least 5 log reduction in bacterial count for both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including S. aureus and E. coli, without the need for commercial antibacterial agents and with minimal foam production, making it suitable for household cleaning.
Implementation Method 1
an inorganic alkaline material having pH > 11 and reserve alkalinity > 45 in 1% solution
Implementation Method 2
0.0001 to 5 wt% non-soap surfactant which is at least one of anionic, amphoteric or cationic surfactant
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an antimicrobial composition having total fatty matter less than 10 wt%, said composition comprising: (i) 0.0001 to 5 wt% non-soap surfactant which is at least one of anionic, amphoteric or cationic surfactant; and, (ii) 0.25 to 5 wt% sodium aluminate. The composition provides broad spectrum antibacterial action.