Solid Cleaner for Hot Beverage Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial and household hot beverage machines face contamination issues due to lime and mineral deposits, as well as microbial colonization in milk ducts, which existing cleaners fail to address effectively, particularly when using hard water for milk foam production.
Innovation Solution
A solid cleaner formulation containing chelating agents like MGDA and GLDA, complexing agents such as HEDP, and polymeric acids, which is surfactant-free, silicate-free, and phosphate-free, with a pH of 8 to 11, effectively dissolves mineral deposits and prevents corrosion, suitable for all areas of hot beverage machines without requiring additional disinfection or acid rinsing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional cleaners are used to remove limescale and mineral deposits, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but harmful residues and foaming issues occur
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaner uses a mildly alkaline pH range (8-11) instead of strong alkalis, and employs specific chelating agents (MGDA, GLDA) and complexing agents (HEDP, ATMP, DTMP) to dissolve limescale through controlled chemical reactions, avoiding harsh substances that cause foaming and residues
Solution Approach 2:
The formulation combines multiple active ingredients including chelating agents, complexing agents, polymeric acids, and surfactants in specific concentrations to achieve synergistic effects for effective limescale removal while preventing harmful residues through the absence of phosphates and silicates
2Reliability
If additional decalcification processes are implemented to prevent limescale formation, then limescale prevention is improved, but process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaner contains pre-formulated chelating agents and complexing agents that proactively prevent limescale formation during the cleaning process, eliminating the need for subsequent separate decalcification steps
Solution Approach 2:
The single cleaner formulation performs multiple functions including cleaning coffee residues, removing milk residues, preventing limescale formation, and providing mild disinfection, replacing the need for multiple specialized cleaning processes
3Reliability
If surfactants and phosphates are added to enhance cleaning performance, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but environmental friendliness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The formulation explicitly excludes phosphates and silicates known to cause water pollution, and uses biodegradable alternatives such as MGDA, GLDA, and HEDP that maintain cleaning effectiveness while reducing environmental harm
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaner uses readily biodegradable ingredients that break down quickly in the environment, replacing persistent phosphates and surfactants with shorter-lived, environmentally benign substances
4Reliability
If disinfectants are used to eliminate microorganisms in milk ducts, then microbial control is improved, but residue accumulation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaner maintains a mildly alkaline pH (8-11) that creates an unfavorable environment for microorganisms without using strong disinfectants, and the formulation is designed to be easily rinsed away without accumulating residues in milk ducts
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 cleaner provides effective cleaning performance for coffee and milk residues, prevents limescale formation, and is environmentally friendly, eliminating the need for additional decalcification processes and avoiding residue or foaming issues, while being safe and non-hazardous.
Implementation Method 1
Chelating agents can use suitable ligands to form chelate complexes, in particular with Ca and/or Mg ions, and thus mask these ions
Implementation Method 2
at least one complexing agent selected from the group consisting of gluconic acids, iminodisuccinate, ATMP, DTMP, HEDP, HDTMP, PBTC, phosphonic acids; and salts of the aforementioned acids
Implementation Method 3
at least one polymeric acid selected from the group consisting of polymeric acrylic acids, methacrylic acids, maleic acids, sulfonated polystyrenes, copolymers of the aforementioned acids
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a cleaner formulated as a solid for hot beverage machines. According to the invention, it is provided that it contains: a) at least one chelating agent for Ca and/or Mg ions, b) at least one complexing agent selected from the group consisting of gluconic acids, imidium disuccinate, ATMP (aminotrismethylenephosphonic acid), DET (diethylenetriaminepentamethylenephosphonic acid), HEDP (1-hydroxyethane-(1,1-diphosphonic acid), HDT (hexamethylenediaminetetramethylenephosphonic acid), PBT (phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid), phosphonic acids; and salts of the aforementioned acids. c) at least one polymeric acid selected from the group consisting of polymeric acrylic acids, methacrylic acids, maleic acids, sulfonated polystyrenes, copolymers of the aforementioned acids, wherein the cleaner is surfactant-free, silicate-free, and phosphate-free and contains no disinfectant agents, and wherein the cleaner is in a 1 wt% concentration. aqueous solution has a pH value of 8 to 11.