Solid Cleaning Composition Using Ionic Liquids and Polyethylene Glycol
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hard surface cleaning compositions for institutional and commercial use rely on alkyl phenol ethoxylates (APEs), which are environmentally harmful due to their persistence and estrogen-like properties, necessitating a biodegradable and environmentally friendly alternative.
Innovation Solution
Development of solid cleaning compositions incorporating ionic liquids, specifically quaternized alkyl imidazolines, as a replacement for APEs, combined with polyethylene glycol as a hardening agent, which remain solid at room temperature and effectively remove soils without compromising stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If alkyl phenol ethoxylates (APEs) are used as cleaning agents, then effective soil and grease removal is achieved, but environmental harm increases due to persistence and estrogen-like properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the cleaning agent by replacing APEs with ionic liquids that have different molecular structures and properties. The ionic liquids maintain effective cleaning performance while eliminating the harmful environmental characteristics of APEs, specifically the persistence and estrogen-like properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite formulations combining ionic liquids with polyethylene glycol hardening agents and other cleaning components. This composite approach creates a new cleaning system that achieves effective soil removal without the environmental harm associated with conventional APE-based formulations.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If ionic liquids are incorporated into cleaning compositions, then environmental friendliness and biodegradability are improved, but maintaining solid form at room temperature becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the physical state parameters by selecting specific ionic liquids and combining them with polyethylene glycol hardening agents. This combination changes the phase behavior of the composition, enabling it to maintain a solid form at room temperature despite the presence of ionic liquids, which are typically liquid at these temperatures.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite material system where ionic liquids are combined with polyethylene glycol and other solidifying agents. This composite formulation allows the composition to remain solid at room temperature while incorporating environmentally friendly ionic liquids, resolving the contradiction between environmental friendliness and physical form stability.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If conventional APEs are replaced with ionic liquids, then biodegradability is improved, but formulation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by replacing APEs with specific ionic liquids and adjusting the formulation ratios of polyethylene glycol and other components. This parameter optimization achieves rapid biodegradability while managing formulation complexity through systematic composition design.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention develops a composite formulation system that integrates ionic liquids with polyethylene glycol hardening agents and auxiliary cleaning components. This composite approach achieves improved biodegradability while organizing the complexity into a structured, manageable formulation framework.
4Ease of operation
If solid block compositions are used, then handling and safety are improved, but incorporating liquid ionic liquids while maintaining solid form becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the physical state parameters by combining ionic liquids with polyethylene glycol hardening agents in specific ratios. This parameter adjustment enables the composition to maintain a solid block form suitable for handling and safety, despite incorporating liquid ionic liquid components.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite material system where ionic liquids are integrated with polyethylene glycol and other solidifying components. This composite structure maintains the solid block form necessary for safe and convenient handling while incorporating the liquid ionic liquid cleaning agents.
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 use of ionic liquids in solid cleaning compositions provides a renewable, environmentally friendly, and effective alternative to APEs, ensuring stable and efficient soil removal while maintaining a solid form at room temperature, thus addressing environmental concerns and performance.
Implementation Method 1
a hardening agent that can hydrate to bind free water in the emulsion which, optionally after heating and cooling, hardens to a solid
Implementation Method 2
As a result of the charged species comprising the ionic fluids, they provide a highly polar medium
Implementation Method 3
the melt then poured into a mold and cooled to a solid form
Data Source
AI summary
A solid cleaning composition including an ionic liquid and a hardening agent is provided. The compositions are substantially free of alkyl phenol ethoxylates, including nonyl phenol ethoxylates. The solid cleaning compositions remain solid at room temperature despite the inclusion of ionic liquids, providing an effective, biorenewable, environmentally friendly alternative to nonyl phenol ethoxylate cleaning compositions.