Solid Laundry Detergent Unit Dose pH Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Water-soluble unit dose articles with solid laundry detergent compositions face limitations in cleaning performance due to space constraints, leading to under-performance, which cannot be effectively enhanced by adding more detergent without compromising convenience and structural stability.

Innovation Solution

A water-soluble unit dose article comprising a solid laundry detergent composition with specific formulations, including a whitening agent, enzyme, stain removal active, cationically modified polysaccharide, and perfume, optimized to achieve improved fabric whiteness and cleaning performance at a pH range of 6.5 to 8.8 upon dilution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If more solid laundry detergent composition is added to the water-soluble unit dose article to improve cleaning performance, then the cleaning performance is improved, but the unit dose article becomes bigger making it less convenient and could impair dissolution and reduce structural stability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning performanceVSAvoidconvenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the pH parameter of the solid laundry detergent composition to a specific range (pH 7.0-9.0) to optimize cleaning performance. This parameter optimization allows achieving better cleaning results without increasing the amount of detergent composition, thereby maintaining the compact size and convenience of the unit dose article while improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If more solid laundry detergent composition is added to improve cleaning performance, then the cleaning performance is improved, but the structural stability of the unit dose article is reduced due to impaired dissolution

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning performanceVSAvoidstructural stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the pH parameter of the detergent composition to fall within the range of 7.0-9.0, which enhances cleaning effectiveness. This parameter change allows achieving superior cleaning performance without compromising the structural stability or dissolution characteristics of the water-soluble unit dose article, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter 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 optimized formulation enhances fabric whiteness and cleaning performance by maintaining structural stability and convenience while improving the efficacy of the detergent, even at lower concentrations, by carefully balancing the composition and pH for effective release and action.

Implementation Method 1

Upon exposure to water, the water-soluble film dissolves/disintegrates releasing the laundry detergent composition into the surrounding water

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDissolution: Solvation

Implementation Method 2

The laundry detergent composition may be a solid laundry detergent composition. Such detergent compositions comprise known laundry detergent cleaning actives

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSurfactant action: Surfactant

Implementation Method 3

One preferred active ingredient is an optical brightener

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical brightening: Fluorescence

Data Source

PatentUS10550357B2Water-soluble unit dose article comprising a solid laundry detergent composition
Publication Date: 2020.02.04 PROCTER & GAMBLE CO

AI summary

Water-soluble unit dose article containing solid laundry detergent composition and water-soluble film.