Solid Detergent Composition Saccharide Swelling Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Solid block detergent compositions face challenges with swelling when exposed to higher temperatures, leading to packaging damage and dispensing issues, and existing solutions have not adequately addressed this while meeting environmental regulations.
Innovation Solution
A solid detergent composition incorporating alkali metal silicate, saccharides or sugar alcohols, and water, with specific weight percentages, to form a dimensionally stable product that reduces swelling and maintains environmental sustainability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If solid block detergent compositions are subjected to higher temperature conditions, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but swelling occurs causing packaging damage and dispensing issues
Solution Approach 1:
Saccharides or sugar alcohols are introduced as intermediary substances that mediate between the alkali metal silicate and water, controlling the swelling mechanism. These intermediaries interact with the alkali metal silicate to form a matrix that limits water absorption and swelling, thereby maintaining dimensional stability at elevated temperatures while preserving cleaning effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameters by incorporating specific saccharides or sugar alcohols in controlled amounts (0.1-10 wt%). This parameter change modifies the physical-chemical properties of the detergent composition, specifically reducing the growth exponent to less than 2% at elevated temperatures, thereby resolving the contradiction between temperature resistance and dimensional stability.
2Reliability
If materials are added to control swelling, then dimensional stability is improved, but environmental impact increases due to regulation constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs saccharides or sugar alcohols which are biodegradable and environmentally benign substances. These materials serve as temporary swelling controllers that perform their function during storage and transport, then naturally decompose during use, avoiding long-term environmental harm. This approach replaces potentially harmful synthetic additives with environmentally safe alternatives.
Solution Approach 2:
The detergent composition is formulated as a composite material system combining alkali metal silicate, saccharides/sugar alcohols, and water. This composite structure leverages the complementary properties of each component: the alkali metal silicate provides cleaning power, the saccharides/sugar alcohols control swelling, and water enables dissolution. The composite nature allows dimensional stability without compromising environmental sustainability.
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 reduced swelling, maintaining dimensional stability and environmental benefits, with a growth exponent less than 2% even at elevated temperatures, ensuring proper packaging and dispensing.
Implementation Method 1
One challenge that arises when transporting and subsequently using such solid block compositions is that swelling can occur particularly when the solid block composition is subjected to higher temperature conditions. The result is that the block composition may break apart, damage the packaging in which it is stored and/or not fit properly into dispensing machines. Various materials have been added to solid block compositions to control swelling.
Implementation Method 2
The solid block compositions are generally formed by combining the alkali cleaning agent with one or more solidification components in a liquid solution. The solidification components interact with the alkali cleaning agent and cause the composition to form a solid block with minimal if any energy input.
Data Source
AI summary
Solid detergent compositions according to the present invention include at least one alkali metal silicate, at least one polycarboxylic acid, at least one saccharide or sugar alcohol and water. Suitable saccharides include sucrose, fructose, inulin, maltose and lactulose, and may be present in the composition in a concentration of at least 0.5 wt %. Compositions according to certain embodiments form stable solid block detergent compositions that do not swell significantly even when subjected to elevated temperatures.