Sugar Amine Complexing Agents for Biodegradable Formulation Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for sustainable and environmentally friendly complexing agents, particularly chelating agents, that can stabilize cosmetic and home care formulations against metal contamination, while being derived from natural and renewable sources, as traditional agents like EDTA have biodegradability issues and accumulate in the environment.

Innovation Solution

Utilizing sugar amines, such as N,N-dimethylglucamine, or their salts as complexing agents, preferably chelating agents, which are derived from natural resources, readily biodegradable, and effective in binding metal ions, thereby stabilizing formulations and enhancing their stability and performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional chelating agents like EDTA are used, then complexing performance is achieved, but environmental sustainability deteriorates due to slow biodegradation and environmental accumulation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomplexing performanceVSAvoidenvironmental accumulation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical structure parameter of chelating agents from synthetic EDTA to naturally derived sugar amines (glucosamine, galactosamine, mannosamine). This structural parameter change fundamentally alters the biodegradability parameter while maintaining the complexing function, resolving the contradiction between performance and environmental sustainability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs sugar amines that are readily biodegradable (short-lived in environment) compared to persistent EDTA. These natural derivatives act as temporary chelating agents that break down quickly in the environment, eliminating accumulation issues while providing necessary complexing protection during product use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Reliability

If EDTA is used as a chelating agent, then metal binding capability is provided, but biodegradability deteriorates leading to environmental persistence

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemetal binding capabilityVSAvoidbiodegradation time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the molecular structure parameter by replacing the persistent EDTA backbone with naturally occurring sugar amine structures. This structural change directly impacts the biodegradation time parameter, enabling rapid breakdown by microorganisms while preserving the essential metal binding capability through the amino group and hydroxyl groups.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If sustainable and naturally derived complexing agents are used, then environmental friendliness is improved, but performance reliability may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental friendlinessVSAvoidstabilization performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes sugar amines and their derivatives as temporary, biodegradable chelating agents that provide sufficient stabilization performance during product shelf life and use, then rapidly degrade in the environment. This approach maintains environmental friendliness while achieving necessary performance through optimized concentration and formulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite chelating systems using sugar amines in combination with other natural derivatives and formulation ingredients. This composite approach enhances the stabilization performance of individual natural components, ensuring reliable metal binding and oxidation prevention while maintaining the overall environmental sustainability of the system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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

Sugar amines provide excellent stabilization against metal-induced oxidation, discoloration, and microbial contamination, while being environmentally friendly and biodegradable, thus addressing the limitations of traditional chelating agents like EDTA.

Implementation Method 1

Complexing agents, including chelating agents, can bind metals and help stabilize products against the effects of metal contamination

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectComplexation:

Implementation Method 2

The present invention relates to the use of a sugar amine or a salt thereof in a cosmetic composition or a home care composition as a complexing agent, preferably as a chelating agent

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChelation:

Data Source

PatentEP4245293B1Use of sugar amines as complexing agents

Publication Date: 2025.08.06 CLARIANT INT LTD

AI summary

The present invention relates to the use of a sugar amine or a salt thereof in a cosmetic composition or a home care composition as a complexing agent, preferably as a chelating agent, as well as to cosmetic compositions or home care compositions comprising a sugar amine or a salt thereof.