Sulfamic Acid Cleaner with Hydroxycarboxylic Acid for Lime Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aqueous cleaning compositions based on sulfamic acid face challenges such as skin irritation, material compatibility issues with metals and plastics, perfume stability problems, and corrosiveness, while maintaining effective lime removal capabilities.
Innovation Solution
An aqueous sanitary cleaning composition comprising sulfamic acid in combination with hydroxycarboxylic acid and urea, with a weight ratio of 80:20 to 20:80, and optionally including surfactants, perfumes, and dyes, which reduces sulfamic acid content to minimize irritation and corrosion, while enhancing perfume stability and material compatibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If sulfamic acid is used as the sole acid component for lime removal, then lime-removing capability is improved, but material compatibility deteriorates (corrosion of metals, accelerated aging of plastics)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines sulfamic acid with hydroxycarboxylic acid (such as lactic acid, glycolic acid, or citric acid) in a synergistic acid combination. This merging of two acid types allows the composition to maintain high lime-removing capability while reducing the corrosive effects on metals and plastics, thereby improving material compatibility without sacrificing cleaning performance
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite acid system consisting of sulfamic acid and hydroxycarboxylic acid in specific ratios (1:9 to 9:1 by weight). This composite approach creates a cleaning composition that leverages the strengths of both acid types: sulfamic acid provides effective lime removal while hydroxycarboxylic acid reduces corrosiveness and improves material compatibility
2Productivity
If sulfamic acid is used at high concentrations for effective cleaning, then lime removal is improved, but skin irritation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters by introducing hydroxycarboxylic acid and adjusting the pH range to 0.1-3.0. This parameter change allows the composition to maintain effective lime-removing capability while reducing skin irritation, as the hydroxycarboxylic acid component moderates the overall irritancy of the acid mixture
3Productivity
If sulfamic acid is used as the primary acid, then lime removal is effective, but perfume stability deteriorates (perfume decomposition during storage)
Solution Approach 1:
The hydroxycarboxylic acid acts as an intermediary substance that mediates between the sulfamic acid and the perfume components. This intermediary acid type is less oxidative and less likely to cause perfume decomposition, thereby stabilizing the fragrance in the cleaning composition while maintaining effective lime removal capabilities
4Productivity
If sulfamic acid is used for cleaning composition, then scale removal is improved, but corrosiveness to metal surfaces increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potentially harmful corrosive effect of sulfamic acid into a beneficial outcome by combining it with hydroxycarboxylic acid. The hydroxycarboxylic acid component neutralizes or mitigates the corrosive action on metal surfaces while preserving the scale-removing capability, effectively transforming a harmful property into a balanced, beneficial cleaning composition
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 improved material compatibility, increased perfume stability, reduced corrosiveness to metal surfaces, and maintains effective lime removal properties, avoiding the drawbacks of sulfamic acid-based compositions.
Implementation Method 1
For the removal of persistent lime scale it is required that the cleaning compositions have a high acidity
Implementation Method 2
These compositions normally are based on inorganic and/or organic acids as well as surfactants
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
It is provided an aqueous sanitary cleaning composition comprising an sulfamic acid in an amount of up to 8 wt.% , a hydroxycarboxylic acid and water, wherein the weight ratio of the sulfamic acid to the hydroxycarboxylic acid is 80:20 to 20:80. Said cleaning composition can be used for cleaning of, disinfecting of, and/or lime removal from surfaces made of brass, copper, aluminium, stainless steel, zinc, polyvinylchloride (PVC), polypropylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyacetat, polystyrene, polyethylene, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA, plexiglas), polycarbonate, ceramic, tiles, porcelain, painted and plastic coated surfaces and enamel or any other surfaces which can be found in, for example, sanitary or kitchen areas.