Sulfonated Alkyl Polyglucoside Surfactant for Grease Removal

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional hardsurface cleaning detergents, particularly those used in institutional and commercial settings, 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

A method utilizing a sulfonated functionalized alkyl polyglucoside, combined with a co-surfactant and water conditioning agent, to create a cleaning composition that effectively removes soils containing proteins and oils without the use of APEs, leveraging the sugar backbone of the surfactant for enhanced protein breakdown and using a co-surfactant to improve soil removal capabilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If alkyl phenol ethoxylates (APEs) are used in hardsurface cleaning detergents, then effective grease removal is achieved, but environmental harm increases due to persistence and estrogen-like properties

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegrease removal effectivenessVSAvoidenvironmental harm

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical structure parameters of the surfactant by replacing APEs with sulfonated functionalized alkyl polyglucosides. This structural modification maintains cleaning effectiveness while improving biodegradability and reducing environmental persistence, directly resolving the contradiction between productivity and environmental harm

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention adopts readily biodegradable surfactants that break down quickly in the environment, replacing persistent APEs. This approach uses 'short-living' cleaning agents that perform their function effectively but then decompose rapidly, eliminating long-term environmental accumulation while maintaining grease removal capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Productivity

If nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPE) are used as surfactants, then effective cleaning performance is achieved, but biodegradability decreases due to indefinite persistence in environment and food chain

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning performanceVSAvoidpersistence time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the surfactant molecular structure by using sulfonated functionalized alkyl polyglucosides with sugar backbones instead of NPEs. This structural change enables rapid biodegradation while preserving cleaning performance, resolving the contradiction between productivity and persistence duration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention converts the previously harmful persistence property into a benefit by designing surfactants that degrade rapidly. The sulfonated functionalized alkyl polyglucosides are specifically engineered to be readily biodegradable, transforming the environmental persistence issue into a rapid decomposition advantage while maintaining effective cleaning

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 effectively removes soils containing up to 20% proteins and oils from various surfaces, offering a green and biodegradable alternative to traditional detergents, while maintaining effective degreasing properties without the need for solvents, thus addressing environmental concerns.

Implementation Method 1

The cleaner includes a sulfonated functionalized alkyl polyglucoside, a water conditioning agent, a co-surfactant and water

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurfactant: Surfactant

Data Source

PatentUS8216988B2Method of removing enhanced food soil from a surface using a sulfonated alkyl polyglucoside composition

Publication Date: 2012.07.10 ECOLAB USA INC

AI summary

A method of using a cleaning composition including a sulfonated functionalized alkyl polyglucoside, a co-surfactant, a water conditioning agent and water. The sulfonated functionalized alkyl polyglucoside is one of a C12 sulfonated functionalized alkyl polyglucoside, a C10-C12 blend of a sulfonated functionalized alkyl polyglucoside or a C10 sulfonated functionalized alkyl polyglucoside. The co-surfactant comprises a C6-C12 alcohol ethoxylate having between 3 and 10 moles of EO. In one embodiment, the cleaning composition is substantially free of alkyl phenol ethoxylates. The cleaning composition is capable of removing soils including up to 20% proteins and has a neutral pH.