Surface-Active Metal Complexes for Odor Adsorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Zinc salts of fatty acids, such as zinc ricinoleate, are insoluble in water, necessitating complex formulations with numerous auxiliary materials to create aqueous solutions for deodorizing applications, which complicates their use in cosmetic and home care products.
Innovation Solution
Complexed metal salts are developed, comprising ligands with hydrophobic carbon skeletons and hydrophilic groups, combined with water-soluble complexing agents like bifunctional acids or ether carboxylic acids, making them water-soluble and surface-active, enabling effective binding and adsorption of noxious and odoriferous substances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If zinc salts of fatty acids are used for deodorizing, then they can chemically bind noxious substances, but they are insoluble in water requiring complex formulations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces auxiliary materials and additives as intermediary substances that facilitate the dissolution of zinc salts in water. These mediators bridge the incompatibility between water-insoluble zinc salts and aqueous formulations, enabling the active deodorizing component to be delivered in water-based cosmetic and home care products without requiring complex solubilizing systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the physical-chemical parameters of the zinc salt formulations by adjusting pH, temperature, and concentration parameters through the addition of auxiliary materials. This enables the zinc salts to be converted into aqueous solutions or flowable concentrates that maintain their deodorizing functionality while achieving water compatibility through parameter optimization.
2Ease of operation
If zinc salts are converted to aqueous solutions, then they become usable in cosmetic products, but numerous auxiliary materials are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs auxiliary materials that serve multiple functions simultaneously: they act as solubilizers to dissolve zinc salts, provide pH buffering capacity, offer preservative properties, and enhance the overall stability of the formulation. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of separate ingredients needed while achieving the same technical effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple functional ingredients into integrated formulation systems where auxiliary materials perform overlapping roles. For example, certain additives serve both as solubilizing agents and as viscosity modifiers, or as pH adjusters and as preservatives, thereby consolidating the number of required components while maintaining formulation effectiveness.
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 complexed metal salts are capable of chemically binding and adsorbing pollutants and odorous substances, including gas-phase compounds, while being surface-active and water-soluble, simplifying their application in various formulations without the need for extensive auxiliary materials.
Implementation Method 1
surface-active metal complexes on carrier material for adsorbing noxious substances
Implementation Method 2
capable of chemically binding and adsorbing noxious and/or odour-producing substances
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to complexed metal salts which comprise ligands and at least one complexing agent for chemically binding noxious substances and/or odor-forming substances, the ligands comprising a hydrophobic carbon skeleton with hydrophilic groups. The complexed metal salt formed with the complexing agent is water-soluble and surface-active. Preferred complexing agents are water-soluble acids or salts of at least bifunctional acids, or also ether carboxylic acids.