Surfactant Blend for Reconstitutable Personal Care
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing concentrated surfactant compositions for personal cleansing require structuring agents, leading to issues like high pH, skin drying, and energy-intensive drying processes, while solid formats pose hazards and are costly, failing to achieve sustainable and user-friendly reconstitutable solutions.
Innovation Solution
A concentrated reconstitutable liquid composition comprising a blend of sodium lauroyl methyl taurate and sodium lauroyl methyl isethionate in a 1:2 molar ratio, cocamidopropyl betaine, and antimicrobial preservatives, synthesized without structuring agents, which thickens upon dilution to achieve a pH of 5.0-6.0 and viscosity suitable for personal care products.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If structuring agents (fatty acids or fatty alcohols) are added to concentrated surfactant compositions, then the composition can be reconstituted into personal care products, but the pH becomes high (alkaline), causing skin drying and requiring energy-intensive drying processes
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the harmful structuring agents (fatty acids and fatty alcohols) from the concentrated surfactant composition. By removing these components, the patent achieves reconstitutable capability without the associated harms of high pH and skin drying, directly resolving the technical contradiction.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the previously harmful absence of structuring agents (which caused instability) into a benefit by using alternative mild surfactants that provide stability without high pH. The harmful structuring agents are replaced with beneficial components that maintain composition integrity while avoiding skin drying.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If concentrated surfactant compositions are made without structuring agents, then skin-friendly pH and gentleness are achieved, but the compositions lack stability and cannot be properly reconstituted
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical parameters of the composition by replacing traditional structuring agents with specific mild surfactant combinations (anionic plus zwitterionic). This parameter change maintains composition stability and reconstitutable capability while achieving skin-friendly pH and gentleness, resolving the contradiction between stability and mildness.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite surfactant system combining anionic surfactants (for cleansing) and zwitterionic surfactants (for stability and mildness). This composite approach provides both composition stability and skin gentleness without requiring harmful structuring agents, resolving the technical contradiction.
3Loss of substance
If solid formats (powders or tablets) are used for concentrated compositions, then plastic usage is reduced, but manufacturing costs increase and safety hazards arise
Solution Approach 1:
The invention adopts a liquid concentrate format in reusable refill containers, replacing single-use plastic bottles. This approach reduces plastic waste while avoiding the high manufacturing costs and safety hazards of solid formats, as the liquid concentrate can be produced and refilled more safely and economically.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses liquid (hydraulic) format instead of solid, allowing the concentrated composition to be easily transported and refilled in liquid form. This liquid format reduces manufacturing complexity and safety hazards compared to solid formats while achieving the same plastic reduction goal.
4Ease of operation
If concentrated compositions are made with high surfactant content, then viscosity is low (easy to transfer), but upon dilution the viscosity becomes too high for customary personal care products
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the rheological parameters by using specific surfactant combinations that maintain low viscosity in concentrated form for easy transfer, but upon dilution with water, the micellar structures form naturally to provide optimal viscosity for personal care products. This parameter change resolves the contradiction between transferability and final viscosity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a dynamic viscosity system where the composition adapts its viscosity based on concentration. In concentrated form, it remains low-viscosity for easy pouring and transfer; upon dilution, it transforms to optimal viscosity for product performance, resolving the contradiction between ease of transfer and final product consistency.
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
This solution eliminates the need for structuring agents, achieving gentle cleansing with reduced environmental impact, energy efficiency, and improved safety by providing a free-flowing, hydratable, and sulfate-free surfactant system that maintains performance and aesthetics at skin pH.
Implementation Method 1
concentrated, hydratable, and reconstitutable liquid compositions
Implementation Method 2
upon dilution it is reported to go to an isotropic phase with increase in viscosity
Data Source
AI summary
A concentrated reconstitutable liquid compositions for personal care and a process of making thereof. The composition comprises a blend of sodium lauroyl methyl taurate and sodium lauroyl methyl isethionate in a ratio of 1:2 with solid content of greater than 40%; b. cocamidopropyl betaine with solid content of greater than 40%; c. an antimicrobial preservative; and d. cosmetically and pharmaceutically acceptable auxiliaries. The compositions are low-viscous ‘easy-to-transfer’ and ‘easy-to-hydrate’ and upon dilution with water, afford high viscous ‘ready-to-use’ personal cleansing compositions such as hand-washes, body-washes or shampoos. The liquid compositions of the present invention are based on surfactants only and are free of thickeners such as natural gums or synthetic polymers or other ‘structuring agents’.