Temperate Zone Surfactant Mixtures for Sustainable Cleaning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current detergents and cleaning agents rely heavily on fossil raw materials, posing ecological, economic, and political challenges, with tropical oils like palm and coconut oil facing sustainability issues and long transport routes contributing to carbon emissions. There is a need for sustainable, plant-based alternatives from temperate zones that can replace fossil-based surfactants with high cleaning performance and stability.

Innovation Solution

Formulating detergents and cleaning agents with a predominant proportion of unsaturated, long-chain (>C18) alkyl radicals derived from vegetable oils in temperate zones, using a targeted selection of surfactants and stabilizing agents like complexing agents and plant saponins to enhance cleaning performance and stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If tropical oils (palm and coconut oil) are used as surfactant sources, then good water solubility, positive foaming behavior and high washing power are achieved, but sustainability issues arise due to deforestation, herbicide/fertilizer use, and long transport routes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewashing powerVSAvoidsustainability impact

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the key parameter of alkyl chain length from C10-C14 (tropical oils) to C16-C22 (temperate zone oils), specifically using C18 unsaturated fatty acids from sources like sunflower, soybean, rapeseed, and olive oil. This parameter change maintains surfactant functionality while eliminating the sustainability problems associated with tropical oil cultivation and transport

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent copies the successful surfactant properties of tropical oil derivatives by using chemically similar unsaturated C18 fatty acid chains from temperate zone oils. The molecular structure and surfactant behavior are replicated using locally available European oil sources, achieving the same cleaning performance without the environmental costs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Object-affected harmful factors

If vegetable oils from temperate zones with long-chain fatty acids (>C18) are used, then sustainability and local production are improved, but water solubility and cleaning power deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesustainabilityVSAvoidcleaning power

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the unsaturation parameter by specifically selecting C18 unsaturated fatty acids (oleic, linoleic, linolenic acids) rather than saturated long-chain fatty acids. The unsaturation introduces kinks in the hydrocarbon chain that improve water interaction and solubility while maintaining the long hydrophobic tail necessary for surfactant function, thus achieving both sustainability and cleaning efficacy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by using surfactants derived from oils produced within Europe (sunflower, soybean, rapeseed, olive oils), eliminating the need for long-distance transport of tropical oils. This localizes the supply chain while maintaining surfactant performance through careful selection of fatty acid composition

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Object-affected harmful factors

If high proportion of unsaturated fatty acids (>50 wt.%) is used in temperate zone oils, then renewable local resources are utilized, but formulation stability is compromised due to oxidation susceptibility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecarbon footprintVSAvoidformulation stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces antioxidants as intermediary substances that protect the unsaturated fatty acid chains from oxidation. These antioxidants act as mediators between the reactive unsaturated bonds and oxygen, preventing degradation and maintaining formulation stability throughout the product shelf life while allowing high unsaturation content for sustainability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies prior cushioning by incorporating stabilization systems (antioxidants, chelating agents) into the formulation before oxidation can occur. This preventive approach cushions the unsaturated fatty acids against oxidative damage during storage and use, ensuring long-term stability despite high unsaturation content

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentEP4183858A1Sustainable cleaning agents and detergents

Publication Date: 2023.05.24 COMPAD CONSULTING

AI summary

The invention describes sustainable surfactant mixtures for use as washing and cleaning agents for hard surfaces and/or textiles and fibers, which contain surfactants characterized by an exceptionally high proportion of long-chain (>C18) alkyl groups of over 60 wt.% and a proportion of unsaturated alkyl groups of over 50%, in each case based on the total content of alkyl chains of the surfactants contained in the mixture.