Unit-Dose Detergent Composition That Avoids Crystalline Dissolution Residue
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water-soluble unit dose detergent articles face challenges in achieving high active ingredient concentration with reduced solvent content, leading to product dissolution issues and unsatisfying performance, especially at higher surfactant concentrations, which can result in crystalline phases and residue on fabrics.
Innovation Solution
A water-soluble unit dose article with a detergent composition comprising 45% to 65% non-soap surfactant, 0% to 3.5% fatty acid, and 5% to 25% water, with a specific ratio of fatty acid to anionic non-soap surfactant to non-ionic surfactant within a defined triangle, ensuring improved dissolution kinetics and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the detergent composition is highly concentrated in active ingredients with reduced solvent content, then the cost and carbon footprint are reduced, but the dissolution kinetics deteriorate due to crystalline or viscous phase formation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by carefully adjusting the concentration ranges of surfactants (45-65%), water (5-25%), and organic solvent (5-25%), along with the specific ratio between anionic and nonionic surfactants, to achieve a formulation that remains liquid and dissolves rapidly without forming crystalline phases, thus resolving the contradiction between high concentration and good dissolution kinetics
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite surfactant system combining anionic non-soap surfactant and nonionic surfactant in a specific weight ratio (2:1 to 4.5:1), creating a synergistic mixture that prevents crystalline phase formation while maintaining high active ingredient concentration and excellent dissolution properties
2Reliability
If the surfactant concentration is increased to improve cleaning performance, then the cleaning efficiency is improved, but crystalline phases form at the wash water - detergent interface slowing down dissolution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite surfactant system with anionic non-soap surfactant (45-65% of total surfactant) and nonionic surfactant in a weight ratio of 2:1 to 4.5:1. This specific composition prevents crystalline phase formation at the wash water-detergent interface while maintaining high cleaning performance, thus resolving the contradiction between cleaning efficiency and dissolution rate
3Loss of energy
If the amount of solvent is reduced to lower costs and environmental impact, then the cost and carbon footprint are reduced, but the product stability and dissolution profile deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the water content to 5-25% and organic solvent content to 5-25%, balancing the reduction of solvents for lower environmental impact while maintaining sufficient plasticization of the water-soluble film and preventing crystalline phase formation, thus achieving both reduced carbon footprint and product stability
Solution Approach 2:
The synergistic combination of anionic and nonionic surfactants in a specific ratio creates a stable liquid composition that maintains product stability and good dissolution profile even with reduced solvent content, addressing the contradiction between environmental sustainability and product performance
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 solution provides a water-soluble unit dose article with enhanced dissolution profile and reduced solvent content, improving product performance and reducing environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
When the water-soluble unit dose detergent article is added to water, the film dissolves/disintegrates releasing the detergent into the surrounding water to create a cleaning liquor
Implementation Method 2
liquid detergent composition... improved product dissolution kinetics... very good dissolution profile
Data Source
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AI summary
A water-soluble unit-dose detergent article comprising a water-soluble film and a liquid detergent composition, wherein the detergent composition comprises: from 45% to 65% by weight of the composition of a non-soap surfactant system comprising anionic non-soap surfactant and nonionic surfactant; from 0% to 3.5% by weight of the composition of fatty acid from 5% to 25% by weight of the composition of organic solvent; from 5% to 25% by weight of the composition of water, wherein the fatty acid weight % and the anionic non-soap surfactant to non-ionic surfactant weight ratio falls into a triangle of a (fatty acid weight %, anionic non-soap surfactant to non-ionic surfactant weight ratio) coordinate graph defined by the following coordinates: (0, 4.5), (0, 2) and (3.5,2).