Water-soluble unit dose article comprising a metalloprotease
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water-soluble unit dose detergent articles rely heavily on ethoxylated alkyl sulphate for effective cleaning, which is undesirable, and there is a need for alternative compositions that maintain cleaning efficacy while reducing ethoxylated alkyl sulphate usage.
Innovation Solution
A water-soluble unit dose detergent article comprising a non-soap surfactant system with anionic and non-ionic surfactants, along with a metalloprotease, to enhance cleaning performance while minimizing ethoxylated alkyl sulphate content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ethoxylated alkyl sulphate is used in high levels for effective cleaning, then cleaning efficacy is improved, but reliance on this surfactant increases and alternative compositions are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the compositional parameters by reducing ethoxylated alkyl sulphate from high levels to less than 20% of anionic non-soap surfactant, while adjusting other surfactant ratios and introducing metalloprotease to maintain cleaning efficacy at lower surfactant concentrations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite surfactant system combining anionic non-soap surfactant with nonionic surfactant in specific ratios, and further composites this with metalloprotease enzyme to achieve synergistic cleaning effects that reduce dependence on any single component
2Adaptability or versatility
If ethoxylated alkyl sulphate is reduced to alternative compositions, then surfactant diversity is improved, but cleaning efficacy may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes specific parameter ranges: anionic non-soap surfactant at less than 20%, nonionic surfactant at 0.5-5% HLB, and metalloprotease at 0.01-10%, which collectively maintain cleaning reliability while enabling compositional versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces metalloprotease as an intermediary component that mediates the cleaning function, compensating for reduced surfactant levels by providing enzymatic action on protein-based soils and stains, thus bridging the gap between reduced surfactant and maintained efficacy
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 achieves high cleaning efficacy with reduced ethoxylated alkyl sulphate levels, ensuring effective soil and stain removal without compromising on fabric cleaning performance.
Implementation Method 1
a metalloprotease
Implementation Method 2
the film dissolves/disintegrates releasing the detergent into the surrounding water to create a cleaning liquor
Implementation Method 3
a non-soap surfactant system, the surfactant system comprising anionic non-soap surfactant and nonionic surfactant
Data Source
AI summary
A water-soluble unit dose detergent article comprising a water-soluble film and a laundry liquid detergent composition, wherein the detergent composition comprises: a non-soap surfactant system comprising anionic non-soap surfactant and nonionic surfactant wherein the anionic non-soap surfactant comprises more than 0% and less than 20% by weight of the anionic non-soap surfactant of an anionic non-soap surfactant selected from the group consisting of alkyl sulphate, alkoxylated alkyl sulphate, and a mixture thereof; a metalloprotease; and up to 15% by weight of the composition of water.