Unit Dose Surfactant Composition for Low-Irritation Cleaning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current personal and household care compositions often require significant amounts of water and generate plastic waste, and existing dry formulations may leave residues or irritate the skin, lacking in both ease of preparation and skin compatibility.
Innovation Solution
A dry, pre-portioned powder or unit dose composition combining amphoteric and anionic surfactants with minimal thickening agents, allowing for easy preparation of a transparent, high-viscosity liquid or jelly detergent that minimizes skin irritation and plastic usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If aqueous liquid cleaning compositions are used, then cleaning performance and foam stability are improved, but water consumption and plastic waste increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning composition is divided into two separate phases: a concentrated surfactant powder and water. The user mixes them in the desired ratio before use, allowing the product to be stored and transported in a compact, water-free state while maintaining the ability to form stable foam when activated
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state parameter from liquid to powder form by removing water. The surfactant mixture is formulated to be stable in dry powder form but transforms into a functional liquid cleaning solution when water is added, enabling compact storage while maintaining cleaning efficacy
2Stability of the object's composition
If thickening agents are added to increase viscosity, then product stability is improved, but foam volume and skin compatibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates thickening agents from the formulation entirely. Instead of adding substances to increase viscosity, the product relies on the natural properties of the surfactant combination and proper mixing ratios to achieve the desired consistency without compromising skin compatibility or foam volume
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite surfactant system combining amphoteric and anionic surfactants in specific ratios. This composite formulation naturally provides both stability and appropriate viscosity through the interactions between different surfactant molecules, eliminating the need for separate thickening agents
3Reliability
If high amounts of anionic surfactants are used for cleaning power, then cleaning efficiency is improved, but skin irritation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges amphoteric and anionic surfactants into a single formulation. The amphoteric surfactant acts as a buffer and skin-conditioning agent that moderates the potential irritation from the anionic surfactant while maintaining or enhancing cleaning efficiency through synergistic effects
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameters by introducing amphoteric surfactants with specific charge properties. These surfactants can adapt their charge state based on pH conditions, providing both cleaning power and skin protection by reducing the overall irritation potential of the formulation
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 provides a stable, high-performance cleaning solution with minimal skin irritation and reduced plastic waste, achieving effective cleaning while being easy to prepare and environmentally friendly.
Implementation Method 1
A composition combining an amphoteric with an anionic surfactant produces a stable foam with exceptional cleaning performance
Implementation Method 2
detergent compositions in form of powder or unit doses provided in suitable portions, e.g., as tablets, pouches or sachets, for preparing such cleaning compositions 'ready-for-use' by the consumers themselves. This can be done by adding said powder or unit dose to a predetermined amount of water
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention refers to powder or unit doses of personal care or household care compositions suitable for preparing a liquid or jelly ready-to-personal care or household care composition, said liquid or jelly compositions as well as the use of said tablet or unit doses for preparing said liquid or jelly compositions. The powder or unit dose detergent composition comprises (i) from 1 to 40 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the powder or unit dose, of at least one amphoteric surfactant (betaines or sulphobetaines), (ii) at least one anionic surfactant (alkyl sulphates or sulphonates), and (iii) less than 5 wt-% of a polymeric thickening agent, selected from non-charged polysaccharides and polymers comprising acrylic monomers. A unit dose, represented by a sachet, package or pouch containing a pre-dosed amount of the powder, or a tablet prepared of a pre-dosed amount of the composition is also disclosed, as well as a kit for preparing the liquid or jelly personal care or household care detergent composition comprising the powder or unit dose and a container having an opening shaped and sized to feed said tablet or unit dose through said opening and a cap or head for closing said opening of the container.