Wet Wipe Preservative Composition for Broad-Spectrum Microbial Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional wet wipe preservation systems fail to effectively control microbial growth and are not regulatory compliant, lacking sufficient antimicrobial properties, which is a challenge in personal care and surface cleaning applications.
Innovation Solution
A preservative composition comprising lactate compounds, glucose derivatives, polyhydric alcohols, and optionally phospholipid complexes, such as cocamidopropyl PG-dimonium chloride phosphate, synergistically inhibits microbial growth, providing unexpected antimicrobial efficacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional preservative systems are used in wet wipes, then manufacturing and formulation are straightforward, but they fail to effectively control microbial growth and are not regulatory compliant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple preservative ingredients (phenoxyethanol, ethylhexylglycerin, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate) into a composite preservative system that achieves effective microbial control and regulatory compliance while maintaining ease of manufacture. This composite approach allows each ingredient to contribute different antimicrobial mechanisms, creating a synergistic effect that overcomes the limitations of individual traditional preservatives.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the concentration parameters of each preservative ingredient within specific ranges (phenoxyethanol: 0.1-5%, ethylhexylglycerin: 0.1-5%, sodium benzoate: 0.1-3%, potassium sorbate: 0.1-3%) to optimize microbial control effectiveness. By adjusting these compositional parameters, the formulation achieves both reliable preservative performance and regulatory compliance without complicating the manufacturing process.
2Reliability
If stronger antimicrobial ingredients are used to improve preservative efficacy, then microbial growth control improves, but the product becomes less acceptable to consumers and less environmentally friendly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses moderate concentrations of preservatives (keeping each ingredient below 5%) to achieve effective microbial control without the need for harsh or toxic substances. This parameter optimization allows the product to meet preservative efficacy requirements while maintaining consumer acceptability and environmental friendliness, avoiding the need for stronger but less acceptable antimicrobial agents.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs preservatives that break down into safe, environmentally benign substances over time, effectively using short-lived active ingredients that degrade into harmless byproducts. This approach provides strong initial antimicrobial protection while ensuring the product becomes increasingly safe and environmentally friendly as the preservatives naturally degrade during product use and disposal.
3Reliability
If conventional preservatives are used, then formulation is simple, but they do not provide sufficient antimicrobial properties required for current commercial products
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a multi-component preservative system combining phenoxyethanol, ethylhexylglycerin, sodium benzoate, and potassium sorbate, where each ingredient targets different types of microorganisms through different mechanisms. This composite approach provides broad-spectrum antimicrobial protection that exceeds the capabilities of single conventional preservatives, while the relatively simple formulation process keeps complexity manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs a preservative system where each ingredient contributes multiple functions: phenoxyethanol provides broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, ethylhexylglycerin enhances penetration and synergizes with other preservatives, sodium benzoate targets bacteria and yeasts, and potassium sorbate inhibits molds and yeasts. This multi-functionality allows the system to provide comprehensive antimicrobial protection without requiring an equally complex system architecture.
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 broad-spectrum antimicrobial protection in wet wipes, ensuring microbial control and regulatory compliance, while being environmentally friendly.
Implementation Method 1
A preservative composition comprising one or more lactate compounds, a glucose derivative, a polyhydric alcohol and optionally a phospholipid complex
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning composition including a preservative formulation having a lactic acid salt, a gluconic acid salt, a polyhydric alcohol and optionally a phospholipid complex is disclosed. The cleaning composition can be loaded on a cleaning wipe and used for personal care. The lactic acid salt, gluconic acid salt and polyhydric alcohol provide a synergistic preservative effect to a cleaning composition incorporating the preservative formulation.