Zinc Ricinoleate Stabilization in Laundry Detergent Packs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Zinc ricinoleate is unstable in single dose laundry detergent compositions due to flocculation and sedimentation, especially at elevated temperatures, limiting its use in low water activity environments.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating sodium iminodisuccinate and a non-aqueous solvent like glycerin into the composition stabilizes zinc ricinoleate, allowing higher concentrations while maintaining low turbidity and stability even at high temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If zinc ricinoleate is added to single dose laundry detergent composition, then deodorizing performance is improved, but stability deteriorates due to flocculation and sedimentation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces water-soluble polymers (solubility promoters) as intermediary substances to facilitate the dissolution of zinc ricinoleate in the detergent composition. These polymers act as mediators between the hydrophobic zinc ricinoleate and the aqueous detergent environment, enabling stable incorporation without flocculation or sedimentation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the system by adjusting the concentration of solubility promoters and optimizing the formulation composition. By modifying these parameters, the patent achieves a stable state where zinc ricinoleate remains dissolved even in low water activity environments, preventing the harmful flocculation and sedimentation effects.
2Stability of the object's composition
If water content is increased to solvate zinc ricinoleate, then solubility is improved, but water activity becomes too high for single dose compositions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses water-soluble polymers as intermediary substances that can solvate zinc ricinoleate with minimal water content. These polymers create a solvation environment that allows effective dissolution of zinc ricinoleate while maintaining the low water activity characteristic of single dose laundry detergent compositions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the solvation mechanism by introducing polymers that can dissolve zinc ricinoleate through polymer-zinc complexation rather than traditional water solvation. This parameter change enables maintaining low water activity (appropriate for single dose formulations) while achieving sufficient solubility of zinc ricinoleate.
3Stability of the object's composition
If conventional solubility promoters are used, then some dissolution is achieved, but flocculation and sedimentation occur especially at elevated temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces specific water-soluble polymers as superior intermediary substances that prevent flocculation and sedimentation at elevated temperatures. These polymers form stable complexes with zinc ricinoleate that remain soluble under thermal stress, unlike conventional solubility promoters that fail at high temperatures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the thermal stability parameter of the formulation by selecting polymers with appropriate glass transition temperatures and molecular weights. This parameter optimization ensures that the zinc ricinoleate-solubility promoter complex remains stable and soluble at elevated temperatures, preventing flocculation and sedimentation.
4Reliability
If zinc ricinoleate concentration is increased for effective deodorizing, then odor absorption is improved, but turbidity increases and stability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses water-soluble polymers as intermediaries that enable high concentrations of zinc ricinoleate to remain in solution without forming visible precipitates or causing turbidity. The polymers solvate the zinc ricinoleate molecules, allowing effective deodorizing concentrations while maintaining formulation clarity and stability.
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 combination of zinc ricinoleate, sodium iminodisuccinate, and glycerin in the single dose laundry detergent composition achieves stability and low turbidity, enabling effective use in low water activity environments and maintaining usability at elevated temperatures.
Implementation Method 1
The combination of zinc ricinoleate, sodium iminodisuccinate, and glycerin in the single dose laundry detergent composition achieves stability and low turbidity
Implementation Method 2
Zinc ricinoleate is unstable in single dose laundry detergent compositions due to flocculation and sedimentation
Implementation Method 3
Zinc ricinoleate can chemically bond to odor-intensive organic substances with sulfur or nitrogen containing functional groups
Implementation Method 4
odor absorbers which can chemically or physically bond the odor-forming compounds by adsorption or absorption
Data Source
AI summary
A single dose pack includes a container including a water-soluble film and a single dose laundry detergent composition encapsulated within the container. The single dose laundry detergent composition includes about 0.01 to about 0.5 weight percent of zinc ricinoleate based on a total weight of the composition, about 0.07 to about 2.7 weight percent of sodium iminodisuccinate based on a total weight of the composition, and about 2.7 to about 35 weight percent of a non-aqueous solvent based on a total weight of the composition. The composition also includes water and about 35 to about 75 weight percent of a surfactant based on a total weight of the composition. The composition has a water activity of from about 0.45 to about 0.8 measured at about 25°C and has a turbidity of less than about 25 NTU measured after ageing at about 75°F for about 24 hours.