Low-temperature (skin) fat removal
Improved stain removal on fatty stains compared to benchmark (test are carried out in washing machines):
Stain types: pure sebum as well as sebum/pigment stains, (lard, biskin)
- at 20°C: increase of 10 remission units on at least 2 out of 4 stains or increase of 35 remission units on 4 stains
- at 40°C and 60°C: no performance loss compared to benchmark
Stability in high surfactant containing formulation is mandatory (surfactant concentration incl. soap 20-40%)
Costs: not significantly more expensive than cost level of typical surfactants
New sustainable routes to LAS-like surfactants
Primary and secondary performance in full detergent formulations comparable or better to LAS:
- stability within fomulation
- in accordance with detergent regulation
- independence of third party IP and freedom to operate
- no negative impact on odor and color
- no labelling
- same cost performance ratio as LAS
H2O2 stabilization in liquid detergent formulations
Current liquid detergent formulations containing bleach are free of enzymes. They contain mainly hypochlorite bleach or unactivated H2O2 at low pH.
Aim of this technology quest is to keep enzyme performance in such products at an acceptable level while adding bleach performance (tea, red fruit, coffe, curry stains), the overall stain removal performance must be significantly better than that of a current liquid detergent in washing machine trials.
Active oxygen, gas formation and enzyme activity will be monitored over time in such a formulation as well as application tests.
Storage tests will be carried out over enhanced times under challenging conditions. Enzymes relevant in this field are proteases, cellulases, amylases and lipases. A desired application pH will be > pH7 on dilution with water.
If a successful technology can be identified a large market volume worldwide for liquid detergents is accessible.
Removal of burnt-in soil in automatic dishwashing
Cleaning performance on burnt-in soils will be measured on standardized soils in defined dish-washers applying a 1-10 scale.
New approaches should lead to an additive which can be stably incorporated in common automatic dishwashing (ADW) products. The end product should have an improved cleaning performance on burnt-in soils of minimum 2 scale units versus best multi-functional ADW product on the market as a benchmark.
Overall cleaning performance (IKW test) may not be influenced negatively.
Secondary performance (like spotting, filming, drying, scale inhibition) has to be kept al least on the same level.
The new approach or respective additive must be in line with detergent regulations and safety and health requirements especially regarding food contact.
Visual proof of performance of cleaners
In buckets, a clouding (blooming) effect is desired such as the "ouzo effect" where ingredients insoluble in water produce a white-coloured milky emulsion of oil droplets when diluted with water during use.
We are looking for substances, other than chloroxylenol or pine oil, exhibiting this blooming effect upon dilution.
In spray applications, a color change of the foam is desired to give an indication to the consumer when to wipe or rinse off the cleaner.
Here we are looking for colorants which exhibit a change of colors several minutes after the product has been applied on the surface. We are looking for colorants that show a color shift when reacting with carbon dioxide from the air, or for other triggers than carbon dioxide under acidic conditions.
Boron-free protease stabilizers
In the 30th ATP-list decided in March 2007, boric acid is classified as reprotoxic group II with maximum dosage of 5% in detergent products. Therefore, boron-free protease stabilizers would mean independence from all regulations for boric acid.
Known alternative protease stabilizer is e.g. 4-FPBA which, however, still contains boron.
Other boron-free protease stabilizers are described in EP2220204, US20100210502 or US7968508.
Target is to find alternative boron-free protease stabilizers exhibiting a similar or even better stabilizing effect than boric acid.