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Skin fat is deposited on all skin-near textiles. As it is quasi-solid at low temperatures, it is hard to remove in cold water. With the growing urge to reduce washing temperatures due to new fibres and in order to save energy, time and money, we want to identify new approaches towards better and more effective removal of solid fats at low temperatures without the need for a pretreatment.
New sustainable routes to LAS-like surfactants
LAS (linear alkylbenzene sulphonate) is the most important surfactant used in today's laundry detergents. Due to depletion of oil reservoirs, high volatility of oil prices and increasing sustainability awareness surfactants alternatives to LAS, e. g. based on renewable feedstocks are of high interest.
H2O2 stabilization in liquid detergent formulations
Bleach is one of the major contributors for stain removal in solid laundry detergents. It is desired to incorporate bleach (active oxygen) in liquid detergent formulations. The challenge is the combination with enzymes in such formulations to avoid bleach decomposition and destruction of enzymes at the same time. Sought after is a method to stabilize H2O2 or active oxygen precursors in a liquid detergent environment containing surfactants and ensure compatibility with enzymes.
Removal of burnt-in soil in automatic dishwashing
Burnt-in soil is very hard to remove in automatic dishwashing applications. We are interested in identifying new approaches towards improved cleaning performance on burnt-in soils. Typically, burnt-in soils contain proteins, carbohydrates, Maillard reaction products thereof and fats. They occur for example in/during meals "au gratin", scrambled eggs, baking of cakes or roasting of meat. Usually, cookware (pans, casseroles) made from glass, metal or ceramics is affected.
Visual proof of performance of cleaners
Visual support as a performance indicator of cleaners is important evidence for consumers, visualizing the initiation or the completion of the cleaning process. We are looking for substances which lead to color change or clouding when applying the cleaner formulation, e. g. several minutes after spraying onto a surface (preferred under acidic conditions) or when added to the water in the bucket.
Boron-free protease stabilizers
The most common enzyme in detergent formulations is protease. In order to maintain the activity level of the protease also during long-term storage of the detergent, protease stabilizers such as boric acid are used.
We are looking for alternative substances capable of stabilizing protease on the same level or even better.
Long-lasting fragrances
Once the consumer has chosen a product with a pleasant smell for laundry or home care he wants to enjoy this scent as long as possible or even when he puts on his clothes next time. So we are interested in technologies to extend the time period of scent perception, i. e. to achieve long lastingness. One approach could be fragrance precursors, i. e. molecules which are not volatile but release the volatile fragrance upon use or through interaction with an external trigger.
Air-free introduction of solids in conti processes
A cost-effective way to manufacture liquid products might be a continuous process. Such Conti Processes (similar to a tube reactor / all raw materials are dosed continuously and exactly according to the recipe into the reactor) are state-of-the-art and have reached a high technological standard – as far as all ingredients are liquid (pure liquids, dissolutions, dispersions).
We are searching for a technical solution to dose powder raw materials to such conti processes, respecting high dosing accuracy and an air-free introduction.
Cost-effective thickener for Esterquat-Dispersions
Aqueous Dispersions of Esterquats (cationic surfactants) are well known as basis for fabric softeners.
In order to improve flow behavior as well as stability of such kind of formulations we are searching for cost-effective thickening agents which can be used in a pH range from 2 to 4.
Production of viscous and air-free products
Viscous products can only be produced with a lot of air inside and their degassing runs very slowly. This is a big disadvantage for the filling line with regard to storage capacity and throughput.
We are interested in technologies which can reduce or avoid the air input and in new and efficient degassing systems.