Seeking Solutions For Low Temperature Removal Of Solid Fat From Fabric

• A material or an ingredient
• A product or a technology
• A partner of co-development

A SpecialChem Client is seeking to remove solid fat such as triglycerides from fabric substrates such as cotton and polyester at temperatures below 25°C in a liquid environment.

Fats are particularly difficult to remove from fabrics when they are in a solid form, i.e. below their melting temperature. As a result, laundering processes must today work above the melting temperatures, typically above 30°C.

The SpecialChem Client is looking to adopt or develop a formulation removing fats below their melting point.

This SpecialChem Client has been active in producing raw materials for the laundry market for many years and has a strong focus on sustainability. The world’s liquid detergent market is currently around 5 million tons per year, representing around 30% of the total detergent market (Euromonitor).

The solution must:

• Remove fats at temperatures below 25°C.
• Primarily remove fats from hydrophilic substrates, such as cotton (cellulose).
  • Ideally, also remove fats from hydrophobic substrates, such as polyester (polyethylene terephthalate).
• Preferably be compatible within a liquid formulation
  • A solution only compatible with a solid (powder) detergent formulation could be accepted
• Be effective in an aqueous environment
  • Work alongside or synergistically with surfactants
  • pH range of 7-9
• The solution should work with existing mechanical methods for washing machine.

• Example of fat to debond:
  • Triglycerides built from long chain (e.g. C15-C18) saturated fatty acids.
  • Sebum is of particular relevance: it is a complex mixture of triglycerides (~41%), wax esters (~26%), squalene (~12%), free fatty acids (~16%) and cholesterol which melts at around 30°C.

• Nanodiamonds have demonstrated the efficacy of removing triglycerides from substrates at ambient temperatures. Despite the serious toxicological concerns, it is nevertheless an indication to the possible routes worth exploring.
• The liquefaction of the fat is widely regarded as an important step in its removal, as it prepares for the second stage of removal through roll-up, abrasion, emulsification etc. Therefore, any technology which effectively liquefies the solid fat without requiring a raise in the temperature is of interest.

• Existing routes to remove fat from fabrics in laundering processes involve either surfactants or enzymes, such as lipases. Lipases are not particularly effective at lower temperatures as they are most effective when the fat is molten. Moreover, they have a negative impact on hygiene and odor through production of smaller malodor molecules.
• Multi-step processes
• Technologies requiring equipment not typically found at home.

An efficient solution will be implemented within 6-9 months.    

• The cost structure of the raw material supply chain should be well-known or easy to establish. This will allow the SpecialChem Client to understand the market feasibility of this technology.
• Toxicity is a great concern of the SpecialChem Client. The final formulation will have to demonstrate conformity with, for example, Detergents Regulation (EC) No. 648/2004. Any technologies facilitating this will precede the others.
• If not a product or an ingredient, the SpecialChem Client wants to manage the intellectual property.

• Idea­­s
• Concepts
• Proven Concepts
• Ready to use solutions
• Partners

• Industry: Chemical Industry
• Annual Revenue: Billion €
• Years in Business: >20 years
• Headquarters Area: Europe

• Licensing
• Contractual partnership (R&D, marketing…)
• Funding