SBIR Phase I: A Sustainable Laundry Solution: Organosilane Based Fabric Conditioners for Reducing the Environmental Footprint and Energy Consumption In Laundry Systems

这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目旨在开发一种用于商业和家用织物护理系统的新型漂洗添加剂产品配方。基于硅酸盐的产品配方将排斥水和污垢，减少洗衣机的能源消耗，减少洗涤剂的使用量，并加快烘干时间。漂洗添加剂可以加入到正常的面料护理过程中，以保持服装的外观和手感，同时增强服装的整体外观和视觉吸引力，使面料真正具有“可洗可穿”的能力。通常情况下，由于使用水、有害化学品和与洗衣相关的能源，织物护理过程的特点是显著的环境足迹。使布料不那么容易弄脏的能力将减少水和洗涤剂的使用，并节省与洗衣服和烘干衣服相关的能源。目前，市场上还没有其他产品能够以织物调理剂的形式提供这些好处，这个项目的成功将导致商业和家庭使用的节能洗衣过程的新技术的开发。从几个角度来看，这个项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力将是巨大的。这项技术的成功将提供一种新的织物调理系统，该系统可以很容易地集成到洗衣过程中，以提供具有成本效益的增值产品。在织物护理中使用这些产品还有望a)由于具有自洁性能而节省用水，b)由于织物的烘干时间较短而节省能源，c)减少与干洗相关的有害成分的产生，因为经过处理的织物成为自洁的，以及d)通过有害处理减少与常规洗涤、洗涤、干燥、熨烫和防水相关的化学品的使用。织物洗涤和洗涤需求的减少预计将导致受污染的灰水的减少，减少环境中化学品的扩散，并由于减少水和能源消耗而增加能源节约。最后，我们配方中的活性成分会降解为对环境无害的化合物，在其生命周期中对环境的影响最小。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project aims to develop a novel rinse additive product formulation for use in commercial and home fabric care systems. The silicate-based product formulation will repel water and dirt, decrease energy used in washing machines, decrease detergent usage, and speed up drying time. The rinse additive can be incorporated in the normal fabric care process to retain the look and feel of the garment while enhancing the overall appearance and visual appeal of the garments to make fabrics truly "wash and wear" capable. Normally, fabric care processes are characterized by significant environmental footprint due to use of water, harmful chemicals, and energy associated with laundry. The ability to make fabrics less susceptible to getting dirty would reduce the use of water and detergent along with energy savings associated with washing and drying of garments. At present, there is no other product in the market that can provide these benefits in the form of a fabric conditioner and the success of this project would lead to development of a new technology for energy efficient laundry process for commercial as well as in-home use.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project will be significant from several perspectives. The success of this technology will provide a new fabric conditioner system that can be easily integrated into laundry processes to provide a cost-effective, value-added product. The use of these products in fabric care is also expected to a) save water usage due to self-cleaning properties, b) save energy due to lesser drying time for fabrics, c) reduce the generation of harmful ingredients associated with dry cleaning since the treated fabrics become self-cleaning, and d) reduce the use of chemicals associated with routine laundry, washing, drying, ironing, and water proofing via harmful treatments. The reduced washing and laundering needs of the fabrics are expected to lead to reduction of contaminated grey water, reduced proliferation of chemicals in the environment, and increased energy savings due to less water and energy consumption. Finally, the active components in our formulations degrade to environmentally benign compounds for minimum impact on the environment during their life-cycle.