Effects of Physico-chemical Properties of a Detergent Builder on Detergencies

Abstract

The relationships between physico-chemical properties of various organic compound solutions (Table 1) and detergencies or physico-chemical properties of the detergents (sodium linear alkylbenzene sulfonate, 20%; sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) or an organic compound (a builder), 20%; sodium silicate, 5%; sodium carbonate, 3%; sodium sulfate, 42%; moisture, 10%) were studied in order to seek the satisfactory replacements for STPP which is known as the most important and the useful detergent builder. The detergents were examined for solubilization capacity (X1), the critical micelle concentration (X2), pH (X3), dispersion capacity (X, ), calcium ion sequestration capacity (X5), buffer index (X, ) and detergencies (D) at various laundering conditions. Builders were also examined for xs, x4, xs and x6, where the notation, x for a builder is referred to the corresponding X for the detergent. It was found the X1, X1, X3 and X, were not affected by the corresponding x, respectively (Table 2). On the other hand, X5=ax5-1-b (Fig.2) and X8=cx, -Fd (Fig.3), where a, b, c and d are constants. Thus, the relationships, D at 0.1% and 3.5°DH cc x, (Fig.4) and D at 0.1% and 3.5°DH cc Ixis (Fig.5), indicate that the physico-chemical properties required for builders as replacements for STPP are calcium ion sequestration capacity and buffer index. It was clarified by the computer cluster analysis that D at various laundering conditions also relates to x5 and and that chelating agents and polyelectrolytes are better replacements for STPP than polymeric non-electrolytes and lower molecular organic salts (Figs.6 and 7).