Laundry Products Research Articles

Investigating the impact of cellulose microgel nanofabrication on the rheological properties of this binary rheology modifier

The multifunctionality of advanced laundry detergents primarily relies on the inclusion of functional solid particles, such as pearlescent powder, enzymes, and perfume microcapsules. However, the high-content surfactants in these detergents can render most existing suspending rheology modifiers ineffective, making it challenging to achieve uniform suspension of these functional particles. This compromises the overall functionality of laundry products. To address this, we have developed a binary rheology modifier comprising cellulose microgel and HPMC (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose), acting as the “island” and “chain,” respectively. Together, they form an interconnected dynamic network that effectively “encapsulates” the functional particles. Furthermore, the cellulose microgel/HPMC rheology modifier demonstrates versatility, proving effective with various surfactants. Despite its potential, the suspension mechanism of cellulose microgel/HPMC remains elusive. Therefore, we conducted a comprehensive investigation, fabricating cellulose microgels with varying nanofabrication degrees and surface charges through TEMPO oxidation. Our findings highlight the critical role of the surficial structure of T-Microgel, specifically its nanofabrication degree, in influencing the dynamic network's fabrication, thereby impacting yield and thixotropic properties. The surface charge of T-microgel does not significantly influence the process. This research not only elucidates the intricate dynamics of cellulose microgel/HPMC interaction but also provides fundamental insights essential for the development of innovative rheology modifiers tailored for high-content surfactant applications.

Fragrance Encapsulates: Effect of Polymeric Shell Purification Method on the Accuracy of Biodegradability Testing.

Fragrance encapsulates are widely used in consumer care applications such as fabric softeners or other liquid laundry products; they provide multiple benefits, from fragrance protection in the commercial product to a controlled release and improved sensorial experience for the consumers. Polymeric fragrance encapsulates are in the scope of the EU regulation restricting the use of intentionally added microplastic particles, and industry is actively working on innovation programs to find biodegradable alternatives. However, particular attention needs to be paid to claims that a fragrance encapsulation system is biodegradable, because biodegradation test results can vary considerably depending on how a test material is prepared, which can even lead to false-positive biodegradation test results, as shown in our study. We demonstrate the importance of the sample preparation phase of the process. We show how the biodegradation level can fluctuate from 0% to 91%, depending on how the test material is isolated from a given microcapsule slurry system, and we present a method that can be used to obtain trustworthy biodegradation results. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:1242-1249. © 2024 Givaudan France SAS. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.

The impact of detergent performance on sustainable consumer laundry behavior: a socio-technical challenge

Abstract The laundry process is energy-intensive and an important target for reducing residential environmental impacts. Category life-cycle analysis (LCA) studies show the primary environmental impact is due to the energy consumed during the use phase, mainly for heating water. However, doing the laundry is a complex socio-technical system, where addressing sustainability requires not only technical levers but also an understanding of users’ habits, practices, and belief systems. This study investigates if and how consumers change their laundry habits and product satisfaction when using a technically lower-performing eco-brand detergent compared to a heavy duty high-performance detergent. These represent two distinct sustainable innovation strategies within the detergent industry, i) high-performance detergents formulated to provide excellent cleaning performance at lower wash temperatures and ii) eco-brand detergents optimized for a lower ingredient footprint but reducing cleaning performance. It is hypothesized that consumers may compensate in ways detrimental to the overall sustainability of the laundry lifecycle. The results showed significantly lower consumer satisfaction with the eco-brand performance which led to compensatory behavior including increased detergent dosing and higher wash temperatures. This study confirms the importance of detergent cleaning performance for sustainable consumer habit changes regarding lower wash temperatures.

What initiates chemical intolerance? Findings from a large population-based survey of U.S. adults

BackgroundWorldwide observations point to a two-stage theory of disease called Toxicant-Induced Loss of Tolerance (TILT): Stage I, Initiation by an acute high-level or repeated lower-level chemical exposures, followed by Stage II, Triggering of multisystem symptoms by previously tolerated, structurally diverse chemical inhalants, foods/food additives and drugs. Until recently, there was no known biological mechanism that could explain these observations. In 2021, we published a plausible and researchable two-stage biomechanism for TILT involving mast cells: Stage I, Initiation via mast cell sensitization; Stage II, Triggering of mast cell degranulation by previously tolerated exposures, resulting in the release of thousands of mediators, including histamine and a host of inflammatory molecules. The objective of this study was to identify common TILT initiators.MethodsA randomized, population-based sample of 10,981 U.S. adults responded to a survey which included items concerning medical diagnoses, personal exposures, antibiotic use, and several possible initiators of Chemical Intolerance (CI). CI was assessed using the internationally validated Quick Environmental Exposure and Sensitivity Inventory (QEESI). Participants identified as chemically intolerant were asked to recall when their intolerances began and what they felt had initiated their condition.ResultsTwenty percent met QEESI criteria for TILT, approximately half of whom identified one or more initiating exposures. Initiators in order of frequency were mold (15.6%), pesticides (11.5%), remodeling/new construction (10.7%), medical/surgical procedures (11.3%), fires/combustion products (6.4%), and implants (1.6%). Protracted antibiotic use for infections involving the prostate, skin, tonsils, gastrointestinal tract, and sinuses were strongly associated with TILT/CI (OR > 2).DiscussionParticipants identified two broad classes of TILT initiators: 1) fossil fuel-derived toxicants (i.e., from coal, oil, natural gas), their combustion products, and/or synthetic organic chemical derivatives, e.g., pesticides, implants, drugs/antibiotics, volatile organic compounds (VOCs); and 2) biogenic toxicants, e.g., particles and VOCs from mold or algal blooms. One in four primary care patients suffers from Medically Unexplained Symptoms (MUS). Doctors in primary care, neurology, psychiatry, psychology, occupational medicine, and allergy/immunology would be well-advised to include TILT in their differential diagnosis of patients with so-called MUS. Because 20% of U.S. adults meet QEESI criteria for CI, the role of contemporary exposures in initiating and exacerbating these conditions via mast cells needs our immediate attention. There is a concomitant need for policies and practices that reduce initiating exposures as well as ubiquitous and often unavoidable triggers such as fragranced personal care, cleaning, and laundry products in multi-occupant housing, workplaces, medical settings, schools, places of worship, and all public buildings—literally anywhere air is shared. Fossil fuels are assaulting humans and other animal species both from within via mast cell sensitization, and from without via climate change.

International ring trial to validate a new method for testing the antimicrobial efficacy of domestic laundry products.

Due to greater environmental awareness, domestic laundry habits are changing, and antimicrobial control by chemical methods has become an essential factor to compensate for the use of lower temperatures during washing machine cycles. Disinfectants added to laundry detergents are a preventive strategy to reduce the transmission of bacteria, fungi, and viruses in the home, correct aesthetic damage (e.g., spotting, discolouration, and staining), and control the microbial contamination that leads to malodour. In Europe, disinfectants are regulated by the EU Biocidal Products Regulation (No. 528/2012), which stipulates that antimicrobial efficacy must be evaluated according to standardized methods. Current European standards for laundry sanitization only apply to clinical settings (EN 16616: 2015) and are restricted to the main wash cycle. Therefore, there is a gap in the EU standards regarding the testing of product efficacy in household laundering. With the aim of addressing this gap, an international ring trial was organized to evaluate the robustness of a new method (prEN 17658) designed to test the efficacy of antimicrobial laundry products in a domestic setting. The seven participating laboratories were equipped with 5 different laboratory-scale devices to simulate the washing process, and they evaluated 7 microbial parameters for 2 experimental conditions and 3 levels of active substance. The analysis of data according to ISO 5725–2 and ISO 13528 demonstrated that the method was robust. All reproducibility standard deviation values were between 0.00 and 1.40 and the relative standard deviation indicates satisfactory reproducibility. Values of logarithmic reduction ranged from less than 2 log10 for tests with water to more than 5 log10 when disinfectants were added. The evidence generated by the ring trial was presented in a proposal for a standardized method under CEN/TC 216, in which the SOP used in the ring trial is referred to as the prEN 17658 phase 2 step 2 test method covering chemothermal textile disinfection in domestic settings.

Delivering context for fragrance evaluation: A study using trained sensory panellists

Extensive research has been carried out to investigate the effect of context (such as the external environment) on product perception, with previous studies focusing on food or beverage products using naïve consumers. However, it is still unclear whether context affects assessments made by trained panellists when testing fragranced stimuli. Options for conducting sensory testing outside of traditional sensory booths would allow for greater ecological validity and enable sensory testing to become more agile and flexible, with this need becoming even more important as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The current research set out to establish whether context has an effect on the perception of fragranced products using a trained sensory panel by testing 5 laundry market products under different context environments (No Context, Imagine, Visual Cue, Priming, Immersive). Statistically significant contextual effects were only observed for two out of the eleven attributes tested (Overall intensity and Herbal). Additional analyses using PCA showed that the same products were grouped together, whereas groupings by context were not observed. These findings suggest that perception of fragranced laundry products is not significantly impacted by different contexts when assessed by trained panellists. One possible explanation is that panellist training removes any influence of the external environment on product perception. Future studies could explore whether other contextual parameters have a greater influence on fragrance perception for trained panellists.

Mental Imagery, Product Involvement and Presence at Virtual Reality Supermarket

Virtual Reality (VR) is a technology that creates fully immersive and virtual experiences and have been used to create virtual supermarkets and explore consumer behaviour on such alternate reality. The current study uses a VR scenario to analyse the effects of mental imagery, product involvement and presence on customer’s emotions and on the customers purchase intention, during a virtual shopping experience. The proposed model was tested with 108 participants in the laundry detergent category on a VR scenario. Findings reveal that on a virtual setting, mental imagery has the most significant impact on emotions, whereas presence has a strong influence on the purchase decision. Yet product involvement has any effect only on emotions. Moreover, the obsession for laundry products highly decreased the effect of product involvement on purchase intention.

A Screening Method to Identify Potential Endocrine Disruptors Using Chemical Toxicity Big Data and a Deep Learning Model with a Focus on Cleaning and Laundry Products

A Screening Method to Identify Potential Endocrine Disruptors Using Chemical Toxicity Big Data and a Deep Learning Model with a Focus on Cleaning and Laundry Products

Reusable textile microfiber and laundry in healthcare: Critical analysis of problematic published information

Recent analyses of environmental services products and practices in healthcare have covered the concepts of hygienically clean, mechanisms of cleaning, and comparison of reusable and disposable textile microfiber products. In 11 referred papers, it was discovered that three had sufficient factual errors to influence the citations found in the broader literature. This study evaluating these problematic papers is an obligation of the scientific community for accuracy. In light of newer data on the efficacy of important textiles for microfiber cleaning, these previous studies were reexamined to see if methodological corrections are needed. Closer investigation of the authors’ data was used to ascertain the validity of their initial conclusions. These current reevaluations reverse conclusions in these journal articles. It appears factors such as multi-variant statistical comparisons, combining variables, and use of extremely high inoculum for cleaning led to the wrong conclusions in these three papers. The revised results show that for hospital surface cleaning with reusable textile microfiber products, no detectable levels were found for two of the most challenging organisms for hospital-acquired infections, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Clostridium difficile. Commercial laundry was substantially better than hospital laundry and reusable microfiber products improved with use.

Synthetic textile and microfiber pollution: a review on mitigation strategies.

Microfiber pollution is one of the recent threats to sustainability. Due to the increased use of synthetic textiles, microplastic fiber release to the environment has increased exponentially. This review aims to analyze the existing literature to identify the potential preventive measures to control microfiber pollution. The review consolidates the findings under the textile properties and laundry product category. The review results show that the use of finer count yarns with filaments and compact structures reduces microfiber shedding. Similarly, mechanical finishes like shearing and raising increase the microfiber release as they damage the fabric structure. A significant increment is noted in microfiber reduction percentage after the chemical (coating) finishing process. In the case of commercial products, the available external laundry filters are reported as more efficient than the in-drum devices in the market. An analysis of the existing regulatory norms showed that very few countries had developed their laws, and no global regulation and standards were found to test microfiber pollution. In the case of laundry filters, though they filter microfiber effectively, they do not prevent it, so it can be a control measure and not a solution for the issue. Out of the review results, it is identified that controlling the textile parameter is the only effective strategy to prevent the microfiber shedding from the synthetic textile. A proper production method and parameter will yield a textile that sheds lesser or no microfiber. However, no detailed research works are found in correlating these parameters together and indicate the potential scope for future research.

Consumer perspective with regard to purchase of laundry detergent

The three different forms of detergent available in the Indian market are bar, powder and liquid detergents. These products are available in a lot of different brands with a lot of different features. Every individual his/her own reason for choosing a particular type of detergent. In growing economies like India where laundry products are being continuously purchased even during a crisis the possibilities of expanding the market are endless. This research aims to study the preference of consumers for a particular form, the features they consider and their reasoning to use it.

Study of Consumer Preference for Unbranded Detergent Powder at Bhiwandi Rural in Thane District

Use of detergent for washing clothes for purity in ancient India is mentioned in Hindu scripture i.e. Manusmriti. which was written in 2nd century BCE to 3rd century CE. It is declared that in ancient time for cleaning purpose material used were alkaline earth, arista fruit, Sripada fruit and the paste of white mustard. After the revolution of industries and many research in laundry product lead to manufacturing of detergent in various forms such as powder, liquid and bar. Now a days fabric softener, eco-friendly detergents are as an advance version of detergent concept are running in the market.

Patterns of household and personal care product use by the Korean population: implications for aggregate human exposure and health risk

BackgroundHousehold and personal care products (H&PCPs) are used frequently in the domestic environment. Different types of H&PCPs often contain the same chemicals and have potential for aggregate exposure. Therefore, product use patterns should be investigated to assess exposure and health risk.ResultsA nationwide survey was conducted in Korea to examine the use of 16 types of H&PCPs, to obtain data that can be used for such assessments. The initial analysis focused on identifying usage patterns, such as the frequency of use and amount of product used per application. Then, co-use in 16 product categories were analyzed. Family size, marital status and age were, respectively, recognized as the critical demographic factor for classification of the frequency of use in laundry products, cleaning products and shower products. In laundry products, cleaning products and shower products, frequent H&PCPs co-use patterns according to demographical factor were recognized. Chances of exposure of chemical ingredients to participants were investigated based on the usage of individual products. 32 chemicals among all investigated ingredients were identified to be potentially exposed to more than half of the participants, and 21 chemicals are classified above Class 4 in acute toxicity.ConclusionsPersonal preference was not observed both in the use frequency and the amount per application of H&PCPs, among all participants. Instead, household duties were found to be associated with the yearly use frequency of household care products. In addition, the yearly chemical profiles of individual consumer were obtained, and the chemicals that have multiple chances of exposure and concomitant health risk in daily life were identified. The results provide the overview of distribution of chemicals in daily life, and essential ground for aggregate exposure assessment in Korea.

Fragranced laundry products and emissions from dryer vents: implications for air quality and health

Fragranced laundry products emit numerous volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including terpenes such as limonene. Fragrance emissions have been associated with adverse health effects such as asthma attacks and breathing difficulties. Further, fragrance terpenes are primary indoor air pollutants that can react with other compounds and contribute to both indoor and outdoor air pollution. This paper examines volatile emissions and exposures from fragranced laundry products, and the implications for air quality and health. The paper synthesizes and analyzes data from studies conducted across the United States (US) and Australia (AU), providing results in three main themes: adverse health effects associated with exposure to fragranced laundry products, volatile emissions from fragranced and fragrance-free laundry products, and reductions in VOC emissions by switching from fragranced to fragrance-free products. Across the US and AU, 12.5% and 6.1% of the general population and 28.9% and 12.1% of asthmatics report health problems (respectively) when exposed to scented laundry products coming from a dryer vent. Among the volatile emissions from products, terpenes were the most prevalent VOCs detected in all fragranced laundry products; however, terpenes were absent in all fragrance-free products. By switching from fragranced to fragrance-free laundry products, dryer vent emissions of limonene can be reduced up to 99.7%. As context for significance, switching from fragranced to fragrance-free laundry detergent could reduce limonene emissions from dryer vents per household by an estimated 1.68 g/year. For the study area of metropolitan Melbourne, this represents a reduction in limonene emissions by an estimated 1.58 tons/year. Results from these analyses point to a promising way to reduce emissions and exposures to volatile compounds, and create potential improvements for air quality and health.

Unilever to replace all fossil carbon in cleaners

Unilever says it will replace all fossil-derived carbon in its cleaning and laundry products with renewable and recycled carbon by 2030. The initiative builds on a pledge to reach net zero emission...

Polystyrene‐Based 2‐Oxoacetates for the Light‐Induced Release of Fragrances Under Realistic Application Conditions

Front Cover: In article number 2000196, Andreas Herrmann and co-workers report on the light-induced release of fragrances from monomeric and polymeric 2-oxoacetates. The compounds can be used in laundry products to provide a long-lasting, pleasant, and fresh fragrance impression on fabric under everyday sunlight conditions. Cover design: Diane Marra (Firmenich).

Investigation and fate of microplastics in wastewater and sludge filter cake from a wastewater treatment plant in China

Microplastics (MPs) have been widely detected in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) due to their small particle size, wide distribution, and difficulty in removal. Previous studies, however, mostly focused on MPs in wastewater, thereby neglecting sludge. To comprehensively understand the changes of MPs in WWTPs, we investigated the quantity and characteristics of MPs in wastewater and sludge of a WWTP in Harbin, a typical inland city in China, and calculated the MPs removal rate. The results showed that there were 126.0 ± 14.0 particles/L MPs in the influent and 30.6 ± 7.8 particles/L in the effluent, about 75.7% MPs were removed and transferred to the sludge during this WWTP. The abundance of MPs in dewatered sludge and sludge filter cake was 36.3 ± 5.7 and 46.3 ± 6.2 particles/g (dry sludge), the sludge disposal scale of this WWTP can reach 1300 tons/day, which was equivalent to about 7.74 × 1012 microplastic particles accumulated in sludge per year. These sludges were used as fertilizers in the soil, which will cause secondary pollution of MPs. Raman spectroscopic analysis showed that about 89.5% of particles were plastic polymers, such as polyesters, polyamide (PA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyethylene (PE), which suggested that MPs may be derived from laundry and personal care products. Therefore, we recommend that more work should be devoted to how to control the release of MPs at the source and the reuse of sludge after treatment by WWTPs.

Discovery and Characterization of a New Cold-Active Protease From an Extremophilic Bacterium via Comparative Genome Analysis and in vitro Expression.

Following a screening of Antarctic glacier forefield-bacteria for novel cold-active enzymes, a psychrophilic strain Psychrobacter sp. 94-6PB was selected for further characterization of enzymatic activities. The strain produced lipases and proteases in the temperature range of 4–18°C. The coding sequence of an extracellular serine-protease was then identified via comparative analysis across Psychrobacter sp. genomes, PCR-amplified in our strain 94-6PB and expressed in the heterologous host E. coli. The purified enzyme (80 kDa) resulted to be a cold-active alkaline protease, performing best at temperatures of 20–30°C and pH 7-9. It was stable in presence of common inhibitors [β-mercaptoethanol (β-ME), dithiothreitol (DTT), urea, phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF) and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)] and compatible with detergents and surfactants (Tween 20, Tween 80, hydrogen peroxide and Triton X-100). Because of these properties, the P94-6PB protease may be suitable for use in a new generation of laundry products for cold washing. Furthermore, we assessed the microdiversity of this enzyme in Psychrobacter organisms from different cold habitats and found several gene clusters that correlated with specific ecological niches. We then discussed the role of habitat specialization in shaping the biodiversity of proteins and enzymes and anticipate far-reaching implications for the search of novel variants of biotechnological products.

Migraine headaches and fragranced consumer products: an international population-based study

Fragranced consumer products, such as air fresheners and cleaning supplies, have been associated with health problems including migraine headaches. This study investigates the prevalence of migraines associated with exposure to fragranced products. Nationally representative population surveys (n = 4435) across four countries—the United States (US), Australia (AU), the United Kingdom (UK), and Sweden (SE)—found that, on average, 12.6% of adults report migraine headaches when exposed to fragranced products (15.7% US, 10.0% AU, 8.4% UK, 16.1% SE). Among those individuals, 43.2% report migraines from air fresheners or deodorizers, 15.0% from the scent of laundry products coming from a dryer vent, 39.9% from being in a room cleaned with scented products, 53.7% from being near someone wearing a fragranced product, and 45.7% from other types of fragranced products. Furthermore, 30.6% of these individuals have lost workdays or lost a job, in the past year, due to fragranced product exposure in the workplace. Findings from this study indicate that migraine headaches can be associated with fragranced consumer products, and that reducing exposure could reduce adverse health and societal effects.

Surfactant-free and rinsing-resistant biodegradable nanoparticles with high adsorption on natural fibers for the long-lasting release of fragrances

Synthetic polymers are attracting growing attention as additives for laundry and personal care products. In particular, the high volatility of many common fragrances requires the development of polymeric particles for their encapsulation and controlled release. Unfortunately, the vast majority of these carriers is made from polymers that are not biodegradable. This poses severe concerns about the accumulation of nano- and microplastics. Hence, such particles are expected to be banned from the market in the coming years. Therefore, biodegradable particles enabling a long-lasting release of the fragrances are urgently needed. In this work, we produced biodegradable nanoparticles (NPs) that are structurally composed of lactones, i.e. well known perfumes that occur naturally and that are already considered safe by regulatory agencies. We polymerized these lactones via ring opening polymerization (ROP) using an ionizable tertiary amine as initiator to produce in a single step amphiphilic oligoesters able to directly self-assemble into NPs once nanoprecipitated in water. In this way, we can produce biodegradable NPs with a perfume loading up to 85 % w/w without the need for additional surfactants. Subsequently we show that the ionizable group is able to confer a positive charge to our nanoparticles and, in turn, a high adsorption capacity on natural fibers (i.e. hairs and cotton fabric). Finally, we demonstrate the nanoparticle resistance to rinsing and their ability to confer a long-lasting fragrance perception to treated hair swatches for at least 3 weeks.