DETERGENT INDUSTRY Sodium Carbonate

DETERGENT INDUSTRY
Sodium Carbonate
Approximately one third of the worlds demand for Sodium Carbonate is for detergents, either in direct production, or in
the manufacture of other detergent additives, such as sodium tripolyphosphate and sodium silicate, which itself is
important in the manufacture of zeolites.
The major aim of a laundry detergent is to remove soils and stains from a fabric whilst
maintaining its colour and integrity. Most soils are acidic by nature, therefore
detergents are usually formulated as alkalis. Sodium Carbonate (soda ash), due to its
level of alkalinity is used to boost a builder such as sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) or a
zeolite based formulation, which itself does not provide any alkalinity.
Today's powder and liquid detergents are available in a wide range of forms for both the
laundry and dishwash makets:
Powders - loose, compact and ultra compact (concentrated forms) and tablets
Liquids - standard, concentrated, liqui - tabs and sachets
Products offering specific enhanced performance are also available eg. containing fabric conditioner, easy iron, crease
free, 5 in 1 dishwash tablets containing salt and rinse aid.
To achieve their aim, today's detergents are a complex mixture of products, which constantly evolve with new
developments. A major driving force for change is to reduce the environmental impact of detergents eg.
the development of enzyme technology has led to lower temperature washing cycles, with the subsequent
savings in energy
the drive to reduce water consumption (saving in energy)
the introduction of concentrated detergents and resultant reduction in packaging material (reduction in waste
and energy)
unit dosage eg. tablets and sachets, the prescribed amount of detergent packaged within individual units
(reduction in waste and energy)
development of new builder systems ( environmental impact)
new powder processing techniques have been developed enabling some of the above developments to happen
The products making up a detergent may be categorized further into a range of functional groups:
Builders
Surfactants
Bleaching Agents
Auxiliary Agents
A builder softens water enabling the surfactant to perform with greater efficiency
A surfactant lowers the surface tension of the wash water enabling it to wet a surface and more readily loosen and
remove soils.
A bleaching agent destroys organic soils by oxidation and improves whiteness
Auxiliary agents, include an extremely wide range of products with varying functions, from an optical brightener which
enhances the 'whiteness' or 'brightness' of the fabric, to enzymes which break down proteins, fats and starches for
ease of removal.
Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Bicarbonate and Crex® (Sodium Sesquicarbonate) all have application within detergents.
DETERGENT INDUSTRY
either directly into laundry and dishwash powders and tablets, or as raw material/processing aid in the production of
other detergent chemicals.
Sodium Carbonate
Sodium Carbonate has many attributes that make it an ideal detergent ingredient; source of alkalinity, high buffering capacity, absorbency which enable it to act as a carrier for liquid components, filler, agglomeration aid and a
water softener (builder) removing calcium and magnesium ions by precipitation.
It is applicable to all production techniques, spray drying, spray drying plus post addition, dry blending and
agglomeration.
Sodium Carbonate is widely used as a raw material in production of the two most popular builders, sodium
tripolyphosphate and synthetic zeolites.
Sodium Bicarbonate
Sodium Bicarbonate has a lower pH in solution and is substituted for Sodium Carbonate where a 'milder' detergent
formulation is required. This may occur to satisfy legislation eg. labelling laws or for a specific product differentiation
eg. colour care products.
The limited solubility of Sodium Bicarbonate may also be advantageous in formulating hard surface cleaners.
Crex® (Sodium Sesquicarbonate)
Crex® has an intermediate pH between Sodium Carbonate and Bicarbonate. It displays superior builder properties
to Bicarbonate and may be formulated directly into detergents. Alternatively, Crex® may be added to a washing
machine as a separate component and act as a water softener.
All information given is believed to be accurate. However, no representation or guarantee, express or implied, is made as to its completeness,
accuracy, fitness for a particular purpose or any other matter, including without limitation, that the practice or application of any such information
is free of patent infringement or other intellectual property misappropriation. All information provided herein is intended for use by persons
having he requisite experience, knowledge and skill. Tata Chemicals Europe Limited shall not be responsible or liable for the use, application or
implementation of the information provided.