CHM144L Industrial Chemistry Laboratory

3rd Quarter SY 2015-2016

Detergent Making
Mayo, Ronalie Nicole S.
Student, CHM144L/B31, School of Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Biotechnology, Mapua Institute of Technology

INTRODUCTION
A detergent is a surfactant or a mixture of surfactants with
cleaning properties in dilute solutions. These substances
are usually alkylbenzenesulfonates, a family of compounds
that are similar to soap but are more soluble in hard water,
because the polar sulfonate (of detergents) is less likely
than the polar carboxyl (of soap) to bind to calcium and
other ions found in hard water. In today's laundry
detergents, enzymes such as proteases and amylases are
some of the active ingredients. In the U.S., about 50% of
liquid detergents, 25% of powder detergents, and almost all
powdered bleach additives now contain enzymes to help
break down stains that are otherwise hard to remove with
conventional surfactants alone. Protein-based stains have
traditionally been among the hardest to remove. Proteins
can act as strong natural bonding agents that make all sorts
of dirt adhere stubbornly to textile fibers.
Detergents are useful for cleaning because detergent
molecules have both a hydrophilic end, which dissolves in
water, as well as a hydrophobic end, which is able to
dissolve grease and fats molecules. Although grease will
normally adhere to skin or clothing, the detergent molecules
can form micelles, which surround the grease particles and
allow them to be dissolved in water. Applied to a soiled
surface, soapy water effectively holds particles in colloidal
suspension so it can be rinsed off with clean water. The
hydrophobic portion (made up of a long hydrocarbon chain)
dissolves dirt and oils, while the ionic end dissolves in
water. Therefore, it allows water to remove normallyinsoluble matter by emulsification. In other words, while
normally oil and water do not mix, the addition of soap
allows oils to dissolve in water, allowing them to be rinsed
away.
Detergents are classified into three broad groupings,
depending on the electrical charge of the surfactants which
anionic, cationic and non-ionic. Typical anionic detergents
are alkylbenzenesulfonates. The alkylbenzene portion of

The former were largely phased out in economically

advanced societies because they are poorly biodegradable.
Cationic detergents are similar to the anionic ones, with a
hydrophobic component, but, instead of the anionic
sulfonate group, the cationic surfactants have quaternary
ammonium as the polar end. The ammonium center is
positively charged. Non-ionic detergents are characterized
by their uncharged, hydrophilic headgroups. Typical nonionic detergents are based on polyoxyethylene or a
glycoside. The objectives of this experiment are to be able
to prepare detergent, to understand the process of making
powdered detergent, to identify the various roles of the raw
materials in making powdered detergent, and to design a
procedure in evaluating the performance of the powdered
detergent produce versus leading brand in the market.
PROCEDURES
Table 1: Detergent Powder Formulations
PD1
PD2
PD3
CFAS
16.0 g
11.20 g
11.23 g
LABS
0g
4.8 g
4.92 g
STPP
0g
0g
5.03 g
Sodium Sulfate
41.99 g
41.95 g
39.36 g
Sodium
41.97 g
41.95 g
39.37 g
Carbonate
Essential Oil
0g
0 g
0g
For each formulation, perform the following steps:
1.

Weigh the required amount of CFAS, LABS,

sodium sulfate, STPP, sodium carbonate and essential
oil in each 100-mL beaker. Note the volume of the
sodium sulfate and sodium carbonate.

In a 250mL beaker , place the sodium carbonate.

3. Add LABS gradually with vigorous stirring. Take note of
the change in temperature during mixing touching the
surface of the beaker
4. Add CFAS, STPP and sodium sulfate and continue
stirring until the mixture becomes homogenous.

these anions is lipophilic and the sulfonate is hydrophilic.

Two different varieties have been popularized, those with
branched alkyl groups and those with linear alkyl groups.

Experiment 02 Group No. 7February 12, 2016

Add essential oil and stir.

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CHM144L Industrial Chemistry Laboratory

3rd Quarter SY 2015-2016

1. Weigh 5 grams of each formulations

B. Evaluation of the products
For each powdered detergent produced, conduct the
following tests:
I. Foam Test
1. Place one-gram of powdered detergent in a
100-mL graduated cylinder and add 20 mL of
water.
2. Shake the graduated cylinder 25 times and
measure the volume of foam produced
including the volume of the solution.
II. Stain Removal Test
1. At the center of each white fabric, spread a
teaspoon of catsup. Let it stand for at least 30
minutes.
2. Design a procedure on how you will test the
stain removal capability of the powdered
detergents.
3. Perform the procedure using Tide, Surf and
the detergents prepared.
4. Compare the results.
DATA AND RESULTS

2. Add 110mL of water

3. Allow the cloth to soak in the mixture for about 15
mins.
4. If the stain is not yet removed, manually wash the
cloth with your hand.
5. Rinse the cloth in clean water 3 times and let it dry
6. Compare the results.
II.Table 3: Stain removal test and other product
attributes.
Formulation

Degree of
Stain
Removal

Whiteness
of Fabric

Other test
results

PD1

PD2

PD3

PD1
produces
more
bubbles
than PD2
and PD3.

SURF

BREEZE

I. Table 2: Foam Test

Formulation

Volume of Foam

PD1

40 ml

PD2

37 ml

PD3

35 ml

Surf

45 ml

Breeze

55 ml

Designed procedure in removing the stain:

Experiment 02 Group No. 7February 12, 2016

Among the
3,
PD1
produces
darker
waterdetergent
mixture after
the cleaning.

DISCUSSION
Table 1 shows the formulations of the three detergents
made from a 100-g basis of detergent. The first formulation,
PD1, comprises of only CFAS, sodium carbonate, and
sodium sulfate. The second formulation, PD2, comprises of
the three components PD1 has but with the addition of
LABS. Then, PD3 has the addition of STPP.
Sodium carbonate prevents calcium and magnesium ions
from bonding with the detergent used as they are removed
from surfaces such as fabrics. CFAS serves as a surfactant

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3rd Quarter SY 2015-2016

for the detergents. LABS also serves as a surfactant while

STPP serves as a builder. STPP increases the alkalinity of
the wash solution, which helps the activity of the surfactants
and they also function such that it combines with calcium
and magnesium ions, making the water soften. Linear
alkylbenzene sulfonate (LABS) serves as the primary
cleaning agent that functions as what surfactants do. LABS,
from the description, is a very viscous liquid thats why it
causes the components used to stick together forming
larger particles for PD2 and PD3, making it more difficult to
obtain a homogeneous mixture by means of mixing them.
PD1 doesnt have LABS in its components such that it
resulted into a detergent of finer grains and that mixing the
components and obtaining a homogeneous mixture made it
easier.
As mentioned, two detergent tests were performed: foam
and stain removal test. The first was the foam test. Looking
at Table 2, we can observe that PD1 has the highest
volume of foam followed by PD2 and PD3. Although PD1
has the highest as mentioned, the foams are not much
compact compared to PD2 and PD3. PD2 has a lower foam
volume but it is less scattered compared to PD1 and PD3
has the lowest foam volume but the most compact among
the formulations. This has possibly something to with the
components introduced.
Then the second and last performed was the stain removal
test. From Table 3, it is to be observed that the commercial
detergents (surf and tide) have the highest performance
especially when it comes to degree of stain removal and
whiteness of the fabric. This is because these compromise
with additional additives and builders that increase the
efficiency of the surfactants, maximizing the cleaning power
of detergents especially when it comes to fabrics. Other
components that compromise the commercial detergents
are essential oils that enables them to have odor, dyes that
produces color like in the Ariel detergents where a blue
stain was observed after removing the stain, and the small
solid particles that make the said detergents are probably
due to many more additives in order to bring out desirable
effects when they are used.

processes, identify the various roles of the raw materials

necessary in making powdered detergents, and design a
procedure in evaluating the performance of the powdered
detergent produces versus leading brands in the market.
These objectives were achieved by means of making three
detergents of differing formulations and compare leading
commercial detergents such as Ariel and Breeze in
evaluating the performance of the detergents made.
Detergents differ from soaps in terms of the
components it contain and their behavior towards hard
water. Soaps are mostly made up of fats and oils while
detergents compose of synthetic materials and mainly have
sulfonate groups present. Both cleaning materials have
hydrophilic (water-loving) and hydrophobic (water-hating)
regions that enables them to remove soils from different
surfaces such as fabrics. Detergents have three main parts:
surfactants, builders, and additives. Surfactants, in short for
surface active ingredients, are mainly responsible for the
cleaning capability of detergents. They are used in affecting
the surface tension when dissolved in water or other water
solutions in order for the soil-loving ends of the some of
these molecules surround the dirt followed by water-loving
molecules pulling the soil away from the fabric. Builders
readily boost detergent power. They remove calcium and
magnesium ions present in hard water and soils. Finally,
additives are used in improving the detergent based on its
functions. Different additives can be used depending on the
main usage of the detergent.
REFERENCES
Austin, G.T. (1984). Shreves Chemical Process Industries.
5th edition. Mc-Graw Hill, 1984.
detergent. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged. Retrieved
February 12, 2014, from Dictionary.com website:
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/detergent
http://applianceassistant.com/Appliance-Repair/Chemistryof-Soaps-Detergents.php

CONCLUSION
This experiment is mainly about how detergents are
prepared; how detergents are made and understand the

Experiment 02 Group No. 7February 12, 2016

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